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The Hipposync Archives #3
The Bewilderment
Bobby Miracle would love a real job but times are hard, especially if you’re into Goth attire, prefer graveyards to meadows, and refuse to compromise for anyone. An internship at Hipposync Enterprises dealing in rare books seems a dream come true. And given the sort of people who work there, for once Bobby doesn’t feel the slightest bit out of place.
But when the whole building freezes in a trans-dimensional lockdown state, the weirdness needle edges towards red. And when she meets Asher Lodge, an inspector with a Fae intelligence agency sent to investigate, the needle goes off the scale. With masochistic zealots, demons, and her dead and quite possibly mad grandmother on the guest list, Bobby quickly realises it’s not exactly the nine-to-five she’d bargained for.
But when the whole building freezes in a trans-dimensional lockdown state, the weirdness needle edges towards red. And when she meets Asher Lodge, an inspector with a Fae intelligence agency sent to investigate, the needle goes off the scale. With masochistic zealots, demons, and her dead and quite possibly mad grandmother on the guest list, Bobby quickly realises it’s not exactly the nine-to-five she’d bargained for.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
341 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2016
194 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
D.C. Farmer
7 books64 followersDC Farmer (as someone else--names changed to protect the innocent) began writing thrillers while the kids were in the bath. They grew up and so did he. Now he writes speculative fiction under the umbrella of the Hipposync Archives.
He lives in Wales and uses quite a lot of that umbrella.
He lives in Wales and uses quite a lot of that umbrella.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 27, 2024
Another great book in the series. I do feel that this one is my favourite so far. I love the series as a whole but this one just seemed to hit such higher heights. The storyline is great. The new characters that join the story are amazing. Look forward to the next instalment.
December 15, 2016
I hoped DC Farmer would have a female main character, and he did! I thoroughly enjoy the dry humor and weirdness of this series, and The Bewilderment did not disappoint.
February 28, 2025
Finding his voice
This is the third book in the series and it feels like the author has really found his rhythm and his voice.
This is the third book in the series and it feels like the author has really found his rhythm and his voice.
July 24, 2025
So. Much. Fun.
I wondered how I’d feel about a different set of protagonists in every book but it’s utterly brilliant. When you can create the detailed, relatable, empathy-inducing characters that D.C. can (somehow it feels like I should be on a first pseudonym basis after reading Mr. Farmer’s work), every book deserves new people to get to know. I was worried the puns and quips were maybe too frequent and possibly forced in the first book but by this brilliant book 3 they only come with excellent wry comedic timing. If you’re on the fence, jump off immediately and find a shady tree to start this brilliant installment in the Hipposync series.
I wondered how I’d feel about a different set of protagonists in every book but it’s utterly brilliant. When you can create the detailed, relatable, empathy-inducing characters that D.C. can (somehow it feels like I should be on a first pseudonym basis after reading Mr. Farmer’s work), every book deserves new people to get to know. I was worried the puns and quips were maybe too frequent and possibly forced in the first book but by this brilliant book 3 they only come with excellent wry comedic timing. If you’re on the fence, jump off immediately and find a shady tree to start this brilliant installment in the Hipposync series.
October 19, 2024
Excellent book that continues a really enjoyaable series
I can think of no higher praise than to say that this book was, in many places, truly evocatiove of the wonderful Terry Pratchett. I won’t give any detail about the plot or characters since I don’t that’s fair to the author, but there’s lots of little twists and scenes that made me smile in just the way that the Tiffany SAching books used to.
Great book, and I recommend it to anybody who enjoys fantasy fiction
I can think of no higher praise than to say that this book was, in many places, truly evocatiove of the wonderful Terry Pratchett. I won’t give any detail about the plot or characters since I don’t that’s fair to the author, but there’s lots of little twists and scenes that made me smile in just the way that the Tiffany SAching books used to.
Great book, and I recommend it to anybody who enjoys fantasy fiction
January 28, 2025
A real witch’s brew…
Take a thinned skin of JK Rowling’ Harry Potter, a smattering of Pratchett’s witches, a little tongue of Jasper Fforde’s punning and a remote vestigia of Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London, and DC Farmer is an approximation of what comes out of the coven. More lightweight than those, but for fans of any, highly entertaining. Easy reading, likeable characters and a sense of accomplishment on behalf the story.
Take a thinned skin of JK Rowling’ Harry Potter, a smattering of Pratchett’s witches, a little tongue of Jasper Fforde’s punning and a remote vestigia of Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London, and DC Farmer is an approximation of what comes out of the coven. More lightweight than those, but for fans of any, highly entertaining. Easy reading, likeable characters and a sense of accomplishment on behalf the story.
August 31, 2025
I do enjoy a trip into the fantastical from time to time and that's exactly what this was. I love this crazy world(s) DC Farmer has created and his inspired ridiculousness. Whilst some of the humour can feel a little forced, it does not detract from the ripping yarn he has woven. It was nice that Kaylah and Matt played a bigger role in this story, and I loved Bobby Miracle and her grandmother. 4.75*
October 6, 2016
Originally published at Risingshadow.
The Bewilderment is the third novel in The Hipposync Archives series of humorous urban fantasy novels. Just like the previous novels, it is a deligfhtful and entertaining combination of urban fantasy elements, humorous fiction, witty remarks and strange happenings.
The Bewilderment can be recommended to speculative fiction readers who enjoy reading humorous fantasy fiction and light entertainment, because the author has fresh ideas and a good sense of humour. I think that it will be of special interest to readers who have read Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and Piers Anthony's Xanth novels, because - in certain ways - it's similar to them.
If there are readers out there who are not yet familiar with DC Farmer, I can mention that he's the author of The Hipposync Archives series, which currently consists of The 400lb Gorilla, Frivolous Pursuits and The Bewilderment, and the novella Every Little Evil. He has his own writing style and he has plenty of imagination. There's something charmingly British about his sense of humour that will appeal to many readers who appreciate sharp and clever humour. With the Hipposync Archives, he has established himself as one of the best authors of humorous fantasy fiction. (The best thing about his novels is that you can read them in any order of your preference. You don't necessarily have to start reading them from the first novel in order to enjoy them. However, it might be good to read Every Little Evil first, because it sheds some light on certain things concerning the series.)
I admit that I'm difficult to please when it comes to urban fantasy, because I'm not easily impressed by novels that are urabn fantasy or have urban fantasy elements. However, novels like The Bewilderment do impress me, because they differ from what has become the norm for the genre and have a nice dash of quirky humour. In my opinion, this novel is one of the few urban fantasy novels in which style and substance are in good balance.
After reading heavier works of speculative fiction and having a few extremely busy days with little free time, this novel and its predecessors were exactly what I needed to relax (I re-read the two previous novels before delving into this one). It's such a brilliantly entertaining piece of humorous fantasy fiction that it was a pleasure to read it. I was wholly captivated by the various happenings and characters, because the author's engaging writing style pulled me into the story.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
Police Constable Kevin Thomas is badly shaken by what he has seen in the cupboard under the stairs at Number 77 Wimy Way. Soon he meets Agent Danmor and Agent Porter from the Department of Fimmigration. The agents begin to investigate the body of Mr Cuthbertson and the crime scene. They think that the man has been haunted by something very nasty... Inspector Asher Lodge visits a place called They Think It's Soul Over. He meets a salesman called Mr Malachite and asks him about the Bewildered, because he is determined to find out who is killing the Bewildered... Roberta 'Bobby' Miracle has an internship at the Hipposync Archives. She is happy with her job, but has a rival intern called Pippa Elmsworthy. She gets along with Pippa and is friendly to her, but she is aware of Pippa being a polite rival who's waiting for her to make a mess of things... Soon things become weird for Bobby as the whole Hipposync building and everyone inside it freeze in a lockdown state and she meets Asher. Bobby's life changes when Asher needs her help...
This is all I'll write about the story, because I don't want to give away too many details about the various happenings and humorous situations. I'll only mention that this is the beginning of an extremely entertaining story with plenty of humour.
The author has created interesting and believable characters who do their best under unexpected and difficult circumstances. Some of the characters are delightfully strange and have certain characteristics that define them as quirky persons.
Roberta 'Bobby' Miracle is a fascinating character, because she's a Goth girl who is trying hard to make things work at Hipposynce Archives and competes against her rival. She feels at home at her job, because nobody judges her or cares about how she looks. I found her to be a well-developed protagonist, because the author writes well about her feelings and confusion when she faces an unexpected situation.
Asher Lodge is an especially interesting character, because he's a necreddo who hears dead complaining about their treatment in the hands of persons who exploit them. He's an investigator at the Fae intelligence agency. He hears the terrified screams of the newly dead Bewildered. Because the screams break through his psychic filters and cause him sleepless nights, he wants to find out who is killing the Bewildered. The author paints an intriguing picture of Asher's life by writing about how he does his investigations and how deals with his colleagues and how he investigates the happenings.
I enjoyed reading about Bobby's grandmother and her madness. Lucille Miracle, her eccentricity and her condition were handled admirably within the context of urban fantasy, because the author revealed interesting things about her and her fate.
It was also enjoyable to read again about Kylah and Matt, because I've enjoyed reading about both of them since reading The 400lb Gorilla. I think it's nice that the author keeps on writing about them, because they're both agents at Hipposync Archives and are vital to certain happenings.
The trans-dimensional lockdown add a nice touch of mystery to the story, because it has frozen everyone inside the building. The author succeeds in creating a fascinatingly mysterious atmosphere by writing about how Asher and Bobby begin to investigate what has caused the lockdown (the investigation takes Bobby to interesting and unusual places).
I think that many readers will find it intriguing that the author writes about demons and the Bureau of Demonology, which is housed in a Gothic mansion. I won't go into details about the story, but I'll mention that reading about Gazorch the Pantocrator was thrilling for me.
One of my favourite scenes in this novel is the scene in which Bobby visits her grandmother's room in her parents' house. The author's way of writing about what Bobby felt and found out felt touching and also intriguing.
Just like in the previous novels, the author manages to captivate his readers by deftlty playing with different elements related to realism and fantasy. It was fun to read about how Bobby felt about Asher and what he revealed to her, because she had to accept the things that were told to her (her whole life changed when Asher took her to strange places and she saw strange beings).
Worldbuilding is perhaps not a word that is often used when writing about urban fantasy, but in this case I'm tempted to use this word, because the author has created an interesting vision of the Hipposync Archives and how it acts as a facade for the Department of Fimmigration (aka Department of Fae Immigration). The author writes captivatingly about other dimensions and their inhabitants.
One of the best things about this novel is that DC Farmer avoids using the most typical and most annoying clichés that are normally associated with urban fantasy stories. I'm sure that careful readers will notice that he uses a few well-known clichés, but he uses them exteremely well. I think it's marvellous how fluently he manages to use urban fantasy tropes to his advantage by adding plenty of sharp humour to the storyline and keeping a tight focus on what's he's writing about.
It's great that DC Farmer avoids using paranormal romance elements, because there's nothing as annoying or boring as reading about them, especially when they're being used in a bad and clichéd way as way too many authors tend to do. Because I have a low tolerance for these elements, I find it admirable that the author avoids them.
Creating a thrilling atmosphere is something that not many urban fantasy authors are capable of doing, but DC Farmer fluently creates an atmosphere that intrigues readers with its charming strangeness. His writing style quickly pulls readers into the story.
The author's sense of humour is delightfully British and has a dash of irony and sarcasm. I like the way he writes about what the characters think and how they feel about certain things, because the sharp and witty remarks are amusing and surprisingly insightful. In this novel, the humour arises from the author's ability to refer to popular culture and the world around us in a refreshingly inventive and clever way (for example, this novel has a satisfyingly clever reference to Edvard Munch who is famous for his painting 'The Scream').
If you haven't yet discovered the charm and magic of DC Farmer's novels, I advise you to take a look at them. I consider DC Farmer to be the Terry Pratchett of urban fantasy, becaise he writes amusing fantasy stories. I sincerely hope that readers will invest a bit of time into reading this series, because it's something a bit different and worth reading.
The Bewilderment is one of the funniest and most entertaining urban fantasy novels of the year. It will be of interest to those who love humorous stories and enjoy Terry Pratchett-like humour. If you love clever humour, you'll most likely enjoy this novel and its charming quirkiness; and when you reach the end, you'll be eagerly awaiting for the next novel.
Excellent humorous fantasy fiction!
The Bewilderment is the third novel in The Hipposync Archives series of humorous urban fantasy novels. Just like the previous novels, it is a deligfhtful and entertaining combination of urban fantasy elements, humorous fiction, witty remarks and strange happenings.
The Bewilderment can be recommended to speculative fiction readers who enjoy reading humorous fantasy fiction and light entertainment, because the author has fresh ideas and a good sense of humour. I think that it will be of special interest to readers who have read Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels and Piers Anthony's Xanth novels, because - in certain ways - it's similar to them.
If there are readers out there who are not yet familiar with DC Farmer, I can mention that he's the author of The Hipposync Archives series, which currently consists of The 400lb Gorilla, Frivolous Pursuits and The Bewilderment, and the novella Every Little Evil. He has his own writing style and he has plenty of imagination. There's something charmingly British about his sense of humour that will appeal to many readers who appreciate sharp and clever humour. With the Hipposync Archives, he has established himself as one of the best authors of humorous fantasy fiction. (The best thing about his novels is that you can read them in any order of your preference. You don't necessarily have to start reading them from the first novel in order to enjoy them. However, it might be good to read Every Little Evil first, because it sheds some light on certain things concerning the series.)
I admit that I'm difficult to please when it comes to urban fantasy, because I'm not easily impressed by novels that are urabn fantasy or have urban fantasy elements. However, novels like The Bewilderment do impress me, because they differ from what has become the norm for the genre and have a nice dash of quirky humour. In my opinion, this novel is one of the few urban fantasy novels in which style and substance are in good balance.
After reading heavier works of speculative fiction and having a few extremely busy days with little free time, this novel and its predecessors were exactly what I needed to relax (I re-read the two previous novels before delving into this one). It's such a brilliantly entertaining piece of humorous fantasy fiction that it was a pleasure to read it. I was wholly captivated by the various happenings and characters, because the author's engaging writing style pulled me into the story.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
Police Constable Kevin Thomas is badly shaken by what he has seen in the cupboard under the stairs at Number 77 Wimy Way. Soon he meets Agent Danmor and Agent Porter from the Department of Fimmigration. The agents begin to investigate the body of Mr Cuthbertson and the crime scene. They think that the man has been haunted by something very nasty... Inspector Asher Lodge visits a place called They Think It's Soul Over. He meets a salesman called Mr Malachite and asks him about the Bewildered, because he is determined to find out who is killing the Bewildered... Roberta 'Bobby' Miracle has an internship at the Hipposync Archives. She is happy with her job, but has a rival intern called Pippa Elmsworthy. She gets along with Pippa and is friendly to her, but she is aware of Pippa being a polite rival who's waiting for her to make a mess of things... Soon things become weird for Bobby as the whole Hipposync building and everyone inside it freeze in a lockdown state and she meets Asher. Bobby's life changes when Asher needs her help...
This is all I'll write about the story, because I don't want to give away too many details about the various happenings and humorous situations. I'll only mention that this is the beginning of an extremely entertaining story with plenty of humour.
The author has created interesting and believable characters who do their best under unexpected and difficult circumstances. Some of the characters are delightfully strange and have certain characteristics that define them as quirky persons.
Roberta 'Bobby' Miracle is a fascinating character, because she's a Goth girl who is trying hard to make things work at Hipposynce Archives and competes against her rival. She feels at home at her job, because nobody judges her or cares about how she looks. I found her to be a well-developed protagonist, because the author writes well about her feelings and confusion when she faces an unexpected situation.
Asher Lodge is an especially interesting character, because he's a necreddo who hears dead complaining about their treatment in the hands of persons who exploit them. He's an investigator at the Fae intelligence agency. He hears the terrified screams of the newly dead Bewildered. Because the screams break through his psychic filters and cause him sleepless nights, he wants to find out who is killing the Bewildered. The author paints an intriguing picture of Asher's life by writing about how he does his investigations and how deals with his colleagues and how he investigates the happenings.
I enjoyed reading about Bobby's grandmother and her madness. Lucille Miracle, her eccentricity and her condition were handled admirably within the context of urban fantasy, because the author revealed interesting things about her and her fate.
It was also enjoyable to read again about Kylah and Matt, because I've enjoyed reading about both of them since reading The 400lb Gorilla. I think it's nice that the author keeps on writing about them, because they're both agents at Hipposync Archives and are vital to certain happenings.
The trans-dimensional lockdown add a nice touch of mystery to the story, because it has frozen everyone inside the building. The author succeeds in creating a fascinatingly mysterious atmosphere by writing about how Asher and Bobby begin to investigate what has caused the lockdown (the investigation takes Bobby to interesting and unusual places).
I think that many readers will find it intriguing that the author writes about demons and the Bureau of Demonology, which is housed in a Gothic mansion. I won't go into details about the story, but I'll mention that reading about Gazorch the Pantocrator was thrilling for me.
One of my favourite scenes in this novel is the scene in which Bobby visits her grandmother's room in her parents' house. The author's way of writing about what Bobby felt and found out felt touching and also intriguing.
Just like in the previous novels, the author manages to captivate his readers by deftlty playing with different elements related to realism and fantasy. It was fun to read about how Bobby felt about Asher and what he revealed to her, because she had to accept the things that were told to her (her whole life changed when Asher took her to strange places and she saw strange beings).
Worldbuilding is perhaps not a word that is often used when writing about urban fantasy, but in this case I'm tempted to use this word, because the author has created an interesting vision of the Hipposync Archives and how it acts as a facade for the Department of Fimmigration (aka Department of Fae Immigration). The author writes captivatingly about other dimensions and their inhabitants.
One of the best things about this novel is that DC Farmer avoids using the most typical and most annoying clichés that are normally associated with urban fantasy stories. I'm sure that careful readers will notice that he uses a few well-known clichés, but he uses them exteremely well. I think it's marvellous how fluently he manages to use urban fantasy tropes to his advantage by adding plenty of sharp humour to the storyline and keeping a tight focus on what's he's writing about.
It's great that DC Farmer avoids using paranormal romance elements, because there's nothing as annoying or boring as reading about them, especially when they're being used in a bad and clichéd way as way too many authors tend to do. Because I have a low tolerance for these elements, I find it admirable that the author avoids them.
Creating a thrilling atmosphere is something that not many urban fantasy authors are capable of doing, but DC Farmer fluently creates an atmosphere that intrigues readers with its charming strangeness. His writing style quickly pulls readers into the story.
The author's sense of humour is delightfully British and has a dash of irony and sarcasm. I like the way he writes about what the characters think and how they feel about certain things, because the sharp and witty remarks are amusing and surprisingly insightful. In this novel, the humour arises from the author's ability to refer to popular culture and the world around us in a refreshingly inventive and clever way (for example, this novel has a satisfyingly clever reference to Edvard Munch who is famous for his painting 'The Scream').
If you haven't yet discovered the charm and magic of DC Farmer's novels, I advise you to take a look at them. I consider DC Farmer to be the Terry Pratchett of urban fantasy, becaise he writes amusing fantasy stories. I sincerely hope that readers will invest a bit of time into reading this series, because it's something a bit different and worth reading.
The Bewilderment is one of the funniest and most entertaining urban fantasy novels of the year. It will be of interest to those who love humorous stories and enjoy Terry Pratchett-like humour. If you love clever humour, you'll most likely enjoy this novel and its charming quirkiness; and when you reach the end, you'll be eagerly awaiting for the next novel.
Excellent humorous fantasy fiction!
October 1, 2025
A genuinely funny fiction with a hint of romcom thrown in for free
Book three had a slightly heavier sub context, or maybe that's just me. It's still as funny as the previous two, and has the main characters running throughout. But it feels as though Mr Farmer is trying to warn humanity not to be stupid, not to fall for false Gods, and we all know they come in many shapes, colours and sizes (particularly in the US but the UK now too).
"Men with minds as broad as pinheads. There were lots of words to describe such men. Sheep, fanatics, zealots, gullible fools, Gazorchites, or, perhaps the most apposite: gits. In the great scheme of things, gits needed demons because without them there was nothing to hold a mirror up to. But to exist, demons needed believers. And over the years, there was no denying it; one or two of them had done really well in the popularity stakes. Yet it always seemed to end in tears and tantrums, once the mess left by the war had been cleaned up."
Be a little more vigilant in your thinking "Momentum was a wonderful thing. A spark could set a city alight. A bacteria could wipe out half the world’s population. Miracles did happen… Those bloody Miracles."
But there's still plenty of humour amongst the desperation "Borodin was a cat ..... At least it had a cat’s body, though Asher suspected that inside that body existed something else altogether. A mind that was part feline (judging from the way it could disassemble small animals), part circus acrobat (judging from the way it could clean parts of its body that should not, rightly, ever have a tongue anywhere near them unless it was someone else’s and then only in certain niche circles)."
Book three had a slightly heavier sub context, or maybe that's just me. It's still as funny as the previous two, and has the main characters running throughout. But it feels as though Mr Farmer is trying to warn humanity not to be stupid, not to fall for false Gods, and we all know they come in many shapes, colours and sizes (particularly in the US but the UK now too).
"Men with minds as broad as pinheads. There were lots of words to describe such men. Sheep, fanatics, zealots, gullible fools, Gazorchites, or, perhaps the most apposite: gits. In the great scheme of things, gits needed demons because without them there was nothing to hold a mirror up to. But to exist, demons needed believers. And over the years, there was no denying it; one or two of them had done really well in the popularity stakes. Yet it always seemed to end in tears and tantrums, once the mess left by the war had been cleaned up."
Be a little more vigilant in your thinking "Momentum was a wonderful thing. A spark could set a city alight. A bacteria could wipe out half the world’s population. Miracles did happen… Those bloody Miracles."
But there's still plenty of humour amongst the desperation "Borodin was a cat ..... At least it had a cat’s body, though Asher suspected that inside that body existed something else altogether. A mind that was part feline (judging from the way it could disassemble small animals), part circus acrobat (judging from the way it could clean parts of its body that should not, rightly, ever have a tongue anywhere near them unless it was someone else’s and then only in certain niche circles)."
May 19, 2025
As mentioned in previous reviews, Blame it on the Bogey(Man) is a reissue of The Bewilderment (2016), updated and released in 2024. Volumes 1 and 2 in this series seemed to be carefully targeted to a specific reader who would identify with a male 'nerd' character. Farmer clearly states that he is writing satire, and as such, he paints his characters in very broad strokes. The unexpected female villains in both books pushed my buttons (in a good way), making me look again at power and gender roles. But where was the nerdish woman who would be there for the female reader? Here she is: Bobby Miracle. A book lover, a true-to-form goth, and one who is definitely rebelling against the conservative parents she is 'stuck with.' Like all good heroes, there is much more to Bobby.
From the world of the Fae, Farmer introduces Asher, whose talent is his affinity to speak to the dead. Sadly, he, like the others in Farmer's world, has been recently traumatized. An experiment gone wrong caused such a crisis that he needed psychic healing. For the most part, he has recovered, except for Thursday night nightmares where his dreams are shattered by the voices of the Bewildered. Farmer's medical knowledge and empathy come through strongly here. Homeless people in our world become lost souls in the Fae World. In our world, where magic is hidden, choices are made that have repercussions that mimic madness. Despite the nail-biting parts of the plot, it was the wit and insight that kept the pages turning. One has to appreciate an author who has a witch as a main character and a wardrobe in a key scene. Well done, sir. Bring on book 4.
A good book club choice, and suitable for YA's who have moved beyond Ready Player One.
From the world of the Fae, Farmer introduces Asher, whose talent is his affinity to speak to the dead. Sadly, he, like the others in Farmer's world, has been recently traumatized. An experiment gone wrong caused such a crisis that he needed psychic healing. For the most part, he has recovered, except for Thursday night nightmares where his dreams are shattered by the voices of the Bewildered. Farmer's medical knowledge and empathy come through strongly here. Homeless people in our world become lost souls in the Fae World. In our world, where magic is hidden, choices are made that have repercussions that mimic madness. Despite the nail-biting parts of the plot, it was the wit and insight that kept the pages turning. One has to appreciate an author who has a witch as a main character and a wardrobe in a key scene. Well done, sir. Bring on book 4.
A good book club choice, and suitable for YA's who have moved beyond Ready Player One.
September 27, 2025
This introduced my favourite female character in the series so far. Bobby Miracle is a much rounder and more relatable protagonist than any in the series so far, and the scene in which she visits her grandmother's old room is both touching and beautifully written. The world building comes together smoothly in this story, with Bobby coming very much into her own as she recognizes her own strengths and grows throughout the book. Asher is also a new addition to the cast who also shines as he rebuilds his life after a breakdown, but struggles with an uncaring and incompetent boss. It's not in his nature to turn away from the obvious criminality that's being ignored, and teams up with Bobby to solve a series of crimes in both worlds. The humour is still there, and the storyline trots along at a great pace for gentle escapism. Thoroughly enjoyed this and hope to see much more of Bobby and Asher in the future.
February 27, 2025
Not as fun as Fiends in High Places
More information comes out on the Bewildered, humans who have fallen into the fae world. And another couple have been added. Bobby or Roberta thought to be human but who is really a witch. And Asher who is a necro, as in he speaks to the dead. Both are resourceful, level headed and willing to sacrifice for others.
Interesting, but I liked the first book better. They both are completely stand alone story wise even though you find characters from the first book here as well. This book has more detail than action. After a while I started to skip over some because it was not relevant to the story.
More information comes out on the Bewildered, humans who have fallen into the fae world. And another couple have been added. Bobby or Roberta thought to be human but who is really a witch. And Asher who is a necro, as in he speaks to the dead. Both are resourceful, level headed and willing to sacrifice for others.
Interesting, but I liked the first book better. They both are completely stand alone story wise even though you find characters from the first book here as well. This book has more detail than action. After a while I started to skip over some because it was not relevant to the story.
February 9, 2025
My Favorite so Far
I’m so happy to have discovered this series; so very original! Each book can stand alone. Different characters and a complete story, but I do recommend reading in order. Some characters in the first have more of cameo rolls in 2. & 3. This one is my favorite so far, but I adore witches - cunning folk.
These stories move fast, loads of action. I was up till 2 AM on a work night reading and not able to put it down. And there is a 4th in series!
I’m so happy to have discovered this series; so very original! Each book can stand alone. Different characters and a complete story, but I do recommend reading in order. Some characters in the first have more of cameo rolls in 2. & 3. This one is my favorite so far, but I adore witches - cunning folk.
These stories move fast, loads of action. I was up till 2 AM on a work night reading and not able to put it down. And there is a 4th in series!
January 14, 2025
The Best Yet
Of the first three books this was by far the best. The main characters were likeable and the descriptions of the two main realities were better than the odd settings in the first 2 books.
Of the first three books this was by far the best. The main characters were likeable and the descriptions of the two main realities were better than the odd settings in the first 2 books.
April 14, 2025
Woo-hoo, Witchy Woman
Laughs and thrills throughout, in urban fantasy continuing the Hipposync Archives series. Sympathetic and moving descriptions of family tragedies, horror reminiscent of 1960s and 1970s cinema and sharp social commentary combine in worthwhile read.
Laughs and thrills throughout, in urban fantasy continuing the Hipposync Archives series. Sympathetic and moving descriptions of family tragedies, horror reminiscent of 1960s and 1970s cinema and sharp social commentary combine in worthwhile read.
September 16, 2025
Blame It On The Bogey(Man)
As the series progresses, this being Book 3, it simultaneously progresses upwardly. The writing is top rate, the characters wonderfully relatable and the plot devilishly, or should that be demonically, twisted. Can’t wait to jump into Book 4.
As the series progresses, this being Book 3, it simultaneously progresses upwardly. The writing is top rate, the characters wonderfully relatable and the plot devilishly, or should that be demonically, twisted. Can’t wait to jump into Book 4.
October 1, 2025
blame it on the….man
This read was surprisingly fun. I’m glad that Bobby was able to see that her Grandmother was who she was in the end. I’m surprised that the staff at her job didn’t recognize her as the granddaughter of a heroine. Fun read .
This read was surprisingly fun. I’m glad that Bobby was able to see that her Grandmother was who she was in the end. I’m surprised that the staff at her job didn’t recognize her as the granddaughter of a heroine. Fun read .
November 1, 2024
Blame it on the bogey
What a great romp through New Themeswick with a Goth girl who everyone thinks is a witch a man who talks to interdimenseanl dead spirits (only on Thursday)
What a great romp through New Themeswick with a Goth girl who everyone thinks is a witch a man who talks to interdimenseanl dead spirits (only on Thursday)
December 29, 2024
Thoroughly fun and quirky, this series has been a blast!
January 17, 2025
Book 3 sorted
Excellent, I am well and truly hooked in this series by DC Farmer. Great story and wonderful one liners. Highly recommended.
Excellent, I am well and truly hooked in this series by DC Farmer. Great story and wonderful one liners. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2025
Another great read in the series with lots of surprising twists. I love the humour and the characters. On to book 4 for more weird and entertaining...
February 17, 2025
Great fun
A worthy successor to the great air Terry pratchet , humour mixed with sharp psychological insights. Superb. A real good read.
A worthy successor to the great air Terry pratchet , humour mixed with sharp psychological insights. Superb. A real good read.
February 27, 2025
another winner
Bang on form the second book lacked something of the first but this was back to his best. Such fun
Bang on form the second book lacked something of the first but this was back to his best. Such fun
March 6, 2025
Enjoyable all the way
I liked Bobby and Asher. There were twists and turns, drama and comedy as well as the "logical" plot ( if you can suspend your disbelief in demons, etc.).
I liked Bobby and Asher. There were twists and turns, drama and comedy as well as the "logical" plot ( if you can suspend your disbelief in demons, etc.).
June 2, 2025
Brilliant
Loved every word.
Husband wondered why I was giggling to myself as I lay next to him reading late into the night.
Also got a bit scared in places.
Loved every word.
Husband wondered why I was giggling to myself as I lay next to him reading late into the night.
Also got a bit scared in places.
July 19, 2025
3.5 stars
July 20, 2025
Almost ten years old but has themes that are apposite of current times. Some very serious things to say, wrapped up in a rollicking murder mystery/thriller/urban fantasy adventure
January 7, 2026
some of it is tricky to read with the made up words but loved the story
July 31, 2016
Peculiar, in the best sense of the word. Also crazy, funny and just over the edge into Fairyland.
And that's just the author, DC Farmer, who also happens to be the company scribe for Hipposync Enterprises, a bookstore for the discerning reader. The only bookstore in Oxford, England, or perhaps, in all of England, with a passageway to New Thameswick, and which operates as a covert headquarters for the Department of Fimmigration, the regulatory agency for interspecies relations.
The Bewilderment is a case for the Fae Human Intelligence & Felonious Activities Agency--there has been a rash of Munchers. "Weird deaths, specially those where the deceased's expression was 'unusually grotesque'" a la "the famous painting known as The Scream, by Edvard Munch."
Hipposync Archives novels can be read any which way, though best begun with the novella Every Little Evil (free at Amazon and the author's website). Recommended for, well, everyone with a taste for speculative fiction, sarcasm, and dreadful puns. Oh, and Dr. Who fans.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
And that's just the author, DC Farmer, who also happens to be the company scribe for Hipposync Enterprises, a bookstore for the discerning reader. The only bookstore in Oxford, England, or perhaps, in all of England, with a passageway to New Thameswick, and which operates as a covert headquarters for the Department of Fimmigration, the regulatory agency for interspecies relations.
The Bewilderment is a case for the Fae Human Intelligence & Felonious Activities Agency--there has been a rash of Munchers. "Weird deaths, specially those where the deceased's expression was 'unusually grotesque'" a la "the famous painting known as The Scream, by Edvard Munch."
Hipposync Archives novels can be read any which way, though best begun with the novella Every Little Evil (free at Amazon and the author's website). Recommended for, well, everyone with a taste for speculative fiction, sarcasm, and dreadful puns. Oh, and Dr. Who fans.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2016
Another excellent fantasy in the Hipposync universe
I loved this book, the third in the Hipposync Archives series. Like Frivolous Pursuits, there was good action, vivid descriptions and interesting characters. Unlike Frivolous Pursuits, this book focusses more on the fantasy world than real life, but author D.C. Farmer does this extremely well. He writes with a great sense of humor and great insight that makes this book very much worth reading. It is very rare that I will re-read passages of a book because they are so good, but I did this several times with this book. Although this book is the third of the series, each one is a stand-alone story and no prior familiarity with the Hipposync universe is necessary. I recommend this book, and the entire series, for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre, especially the Discworld and Xanth series.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book, the third in the Hipposync Archives series. Like Frivolous Pursuits, there was good action, vivid descriptions and interesting characters. Unlike Frivolous Pursuits, this book focusses more on the fantasy world than real life, but author D.C. Farmer does this extremely well. He writes with a great sense of humor and great insight that makes this book very much worth reading. It is very rare that I will re-read passages of a book because they are so good, but I did this several times with this book. Although this book is the third of the series, each one is a stand-alone story and no prior familiarity with the Hipposync universe is necessary. I recommend this book, and the entire series, for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre, especially the Discworld and Xanth series.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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