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The Legend of Uh
Sir Dashing Junior was only knighted because they couldn't knight his father twice. Now he's determined to prove he's worthy of his new title.
With an aspiring ranger, an awkward friar, and a book-loving orc, DJ will venture across the territory of Uh to reach the Amulet of the Goddess, proving that he’s truly worthy of knighthood.
Along the way, he and his companions will encounter a cursed author, a violent noodle cult, democratic goblins, and a whole lot more.
It’s a journey fraught with danger and discovery, and the territory is rich with monsters and magic, so is DJ’s quest for respect really worth the cost?
With an aspiring ranger, an awkward friar, and a book-loving orc, DJ will venture across the territory of Uh to reach the Amulet of the Goddess, proving that he’s truly worthy of knighthood.
Along the way, he and his companions will encounter a cursed author, a violent noodle cult, democratic goblins, and a whole lot more.
It’s a journey fraught with danger and discovery, and the territory is rich with monsters and magic, so is DJ’s quest for respect really worth the cost?
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Published March 24, 2025
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About the author
Aaron N. Hall
10 books86 followersAaron N. Hall is the author of the The Legend of Uh, The Wevlian Chronicles, the Hammerfist series, and multiple collections of stories and poems. When he’s not writing (which isn’t often), he’s doing nonprofit work, lifting heavy things, reading a book, or sipping a cup of tea. He lives in Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 3, 2025
In a Nutshell: A YA Fantasy that feels like a spoof adventure-quest. Whimsical characters. Light moments interspersed with serious themes. Loads of clever humour. The target audience is a bit hazy. Recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I am not sure what I expected from this book. I am not even sure if I am the right reader for this book, which clearly pays an ode to classic fantasy and ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. (What little I know of D&D is thanks to Sheldon and his gang from ‘The Big Bang Theory.’) However, I know for sure that I had a lot of fun reading this quirky adventure.
Bookish Yays:
✨ DJ, a cowardly weakling, is clearly not knight material. So he is quite an unusual protagonist for a quest. I love how realistically his character learns from his experiences over the course of the adventure. His arc makes this a great coming-of-age story.
✨ I appreciate the depiction of how DJ introspects over his deeds. It's not that he suddenly becomes a brave knight and revels in actions involving cruelty. His conscience is always active.
✨ DJ’s gang deserves equal credit for making the adventure memorable. Riley, Friar Steve, and Francis are such endearing characters! Each has a well-sketched personality that makes it easy for us to root for them. Riley’s tomboyish spirit and her dreams of becoming a ranger, Francis’s unusual passion for books and his gentle attitude towards his smaller-sized group members, and exuberant Steve’s big heart and bigger voice, add much zest to the story.
✨ Though we see only DJ’s perspective, his companions also get equal moments of importance in the adventure. I love how the story doesn’t turn into a one-man show as fantasy novels often do.
✨ DJ and Riley’s friendship is very true to life. Loved their banter!
✨ The comic absurdity of the plot, which, though wacky and wild, comes together really well. It’s a great spoof on the classic brave-knight-goes-on-an-adventure trope.
✨ At the same time, the content isn't only fun. There are plenty of serious themes, including peer pressure, parental abandonment, inferiority complex, the pressure of matching up to your parents’ success, the importance of friendship, and the value of letting go and of self-acceptance. All of these are handled well without overpowering the core plot.
✨ I was pleasantly surprised to see DJ’s father shown as a loving and caring parent. I had assumed him to be the typical valiant knight who is vain of his achievements and demeaning of his weak son. On the contrary, the father-son relationship affords us readers some of the best bonding moments in the book. I loved their closeness, and also the letters they wrote to each other during DJ’s long journey.
✨ On a related note, the book smashes so many stereotypes! Hardly anyone in the book is as you would expect them to be, whether orcs or giants or gnomes or even friars. Love how it made me question my biased assumptions at every step.
✨ Love the magic, which seems reminiscent of Harry Potter at times (as both use Latin-inspired spells.) Some elements also reminded me of LOTR. Rather than feeling copied, I felt like the book was paying an ode to these classic fantasies.
✨ A special point of appreciation for the way the “relationship” between DJ and Riley was handled. I don’t want to go into major spoilers, so all I’ll say is: thank you, author, for that final scene! It offers an essential lesson to the young boys (and young girls) who might read this book.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐉 As expected, the quest is episodic, with one adventure arc coming to an end before leading into the next one. Most of the adventures are fun and some even contain unexpected twists. However, at times, the proceedings get a bit repetitive, especially in the second half. (I enjoyed Francis’s inside joke about this – “lazy writing”, LOL!)
🐉 The biggest issue with the story is that it doesn’t aim at a clear age group. The cover makes it look like middle-grade fiction. The official genre is YA Fantasy. However, there is some sexual innuendo and a couple of 18+ references in the book. The adult content was not needed for the core plot, so it could easily have been eliminated to make this a safe option for all middle-graders and young adults.
🐉 While the world is mostly magical, it seems to have elements from historical (knights, avian post) as well as modern (pickleball) times. Not strictly a negative, but a bit muddling at times. The modern references are distracting.
🐉 The Waffle Wizard – great character, but the hows and whys of his magical appearance aren’t clarified.
Bookish Nays:
👹 The Grand Phillip episode. Didn’t fit the overall tone of the book. Too dark and gruesome.
Overall, while a few things could have worked better for me, I still had great fun reading this eccentric quest story. Those who enjoy Dungeons and Dragons will probably enjoy it even more than I did. I had grabbed this only because of the blurb, and the book delivers quite well on the promise.
The story arc is complete, but there is potential for a sequel, thanks to one character who has promised to return. Will there be another Uh adventure? Time shall tell. But if yes, I’d love to embark upon that journey again with DJ and his motley crew.
Definitely recommended, though I am not sure what age group I am recommending this to. Perhaps to older young adults. (16+?) Of course, any adult who enjoys stories of road trips, magic, adventurous quests, and coming-of-age might also like this offbeat indie novel. Just don’t expect the typical.
4 stars.
My thanks to author Aaron N. Hall for providing me with a complimentary copy of “The Legend of Uh”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Fifteen-year-old Dashing Junior, aka DJ, is the son of the legendary Sir Dashing, a brave and feted knight of Beregond city in the territory of Uh. After retiring from his valiant quests, Sir Dashing has spent the last sixteen years offering his advice and wisdom to the city. In gratitude, it wants to knight him. But as the same person can’t be knighted twice, the powers that be decide to honour his son DJ with knighthood.
The problem is that DJ has not done anything knight-like, and is probably not even capable of doing so. Everyone knows this, including DJ himself. So to prove his worthiness for the knighthood, DJ decides to set off on a quest across the territory of Uh and reach the Amulet of the Goddess. Accompanying him on this quest are Riley – DJ’s best friend (and secret crush) and an aspiring ranger, Francis – an orc who would rather read than fight, and Steve – a friar with a fondness for yelling and for his frying pan. Will this ragtag group be able to complete a journey that has monsters and magic lurking in every corner?
The story comes to us mostly in DJ’s third-person perspective.
I am not sure what I expected from this book. I am not even sure if I am the right reader for this book, which clearly pays an ode to classic fantasy and ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. (What little I know of D&D is thanks to Sheldon and his gang from ‘The Big Bang Theory.’) However, I know for sure that I had a lot of fun reading this quirky adventure.
Bookish Yays:
✨ DJ, a cowardly weakling, is clearly not knight material. So he is quite an unusual protagonist for a quest. I love how realistically his character learns from his experiences over the course of the adventure. His arc makes this a great coming-of-age story.
✨ I appreciate the depiction of how DJ introspects over his deeds. It's not that he suddenly becomes a brave knight and revels in actions involving cruelty. His conscience is always active.
✨ DJ’s gang deserves equal credit for making the adventure memorable. Riley, Friar Steve, and Francis are such endearing characters! Each has a well-sketched personality that makes it easy for us to root for them. Riley’s tomboyish spirit and her dreams of becoming a ranger, Francis’s unusual passion for books and his gentle attitude towards his smaller-sized group members, and exuberant Steve’s big heart and bigger voice, add much zest to the story.
✨ Though we see only DJ’s perspective, his companions also get equal moments of importance in the adventure. I love how the story doesn’t turn into a one-man show as fantasy novels often do.
✨ DJ and Riley’s friendship is very true to life. Loved their banter!
✨ The comic absurdity of the plot, which, though wacky and wild, comes together really well. It’s a great spoof on the classic brave-knight-goes-on-an-adventure trope.
✨ At the same time, the content isn't only fun. There are plenty of serious themes, including peer pressure, parental abandonment, inferiority complex, the pressure of matching up to your parents’ success, the importance of friendship, and the value of letting go and of self-acceptance. All of these are handled well without overpowering the core plot.
✨ I was pleasantly surprised to see DJ’s father shown as a loving and caring parent. I had assumed him to be the typical valiant knight who is vain of his achievements and demeaning of his weak son. On the contrary, the father-son relationship affords us readers some of the best bonding moments in the book. I loved their closeness, and also the letters they wrote to each other during DJ’s long journey.
✨ On a related note, the book smashes so many stereotypes! Hardly anyone in the book is as you would expect them to be, whether orcs or giants or gnomes or even friars. Love how it made me question my biased assumptions at every step.
✨ Love the magic, which seems reminiscent of Harry Potter at times (as both use Latin-inspired spells.) Some elements also reminded me of LOTR. Rather than feeling copied, I felt like the book was paying an ode to these classic fantasies.
✨ A special point of appreciation for the way the “relationship” between DJ and Riley was handled. I don’t want to go into major spoilers, so all I’ll say is: thank you, author, for that final scene! It offers an essential lesson to the young boys (and young girls) who might read this book.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐉 As expected, the quest is episodic, with one adventure arc coming to an end before leading into the next one. Most of the adventures are fun and some even contain unexpected twists. However, at times, the proceedings get a bit repetitive, especially in the second half. (I enjoyed Francis’s inside joke about this – “lazy writing”, LOL!)
🐉 The biggest issue with the story is that it doesn’t aim at a clear age group. The cover makes it look like middle-grade fiction. The official genre is YA Fantasy. However, there is some sexual innuendo and a couple of 18+ references in the book. The adult content was not needed for the core plot, so it could easily have been eliminated to make this a safe option for all middle-graders and young adults.
🐉 While the world is mostly magical, it seems to have elements from historical (knights, avian post) as well as modern (pickleball) times. Not strictly a negative, but a bit muddling at times. The modern references are distracting.
🐉 The Waffle Wizard – great character, but the hows and whys of his magical appearance aren’t clarified.
Bookish Nays:
👹 The Grand Phillip episode. Didn’t fit the overall tone of the book. Too dark and gruesome.
Overall, while a few things could have worked better for me, I still had great fun reading this eccentric quest story. Those who enjoy Dungeons and Dragons will probably enjoy it even more than I did. I had grabbed this only because of the blurb, and the book delivers quite well on the promise.
The story arc is complete, but there is potential for a sequel, thanks to one character who has promised to return. Will there be another Uh adventure? Time shall tell. But if yes, I’d love to embark upon that journey again with DJ and his motley crew.
Definitely recommended, though I am not sure what age group I am recommending this to. Perhaps to older young adults. (16+?) Of course, any adult who enjoys stories of road trips, magic, adventurous quests, and coming-of-age might also like this offbeat indie novel. Just don’t expect the typical.
4 stars.
My thanks to author Aaron N. Hall for providing me with a complimentary copy of “The Legend of Uh”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 8, 2025
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Well, I certainly wasn’t intending on devouring The Legend of Uh in a single day, but here we are. Full of humour, hijinx, magic and mayhem, this wacky yet heartfelt DnD-flavoured fantasy quest adventure will have readers of any age smiling the entire way through. In other words, Aaron N. Hall has put the fun back in fantasy!
Now, I am not going to sit here and pretend that The Legend of Uh is totally in my usual wheelhouse, and I was admittedly more than a little sceptical about how much I’d be able to enjoy this comedic YA fantasy adventure. However, it somehow just crept up on me with its irresistible charm, and soon I found myself totally invested in Sir Dashing Junior’s quest to prove his worth as a newfound knight.
Travelling the lands of Uh together with DJ and his best friend (and aspiring ranger) Riley, the eccentric and magic-wielding friar Steve, and book-loving orc Francis was just an absolute joy, especially because this motley crew quickly proved to be a bit of a chaos magnet. Between helping famous author Sandy Brambleton get rid of his curse of only writing excessively long books (who does that remind us of?), resolving political drama through riddles with the goblins, outwitting dozens of Phillips in a violent noodle cult, and getting saved by magic waffles from an enigmatic weird wizard, there is simply not a single dull moment to be found in The Legend of Uh.
Yet for all that it’s such a wickedly fun and slightly ridiculous romp, Hall also smoothly manages to slip a lot of serious and emotionally resonant messages into The Legend of Uh. Naturally, the clever commentary on heroism, glory, and fame shines in this satirical tale of epic adventure, but for me it was actually the more intimate exploration of identity, friendship, family, and love in all its forms that really gave this story way more depth, nuance and heart than I had initially given it credit for.
Not all the humour and plot points worked perfectly for me, yet I really enjoyed seeing how each little unhinged side quest brought our motley crew closer together and allowed each of them to shine in their own unique ways. Especially for such an action-packed journey, it’s beyond impressive how much believable and satisfying character-/relationship development Hall is able to deliver. In fact, my absolute favourite aspect of The Legend of Uh ended up being the complex yet beautiful father/son dynamic between Sir Dashing and DJ, and their increasingly heartwarming letters to each other just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways.
In a way, The Legend of Uh almost feels like a family friendly Kings of the Wyld as if written by Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams to me, while also being totally its own unique thing. I mean, it doesn’t have the most groundbreaking plot and there are quite a few predictable elements, yet the self-aware tone, clever jokes and trope subversions, and the ridiculously high fun factor more than make up for that.
Ultimately, I ended up having way more fun with this story than I could ever have expected, and I would be more than happy to return to Uh for more adventures with this found family of endearing oddballs. The Legend of Uh is somehow both comfortingly familiar and surprisingly subversive, and I simply can’t recommend this delightful tale highly enough to anyone and everyone who calls themselves a fantasy fan.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Legend of Uh is scheduled for release on February 25, 2025.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Well, I certainly wasn’t intending on devouring The Legend of Uh in a single day, but here we are. Full of humour, hijinx, magic and mayhem, this wacky yet heartfelt DnD-flavoured fantasy quest adventure will have readers of any age smiling the entire way through. In other words, Aaron N. Hall has put the fun back in fantasy!
Now, I am not going to sit here and pretend that The Legend of Uh is totally in my usual wheelhouse, and I was admittedly more than a little sceptical about how much I’d be able to enjoy this comedic YA fantasy adventure. However, it somehow just crept up on me with its irresistible charm, and soon I found myself totally invested in Sir Dashing Junior’s quest to prove his worth as a newfound knight.
Travelling the lands of Uh together with DJ and his best friend (and aspiring ranger) Riley, the eccentric and magic-wielding friar Steve, and book-loving orc Francis was just an absolute joy, especially because this motley crew quickly proved to be a bit of a chaos magnet. Between helping famous author Sandy Brambleton get rid of his curse of only writing excessively long books (who does that remind us of?), resolving political drama through riddles with the goblins, outwitting dozens of Phillips in a violent noodle cult, and getting saved by magic waffles from an enigmatic weird wizard, there is simply not a single dull moment to be found in The Legend of Uh.
Yet for all that it’s such a wickedly fun and slightly ridiculous romp, Hall also smoothly manages to slip a lot of serious and emotionally resonant messages into The Legend of Uh. Naturally, the clever commentary on heroism, glory, and fame shines in this satirical tale of epic adventure, but for me it was actually the more intimate exploration of identity, friendship, family, and love in all its forms that really gave this story way more depth, nuance and heart than I had initially given it credit for.
Not all the humour and plot points worked perfectly for me, yet I really enjoyed seeing how each little unhinged side quest brought our motley crew closer together and allowed each of them to shine in their own unique ways. Especially for such an action-packed journey, it’s beyond impressive how much believable and satisfying character-/relationship development Hall is able to deliver. In fact, my absolute favourite aspect of The Legend of Uh ended up being the complex yet beautiful father/son dynamic between Sir Dashing and DJ, and their increasingly heartwarming letters to each other just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways.
In a way, The Legend of Uh almost feels like a family friendly Kings of the Wyld as if written by Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams to me, while also being totally its own unique thing. I mean, it doesn’t have the most groundbreaking plot and there are quite a few predictable elements, yet the self-aware tone, clever jokes and trope subversions, and the ridiculously high fun factor more than make up for that.
Ultimately, I ended up having way more fun with this story than I could ever have expected, and I would be more than happy to return to Uh for more adventures with this found family of endearing oddballs. The Legend of Uh is somehow both comfortingly familiar and surprisingly subversive, and I simply can’t recommend this delightful tale highly enough to anyone and everyone who calls themselves a fantasy fan.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Legend of Uh is scheduled for release on February 25, 2025.
March 1, 2025
Aaron N. Hall has created a delightfully quirky and funny yet wholehearted young adult fantasy comedy adventure, about a knight and his quest to prove his worth. And maybe the quest was the friends (and foes) he makes along the way! Filled with self-discovery and found family, for fans of Dungeons & Dragons and Terry Pratchett.
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
A validation-driven knight, a baker’s daughter, a noisy friar-mage and a scholarly orc …walk into a bar. Well, an inn. Several inns. The innkeeper says “I would say look out for the plot twist, but this whole group is a walking narrative anomaly.” – He doesn’t say this, haha I’m sorry! But the number of inns they visit is true!
15-year-old Dashing Junior “DJ” becomes knighted but is ever in the shadow of his father the famous Sir Dashing Senior, most charming and bravest of all knights, slayer of dragons, and an overall living legend. At his own knighting ceremony, everyone ignores him except for his best friend Riley, the baker’s daughter. He is tired of being pitted against his father and decides that he will set off on a quest from his hometown of Beregond to The Temple of Amulet to hold the amulet and prove himself worthy of his knighthood.
He assembles a small fellowship consisting of Riley who dreams of becoming a ranger, a loud friar called Steven “Steve” who aspires to be a priest and a well-read orc with a mysterious past named Francis who runs the local bookshop and desires to visit the Library of Artak as sees this quest as his opportunity.
As one can imagine, this turns into something more complicated and chaotic than they could ever imagine. They meet several interesting and unforgettable characters along the way – from a wizard who sells magical waffles to an author who can only write long books to a band of bards to a gnome on a direcat to a half-giant to a crazy cult – and, of course, no fantasy world is complete without dragons. There is a side quest or two… or three… definitely more than four! And there is danger at every turn. Will DJ succeed?
OVERALL OPINIONS
I had a feeling I would love this after reading the blurb, and I was not wrong. (I took the Truth Serum for this, iykyk.) The rapid pacing of the narrative and the irresistible charm of the writing made it impossible to put down! There were plenty of hilarious moments that had me in stitches, and I truly savoured every second! The humour and bizarreness of events reminded me of Terry Pratchett’s Diskworld series and therefore a perfect book for anyone who loves this.
Areas in the story were predictable (ideal for the ya genre) and did not spoil my overall positive experience as it progressed. At the same time, there were plenty of plot twists.
ㅤ⚔️ characters and quirkiness
Every main character has their moment to shine, which really gives the essence of teamwork. None of this quest could have been achieved without the others: Riley with her Ranger knowledge of foraging and hunting helping them through their journey, Francis with his general knowledge as well as that of swordplay and his diplomatic side, Father Steve with both his knowledge and experience with magic but also his loud booming voice aiding them in situations, and DJ with his all-round knowledge that he picks up from everyone.
There were so many quirky characters and they all enchanted me. Even the Highway Hag (who I’m glad shows up more than once as I found her first meeting anticlimactic). My favourite characters were the waffle wizard, Sandy and Devin.
I knew the moment I read the waffle wizard that I would love him, and I hoped he would show up again – and I’m so glad he did. I just love how he has a crossbow sitting under the table! I couldn’t stop laughing!
ㅤ⚔️ references and vibes
Inspired by the first of his own D&D campaign with his friends, Hall has created a world with very D&D vibes: the recommended number of people in a team is 4; the races include Elf, Human, Dwarf, Half-Orc (In this case we have Orc and Half-Giant), Gnome, Goblin, Dragonborn (As opposed to Dragonspeaker here); the classes of Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, Ranger.
The idea of this also reminds me of the interactive adventure video game Sorcery! where usually a lot of misfortune befalls the player and even if you intend to be a pacifist like DJ you will still end up fighting someone. You can encounter very interesting and odd characters along the way too.
Not only that, there were many references to other media, most of all my favourite world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, namely Lord of the Rings. I must list them because they are great:
•The moment I read the name Beregond, I cried out “Tolkien!” – for that is the name of the Guard of the Citadel who is assigned to show Peregrin Took the ropes of being a guard.
•The friar using his cast iron frying pan as a weapon reminded me of Samwise Gamgee.
•The witch opening the peephole and saying “Wuddaya want?” definitely is the quivalent to Harry Goatleaf the gatekeeper
• “alright-then-keep-your-secrets,” is 100% what Frodo says.
• “He has the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox” – word for word!
•The goblin king, from The Hobbit.
•The guide they consider hiring is called Gog’m, “a slippery, hunched little fiend with large eyes and a loincloth. Didn’t seem particularly trustworthy.”, very akin to Gollum.
Skyrim references also crop up here, one of my favourite computer games. Francis wanting to visit the Library of Artak is like the college of Winterhold simply because its library was run by the orc Urag gro-Shub. We have a town called Skyhole instead of Skyrim, a Dragonspeaker, able to communicate with the dragons like the Dragonborne. “Dun-Ku-Rah” instead of “Fus Ro Dah” (very different things though as the former isn’t a dragon shout, more an event: a duel to the death) – and a beautiful rendition of the Skyrim guards “I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee”:
The drugged noodles idea is reminiscent of the Lotus Casino in the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief film where if you eat a Lotus Flower food, you are trapped in the Casino permanently.
The Evercloak spell made me think of Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility.
“All magic, no maidens” (I laughed every time) resembled the idea of being maidenless in the video game Elden Ring.
People are worried about losing sacred knowledge from the Library of Artak: one false move and the Nighwolves have threatened they will burn it. This is comparable to the Library of Alexandria from actual history which had a huge amount of its work destroyed in a fire.
ㅤ⚔️ themes
This book covers some very good themes that people of all ages can relate to.
Self-worth and acceptance
Just about all of the gang are considered different by everyone else.
• DJ is overlooked and underappreciated but is self-conscious about what everyone thinks of him when he does overhear them. This makes him refuse to do things, like studying magic because of the view that if you are a mage, you’re “all magic, no maidens”. Francis reprimands him about this:
• Friar Steve is often alone and given looks by his fellow Stewards of the Goddess, due to both his appearance and the fact he is often loud when he speaks. Even DJ isn’t keen on him at first, though ironically the townsfolk do the same to him. His voice projection comes in handy when they peacefully take back the Library of Artak. The Orcs of the Nether Region also practically worship and admire him, saying “Your chest is strong… you must be a warrior of great deeds.”
• Francis has been an outsider from his orc clan, the Ironhands Clan, for 8 years after his desire for peace talks went wrong and many were slain. The orcs felt Francis “turned his back on tradition... Favoring the book over the ax! An orc must *never* forsake battle!” He is not made for war, which to the orcs is an issue. But this makes him unique. If he had nothing but a thirst for fight then he would never have left the Region, never have been a strongarm for DJ, and DJ may have never learned how to be merciful which comes in handy later on. This proves that he was meant to be the person he is, otherwise none of the events would have transpired the way it did.
Looks are deceptive
This is the main theme throughout the book, nearly every chapter has something to do with this. Our main group doesn’t match the usual stereotypes but are extraordinary people. People underestimate what DJ is capable of. The witch is a reasonably harmless prankster. The goblins pursue the gang to thank them, not harm them. The Phillips look and seem welcoming but are actually a very dangerous group of people. The God they worship you think would be something impressive but is actually just an ordinary-looking man. The people of Blight’s Respite seem bitter and unwelcoming but deep down they are lovely especially when the group help them. Devin the Dragonspeaker sounded impressive but when they finally meet him he looks so small and unordinary.
What makes someone noble
Another theme throughout is the question of nobility, what makes someone this. Some like Francis are born into it, but do not necessarily want to rule. Others have an idea of nobility based on how others are perceived, like DJ’s idea of nobility is everything his father embodies. The gnome Buttons has been cast out of his village until he does a noble deed, which he decides is taking Riley back to her father. DJ’s mother is a member of nobility in Varis and values her reputation above ever visiting her son, as having children outwith Varis is a scandal.
Bonds between parents and children
This is covered through various dynamics. The first of which is DJ and Sir Dashing: supportive yet rather distant, which turns into deep-found respect and appreciation of DJ from Sir Dashing the longer his son is away. He realises the best thing in his career was having DJ for a son, and this was lovely to see.
And then there is the kind of parent who will love their child from afar and try to be present in their life. This is what Francis pledges to do with Gasha’s child, showing he has broken the cycle of his toxic father which is nice.
In the Acknowledgements, Hall dedicates this book to his late father, which was so moving especially considering he refers to his own dad as “the original Sir Dashing”. I have a feeling a lot of these moments where we see the bond between DJ and his father Sir Dashing in the story are reminiscent of his own lovely bond with his father. I can without any doubt say he would be very proud of this beautiful and amusing story.
ㅤ⚔️ realistic elements in a fantasy setting
• gay representation through Pebble and Brooks (I love their names because they go well together: you are likely to find pebbles near brooks)
• a brief political side mentioning a corrupt government system through the Goblins (“This new freedom will allow our clan to pick a new leader—one that’s democratically elected! After all, a leader should be established by the consent of the governed”)
• oftentimes religious views, through Friar Steve’s worship of the Goddess Uh and the worship of the false god Phillip.
• sexism through the Orcs: there hasn’t been a She-Chief in a while and people only see the she-orcs as “hardly more than vessels for childbearing”. Yikes!
<< Positives >>
🠚The coverage about the different types of love: love lost via DJ and his mother; love from afar Francia and Gasha; love grown DJ and Riley.
🠚The characters – especially the waffle wizard! So quirky. I want a bag where I can carry anything too.
🠚Some great quotes!
🠚The use of Latin for the spells. “Scintyll” which he uses for fire magic is after the Latin “scintilla” which means “spark”.
<< Negatives >>
🠚I really would have loved an epilogue to find out what happened to everyone after the events. If the townspeople came to respect DJ on his own, for example. Gasha and Francis. DJ and Riley, what happens to them. If any of their friends come to visit.
🠚We never get a moment after DJ fighting the Harpygriff to return to the waffle wizard!
🠚I didn’t vibe with some of the names. Uh, unfortunately, and Odambro haha I’m so sorry all I can see is “Oh dayum bro”. The brassiere of Uh is such a random concept, though rather funny.
🠚I felt Sir Dashing should have signed off his messages with Dad. Though, I daresay this is symbolic about how he is quite vain about himself.
🠚Chapter 16 is the first time the perspective shifts to another character. I would have preferred more of this, but ultimately don’t mind.
🠚DJ never has any proof of his heroic deeds by the end. I would have preferred if he had something to take with him.
🠚DJ and Riley are cute in that scene where they decide to date, but they really should have kissed!
🠚I thought the dragon Grythure would return and help or something.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ DJ꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ He has good gut instincts, like about Vennick. I like that he doesn’t want to fight, a good internal conflict, and the way that the emptiness after killing people is covered.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Francis preferring books to parties is very relatable haha. I will not stop talking about the waffle wizard he is the best!
FAV QUOTES
• It was the way she looked at him and smiled. It didn’t happen often, but when the light hit her face just right, illuminating her fair skin and chestnut eyes, it made DJ’s heart sigh.
• “The mightiest battles are often fought within.”
• They were always together—like a sword and shield.
• they held a gaze that could have written thousands of sad stories.
• Together, the four of them sat under the western clock face with their feet dangling off. They watched the sea as a brilliant moon cast shimmering light over the water. The stars couldn’t have been brighter. A perfect summer evening.
• “I wanted to tell you that among all of my adventures, I’d say my favorite of all has been… raising you. You’ve become your own man, different from me in so many ways, and I think that’s wonderful. I bless the day that you were left at my doorstep. If I could, I would do it all again. No question in my mind.”
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Aaron N. Hall for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
Riley was there. She was always there. A shadow cast over them as Francis got up and encased them in his big green arms. Then Steve got to his feet and plastered himself across the group. Together, they cocooned DJ in a warm embrace. And in his chest, his heart settled.
Here, in the arms of his friends, he wasn’t forgotten.
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
A validation-driven knight, a baker’s daughter, a noisy friar-mage and a scholarly orc …walk into a bar. Well, an inn. Several inns. The innkeeper says “I would say look out for the plot twist, but this whole group is a walking narrative anomaly.” – He doesn’t say this, haha I’m sorry! But the number of inns they visit is true!
15-year-old Dashing Junior “DJ” becomes knighted but is ever in the shadow of his father the famous Sir Dashing Senior, most charming and bravest of all knights, slayer of dragons, and an overall living legend. At his own knighting ceremony, everyone ignores him except for his best friend Riley, the baker’s daughter. He is tired of being pitted against his father and decides that he will set off on a quest from his hometown of Beregond to The Temple of Amulet to hold the amulet and prove himself worthy of his knighthood.
He assembles a small fellowship consisting of Riley who dreams of becoming a ranger, a loud friar called Steven “Steve” who aspires to be a priest and a well-read orc with a mysterious past named Francis who runs the local bookshop and desires to visit the Library of Artak as sees this quest as his opportunity.
As one can imagine, this turns into something more complicated and chaotic than they could ever imagine. They meet several interesting and unforgettable characters along the way – from a wizard who sells magical waffles to an author who can only write long books to a band of bards to a gnome on a direcat to a half-giant to a crazy cult – and, of course, no fantasy world is complete without dragons. There is a side quest or two… or three… definitely more than four! And there is danger at every turn. Will DJ succeed?
That’s kind of the story of our journey, huh? Get broke, find a job, barely escape, earn some coin. Rinse and repeat.”This is told from the third-person past-tense perspective of mostly DJ but interestingly switches at one point to Francis when he is with Gasha.
“Sounds like lazy writing,” Francis said.
OVERALL OPINIONS
I had a feeling I would love this after reading the blurb, and I was not wrong. (I took the Truth Serum for this, iykyk.) The rapid pacing of the narrative and the irresistible charm of the writing made it impossible to put down! There were plenty of hilarious moments that had me in stitches, and I truly savoured every second! The humour and bizarreness of events reminded me of Terry Pratchett’s Diskworld series and therefore a perfect book for anyone who loves this.
Areas in the story were predictable (ideal for the ya genre) and did not spoil my overall positive experience as it progressed. At the same time, there were plenty of plot twists.
ㅤ⚔️ characters and quirkiness
Every main character has their moment to shine, which really gives the essence of teamwork. None of this quest could have been achieved without the others: Riley with her Ranger knowledge of foraging and hunting helping them through their journey, Francis with his general knowledge as well as that of swordplay and his diplomatic side, Father Steve with both his knowledge and experience with magic but also his loud booming voice aiding them in situations, and DJ with his all-round knowledge that he picks up from everyone.
There were so many quirky characters and they all enchanted me. Even the Highway Hag (who I’m glad shows up more than once as I found her first meeting anticlimactic). My favourite characters were the waffle wizard, Sandy and Devin.
I knew the moment I read the waffle wizard that I would love him, and I hoped he would show up again – and I’m so glad he did. I just love how he has a crossbow sitting under the table! I couldn’t stop laughing!
The wizard winked and said, “Observe!” Without taking his eyes off DJ, he reached under the table, pulled out a small crossbow, and fired a bolt into Francis’s shoulder.Devin was really cool but funny too, especially after the dragon fiasco
Walking ahead of the group, swinging his arms, Devin looked over his shoulder. His face was bright and cheery, despite being half-smeared with dragon blood. He said, “All things considered, I think that went pretty well!”I wish I had an enchanted bag that could carry nearly 300 pounds of stuff – mind you, it’s not so handy to find specific things you need!
ㅤ⚔️ references and vibes
Inspired by the first of his own D&D campaign with his friends, Hall has created a world with very D&D vibes: the recommended number of people in a team is 4; the races include Elf, Human, Dwarf, Half-Orc (In this case we have Orc and Half-Giant), Gnome, Goblin, Dragonborn (As opposed to Dragonspeaker here); the classes of Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, Ranger.
The idea of this also reminds me of the interactive adventure video game Sorcery! where usually a lot of misfortune befalls the player and even if you intend to be a pacifist like DJ you will still end up fighting someone. You can encounter very interesting and odd characters along the way too.
Not only that, there were many references to other media, most of all my favourite world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, namely Lord of the Rings. I must list them because they are great:
•The moment I read the name Beregond, I cried out “Tolkien!” – for that is the name of the Guard of the Citadel who is assigned to show Peregrin Took the ropes of being a guard.
•The friar using his cast iron frying pan as a weapon reminded me of Samwise Gamgee.
•The witch opening the peephole and saying “Wuddaya want?” definitely is the quivalent to Harry Goatleaf the gatekeeper
• “alright-then-keep-your-secrets,” is 100% what Frodo says.
• “He has the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox” – word for word!
•The goblin king, from The Hobbit.
•The guide they consider hiring is called Gog’m, “a slippery, hunched little fiend with large eyes and a loincloth. Didn’t seem particularly trustworthy.”, very akin to Gollum.
Skyrim references also crop up here, one of my favourite computer games. Francis wanting to visit the Library of Artak is like the college of Winterhold simply because its library was run by the orc Urag gro-Shub. We have a town called Skyhole instead of Skyrim, a Dragonspeaker, able to communicate with the dragons like the Dragonborne. “Dun-Ku-Rah” instead of “Fus Ro Dah” (very different things though as the former isn’t a dragon shout, more an event: a duel to the death) – and a beautiful rendition of the Skyrim guards “I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee”:
“If he’s so big and mighty, why does he need guards at all?”I mentioned Terry Pratchett previously, the box that sprouts legs reminds me of the luggage in The Colour of Magic. Also, a section here was akin to Pratchett’s saying of “The pen is mightier than the sword”:
“Someone’s gotta walk around and tell people to behave themselves. We don’t do much else.” The guard tapped the armor on his leg. “Arrow to the knee. Put an end to my adventures long ago.”
He stood at a table, his arm moving with the precision of a swordsman. But his weapon of choice was a quill and ink.This is actually one of my favourite quotes from this book!
The drugged noodles idea is reminiscent of the Lotus Casino in the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief film where if you eat a Lotus Flower food, you are trapped in the Casino permanently.
The Evercloak spell made me think of Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility.
“All magic, no maidens” (I laughed every time) resembled the idea of being maidenless in the video game Elden Ring.
People are worried about losing sacred knowledge from the Library of Artak: one false move and the Nighwolves have threatened they will burn it. This is comparable to the Library of Alexandria from actual history which had a huge amount of its work destroyed in a fire.
ㅤ⚔️ themes
This book covers some very good themes that people of all ages can relate to.
Self-worth and acceptance
Just about all of the gang are considered different by everyone else.
• DJ is overlooked and underappreciated but is self-conscious about what everyone thinks of him when he does overhear them. This makes him refuse to do things, like studying magic because of the view that if you are a mage, you’re “all magic, no maidens”. Francis reprimands him about this:
“What I understand,” the orc said, “is that you have a serious talent for something and you’re afraid to explore it because you’re a fifteen-year-old boy who desperately cares what other people think. And what you need to understand is that although you are Sir Dashing’s son, you are also your own person with your own destiny, and that is something that is all your own.”He also wishes he was more like his dad. But he undergoes a lot of character development, first shown through the fact that DJ hates that he gets greeted as “New Philip” – he does, in fact, value his individuality and who he is. This is solidified when the thought of achieving his quest and getting the amulet no longer appeals to him as it once did. He no longer feels the need to prove anything, which is beautiful.
• Friar Steve is often alone and given looks by his fellow Stewards of the Goddess, due to both his appearance and the fact he is often loud when he speaks. Even DJ isn’t keen on him at first, though ironically the townsfolk do the same to him. His voice projection comes in handy when they peacefully take back the Library of Artak. The Orcs of the Nether Region also practically worship and admire him, saying “Your chest is strong… you must be a warrior of great deeds.”
• Francis has been an outsider from his orc clan, the Ironhands Clan, for 8 years after his desire for peace talks went wrong and many were slain. The orcs felt Francis “turned his back on tradition... Favoring the book over the ax! An orc must *never* forsake battle!” He is not made for war, which to the orcs is an issue. But this makes him unique. If he had nothing but a thirst for fight then he would never have left the Region, never have been a strongarm for DJ, and DJ may have never learned how to be merciful which comes in handy later on. This proves that he was meant to be the person he is, otherwise none of the events would have transpired the way it did.
Looks are deceptive
This is the main theme throughout the book, nearly every chapter has something to do with this. Our main group doesn’t match the usual stereotypes but are extraordinary people. People underestimate what DJ is capable of. The witch is a reasonably harmless prankster. The goblins pursue the gang to thank them, not harm them. The Phillips look and seem welcoming but are actually a very dangerous group of people. The God they worship you think would be something impressive but is actually just an ordinary-looking man. The people of Blight’s Respite seem bitter and unwelcoming but deep down they are lovely especially when the group help them. Devin the Dragonspeaker sounded impressive but when they finally meet him he looks so small and unordinary.
What makes someone noble
Another theme throughout is the question of nobility, what makes someone this. Some like Francis are born into it, but do not necessarily want to rule. Others have an idea of nobility based on how others are perceived, like DJ’s idea of nobility is everything his father embodies. The gnome Buttons has been cast out of his village until he does a noble deed, which he decides is taking Riley back to her father. DJ’s mother is a member of nobility in Varis and values her reputation above ever visiting her son, as having children outwith Varis is a scandal.
Bonds between parents and children
This is covered through various dynamics. The first of which is DJ and Sir Dashing: supportive yet rather distant, which turns into deep-found respect and appreciation of DJ from Sir Dashing the longer his son is away. He realises the best thing in his career was having DJ for a son, and this was lovely to see.
“He’s not perfect—he’s really distracted by his past heroics—but he’s always been there for me. Tried to show me that I was okay when no one else did.”Another is the more tense and bitter relationship between DJ and his mother Melanie. She abandoned him when he was a child and has been an absent parent all of his life. I like that DJ gets to reprimand her for what she did. Francis also has this: he had a father who didn’t respect him unlike DJ whose father did.
And then there is the kind of parent who will love their child from afar and try to be present in their life. This is what Francis pledges to do with Gasha’s child, showing he has broken the cycle of his toxic father which is nice.
In the Acknowledgements, Hall dedicates this book to his late father, which was so moving especially considering he refers to his own dad as “the original Sir Dashing”. I have a feeling a lot of these moments where we see the bond between DJ and his father Sir Dashing in the story are reminiscent of his own lovely bond with his father. I can without any doubt say he would be very proud of this beautiful and amusing story.
ㅤ⚔️ realistic elements in a fantasy setting
• gay representation through Pebble and Brooks (I love their names because they go well together: you are likely to find pebbles near brooks)
• a brief political side mentioning a corrupt government system through the Goblins (“This new freedom will allow our clan to pick a new leader—one that’s democratically elected! After all, a leader should be established by the consent of the governed”)
• oftentimes religious views, through Friar Steve’s worship of the Goddess Uh and the worship of the false god Phillip.
• sexism through the Orcs: there hasn’t been a She-Chief in a while and people only see the she-orcs as “hardly more than vessels for childbearing”. Yikes!
<< Positives >>
🠚The coverage about the different types of love: love lost via DJ and his mother; love from afar Francia and Gasha; love grown DJ and Riley.
🠚The characters – especially the waffle wizard! So quirky. I want a bag where I can carry anything too.
🠚Some great quotes!
🠚The use of Latin for the spells. “Scintyll” which he uses for fire magic is after the Latin “scintilla” which means “spark”.
<< Negatives >>
🠚I really would have loved an epilogue to find out what happened to everyone after the events. If the townspeople came to respect DJ on his own, for example. Gasha and Francis. DJ and Riley, what happens to them. If any of their friends come to visit.
🠚We never get a moment after DJ fighting the Harpygriff to return to the waffle wizard!
🠚I didn’t vibe with some of the names. Uh, unfortunately, and Odambro haha I’m so sorry all I can see is “Oh dayum bro”. The brassiere of Uh is such a random concept, though rather funny.
🠚I felt Sir Dashing should have signed off his messages with Dad. Though, I daresay this is symbolic about how he is quite vain about himself.
🠚Chapter 16 is the first time the perspective shifts to another character. I would have preferred more of this, but ultimately don’t mind.
🠚DJ never has any proof of his heroic deeds by the end. I would have preferred if he had something to take with him.
🠚DJ and Riley are cute in that scene where they decide to date, but they really should have kissed!
🠚I thought the dragon Grythure would return and help or something.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ DJ꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ He has good gut instincts, like about Vennick. I like that he doesn’t want to fight, a good internal conflict, and the way that the emptiness after killing people is covered.
“I have a famous dad. Everyone expected me to be like him, but I’m not. I went on this quest to prove to everyone that I’m worthy of being a knight like him, but along the way, I stopped caring what they think. I’m not my dad—I don’t slay dragons and save maidens. At first, I hated that. But in the last few months, I learned that I’m actually okay as I am.”
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Francis preferring books to parties is very relatable haha. I will not stop talking about the waffle wizard he is the best!
FAV QUOTES
• It was the way she looked at him and smiled. It didn’t happen often, but when the light hit her face just right, illuminating her fair skin and chestnut eyes, it made DJ’s heart sigh.
• “The mightiest battles are often fought within.”
• They were always together—like a sword and shield.
• they held a gaze that could have written thousands of sad stories.
• Together, the four of them sat under the western clock face with their feet dangling off. They watched the sea as a brilliant moon cast shimmering light over the water. The stars couldn’t have been brighter. A perfect summer evening.
• “I wanted to tell you that among all of my adventures, I’d say my favorite of all has been… raising you. You’ve become your own man, different from me in so many ways, and I think that’s wonderful. I bless the day that you were left at my doorstep. If I could, I would do it all again. No question in my mind.”
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Aaron N. Hall for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
December 31, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM
The Legend of Uh by Aaron N Hall is a brilliant, semi-cosy quest fantasy that caught my attention, and my laughs, from the first pages of the story. Between Dungeons & Dragons campaign cliches, Waffle Wizards, and a hilarious religious cult dedicated to someone called Phillip, this book would not let me put it down.
The first thing that should absolutely be addressed about The Legend of Uh is the humour. Oftentimes, humour in novels, SFF or otherwise, is incredibly hard to nail down. When I think of humour in SFF specifically, there are only a few names that come to mind: Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and occasionally Neil Gaiman. Without a shadow of a doubt, however, Aaron N Hall has planted himself on this list.
Not only is there a child-like whimsy to this story that is reminiscent of the best era of Dreamworks and Pixar (see How to Train Your Dragon, or Brave), there is also a near-perfect combination of zany and hilarious ideas throughout to keep the reader chuckling, even when the plot itself dips. It’s a clever way of handling the middle of the story, where there is always a risk of the plot dragging. Even though this was not a symptom of this particular book, the jokes really kept the pacing moving quickly. Without broaching spoilers, one of my favourite long-running jokes in the book is related to a certain monolithic author in the SFF genre, tuckerised perfectly into the land of Uh. In addition, the slogan “All magic no maidens,” had me blinking away tears of laughter on drives to work many a day.
It’s hard, therefore, to criticise The Legend of Uh for much at all. Though the fetchquest plot is incredibly derivative, it’s done so in such a self-aware way that it doesn’t matter. There are moments, however, where I think the book just slightly overreaches its audience: for a novel that is marketed as YA, I would personally still be cautious with some themes, language, and innuendo in the book before handing it to a teen to read, especially a younger teen.
Overall, I am incredibly excited for people to read this book. It’s got everything: bags of humour, character development, a strong moral and resolution, and enough moments of rich worldbuilding and deeper conversation to keep it away from “shallow” reading territory. While it’s hard to mention specifics about this book without spoiling anything, I highly encourage people to read it when it comes out next year. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see how well it combines fantastical tropes and jokes, on top of a foundation of solid prose, storytelling, and character development. A true highlight of my reading this year, I can’t wait to check out more work by the author, and hope for a potential sequel in the future.
Sandy Brambleton forever.
The Legend of Uh by Aaron N Hall is a brilliant, semi-cosy quest fantasy that caught my attention, and my laughs, from the first pages of the story. Between Dungeons & Dragons campaign cliches, Waffle Wizards, and a hilarious religious cult dedicated to someone called Phillip, this book would not let me put it down.
The first thing that should absolutely be addressed about The Legend of Uh is the humour. Oftentimes, humour in novels, SFF or otherwise, is incredibly hard to nail down. When I think of humour in SFF specifically, there are only a few names that come to mind: Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and occasionally Neil Gaiman. Without a shadow of a doubt, however, Aaron N Hall has planted himself on this list.
Not only is there a child-like whimsy to this story that is reminiscent of the best era of Dreamworks and Pixar (see How to Train Your Dragon, or Brave), there is also a near-perfect combination of zany and hilarious ideas throughout to keep the reader chuckling, even when the plot itself dips. It’s a clever way of handling the middle of the story, where there is always a risk of the plot dragging. Even though this was not a symptom of this particular book, the jokes really kept the pacing moving quickly. Without broaching spoilers, one of my favourite long-running jokes in the book is related to a certain monolithic author in the SFF genre, tuckerised perfectly into the land of Uh. In addition, the slogan “All magic no maidens,” had me blinking away tears of laughter on drives to work many a day.
It’s hard, therefore, to criticise The Legend of Uh for much at all. Though the fetchquest plot is incredibly derivative, it’s done so in such a self-aware way that it doesn’t matter. There are moments, however, where I think the book just slightly overreaches its audience: for a novel that is marketed as YA, I would personally still be cautious with some themes, language, and innuendo in the book before handing it to a teen to read, especially a younger teen.
Overall, I am incredibly excited for people to read this book. It’s got everything: bags of humour, character development, a strong moral and resolution, and enough moments of rich worldbuilding and deeper conversation to keep it away from “shallow” reading territory. While it’s hard to mention specifics about this book without spoiling anything, I highly encourage people to read it when it comes out next year. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see how well it combines fantastical tropes and jokes, on top of a foundation of solid prose, storytelling, and character development. A true highlight of my reading this year, I can’t wait to check out more work by the author, and hope for a potential sequel in the future.
Sandy Brambleton forever.
September 19, 2025
(I FUCKING ADORED THIS SO MUCH!!!! NEW FAVORITE!!! 😭)
I came across this book from a recommendation video and as soon as I heard Adventure Time I was sold and wanted it immediately. So, that’s what I did. And now here I am after finishing it in just two days.
I absolutely adored this novel with my whole heart. I’ve learned recently I’m such a sucker for stories involving friendship. This one does it just right. Not only on friendship but a fun goofy journey on loving oneself and that all those things you hear other people say truly don’t matter. Not to mention the love from a loving dad. That tugged on my heart too since my dad and I aren’t just father daughter but best friends.
Little quote I loved that made me think of my friends:
“Here, in the arms of his friends, he wasn’t forgotten.”
I adored our main character and each of his friends. A special loud Steven, a ranger Riley, and a 7ft tall orc who loves knowledge and books. I truly see how a fan of Adventure Time could enjoy this story and the quirky, wholesome, little adventure these characters go on. I even adored so many of the side characters they meet along the way.
Also, pretty sure, maybe, there was a Skyrim reference and when I came to it I did laugh out loud.
I do want to check out more from this author even if it’s not the same tone as this one. I deeply recommend The Legend of Uh. I do think this is a new favorite for me and I could easily see myself rereading this. If I constantly bring it up in the future from now on, deal with it. That’s what happens when I love something.
I came across this book from a recommendation video and as soon as I heard Adventure Time I was sold and wanted it immediately. So, that’s what I did. And now here I am after finishing it in just two days.
I absolutely adored this novel with my whole heart. I’ve learned recently I’m such a sucker for stories involving friendship. This one does it just right. Not only on friendship but a fun goofy journey on loving oneself and that all those things you hear other people say truly don’t matter. Not to mention the love from a loving dad. That tugged on my heart too since my dad and I aren’t just father daughter but best friends.
Little quote I loved that made me think of my friends:
“Here, in the arms of his friends, he wasn’t forgotten.”
I adored our main character and each of his friends. A special loud Steven, a ranger Riley, and a 7ft tall orc who loves knowledge and books. I truly see how a fan of Adventure Time could enjoy this story and the quirky, wholesome, little adventure these characters go on. I even adored so many of the side characters they meet along the way.
Also, pretty sure, maybe, there was a Skyrim reference and when I came to it I did laugh out loud.
I do want to check out more from this author even if it’s not the same tone as this one. I deeply recommend The Legend of Uh. I do think this is a new favorite for me and I could easily see myself rereading this. If I constantly bring it up in the future from now on, deal with it. That’s what happens when I love something.
May 5, 2025
We read this as a family read aloud. I knew it would enhance my reading experience to watch my family of D&D / fantasy lovers fall in love with it and it totally did. This is a fantasy comedy with a lot of memorable characters, exciting encounters, and good character growth. my husband still references this story weekly. The audio narration is FANTASTIC! And my kids are super picky because their Dad has the best voices! But seriously, Adriel Brandt does an incredible job.
My favorite was Aaron's smart writing and hilarious cameo comedy!
We really look forward to the rest of the series!
My favorite was Aaron's smart writing and hilarious cameo comedy!
We really look forward to the rest of the series!
March 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this journey. Lovable characters, great bits of a humor and absurdity, and a whole lot of heart! Full RTC
February 23, 2025
A comedic, yet brilliantly wholesome quest that makes each adventurer recognize the beauty of their own life.
March 13, 2025
Hall’s writing is so clever and full of humor, you can’t help but want to go on this adventure with DJ! Great characters. Light, humorous, and full of heart!
December 6, 2025
This book had been on our radar for so long. We are so glad we finally read it - its uh brilliant! What started as a fun and whimsical fantasy quest, a heroes adventure, developed into an emotional and heartfelt self actualisation journey. A book with absurd moments, and breaking the fourth wall (or is it page) also managed to pull at the heartstrings. Reminding us you have to love yourself first. Be your own biggest fan and cheerleader above all else.
January 12, 2026
Loved this!! It was soo much fun & definitely reminded me of my dnd days. I haven’t played cause of young kids & early bedtimes but this was a great substitute! A young man knighted purely because his father could not be knighted twice finds himself at a crossroads. Either live with the fact of being called the scrawny cowardly knight or find a way to earn his knighthood. The adventure he goes on is definitely full of events & side quests. Loved this. My favorite part was the Sir Dashing Junior found himself & learned what he cared most about. I love that theme! Definitely a great read that I would recommend to my dnd friends & youth who love adventure & fantasy.
Audiobook Update: Adriel Brandt was the best for this!! So many awesome voices. It definitely made the difference. I was laughing all over again!
Audiobook Update: Adriel Brandt was the best for this!! So many awesome voices. It definitely made the difference. I was laughing all over again!
January 11, 2025
Aaron N. Hall delivers a fantastically fun and heartfelt tale in "The Legend of Uh"! This whimsical cozy adventure had me laughing from start to finish, with a story that’s as clever and deep as it is entertaining. Although the book is suitable for a wide fantasy audience, I think it’s especially ideal for children and families. Its humor, creative world-building, and lovable characters would make it a joy for younger readers while still offering plenty for adults to enjoy.
The story centers on 15 year old DJ (Dashing Junior), who longs to prove himself worthy of his father’s legendary status. His quest to step out of Sir Dashing Senior’s shadow is packed with absurdly funny moments and touching character growth. Alongside his quirky companions, DJ faces a whirlwind of hilarious challenges, from waffle-wielding wizards to a cult where everyone is named Phillip.
One of the most captivating aspects of this book was watching the companions grow throughout the journey. Francis, the towering orc with a love for books, stole my heart. Beneath his intimidating appearance, he turned out to be a gentle soul who always tried to solve problems with words before resorting to violence. His habit of reading while walking added a layer of charm, but what truly moved me was his reluctance to return to the clan that had banished him - and the reason behind it made me feel for him even more. Then there’s Friar Steve, who I initially dismissed as nothing more than an eccentric man with trumpet voice and frying pan as a weapon, avoided by the rest of the priests. He completely shattered that impression by repeatedly saving lives with his incredible magic. His calm and steady demeanor in the face of chaos and his unwavering faith made him an unexpectedly comforting presence.
Riley’s bravery and determination stood out, especially after she defied her controlling father to follow the crew and chase her dream of becoming a ranger. Her persistence was inspiring, and her quick thinking saved not only her own life but also the lives of the people of Bright’s Respite. I admired how she supported DJ unwaveringly, even when the world doubted him. And DJ’s growth was the most rewarding of all. Starting as a timid boy knighted simply because his father couldn’t be knighted twice, he evolved into a true hero. From being overlooked and underestimated to surviving the challenging quest with minimal bloodshed, DJ proved his worth by finding his strength, his magic, and his own path. His mercy and creativity in overcoming challenges solidified him as a knight in every sense of the word. Watching their journeys unfold was a highlight of the book and made me root for them every step of the way.
The humor is spot-on, blending sharp satire with delightful absurdity in a way that reminds me of Douglas Adams. Despite the comedy, the story doesn’t shy away from deeper themes like family, self-worth, and trust. DJ’s evolving relationship with his father, Sir Dashing, is both heartwarming and authentic, making their bond a standout element of the book.
Even though the story playfully pokes fun at classic fantasy tropes, it still provides plenty of excitement and memorable characters. Sir Dashing shines as a confident, slightly vain but deeply caring and supportive father, and his interactions with DJ were some of my favorite moments.
While the book contains a few jokes and themes older readers may appreciate more, it’s an excellent choice for middle-grade readers and families. The combination of action, humor, and heartfelt storytelling makes it a feel-good adventure for all ages.
I highly recommend "The Legend of Uh" to fans of humorous fantasy, parents looking for a fun and engaging book for their kids, and anyone who loves a lighthearted, cozy, but fast paced tale.
The story centers on 15 year old DJ (Dashing Junior), who longs to prove himself worthy of his father’s legendary status. His quest to step out of Sir Dashing Senior’s shadow is packed with absurdly funny moments and touching character growth. Alongside his quirky companions, DJ faces a whirlwind of hilarious challenges, from waffle-wielding wizards to a cult where everyone is named Phillip.
One of the most captivating aspects of this book was watching the companions grow throughout the journey. Francis, the towering orc with a love for books, stole my heart. Beneath his intimidating appearance, he turned out to be a gentle soul who always tried to solve problems with words before resorting to violence. His habit of reading while walking added a layer of charm, but what truly moved me was his reluctance to return to the clan that had banished him - and the reason behind it made me feel for him even more. Then there’s Friar Steve, who I initially dismissed as nothing more than an eccentric man with trumpet voice and frying pan as a weapon, avoided by the rest of the priests. He completely shattered that impression by repeatedly saving lives with his incredible magic. His calm and steady demeanor in the face of chaos and his unwavering faith made him an unexpectedly comforting presence.
Riley’s bravery and determination stood out, especially after she defied her controlling father to follow the crew and chase her dream of becoming a ranger. Her persistence was inspiring, and her quick thinking saved not only her own life but also the lives of the people of Bright’s Respite. I admired how she supported DJ unwaveringly, even when the world doubted him. And DJ’s growth was the most rewarding of all. Starting as a timid boy knighted simply because his father couldn’t be knighted twice, he evolved into a true hero. From being overlooked and underestimated to surviving the challenging quest with minimal bloodshed, DJ proved his worth by finding his strength, his magic, and his own path. His mercy and creativity in overcoming challenges solidified him as a knight in every sense of the word. Watching their journeys unfold was a highlight of the book and made me root for them every step of the way.
The humor is spot-on, blending sharp satire with delightful absurdity in a way that reminds me of Douglas Adams. Despite the comedy, the story doesn’t shy away from deeper themes like family, self-worth, and trust. DJ’s evolving relationship with his father, Sir Dashing, is both heartwarming and authentic, making their bond a standout element of the book.
Even though the story playfully pokes fun at classic fantasy tropes, it still provides plenty of excitement and memorable characters. Sir Dashing shines as a confident, slightly vain but deeply caring and supportive father, and his interactions with DJ were some of my favorite moments.
While the book contains a few jokes and themes older readers may appreciate more, it’s an excellent choice for middle-grade readers and families. The combination of action, humor, and heartfelt storytelling makes it a feel-good adventure for all ages.
I highly recommend "The Legend of Uh" to fans of humorous fantasy, parents looking for a fun and engaging book for their kids, and anyone who loves a lighthearted, cozy, but fast paced tale.
February 26, 2025
Need a break from apocalyptic finales and nation-shattering wars? Want something other than back-stabbing rogues and tyrannical kings?
Look no further than Uh, a land of ascetic dwarves, contemplative orcs, flying gnomes, and all manners of peculiar nomads.
We follow DJ, the oft-overlooked son of Sir Dashing, the world's most beloved knight. Determined to make a name for himself and carve out a reputation from his father's shadow, our hero recruits a crew and sets out to recover a legendary amulet.
The goal is recognition, accomplishment, and self-discovery. The method is adventure...and what more do you need to know?
If you want a zany, comedic, fantastical take on a coming-of-age drama, look no further. You will meet a host of bizarre characters, survive all manners of nefarious adversaries, and ponder the strength of friendship and family. Best of all, you get to do it with a unanimously genuine, noble cast that reminds you why fantasy is so fun to experience. You will fall in love with this crew and wish for more!
Look no further than Uh, a land of ascetic dwarves, contemplative orcs, flying gnomes, and all manners of peculiar nomads.
We follow DJ, the oft-overlooked son of Sir Dashing, the world's most beloved knight. Determined to make a name for himself and carve out a reputation from his father's shadow, our hero recruits a crew and sets out to recover a legendary amulet.
The goal is recognition, accomplishment, and self-discovery. The method is adventure...and what more do you need to know?
If you want a zany, comedic, fantastical take on a coming-of-age drama, look no further. You will meet a host of bizarre characters, survive all manners of nefarious adversaries, and ponder the strength of friendship and family. Best of all, you get to do it with a unanimously genuine, noble cast that reminds you why fantasy is so fun to experience. You will fall in love with this crew and wish for more!
February 26, 2025
Delightfully witty and definitely tongue in cheek but with a big heart at its core, this cozy progression fantasy was so much fun to read (listen) to.
I found many parts of the story fantastical and hilarious. It's very Pratchett-esk but follows a more linear line. The characters are lovely and the found family trope is strong here.
I love the growth our main character experiences. Those around him get taken for a ride in the quest for DJ to be taken seriously by those around him (and himself actually) and to get out from under his father's shadow.
I think DJ's side story between himself and his dad so touching. Through letters we get to witness the father son relationship bloom into adulthood, mutual respect and a realization that they really do love each other very much.
I love all our co-main characters because they really aren't side characters. The quartet become faster friends. Can we talk about the waffle wizard? Adorable!
I listened to this on audioiobook and it really added to the experience for me. Excellent narrator!
I found many parts of the story fantastical and hilarious. It's very Pratchett-esk but follows a more linear line. The characters are lovely and the found family trope is strong here.
I love the growth our main character experiences. Those around him get taken for a ride in the quest for DJ to be taken seriously by those around him (and himself actually) and to get out from under his father's shadow.
I think DJ's side story between himself and his dad so touching. Through letters we get to witness the father son relationship bloom into adulthood, mutual respect and a realization that they really do love each other very much.
I love all our co-main characters because they really aren't side characters. The quartet become faster friends. Can we talk about the waffle wizard? Adorable!
I listened to this on audioiobook and it really added to the experience for me. Excellent narrator!
July 29, 2025
This book is such a delight. It feels like a chaotic D&D campaign you’d actually want to be part of, filled with wild quests, ridiculous NPCs, and nonstop charm. Sir Dashing Junior, or DJ, sets out to prove himself a worthy knight and ends up with a party that includes a bookish orc, a wannabe ranger, and a very loud friar. Together, they stumble through everything from monster noodle cults to goblin voting systems in a world that balances humor with genuine heart.
The humor is the standout here. It’s goofy, self-aware, and full of clever nods to classic fantasy tropes and pop culture. There’s just enough heart and character growth beneath the jokes to keep it grounded. The short chapters and fast pacing make it an easy book to breeze through, especially when you’re in the mood for something lighter.
It makes me miss playing stress-free D&D, the kind where laughter outweighs rules and the chaos leads to real connection. At its core, this is a story about identity and figuring out who you want to be, even if you’re not naturally brave or legendary. DJ messes up a lot, but he finds strength through the chaos and support of others. It’s sweet, funny, and sneakily heartfelt.
If you’re into nerdy adventures, snarky banter, and found-family vibes, I highly recommend giving this a shot.
The humor is the standout here. It’s goofy, self-aware, and full of clever nods to classic fantasy tropes and pop culture. There’s just enough heart and character growth beneath the jokes to keep it grounded. The short chapters and fast pacing make it an easy book to breeze through, especially when you’re in the mood for something lighter.
It makes me miss playing stress-free D&D, the kind where laughter outweighs rules and the chaos leads to real connection. At its core, this is a story about identity and figuring out who you want to be, even if you’re not naturally brave or legendary. DJ messes up a lot, but he finds strength through the chaos and support of others. It’s sweet, funny, and sneakily heartfelt.
If you’re into nerdy adventures, snarky banter, and found-family vibes, I highly recommend giving this a shot.
December 9, 2025
Finished: 7th December 2025
5⭐
📱
Dashing Junior (DJ) was only knighted because his dad, Sir Dashing Senior, couldn’t be knighted a second time. However, DJ has done absolutely nothing to earn his knighthood, and is looked down upon by everyone in town as he is absolutely nothing like his dad.
Determined to prove his worthiness of his new title, DJ and companions will venture on a journey across Uh, to reach the Amulet of the Goddess’s temple. Meeting new people and having all sorts of strange adventures along the way.
I came across this one on TikTok. I kept seeing the author’s ’caveman cooking’ videos where he advertises this book, and figured I’d take a look.
It is completely zany and ridiculous, but in such a fun way. It is as tropey, cliche and predictable as the blurb would indicate and I definitely couldn’t put it down. The characters are so fun and have so much character development. The side quests were often weird with satisfying conclusions. I had so many gooey feelings at the end of this one.
I definitely need to find more fun fantasises like this one.
5⭐
📱
Dashing Junior (DJ) was only knighted because his dad, Sir Dashing Senior, couldn’t be knighted a second time. However, DJ has done absolutely nothing to earn his knighthood, and is looked down upon by everyone in town as he is absolutely nothing like his dad.
Determined to prove his worthiness of his new title, DJ and companions will venture on a journey across Uh, to reach the Amulet of the Goddess’s temple. Meeting new people and having all sorts of strange adventures along the way.
I came across this one on TikTok. I kept seeing the author’s ’caveman cooking’ videos where he advertises this book, and figured I’d take a look.
It is completely zany and ridiculous, but in such a fun way. It is as tropey, cliche and predictable as the blurb would indicate and I definitely couldn’t put it down. The characters are so fun and have so much character development. The side quests were often weird with satisfying conclusions. I had so many gooey feelings at the end of this one.
I definitely need to find more fun fantasises like this one.
February 8, 2025
First of all, thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book!
I laughed out loud very early on and from that point, I knew this book would be a great adventure. It's deffo a cosy feel good fantasy!
Growing up with a famous, respected and well loved dad is all good until you're expected to live up to his achievements. When DJ is knighted, he feels determined to show the people that he isn't getting this just because of his dad, but because he has also earned it! So with friends by his side, he sets off on a mission to prove himself. Coming across dangers of the land, discovering more about the land, himself and his friends. He's in for a wild ride.
Monsters. Witches. Goblins. Magic! You name it, it's there! It's like a grown up fairytale and the author paints the picture so vividly that you feel like you're there alongside DJ! This feels like an coming of age fantasy. If you like that sort of thing, alongside all that fantasy has to offer, some video game vibes, then you'll enjoy this dangerous but fun and magical ride!
Despite this magic world, my favourite bit is DJ's relationship with his father. It has you feeling all cosy!
I laughed out loud very early on and from that point, I knew this book would be a great adventure. It's deffo a cosy feel good fantasy!
Growing up with a famous, respected and well loved dad is all good until you're expected to live up to his achievements. When DJ is knighted, he feels determined to show the people that he isn't getting this just because of his dad, but because he has also earned it! So with friends by his side, he sets off on a mission to prove himself. Coming across dangers of the land, discovering more about the land, himself and his friends. He's in for a wild ride.
Monsters. Witches. Goblins. Magic! You name it, it's there! It's like a grown up fairytale and the author paints the picture so vividly that you feel like you're there alongside DJ! This feels like an coming of age fantasy. If you like that sort of thing, alongside all that fantasy has to offer, some video game vibes, then you'll enjoy this dangerous but fun and magical ride!
Despite this magic world, my favourite bit is DJ's relationship with his father. It has you feeling all cosy!
December 4, 2025
I picked this fun little epic fantasy sorely from how amazing Aaron does at marketing his book on Instagram. I knew before I picked it up that I was going to love this.
I tried not to over hype this but honestly I could have because I adored it. It gave me some Percy Jackson vibes and y'all know I'm obsessed with all those. DJ the main character was wonderful. He's a little ball of anxiety and self doubt and his journey was way more than just a quest to collect an amulet after being knighted. This entire book had me laughing and there was a couple of moment that made me tear up just a little. This had humor, adventure, found family and so much growth. I cannot wait to continue this series in the future.
The story follows Dashing Junior, or DJ, a young man who gets knighted because his city couldn't knight his hero father twice.
I tried not to over hype this but honestly I could have because I adored it. It gave me some Percy Jackson vibes and y'all know I'm obsessed with all those. DJ the main character was wonderful. He's a little ball of anxiety and self doubt and his journey was way more than just a quest to collect an amulet after being knighted. This entire book had me laughing and there was a couple of moment that made me tear up just a little. This had humor, adventure, found family and so much growth. I cannot wait to continue this series in the future.
The story follows Dashing Junior, or DJ, a young man who gets knighted because his city couldn't knight his hero father twice.
September 25, 2025
The Legend of Uh follows Dashing Junior, newly knighted and following in his Dad’s footsteps, who thinks he knows what adventure looks like, until life throws him into something much bigger. What starts out as a straightforward journey slowly unfolds into a quest full of magic, danger, and newly built friendships. Along the way DJ has to figure out who he really is and what kind of person he wants to be.
I picked this one up between some heavier reads and it was exactly the change of pace I needed! I read it alongside the audiobook and I have to say the narration was fantastic. The voices were fun, and really brought the characters to life, making it such an easy story to sink into.
This book has a little bit of everything. There’s a sweet love interest, plenty of action and adventure, some found family vibes, and that thread of self discovery that makes YA fantasy so enjoyable. The humor and heart are well balanced.
If you want a fantasy that feels cozy and comforting but still delivers on adventure, The Legend of Uh is a great choice!
I picked this one up between some heavier reads and it was exactly the change of pace I needed! I read it alongside the audiobook and I have to say the narration was fantastic. The voices were fun, and really brought the characters to life, making it such an easy story to sink into.
This book has a little bit of everything. There’s a sweet love interest, plenty of action and adventure, some found family vibes, and that thread of self discovery that makes YA fantasy so enjoyable. The humor and heart are well balanced.
If you want a fantasy that feels cozy and comforting but still delivers on adventure, The Legend of Uh is a great choice!
December 9, 2025
Had a really fun time reading this one. I love the magic and fighting. The hilarious characters the hero meets along the way and the friends he makes really made this a page turner. Will gladly read it again.
January 15, 2025
This was so so fun!!! It’s quirky and full of friendships and adventure! The characters are so lovable and the friendships they made were my favorite part! I had just the best time with this!
February 24, 2025
The perfect blend of humor and adventure!
February 18, 2025
I was sent an eARC by the author, and asked for an honest review.
This is a very fun, fast paced book that keeps you coming back for more. A but hard to classify age-wise, with some things that feel younger, and some things that I don’t feel are appropriate for younger audiences. Lots of references to other pieces of fantasy literature.
Overall, a fun quest with lots of getting sidetracked and mini-adventures. Probably closer to a 3.5*. For full thoughts and review, check out my full review of the channel now.
This is a very fun, fast paced book that keeps you coming back for more. A but hard to classify age-wise, with some things that feel younger, and some things that I don’t feel are appropriate for younger audiences. Lots of references to other pieces of fantasy literature.
Overall, a fun quest with lots of getting sidetracked and mini-adventures. Probably closer to a 3.5*. For full thoughts and review, check out my full review of the channel now.
July 24, 2025
so delightful it hurts. pick 👏🏻 up 👏🏻 this 👏🏻 book.
August 15, 2024
If you love silly humor, blended with fantasy action, magic, and a whole lot of heart, you’ll relish The Legend of Uh.
It features Dashing Junior (DJ for short), son of the legendary Sir Dashing, a knight of great renown. DJ has lived in his father’s shadow for years, trying not to let it bother him. But after he’s knighted by proxy (since his father can’t be knighted TWICE!), DJ decides enough is enough and sets out to prove his worth as a knight in his own right. Traveling with him is Friar Steve, with the vocal range of a trumpet, the book-loving orc Francis, and DJ’s best friend Riley, a baker’s daughter who dreams of becoming a ranger.
They leave the city of Beregond and ... CHAOS ENSUES. From a cult of crazies all called Phillip, to super-healing waffles, to direcat-riding gnomes, an apothecary with a sharp resemblance to a certain potion-master obsessed with someone else’s wife, and riddle-loving goblins — not to mention an author cameo who may or may not be inspired by Brando Sando — the shenanigans don’t let up.
As I mentioned before, it’s packed with action, silliness, and lotsa heart. DJ’s character arc is fantastic, and his relationships along the way are surprisingly deep. Every main character was pretty dang likable by the end. My favorite character is probably Friar Steve, but someone I didn’t expect to enjoy, yet came at me like a dark horse, is Sir Dashing himself. (I dig father/son relationships.)
The writing is nice and tight. There are surprising moments of depth and reflection, which makes it a more enjoyable comedy than most I’ve encountered personally. But it’s still plenty over-the-top, unapologetically mocking the oldest and dearest of the fantasy tropes. The world-building is quite a lot of fun, too.
It ends conclusively while leaving enough loose threads for another adventure if the author so chose. Overall, it’s a romping good time and a quick, easy read. Recommended!
Content: Violence/brief gore, death. Strong language sprinkled throughout. One fade to black love scene and occasional mild innuendo.
Content: Violence/brief gore, death. Strong language sprinkled throughout. One fade to black love scene and occasional mild innuendo.
July 25, 2024
What a great read. I received this book as an ARC read. The author had been talking about this book for months and it did not disappoint.
There’s plenty to love here. Great characters along with lots of great nods to your favorite fantasy series like Legends and Lattes, LOTR, Brandon Sanderson and even Harry Potter. But these nods don’t detract from the story being told because that story is great.
It’s about a young knight trying to prove himself, something we can all relate to. The book takes each fantasy trope that you ever knew and makes fun of it while still telling an engaging fantasy story with amazing world building.
Aaron Hall’s hallmark in his writing is his humor and it’s on full display here. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good fun story or if you love fantasy.
I hope we get more.
There’s plenty to love here. Great characters along with lots of great nods to your favorite fantasy series like Legends and Lattes, LOTR, Brandon Sanderson and even Harry Potter. But these nods don’t detract from the story being told because that story is great.
It’s about a young knight trying to prove himself, something we can all relate to. The book takes each fantasy trope that you ever knew and makes fun of it while still telling an engaging fantasy story with amazing world building.
Aaron Hall’s hallmark in his writing is his humor and it’s on full display here. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good fun story or if you love fantasy.
I hope we get more.
August 20, 2025
Just a real treat to read. Fun, clever, quick, and surprisingly heartfelt at times, this cozy fantasy is exactly as advertised. It has a great blend of classic tropes, while simultaneously poking fun at itself and fantasy as the genre we all know and love.
November 14, 2025
What a fantastic book!!! Yes, it may have been a YA fantasy book but I loved it from beginning to the end. Totally worth reading at any age! 🤩
June 30, 2025
THE LEGEND OF UH – AARON N. HALL
¿Te apetece leer una sesión cozy de D&D? The Legend of Uh es justo lo que necesitas. Te dejará con el corazón calentito, buen sabor de boca y en calma. Olvídate de sesiones de saja-raja (los caballeros de la mesa del comedor TM) y de descripciones farragosas o LitRPG en la que no hay diálogo y solo sucesiones de acciones.
¿Y si los profesores de Hogwarts tuvieran traumas bien gestionados, relaciones sanas y una universidad que parece viva… y con memoria? Pues eso. Bienvenidos a The Incandescent.*
📌 Publicado: Febrero de 2025 – Ironfire Media
✍️ Traducción pendiente: Sí
🛎️ Potencial editorial: Alto – Perfecta para sello relajado y que dé vueltas de tuercas a sus libros. No una gran carga sentimental, pero sí la justa.
📚 Perfecto para lectores de: Travis Baldree o TJ Klune (sin haberme leído nunca un libro de TJ Klune)
📦 Género / subgénero: YA Cozy Fantasy
Dashing Junior es el hijo de Sir Dashing, el mejor caballero de la historia de Uh. Tan bueno, que para honrarle más y mejor, nombran caballero a su hijo, Dashing Junior, o DJ, un joven cobarde, y enclenque, que ha vivido siempre a la sombra de su padre. DJ decide caballererar un poco, para hacerse merecedor del cargo, y para eso junta una tropa infrecuente con la que conseguir la gloria. Pero, por supuesto, en el viaje encontrarán mucho más.
Aaron N. Hall te trae una partida de D&D, escrita con humanidad, humor, acción, magia y corazón.
🎯 Lo mejor:
Un protagonista debilucho, que se va encontrando a sí mismo a lo largo de la novela. Una tropa bastante inusual (orco bibliotecario, monje inadaptado y guarda amiga del prota). Cada uno de ellos irá encontrando su camino, o irá solventando problemas del pasado.
Un sentido del humor agradable, un poco vainilla a veces, pero que cuadra del todo con el ambiente relajado y poco tenso de la novela. De hecho, lo más tenso del libro es el momento en que un personaje se declara a otro.
El pequeño abrazo al corazón que produce la evolución de los personajes y, sobre todo, la relación epistolar entre DJ y Sir Dashing, quien se revela como un padre preocupón y amoroso.
👎 Lo menos redondo:
Quizás una vez perdido el efecto sorpresa por el estilo de la obra, la segunda parte pierde un poco de fuelle en algún momento, pero se reengancha. Las típicas 50 páginas que podrían sobrar.
📈 Apunte editorial:
The Legend of UH es un acierto Seguro, si lo que buscas es un libro hermoso, calentito, cozy, ideal para YA, y sacarlos de la vorágine de escuelas de asesinos, amores tóxicos y distopías con torneos.
💬 Valoración personal:
Quizás es que hay libros que llegan en el momento oportuno. Y Legend of Uh ha sido uno de ellos. Es necesario valorar estas pequeñas joyas indies.
¿Te apetece leer una sesión cozy de D&D? The Legend of Uh es justo lo que necesitas. Te dejará con el corazón calentito, buen sabor de boca y en calma. Olvídate de sesiones de saja-raja (los caballeros de la mesa del comedor TM) y de descripciones farragosas o LitRPG en la que no hay diálogo y solo sucesiones de acciones.
¿Y si los profesores de Hogwarts tuvieran traumas bien gestionados, relaciones sanas y una universidad que parece viva… y con memoria? Pues eso. Bienvenidos a The Incandescent.*
📌 Publicado: Febrero de 2025 – Ironfire Media
✍️ Traducción pendiente: Sí
🛎️ Potencial editorial: Alto – Perfecta para sello relajado y que dé vueltas de tuercas a sus libros. No una gran carga sentimental, pero sí la justa.
📚 Perfecto para lectores de: Travis Baldree o TJ Klune (sin haberme leído nunca un libro de TJ Klune)
📦 Género / subgénero: YA Cozy Fantasy
Dashing Junior es el hijo de Sir Dashing, el mejor caballero de la historia de Uh. Tan bueno, que para honrarle más y mejor, nombran caballero a su hijo, Dashing Junior, o DJ, un joven cobarde, y enclenque, que ha vivido siempre a la sombra de su padre. DJ decide caballererar un poco, para hacerse merecedor del cargo, y para eso junta una tropa infrecuente con la que conseguir la gloria. Pero, por supuesto, en el viaje encontrarán mucho más.
Aaron N. Hall te trae una partida de D&D, escrita con humanidad, humor, acción, magia y corazón.
🎯 Lo mejor:
Un protagonista debilucho, que se va encontrando a sí mismo a lo largo de la novela. Una tropa bastante inusual (orco bibliotecario, monje inadaptado y guarda amiga del prota). Cada uno de ellos irá encontrando su camino, o irá solventando problemas del pasado.
Un sentido del humor agradable, un poco vainilla a veces, pero que cuadra del todo con el ambiente relajado y poco tenso de la novela. De hecho, lo más tenso del libro es el momento en que un personaje se declara a otro.
El pequeño abrazo al corazón que produce la evolución de los personajes y, sobre todo, la relación epistolar entre DJ y Sir Dashing, quien se revela como un padre preocupón y amoroso.
👎 Lo menos redondo:
Quizás una vez perdido el efecto sorpresa por el estilo de la obra, la segunda parte pierde un poco de fuelle en algún momento, pero se reengancha. Las típicas 50 páginas que podrían sobrar.
📈 Apunte editorial:
The Legend of UH es un acierto Seguro, si lo que buscas es un libro hermoso, calentito, cozy, ideal para YA, y sacarlos de la vorágine de escuelas de asesinos, amores tóxicos y distopías con torneos.
💬 Valoración personal:
Quizás es que hay libros que llegan en el momento oportuno. Y Legend of Uh ha sido uno de ellos. Es necesario valorar estas pequeñas joyas indies.
May 3, 2025
Strap in for one heck of a time filled with humor and a lot of awkwardness as our protagonist, DJ, gets his very first taste of real adventure!
The Legend of Uh follows the tale of a young boy named DJ who just wants a little bit of respect—something he hasn’t been able to earn as the awkward and nowhere near strapping son of Sir Dashing, the land of Uh’s charming hero. When he’s knighted purely because they can’t knight his father twice, DJ decides to pave his own path to glory, setting out on a quest that may or may not be too much work in the end.
I absolutely love comedic fantasy and I feel there just isn’t enough of it. The Legend of Uh is just that, flavored with the same sort of style as Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, with a heavy dose of D&D humor and setup. The characters are all unique in their own way (such as a book-loving orc and a loud-mouthed but well-meaning friar), definitely leave an impression. I also loved that DJ’s dad, instead of being a pompous windbag like you’d expect from someone who struts the streets with a pearly-toothed smile, he’s actually a pretty decent dad and very obviously loves his kid to pieces. Which was just so sweet and immediately made me like him.
DJ goes through a number of adventures that can be both hilarious and straight up unhinged (noodle cult, anyone?), and while some were a little rocky and others kinda dark for the tone of the story, overall, it was a fun, light-hearted read, a perfect pallet-cleanser after so many dark fae romances and bloody trials. There are also quite a few references to pop culture but done in a way that it still fits within the story, such as some obvious quotes from the Lord of the Rings films, and some Skyrim references.
The only downside to the story is the suggestive dialogue and some innuendo. The story itself is geared toward a younger audience (with DJ being 15) but honestly, with this content, I would not put it in the hands of my younger teen siblings. Otherwise it’s a great story for adults to enjoy, especially younger millennials who grew up with LotR and D&D.
Overall, The Legend of Uh is a wild, hilarious tale of adventure perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Skyrim, and Terry Pratchett.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Legend of Uh follows the tale of a young boy named DJ who just wants a little bit of respect—something he hasn’t been able to earn as the awkward and nowhere near strapping son of Sir Dashing, the land of Uh’s charming hero. When he’s knighted purely because they can’t knight his father twice, DJ decides to pave his own path to glory, setting out on a quest that may or may not be too much work in the end.
I absolutely love comedic fantasy and I feel there just isn’t enough of it. The Legend of Uh is just that, flavored with the same sort of style as Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, with a heavy dose of D&D humor and setup. The characters are all unique in their own way (such as a book-loving orc and a loud-mouthed but well-meaning friar), definitely leave an impression. I also loved that DJ’s dad, instead of being a pompous windbag like you’d expect from someone who struts the streets with a pearly-toothed smile, he’s actually a pretty decent dad and very obviously loves his kid to pieces. Which was just so sweet and immediately made me like him.
DJ goes through a number of adventures that can be both hilarious and straight up unhinged (noodle cult, anyone?), and while some were a little rocky and others kinda dark for the tone of the story, overall, it was a fun, light-hearted read, a perfect pallet-cleanser after so many dark fae romances and bloody trials. There are also quite a few references to pop culture but done in a way that it still fits within the story, such as some obvious quotes from the Lord of the Rings films, and some Skyrim references.
The only downside to the story is the suggestive dialogue and some innuendo. The story itself is geared toward a younger audience (with DJ being 15) but honestly, with this content, I would not put it in the hands of my younger teen siblings. Otherwise it’s a great story for adults to enjoy, especially younger millennials who grew up with LotR and D&D.
Overall, The Legend of Uh is a wild, hilarious tale of adventure perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Skyrim, and Terry Pratchett.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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