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Hat Trick #1
The Drop of a Hat: A Humorous High Fantasy
A powerful wizard and a lowly kobold experience a magical meeting of the minds in the first book of this comedic fantasy-adventure series. Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation, has been murdered. There’s no other explanation for why his consciousness now resides in his well-worn but perfectly pointed hat.Well, he isn’t going to take that lying down . . . or hanging from a branch, as the case may be. Instead, he’ll hop on the head of the first foul-smelling kobold that comes along and convince it that it’s in everyone’s best interests for them to undertake the epic journey through the Badlands—past horny necromancers, rustic werewolves, and rampaging ogres—back to the shining city of magic at the heart of civilization, where he will promptly kick the backside of whoever it was that finally managed to stab him in the back.Assuming, that is, he can teach a kobold how to use magic, survive all the roaming adventurers who consider a kobold to be a very minor payday, and prevent anyone else from claiming the wealth of arcane knowledge that is now bound within the rather handsome piece of haberdashery that he has become.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
156 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Luke Chmilenko
37 books1,560 followersBorn in 1987, Luke Chmilenko grew up in the city of Mississauga, Ontario spending the majority of his life within the city. Always a fan of writing and storytelling, Luke continuously wrote small short stories over the years, but never embarked on writing a full novel until much later in life, thinking it was something beyond his ability.
With his interesting in writing waxing and waning as the years passed, Luke focused on his studies, eventually finding a job in the field of IT Security and working between various jobs for several years. It wasn't until after he was married and with his wife's encouragement that he finally decided to try writing a novel, this time deciding to focus on a new genre that he had just discovered called LitRPG.
Diving into his work, Luke wrote his first book over the course of several months, releasing the book as a web serial chapter by chapter for free online, garnering valuable feedback and confidence from his readers. By the time Luke finished his first book and published it on amazon, he already had a hungry audience waiting for next installation, to which he immediately threw himself into working tirelessly at his newfound passion.
Today, Luke now writes full time with his wife and two cats in their Burlington home, working away on his next issue of his Ascend Online series and a brand new science fiction series named Starfall.
Books of Ascend Online:
Ascend Online (Book 1) (2016)
Ascend Online: Hell to Pay (Book 1.5) (2017)
Ascend Online: Legacy of the Fallen (Book 2) (2018)
Ascend Online: Glory to the Brave (Book 3) (Forthcoming 2019)
Books of Starfall:
Starfall (Book 1) (Forthcoming 2019)
With his interesting in writing waxing and waning as the years passed, Luke focused on his studies, eventually finding a job in the field of IT Security and working between various jobs for several years. It wasn't until after he was married and with his wife's encouragement that he finally decided to try writing a novel, this time deciding to focus on a new genre that he had just discovered called LitRPG.
Diving into his work, Luke wrote his first book over the course of several months, releasing the book as a web serial chapter by chapter for free online, garnering valuable feedback and confidence from his readers. By the time Luke finished his first book and published it on amazon, he already had a hungry audience waiting for next installation, to which he immediately threw himself into working tirelessly at his newfound passion.
Today, Luke now writes full time with his wife and two cats in their Burlington home, working away on his next issue of his Ascend Online series and a brand new science fiction series named Starfall.
Books of Ascend Online:
Ascend Online (Book 1) (2016)
Ascend Online: Hell to Pay (Book 1.5) (2017)
Ascend Online: Legacy of the Fallen (Book 2) (2018)
Ascend Online: Glory to the Brave (Book 3) (Forthcoming 2019)
Books of Starfall:
Starfall (Book 1) (Forthcoming 2019)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 18, 2024
It's good. just not for me
This book grabbed me from the first line. I confess I started chuckling in under 5 seconds. The writing is pretty clever and I like clever. The premise is fairly interesting. I've enjoyed other things with a similar premise. So all in all this is a general recommendation.
I did quit this book though because despite the cleverness, and that home run opener, it was never going to work for me once I figured out what this was all about. There are two main characters, and the book treats one of them with contempt. This little guy is the butt of the joke, and even if it's a good joke I don't want to take this ride. I made it 10% and already felt so bad for the runt that I just set this book aside.
This book grabbed me from the first line. I confess I started chuckling in under 5 seconds. The writing is pretty clever and I like clever. The premise is fairly interesting. I've enjoyed other things with a similar premise. So all in all this is a general recommendation.
I did quit this book though because despite the cleverness, and that home run opener, it was never going to work for me once I figured out what this was all about. There are two main characters, and the book treats one of them with contempt. This little guy is the butt of the joke, and even if it's a good joke I don't want to take this ride. I made it 10% and already felt so bad for the runt that I just set this book aside.
April 22, 2024
In “The Drop of a Hat,” Absalom Scryne, a once-renowned wizard now confined to his hat, teams up with an unsuspecting kobold for a whimsical adventure through the perilous Badlands. Together, they navigate a world of magic and mischief, facing off against necromancers, werewolves, and ogres on their quest to reclaim Absalom’s rightful place in the city of magic. Fueled by humour and heart, this comedic fantasy adventure invites readers into a realm where unlikely companionships and extraordinary escapades abound. Join Absalom and his kobold companion as they journey through a landscape of enchantment, laughter, and the enduring power of friendship.
The novel is incredibly inventive, funny, exciting, and fascinating. Everywhere they go in the Badlands, the pair encounters raucous antics and funny catastrophes, from sexual necromancers to rustic werewolves. Ig’s clumsy shortcomings will immediately win readers over, and they will be touched by Scryne’s final revelation that Ig is more than just a body to control—rather, he’s a buddy.
The people themselves, the mystical interactions, and the world-building all captivated me. When you compare this book to other fantasy tales that will make you laugh out loud, it was a breeze of fun. The way the narrative starts may surprise you, but by the conclusion, you’ll be pulling for Ig quite a bit. This book is a must-read for lovers of comic fantasy and anybody looking for an enjoyable journey since it is a complete delight from beginning to end.
The novel is incredibly inventive, funny, exciting, and fascinating. Everywhere they go in the Badlands, the pair encounters raucous antics and funny catastrophes, from sexual necromancers to rustic werewolves. Ig’s clumsy shortcomings will immediately win readers over, and they will be touched by Scryne’s final revelation that Ig is more than just a body to control—rather, he’s a buddy.
The people themselves, the mystical interactions, and the world-building all captivated me. When you compare this book to other fantasy tales that will make you laugh out loud, it was a breeze of fun. The way the narrative starts may surprise you, but by the conclusion, you’ll be pulling for Ig quite a bit. This book is a must-read for lovers of comic fantasy and anybody looking for an enjoyable journey since it is a complete delight from beginning to end.
December 6, 2023
I immensely enjoyed reading this book! The story was very well-written, hilarious, and super fun! The comedy in this book is gold! I LOL'd so many times. The main characters were flawed but so endearing. I adore them!
It was just simply a fantastic read!
It was just simply a fantastic read!
August 20, 2025
A ridiculous concept. Magical Hats with wild powers being wielded by a Kobold, battles waged over fashion accessories and slutty necromancers, that somehow makes it absolutely hilarious to listen to. The audiobook embraces the chaos, with narration that perfectly sells the humour and over the top antics. It never takes itself too seriously, which is exactly why it works so well. Definitely going to listen or read the second one.
February 23, 2025
This was just fun. A lovely palette cleanser between heavier books.
The characters are all quite charming, and the humorous writing did give me a couple of laugh out loud moments
Good audible.plus pick up!
The characters are all quite charming, and the humorous writing did give me a couple of laugh out loud moments
Good audible.plus pick up!
April 6, 2024
Hilarious Wit, An Epic Quest, A Hint Of Magic, And An Unusual Friendship Combine To Make An Epic Story.
In the words of the wizard:
As you can imagine, I had quite a few thoughts to gather. The first and foremost of these being “Why am I a hat?”
In the words of Ig:
“Then no forget.”
“No even forgive if not want. But you is dead, you do no goods. All you leave is bads.”
Thoughts: 💡
This book is hilarious with a ton or snark and several puns, I laughed my whole way through it. The little kobold might not be the brightest bulb in the bunch but his stinky little body was full of valor.
Honestly, having the incredibly intelligent and arrogant “Greatest Wizard in the World” narrator the little dudes life was genius. It reminded me of the snarky nature reels that are really popular on social media.
Yet as dumb as the little guy was, he managed to have a few pearls of wisdom and the ability to make one self involved wizard slow his roll and appreciate another life.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Irreverent and Depreciative Wit
⚜️ A Lot Of Info About Kobolds
⚜️ Unlikely Allies
⚜️ Epic Questing
⚜️ A Slight Who Done It Vibe
⚜️ A Lingering Spirit That Wants Revenge (living in a hat)
⚜️ Hilarious Chapter Titles
✨Note:✨This is book one and has the slightest of cliffies, but book two is already out so no worries.
Full Content Warning:⚠️
Violence, death, a bit of blood, and mild gore
Stats:📊
Characters: 💙💙💙💙
Fantasy: Irreverent Comedy (So Much Snark), Adventure, Magic Creatures, Magical Items, Epic Quest
Third Person, Past Tense, Single POV (the hat)
In the words of the wizard:
As you can imagine, I had quite a few thoughts to gather. The first and foremost of these being “Why am I a hat?”
In the words of Ig:
“Then no forget.”
“No even forgive if not want. But you is dead, you do no goods. All you leave is bads.”
Thoughts: 💡
This book is hilarious with a ton or snark and several puns, I laughed my whole way through it. The little kobold might not be the brightest bulb in the bunch but his stinky little body was full of valor.
Honestly, having the incredibly intelligent and arrogant “Greatest Wizard in the World” narrator the little dudes life was genius. It reminded me of the snarky nature reels that are really popular on social media.
Yet as dumb as the little guy was, he managed to have a few pearls of wisdom and the ability to make one self involved wizard slow his roll and appreciate another life.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Irreverent and Depreciative Wit
⚜️ A Lot Of Info About Kobolds
⚜️ Unlikely Allies
⚜️ Epic Questing
⚜️ A Slight Who Done It Vibe
⚜️ A Lingering Spirit That Wants Revenge (living in a hat)
⚜️ Hilarious Chapter Titles
✨Note:✨This is book one and has the slightest of cliffies, but book two is already out so no worries.
Full Content Warning:⚠️
Violence, death, a bit of blood, and mild gore
Stats:📊
Characters: 💙💙💙💙
Fantasy: Irreverent Comedy (So Much Snark), Adventure, Magic Creatures, Magical Items, Epic Quest
Third Person, Past Tense, Single POV (the hat)
October 3, 2025
I needed something light hearted yet well written to zoom through and cleanse my reading palate. With this book I achieved that in spades. A plot one cant really take seriously written mostly tounge in cheek with a general splash of innuendos and euphuisms it reaches it goal and keeps the reader entertained through out
dnf
March 25, 2024If I was in a better mood for what it’s doing I’d probably like it a lot. Maybe some other time
November 20, 2023
Come along for the Journey of Ig, an extraordinary normal Kobold, who finds a very neat Hat, and has his world flipped upside down. This was a fairly entertaining book, filled with humor, snide comments, and reeked of Pratchett'esc tones. I am looking forward to the next installment to see what the world has in store for Ig. I liked what I saw of the author's magic system. I thoroughly enjoyed the innuendos sprinkled throughout. The Ogres attempting to be civilized was a nice touch, especially the "misunderstood" artist.
(Note: this book was given to me as a part of an Advanced Reader Copy Program)
(Note: this book was given to me as a part of an Advanced Reader Copy Program)
March 27, 2024
Thanks to Podium Publishing for the review copy of this book.
This dad read The Drop of a Hat, Book 1 of the Hat Trick series by Luke Chmilenko and G.D. Penman. The Drop of a Hat is a humorous high fantasy novel centered on Ig, a lowly kobold, and Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation who’s consciousness has mysteriously been reduced to a wizard’s hat. Atop Ig’s head, Scryne is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding his death. As the unlikely pair make their way across the Badlands – a setting filled with necromancers, werewolves and orcs – they befriend a group of adventurers whose abilities can help them on their journey. Can Scryne teach Ig his wizarding ways in time for their cohort to win the day?
Chmilenko and Penman have crafted a humorous yet emotionally rich tale in The Drop of a Hat. Though the book utilizes a number of fantasy tropes (including explicit nods to the master J.R.R. Tolkien) the authors use these as tools to tell their tale in a unique way. The entire book is from the first person perspective of Absalom Scryne, which casts a hyper unique perspective across the entire tale. Never once do we get a description of what this character looks like, except for the fact that his entire essence is literally a wizard’s hat. Only when he’s placed atop a sentient being’s head can he sense the world around him, which makes for a really fun read.
At the heart of the book is the growing relationship between Scryne and Ig. As a kobold, Ig is literally at the very bottom of the pecking order in terms of fantastical creatures. He’s never wanted for more, let alone knew more ever existed, until Scryne enters his life. The unlikely duo trope also isn’t new, but The Drop of a Hat utilizes it brilliantly. Readers will quickly fall in love with Ig’s bumbling inadequacies and be warmed by Scryne’s eventual realization that Ig’s not merely a body to control but a friend.
The Drop of a Hat also shines in its diversity of characters. From the trio of adventurers to a lustful (to put it mildly) necromancer, Scryne and Ig’s journey is made all the more entertaining with elves, ogres, and bunnies (yes, bunnies) in the mix. The relationships between all of the characters (which range from friendly to outright dastardly) are what make this fantastical book feel utterly human. Readers will definitely feel how the journey bonds our heroes and makes it even more painful when some of the beloved characters don’t make it to the final pages.
If you’re a fan of fantasy and are looking for a fun, light-hearted yet emotion-filled adventure, look no further than The Drop of a Hat.
This dad read The Drop of a Hat, Book 1 of the Hat Trick series by Luke Chmilenko and G.D. Penman. The Drop of a Hat is a humorous high fantasy novel centered on Ig, a lowly kobold, and Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation who’s consciousness has mysteriously been reduced to a wizard’s hat. Atop Ig’s head, Scryne is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding his death. As the unlikely pair make their way across the Badlands – a setting filled with necromancers, werewolves and orcs – they befriend a group of adventurers whose abilities can help them on their journey. Can Scryne teach Ig his wizarding ways in time for their cohort to win the day?
Chmilenko and Penman have crafted a humorous yet emotionally rich tale in The Drop of a Hat. Though the book utilizes a number of fantasy tropes (including explicit nods to the master J.R.R. Tolkien) the authors use these as tools to tell their tale in a unique way. The entire book is from the first person perspective of Absalom Scryne, which casts a hyper unique perspective across the entire tale. Never once do we get a description of what this character looks like, except for the fact that his entire essence is literally a wizard’s hat. Only when he’s placed atop a sentient being’s head can he sense the world around him, which makes for a really fun read.
At the heart of the book is the growing relationship between Scryne and Ig. As a kobold, Ig is literally at the very bottom of the pecking order in terms of fantastical creatures. He’s never wanted for more, let alone knew more ever existed, until Scryne enters his life. The unlikely duo trope also isn’t new, but The Drop of a Hat utilizes it brilliantly. Readers will quickly fall in love with Ig’s bumbling inadequacies and be warmed by Scryne’s eventual realization that Ig’s not merely a body to control but a friend.
The Drop of a Hat also shines in its diversity of characters. From the trio of adventurers to a lustful (to put it mildly) necromancer, Scryne and Ig’s journey is made all the more entertaining with elves, ogres, and bunnies (yes, bunnies) in the mix. The relationships between all of the characters (which range from friendly to outright dastardly) are what make this fantastical book feel utterly human. Readers will definitely feel how the journey bonds our heroes and makes it even more painful when some of the beloved characters don’t make it to the final pages.
If you’re a fan of fantasy and are looking for a fun, light-hearted yet emotion-filled adventure, look no further than The Drop of a Hat.
May 27, 2025
DR
Fantasy world of sword and magic. Self proclaimed strongest arch-mage, Absalom Scryne, find him-self... as a hat? What happened? How did it happen? Why is he a hat? To survive and return back to his handsome human self one arch-mage does what one must, makes friends with the equivalent of opossum in this world, a kobold, Ig and heads out on a journey to his home town. Possibly, being the first member of his species to have used his brain as a consequence of mana infusion from Absalom, Ig is confused whether this counts as food or danger in his dual understanding of the world.
'The Drop of a Hat' is strange. Author farcically plays with the contemporary common fantasy tropes, excluding all the numerous double and triple sexual entendre, focusing on the perspective of the trope's character. One moment humorously describing systematical oppression of peoples, the next dramatically reminiscing about monotonous manual labor. Straight faced. Shifting perspectives from different characters, the Ig's journey is equivalent to 'Dumb and Dumber' story, mostly being confused about what's happening, Absalom's attempt at survival, in a natural way. The author managed to include both unexpected banana deep throating, and raise and fall of a civilization in one book.
Fast paced action and sudden expiry of characters juxtaposes protagonist's, Ig's, mental comprehension and development. The world of 'Hat Trick' is wild and survival is a constant struggle.
Conclusion: 3/5. Listened on Audible included in plus catalogue. Narrated by: John Lee. Humorous writing about sword and magic fantasy world. Openly discussing serious ethical topics from a middle ground pov. 'The drop of hat' made me cry, both fun crying about the absurdity of it and serious crying about mortality of men. It was easy to listen to and at the time trivial. Upon reflection - the story introduced what makes a person, the meaning of life, mutual connection and other topics the typical, not depressed, person doesn't think about daily. Terrible value for the length of the book - 2.72 $/hour ( 33.90 $ / 12 hrs 29 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
Fantasy world of sword and magic. Self proclaimed strongest arch-mage, Absalom Scryne, find him-self... as a hat? What happened? How did it happen? Why is he a hat? To survive and return back to his handsome human self one arch-mage does what one must, makes friends with the equivalent of opossum in this world, a kobold, Ig and heads out on a journey to his home town. Possibly, being the first member of his species to have used his brain as a consequence of mana infusion from Absalom, Ig is confused whether this counts as food or danger in his dual understanding of the world.
'The Drop of a Hat' is strange. Author farcically plays with the contemporary common fantasy tropes, excluding all the numerous double and triple sexual entendre, focusing on the perspective of the trope's character. One moment humorously describing systematical oppression of peoples, the next dramatically reminiscing about monotonous manual labor. Straight faced. Shifting perspectives from different characters, the Ig's journey is equivalent to 'Dumb and Dumber' story, mostly being confused about what's happening, Absalom's attempt at survival, in a natural way. The author managed to include both unexpected banana deep throating, and raise and fall of a civilization in one book.
Fast paced action and sudden expiry of characters juxtaposes protagonist's, Ig's, mental comprehension and development. The world of 'Hat Trick' is wild and survival is a constant struggle.
Conclusion: 3/5. Listened on Audible included in plus catalogue. Narrated by: John Lee. Humorous writing about sword and magic fantasy world. Openly discussing serious ethical topics from a middle ground pov. 'The drop of hat' made me cry, both fun crying about the absurdity of it and serious crying about mortality of men. It was easy to listen to and at the time trivial. Upon reflection - the story introduced what makes a person, the meaning of life, mutual connection and other topics the typical, not depressed, person doesn't think about daily. Terrible value for the length of the book - 2.72 $/hour ( 33.90 $ / 12 hrs 29 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
March 26, 2024
When Kobold Ig (the dumbest creature) finds a hat, and it's no ordinary hat, but a wizard and it's no ordinary wizard but the world's best wizard, it's the start of a manipulative yet hilarious and magical adventure. Can Ig survive this journey amidst of horny necromancers, rustic werewolves, and rampaging ogres? Will the wizard ever return to his original body?
The Drop Of A Hat is a captivating first installment in the Hat Trick series. Absalom Scryne, the wizard, was a well drawn morally gray character. He was manipulative and narcissist, but you could gradually understand him. His inner monologue was satisfying to read.
Kobold Ig was an amusing presence in this novel, that you can’t help but adore him just like the wizard. Their banter wheezed me out. And they’re supported by a cast of equally fascinating characters. The storyline is fast paced and balanced well with comedic moments, keeping the readers immersed. With action, suspense and an amazing world building, the narrative is sure to transport you on this journey alongside Ig.
The gore was minimum in amount but intense enough to make you understand the details yet not flip your stomach. The thematic exploration into the power of friendship, loyalty and the significance of (trying to) do the right thing, give this story a heartwarming look.
What started as a silly and fun story ends up making you emotionally invested and twitching your fingers with anticipation of what will happen next? I rarely laugh out loud while reading a book, but this book made me laugh so hard and towards the end, I did shed some tears. The ending was a big cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next book!
I wholeheartedly recommend The Drop Of A Hat to all bookish souls in search of a humorous and unique high fantasy. Big 5 stars!
Thanks @LukeChmilenko, @gdpenman and @bookinfluencerscom for this copy 🖤
My Rating: 5/5 ⭐
✨ Follow @bookaddicted_soul on Instagram for more reviews and recommendations ✨
The Drop Of A Hat is a captivating first installment in the Hat Trick series. Absalom Scryne, the wizard, was a well drawn morally gray character. He was manipulative and narcissist, but you could gradually understand him. His inner monologue was satisfying to read.
Kobold Ig was an amusing presence in this novel, that you can’t help but adore him just like the wizard. Their banter wheezed me out. And they’re supported by a cast of equally fascinating characters. The storyline is fast paced and balanced well with comedic moments, keeping the readers immersed. With action, suspense and an amazing world building, the narrative is sure to transport you on this journey alongside Ig.
The gore was minimum in amount but intense enough to make you understand the details yet not flip your stomach. The thematic exploration into the power of friendship, loyalty and the significance of (trying to) do the right thing, give this story a heartwarming look.
What started as a silly and fun story ends up making you emotionally invested and twitching your fingers with anticipation of what will happen next? I rarely laugh out loud while reading a book, but this book made me laugh so hard and towards the end, I did shed some tears. The ending was a big cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next book!
I wholeheartedly recommend The Drop Of A Hat to all bookish souls in search of a humorous and unique high fantasy. Big 5 stars!
Thanks @LukeChmilenko, @gdpenman and @bookinfluencerscom for this copy 🖤
My Rating: 5/5 ⭐
✨ Follow @bookaddicted_soul on Instagram for more reviews and recommendations ✨
March 18, 2024
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing a copy of this book with me on Bookstagrammers.com !!!
“In a hole in the ground, there lived a kobold.”
“One kobold, slightly used.
One hat, stylish and sapient”
This fantasy book was … I wouldn’t know how to describe it!! I’ll try nonetheless.
A perfect combination of friendship and action and magic and world building and complicated master ship. A kobold, small and smelly creature who always lived to survive, finding the hat of a very powerful wizard who was killed and now they have conversations. The hat only wants to go back to his city to figure out what has happened to him but he will have to convince the creature to leave everything he has known to follow him in danger. Along the way they will meet many friends and in this kinda found family dynamic, the magic was the only king here and Ig reminded me a lot of Dobby. This book managed to be sweet and cute and complex and entertaining and intriguing and magical in exactly rhetorical right way. I found myself fascinated by the world building and the magical dynamics and the characters themselves. I found myself laughing and having fun one chapters and then frustrated because of fear of what was supposed to be happening to them. And sometimes sad. But overall I find this book to be a great read for fantasy amateurs and for fantasy readers in general!!! I’m glad I had a chance to experience it!!
“If I had a heart, it would have beat faster. If I had eyes, they would have widened. If I had a stomach, it would have flipped. But I was a hat, and had none of those things, so could only experience what felt like a slight tightening of my embroidery before I perceived the exact manner in which everything had gone horribly wrong.”
“There is no trying in magic, there is success and there is death and nothing in between.”
“In a hole in the ground, there lived a kobold.”
“One kobold, slightly used.
One hat, stylish and sapient”
This fantasy book was … I wouldn’t know how to describe it!! I’ll try nonetheless.
A perfect combination of friendship and action and magic and world building and complicated master ship. A kobold, small and smelly creature who always lived to survive, finding the hat of a very powerful wizard who was killed and now they have conversations. The hat only wants to go back to his city to figure out what has happened to him but he will have to convince the creature to leave everything he has known to follow him in danger. Along the way they will meet many friends and in this kinda found family dynamic, the magic was the only king here and Ig reminded me a lot of Dobby. This book managed to be sweet and cute and complex and entertaining and intriguing and magical in exactly rhetorical right way. I found myself fascinated by the world building and the magical dynamics and the characters themselves. I found myself laughing and having fun one chapters and then frustrated because of fear of what was supposed to be happening to them. And sometimes sad. But overall I find this book to be a great read for fantasy amateurs and for fantasy readers in general!!! I’m glad I had a chance to experience it!!
“If I had a heart, it would have beat faster. If I had eyes, they would have widened. If I had a stomach, it would have flipped. But I was a hat, and had none of those things, so could only experience what felt like a slight tightening of my embroidery before I perceived the exact manner in which everything had gone horribly wrong.”
“There is no trying in magic, there is success and there is death and nothing in between.”
April 16, 2024
✔️ Laugh out loud kinda read
✔️ Unconventional Protagonist
✔️ Light Fantasy
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: - I do judge a book by its cover, so I am glad this intrigued me to pick it, just let me paint the picture of what you are going into, and oh boy was it tummy aching funny........heck yes!!!
The whole book is a combination of weird and silly banter between Ig( a rather pungent kobold) and Absalom (the once-great magician now confined to the form of a wizard's hat). Tasked with mentoring Ig in the art of magic, Absalom and his unlikely apprentice journey forth on a quest for vengeance against those responsible for Absalom's demise. The premise of the character Absalom is a bit silly, to say the least, in a fantastical setting is just a chef's kiss.
Absalom is a bit annoying and unlikeable that's the way he rolled for me, gosh he has a lot to comment on every mundane incident (lots of inner monologues) in a paragraph full of adjectives which were at times funny but felt repetitive at times too.
Seeing an untalented sidekick take centre stage for an adventure like this was something for my not-main-character vibe heart, I feel represented 🤣.
Fantasy is often not my cup of tea for its world-building and bit complex settings which need a lot of concentration which my neurodivergent brain can't process at times and ends of dnfing. Drop a Hat was a light breeze of fun in comparison to other fantasy novels which will crack you up a lot, the only complaint I do have for this book is its length, if Absalom's inner monologue was shortened a bit it would have been a five star read for me, so I give it a 4✨. I can promise you one thing that you will think after reading it WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ 🤣🤣
✔️ Unconventional Protagonist
✔️ Light Fantasy
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: - I do judge a book by its cover, so I am glad this intrigued me to pick it, just let me paint the picture of what you are going into, and oh boy was it tummy aching funny........heck yes!!!
The whole book is a combination of weird and silly banter between Ig( a rather pungent kobold) and Absalom (the once-great magician now confined to the form of a wizard's hat). Tasked with mentoring Ig in the art of magic, Absalom and his unlikely apprentice journey forth on a quest for vengeance against those responsible for Absalom's demise. The premise of the character Absalom is a bit silly, to say the least, in a fantastical setting is just a chef's kiss.
Absalom is a bit annoying and unlikeable that's the way he rolled for me, gosh he has a lot to comment on every mundane incident (lots of inner monologues) in a paragraph full of adjectives which were at times funny but felt repetitive at times too.
Seeing an untalented sidekick take centre stage for an adventure like this was something for my not-main-character vibe heart, I feel represented 🤣.
Fantasy is often not my cup of tea for its world-building and bit complex settings which need a lot of concentration which my neurodivergent brain can't process at times and ends of dnfing. Drop a Hat was a light breeze of fun in comparison to other fantasy novels which will crack you up a lot, the only complaint I do have for this book is its length, if Absalom's inner monologue was shortened a bit it would have been a five star read for me, so I give it a 4✨. I can promise you one thing that you will think after reading it WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ 🤣🤣
April 9, 2024
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🤣 love to laugh
🎩 want a perspective from a talking hat
🗡️ enjoy high fantasy
📚 are looking for a new series
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation, has been murdered. There’s no other explanation for why his consciousness now resides in his well-worn but perfectly pointed hat.
Well, he isn’t going to take that lying down . . . or hanging from a branch, as the case may be. Instead, he’ll hop on the head of the first foul-smelling kobold that comes along and convince it that it’s in everyone’s best interests for them to undertake the epic journey through the Badlands—past horny necromancers, rustic werewolves, and rampaging ogres—back to the shining city of magic at the heart of civilization, where he will promptly kick the backside of whoever it was that finally managed to stab him in the back.
Assuming, that is, he can teach a kobold how to use magic, survive all the roaming adventurers who consider a kobold to be a very minor payday, and prevent anyone else from claiming the wealth of arcane knowledge that is now bound within the rather handsome piece of haberdashery that he has become.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a hilarious read and something totally out of my comfort zone (in a good way)! I laughed so hard throughout this story and really started to feel a lot for the characters. They had each gone through so much on their own and now they are together and still going through it! It’s like they can’t catch a break. While I had a bit of a hard time understanding some of the references, I was able to google some things and totally flow with the story. I can’t wait for book two in this series!
🤣 love to laugh
🎩 want a perspective from a talking hat
🗡️ enjoy high fantasy
📚 are looking for a new series
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation, has been murdered. There’s no other explanation for why his consciousness now resides in his well-worn but perfectly pointed hat.
Well, he isn’t going to take that lying down . . . or hanging from a branch, as the case may be. Instead, he’ll hop on the head of the first foul-smelling kobold that comes along and convince it that it’s in everyone’s best interests for them to undertake the epic journey through the Badlands—past horny necromancers, rustic werewolves, and rampaging ogres—back to the shining city of magic at the heart of civilization, where he will promptly kick the backside of whoever it was that finally managed to stab him in the back.
Assuming, that is, he can teach a kobold how to use magic, survive all the roaming adventurers who consider a kobold to be a very minor payday, and prevent anyone else from claiming the wealth of arcane knowledge that is now bound within the rather handsome piece of haberdashery that he has become.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a hilarious read and something totally out of my comfort zone (in a good way)! I laughed so hard throughout this story and really started to feel a lot for the characters. They had each gone through so much on their own and now they are together and still going through it! It’s like they can’t catch a break. While I had a bit of a hard time understanding some of the references, I was able to google some things and totally flow with the story. I can’t wait for book two in this series!
January 29, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this one.
On the one hand I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan so seeing not references but entire quotes transplanted from his discworld series to here was... something.
The whole writing style in fact very much invokes Discworld. Which is the main problem I had and why I dropped this one not even half way through.
See, this is from the point of view of the hat who's personality can be summarized as "pompous wind bag" yet at the same time completely devoid of any character. And that's our narrator. A charmless, arrogant, witless, chump that just goes on and on to add to the word count.
Every little action requires not just an adjective but a full paragraph of adjectives. So much so that the author will completely take you out of the moment with all the director commentary going on.
Not a single sentence can pass by where the story actually progresses. NOT A SINGLE ONE! He feels the need to give this director commentary after every single mundane word. Now, Terry Pratchett did something similar except he did that now and again and he never degraded his characters. especially if life had dealt them a bad hand already.
At first I was going to give this 3 stars but I really struggled with the tsunami of adjectives in here that once I put it down I just didn't want to pick it up again. Sorry but I don't recommend this one.
On the one hand I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan so seeing not references but entire quotes transplanted from his discworld series to here was... something.
The whole writing style in fact very much invokes Discworld. Which is the main problem I had and why I dropped this one not even half way through.
See, this is from the point of view of the hat who's personality can be summarized as "pompous wind bag" yet at the same time completely devoid of any character. And that's our narrator. A charmless, arrogant, witless, chump that just goes on and on to add to the word count.
Every little action requires not just an adjective but a full paragraph of adjectives. So much so that the author will completely take you out of the moment with all the director commentary going on.
Not a single sentence can pass by where the story actually progresses. NOT A SINGLE ONE! He feels the need to give this director commentary after every single mundane word. Now, Terry Pratchett did something similar except he did that now and again and he never degraded his characters. especially if life had dealt them a bad hand already.
At first I was going to give this 3 stars but I really struggled with the tsunami of adjectives in here that once I put it down I just didn't want to pick it up again. Sorry but I don't recommend this one.
April 15, 2024
Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation, has been murdered. His consciousness now resides in his well-worn but perfectly pointed hat. The hat jumps upon the kobold, assuming that he can teach the kobold magic, and to take the journey past horny necromancers, rustic werewolves, and rampaging ogres—back to the shining city of magic at the heart of civilization, where he will promptly kick the backside of whoever it was that finally managed to stab him in the back.
In this fantastic fantasy novel we are introduced to our main character, the kobold called Ig. It looks as though someone has taken a rat, inflicted some unpleasant skin diseases upon it, grown it to the height of a dwarf, and then forced it to walk upon its hind legs. But we get a cute one, because it has to be the protagonist. Although the hat is the protagonist, leading the kobold.
Finally I found a high fantasy that I enjoyed cover to cover without any lag. The book is comical, adventurous, interesting and one-hundred percent imaginative. The writing style is humorous at its best. It's a fun ride, absolutely enjoyable and engaging, endearing story of an unlikely duo. The incidents in the book are thrilling. It is a different fantasy book, something I've read for the first time but I'm sure to say that this genre is growing on me. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I'm keen on reading the next part.
In this fantastic fantasy novel we are introduced to our main character, the kobold called Ig. It looks as though someone has taken a rat, inflicted some unpleasant skin diseases upon it, grown it to the height of a dwarf, and then forced it to walk upon its hind legs. But we get a cute one, because it has to be the protagonist. Although the hat is the protagonist, leading the kobold.
Finally I found a high fantasy that I enjoyed cover to cover without any lag. The book is comical, adventurous, interesting and one-hundred percent imaginative. The writing style is humorous at its best. It's a fun ride, absolutely enjoyable and engaging, endearing story of an unlikely duo. The incidents in the book are thrilling. It is a different fantasy book, something I've read for the first time but I'm sure to say that this genre is growing on me. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I'm keen on reading the next part.
December 26, 2024
This is the first book of a trilogy and I have the sense if Chmilenko would have just focused on writing one complete book, this might have been much better. The premise is interesting - A wizard has been killed and his essence (soul?) has ended up in a hat. The wizard can think and function only if the hat is on the head of a being with a sentient brain and that first brain giving him access to the world is a dopey Kobold. The two must make it back to a place the wizard can access records and knowledge that might help him to free himself from the hat and that's it. They have some adventures with different beasts, characters, and challenges, but there is so little actual progress in the plot, the growth of the characters, or understanding of the world they operate in that it grows really tedious. And, that is not helped by the verbosity of the author in the form of the hat narrator. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, there are thousands of adjectives, adjuncts, and asides that feel like nothing but word count filler. I think I would have DNFed this book had it not been for the beauty of John Lee's narration. His lovely voice and skilled characterizations kept me going to the end. John Lee though is not enough to keep me going to Book 2. There is a cliffhanger ending on this first book, but I will discontinue the slog here.
April 11, 2024
Hat Trick
Luke Chmilenko & G. D. Penman
Y’all, when I say, I laughed at this one you probably think ha ha. No!?! I snorted. I cackled. I had tears running down my face. This was quite literally the funniest book ever written!
The story follows a stinky kobold named Ig and the greatest magician that ”had” ever lived named Absalom. Absalom now lives in the form of a wizard hat. Ig is a huge wimp and Absalom must teach him how to use his magic. They set out on one epic quest for revenge on whoever killed Absalom.
The world building that Luke Chmilenko & G. D. Penman have built is phenomenal, magical, and extremely entertaining. The characters they have drawn out are ones that will stick with me for a very long time. Horny necromancers and werewolves. The werewolf scene about made me choke from laughing so hard.
Out very unsightly duo made for some hilarious escapades. You never knew what these two were going to get into. They had lots of heart and it’s crazy how attached you become to them.
This highly entertaining, utterly insanity, the most hilarious book ever written is a must read. (I had to explain why I was laughing so hard multiple times while reading… So don’t read while you’re out in public or people will think you have lost your ever loving mind.)
Luke Chmilenko & G. D. Penman
Y’all, when I say, I laughed at this one you probably think ha ha. No!?! I snorted. I cackled. I had tears running down my face. This was quite literally the funniest book ever written!
The story follows a stinky kobold named Ig and the greatest magician that ”had” ever lived named Absalom. Absalom now lives in the form of a wizard hat. Ig is a huge wimp and Absalom must teach him how to use his magic. They set out on one epic quest for revenge on whoever killed Absalom.
The world building that Luke Chmilenko & G. D. Penman have built is phenomenal, magical, and extremely entertaining. The characters they have drawn out are ones that will stick with me for a very long time. Horny necromancers and werewolves. The werewolf scene about made me choke from laughing so hard.
Out very unsightly duo made for some hilarious escapades. You never knew what these two were going to get into. They had lots of heart and it’s crazy how attached you become to them.
This highly entertaining, utterly insanity, the most hilarious book ever written is a must read. (I had to explain why I was laughing so hard multiple times while reading… So don’t read while you’re out in public or people will think you have lost your ever loving mind.)
November 30, 2023
The Drop of a Hat is book one in the Hat Trick series. We begin with Ig, a Kobold. As the author describes him:
Excitement was not an emotion that was familiar to Ig. He knew hungry. He knew itchy. He also knew afraid. He was very familiar with afraid, in fact. Some might say it was his primary state of being...
So this very afraid, terribly witless, slow and ungainly Kobold meets a hat. Which is to say: was terrified of the bit of blue he saw in the forest that he eventually realized was not something trying to chase and eat him, but was in fact a hat stuck in a tree. And thus starts the adventure of Ig and the magical sentience stuck inside the hat.
This book was very funny and had some heart. In fact you might not expect it with the way the story begins, but you'll be rooting pretty hard for Ig by the end. It's quite a long adventure at well over 400 pages. It was fun reading an adventure where the untalented "side kick" was the one making all the choices and taking part in all the action, with only the expert guidance of someone in his head to lead the way.
Excitement was not an emotion that was familiar to Ig. He knew hungry. He knew itchy. He also knew afraid. He was very familiar with afraid, in fact. Some might say it was his primary state of being...
So this very afraid, terribly witless, slow and ungainly Kobold meets a hat. Which is to say: was terrified of the bit of blue he saw in the forest that he eventually realized was not something trying to chase and eat him, but was in fact a hat stuck in a tree. And thus starts the adventure of Ig and the magical sentience stuck inside the hat.
This book was very funny and had some heart. In fact you might not expect it with the way the story begins, but you'll be rooting pretty hard for Ig by the end. It's quite a long adventure at well over 400 pages. It was fun reading an adventure where the untalented "side kick" was the one making all the choices and taking part in all the action, with only the expert guidance of someone in his head to lead the way.
April 9, 2024
Drop of a Hat by Luke Chmilenko & G.D Penman📚
Absalom Scryne, the once-great wizard reduced to inhabiting his own hat, embarks on a riotous journey with an unlikely companion, a lowly kobold, in this uproarious comedic fantasy-adventure reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's wit and charm.
Luke Chmilenko and G.D Penman deliver a rollicking tale filled with magic, mayhem, and memorable characters. From horny necromancers to rustic werewolves, the duo navigates through the Badlands, encountering hilarious mishaps and wild escapades at every turn.
With Scryne's determination to reclaim his former glory and the kobold's reluctant yet endearing cooperation, the story brims with humor and heart. Chmilenko's rapid-paced storytelling and Penman's clever prose create a delightful read that keeps you eagerly turning pages.
An absolute joy from start to finish, this book is a must-read for fans of comedic fantasy and anyone craving an entertaining adventure. Highly recommended for its inventive premise, engaging plot, and laugh-out-loud moments. A true gem in the genre.
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Afreen Khalil
Absalom Scryne, the once-great wizard reduced to inhabiting his own hat, embarks on a riotous journey with an unlikely companion, a lowly kobold, in this uproarious comedic fantasy-adventure reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's wit and charm.
Luke Chmilenko and G.D Penman deliver a rollicking tale filled with magic, mayhem, and memorable characters. From horny necromancers to rustic werewolves, the duo navigates through the Badlands, encountering hilarious mishaps and wild escapades at every turn.
With Scryne's determination to reclaim his former glory and the kobold's reluctant yet endearing cooperation, the story brims with humor and heart. Chmilenko's rapid-paced storytelling and Penman's clever prose create a delightful read that keeps you eagerly turning pages.
An absolute joy from start to finish, this book is a must-read for fans of comedic fantasy and anyone craving an entertaining adventure. Highly recommended for its inventive premise, engaging plot, and laugh-out-loud moments. A true gem in the genre.
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Afreen Khalil
April 12, 2024
If you're looking for your next fantasy book that is guaranteed to leave you laughing you should check out Drop of a Hat.
Drop of a Hat by Luke Chmilenko & G.D. Penman is the first book in the Hat Trick Series. I enjoyed this book so much, it was entertaining from start to finish.
The perfect words to describe this book are - magic, mischief, and chaos. This story is high fantasy but so silly and funny I'd say it's also a cozy fantasy. The story is told through the POV of Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation who is now a hat. And honestly, that was just weird enough to be this book so entertaining. It is so well written, and so silly and funny that you'll be obsessed right from the start. It is an easy, fun, and fast-paced read that will leave you laughing out loud.
Read if you like:
- magic hat
- funny creatures
- entertaining adventure
- quest without the stress
- banter/humor
- wizard, who's a hat and a morally gray character
- low-stakes fantasy
If you enjoy books like lattes and legends you should add this to your tbr. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy or just in the mood for a laugh.
Thank you @lukechmilenko, @gdpenman and @bookinfluencerscom for the gifted review copy💚
"As you can imagine, I had quite a few thoughts to gather. The first and foremost of these being “Why am I a hat?”"
Drop of a Hat by Luke Chmilenko & G.D. Penman is the first book in the Hat Trick Series. I enjoyed this book so much, it was entertaining from start to finish.
The perfect words to describe this book are - magic, mischief, and chaos. This story is high fantasy but so silly and funny I'd say it's also a cozy fantasy. The story is told through the POV of Absalom Scryne, the greatest wizard of his generation who is now a hat. And honestly, that was just weird enough to be this book so entertaining. It is so well written, and so silly and funny that you'll be obsessed right from the start. It is an easy, fun, and fast-paced read that will leave you laughing out loud.
Read if you like:
- magic hat
- funny creatures
- entertaining adventure
- quest without the stress
- banter/humor
- wizard, who's a hat and a morally gray character
- low-stakes fantasy
If you enjoy books like lattes and legends you should add this to your tbr. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy or just in the mood for a laugh.
Thank you @lukechmilenko, @gdpenman and @bookinfluencerscom for the gifted review copy💚
"As you can imagine, I had quite a few thoughts to gather. The first and foremost of these being “Why am I a hat?”"
April 21, 2024
The Drop of a Hat is about a kobold names Ig. He’s a simple creature whose only daily activities are eating and sleeping. One day he finds a hat in a tree and puts it on. The hat holds the consciousness of the great wizard Absalom Scryne, who has been murdered. Absalom wants to go back to the big city and find out what happened to his body, so he convinces Ig to leave his home and travel through the Badlands. They join a group of fighters on their adventure, and they encounter werewolves, ogres, and a necromancer.
The Drop of a Hat was a very funny adventure story! I loved the way Ig grew and developed as a character throughout their journey. This story reminded me of World of Warcraft, which is one of my favourite games, so it would be a great read for fans of fantasy role playing games.
The Drop of a Hat is the first book in the Hat Trick series. The second book Hat’s Entertainment is available now.
Thank you Luke Chmilenko, G.D. Penman, and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.
The Drop of a Hat was a very funny adventure story! I loved the way Ig grew and developed as a character throughout their journey. This story reminded me of World of Warcraft, which is one of my favourite games, so it would be a great read for fans of fantasy role playing games.
The Drop of a Hat is the first book in the Hat Trick series. The second book Hat’s Entertainment is available now.
Thank you Luke Chmilenko, G.D. Penman, and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.
April 8, 2024
O. M. G. What did I just read? What. Was. That. WHAT WAS THAT? Seriously, what was that?
I was not planning to read a book that made me laugh my head off today! And, most of all, I was not anticipating all the explanations I had to do because of it. Turns out, it’s weird to be sitting there on my own, reading and – nope, not an occasional giggle or a snort here or there. Nope. A full-blown laugh-out-loud bout. Yup, this is what this book did to me. And then, everyone in my household was interested. And then, I had to re-tell what I had read, and I had to explain what exactly made me laugh *yet again* and *what now this time*.
Read this only if you are ready for a wild, absolutely wild insanity of hilarious fantasy. Hilarious, absolutely hilarious. And so well-written. Entertaining and silly, yet with a solid storyline and solid characters, and filled with plenty of emotional moments.
April 18, 2024
This book was my first real dip into fantasy comedy but I really enjoyed it! The authors had a brilliant way of really bringing the scene to life, but it didn't feel like they were droning on and on to the point I was bored!
I had seen some people state their dislike for the narrator and I would agree that he was at times insufferable and pompous but that is kind of a testament to how well the authors wrote the narrator. How else can one express themselves when they're a hat if not via long winded internal monologues? But if you're anything like me you won't care about the Wizard as much as you'd care about Ig. He stole my heart very quickly!
I think my biggest issue with the book was at times the pacing felt slower than it needed to be, but it still managed to be quick and enjoyable read!
I think this book is best read with knowing bare minimum going into it! It makes the story that much more exciting and funny!
I had seen some people state their dislike for the narrator and I would agree that he was at times insufferable and pompous but that is kind of a testament to how well the authors wrote the narrator. How else can one express themselves when they're a hat if not via long winded internal monologues? But if you're anything like me you won't care about the Wizard as much as you'd care about Ig. He stole my heart very quickly!
I think my biggest issue with the book was at times the pacing felt slower than it needed to be, but it still managed to be quick and enjoyable read!
I think this book is best read with knowing bare minimum going into it! It makes the story that much more exciting and funny!
December 29, 2024
I'm not sure if it's worth continuing this one. There's room for the series to become excellent from here, but this book was dreadfully bad.
The wizard is the narrator, and he is just so incredibly, thoroughly unlikeable in his pride and mockery of others. Pair this with a cast of characters that is generally flat and uninteresting, and the result is a book with an excellent premise and very little else to offer. I would love to see a similar story written by someone who can write fun, interesting, likeable characters.
It gets a 3/5 because there's literally nothing else wrong with the story. No awkward grammar or plot holes or anything like that (that I noticed), and an excellent plot for what it was. I just don't understand how someone could write these characters in this way and think people would enjoy them.
The wizard is the narrator, and he is just so incredibly, thoroughly unlikeable in his pride and mockery of others. Pair this with a cast of characters that is generally flat and uninteresting, and the result is a book with an excellent premise and very little else to offer. I would love to see a similar story written by someone who can write fun, interesting, likeable characters.
It gets a 3/5 because there's literally nothing else wrong with the story. No awkward grammar or plot holes or anything like that (that I noticed), and an excellent plot for what it was. I just don't understand how someone could write these characters in this way and think people would enjoy them.
April 9, 2024
Once upon a time, a wizard named Absalom Scryne was turned into a hat after being murdered. And a random kobold called Ig happens to wear that 'hat'. Determined to find justice, he teamed up with the kobold and embarked on a thrilling adventure.
The first thing I liked about the book is the narrative style. It felt as if I was listening to a witty storyteller's chronicle. A great wizard, now being a hat, felt weird but it was so intriguing and oddly satisfying. There is a sequel to this fun book that I want to check out.
The first thing I liked about the book is the narrative style. It felt as if I was listening to a witty storyteller's chronicle. A great wizard, now being a hat, felt weird but it was so intriguing and oddly satisfying. There is a sequel to this fun book that I want to check out.
January 13, 2024
Better than I expected
I was not expecting much from this book, and so was pleasantly surprised. An odd couple comedy featuring a pompous hat and an idiot kobold and the adventure to give the hat it's own head. The plot was well crafted and the characters interesting. Fun/funny villains, competent but some times clueless adventurers, and of course lots of inner monologue. Tom out
I was not expecting much from this book, and so was pleasantly surprised. An odd couple comedy featuring a pompous hat and an idiot kobold and the adventure to give the hat it's own head. The plot was well crafted and the characters interesting. Fun/funny villains, competent but some times clueless adventurers, and of course lots of inner monologue. Tom out
January 31, 2024
DNF
Honestly, the book is fine and the Narrator is quite capable. But most of its referential and humor I just have seen done a lot in other books. This is a story that should be the first entry for fantasy humor. For me, I didn't laugh or found anything original or interesting in the referential humor, the jokes, the subvertion and so on.
It sounds Pratchett, but it lacks that sense of anger, of fury at the injustice of the world and precise wit for social change. And Addams was just so imaginative with his metaphors and had some very hard prose that it allow you to punch you like a bank overdraft at two days to the end of the month.
Hat trick is just lack that strength. Thats all.
Honestly, the book is fine and the Narrator is quite capable. But most of its referential and humor I just have seen done a lot in other books. This is a story that should be the first entry for fantasy humor. For me, I didn't laugh or found anything original or interesting in the referential humor, the jokes, the subvertion and so on.
It sounds Pratchett, but it lacks that sense of anger, of fury at the injustice of the world and precise wit for social change. And Addams was just so imaginative with his metaphors and had some very hard prose that it allow you to punch you like a bank overdraft at two days to the end of the month.
Hat trick is just lack that strength. Thats all.
March 3, 2025
I wanted to like this book, both based on authorship and the concept. Instead, what probably was intended to be humorous fell flat, the characters lacked depth and dimension, and all of the book felt like a collection of tropes poorly put together. I finished it because I don’t like leaving books unfinished and I have a goal of working through some unfinished books this year in between series I love and can devour in what seems like no time at all. This book had me counting down the hours.
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