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A Halo of Mushrooms
This is an alternate cover edition for 9780996958202
Once planted, it lives everywhere...
In a place of origins, the first Fairie Ring withers. Worlds die. Wonder fades. As its last ripple reaches out, fell creatures barricade up the few remaining Bald Mushrooms and wars are fought for the right to possess what precious little remains…. Until Derik, a healer, creeps through lines of armies, thorns, and traps to steal one.
Sacrilege.
Tying the wonder to his hip in a sack, he finds himself alone on Earth in the gray, declining city of Clarksburg. Without friends, tools, weapons, and even stripped of the ability to read, he must escape pursuit and find refuge for his burden. A burden that stubbornly refuses every attempt to find it a new home.
Shadows of war are descending and all Derik has to fend it off is a baker, a chemist, a cerulean sweet, and a withered hope.
The chase is on....from world to world and from the Great Lakes to Malawi.
Once planted, it lives everywhere...
In a place of origins, the first Fairie Ring withers. Worlds die. Wonder fades. As its last ripple reaches out, fell creatures barricade up the few remaining Bald Mushrooms and wars are fought for the right to possess what precious little remains…. Until Derik, a healer, creeps through lines of armies, thorns, and traps to steal one.
Sacrilege.
Tying the wonder to his hip in a sack, he finds himself alone on Earth in the gray, declining city of Clarksburg. Without friends, tools, weapons, and even stripped of the ability to read, he must escape pursuit and find refuge for his burden. A burden that stubbornly refuses every attempt to find it a new home.
Shadows of war are descending and all Derik has to fend it off is a baker, a chemist, a cerulean sweet, and a withered hope.
The chase is on....from world to world and from the Great Lakes to Malawi.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
296 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2015
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Hiller
9 books28 followersAndrew Hiller attempted to travel the road least taken only to fall off. Caught in wild currents, he surfaced to find his commentaries selected four times as best of the year on Washington’s NPR station WAMU 88.5 FM, a pair of his plays fill the New York City stage, and an opportunity to act and write with the original Muppets gang in his Cobblestone Documentary series. His first fantasy novel, A Climbing Stock, grew to reach the top 50 on Amazon’s humor best sellers. In between projects, he has taught art in a psychiatric ward, hosted an internationally broadcast science, health, and tech radio program, and reads everything that makes him go “Huh?” or “Ha!” His second novel, A Halo of Mushrooms was released in December 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 5, 2016
This is an ARC.
Meh. Alright, alright. So far, I haven't really had the best experience with ARCs. And you know what, writers, I'm sorry. I am. I know it is daunting work to write your own book, and here I sit, criticising said hard work. It's just, you all should know that I am an overly critical person. Also that I have high standards for literature.
Now, without further ado, let's get started on this. It's not that it was bad, it just wasn't good. I felt like the book started from nowhere. For about the initial 30% or so of the book, I was just so goddamned clueless; I mean, I knew that Derik had to save the mushroom, and that he was other worldly, but that's about it. I honestly spent that time hoping for the love of god that I'd get the mushroom in the end, if you know what I mean. And then, thankfully, the book did pick up, though I had to get to about halfway through the story before finally learning of the point of it all. Now, I'm a fairly straightforward person; at least I think I am. My point is, beating around the bush pisses me off. Had I known some of the history behind it all in the initial 10 or so percent, I would've enjoyed it more. Once the story picked up, though, I did come to enjoy myself. I also grew to like Lara's character, though I kept chiding her for being too comfortable (?) in her life to want change. Derik himself was not a character I connected to; I am not a pacifist. I must say, though, the ending was satisfactory, kinda made it worth it. (If you're like my brother and think that even saying that I liked the ending counts as a spoiler, then screw you)
Further, I think it's pertinent to mention here, that the Lord of the Rings is my favourite book. Ever. Of all times. I love that book more than life itself, and god knows my copy has suffered more than it should have. Now because of this, I hold fantasy books to exceptionally high standards. Another unfortunate by-product of this is also that whenever I pick up a fantasy novel, in my head, I start comparing it to the LoTR. So here, Derik was Frodo, and the 'shroom was the One Ring. Didn't help that the word "ring" and its er...sanctity was emphasised on more than once. Also, olifants. Probably doesn't help that I think alchemy is baloney and that I absolutely love cats. Adore them.
Few as they were, there were some grammar and spelling errors, and we've established how I feel about those. "Shear" and "sheer" mean completely different things; as do "doughty" and "doughy", "bare" and "bear"...you catch my drift. I also had a problem with the sentence structure in some places; there were unnecessary commas, and some things plain made no sense to me at all, though their meanings I was able to derive from context. Also, the prose was laden with unnecessary words, and seriously dear authors, consider this a PSA, don't use words like "miasma" and "rose like a glyph" out of context. I dislike callous display of vocabulary. Too much to handle.
My advice? Keep it simple. Also, let there be some flow to the story. Don't get to the point smack in the middle of the book; I mean, I spent the first 30% bored because I couldn't see the point of it all, and the last 30% of it also bored, because once I saw the point, I knew how it would end.
Meh. Alright, alright. So far, I haven't really had the best experience with ARCs. And you know what, writers, I'm sorry. I am. I know it is daunting work to write your own book, and here I sit, criticising said hard work. It's just, you all should know that I am an overly critical person. Also that I have high standards for literature.
Now, without further ado, let's get started on this. It's not that it was bad, it just wasn't good. I felt like the book started from nowhere. For about the initial 30% or so of the book, I was just so goddamned clueless; I mean, I knew that Derik had to save the mushroom, and that he was other worldly, but that's about it. I honestly spent that time hoping for the love of god that I'd get the mushroom in the end, if you know what I mean. And then, thankfully, the book did pick up, though I had to get to about halfway through the story before finally learning of the point of it all. Now, I'm a fairly straightforward person; at least I think I am. My point is, beating around the bush pisses me off. Had I known some of the history behind it all in the initial 10 or so percent, I would've enjoyed it more. Once the story picked up, though, I did come to enjoy myself. I also grew to like Lara's character, though I kept chiding her for being too comfortable (?) in her life to want change. Derik himself was not a character I connected to; I am not a pacifist. I must say, though, the ending was satisfactory, kinda made it worth it. (If you're like my brother and think that even saying that I liked the ending counts as a spoiler, then screw you)
Further, I think it's pertinent to mention here, that the Lord of the Rings is my favourite book. Ever. Of all times. I love that book more than life itself, and god knows my copy has suffered more than it should have. Now because of this, I hold fantasy books to exceptionally high standards. Another unfortunate by-product of this is also that whenever I pick up a fantasy novel, in my head, I start comparing it to the LoTR. So here, Derik was Frodo, and the 'shroom was the One Ring. Didn't help that the word "ring" and its er...sanctity was emphasised on more than once. Also, olifants. Probably doesn't help that I think alchemy is baloney and that I absolutely love cats. Adore them.
Few as they were, there were some grammar and spelling errors, and we've established how I feel about those. "Shear" and "sheer" mean completely different things; as do "doughty" and "doughy", "bare" and "bear"...you catch my drift. I also had a problem with the sentence structure in some places; there were unnecessary commas, and some things plain made no sense to me at all, though their meanings I was able to derive from context. Also, the prose was laden with unnecessary words, and seriously dear authors, consider this a PSA, don't use words like "miasma" and "rose like a glyph" out of context. I dislike callous display of vocabulary. Too much to handle.
My advice? Keep it simple. Also, let there be some flow to the story. Don't get to the point smack in the middle of the book; I mean, I spent the first 30% bored because I couldn't see the point of it all, and the last 30% of it also bored, because once I saw the point, I knew how it would end.
May 11, 2016
Properly started, this review should have a WTF-did-I-just-read gif at the top. Since yes, I'm completely sure, I never read anything comparable. In terms of weirdness Theatre of the Gods will always be the no. 1 - but this one here surely makes it to the top 10.
Which is good!
It had its rough edges around the prose on some occasions and -Derik, not Derek- another round of editing would probably have been a good thing, too.
All that aside - this is a phanstastic book. It serves new ideas, desserts as weapons and characters that actually and really grow on you, they are so real and mirroring REAL problems, for example: catatonic, complete indecision.
Fast paced it never let me go away for more than a couple of hours and as a result, managed to draw me out of my 6 week reading slump. High Five for that.
If this author writes anything else, count me in.
Which is good!
It had its rough edges around the prose on some occasions and -Derik, not Derek- another round of editing would probably have been a good thing, too.
All that aside - this is a phanstastic book. It serves new ideas, desserts as weapons and characters that actually and really grow on you, they are so real and mirroring REAL problems, for example: catatonic, complete indecision.
Fast paced it never let me go away for more than a couple of hours and as a result, managed to draw me out of my 6 week reading slump. High Five for that.
If this author writes anything else, count me in.
September 7, 2016
I met Andrew Hiller at 2016’s Farpoint convention, and he struck me as the kind of guy who’d have a fresh and uncommon writing style. And when I delved into his novel, A HALO OF MUSHROOMS, my suspicions were confirmed in a delightful and entertaining way. A HALO OF MUSHROOMS is not your typical spec fic, and in fact, can be a bit hard to describe. Part sci-fi adventure, part fantasy fairytale, and part something that defies genre, the novel offers unique and often cinematic storytelling. The plot follows the escapades of one Derik, a healer from another world who steals a mushroom. But not just any mushroom – one from the place of origins, whose existence has great consequences. Branded an outlaw and hunted by monsters, he seeks a safe place for his cargo. He winds up running into and befriending a colorful cast of supporting characters during his twisty-turny journey. Vivid descriptions pepper a text that comes to life with creativity and panache. If you’re looking for a fun and different sci-fi/fantasy read, look no further.
September 8, 2018
This is a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure that I couldn't put down. The characters are well developed and the descriptions make you long for a taste of they mystical Pom.
October 20, 2020
It has been quite some time that I have read a book and couldn't put a descriptor on it. I picked up A Halo of Mushrooms on a Lark, (a group I was in was having a discussion about mushrooms and I decided we need a book to keep the topic on point and found this).
The book is well written and a good read, but as far as your typical fantasy book goes you might as well toss that concept out of the window. The only word I can come up with for this book is one that is used in the book. It is a Wonder. It is a book that even though all the way through I was trying to work through the concept and feeling a little out of phase I really enjoyed it and it was all worth the time and effort to get through.
I can only say one last thing about this book. Read it and decide for yourself.
The book is well written and a good read, but as far as your typical fantasy book goes you might as well toss that concept out of the window. The only word I can come up with for this book is one that is used in the book. It is a Wonder. It is a book that even though all the way through I was trying to work through the concept and feeling a little out of phase I really enjoyed it and it was all worth the time and effort to get through.
I can only say one last thing about this book. Read it and decide for yourself.
August 14, 2019
rating - 2.5 stars
This was one of the stranger books in my lot. It combined a bunch of genres and it left me thinking a lot. First the title is definitely something that will throw you off. The plot is just bonkers, it begins on a different planet and then with our protagonist Derik. It combines marauding monsters, magic focused on cooking and other food items, hunters and much more colourful characters. All in all, this story just started of on a weird tangent and kept on going off in weirder directions.
This book though isn’t for everyone. The writing style is a simplistic one and makes it easy to read. The imagination which is prevalent in this story is very, very cool. Lastly the story kept me intrigued with its weird twists and turns and then ended on an unpredictable note. A Halo Of Mushrooms indeed seems like someone wrote while chewing on the aforementioned mushrooms, such is the weird genre mix in the story. Read a sample to see if it draws your interest.
This was one of the stranger books in my lot. It combined a bunch of genres and it left me thinking a lot. First the title is definitely something that will throw you off. The plot is just bonkers, it begins on a different planet and then with our protagonist Derik. It combines marauding monsters, magic focused on cooking and other food items, hunters and much more colourful characters. All in all, this story just started of on a weird tangent and kept on going off in weirder directions.
This book though isn’t for everyone. The writing style is a simplistic one and makes it easy to read. The imagination which is prevalent in this story is very, very cool. Lastly the story kept me intrigued with its weird twists and turns and then ended on an unpredictable note. A Halo Of Mushrooms indeed seems like someone wrote while chewing on the aforementioned mushrooms, such is the weird genre mix in the story. Read a sample to see if it draws your interest.
February 4, 2017
What an odd mix of fairie lore, world travel, & baking.
It was an enjoyable read.
It was an enjoyable read.
July 9, 2016
Fresh, new, and delightful. In Halo of Mushrooms, Hiller offers something superbly different from other paranormal fantasy novels. This is no vampire romance; it is a desperate race across worlds in a nearly hopeless attempt to preserve…wonder, of all things.
Halo of Mushrooms follows Derik, a healer from another world, as he comes to Earth, another stop among many, many others. Branded as an outlaw by his own people, and hunted by thousands of terrifying monster, Derik is searching urgently for a place to preserve his precious cargo, and by doing so, make safe wonder for the universe.
As he befriends and is befriended by an unlikely pair: a chemist and a baker an interesting love triangle forms. As we continue through the story, Hiller takes us on a crazy ride full of twists and turns, leaps forward and double backs.
Though Derik has a full understanding of what he is trying to accomplish, the “how-it-will-be-accomplished” is hazy at best. Although incredibly authentic in its feeling, on one or two occasions the lack of clear purposed gives the story a bit of a meandering feeling. This notion is mostly squelched by the story twists that keep a reader wanting more, though. In truth, I had no idea how this story was going to end, and even less of an idea of how wonder could be preserved against such terrible odds. It kept me reading feverishly to the end.
I particularly liked the creation of magical seds, magical foods of different kinds that offer different attributes and come with different drawbacks. The way this interlaced into and through the story as a whole was really quite delightful.
One caution, there are a number of times, more so in the beginning, when the point of view character switches back and forth inside of the same scene. It gives an odd feeling of omniscient writing to those parts that can be a bit jarring and harder to relate to the pov character you thought you were with. That seems to lessen as the story progresses; so when you run into it early, don’t let it deter you. Hold on for the whole ride, you’ll be glad you did.
Halo of Mushrooms follows Derik, a healer from another world, as he comes to Earth, another stop among many, many others. Branded as an outlaw by his own people, and hunted by thousands of terrifying monster, Derik is searching urgently for a place to preserve his precious cargo, and by doing so, make safe wonder for the universe.
As he befriends and is befriended by an unlikely pair: a chemist and a baker an interesting love triangle forms. As we continue through the story, Hiller takes us on a crazy ride full of twists and turns, leaps forward and double backs.
Though Derik has a full understanding of what he is trying to accomplish, the “how-it-will-be-accomplished” is hazy at best. Although incredibly authentic in its feeling, on one or two occasions the lack of clear purposed gives the story a bit of a meandering feeling. This notion is mostly squelched by the story twists that keep a reader wanting more, though. In truth, I had no idea how this story was going to end, and even less of an idea of how wonder could be preserved against such terrible odds. It kept me reading feverishly to the end.
I particularly liked the creation of magical seds, magical foods of different kinds that offer different attributes and come with different drawbacks. The way this interlaced into and through the story as a whole was really quite delightful.
One caution, there are a number of times, more so in the beginning, when the point of view character switches back and forth inside of the same scene. It gives an odd feeling of omniscient writing to those parts that can be a bit jarring and harder to relate to the pov character you thought you were with. That seems to lessen as the story progresses; so when you run into it early, don’t let it deter you. Hold on for the whole ride, you’ll be glad you did.
July 28, 2016
You can read A Halo of Mushrooms in so many ways: As an adventure, a fantasy or, a morality play covering laziness, environment, economics and caring for your fellow man.
It has some anecdotes and some laughter and I found myself trying to direct the characters. The alchemy for healing the planet include the healer, the baker, the scientist, the monster, the natural (elephant) and the spiritual (flying lizard). I also loved the teased romance with Derik and the ladies (Imani and Lara). I do not like fiction books, but read it from the beginning with an open mind and truly enjoyed it. Now, I cannot wait for the sequel. I love the creative imagination and the grounding of the story. I must say, Hiller has put something in the book for everyone. I love his quotes, and words of wisdom. The monsters, kind of taken me back some. As I read, I could see the monsters in us all. I was admiring Lara's attire at first, Imani's hunger for business, but it is Derick's stature and fear that kept me focusing on the story. I kept reading the book until I finish it.
“Recipes are important, but the best cooking is done by feel. I think the heart is right. You can feel the love in a dish. It needs that love.”
The author is very creative to have written the story as he did. It is open to interpretation to decipher the meaning. In the book, the mushroom has the wisdom with its beam of light and wonders. The book leaves us to as to determine our purpose that benefits the universe. Thank you, Andrew.
It has some anecdotes and some laughter and I found myself trying to direct the characters. The alchemy for healing the planet include the healer, the baker, the scientist, the monster, the natural (elephant) and the spiritual (flying lizard). I also loved the teased romance with Derik and the ladies (Imani and Lara). I do not like fiction books, but read it from the beginning with an open mind and truly enjoyed it. Now, I cannot wait for the sequel. I love the creative imagination and the grounding of the story. I must say, Hiller has put something in the book for everyone. I love his quotes, and words of wisdom. The monsters, kind of taken me back some. As I read, I could see the monsters in us all. I was admiring Lara's attire at first, Imani's hunger for business, but it is Derick's stature and fear that kept me focusing on the story. I kept reading the book until I finish it.
“Recipes are important, but the best cooking is done by feel. I think the heart is right. You can feel the love in a dish. It needs that love.”
The author is very creative to have written the story as he did. It is open to interpretation to decipher the meaning. In the book, the mushroom has the wisdom with its beam of light and wonders. The book leaves us to as to determine our purpose that benefits the universe. Thank you, Andrew.
February 9, 2017
What a weird book! I mean, from the title, it should be rather obvious, but instead of getting a magic mushroom ride of a book, I get a REAL MAGIC MUSHROOM RIDE OF A BOOK, with the sparkly bits, too. :)
At its core, the novel is both literally and subjectively focused on Wonder. It's a genre all by itself. We're supposed to ooh and ahh and get all tingly and say, "That's pretty cool," and guess what? It succeeds.
I was entirely sold in the cooking magic. I was completely enchanted. Think about a cooking urban fantasy and then turn it up a few notches, and you'll get this...
An epic fantasy spanning many alternate worlds, armies of monsters wanting to snuff out the Wonder? Whoa. I thought this was a novel about magic in the kitchen!
It is pretty cool. It kinda jarred me at first, because who expect that? I was still completely sold on the kitchen stuff. :) Why go the epic route, too? With kitties? Nah, it's okay. It remains interesting and a real trip. Literally.
Take a ride on the wild side. Taste of the vigor. Meditate on the ring.
But most of all, feed your mushroom!
There's a taste of the absurd, a taste of the magic, but more than anything, it lets you swim in the wonder all the way through the text. :)
At its core, the novel is both literally and subjectively focused on Wonder. It's a genre all by itself. We're supposed to ooh and ahh and get all tingly and say, "That's pretty cool," and guess what? It succeeds.
I was entirely sold in the cooking magic. I was completely enchanted. Think about a cooking urban fantasy and then turn it up a few notches, and you'll get this...
An epic fantasy spanning many alternate worlds, armies of monsters wanting to snuff out the Wonder? Whoa. I thought this was a novel about magic in the kitchen!
It is pretty cool. It kinda jarred me at first, because who expect that? I was still completely sold on the kitchen stuff. :) Why go the epic route, too? With kitties? Nah, it's okay. It remains interesting and a real trip. Literally.
Take a ride on the wild side. Taste of the vigor. Meditate on the ring.
But most of all, feed your mushroom!
There's a taste of the absurd, a taste of the magic, but more than anything, it lets you swim in the wonder all the way through the text. :)
November 7, 2015
A Halo of Mushrooms
November 10, 2015
Most fantasy makes us want to close our eyes so we can see with our mind's eye the world the author presents to us. A few allow us to imagine sounds so loud they block out reality or a quiet that beckons the reader to wish anything would fill it. Andrew Hiller in A Halo of Mushrooms presents us with a mouth watering fantasy story of wonder about the power of another of our five sense, taste. The only other fiction I've read of comparable appeal to taste was Like Water for Chocolate.
The power of the fantasy writing and character creation seems almost Gunslinger like. I can only hope Andrew Hiller continues to write and produce original worlds in which I can lose myself with as much success as the Gunslinger author (Stephen King).
The power of the fantasy writing and character creation seems almost Gunslinger like. I can only hope Andrew Hiller continues to write and produce original worlds in which I can lose myself with as much success as the Gunslinger author (Stephen King).
Read
May 11, 2016Excellent read. A meaningful trip through the universe. Gastronomical delights abound. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend reading A Halo of Mushrooms. It happily surprised me.
November 7, 2015
Wonderful read - engaging, enjoyable, fast moving - the author does a great job of crafting the characters and story. Highly encourage everyone to pick up a copy
January 9, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed A Halo of Mushrooms. As a wanna be foodie and professional sweet tooth the baking had my mouth watering. As a long time fantasy and urban fantasy fan the plot had me riveted. The characters intrigued and had me rooting for their success. Just a fun book, that made me stay up late turning pages even after many sleepless nights of convention going.
December 29, 2016
Spolier Free Summary: A Halo of Mushrooms is Andrew Hiller’s second published novel. (NOTE: Hiller did a story about me on his blog which I talked bout in my blog about My Journey So Far.) It’s about Derik a magical healer from another land who carries with him a very special mushroom. If I’m being honest, the cover leaves a lot to be desired. I implore you to ignore the cover and read the book as it’s a treat. It reminded me of Pratchett’s Discworld Series. I’ve mentioned a few times I’m a huge fan of Tiffany Aching’s saga, but not such a fan of The Color of Magic. This book has the traits of both books that I do like, and I feel fans of Pratchett would at least (if not enjoy) appreciate Mushrooms. In the book, Derik has to find the right location to plant his magic mushroom all while earning a dollar and avoiding cats and monsters who are hunting him down for stealing the magic spud.
Character: There are three main characters in this book, though it focuses on Derik. The other two characters are Imani, a baker, and Lara, a scientist. The characters are real enough, with decent identity and progress, but for my money, I think the most of Imani. Derik is the most well rounded of the characters, and we get a lot of insight into him, but Imani grows on the reader. Lara has some very interesting aspects, but I felt like her characters had some missed opportunities. What I feel makes this book stand out about these characters is that while they each individually may be lacking, this is a pretty strong ensemble cast. I realize as I write this that while I wish each character was more fleshed out, I moved through this book because of the way they interact with one another. For those who read my blog on plotting, this was a pretty effective relationship plot, and it’s honestly the strongest part of the book. These characters know Derik as a man trying to do something nice or right. They bond over their desire to help him.
The exposition of this book is a little on the heavy side. There are a few segments where I feel Hiller is giving scope to the book, but I don’t think I personally needed it. Though there are patches of over exposition, they don’t slow the pace or enjoyment of the book.
Worldbuilding: I’d say this is the weakest area of the book. The magic system here doesn’t make a ton of sense. Now…I have to explain that I’m a fan of either (1) books that have a sense of wonder in which the magic is a complication or (2) books that have well understood (even if complex) magic systems that are part of the resolution. This book maintains a sense of wonder, but I felt that cost something at the end. However, it wasn’t something that brought the book too far down as the reader has enough understanding of how the worlds work to believe what’s happening. Once the reader understand the effects of the “Poms,” things flow pretty well. Now, I just said the exposition here was heavy, and how does one explain a magic system with out more of what was already a lot of exposition? So I see the sense in limiting the explanations to what the readers must have.
There’s a scene near the end of the book between Imani and one of her regular customers that I felt was a sign of a next level from Hiller. I wouldn’t begrudge an editor telling him to delete it, but it was strong writing that helped reveal the character. We see this again when Derik talks to a character referred to as Baba. Those two scenes are great examples of how dialogue can move a plot and define a character.
Description: I’m not as over the moon about description as some. It shows in my own writing, and it’s something I’m working on because I understand it’s something readers look for. With that said, I couldn’t tell you what any of the characters look like. The clearest memory I have is of a certain car that got great mileage without a lot of gas. There’s a lizard I can remember clearly as well. This didn’t bother me at all because of how much less invested I am in that sort of thing, but I evaluate the quality of description based on how much I can remember a day or so after reading the book. There are a few characteristics about Imani and Derik I can recall, but that’s about it. For my money, it didn’t bother me at all, but readers who want down to the thread count descriptions may find this element of the book lacking.
Overall: I want to go back to what I said earlier. A lot of the readers who enjoy the Discworld saga find a charm in the satire and melting pot of ideas. For me, this book has that sort of feel to me. The charm in my opinion is Derek’s sense of wonder in our world. I think that’s the main reason I enjoy it so much. Hiller shows our world from the point of view of someone from another world, and it made me feel more magic in our every day corner of the known universe. The ending was a cliffhanger, which I don’t generally like, but it did satisfy the plot of the book while pointedly indicating what I hope is a equally endearing sequel.
Character: There are three main characters in this book, though it focuses on Derik. The other two characters are Imani, a baker, and Lara, a scientist. The characters are real enough, with decent identity and progress, but for my money, I think the most of Imani. Derik is the most well rounded of the characters, and we get a lot of insight into him, but Imani grows on the reader. Lara has some very interesting aspects, but I felt like her characters had some missed opportunities. What I feel makes this book stand out about these characters is that while they each individually may be lacking, this is a pretty strong ensemble cast. I realize as I write this that while I wish each character was more fleshed out, I moved through this book because of the way they interact with one another. For those who read my blog on plotting, this was a pretty effective relationship plot, and it’s honestly the strongest part of the book. These characters know Derik as a man trying to do something nice or right. They bond over their desire to help him.
The exposition of this book is a little on the heavy side. There are a few segments where I feel Hiller is giving scope to the book, but I don’t think I personally needed it. Though there are patches of over exposition, they don’t slow the pace or enjoyment of the book.
Worldbuilding: I’d say this is the weakest area of the book. The magic system here doesn’t make a ton of sense. Now…I have to explain that I’m a fan of either (1) books that have a sense of wonder in which the magic is a complication or (2) books that have well understood (even if complex) magic systems that are part of the resolution. This book maintains a sense of wonder, but I felt that cost something at the end. However, it wasn’t something that brought the book too far down as the reader has enough understanding of how the worlds work to believe what’s happening. Once the reader understand the effects of the “Poms,” things flow pretty well. Now, I just said the exposition here was heavy, and how does one explain a magic system with out more of what was already a lot of exposition? So I see the sense in limiting the explanations to what the readers must have.
There’s a scene near the end of the book between Imani and one of her regular customers that I felt was a sign of a next level from Hiller. I wouldn’t begrudge an editor telling him to delete it, but it was strong writing that helped reveal the character. We see this again when Derik talks to a character referred to as Baba. Those two scenes are great examples of how dialogue can move a plot and define a character.
Description: I’m not as over the moon about description as some. It shows in my own writing, and it’s something I’m working on because I understand it’s something readers look for. With that said, I couldn’t tell you what any of the characters look like. The clearest memory I have is of a certain car that got great mileage without a lot of gas. There’s a lizard I can remember clearly as well. This didn’t bother me at all because of how much less invested I am in that sort of thing, but I evaluate the quality of description based on how much I can remember a day or so after reading the book. There are a few characteristics about Imani and Derik I can recall, but that’s about it. For my money, it didn’t bother me at all, but readers who want down to the thread count descriptions may find this element of the book lacking.
Overall: I want to go back to what I said earlier. A lot of the readers who enjoy the Discworld saga find a charm in the satire and melting pot of ideas. For me, this book has that sort of feel to me. The charm in my opinion is Derek’s sense of wonder in our world. I think that’s the main reason I enjoy it so much. Hiller shows our world from the point of view of someone from another world, and it made me feel more magic in our every day corner of the known universe. The ending was a cliffhanger, which I don’t generally like, but it did satisfy the plot of the book while pointedly indicating what I hope is a equally endearing sequel.
August 9, 2017
Unique concept and very intriguing. Hiller captures his audience and pulls them in. Well done!
June 3, 2019
Loved it. Love cats, but seeing them as the bad guys was different. Still a worthy read, even for cat lovers. Would be fun to see this as a movie, it's different from other stories I have seen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2015
What impressed me the most about this book are its undertones, the nuanced critique of today's growing fear of the unknown, of those who look different, who think different. The fantasy world needs more writers like Andrew Hiller. His prose is commanding, intense yet open and inviting. With this book, we are witnessing the resurgence of a much-needed new American voice in the fantasy book world. Highly recommended.
November 12, 2015
A really good read, and a fun one, too. Well paced, with characters I enjoyed following. Hiller's take on magic is fresh, organic, and believable. His descriptions of the creative process--whether it involves cooking, problem solving, or spell casting--are so rich and immersive, they could only come from an artistic mind. This is fantasy for someone who has matured beyond the regurgitated D&D stereotypes, but who still wants to experience the joy and wonder of unbridled imagination.
November 11, 2015
What a joy to read this book! I was taken on a wonderful journey for saving the world. The story is filled with wonderful characters I wish I could have coffee with,supernatural bakery delicacies that had my mouth watering and hoping for a clue how to make and a story that had me spellbound.
Sit down with a hot beverage and give yourself a special treat.
Sit down with a hot beverage and give yourself a special treat.
January 18, 2018
I found this modern-day fantasy absolutely charming. The characters are wonderful, the story is compelling, and the ending is hopeful ... all-in-all, a perfect escape and antidote to the toxic world we're currently living in. Warning: the lush sensory food descriptions will make you incredibly hungry!
May 20, 2016
Fascinating, original, imaginative book.
I usually don’t search out fantasy-genre, but something about that title just drew me in. And I’m so glad I gave this a chance.
The first half really had me captivated: Derik, an alien anti-hero who stumbles onto Earth with a loose grasp of English sentence structure and social mores, searching for a job so that he can blend in and hide from his intergalactic pursuers. He gets a job at a bakery, creating other-worldly creations that make him impossible to keep a secret. Derik and his two new friends, Imani and Lara, have to find a place for the Wonder he holds to take root and grow before those who would kill the Wonder get his hands on his precious cargo. The fantastical smells and tastes in the bakery, and the effect of the umami cloud pastries created by Derik, were tantalizing.
The second half was more chase-and-run thriller, which was fun, but with a different pace than the first half. I got lost a few times as to why the bad guys were after the good guys, and the backstory left me somewhat confused, but I just went with it and enjoyed the story. It’s probably more the fault of the reader than the author here, as I tend to read quickly when things are exciting!
This is a wild foodie urban sci-fi fantasy adventure. Reminded me of “Fringe,” and that’s quite high praise indeed.
November 23, 2015
I am stunned and I mean that. This is my first Andrew Hiller read and I have to comment on his talent first. This guy has a way with words. It's smart and unique story that is only matched by Hillers, poetic story-telling ability. There is this tone to the work and lures you in right from the Prologue, where he is merely speaking of a cat… yes, a cat that sucked me right in. Don’t laugh, you will see just what I am talking about. I know this is a fantasy but I am telling you right now the writing skill is such that it allows anyone who appreciates an imaginative and out of the box creative visionary to be entertained.
A Halo of Mushrooms has three main characters all of which are well-developed, distinct, and relatable. My favorite being Laura because there is an ease about her, a realness. There are tons of twists and turns and moments where you think you know where it’s going only to be wrong… which I think is great! The ending is thoughtful, it digs its way in and settles within to live far beyond the last page. Becoming, at least a little bit, a part of the reader. It left me satisfied yet somehow wanting more of this fascinating story. Looking forward to what is next from this talented author.
A Halo of Mushrooms has three main characters all of which are well-developed, distinct, and relatable. My favorite being Laura because there is an ease about her, a realness. There are tons of twists and turns and moments where you think you know where it’s going only to be wrong… which I think is great! The ending is thoughtful, it digs its way in and settles within to live far beyond the last page. Becoming, at least a little bit, a part of the reader. It left me satisfied yet somehow wanting more of this fascinating story. Looking forward to what is next from this talented author.
January 2, 2016
A Halo of Mushrooms was an intriguing read filled great characters and a captivating plot. Andrew has a beautiful style of writing that displays the time and effort put into this novel. This book is certain to impress you.
Typically, I do not read fantasy books as much as I do contemporary. However, I loved A Halo of Mushrooms. The story lures you in from the first sentence. The characters complimented the story incredibly. The characters were well developed and unique. Finally, the writing style was breathtaking! The writing fits the story wonderfully.
Overall, A halo of Mushrooms is a must-read. Reading this story will not leave you disappointed. I am confident that you will love it as much as I do!
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
Typically, I do not read fantasy books as much as I do contemporary. However, I loved A Halo of Mushrooms. The story lures you in from the first sentence. The characters complimented the story incredibly. The characters were well developed and unique. Finally, the writing style was breathtaking! The writing fits the story wonderfully.
Overall, A halo of Mushrooms is a must-read. Reading this story will not leave you disappointed. I am confident that you will love it as much as I do!
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
December 7, 2015
A thoughtful and well crafted story focusing on the main character Derik who tries to go on despite terrible odds and a number of adversities. The setting of the story and the fantasy environment was very nicely envisioned and I liked the unexpected twists of the story that added up to the experience, definitely one of the best I’ve read lately and the dialogue was impressive as well. Overall, a must read for fantasy lovers, highly recommended.
August 18, 2025
One word = unique; Got at an estate sale
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