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The Catastrophe Collector #1
Larva: Accidental Vigilante | A Practical Guide to Sorcery Series
When disaster strikes, Percy is there.
Even if he doesn't want to be.
Whether it's a runaway carriage barreling down the street or a villainous plot against the crown, Percy will stumble headfirst into the fray.
But he's not a hero.
He's not a vigilante.
He's not even looking for fame or fortune.
In truth, Percy just wants to lead a normal life – low-key, boring, and predictable. So when a mysterious hag appears with a (fake) luck talisman, Percy jumps at the chance for a bit of normalcy. But as strange coincidences start to converge around him, Percy finds himself in the middle of all sorts of misadventures.
From finding himself in the middle of a criminal operation to becoming a suspected vigilante, Percy must use all his wit and luck to flail his way to saving the day.
You’ll love this delightfully funny, adventure-filled romp through a world full of chaos and mayhem.
Get it now.
Even if he doesn't want to be.
Whether it's a runaway carriage barreling down the street or a villainous plot against the crown, Percy will stumble headfirst into the fray.
But he's not a hero.
He's not a vigilante.
He's not even looking for fame or fortune.
In truth, Percy just wants to lead a normal life – low-key, boring, and predictable. So when a mysterious hag appears with a (fake) luck talisman, Percy jumps at the chance for a bit of normalcy. But as strange coincidences start to converge around him, Percy finds himself in the middle of all sorts of misadventures.
From finding himself in the middle of a criminal operation to becoming a suspected vigilante, Percy must use all his wit and luck to flail his way to saving the day.
You’ll love this delightfully funny, adventure-filled romp through a world full of chaos and mayhem.
Get it now.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2023
11 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Azalea Ellis
16 books187 followersAzalea Ellis loves to bend the world to her will. Maybe that's why she likes writing books. Creating worlds and people and then sending them through every ordeal imaginable might even give her some kind of sick thrill. Who knows?
Azalea is also an artist, so perhaps she just likes taking things from her head and bringing them to life. Because of her artistic background, she's lucky enough to also be able to do all of her own book covers, and does freelance illustration when she feels like it.
She's fascinated by almost everything, and wishes she could live to be a thousand, so she would have time to learn and do everything she wants.
Azalea is also an artist, so perhaps she just likes taking things from her head and bringing them to life. Because of her artistic background, she's lucky enough to also be able to do all of her own book covers, and does freelance illustration when she feels like it.
She's fascinated by almost everything, and wishes she could live to be a thousand, so she would have time to learn and do everything she wants.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 24, 2023
I was able to gain early access to this book as an ARC reader. With that out of the way, my favorite author has done it yet again with another enticing adventure. We join the adventures and mishaps of Percival Irving, a side character from the main Practical Guide to Sorcery series. It's a fun, light-hearted read with similar antics that fans of the main series will enjoy. Like all books from Azalea Ellis, this one leaves the reader wanting MORE. Thankfully, the preorder for Book 2 is already available.
June 18, 2025
This book is an offshoot of A Practical Guide to Sorcery. Siobhan appears, but only for moments. Instead the main character is Percy, a teenage boy who is incredibly accident prone. We don't learn why he is apparently cursed in this book.
Early on in the book an old hag gives him a magic talisman that she claims will help him. After he accidentally pays too much for it, all of his bad luck is turned at right angles. I mean, he doesn't exactly have good luck or bad, but a weird kind of luck where his accidents tend to work out well for himself.
Of course, that isn't much of a plot. The actual plot is that he wants to get a job so he can buy a camera, but before he has a chance yo do that, a bunch of wild crazy things happen.
If you liked the writing in A Practical Guide to Sorcery, you'll probably like this short novel. the writing has a similar style, even though the character is quite different.
Early on in the book an old hag gives him a magic talisman that she claims will help him. After he accidentally pays too much for it, all of his bad luck is turned at right angles. I mean, he doesn't exactly have good luck or bad, but a weird kind of luck where his accidents tend to work out well for himself.
Of course, that isn't much of a plot. The actual plot is that he wants to get a job so he can buy a camera, but before he has a chance yo do that, a bunch of wild crazy things happen.
If you liked the writing in A Practical Guide to Sorcery, you'll probably like this short novel. the writing has a similar style, even though the character is quite different.
November 5, 2023
A parallel journey into the brilliantly realized world of A Practical Guide to Sorcery, from the perspective of a young boy with exceedingly bad luck. I read this after reading the main series, and you'll likely appreciate it more if you have, but you could also pick it up as a standalone and have no trouble following along.
The book could almost be a classic sitcom. It is very much a "collection of catastrophes," as the name suggests, bound by the common thread of Percy's amusing family dynamics and his all too frequent altercations with local law enforcement. It will be interesting to see how this spinoff series develops and how Percy grows as a character.
The book could almost be a classic sitcom. It is very much a "collection of catastrophes," as the name suggests, bound by the common thread of Percy's amusing family dynamics and his all too frequent altercations with local law enforcement. It will be interesting to see how this spinoff series develops and how Percy grows as a character.
October 30, 2023
Very good
I really enjoyed this short story and excited that you are continuing on with book 2. It kinda makes me want to go back and re-read book 1 of the A Practical Guide to Sorcery again. Thank you Azalea for sharing these worlds with us. I also send prayers that life will be easier on you and yours. Now back.to reading!!
I really enjoyed this short story and excited that you are continuing on with book 2. It kinda makes me want to go back and re-read book 1 of the A Practical Guide to Sorcery again. Thank you Azalea for sharing these worlds with us. I also send prayers that life will be easier on you and yours. Now back.to reading!!
November 9, 2023
A pleasant addition to her PGtS series, but it seemed unfinished. Very short (about 180 pgs) and the ending was rather abrupt with no real resolution. It was more of a slice of life rather than a novel. Probably not for anyone who hasn't read PGtS, but has some nice background for those of us who have.
October 24, 2024
Audible edition review
A nice light read.
This was a fun story set in the Ravens universe but very lighthearted. Likely lad becomes lucky and has adventures. It was a nice, if insubstantial, story. I laughed out loud quite a few times.
A nice light read.
This was a fun story set in the Ravens universe but very lighthearted. Likely lad becomes lucky and has adventures. It was a nice, if insubstantial, story. I laughed out loud quite a few times.
October 29, 2023
Percy's luck is so wild. It's a very interesting story. At first I wasn't sure if I would like it but it drew me in and kept my attention. I look forward to more of his story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews