Floyd

by Q. Harveson

When nine-year-old Amelia is kidnapped from her home, a desperate act of magic breathes life into her best a stuffed bear named Floyd. Confused but driven by an unshakable sense of purpose, Floyd sets out on a darkly comedic quest to rescue her- despite having no idea who she is.
As he blazes a bloody trail of carnage through anyone foolish enough to stand in his way, Floyd struggles to understand his newfound existence and the strange, violent world he’s been thrust into. The only thing he knows for sure? He was born to save Amelia – no matter the cost.
Floyd is a tale of absurdity and heart, where magic, chaos and the unlikeliest of heroes collide in a brutal yet strangely endearing adventure.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

Q Harveson is a dedicated researcher and storyteller with an insatiable curiosity for the mysteries of alchemy, chemistry, psychology, and the supernatural. As someone on the autism spectrum, learning has never come easily, but it has always been worth the challenge. Fueled by a relentless passion for knowledge and self-improvement, Q has overcome many obstacles to explore the depths of complex ideas and share them through compelling narratives.

When not writing, Q can be found delving into ancient texts, unraveling psychological theories, or pondering the unseen forces that shape our reality. Through his work, he hopes to inspire readers to see the world from new perspectives and embrace the endless pursuit of understanding.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I love this bear!

I had read Q Harveson's first book, Primordium, but reading Floyd made so many things click. You wouldn't have to read Primordium to enjoy Floyd but it was fun to see all the connections to previous stories.
Floyd is a teddy bear who comes to life with his only goal being to save Amelia. He can't remember who Amelia is and he has no idea where she is or what kind of trouble she is in, but he knows he has to move fast. He gets help from a surprising array of characters, all while riding his mighty steed, Chuck. It is funny and action packed and seems to open a new world of magic and mystery.

[Carol Ann Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of this book. Floyd comes to life with the single minded mission of saving Amelia. He can't quite remember who Amelia is, and doesn't know how to save her, but he knows he has to hurry. Just as soon as he figures out how legs work.
It has some funny spots, some scary spots, maybe more than a few right down gory spots, but it is a good story, told well.
I recommend this book to all you people who think we need a little more magic in our lives. And furry heroes.

[Missgotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite an entertaining, amusing story which feels like it could have hit a bit harder. The first part is from the little girl's perspective just being a kid. The story quickly moves into Amelia trying to outwit would be child snatchers. Thereafter enters shady characters, artifact hunters, a leathersmith, a wizard, Floyd and his chicken, and lots of cuddly bear violence.

The characters are interesting for sure. But as a first time reader of this author, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions.

Update 07.09.26: It's not made clear that you have to read Floyd as part of the 'Snake in the Willows' series and in order. When I picked up this audiobook the description indicated Floyd was a standalone. At least on Audible UK where the books are not numbered and the series title don't appear on all the books in the series, but I'm sure the author will update this soon. You can read these books as standalones but having randomly read three of the books in this series, I highly recommend reading them in order as the interwoven stories will make more sense. I've revised my initial review of Floyd in light of this and have gone back to read the series from the beginning.