The reluctant and unpopular Duke of Blackwood must stop a vicious rogue wizard stalking the town of Upton Myzzle. If the voices in his head would just let him concentrate, he’d be extremely grateful.
The very trees of the Blackwood are attacking the rain-soaked town and there is a new star in the night sky, with rumours of a great returning evil.
To make matters worse, he’s pretty sure his father is losing his marbles–even as he tries to cling to power–and his daughter seems to have inherited a talent for finding trouble from her late mother.
Can the duke turn the tide of events? Or will his town erupt in religious riots and open rebellion?
A very well written book. The greatest strength of the book are it's numerous characters that all feel unique and well-rounded. The ending of the story leaves multiple openings and questions left unanswered that I am quite eager to find the answers to.
The magic system (talents) was a nice and refreshing pace. Giving a wizard only one magical ability seemed to make sure that wizards were not all powerful and could not solve any problem with little effort.
The blackwood felt like the perfect mix between magical and thrilling. I found myself excited every time Beatrice turned a corner in the woods because I was curious what she would encounter next. If there is any complaint, it's that the town seemed too monochromatic. While there is obvious inspiration from Ankh-Morpork and the village of Upton Mizzle is meant to be drab and dreary, it felt overly depressing.
Overall, I find myself happy with the experience and am already impatient to read the next installment in this series.
"for whenever we go on a journey, be it physical or otherwise, we are never the same people when we return. that’s why i love books . whenever i read one, i become a different person "
martin has a unique writing voice that lures you into the tale he is weaving, pulling you into a vibrant world. his characters truly come life on the pages, not flatt or unbelievable, they are flawed yet you cannot help but to love them. the world martin has build is unique, where magic has limitations,it’s not beautiful or perfect it’s gritty and well lived. it will make you want to wander upton-myzzle or go and explore all the secrets of the blackwoods, you’ll be so enchanted that you might even forget to check the shadows. i hope martin gets the recognition he deserves because his tales, whether it’s the Lord of misrule or his castle grout short stories, can easily stand next to works of pratchett and gaiman while not loosing his unique voice!
Not since Terry Pratchett have I been so engrossed and amused by fantasy book as I was with M.A Knight's Castle Blackwood.
The characters leap from the pages not just the main cast either with delightful side characters that often provide great humour!
The story itself it weaved brilliantly with twists and turns, the description is detailed enough that you can feel the cold wetness of the rain and puddles the characters step in!
I cannot wait for the continuation of this fantastic new series!
An absolutely brilliantly funny and fast paced adventure, Martin has written an intelligent, gripping and engaging world with very funny and relatable heroes. The subtle nods to his literary hero Terry Pratchett made me smile and gave me a warm nostalgia for my youth. The story writing is wonderful with really great world and character building.
Martin truly is this generations Terry Pratchett and I cannot wait for the next edition of the Castle Blackwood series.
This fresh and funny fantasy captivates with richly drawn characters, vivid settings, and more than enough plot twists to make a reader's head spin in delight. Castle Blackwood and its quirky inhabitants are just the sort of stuff that would have made Sir Terry Pratchett giggle. Full of heart and wit and excellent madness, The Lord of Misrule is a splendid beginning to what I hope will be a series of excellent adventures.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Lord of misrule, the character building and world building in this book has definitely caught my attention and I cannot wait to read more set in this world.
Actually, The Lord of Misrule would be an excellent palate cleanser after Onyx Storm. It has a ton of action and political intrigue, the way you get pulled into the world he builds can help soothe over the raw nerves left by Yarros’ heart wrenching endings. Martin takes you on a more classic trip that tosses you about with more thought provoking action, instead of hormone flooded stress to the system. It has its share of magic, monsters, and mayhem with the bonus of a cliffhanger that doesn’t make you want to strangle the author!