Wizard's Brew

Camelot Wizards #1

by Chris I. Naylor

An inexperienced wizard summons a strange hollow rock from the sea. Out of the rock comes something large, nasty and very hungry, and soon it’s heading for Camelot. And there may be more of them… Normally Merlin would step in at this point and save Camelot: but Merlin has mysteriously disappeared, leaving the fate of Camelot in the rather less powerful hands of Gwydden the Abstruse, a wizard whose main talent is making dragons that explode unexpectedly, and Gwydden's sidekick Hergrim, a dwarf with a large axe, a large red beard, and a short temper. Will Gwydden and Hergrim be able to save Camelot and its inhabitants, or will it (and they) be devoured by an ancient race of evil shape-shifters?

Genres: Fantasy, Humor

ebook

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Chris I. Naylor grew up in the English Midlands. At university he studied philosophy, which inevitably led to him writing humorous stories about wizards. After that he worked in an office for 30 years, mainly as a way of keeping out of the rain. He now lives in the south of England with his wife, and spends a surprising amount of his time making soup.

Reviews

[Joo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a bit of silly and this was certainly a bit of silly.
An inexperienced wizard is employed to cast a spell to help the fishermen catch lots of fish, instead the spell wakes up a nasty demon who has been trapped for a very long time under the sea. The demon's form is a massive slug that eliminates anything it slimes over.

With the freedom fighter rabbits, the wizard and his dwarf friend banished from Camelot and the inhabitants of Redbrush Hall, this is a great cast of characters. The nasty shape-shifting slugs need to be beaten, but none of the heroes are aware that there is any enemy.

My favourite characters were the rabbits and I loved their "rebel names". And this book has my favourite line ever in it. If you've read it, it's the "sym" bit.

So yes, this book is silly and a bit childish at times, but I found it wonderfully fun to read. I came across it by accident, I think the cover is a bit rubbish, but I totally recommend giving it a go and I'm going to read the next ones.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a wizard I can relate to. Gwydden the Abstruse isn't your typical fantasy story wizard, self assured and brimming with pent-up stores of magical power. Gwydden can't remember spells when they are needed and he is paralyzed with fear when faced with man-eating, shape shifting, slugs, who wouldn't be? Even the light on the end of his staff is dim. This is not only a good story, but with all the allusions to other characters, books and legends the reader feels they are in familiar territory, but with different characters. There is never a page without a great pun or a clever, alternative, explanation of a some well known phrase or saying. Reminded me of "My Word" (a BBC quiz show of the 60s and 70s that I loved). I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

[Martin Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble in Camelot

An ancient evil is threatening the kingdom. Merlin has succumbed to it, Uther Pendragon is too busy planning his abdication proclamation, and it is left to a motley crew of dwarfs and wizards to save the day.

[Hschmeid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost died laughing when I read this book for the first time. It's completely demented in the best possible way. And I adore the footnotes, which are often even funnier than the main story.

I hope, someday, to be able to read the sequels.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious full-length novel of good British humor with horrible puns and funny farce, including Boshevik rabbits, shapeshifting slugs, a dwarf (of course) armed with an axe, and a pragmatic wizard who's been competing with Merlin since their days at the academy. Note that the author's method of handling footnotes is spot on. What a great way to start the new year.

[BonusMom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of past and present

This was a pretty silly book (in a good way!) And I really liked it. Fantasy and magic mixed with inexperienced wizardry. What could possibly go wrong? ??!!