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The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard And Company
The Free Lands; a far off fantastical world full of noble warriors, gallant heroes and gentle souls. Sprikit The Bard is precisely none of these things. However he’s not without his own unique qualities. He enjoys the simple things in life; song, merriment and (mostly) victimless swindles.
But this little Bard carries a secret. He has a mission to do, a promise to keep, as an elite force seeks to intercept him. The journey ahead is long and dangerous with hurdles aplenty; monstrous creatures, dastardly villains, laborious hikes and most of all - Sprikit himself.
But he’s not without allies, reluctant and disdainful as they are. Help is help at the end of the day, and By the Notes does he need it. The clock is ticking. The cavalry is coming. And Sprikit The Bard doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
Bards love to tell tales of adventures, but will Sprikit last long enough to recount his own?
But this little Bard carries a secret. He has a mission to do, a promise to keep, as an elite force seeks to intercept him. The journey ahead is long and dangerous with hurdles aplenty; monstrous creatures, dastardly villains, laborious hikes and most of all - Sprikit himself.
But he’s not without allies, reluctant and disdainful as they are. Help is help at the end of the day, and By the Notes does he need it. The clock is ticking. The cavalry is coming. And Sprikit The Bard doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
Bards love to tell tales of adventures, but will Sprikit last long enough to recount his own?
478 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2024
5 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Sean O'Boyle
3 books24 followersSeán O'Boyle is an Irish, London-based, writer on his self-publishing journey. Since he was a young lad, he's loved creating stories; whether scribbling short fiction in his school copybooks, or creating dramatic home movies with his toys. He's even dabbled in the fine art of stand up comedy, with about half a dozen sitcom scripts rotting in the forgotten folders of his old laptops.
His love for fantasy grew during lockdown through reading the genre; epic, cozy and everything in between. And from this, his fantasy comedy adventure debut "The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company)" was born. Described as "Discworld meets Lies of Locke Lamora", he hopes readers will enjoy the characters, world and story he's been building for 3 years. Hopefully they might laugh too (or at least exhale sharply through their noses a few times).
His love for fantasy grew during lockdown through reading the genre; epic, cozy and everything in between. And from this, his fantasy comedy adventure debut "The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company)" was born. Described as "Discworld meets Lies of Locke Lamora", he hopes readers will enjoy the characters, world and story he's been building for 3 years. Hopefully they might laugh too (or at least exhale sharply through their noses a few times).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 21, 2024
Review originally on
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The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (and Company) is a fun and adventurous fantasy novel written by Seán O'Boyle. In the Free Lands, Sprikit, a small Bard, is trying to keep a promise, a journey carrying a lute that an elite force wants to recover it from him, but surviving to the task will be proven to be trickier than expected; but if wild travels have a thing is the ability to create strange groups.
Comparing your book to Discworld is accepting that you are trying to fill really big shoes, but honestly, in the case of O'Boyle, has passed the test with an excellent mark; while you can see there are crazy things in the Free Lands, those are part of what makes them unique, and they are accepted by all the characters, which are another of the strengths of this author.
Not only Sprikit is a danger for everybody (but most of the time for himself), but the group that ends accompanying him is also a delicious chaos, as they slowly grow into the reader, being both amazing: the Brute who levels up wisdom, and Tallew, who might like too much fighting; my only gripe in this aspect might be on the main villain, as it lands on the cartoonish side, in contrast with the rest of the cast.
As previously mentioned, the Free Lands are a quite quirky and interesting setting, partly inspired by classic fantasy elements and D&D, but with its own lore and history, which is smoothly introduced, avoiding info-dumpings, making it a natural part of the storytelling (and there is not better storyteller for this that our own Bard).
The pacing is really adequate for this kind of story, structuring the whole book in some sort of smaller encounters/situations that tied together creates the metaphorical campaign we are reading.
If you are looking for a book that will make you feel like reading a new Discworld, definitely give a try to The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (And Company); O'Boyle has nailed his debut, and I can't wait to see him writing more books like this one in the future!
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (and Company) is a fun and adventurous fantasy novel written by Seán O'Boyle. In the Free Lands, Sprikit, a small Bard, is trying to keep a promise, a journey carrying a lute that an elite force wants to recover it from him, but surviving to the task will be proven to be trickier than expected; but if wild travels have a thing is the ability to create strange groups.
Comparing your book to Discworld is accepting that you are trying to fill really big shoes, but honestly, in the case of O'Boyle, has passed the test with an excellent mark; while you can see there are crazy things in the Free Lands, those are part of what makes them unique, and they are accepted by all the characters, which are another of the strengths of this author.
Not only Sprikit is a danger for everybody (but most of the time for himself), but the group that ends accompanying him is also a delicious chaos, as they slowly grow into the reader, being both amazing: the Brute who levels up wisdom, and Tallew, who might like too much fighting; my only gripe in this aspect might be on the main villain, as it lands on the cartoonish side, in contrast with the rest of the cast.
As previously mentioned, the Free Lands are a quite quirky and interesting setting, partly inspired by classic fantasy elements and D&D, but with its own lore and history, which is smoothly introduced, avoiding info-dumpings, making it a natural part of the storytelling (and there is not better storyteller for this that our own Bard).
The pacing is really adequate for this kind of story, structuring the whole book in some sort of smaller encounters/situations that tied together creates the metaphorical campaign we are reading.
If you are looking for a book that will make you feel like reading a new Discworld, definitely give a try to The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (And Company); O'Boyle has nailed his debut, and I can't wait to see him writing more books like this one in the future!
September 19, 2025
Fun, hilarious, and emotional, this journey with Sprikit (and company) was absolutely amazing. I loved it all, especially the way Sean blended in backstory throughout the adventures in present day, and I really hope to see more of this crew in the future. I can't recommend this enough!
September 23, 2024
This was an absolutely wonderful book. Hilarious situations, scheming bards, high stakes situations, and lovable characters.
Sprikit is a bit of a ne’er so well. Or so it seems. He using a group of Brutes (a created race sort of like a Stone-covered orc for me) to steal their money. However, suddenly he and one of the brutes, Torg, are on the run from the law. They’re joined by Tallew, a fighter. Lots of shenanigans happen! The humor really worked well and this was such a satisfying read.
Five lutes out of five.
Sprikit is a bit of a ne’er so well. Or so it seems. He using a group of Brutes (a created race sort of like a Stone-covered orc for me) to steal their money. However, suddenly he and one of the brutes, Torg, are on the run from the law. They’re joined by Tallew, a fighter. Lots of shenanigans happen! The humor really worked well and this was such a satisfying read.
Five lutes out of five.
May 5, 2024
I have been on a recommendation reading marathon! There's still a few weeks left until SPFBO starts so I'm trying to get through some fun reads. The person who recommended it said it was vaguely like Terry Pratchett's style, and so I was definitely interested.
As the title suggests, Sprikit is a bard. He's a little guy standing about 4 foot tall, and he's also kind of an ass. He's a con-man who takes advantage of people he perceives as stupid, and yet, at the start of the book he's facing the consequences of selling magic beans to people who did not experience any post-purchase magic. Me, the reader, is left wondering who is actually the dumbass since he's the one facing death by FAFO. But, yet again, he manages to talk his way out of it promising 10x the money they paid for the beans if they just let him go. He will totally, absolutely, definitely pay them back. It's a sure thing. He does have some Dibbler vibes so I can see the Pratchett comparison. Sprikit is also a magic bard, and he's able to change the minds of people who listen to his music, and he can even somewhat control people's behavior through suggestions.
One thing leads to another and Sprikit ends up accused of something he actually didn't do, and it's pretty serious. He also manages to wrangle the poor bean-buying victims into this new horseshit, and now Sprikit has to set out on an adventure with someone who doesn't like him, lol.
I'm not entirely sure I ever liked Sprikit. That seems to be a running theme for all the books I've read so far this month and that was not on purpose, lol. Sprikit has lived a life with very little in the way of a conscience. He knows that he sold regular beans for the price of two months wages to these "brutes" and they tell him they might starve now, and he's like "oh, shucks, sorry!" Many times what makes a con artist endearing is a Robin Hood vibe, stealing from the rich, not those who may starve as a result of their cons. I do believe you're supposed to find him a bit repelling as he gets verbally chastised by the people he thinks are "ignorant." Now, he does go on a journey and gets better over the course of the book, and he also has a very strong foil character who outshines him in a lot of ways. You do get this sad backstory including how he had no family and his only mentor and he parted ways on bad terms etc. It wasn't quite enough for me to get past the fact he would let people starve to death if it meant he got a buck.
This is set in a very classic medieval/high fantasy type society and civilization. Horses and wagons, taverns and inns, rolling landscape, various types of classic fantasy races, and it could definitely pass as a little D&D-esque.
I'd recommend this for people who like redemption arcs, opposites paired together, snarky characters, con artist characters, non human characters, shorter books, and a DND type storyline.
As the title suggests, Sprikit is a bard. He's a little guy standing about 4 foot tall, and he's also kind of an ass. He's a con-man who takes advantage of people he perceives as stupid, and yet, at the start of the book he's facing the consequences of selling magic beans to people who did not experience any post-purchase magic. Me, the reader, is left wondering who is actually the dumbass since he's the one facing death by FAFO. But, yet again, he manages to talk his way out of it promising 10x the money they paid for the beans if they just let him go. He will totally, absolutely, definitely pay them back. It's a sure thing. He does have some Dibbler vibes so I can see the Pratchett comparison. Sprikit is also a magic bard, and he's able to change the minds of people who listen to his music, and he can even somewhat control people's behavior through suggestions.
One thing leads to another and Sprikit ends up accused of something he actually didn't do, and it's pretty serious. He also manages to wrangle the poor bean-buying victims into this new horseshit, and now Sprikit has to set out on an adventure with someone who doesn't like him, lol.
I'm not entirely sure I ever liked Sprikit. That seems to be a running theme for all the books I've read so far this month and that was not on purpose, lol. Sprikit has lived a life with very little in the way of a conscience. He knows that he sold regular beans for the price of two months wages to these "brutes" and they tell him they might starve now, and he's like "oh, shucks, sorry!" Many times what makes a con artist endearing is a Robin Hood vibe, stealing from the rich, not those who may starve as a result of their cons. I do believe you're supposed to find him a bit repelling as he gets verbally chastised by the people he thinks are "ignorant." Now, he does go on a journey and gets better over the course of the book, and he also has a very strong foil character who outshines him in a lot of ways. You do get this sad backstory including how he had no family and his only mentor and he parted ways on bad terms etc. It wasn't quite enough for me to get past the fact he would let people starve to death if it meant he got a buck.
This is set in a very classic medieval/high fantasy type society and civilization. Horses and wagons, taverns and inns, rolling landscape, various types of classic fantasy races, and it could definitely pass as a little D&D-esque.
I'd recommend this for people who like redemption arcs, opposites paired together, snarky characters, con artist characters, non human characters, shorter books, and a DND type storyline.
October 7, 2024
This is a fantastic read. Sprikit and his unlikely band of 'friends'—a group thrown together when the Galzar soldiers come racing into Duskhold, accusing Sprikit and the rest of them of all sorts of things—embark on a journey filled with amusing and laugh-out-loud moments, yet there are also poignant and moving scenes.
For me, the story really comes together when we gain insights into Sprikit's past through the various retrospective chapters. These glimpses deepen our understanding of him, allowing us to see Sprikit in a whole new light. O'Boyle demonstrates a remarkable talent for weaving together the comical and the tragic while crafting an engaging plot and a memorable cast. He tackles the difficult subject of alcohol addiction through Sprikit's mentor, and I found myself sympathising with the bard in ways I hadn't expected.
The pacing is perfect, and I was reluctant to finish the book because I was enjoying it so much. But I should have trusted O'Boyle, as he delivers a satisfying conclusion, leaving us just enough breadcrumbs of intrigue to anticipate the next book. I liked Sprikit a lot, and Tallew is a strong and loyal woman, but Torg, the brute, ended up being my favorite! I’m eagerly awaiting the next adventure.
For me, the story really comes together when we gain insights into Sprikit's past through the various retrospective chapters. These glimpses deepen our understanding of him, allowing us to see Sprikit in a whole new light. O'Boyle demonstrates a remarkable talent for weaving together the comical and the tragic while crafting an engaging plot and a memorable cast. He tackles the difficult subject of alcohol addiction through Sprikit's mentor, and I found myself sympathising with the bard in ways I hadn't expected.
The pacing is perfect, and I was reluctant to finish the book because I was enjoying it so much. But I should have trusted O'Boyle, as he delivers a satisfying conclusion, leaving us just enough breadcrumbs of intrigue to anticipate the next book. I liked Sprikit a lot, and Tallew is a strong and loyal woman, but Torg, the brute, ended up being my favorite! I’m eagerly awaiting the next adventure.
November 18, 2024
I was given an ARC for the purposes of the review, and while I have only been lucky enough to receive a few ARCs before this one I can still say HANDS DOWN this is the best debut novel from an indie author I have been lucky enough to read!
The world-building in this book wasn't done through huge walls of text or lore dumps, but rather in such a sensory way just through the characters interacting with and exploring the world itself, and even just the way things were named and the use of language really made this world feel fresh and original and come to life. For example, rather than those that play a healing role be called words we have heard before like "Healer" or "Cleric" or "Mender," those that could use healing skills and magic were "Remediers." The author masterfully spent the whole book SHOWING us the world and the character's feelings and motivations, instead of TELLING us.
Pacing and structure were also divine, the way the flashbacks were interspersed with the present chapters made the story unfold in such a well thought-out way. Even the chapter names were funny, clever, poignant, and well thought-out and made me excited to read them.
The characters were so lovable and I enjoyed how they all started out somewhat simple and just grew more interesting and three-dimensional as the book went on. I also loved the balance of some common tropes for bards used alongside turning other bard tropes on their head. I am fairly certain there was a line that implied our beloved bard was asexual and as an avid DND player where the constant theme for bards is that they will flirt with anything with a pulse (and even some without), this was so refreshing and we love some representation.
On that note, this is the HIGHEST praise I can give this book, I have SO MANY character ideas for DND after reading this, especially bards, and the way the author used his bardic magic system I think should be turned into a whole new "college" for dnd or TTRPGs in general. This book felt like reading an incredibly entertaining DND campaign, I could go on and on about it for hours, and it was the perfect mix of cozy fantasy and adventure.
The world-building in this book wasn't done through huge walls of text or lore dumps, but rather in such a sensory way just through the characters interacting with and exploring the world itself, and even just the way things were named and the use of language really made this world feel fresh and original and come to life. For example, rather than those that play a healing role be called words we have heard before like "Healer" or "Cleric" or "Mender," those that could use healing skills and magic were "Remediers." The author masterfully spent the whole book SHOWING us the world and the character's feelings and motivations, instead of TELLING us.
Pacing and structure were also divine, the way the flashbacks were interspersed with the present chapters made the story unfold in such a well thought-out way. Even the chapter names were funny, clever, poignant, and well thought-out and made me excited to read them.
The characters were so lovable and I enjoyed how they all started out somewhat simple and just grew more interesting and three-dimensional as the book went on. I also loved the balance of some common tropes for bards used alongside turning other bard tropes on their head. I am fairly certain there was a line that implied our beloved bard was asexual and as an avid DND player where the constant theme for bards is that they will flirt with anything with a pulse (and even some without), this was so refreshing and we love some representation.
On that note, this is the HIGHEST praise I can give this book, I have SO MANY character ideas for DND after reading this, especially bards, and the way the author used his bardic magic system I think should be turned into a whole new "college" for dnd or TTRPGs in general. This book felt like reading an incredibly entertaining DND campaign, I could go on and on about it for hours, and it was the perfect mix of cozy fantasy and adventure.
March 23, 2024
Ocean's 11 by way of The Nice Guys, these characters and their adventure had me hooked right away. Twists in the plot and details of the protagonists revealed themselves so well, I just couldn't wait to see what happened next. The combination of laugh-out-loud lines, pacy plotting and really sensitive character writing is incredible. I'm not a fantasy fan particularly, but would recommend this book to literally anyone.
Read
April 2, 2024When I first picked up this novel I honestly did not expect a great read, and now I can happily say that I was pleasantly and completely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It is a great story with compelling characters and a lovely pace that always keeps the reader interested.
The world building I also feel is quite eloquent in its development, while giving the reader a good background of the world and its landscape it never gets in any way bogged down in detail.
The characters and their development throughout the book was also done beautifully with the three main characters of Sprickit, Torg and Tallew all wonderfully different, but each intriguing in their own way.
I have to say for a first novel for an aspiring author it is a superb book which I would recommend to anyone, 10/10 in my opinion.
The world building I also feel is quite eloquent in its development, while giving the reader a good background of the world and its landscape it never gets in any way bogged down in detail.
The characters and their development throughout the book was also done beautifully with the three main characters of Sprickit, Torg and Tallew all wonderfully different, but each intriguing in their own way.
I have to say for a first novel for an aspiring author it is a superb book which I would recommend to anyone, 10/10 in my opinion.
November 14, 2024
4.5
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and it's fun story and quirky characters stuck with me, so I'm delighted to review it now it's published.
Sprikit isn't a likeable character in that you don't want to take him into your arms and give him a big cuddle, but he sure is compelling, witty, and rather like a naughty child you can't help but indulgently follow on his adventures. And what adventures - this story is brisk, full of twists and turns and ultimately, I think a bit of a classic 'buddy adventure' in the making. I did really like some of his colleagues though.
The world is pseudo-medieval, so should appeal to LOTR fans and the easy reading and wit of Pratchett.
A well-rounded story and character arcs make this a great fun read.
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and it's fun story and quirky characters stuck with me, so I'm delighted to review it now it's published.
Sprikit isn't a likeable character in that you don't want to take him into your arms and give him a big cuddle, but he sure is compelling, witty, and rather like a naughty child you can't help but indulgently follow on his adventures. And what adventures - this story is brisk, full of twists and turns and ultimately, I think a bit of a classic 'buddy adventure' in the making. I did really like some of his colleagues though.
The world is pseudo-medieval, so should appeal to LOTR fans and the easy reading and wit of Pratchett.
A well-rounded story and character arcs make this a great fun read.
Want to read
October 24, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A bard is roughed up by two troll-like brutes who he almost got away with swindling. He saves his neck by promising them a cut of his latest scam, but for how long?!
This is off to an absolutely pitch-perfect start. I’m wowd by its focus, tone, and sense of dramatic action using little more than dialogue and a pair of Brutes occasionally laying into our 4-foot bard in a barn.
The dialogue is the star of the show here. It expertly reveals character and develops story. This isn’t to diminish the prose in the least, which also does a great job of establishing our rapscallion MC.
The opening scene is developed through its dialogue, tho, to humorous, active effect. It doesn’t drag for a minute, creates more problems for our MC even as he juuust managed to negotiate for his life, and propels to readers to the next chapter at pace.
I’m reminded of my favorite of the Witcher stories as I read. The opening is violent without being the least gruesome, a little dark, but witty, tinged with grounded fairy tale details (magic beans), and totally charming (the beans were fake).
Our diminutive bard is a naughty fellow, tricking stupid brutes and gambling on fixed fights, and who knows what else. I love a good rogue, tho, and I find myself absolutely rooting for him!
This has sprinkled some nice linguistic world building into its narrative as well, which, along with new takes on fantasy races/kinds, makes the world of this fantasy feel fresh to me.
It is almost 500 pages, making me worry the story won’t stay as tight as it has begun, but if the narrative can continue to hold my interest as well as it has so far, I’ll never want it to end.
I can’t guess just where this will go next, but it’s for me hook, line, and sinker. It’s lively, nails it’s time, and is off to a great start! I bought it! Im in!
A bard is roughed up by two troll-like brutes who he almost got away with swindling. He saves his neck by promising them a cut of his latest scam, but for how long?!
This is off to an absolutely pitch-perfect start. I’m wowd by its focus, tone, and sense of dramatic action using little more than dialogue and a pair of Brutes occasionally laying into our 4-foot bard in a barn.
The dialogue is the star of the show here. It expertly reveals character and develops story. This isn’t to diminish the prose in the least, which also does a great job of establishing our rapscallion MC.
The opening scene is developed through its dialogue, tho, to humorous, active effect. It doesn’t drag for a minute, creates more problems for our MC even as he juuust managed to negotiate for his life, and propels to readers to the next chapter at pace.
I’m reminded of my favorite of the Witcher stories as I read. The opening is violent without being the least gruesome, a little dark, but witty, tinged with grounded fairy tale details (magic beans), and totally charming (the beans were fake).
Our diminutive bard is a naughty fellow, tricking stupid brutes and gambling on fixed fights, and who knows what else. I love a good rogue, tho, and I find myself absolutely rooting for him!
This has sprinkled some nice linguistic world building into its narrative as well, which, along with new takes on fantasy races/kinds, makes the world of this fantasy feel fresh to me.
It is almost 500 pages, making me worry the story won’t stay as tight as it has begun, but if the narrative can continue to hold my interest as well as it has so far, I’ll never want it to end.
I can’t guess just where this will go next, but it’s for me hook, line, and sinker. It’s lively, nails it’s time, and is off to a great start! I bought it! Im in!
September 13, 2024
Sprikit the bard and his company kept me sane during a very long flight.
I picked this unassuming book along with dozens of others during last month's indie sale. Started reading it just to check if it would be added to the TBR or not. And I couldn't put it down.
The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard And Company is a fantastic debut. Funny, witty, filled with banter and adventure. Well written and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour.
I picked this unassuming book along with dozens of others during last month's indie sale. Started reading it just to check if it would be added to the TBR or not. And I couldn't put it down.
The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard And Company is a fantastic debut. Funny, witty, filled with banter and adventure. Well written and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour.
September 3, 2024
It's very seldom that any book compared to Discworld is remotely close to the genius that was Sir Terry Pratchett, and this is not one of the rare exceptions, as far as I am concerned. I found it mildly amusing at best. At least it doesn't, like most of the Discworld would-be imitators, rely solely on stupid fantasy tropes and silly names for characters that are about as deep as the ink on the paper; there is some depth developed for the main character. There's not as much as I'd like, though, and the secondary characters, even the ones who are onscreen a lot, remain little more than their archetype plus their plot role. The setting is an extremely generic sword-and-sorcery world, though with hardly any magic in it. About the only original note is something I didn't find credible: the story takes place in the Free Lands, a lordless buffer zone between two large kingdoms/empires, which, though it certainly contains criminals hiding out from the law, is remarkably free of ruthless warlords taking advantage of the power vacuum, and seems to run surprisingly smoothly for the most part. Also, soldiers from one of the neighbouring powers are free to wander round it without anyone challenging their right to be there pursuing a supposed criminal (the main character, who has been framed). And I was never clear on who was minting the currency they used; maybe it came from one or other of the neighbouring powers.
Not only is it far from Terry Pratchett, it's not to be compared with The Lies of Locke Lamora , either. Where that book involves subtle and elaborate heists, this book mostly involves Sprikit telling lies that wouldn't fool a chicken and then having to flee when they are inevitably seen through.
My common-errors bingo card filled up quickly; especially prevalent were missing commas after such sentence-introductory words as "well" and "yes," and before and after terms of address (a very basic rule), but also commas inserted between adjectives that shouldn't have them. There are some mispunctuated sentences of dialog, a few sentences that don't make logical or grammatical sense or use the wrong preposition, and some vocabulary issues, notably "phase" for "faze," "wretched" for "retched" and "wailing" for "whaling," all common mistakes, but also "hilt" to mean "sheath," "namesake" to mean "name," and "binds" to mean "bonds" or "bindings". Apostrophes are often in the wrong place when a plural noun is involved, the past perfect tense is not always present where it should be (and sometimes when it is there, the verb is in the wrong form, though this may just be the author's dialect), and "may" is consistently used in past tense narration where it should be "might". "Lay" is used a couple of times for "laid" (a common overcorrection for an even more common error). All of these issues, as I say, are ones I see a lot, but here we see not only all of them but dozens of instances of some of them, which degrades my reading experience compared to a well-edited book. At just over halfway through (which is where I stopped), I had marked nearly 150 issues, and I'd stopped marking "Well" at the start of a sentence with no comma to follow it, because there were so many instances of it I would have been constantly marking them. This makes it, at a rough calculation, approximately 12 times as bad as the average book I read in terms of number of errors.
The book has strengths as well. Some of the set-pieces are well paced, with a good ebb and flow of tension as the protagonist almost escapes, then is very nearly caught, then is forced to an even more desperate action and almost escapes again... The closing in of the villain on the party gives us some sustained tension too, though not so much so that I wanted to keep slogging through the mediocrity in order to finish it.
Overall, it's a generic fantasy that I didn't find all that funny, or at all deep, and that needed a ton more editing. The author shows promise, but will need a lot more work to reach his potential.
Not only is it far from Terry Pratchett, it's not to be compared with The Lies of Locke Lamora , either. Where that book involves subtle and elaborate heists, this book mostly involves Sprikit telling lies that wouldn't fool a chicken and then having to flee when they are inevitably seen through.
My common-errors bingo card filled up quickly; especially prevalent were missing commas after such sentence-introductory words as "well" and "yes," and before and after terms of address (a very basic rule), but also commas inserted between adjectives that shouldn't have them. There are some mispunctuated sentences of dialog, a few sentences that don't make logical or grammatical sense or use the wrong preposition, and some vocabulary issues, notably "phase" for "faze," "wretched" for "retched" and "wailing" for "whaling," all common mistakes, but also "hilt" to mean "sheath," "namesake" to mean "name," and "binds" to mean "bonds" or "bindings". Apostrophes are often in the wrong place when a plural noun is involved, the past perfect tense is not always present where it should be (and sometimes when it is there, the verb is in the wrong form, though this may just be the author's dialect), and "may" is consistently used in past tense narration where it should be "might". "Lay" is used a couple of times for "laid" (a common overcorrection for an even more common error). All of these issues, as I say, are ones I see a lot, but here we see not only all of them but dozens of instances of some of them, which degrades my reading experience compared to a well-edited book. At just over halfway through (which is where I stopped), I had marked nearly 150 issues, and I'd stopped marking "Well" at the start of a sentence with no comma to follow it, because there were so many instances of it I would have been constantly marking them. This makes it, at a rough calculation, approximately 12 times as bad as the average book I read in terms of number of errors.
The book has strengths as well. Some of the set-pieces are well paced, with a good ebb and flow of tension as the protagonist almost escapes, then is very nearly caught, then is forced to an even more desperate action and almost escapes again... The closing in of the villain on the party gives us some sustained tension too, though not so much so that I wanted to keep slogging through the mediocrity in order to finish it.
Overall, it's a generic fantasy that I didn't find all that funny, or at all deep, and that needed a ton more editing. The author shows promise, but will need a lot more work to reach his potential.
March 30, 2025
I heard a lot of hype about this book during it's release and that peaked my interest. Along comes a readathon that had a suitable prompt, so I jumped at the chance to get this off my ever-growing tbr. I did finish it and I did like it but there were things that did sour my enjoyment somewhat. So what exactly was my problem?
To begin with, there are an awful lot of things to enjoy about The Ballard of Sprikit the Bard and Company. The plot is a neat twist on the usual adventure - Sprikit has a quest to return to Medin (Bard central) and ropes in some unlikely co-conspirators along the way. There are several mishaps and the company must use all of their talents to resolve them. It was a fun plot and I liked the interactions between the characters. It does (eventually) give a found family feeling to the procedures, even if one character does their best to unintentionally sabotage it. I also really liked the character arc for Torg. I would have loved a bit more information about the Ones but I did enjoy what we did learn.
I have read some comparisons with Terry Pratchett and I can see it. This does give the feeling of an early Discworld and I particularly got Rincewind and Twoflowers vibes from the character interactions. The humour is evident throughout the events, as there should be with any good farce. I did find some of it not always landing but humour in books is always so difficult to pull off and most of it had me smiling.
So, what didn't I like? Well, the main one was Sprikit himself. Which could frankly be a problem when you are not gelling with the main character. Sprikit is a Bard and is meant to be a rogue but I just found that what was supposed to be a charm offensive sometimes came off as mean-spirited. I didn't find him as charasmatic as I think I should have and it did colour my reading a bit. Yes, we find out his back story and yes, yes, it is very sad but I found him to be a very unsympathetic character. It does get a bit better towards the end but he was not my favourite by a long way.
The other thing that gave me some pause was the unresolved issues at the end. From what I can tell, this is a stand alone, which means that those questions will never be resolved. Now, I know that life is like that and we don't always get the complete package. However, if I'm reading Fantasy, I don't really want it to be imitating real life. I'm reading fantasy because it is Fantastical. So, I would like all the issues presented reolved, in a box with a neat little bow. The unresolved issues in Sprikit the Bard were not central to the plot but were large enough to have me looking for further pages once I'd finished. There will be no spoilers here but one concerned Torg and one concerned Yulius. There may have been more.
This does feel a bit negative but I *did* enjoy Sprikit the Bard. I thought the plot and progression was great and the resolution was neat. I liked the farcical nature of some of the scenes and found the humour to be sustained throughout. To be enjoyed if you like comic romps a la early Pratchett
To begin with, there are an awful lot of things to enjoy about The Ballard of Sprikit the Bard and Company. The plot is a neat twist on the usual adventure - Sprikit has a quest to return to Medin (Bard central) and ropes in some unlikely co-conspirators along the way. There are several mishaps and the company must use all of their talents to resolve them. It was a fun plot and I liked the interactions between the characters. It does (eventually) give a found family feeling to the procedures, even if one character does their best to unintentionally sabotage it. I also really liked the character arc for Torg. I would have loved a bit more information about the Ones but I did enjoy what we did learn.
I have read some comparisons with Terry Pratchett and I can see it. This does give the feeling of an early Discworld and I particularly got Rincewind and Twoflowers vibes from the character interactions. The humour is evident throughout the events, as there should be with any good farce. I did find some of it not always landing but humour in books is always so difficult to pull off and most of it had me smiling.
So, what didn't I like? Well, the main one was Sprikit himself. Which could frankly be a problem when you are not gelling with the main character. Sprikit is a Bard and is meant to be a rogue but I just found that what was supposed to be a charm offensive sometimes came off as mean-spirited. I didn't find him as charasmatic as I think I should have and it did colour my reading a bit. Yes, we find out his back story and yes, yes, it is very sad but I found him to be a very unsympathetic character. It does get a bit better towards the end but he was not my favourite by a long way.
The other thing that gave me some pause was the unresolved issues at the end. From what I can tell, this is a stand alone, which means that those questions will never be resolved. Now, I know that life is like that and we don't always get the complete package. However, if I'm reading Fantasy, I don't really want it to be imitating real life. I'm reading fantasy because it is Fantastical. So, I would like all the issues presented reolved, in a box with a neat little bow. The unresolved issues in Sprikit the Bard were not central to the plot but were large enough to have me looking for further pages once I'd finished. There will be no spoilers here but one concerned Torg and one concerned Yulius. There may have been more.
This does feel a bit negative but I *did* enjoy Sprikit the Bard. I thought the plot and progression was great and the resolution was neat. I liked the farcical nature of some of the scenes and found the humour to be sustained throughout. To be enjoyed if you like comic romps a la early Pratchett
October 17, 2025
A fun, lighthearted fantasy adventure that is clearly well thought out and laced with passion. Though it may seem a stereotypical fantasy tale at first (swords, horses, bards, taverns, magic, and the like,) the fun of this novel’s world building comes in how it challenges those preconceived notions. Familiar concepts like the charismatic bard, the old mentor, the evil army, the hulking brute, and the hand-to-hand fighter are delightfully twisted on their head and makes everything far more memorable.
It does feel very much like a DnD adventure. A band of wildly different and unlikely companions are thrust together towards a common goal, with plenty of smaller adventures and set pieces throughout. Though, in contrast to a DnD game, each of these little adventures ends up playing a key role in the larger events of the story. I was shocked at how many little details from chapters ago still came up by the end.
On top of that, as others have noted in their reviews, we’re given information on the world and its people through the story itself, and only as it comes naturally through the story. There is no lecturing on history or characters suddenly reciting tons of exposition on the verge of breaking the fourth wall. You get to learn about the world and characters as they adventure through it. My favorite bit is when we learn about the history of how the Free Lands were established.
And yet, even though we learn plenty through the novel, there is still plenty left that leaves you wondering. I think it’s hard for a fantasy novel to strike a balance between mystery and detail. When it is struck, it leaves you wondering about the world even after you’ve finished. And that also makes the world itself feel like a proper world: a large, lived-in place with much to uncover, rather than just a stage for the story. This novel accomplishes that, and I love it.
It also does what I think is often overlooked in any good adventure, which is to make the side characters and average people very colorful and memorable in their own right. It makes every adventure the characters go on feel lively and further sells that feeling of this being a world that would exist whether the main story was taking place or not.
The main story itself is equal parts tense, exciting, and funny. This book really does have a sense of humor, and it’s refreshing against many other fantasy novels that take themselves so seriously. Still, though, there are some serious moments and deeper emotions weaved throughout that help ground the narrative and made me care for the characters.
I also want to note that I loved all the Irish prose in the book. There were even some clear nods to European Spanish as well. I’m so sick of fantasy series defaulting to everyone sounding British. More stuff like this, please!
Overall, this book sold me on its premise entirely. It’s an ADVENTURE, and it felt like one. I hope I may get to travel the Free Lands with Sprikit and his Company again soon
It does feel very much like a DnD adventure. A band of wildly different and unlikely companions are thrust together towards a common goal, with plenty of smaller adventures and set pieces throughout. Though, in contrast to a DnD game, each of these little adventures ends up playing a key role in the larger events of the story. I was shocked at how many little details from chapters ago still came up by the end.
On top of that, as others have noted in their reviews, we’re given information on the world and its people through the story itself, and only as it comes naturally through the story. There is no lecturing on history or characters suddenly reciting tons of exposition on the verge of breaking the fourth wall. You get to learn about the world and characters as they adventure through it. My favorite bit is when we learn about the history of how the Free Lands were established.
And yet, even though we learn plenty through the novel, there is still plenty left that leaves you wondering. I think it’s hard for a fantasy novel to strike a balance between mystery and detail. When it is struck, it leaves you wondering about the world even after you’ve finished. And that also makes the world itself feel like a proper world: a large, lived-in place with much to uncover, rather than just a stage for the story. This novel accomplishes that, and I love it.
It also does what I think is often overlooked in any good adventure, which is to make the side characters and average people very colorful and memorable in their own right. It makes every adventure the characters go on feel lively and further sells that feeling of this being a world that would exist whether the main story was taking place or not.
The main story itself is equal parts tense, exciting, and funny. This book really does have a sense of humor, and it’s refreshing against many other fantasy novels that take themselves so seriously. Still, though, there are some serious moments and deeper emotions weaved throughout that help ground the narrative and made me care for the characters.
I also want to note that I loved all the Irish prose in the book. There were even some clear nods to European Spanish as well. I’m so sick of fantasy series defaulting to everyone sounding British. More stuff like this, please!
Overall, this book sold me on its premise entirely. It’s an ADVENTURE, and it felt like one. I hope I may get to travel the Free Lands with Sprikit and his Company again soon
March 2, 2025
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard and Company came highly recommended from several trusted sources so when it finally made its way to the top of my TBR stack I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. (Spoiler - it absolutely did!)
Sprikit is a Bard, plucked from obscurity on the streets of a town in the Free Lands as a boy by Sazari, a Bard who rescued him from being arrested as a thief and decided to train him in the Bardic arts. As the years pass a falling out between the two sees them parting ways but Sprikit still feels a debt of gratitude to his former mentor. He's also willing to bend the rules a little, or a lot to get what he wants and is not averse to a little swindle here and there. He never expected to find himself the subject of a manhunt but something of a misunderstanding means that some very scary people are out to get him at any cost and if he is to have any hope of evading capture and fulfilling an obligation that weighs heavily on him and his sense of honor he will need allies, a Company of his own. Those allies come in some very unlikely forms including a young professional fighter out to prove her worth and Brute who provides reluctant help despite his disdain for Sprikit and his ways.
This was such a fun and funny read, Sprikit is something of a likeable rogue and while I was not sure about him at first, by the end of the book he had grown on me to such an extent that I did not want the book to end. I also loved his companions, especially Tallew, the slightly prickly but very loveable fighter with a point to prove. Torg the "Brute" character subverts expectations by acting as a foil to the morally grey Sprikit and I thought this was a clever little twist. The setting of the Free Lands felt like the perfect world for this kind of story , there's magic and adventure, Lords and villains ( and even Lords who are villains), thieves and traitors. and it is so well built over the course of the book that it feels real and ready for more stories. ( hint, hint)
The pacing is smooth, the book is largely made up of episodes set in the current day with several interspersed chapters that give the reader the story of how Sprikit ended up where we first met him and I think that structure works very well for this type of story, it almost feels like a ballad split into verses and chorus, which is obviously fitting.
If this is Sprikit's first single, I'm ready for the album!
Sprikit is a Bard, plucked from obscurity on the streets of a town in the Free Lands as a boy by Sazari, a Bard who rescued him from being arrested as a thief and decided to train him in the Bardic arts. As the years pass a falling out between the two sees them parting ways but Sprikit still feels a debt of gratitude to his former mentor. He's also willing to bend the rules a little, or a lot to get what he wants and is not averse to a little swindle here and there. He never expected to find himself the subject of a manhunt but something of a misunderstanding means that some very scary people are out to get him at any cost and if he is to have any hope of evading capture and fulfilling an obligation that weighs heavily on him and his sense of honor he will need allies, a Company of his own. Those allies come in some very unlikely forms including a young professional fighter out to prove her worth and Brute who provides reluctant help despite his disdain for Sprikit and his ways.
This was such a fun and funny read, Sprikit is something of a likeable rogue and while I was not sure about him at first, by the end of the book he had grown on me to such an extent that I did not want the book to end. I also loved his companions, especially Tallew, the slightly prickly but very loveable fighter with a point to prove. Torg the "Brute" character subverts expectations by acting as a foil to the morally grey Sprikit and I thought this was a clever little twist. The setting of the Free Lands felt like the perfect world for this kind of story , there's magic and adventure, Lords and villains ( and even Lords who are villains), thieves and traitors. and it is so well built over the course of the book that it feels real and ready for more stories. ( hint, hint)
The pacing is smooth, the book is largely made up of episodes set in the current day with several interspersed chapters that give the reader the story of how Sprikit ended up where we first met him and I think that structure works very well for this type of story, it almost feels like a ballad split into verses and chorus, which is obviously fitting.
If this is Sprikit's first single, I'm ready for the album!
August 26, 2025
This author wasn't on my radar at all until I saw a review of Checks, Balances and Proper Procedure in Monster Hunting and fell in love with it on reading. On the realisation that it was a spin off of the main series, that instantly went on my list. If there's one thing I can say, it's that the author likes a long title - The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard And Company doesn't exactly fly off the tongue!
This is great fun as a read. It's got a cozy feel to it, but also has danger and tension. It's absolutely humorous, but in an 'ode to Terry Pratchett' way that merges comedy and reality so that it also feels real and poignant. It's got a high fantasy feel to it, although the author has his own races and species, but the main narrative is in a way very low stakes with the quest being an incredibly personal one. It's fun, snarky and merges comedy and tragedy a whim.
Sprikit is a bard and probably a fairly good one. We'd know more about that if he wasn't busier being a rogue and robbing the poor for the sake of the poorer - aka, himself. We find him in the process of being drowned by three Brutes who figured out those magic beans he was selling weren't actually magic after all. Through the gift of the gab, he convinces them he can get their money back but nothing goes quite to plan and he ends up on the run with people who don't particularly like him very much, one of whom he absolutely swindled.
I genuinely enjoyed this from start to finish. I loved the way the world built up around the reader and was full of quirky and dangerous intricacies. I loved Sprikit even though he's a trickster and a rogue and would sell your grandmother if it made him a couple of coins. I loved the way the relationships between the characters grew and developed and the way the characters themselves developed throughout the novel. I appreciated the way the author integrated the flashback scenes to give a deeper understanding of where Sprikit came from and why his personal quest and the lute he carries is so important. And most of all, I loved the fact that this was just great fun to read.
All in all, this is an excellent read. If you're looking for something a little bit different that merges epic fantasy tropes with a cozy fantasy feel and a quirky world, this is very much worth picking up. The author has definitely gone on my watch list as I have enjoyed both of the books that I've read this challenge immensely.
This is great fun as a read. It's got a cozy feel to it, but also has danger and tension. It's absolutely humorous, but in an 'ode to Terry Pratchett' way that merges comedy and reality so that it also feels real and poignant. It's got a high fantasy feel to it, although the author has his own races and species, but the main narrative is in a way very low stakes with the quest being an incredibly personal one. It's fun, snarky and merges comedy and tragedy a whim.
Sprikit is a bard and probably a fairly good one. We'd know more about that if he wasn't busier being a rogue and robbing the poor for the sake of the poorer - aka, himself. We find him in the process of being drowned by three Brutes who figured out those magic beans he was selling weren't actually magic after all. Through the gift of the gab, he convinces them he can get their money back but nothing goes quite to plan and he ends up on the run with people who don't particularly like him very much, one of whom he absolutely swindled.
I genuinely enjoyed this from start to finish. I loved the way the world built up around the reader and was full of quirky and dangerous intricacies. I loved Sprikit even though he's a trickster and a rogue and would sell your grandmother if it made him a couple of coins. I loved the way the relationships between the characters grew and developed and the way the characters themselves developed throughout the novel. I appreciated the way the author integrated the flashback scenes to give a deeper understanding of where Sprikit came from and why his personal quest and the lute he carries is so important. And most of all, I loved the fact that this was just great fun to read.
All in all, this is an excellent read. If you're looking for something a little bit different that merges epic fantasy tropes with a cozy fantasy feel and a quirky world, this is very much worth picking up. The author has definitely gone on my watch list as I have enjoyed both of the books that I've read this challenge immensely.
March 12, 2025
Sprikit is on a mission, but that won't stop him from performing a song or doing a bit of light theft along the way. When his past catches up to him along with an army, he finds two unlikely co-conspirators to assist in his journey and maybe even put on a show or two.
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard and Company is a masterpiece. What starts off as a silly romp following a lovable but chaotic bard, quickly turns into a heartfelt tale of found family.
Starting off with a nerdy rant: The structure of Sprikit is perfect. The main story is a simple travel quest where the characters are trying to reach a certain city with everything going wrong along the way. Every few chapters there is a flashback to Sprikit's past where we see snippets of how this silly little bard came to be. Each flashback is carefully placed in the story so that by the climax, the reader is fully invested in his quest.
The character arcs are done beautifully with Torg's being my favorite. Without giving too much away, it parallels Sprikit's own while also exploring the things that make him unique which nicely tie together with the found family theme. Even the antagonist Captain Phara changes as she hunts down the bard at Lord Yulius' request. All in all, the characters are well rounded and deep which is refreshing to see in a comedic story.
There were a few scenes where I felt that the characters (mostly Sprikit) got away with more than they should have, but with the comedic tone of the story it never got in the way of my enjoyment.
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard and Company is a must read for fantasy lovers. Come for the humor and stay for the phenomenal characters and compelling themes.
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard and Company is a masterpiece. What starts off as a silly romp following a lovable but chaotic bard, quickly turns into a heartfelt tale of found family.
Starting off with a nerdy rant: The structure of Sprikit is perfect. The main story is a simple travel quest where the characters are trying to reach a certain city with everything going wrong along the way. Every few chapters there is a flashback to Sprikit's past where we see snippets of how this silly little bard came to be. Each flashback is carefully placed in the story so that by the climax, the reader is fully invested in his quest.
The character arcs are done beautifully with Torg's being my favorite. Without giving too much away, it parallels Sprikit's own while also exploring the things that make him unique which nicely tie together with the found family theme. Even the antagonist Captain Phara changes as she hunts down the bard at Lord Yulius' request. All in all, the characters are well rounded and deep which is refreshing to see in a comedic story.
There were a few scenes where I felt that the characters (mostly Sprikit) got away with more than they should have, but with the comedic tone of the story it never got in the way of my enjoyment.
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard and Company is a must read for fantasy lovers. Come for the humor and stay for the phenomenal characters and compelling themes.
July 2, 2024
This book is what the Dragonlance books could have been if the DM at Weis and Hickman’s table had focused more on weaving a tale, and less on sticking to the bleeping rules. It’s brimming with classic D&D elements, from the perfect group of adventurers (minus the mage and the healer/priest) to everybody’s favorite dungeon monster (you’ll recognize it when you see it). It has neither lesson nor message nor much of a moral compass. If you want epic battles or self-sacrificing heroism, go away. This book is not for you. It doesn’t seek to enlighten or lecture or anything like that, merely to entertain, like any good bard should. The humor ranges from slapstick and ridiculous to subtle and empathetic, the characters are fully developed personalities, not just random stats on a character sheet, and the story is a wild ride which manages to slow down at just the right moments, to allow us to get to know the people and places within Sean O’Boyle’s world.
Long story short, this book is perfection for anyone who’s ever sat around a D&D table. It made me nostalgic for those days before the kids, when we had regular sessions that would last until 2am. I tried to not read Sprikit’s tale in one day, to drag it out a bit, make it last longer, savor it, but I couldn’t. I loved every single word, every bit of nonsense, every surprising vulnerability.
Oh, and the worst is… this is a debut novel, which means we can expect the author to write even better books in the future.
Long story short, this book is perfection for anyone who’s ever sat around a D&D table. It made me nostalgic for those days before the kids, when we had regular sessions that would last until 2am. I tried to not read Sprikit’s tale in one day, to drag it out a bit, make it last longer, savor it, but I couldn’t. I loved every single word, every bit of nonsense, every surprising vulnerability.
Oh, and the worst is… this is a debut novel, which means we can expect the author to write even better books in the future.
January 5, 2025
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard is a great story of a bard's journey to return a lute back to where it belongs. When you first meet Sprikit he is getting his head dunked in a bucket of water multiple times by 3 brutes that he sold fake magical beans to. They plan on killing him, but he convinces them that he can win back their money 10x in a fight that he plans on rigging, but no one knows. From there the journey really begins. You meet Torg one of the brutes then after the fight you meet Tallew the fighter that Sprikit helps win her fight that she doesn't know he helped with because of the gift he has with the lute. From there the journey really begins. The characters in the story are very well done and you know who is talking just by the way they speak. Sprikit is quick to speak and slow to think, Torg grunts a lot and speaks wisely when he needs too, and Tallew would much rather punch you in the face that talk things out. If you like stories with characters that get falsely accused of crimes and have to find their way out of it, or a crew on a journey with enemies constantly on their heels then you will truly enjoy this book.
February 16, 2025
A fantasy tale that will cross generations!
If you have ever wondered how tales become legends, then this is the book for you!
Sprikit is a 4-feet tall Bard who seems to be constantly neck deep in some form of bedlam! His sharp wit and penchant for a swindle makes you unsure whether you want to hug or throttle him, but his charismatic personality is sure to grow on you very quickly as his motivations are slowly made clear throughout the story.
Our sassy Bard is joined by two unlikely (and unwilling) companions, Torg and Tallew, as he races across the Free Lands to escape his pursuers. This very odd company will face heart-pumping adventures with monsters, relentless soldiers and dangerous criminals.
Seán O’Boyle masterfully created a tale filled with hilarious scenes interwoven with heart-breaking moments that will be sure to bring tears to a reader’s eyes, bringing the scenes to life with such vivid detail that one can almost hear the music played by the Bard!
My only complaint is that the book ended!
Looking forward to reading the next instalment in this adventure.
If you have ever wondered how tales become legends, then this is the book for you!
Sprikit is a 4-feet tall Bard who seems to be constantly neck deep in some form of bedlam! His sharp wit and penchant for a swindle makes you unsure whether you want to hug or throttle him, but his charismatic personality is sure to grow on you very quickly as his motivations are slowly made clear throughout the story.
Our sassy Bard is joined by two unlikely (and unwilling) companions, Torg and Tallew, as he races across the Free Lands to escape his pursuers. This very odd company will face heart-pumping adventures with monsters, relentless soldiers and dangerous criminals.
Seán O’Boyle masterfully created a tale filled with hilarious scenes interwoven with heart-breaking moments that will be sure to bring tears to a reader’s eyes, bringing the scenes to life with such vivid detail that one can almost hear the music played by the Bard!
My only complaint is that the book ended!
Looking forward to reading the next instalment in this adventure.
September 21, 2024
If you're looking for a fresh comedical take on a fantasy genre, The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard is what you're looking for. The writing is witty and engaging, frequently causing me to chuckle or laugh out loud while reading, and constantly reading to see what happens next after the chapter ends. I burned through this book very quickly.
I particularly liked the internal monologue of Sprikit we're treated to through, which gives a funny oversight to events happening. All the main characters are well fleshed out meaning I became very invested in each characters storyline (there are no "Frodo and Sam" chapters here). The magic system is unique and inventive, and for how funny the book is the chapters where we learn more of this and our main character are poignant.
Honestly couldn't recommend this book more. An excellent first book from a new author, very excited to see what happens next for Sprikit and his friends and get some more world building!
I particularly liked the internal monologue of Sprikit we're treated to through, which gives a funny oversight to events happening. All the main characters are well fleshed out meaning I became very invested in each characters storyline (there are no "Frodo and Sam" chapters here). The magic system is unique and inventive, and for how funny the book is the chapters where we learn more of this and our main character are poignant.
Honestly couldn't recommend this book more. An excellent first book from a new author, very excited to see what happens next for Sprikit and his friends and get some more world building!
January 12, 2026
I've just finished this book in a marathon weekend reading session, and for sure this doesn't disappoint. The first chapter effectively introduces the character of Sprikit, who's being dunked in a trough after trying a swindle gone wrong, and trying to talk his way out of it. A true bard indeed!
Sprikit manages to talk this way of this, and after a series of events ends up with a party consisting of a Brute, a pit fighter, and himself, journeying together to the city of Medin, home of the Bards College
Sometimes a new/first time author can overwhelm you with descriptions and names, but Sean tells a focused and character orientated story. Tone is broadly light but deals with darker themes - Think Pratchett. The dialogue is zippy with gags aplenty, saturated with the old country's slang
There were also several story threads that hint at a larger system and events. I can't detail too much as spoilers, but i'm excited to see how they will be realised in future novels
Sprikit manages to talk this way of this, and after a series of events ends up with a party consisting of a Brute, a pit fighter, and himself, journeying together to the city of Medin, home of the Bards College
Sometimes a new/first time author can overwhelm you with descriptions and names, but Sean tells a focused and character orientated story. Tone is broadly light but deals with darker themes - Think Pratchett. The dialogue is zippy with gags aplenty, saturated with the old country's slang
There were also several story threads that hint at a larger system and events. I can't detail too much as spoilers, but i'm excited to see how they will be realised in future novels
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
"A story about a Bard? Seems a bit self-indulgent."
With parliaments of owls, conniving octogenarians and giant rock-type dudes with bigger brains than most of the human cast, Sprikit is a found family romp filled with everything you already love about fantasy and dusted with everything you didn't realise you needed.
If you've ever played D&D, try this. If you want to laugh, try this.
"Someone who would eat that many berries has a certain determined, proud spirit."
"Yes, he had reluctant allies, but remove a single adjective and they were still allies!"
March 12, 2025
DNF 56%
Forced myself to get to half the book. I was so bored. I just couldn’t seem to care what happened to any of the characters. No pull, no engagement. Pity, the premise seemed really fun.
Forced myself to get to half the book. I was so bored. I just couldn’t seem to care what happened to any of the characters. No pull, no engagement. Pity, the premise seemed really fun.
October 19, 2025
4.5/5 ★★★★☆
January 2, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM
Seán was kind enough to offer this book to our team for an honest review. And honestly, even though I was lucky to read it with no cost, it is without question worth whatever the price is going for on Amazon. The Ballad of Spirkit The Bard (and Company) is just pure fun.
From the blurb we know we’re getting a mixed bag of a main character. “He enjoys the simple things in life; song, merriment and (mostly) victimless swindles.” and of course, “And Sprikit The Bard doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.” Both of these are completely accurate. We literally open with Sprikit getting his head knocked in for his ‘mostly victimless swindle’ and immediately see how he wiggles himself into and out of trouble almost in the same breath. Maybe with a little help from ‘maginates!’ He’s a bit selfish, definitely hiding something and only just clever enough to get himself into trouble. Sprikit is 100% the kind of person you would hate to know but would absolutely cry from laughter if you had a mutual friend telling you the trouble they got into because of him. (We all know the kind of friend of friend. Everybody’s got one.)
In the same opening getting-his-head-knocked scene, we also meet the Brutes. Torg is who we spend most of the story with and there is more to him than just being a mild-mannered Brute. He’s read a book before! Following the bard and the Brutes, we enter into a tavern for a fight with a comedic size difference and meet Tallew, who has complete small dog energy. She is itching to be a prize fighter, with her slight frame of lean muscle, and is constantly ready to throw hands. In what is quite possibly the best illustration of ‘unlikely friends’ we get a lively and wholly amusing trio.
But what brings this strange band of bard and company together? Our 4ft tall bard, Sprikit, is accused of a serious crime, and these two may well be his accomplices. They’re on the run from Captain Phara Voskel, who has the funniest character intro scene I have read in ages. In fact, her whole introduction via Vern Sethel, who she calls by his full name for the duration of his appearance, and the initial scene chasing Sprikit was hilarious. Following their initial fleeing from Phara, we get what I can only describe as a novel that could be almost perfectly soundtracked to the Benny Hill theme.
While we Benny Hill background music our way through the Free Lands, we get a lot of history into how the Free Lands came to be, the wider political structure around them and introduced to a number of side characters that added to the richly colourful landscape. I’ve seen very few authors who can weave their world building so flawlessly into the story as Seán does. It’s done so well I am almost a little suspicious it’s a debut. Like surely this man has written before???
All of this is complemented by the perfect pacing, the changing character focus, the perfectly timed flashbacks, and writing that keeps you looking forward to what’s coming next. I wasn’t powering through because I was shaking like a quaker parrot that was dying to know what came next. I just had to keep reading because I knew whatever came next was going to be good, and I was not at all disappointed. Unfortunately for everyone around me this does mean I’m not going to stop recommending this book for any reason. I’ll be worse than a used car salesman about recommending it.
Seán was kind enough to offer this book to our team for an honest review. And honestly, even though I was lucky to read it with no cost, it is without question worth whatever the price is going for on Amazon. The Ballad of Spirkit The Bard (and Company) is just pure fun.
From the blurb we know we’re getting a mixed bag of a main character. “He enjoys the simple things in life; song, merriment and (mostly) victimless swindles.” and of course, “And Sprikit The Bard doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.” Both of these are completely accurate. We literally open with Sprikit getting his head knocked in for his ‘mostly victimless swindle’ and immediately see how he wiggles himself into and out of trouble almost in the same breath. Maybe with a little help from ‘maginates!’ He’s a bit selfish, definitely hiding something and only just clever enough to get himself into trouble. Sprikit is 100% the kind of person you would hate to know but would absolutely cry from laughter if you had a mutual friend telling you the trouble they got into because of him. (We all know the kind of friend of friend. Everybody’s got one.)
In the same opening getting-his-head-knocked scene, we also meet the Brutes. Torg is who we spend most of the story with and there is more to him than just being a mild-mannered Brute. He’s read a book before! Following the bard and the Brutes, we enter into a tavern for a fight with a comedic size difference and meet Tallew, who has complete small dog energy. She is itching to be a prize fighter, with her slight frame of lean muscle, and is constantly ready to throw hands. In what is quite possibly the best illustration of ‘unlikely friends’ we get a lively and wholly amusing trio.
But what brings this strange band of bard and company together? Our 4ft tall bard, Sprikit, is accused of a serious crime, and these two may well be his accomplices. They’re on the run from Captain Phara Voskel, who has the funniest character intro scene I have read in ages. In fact, her whole introduction via Vern Sethel, who she calls by his full name for the duration of his appearance, and the initial scene chasing Sprikit was hilarious. Following their initial fleeing from Phara, we get what I can only describe as a novel that could be almost perfectly soundtracked to the Benny Hill theme.
While we Benny Hill background music our way through the Free Lands, we get a lot of history into how the Free Lands came to be, the wider political structure around them and introduced to a number of side characters that added to the richly colourful landscape. I’ve seen very few authors who can weave their world building so flawlessly into the story as Seán does. It’s done so well I am almost a little suspicious it’s a debut. Like surely this man has written before???
All of this is complemented by the perfect pacing, the changing character focus, the perfectly timed flashbacks, and writing that keeps you looking forward to what’s coming next. I wasn’t powering through because I was shaking like a quaker parrot that was dying to know what came next. I just had to keep reading because I knew whatever came next was going to be good, and I was not at all disappointed. Unfortunately for everyone around me this does mean I’m not going to stop recommending this book for any reason. I’ll be worse than a used car salesman about recommending it.
December 17, 2024
The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (and Company) is utter ridiculousness in every awesome way possible. This book is hilarious, is a blast, is so much fun, and just a rollicking good time. It’s basically Kings of the Wyld told by Jack Black of Tenacious D but in the body of Tasslehoff Burrfoot of Dragonlance (this is now cannon in my head and you can’t change my mind).
Sprikit is such a fun character. He’s really short so he spends half the book looking up at people, and this is used for comedic purposes to perfection. He’s a gifted bard with a bit of a magic power but he’s also a complete showman. And his showmanship also gets him in a lot of trouble, hence the entire plot of this book. He also cannot fight, so that is hilarious because he starts so much trouble and does not handle any of it in anything resembling perfection. But as much as I loved Sprikit, the character of Torg (a Brute, aka a big grey stone guy) was the best of the bunch. Torg does not suffer Sprikit’s bullcrap and he has no tolerance for lies, subtlety, or taste of anything. Torg was such a funny character, I would read an entire book just about him. Tallew is the other part of ‘and Company’ and she is a fighter who just wants some renown and coin. She is funny in her own way. The three are a great combo and play really well off of each other.
The plot of TBoStB(aC) or Tobasco as Sean O’Boyle jokingly called it, is a series of unfortunate events all caused by Sprikit’s past. But along the way we get some really funny things. We get a giant bog monster/gelatinous cube. We get some thieves (which has one of the best opening set-up/comedic convos I’ve read in a long time. I mean it, I legit snorted at one point and I’m not a snorter when laughing, that’s how funny it was). We get some over-the-top performances by the little Bard. There’s a lute with a history. Each episode builds upon each other and this wee party grows as a Company, and I really enjoyed that because many books built on humor forget to have their characters grow. The characters all grow here, and by the end of the book, there is a genuine friendship between these three.
O’Boyle’s writing is full of humor and very accessible for this type of story. The prose flows as easy as Sprikit’s shenanigans and songs. This story is told through all three of the Company’s POVs (plus a 4th character who is the villain but not really the villain just sort of assigned to be the villain by her country) and the way Torg and Tallew are written in contrast to Sprikit show their character traits. Torg is straightforward in his motivations, direct in his thoughts, and full of disdain for Sprikit’s lies. Tallew is that young up-and-comer who has a chip on her shoulder, she’s also brash. I really liked how each character was written and it shows O’Boyle has a gift for characterization.
I had a really good time with The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (and Company) because stories about bards are always a fun time. Sean O’Boyle has created a bard that was enjoyable to follow and I can’t wait to see where we go next. #SecretScribes
Sprikit is such a fun character. He’s really short so he spends half the book looking up at people, and this is used for comedic purposes to perfection. He’s a gifted bard with a bit of a magic power but he’s also a complete showman. And his showmanship also gets him in a lot of trouble, hence the entire plot of this book. He also cannot fight, so that is hilarious because he starts so much trouble and does not handle any of it in anything resembling perfection. But as much as I loved Sprikit, the character of Torg (a Brute, aka a big grey stone guy) was the best of the bunch. Torg does not suffer Sprikit’s bullcrap and he has no tolerance for lies, subtlety, or taste of anything. Torg was such a funny character, I would read an entire book just about him. Tallew is the other part of ‘and Company’ and she is a fighter who just wants some renown and coin. She is funny in her own way. The three are a great combo and play really well off of each other.
The plot of TBoStB(aC) or Tobasco as Sean O’Boyle jokingly called it, is a series of unfortunate events all caused by Sprikit’s past. But along the way we get some really funny things. We get a giant bog monster/gelatinous cube. We get some thieves (which has one of the best opening set-up/comedic convos I’ve read in a long time. I mean it, I legit snorted at one point and I’m not a snorter when laughing, that’s how funny it was). We get some over-the-top performances by the little Bard. There’s a lute with a history. Each episode builds upon each other and this wee party grows as a Company, and I really enjoyed that because many books built on humor forget to have their characters grow. The characters all grow here, and by the end of the book, there is a genuine friendship between these three.
O’Boyle’s writing is full of humor and very accessible for this type of story. The prose flows as easy as Sprikit’s shenanigans and songs. This story is told through all three of the Company’s POVs (plus a 4th character who is the villain but not really the villain just sort of assigned to be the villain by her country) and the way Torg and Tallew are written in contrast to Sprikit show their character traits. Torg is straightforward in his motivations, direct in his thoughts, and full of disdain for Sprikit’s lies. Tallew is that young up-and-comer who has a chip on her shoulder, she’s also brash. I really liked how each character was written and it shows O’Boyle has a gift for characterization.
I had a really good time with The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (and Company) because stories about bards are always a fun time. Sean O’Boyle has created a bard that was enjoyable to follow and I can’t wait to see where we go next. #SecretScribes
January 28, 2025
This is a sparkling debut fantasy novel which follows a band of misfits on an unlikely adventure.
Comparisons to Terry Pratchett are apt as O'Boyle guides his somewhat inept band of heroes from one scrape to the next, and while the tone is light-hearted there are moments of tension, action, and genuine emotion.
The main triumph is the character of Sprikit - a reluctant, cowardly and potentially criminal anti-hero, who we nevertheless root for from page 1. His quirks and foibles are well-realised and relatable, and while he's self-perservation always seems to trump doing good, he remains a sympathetic personality, and carries the adventure on his narrow shoulders.
The writing flows with wit and charm, and some of the plot's twists and turns are genuinely unexpected. I found the character of Sprikit's mentor Sazari particularly affecting, and I only wished he found some sort of redemption?
Perhaps in a sequel...?
Overall, this book is a breath of fresh air and I'd thoroughly recommend.
I received this book as an ARC, my opinions are my own.
Comparisons to Terry Pratchett are apt as O'Boyle guides his somewhat inept band of heroes from one scrape to the next, and while the tone is light-hearted there are moments of tension, action, and genuine emotion.
The main triumph is the character of Sprikit - a reluctant, cowardly and potentially criminal anti-hero, who we nevertheless root for from page 1. His quirks and foibles are well-realised and relatable, and while he's self-perservation always seems to trump doing good, he remains a sympathetic personality, and carries the adventure on his narrow shoulders.
The writing flows with wit and charm, and some of the plot's twists and turns are genuinely unexpected. I found the character of Sprikit's mentor Sazari particularly affecting, and I only wished he found some sort of redemption?
Perhaps in a sequel...?
Overall, this book is a breath of fresh air and I'd thoroughly recommend.
I received this book as an ARC, my opinions are my own.
November 5, 2024
Immediate spoilers: The Company carries Sprikit greatly.
I went into this expecting a light-hearted tale. While elements of it were quite funny, the depth of the characters surprised me in such a pleasant way.
Pacing, prose, and structure were great and the magic and world felt well-realized.
Sprikit is terrible, but also awesome, and seeing the flashbacks you're given a bit of insight into why he might be the way he is.
I really enjoyed this novel.
I went into this expecting a light-hearted tale. While elements of it were quite funny, the depth of the characters surprised me in such a pleasant way.
Pacing, prose, and structure were great and the magic and world felt well-realized.
Sprikit is terrible, but also awesome, and seeing the flashbacks you're given a bit of insight into why he might be the way he is.
I really enjoyed this novel.
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