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The Loudest Place on Earth: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26Only Ludwig can save the fairies—if he can be bothered to.
Long before sirens and subways, New York’s first residents—noise-loathing fairies—fled underground to escape the city’s ever-increasing roar. Now, after centuries of failed plots to bring silence to the city, they’re trying something new: hiring a human.
When Ludwig, a comfort-obsessed slacker, begins hearing a word no one else remembers speaking, he follows its trail to a hidden fairy society beneath Times Square. There, he meets An Exalted Northwind, a fairy enchantress determined to forgo her species’ signature fondness for cruelty in favor of peacefully reclaiming the surface. But she can’t do it without a human go-between.
As payment for Ludwig’s help, she offers him a ruby-defecating piglet. Unfortunately for the fairies, Ludwig’s sudden wealth leaves him free to do any job except the one he’s been given—like becoming an athleisure fashion mogul. As the fairies become increasingly desperate, Ludwig must choose between comfort and accountability before New York City is forever undone by fairy vengeance.
The Loudest Place on Earth is an urban fable of defiance and consequence, where even magic must make way for the modern.
Long before sirens and subways, New York’s first residents—noise-loathing fairies—fled underground to escape the city’s ever-increasing roar. Now, after centuries of failed plots to bring silence to the city, they’re trying something new: hiring a human.
When Ludwig, a comfort-obsessed slacker, begins hearing a word no one else remembers speaking, he follows its trail to a hidden fairy society beneath Times Square. There, he meets An Exalted Northwind, a fairy enchantress determined to forgo her species’ signature fondness for cruelty in favor of peacefully reclaiming the surface. But she can’t do it without a human go-between.
As payment for Ludwig’s help, she offers him a ruby-defecating piglet. Unfortunately for the fairies, Ludwig’s sudden wealth leaves him free to do any job except the one he’s been given—like becoming an athleisure fashion mogul. As the fairies become increasingly desperate, Ludwig must choose between comfort and accountability before New York City is forever undone by fairy vengeance.
The Loudest Place on Earth is an urban fable of defiance and consequence, where even magic must make way for the modern.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
not-yet-released
December 23, 2025"As payment for Ludwig’s help, she offers him a ruby-defecating piglet. Unfortunately for the fairies, Ludwig’s sudden wealth leaves him free to do any job except the one he’s been given—like becoming an athleisure fashion mogul."
I'm seated.
I'm seated.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I wanted to like this so badly. The beginning had me hooked - I liked the premise and the whimsical, kind of dark things that kept happening to Ludwig, the main character.
As I continued to read past the 30% mark, I noticed sentences and whole paragraphs becoming very repetitive. A lot of information was given to the reader via lists, either numbered or comma-separated within a sentence. Not to mention there is a word repeated MANY times (I didn't count, but by the end I wish I had.) I understand why it's written that way, but honestly that did not work for me personally. The repetition started to annoy me and I couldn't focus on the story.
Based on the novel's description I also expected this to go more in depth with the relationships between the faeries and New Yorkers. Instead there is more commentary on New York City as a whole, and a lot of commentary about workplace culture under capitalism. I felt that the characters were not deeply explored in this way and the plotting was kind of all over the place. The main character Ludwig has very little substance and I thought the point was for him to be unlikable, but he never really ventured beyond the box he was originally put in.
I do think there is an audience for this, it's just not me. If you like dry, kinda crass/dark humor and stories that keep spiraling into ridiculousness (kinda Alice in Wonderland vibes), then this is for you. It would also suit for fans of urban fantasy settings.
I wanted to like this so badly. The beginning had me hooked - I liked the premise and the whimsical, kind of dark things that kept happening to Ludwig, the main character.
As I continued to read past the 30% mark, I noticed sentences and whole paragraphs becoming very repetitive. A lot of information was given to the reader via lists, either numbered or comma-separated within a sentence. Not to mention there is a word repeated MANY times (I didn't count, but by the end I wish I had.) I understand why it's written that way, but honestly that did not work for me personally. The repetition started to annoy me and I couldn't focus on the story.
Based on the novel's description I also expected this to go more in depth with the relationships between the faeries and New Yorkers. Instead there is more commentary on New York City as a whole, and a lot of commentary about workplace culture under capitalism. I felt that the characters were not deeply explored in this way and the plotting was kind of all over the place. The main character Ludwig has very little substance and I thought the point was for him to be unlikable, but he never really ventured beyond the box he was originally put in.
I do think there is an audience for this, it's just not me. If you like dry, kinda crass/dark humor and stories that keep spiraling into ridiculousness (kinda Alice in Wonderland vibes), then this is for you. It would also suit for fans of urban fantasy settings.
January 22, 2026
The Loudest Place on Earth is a sharp, inventive urban fantasy that blends satire, folklore, and moral consequence beneath the relentless noise of modern New York City.
Ken Ziegler reimagines the city as a battleground between human excess and a displaced magical society fairies who fled underground centuries ago to escape the rising clamor of civilization. Their solution, after generations of failure, is both desperate and darkly comic: hire a human intermediary who would rather remain comfortable than accountable.
Ludwig is an intentionally unlikely protagonist—passive, self-indulgent, and amusingly unheroic. His reluctance to act becomes the novel’s central tension, turning what could be a whimsical fantasy into a pointed examination of responsibility, privilege, and avoidance. The ruby-producing piglet and fairy politics add absurdity, but the humor never undermines the stakes.
What distinguishes the novel is its thematic clarity. Beneath the playful premise lies a modern fable about consequences what happens when convenience consistently outweighs obligation. Ziegler’s portrayal of magic colliding with capitalism, noise, and urban sprawl feels timely without becoming didactic.
The Loudest Place on Earth will appeal to readers who enjoy urban fantasy with satirical edge, morally complex characters, and speculative fiction that reflects contemporary anxieties through myth and humor. It is both entertaining and quietly unsettling, reminding readers that even magic must answer to the world it inhabits.
Ken Ziegler reimagines the city as a battleground between human excess and a displaced magical society fairies who fled underground centuries ago to escape the rising clamor of civilization. Their solution, after generations of failure, is both desperate and darkly comic: hire a human intermediary who would rather remain comfortable than accountable.
Ludwig is an intentionally unlikely protagonist—passive, self-indulgent, and amusingly unheroic. His reluctance to act becomes the novel’s central tension, turning what could be a whimsical fantasy into a pointed examination of responsibility, privilege, and avoidance. The ruby-producing piglet and fairy politics add absurdity, but the humor never undermines the stakes.
What distinguishes the novel is its thematic clarity. Beneath the playful premise lies a modern fable about consequences what happens when convenience consistently outweighs obligation. Ziegler’s portrayal of magic colliding with capitalism, noise, and urban sprawl feels timely without becoming didactic.
The Loudest Place on Earth will appeal to readers who enjoy urban fantasy with satirical edge, morally complex characters, and speculative fiction that reflects contemporary anxieties through myth and humor. It is both entertaining and quietly unsettling, reminding readers that even magic must answer to the world it inhabits.
January 29, 2026
The Loudest Place on Earth, written by Ken Ziegler, felt like tagging along on a slacker’s meandering walk through Wonderland. I’ve never read a book quite like it. At times it’s absurdly funny; at others, unexpectedly tender. The main character begins as selfish and slothful, yet slowly evolves into someone who cares deeply about people he never realized mattered to him at all.
The story feels rooted in the disappointments of the real world—dead-end jobs, apathy, and avoidance—until, suddenly, the “White Rabbit” appears and you’re dropped into a strange, magical world hidden beneath New York City. That tension between realism and surrealism is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
There are a few dichotomies that play throughout the novel: the desire for an easy, low-effort life versus the demands of a busy, productive one; feeling self-righteously antisocial only to discover how deeply you need other people; avoiding responsibility versus learning the importance of following through on your promises and commitments. Ziegler captures the cycle of drifting into exciting new opportunities, repeating the same self-sabotaging behaviors, and ultimately realizing how essential human connection really is, while making you laugh throughout the journey.
The book was fun to read and kept my attention as it bounced between absurdity and reality. I laughed out loud and was filled by vivid mental images of New York, Fairy Land, and a slight dash of The Big Lebowski. It’s quirky, imaginative, and surprisingly heartfelt.
The story feels rooted in the disappointments of the real world—dead-end jobs, apathy, and avoidance—until, suddenly, the “White Rabbit” appears and you’re dropped into a strange, magical world hidden beneath New York City. That tension between realism and surrealism is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
There are a few dichotomies that play throughout the novel: the desire for an easy, low-effort life versus the demands of a busy, productive one; feeling self-righteously antisocial only to discover how deeply you need other people; avoiding responsibility versus learning the importance of following through on your promises and commitments. Ziegler captures the cycle of drifting into exciting new opportunities, repeating the same self-sabotaging behaviors, and ultimately realizing how essential human connection really is, while making you laugh throughout the journey.
The book was fun to read and kept my attention as it bounced between absurdity and reality. I laughed out loud and was filled by vivid mental images of New York, Fairy Land, and a slight dash of The Big Lebowski. It’s quirky, imaginative, and surprisingly heartfelt.
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February 2, 2026The Loudest Place on Earth is a fantastical, witty, and immersive urban fable that brings New York City to life in a whole new way. Ken Ziegler combines magical realism, humor, and clever social commentary in a story about Ludwig, a comfort-obsessed human tasked with helping noise-loathing fairies reclaim the city from centuries of urban chaos.
The novel excels in its inventive premise and vivid characterization. Ludwig is a relatable, humorous protagonist, whose reluctance and quirks make him both endearing and entertaining. The fairy society beneath Times Square is rich, imaginative, and wonderfully absurd, with rules and customs that heighten the story’s tension and delight.
Ziegler’s narrative balances whimsy with meaningful stakes. Beneath the humor, the novel explores themes of accountability, consequence, and the unexpected responsibilities that come with power and privilege—even magical power. The pacing, clever plotting, and playful tone make this a highly readable story that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy, magical realism, and character-driven adventure.
The Loudest Place on Earth is a must-read for anyone who enjoys humor-infused fantasy, modern fables, and imaginative storytelling that transforms familiar urban landscapes into a magical playground.
The novel excels in its inventive premise and vivid characterization. Ludwig is a relatable, humorous protagonist, whose reluctance and quirks make him both endearing and entertaining. The fairy society beneath Times Square is rich, imaginative, and wonderfully absurd, with rules and customs that heighten the story’s tension and delight.
Ziegler’s narrative balances whimsy with meaningful stakes. Beneath the humor, the novel explores themes of accountability, consequence, and the unexpected responsibilities that come with power and privilege—even magical power. The pacing, clever plotting, and playful tone make this a highly readable story that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy, magical realism, and character-driven adventure.
The Loudest Place on Earth is a must-read for anyone who enjoys humor-infused fantasy, modern fables, and imaginative storytelling that transforms familiar urban landscapes into a magical playground.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had so much fun with The Loudest Place on Earth. It’s wildly creative and not like anything I’ve ever read before. If you want a break from modern life and something delightfully weird, this is it.
The best way I can describe The Loudest Place on Earth is as a blend of fantasy and contemporary fiction. The story takes place in New York City and goes way beyond the familiar Manhattan. Underground, there’s a secret population of fairies, and they’re not the kind you’re picturing. Small and sparkly? Nope. Tall and green.
The main character, Ludwig, gets chosen to complete an assignment for the fairy master. He moves between both worlds, and the contrast between corporate life and the totally unhinged things he encounters in the fantasy world is very entertaining. The imaginative characters are the best part. He ends up surrounded by absurd acquaintances like a ruby pooping big and a bucket-body puppet dressed in a Civil War uniform.
Just when you think you’ve got your footing, the story throws in another “wait, what?” moment. I don’t want to give it all away, but do yourself a favor and read this book, and read closely. There are many hidden easter eggs you’ll only catch if you’re paying attention. Go in with an open mind, don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll love it!
The best way I can describe The Loudest Place on Earth is as a blend of fantasy and contemporary fiction. The story takes place in New York City and goes way beyond the familiar Manhattan. Underground, there’s a secret population of fairies, and they’re not the kind you’re picturing. Small and sparkly? Nope. Tall and green.
The main character, Ludwig, gets chosen to complete an assignment for the fairy master. He moves between both worlds, and the contrast between corporate life and the totally unhinged things he encounters in the fantasy world is very entertaining. The imaginative characters are the best part. He ends up surrounded by absurd acquaintances like a ruby pooping big and a bucket-body puppet dressed in a Civil War uniform.
Just when you think you’ve got your footing, the story throws in another “wait, what?” moment. I don’t want to give it all away, but do yourself a favor and read this book, and read closely. There are many hidden easter eggs you’ll only catch if you’re paying attention. Go in with an open mind, don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll love it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is not quite like anything I’ve ever read before, and I’m really impressed by the fact that it is a debut novel. The prose is a joy to read and dialogue is fun. The book has many humorous moments but still takes the main plot seriously, which I thought worked really well in this book. The protagonist is interesting to read about and relatable as a normal person and I enjoyed reading about the side characters as well.
The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic and I like how bizarre and nonsensical the fairies are. It’s really entertaining when the very mundane Ludwig the bad employee with his mundane goal of starting a fashion company is thrown into such an absurd situation.
I honestly can’t find anything to complain about in this book. It is amazing. Even the cover is awesome.
Muumbazza: 5/5
The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic and I like how bizarre and nonsensical the fairies are. It’s really entertaining when the very mundane Ludwig the bad employee with his mundane goal of starting a fashion company is thrown into such an absurd situation.
I honestly can’t find anything to complain about in this book. It is amazing. Even the cover is awesome.
Muumbazza: 5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought that this book sounded like such a unique premise and such an interesting story. Sadly, I did want more from it. I did like it, I just thought it could've been so much more.
The tone and writing style (especially how the characters spoke and communicated) was so weird and awkward, something about it felt a bit choppy and unnatural. Maybe that was on purpose, but it came across as not well done.
Our main character here, Ludwig, is trying to help the faeries of New York City...and, as you can imagine, it gets very complicated.
This almost feels like a grown-up Spiderwick Chronicles.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The tone and writing style (especially how the characters spoke and communicated) was so weird and awkward, something about it felt a bit choppy and unnatural. Maybe that was on purpose, but it came across as not well done.
Our main character here, Ludwig, is trying to help the faeries of New York City...and, as you can imagine, it gets very complicated.
This almost feels like a grown-up Spiderwick Chronicles.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked the world-building and the essence of the plot was interesting but I felt that too much time was spent on the former and too little time on the latter. In the quarter of the book I read, the story had not progressed enough to maintain my interest. I also didn’t find any of the characters likeable, including the protagonist, although I did find some of the wording very clever. I had no reason to continue reading, while acknowledging that my objections may have been answered later in the book. I also think that there are other readers who will appreciate the detailed world-building. Thank you to Netgalley and GFB for the advance reader copy.
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February 16, 2026Ken Ziegler is clearly in love with New York City. The setting of The Loudest Place on Earth is fully rendered and paired with witty and often sharply observant prose, it's a delight to read. There's a strong satirical current running beneath fantasy elements in the plot, which are literary at times and whimsical at others. This book will strongly resonate with urban fantasy readers as well as certain literary fiction readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Yes yes yes.. I loved this.. urban fantasy on steroids! It was wacky, very unusual and very entertaining. Can’t wait to see what the author will do next. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews