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Myth Adventures #10
Sweet Myth-Tery of Life
A Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Author When it reigns, it pours all over well-meaning magician Skeeve. Romance, that is. He's a drowning man, fending off a relentless array of suitors. Should he hop away with Bunny, his assistant? Drink all night with Cassandra, the vampire? Or give in and marry Queen Hemlock -- the one that will assure his future, and maybe keep him alive ...
223 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
45 people are currently reading
1163 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lynn Asprin
224 books1,069 followersRobert (Lynn) Asprin was born in 1946. While he wrote some stand alone novels such as The Cold Cash War, Tambu, and The Bug Wars and also the Duncan & Mallory Illustrated stories, Bob is best known for his series fantasy, such as the Myth Adventures of Aahz and Skeeve, the Phule's Company novels, and the Time Scout novels written with Linda Evans. He also edited the groundbreaking Thieves' World anthology series with Lynn Abbey. Other collaborations include License Invoked (set in the French Quarter of New Orleans) and several Myth Adventures novels, all written with Jody Lynn Nye.
Bob's final solo work was a contemporary fantasy series called Dragons, again set in New Orleans.
Bob passed away suddenly on May 22, 2008. He is survived by his daughter and son, his mother and his sister.
Bob's final solo work was a contemporary fantasy series called Dragons, again set in New Orleans.
Bob passed away suddenly on May 22, 2008. He is survived by his daughter and son, his mother and his sister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
May 4, 2019
I read one or two of the previous books in the Skeeves series and enjoyed them quite a bit.
This volume, though, was a huge disappointment for me.
Either the books are losing quality in the course of the series or my taste has changed significantly.
This book is basically the story of a magic business consultant who is hired to solve the economical problems of a kingdom in financial crisis. A passionate accountant might find this thrilling. I, unfortuately, didn't. I neither found the book funny, even though it obviously is meant to be humorous.
Therefore I only can give 1 star, because I really did not like this one.
This volume, though, was a huge disappointment for me.
Either the books are losing quality in the course of the series or my taste has changed significantly.
This book is basically the story of a magic business consultant who is hired to solve the economical problems of a kingdom in financial crisis. A passionate accountant might find this thrilling. I, unfortuately, didn't. I neither found the book funny, even though it obviously is meant to be humorous.
Therefore I only can give 1 star, because I really did not like this one.
January 8, 2021
Mawwwaaggeeee... sweet mawwwaaggeee.
This was a very sweet and charming little turnaround for the Great Skeeve, the magician with it all: good friends, immense wealth, stunning powers, and absolutely no clue about women.
The light humor here hit a number of good spots for me. Nothing too serious, a bit of light advice on making life work without so much hassle, and an immense bag of confusion.
And of course, the greatest conflict of all looming on the horizon.... mawwwaaggeeee.
Quite chuckle-worthy.
This was a very sweet and charming little turnaround for the Great Skeeve, the magician with it all: good friends, immense wealth, stunning powers, and absolutely no clue about women.
The light humor here hit a number of good spots for me. Nothing too serious, a bit of light advice on making life work without so much hassle, and an immense bag of confusion.
And of course, the greatest conflict of all looming on the horizon.... mawwwaaggeeee.
Quite chuckle-worthy.
March 24, 2022
Clearly Robert Lynn Asprin was going through some things when he wrote this book. There is no plot to this one whatsoever. Pretty much nothing actually happens. The one high point was a blind date in Limbo but nothing ever came of it. I thought it would springboard us into some sort of conflict but nope.
The whole "story" is Skeeve talking to various characters about whether or not he should marry Queen Hemlock (the obvious answer being clear to the reader and everyone but Skeeve).
The humor that I loved at the beginning of the series is gone. Because this book ended on such a cliffhanger, in other words, something actually happened, I will be reading the next one. I really hope we get back to what I came for, hijinks and humor in various dimensions.
The whole "story" is Skeeve talking to various characters about whether or not he should marry Queen Hemlock (the obvious answer being clear to the reader and everyone but Skeeve).
The humor that I loved at the beginning of the series is gone. Because this book ended on such a cliffhanger, in other words, something actually happened, I will be reading the next one. I really hope we get back to what I came for, hijinks and humor in various dimensions.
April 13, 2017
I love the Myth Adventures series. I read it when I was younger and recently re-discovered the series and have been working my way through it. Enjoying it as much (or even more) than I originally did.
Except for this festering turd of a book. It falls not with a dull thud, but with a wet noxious splat. One almost expects it to come with lifelike aroma that sticks to your hands.
There really isn't any story to the book at all. Nor any humor. Instead we're treated to polemics on relationships, economics and drinking. All I could think of while reading this was "I wonder if the author just got a divorce".
Do yourself a favor, skip this one.
Except for this festering turd of a book. It falls not with a dull thud, but with a wet noxious splat. One almost expects it to come with lifelike aroma that sticks to your hands.
There really isn't any story to the book at all. Nor any humor. Instead we're treated to polemics on relationships, economics and drinking. All I could think of while reading this was "I wonder if the author just got a divorce".
Do yourself a favor, skip this one.
July 22, 2013
A miserable slog, filled with rambling lectures on such space fillers as accounting, modeling, and alcohol abuse, and with an ending so obvious it could've been predicted from the end of the previous book. No wonder this was the last of the series I ever read (and that the author took a seven year break between this and the next in the series). I've got the next book on order, so we'll see if that break was worth it.
December 16, 2022
As so many have already commented here this one definitely reads as a book by a middle-aged man working through some issues, or at the least like one writing scads of perspective and advice to his younger self/the generally young readership of his heretofore light and comedic novels.
Perhaps it's the sentimentalist in me knowing that Asprin passed away before his time but I feel the book generally worked. Generally, that is, apart from extended scenes of a rather-randy Skeeve ogling and inner-monologuing over the feminine charms of a number of characters, including some that seemingly got tossed into the mix of the book primarily for this purpose. Any more of this and I'll have to call him the Great Skeeze.
Perhaps it's the sentimentalist in me knowing that Asprin passed away before his time but I feel the book generally worked. Generally, that is, apart from extended scenes of a rather-randy Skeeve ogling and inner-monologuing over the feminine charms of a number of characters, including some that seemingly got tossed into the mix of the book primarily for this purpose. Any more of this and I'll have to call him the Great Skeeze.
September 6, 2016
Re-read in December 2013. Sweet Myth-Tery of Life is still funny (implied: recommended). Though several regular characters make an appearance, this is the second novel concentrating on Skeeve (after Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections).
It finally (?) addresses his romantic shortcomings ... but not in the most convincing way. The alcohol issue comes as a surprise and it can be argued that it adds another level, but I think it's odd and does not befit the series. Further oddities are Asprin's comments/explanations/ramblings about the virtues of capitalism, about marital arguing, the difficult world of modelling etc.
Still, fans of the series will enjoy it. On to the next one.
It finally (?) addresses his romantic shortcomings ... but not in the most convincing way. The alcohol issue comes as a surprise and it can be argued that it adds another level, but I think it's odd and does not befit the series. Further oddities are Asprin's comments/explanations/ramblings about the virtues of capitalism, about marital arguing, the difficult world of modelling etc.
Still, fans of the series will enjoy it. On to the next one.
September 7, 2013
I absolutely love the Myth Series! It's funny and witty and a great read. :)
November 28, 2016
The One About the Women
So, Skeeve can sometimes be full of himself. Being the narrator, and being the heart that holds M.Y.T.H. Inc. together, can do that to a person. He can also be a bit clueless, which is part of his charm, but all those aspects of his character come together in this book, where he finds himself trying to solve the mystery of women. Seeing as he's inept with them up to and including this book, it makes for an interesting plot, except that the book doesn't really have one.
Its premise is that he has to decide whether to marry Queen Hemlock, who has given him the choice of marrying her to help rule the kingdom, or not marry her, at which point she will abdicate the throne and leave him to rule the kingdom anyway. Over the course of the book, he has to think about Hemlock, Tananda, Luanne, Bunny, and Massha, along with Kalvin, the djinn from Myth-nomers and Im-pervections, and his wife and what they mean to him. It's a bit troublesome for me, as Asprin takes these characters who are all fulfilled and reduces them to objects for Skeeve to consider.
Hemlock and Luanne aren't developed enough to be more than just objects, and Tananda, Bunny, and Massha keep the characteristics that make them more than objects, but they're still evaluated that way over the course of the story. Skeeve even admits that he doesn't even think of Massha as a woman, due to her size. He reduces these women to their attractiveness. This isn't a new thing in the series (Tananda is often described physically before anything else, as if that is her most important attribute), but it became more noticeable in this book, where everything is about these women and their attractiveness.
Aside from all that, the book isn't as engaging because nothing really happens. Skeeve has to decide what to do about Queen Hemlock, and he does (with about as much of an anticlimax as there was in M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link), but otherwise it's just about Skeeve moping and mooning about his decision. In addition, this book is peppered with typos (including a bunch of "it's" for "its"), which get distracting after a while. Then there's that cliffhanger ending that leads into the final book in the series, which wasn't published until six years after this one. Remember, I was reading these as they were released back in high school.
I can't deny that I had fun reading the book, since it maintained the same style and feel as the previous books, but I also can't deny that I saw a lot of problems with it. I didn't notice them when I was younger, as I didn't notice Piers Anthony's problems with women in all of his books, so maybe that was still the nostalgia talking. Now, though, it's hard to evaluate the book as a story when I find myself cringing at how Asprin portrays the female characters.
So, Skeeve can sometimes be full of himself. Being the narrator, and being the heart that holds M.Y.T.H. Inc. together, can do that to a person. He can also be a bit clueless, which is part of his charm, but all those aspects of his character come together in this book, where he finds himself trying to solve the mystery of women. Seeing as he's inept with them up to and including this book, it makes for an interesting plot, except that the book doesn't really have one.
Its premise is that he has to decide whether to marry Queen Hemlock, who has given him the choice of marrying her to help rule the kingdom, or not marry her, at which point she will abdicate the throne and leave him to rule the kingdom anyway. Over the course of the book, he has to think about Hemlock, Tananda, Luanne, Bunny, and Massha, along with Kalvin, the djinn from Myth-nomers and Im-pervections, and his wife and what they mean to him. It's a bit troublesome for me, as Asprin takes these characters who are all fulfilled and reduces them to objects for Skeeve to consider.
Hemlock and Luanne aren't developed enough to be more than just objects, and Tananda, Bunny, and Massha keep the characteristics that make them more than objects, but they're still evaluated that way over the course of the story. Skeeve even admits that he doesn't even think of Massha as a woman, due to her size. He reduces these women to their attractiveness. This isn't a new thing in the series (Tananda is often described physically before anything else, as if that is her most important attribute), but it became more noticeable in this book, where everything is about these women and their attractiveness.
Aside from all that, the book isn't as engaging because nothing really happens. Skeeve has to decide what to do about Queen Hemlock, and he does (with about as much of an anticlimax as there was in M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link), but otherwise it's just about Skeeve moping and mooning about his decision. In addition, this book is peppered with typos (including a bunch of "it's" for "its"), which get distracting after a while. Then there's that cliffhanger ending that leads into the final book in the series, which wasn't published until six years after this one. Remember, I was reading these as they were released back in high school.
I can't deny that I had fun reading the book, since it maintained the same style and feel as the previous books, but I also can't deny that I saw a lot of problems with it. I didn't notice them when I was younger, as I didn't notice Piers Anthony's problems with women in all of his books, so maybe that was still the nostalgia talking. Now, though, it's hard to evaluate the book as a story when I find myself cringing at how Asprin portrays the female characters.
December 31, 2012
While this was absolutely refreshing after the previous volume, it still wasn't a great read. It was made up of about 80% people explaining things to Skeeve interspersed with the occasional scene of activity. I grew very tired of listening to people talk through their philosophies of life rather than seeing something move the plot forward. It honestly felt like you could read the first 30 pages, then the last 30 pages, and catch 99% of what's necessary for any real plot or character development. The rest is talking and internal agonizing.
One more quick note: The frequent turning of Skeeve's naivete into a joke got tiresome. It was mildly amusing the first time, but not the third.
Just not Asprin's best work.
One more quick note: The frequent turning of Skeeve's naivete into a joke got tiresome. It was mildly amusing the first time, but not the third.
Just not Asprin's best work.
February 25, 2016
Oh I really liked this one. Seeing Skeeve struggle to make a decision and also hear all his friend's advice on what to do. Another thing I noticed while reading this was the various representations of women in this world.
I can just recommend this series over and over again to people who want to read some fun fantasy without having to embark on an epic journey.
I can just recommend this series over and over again to people who want to read some fun fantasy without having to embark on an epic journey.
August 18, 2023
After a five year gap, we’re back on Klah, where Queen Hemlock is trying to take over the dimension…and…why is that an issue? What’s the government like for the rest of the dimension, anyway? I mean, she’s the only royalty we’ve heard of. Why shouldn’t she be in charge of the whole thing? Like what’s the big deal? Anyway, for some reason Skeeve doesn’t want her to. So she tells him okay, she’ll stop if he marries her. He’s like “whaaat but I’m still a virgin for some reason even though I’m like in my mid twenties by this point,” and she’s like “well I’m super into this whole taking over thing so marry me or I’ll abdicate and stop trying to take over the dimension and just go live in a cave and not bother anybody,” and he’s pretending this is an actual problem. Oh also she’s given him an entire month to think about it despite the fact that there was apparently a huge time constraint to try to get her to stop in the last two books. But now we don’t care and we’re just mooning about the castle. Okay. Onto the story.
Skeeve runs into Aahz, who reiterates my point that this is a pretend problem.
Skeeve now has three bodyguards. He’s supposedly a talented magician, he’s on his home dimension, but he needs three bodyguards. Ooookay.
Bunny is here and still pathetically in love with Skeeve. She LITERALLY throws herself at him.
“Working out?” “You know, pumping iron?” “I never realized simple ironing could build up a woman’s arms that much. I made a mental note to start sending our laundry out.” I’m sorry, but what the actual fuck??? We’re on page 20. So first of all you don’t know what “working out” means which is stupid enough in itself given the bodybuilders you live with, but…who’s been doing the laundry there at Chez Skeeve? Do Tananda and Massha and Bunny do all the domestic shit?
Queen Hemlock busts in and tells Skeeve she wants an heir but that he’s free to fuck around with Bunny besides that. Bunny asks him his opinion so Asprin can make a joke about Skeeve not knowing what “heir” means and thinking it’s a “haircut.” Which *might* work if the words sounded the same when you said them out loud.
Boring kingdom finances and “jokes” about accountants.
Skeeve is bored. Then he gets mad when he finds out he’s being paid to sit around and brood. Yeah me too Skeeve. Then he drinks some wine. Bc apparently wine and beer are the only available forms of liquor in any dimension.
Then he sits and ponders the women in his life, and how they’re all assertive and have personalities and how scary that is to him. He thinks about Luanna, and how he likes her bc she “epitomizes femininity” to him bc of her “demure” manner and the way she looked up at him shyly.
I do not consider myself a feminist or anything but holy SHIT is that misogynistic. Massha and Tananda are “aggressive” and “brassy” and Bunny is so efficient and good at her job that she’s “intimidating.” Maybe get your own shit together?? Sorry the women in your life have shit going on aside from worshipping you.
Anyway, he does at least admit he doesn’t really know Luanna that well and had only liked her bc she’s pretty and gazed at him adoringly. So when she shows up in his room, she fucking apologizes to HIM for the way she reacted last time they met. You know, when she showed up with suitcases ready to be with him and he had Markie with him and rather than chasing after her to explain himself, just let her go off thinking he had a girlfriend and a kid. But yeah sure she’s the one who should apologize. So she asks him for money and he gives it to her on the condition she never see or speak to him again. This poor little girl. So she takes the money and leaves and he has some more wine. Doesn’t he ever eat??
Vic comes in and “in case you’re wondering or have neglected to read the other books in this series” okay what? That should’ve been a footnote bc this shit takes us out of the story. So Skeeve is writing these books? For who? How? When? That makes no sense. Anyway apparently if you’re born on Limbo you can travel through dimensions without mechanical aid. Which is neat and all but also contradicts Myth-ing Persons, where the whole plot involved Vic sneaking Luanna and her partner through the back door of Skeeve’s house bc it went to Limbo. I mean if Vic can pop to any dimension he wants any time he could’ve just taken them somewhere else? But you know. “Plot.”
Anyway Vic offers to get Skeeve some strange and after a slightly amusing exchange where Skeeve doesn’t understand what a “blind” date is, we meet Cassandra. (In case you missed that reference, the character Elvira’s (“Mistress of the Dark”) real name is Cassandra Peterson. You’re welcome.) Skeeve is wearing that good old standby of a “dark maroon shirt and charcoal gray slacks and vest,” and outfit which he’s certainly gotten his moneys worth out of since this is at least the fourth time it’s mentioned. (Still liked the green and yellow striped pants with the purple paisley shirt.) So they go to this nightclub on Limbo…I’m surprised Skeeve knows what a nightclub is…and he gets his ass kissed by were-things once Cassandra tells everyone who he is. They get drunk and fuck but he blacks out and doesn’t remember it til the next morning when Bunny sees a note Cassandra wrote on his wall in lipstick (first of all that’s a waste of lipstick; second of all who’s gonna clean that up??).
Then there’s some more long conversations and then Skeeve goes to see Bunny, who’s in the middle of working out. Which she explained to him means pumping iron. So naturally when he goes to see her and hears her moving iron plates and she tells him she’s been working out, he thinks she’s “working out her problems.” How stupid is he??? Like I get that it’s supposed to be for comedic effect but at least come up with new things for him to not know. Anyway she throws herself at him again…literally…but he just sees her as a friend…or he’s an idiot; I can’t tell.
Blah blah blah marriage is hard blah blah.
Skeeve redeems himself slightly by calling out Grimble for insinuating stuff about Bunny. Then he feels bad for getting paid for doing nothing for an entire book. Then he sucks it up and goes to tell Queen Hemlock he won’t marry her but please don’t abdicate. She’s like “oh yeah no I wasn’t serious about that and therefore the last two books were totally pointless.” Ugh.
Then Skeeve sees someone shot Gleep with an arrow so we’re set up for the next Guido narrated book about what was going on during this one.
Ugh. Did I say that already? Literally absolutely nothing happens in this one. The only interesting part was making these notes as I was reading. It’s obvious Asprin wrote this (five years after the last one) while or after his divorce (and it’s also clear why he got divorced, if Skeeve’s misogyny is any indication.)
I definitely need a book break before I continue this series.
Skeeve runs into Aahz, who reiterates my point that this is a pretend problem.
Skeeve now has three bodyguards. He’s supposedly a talented magician, he’s on his home dimension, but he needs three bodyguards. Ooookay.
Bunny is here and still pathetically in love with Skeeve. She LITERALLY throws herself at him.
“Working out?” “You know, pumping iron?” “I never realized simple ironing could build up a woman’s arms that much. I made a mental note to start sending our laundry out.” I’m sorry, but what the actual fuck??? We’re on page 20. So first of all you don’t know what “working out” means which is stupid enough in itself given the bodybuilders you live with, but…who’s been doing the laundry there at Chez Skeeve? Do Tananda and Massha and Bunny do all the domestic shit?
Queen Hemlock busts in and tells Skeeve she wants an heir but that he’s free to fuck around with Bunny besides that. Bunny asks him his opinion so Asprin can make a joke about Skeeve not knowing what “heir” means and thinking it’s a “haircut.” Which *might* work if the words sounded the same when you said them out loud.
Boring kingdom finances and “jokes” about accountants.
Skeeve is bored. Then he gets mad when he finds out he’s being paid to sit around and brood. Yeah me too Skeeve. Then he drinks some wine. Bc apparently wine and beer are the only available forms of liquor in any dimension.
Then he sits and ponders the women in his life, and how they’re all assertive and have personalities and how scary that is to him. He thinks about Luanna, and how he likes her bc she “epitomizes femininity” to him bc of her “demure” manner and the way she looked up at him shyly.
I do not consider myself a feminist or anything but holy SHIT is that misogynistic. Massha and Tananda are “aggressive” and “brassy” and Bunny is so efficient and good at her job that she’s “intimidating.” Maybe get your own shit together?? Sorry the women in your life have shit going on aside from worshipping you.
Anyway, he does at least admit he doesn’t really know Luanna that well and had only liked her bc she’s pretty and gazed at him adoringly. So when she shows up in his room, she fucking apologizes to HIM for the way she reacted last time they met. You know, when she showed up with suitcases ready to be with him and he had Markie with him and rather than chasing after her to explain himself, just let her go off thinking he had a girlfriend and a kid. But yeah sure she’s the one who should apologize. So she asks him for money and he gives it to her on the condition she never see or speak to him again. This poor little girl. So she takes the money and leaves and he has some more wine. Doesn’t he ever eat??
Vic comes in and “in case you’re wondering or have neglected to read the other books in this series” okay what? That should’ve been a footnote bc this shit takes us out of the story. So Skeeve is writing these books? For who? How? When? That makes no sense. Anyway apparently if you’re born on Limbo you can travel through dimensions without mechanical aid. Which is neat and all but also contradicts Myth-ing Persons, where the whole plot involved Vic sneaking Luanna and her partner through the back door of Skeeve’s house bc it went to Limbo. I mean if Vic can pop to any dimension he wants any time he could’ve just taken them somewhere else? But you know. “Plot.”
Anyway Vic offers to get Skeeve some strange and after a slightly amusing exchange where Skeeve doesn’t understand what a “blind” date is, we meet Cassandra. (In case you missed that reference, the character Elvira’s (“Mistress of the Dark”) real name is Cassandra Peterson. You’re welcome.) Skeeve is wearing that good old standby of a “dark maroon shirt and charcoal gray slacks and vest,” and outfit which he’s certainly gotten his moneys worth out of since this is at least the fourth time it’s mentioned. (Still liked the green and yellow striped pants with the purple paisley shirt.) So they go to this nightclub on Limbo…I’m surprised Skeeve knows what a nightclub is…and he gets his ass kissed by were-things once Cassandra tells everyone who he is. They get drunk and fuck but he blacks out and doesn’t remember it til the next morning when Bunny sees a note Cassandra wrote on his wall in lipstick (first of all that’s a waste of lipstick; second of all who’s gonna clean that up??).
Then there’s some more long conversations and then Skeeve goes to see Bunny, who’s in the middle of working out. Which she explained to him means pumping iron. So naturally when he goes to see her and hears her moving iron plates and she tells him she’s been working out, he thinks she’s “working out her problems.” How stupid is he??? Like I get that it’s supposed to be for comedic effect but at least come up with new things for him to not know. Anyway she throws herself at him again…literally…but he just sees her as a friend…or he’s an idiot; I can’t tell.
Blah blah blah marriage is hard blah blah.
Skeeve redeems himself slightly by calling out Grimble for insinuating stuff about Bunny. Then he feels bad for getting paid for doing nothing for an entire book. Then he sucks it up and goes to tell Queen Hemlock he won’t marry her but please don’t abdicate. She’s like “oh yeah no I wasn’t serious about that and therefore the last two books were totally pointless.” Ugh.
Then Skeeve sees someone shot Gleep with an arrow so we’re set up for the next Guido narrated book about what was going on during this one.
Ugh. Did I say that already? Literally absolutely nothing happens in this one. The only interesting part was making these notes as I was reading. It’s obvious Asprin wrote this (five years after the last one) while or after his divorce (and it’s also clear why he got divorced, if Skeeve’s misogyny is any indication.)
I definitely need a book break before I continue this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
I've only read a few of the books and I normally like the humor and hijinks but this one didn't really seem to go anywhere there wasn't much magic or adventure to it, still a fast light read
December 28, 2024
While I originally did not love this book, the ending emphasizes the point so well that I wanted to give the book another star.
August 3, 2022
MYTH INC and Me
A million years back, my older brother picked up a fantasy comedy novel, one that he heard was pretty good, and in typical fashion right after he finished it, I picked it up, and then our younger brother. Our parents loved when we did this, and then discussed and debated the books endlessly. This kept on with this one series until years later, when the writer kinda went into more depressing territory and the books became less fun, more of a chore.
So I stopped reading them, while my brothers kept going, and I had no clue how many books were coming out. But a year or so back I grabbed most of the rest of the series from them and plunged back in.
Now this was an experience.
So what I am babbling about is The Myth Inc Series by the late author Robert Asprin, a fantasy comedy which starts off a medieval place called Klahd, which is pronounced Clod, and a young man named Skeeve who is being trained as a magician. His master pulls a trick, and is then promptly assassinated, and suddenly Skeeve is left to deal with a green scaly demon man his master conjured up. Turns out, he is an old friend of the wizard, and has been left powerless by the trick. Aahz, which is pronounced Oz and is no relation, agrees to team up as Master and Apprentice with Skeeve.
Thus begins an interesting partnership, as Skeeve and Aahz get a pet dragon, fight a war for a kingdom, join the mob but do no moblike stuff, hop from dimension to dimension, meet vampires, play dragon poker, and meet a ton of new allies who fast become friends. We get the sexy Tanda the assassin, her brother Chumley the troll, Guido and Nunzio Skeeve’s mob bodyguards, and even more and more as the series progresses. And we get pun filled titles like Myth Conceptions and Little Myth Marker. By the time we reach M.Y.T.H. Inc Link, Asprin decides to switch the narrator from Skeeve to all sorts of the rest of the cast. It is a nice switch up for the series, but could not stop the mountains of subplots spinning everywhere and how stuff had become depressing in some places.
However one thread that was a bright spot all along was the occasional cartoon, showing scenes from the story, in the trade paperbacks by Phil Foglio, who also did the comics adaptation of the first book.
Where I exactly left off from decades ago was my first challenge, and a reread of M.Y.T.H. Inc In Action reveals I left this one two chapters short of finishing. The re-invasion of the kingdom has been settled, largely thanks to Guido and Nunzio joining the army and sabotaging it from the inside.
With a whole bunch of subplots resolved, we move into my first completely new read of the series this century, Sweet Myth-tery of Life, where Skeeve has brought Aahz back from his dimension of Perv after they had a big falling out. Now Skeeve has received a marriage proposal from Queen Hemlock and goes back to wondering about love. Oh, and he needs to fix the kingdoms finances. And more subplots get resolved. But it is also gets kinda repetitive.
Which leads to Something M.Y.T.H. Inc, where the multiple narrator shtick is back as the kingdom is in rebellion against the tyrant who raised taxes, that evil one time Court Magician Skeeve! The Myth gang set out to quell the insurrections, who are remarkedly like Zorro and Robin Hood, and not let Skeeve know what is going on. This one takes place at the same time as the last one. And this one starts off really really good, then falls apart. And all the subplots get figured out and Skeeve moves into a new place in life, so that the series can rebuild, which leads to….
Myth-Ion Improbable, a flashback tale to Skeeve and Aahz and Tanda going on a treasure hunt in a far off dimension. It is cute at best. And the big relaunch happens with….
Myth-Told Tales. Or not. Asprin gets an official co-writer here with Jody Lynn Nye, and the many narrators idea is back, but it is really just short stories. It is a mixed bag, like any collection, and still like treading water until whatever the new reality is. Methinks Asprin and Nye may not have hit it off right away, and this format was a compromise just to keep the Myth series going. Nye has a track record as a writer before this book, and I believe a real affection for these characters, so I kinda wish Asprin would just hand the series over to her, since he seems not so into it.
Myth Alliances is a Skeeve without Aahz book, where Skeeve and Bunny, his sexy and super smart assistant, have to free the dimension of Wuhses from a group of Perv business women who have become dictators. Or have they? This one starts very promising, then keeps going on and on, but still gives a pretty spectacular ending.
This leads to the Aahz centered book Myth-Taken Identity, where he finds out someone has stolen Skeeve’s id and is wrecking his good name in the mall dimension. No one does that to his former apprentice and good friend! This one is just like the last one, starts off well, meanders quite abit, then finishes strong.
It feels like Nye takes over more with Class Dis-Mythed, where Skeeve is asked by various people to teach a whole bunch of apprentices in magic. It is a learning curve for Skeeve, and one for the students, and we get a whole bunch of cameos from other characters from the series, some being very very surprising. Their is a secret the students are keeping through, which leads to the surprise ending chapters. I really dig the new characters and hope they make reappearances in future books.
So it seems like whatever Asprin and Nye got working, is really working, and Myth-Gotten Gains is proof of that. Aahz finds a magic talking sword in a bazaar and is promised money AND getting his powers back if he helps find his family of magical objects. Turns out they are The Golden Hoard, an ancient and all powerful group who don’t really get along. Aahz and Tanda travel all over, find the Flute and the Purse and the Book and the Crystal Ball. And Aahz and Tanda are completely driven crazy by the Hoard’s constant bickering and insults and attitude. I loved these new additions and their banter read in my head like a Monty Python skit.
This new groove moves us into Myth-Chief, where Skeeve comes back to adventuring and his Myth Inc aren’t all happy. So eventually Skeeve and Aahz have a contest with two competing but not so competing goals, to save a kingdom from financial ruin. Unfortunately, this one backslides to being too long, unfocused, and only one part of the ending making sense. Their is hope, since the new dynamic of Myth n Inc is finally in place here.
This is also the last one my brothers got, but Asprin and Nye gave us one more with Myth-Fortunes, and then suddenly Asprin passed away. Nye continued on with Myth-Quoted and Myth-Fits. I have no idea what happens in these volumes, or how these go generally with Nye fully in charge.
Even with the mixed results of this catchup, I am still glad I did it. It was nice to see how these old friends were doing, and seeing that they were in good hands with Nye. I think Asprin would be happy. And my brothers and I can debate this endlessly as well.
Scoopriches
A million years back, my older brother picked up a fantasy comedy novel, one that he heard was pretty good, and in typical fashion right after he finished it, I picked it up, and then our younger brother. Our parents loved when we did this, and then discussed and debated the books endlessly. This kept on with this one series until years later, when the writer kinda went into more depressing territory and the books became less fun, more of a chore.
So I stopped reading them, while my brothers kept going, and I had no clue how many books were coming out. But a year or so back I grabbed most of the rest of the series from them and plunged back in.
Now this was an experience.
So what I am babbling about is The Myth Inc Series by the late author Robert Asprin, a fantasy comedy which starts off a medieval place called Klahd, which is pronounced Clod, and a young man named Skeeve who is being trained as a magician. His master pulls a trick, and is then promptly assassinated, and suddenly Skeeve is left to deal with a green scaly demon man his master conjured up. Turns out, he is an old friend of the wizard, and has been left powerless by the trick. Aahz, which is pronounced Oz and is no relation, agrees to team up as Master and Apprentice with Skeeve.
Thus begins an interesting partnership, as Skeeve and Aahz get a pet dragon, fight a war for a kingdom, join the mob but do no moblike stuff, hop from dimension to dimension, meet vampires, play dragon poker, and meet a ton of new allies who fast become friends. We get the sexy Tanda the assassin, her brother Chumley the troll, Guido and Nunzio Skeeve’s mob bodyguards, and even more and more as the series progresses. And we get pun filled titles like Myth Conceptions and Little Myth Marker. By the time we reach M.Y.T.H. Inc Link, Asprin decides to switch the narrator from Skeeve to all sorts of the rest of the cast. It is a nice switch up for the series, but could not stop the mountains of subplots spinning everywhere and how stuff had become depressing in some places.
However one thread that was a bright spot all along was the occasional cartoon, showing scenes from the story, in the trade paperbacks by Phil Foglio, who also did the comics adaptation of the first book.
Where I exactly left off from decades ago was my first challenge, and a reread of M.Y.T.H. Inc In Action reveals I left this one two chapters short of finishing. The re-invasion of the kingdom has been settled, largely thanks to Guido and Nunzio joining the army and sabotaging it from the inside.
With a whole bunch of subplots resolved, we move into my first completely new read of the series this century, Sweet Myth-tery of Life, where Skeeve has brought Aahz back from his dimension of Perv after they had a big falling out. Now Skeeve has received a marriage proposal from Queen Hemlock and goes back to wondering about love. Oh, and he needs to fix the kingdoms finances. And more subplots get resolved. But it is also gets kinda repetitive.
Which leads to Something M.Y.T.H. Inc, where the multiple narrator shtick is back as the kingdom is in rebellion against the tyrant who raised taxes, that evil one time Court Magician Skeeve! The Myth gang set out to quell the insurrections, who are remarkedly like Zorro and Robin Hood, and not let Skeeve know what is going on. This one takes place at the same time as the last one. And this one starts off really really good, then falls apart. And all the subplots get figured out and Skeeve moves into a new place in life, so that the series can rebuild, which leads to….
Myth-Ion Improbable, a flashback tale to Skeeve and Aahz and Tanda going on a treasure hunt in a far off dimension. It is cute at best. And the big relaunch happens with….
Myth-Told Tales. Or not. Asprin gets an official co-writer here with Jody Lynn Nye, and the many narrators idea is back, but it is really just short stories. It is a mixed bag, like any collection, and still like treading water until whatever the new reality is. Methinks Asprin and Nye may not have hit it off right away, and this format was a compromise just to keep the Myth series going. Nye has a track record as a writer before this book, and I believe a real affection for these characters, so I kinda wish Asprin would just hand the series over to her, since he seems not so into it.
Myth Alliances is a Skeeve without Aahz book, where Skeeve and Bunny, his sexy and super smart assistant, have to free the dimension of Wuhses from a group of Perv business women who have become dictators. Or have they? This one starts very promising, then keeps going on and on, but still gives a pretty spectacular ending.
This leads to the Aahz centered book Myth-Taken Identity, where he finds out someone has stolen Skeeve’s id and is wrecking his good name in the mall dimension. No one does that to his former apprentice and good friend! This one is just like the last one, starts off well, meanders quite abit, then finishes strong.
It feels like Nye takes over more with Class Dis-Mythed, where Skeeve is asked by various people to teach a whole bunch of apprentices in magic. It is a learning curve for Skeeve, and one for the students, and we get a whole bunch of cameos from other characters from the series, some being very very surprising. Their is a secret the students are keeping through, which leads to the surprise ending chapters. I really dig the new characters and hope they make reappearances in future books.
So it seems like whatever Asprin and Nye got working, is really working, and Myth-Gotten Gains is proof of that. Aahz finds a magic talking sword in a bazaar and is promised money AND getting his powers back if he helps find his family of magical objects. Turns out they are The Golden Hoard, an ancient and all powerful group who don’t really get along. Aahz and Tanda travel all over, find the Flute and the Purse and the Book and the Crystal Ball. And Aahz and Tanda are completely driven crazy by the Hoard’s constant bickering and insults and attitude. I loved these new additions and their banter read in my head like a Monty Python skit.
This new groove moves us into Myth-Chief, where Skeeve comes back to adventuring and his Myth Inc aren’t all happy. So eventually Skeeve and Aahz have a contest with two competing but not so competing goals, to save a kingdom from financial ruin. Unfortunately, this one backslides to being too long, unfocused, and only one part of the ending making sense. Their is hope, since the new dynamic of Myth n Inc is finally in place here.
This is also the last one my brothers got, but Asprin and Nye gave us one more with Myth-Fortunes, and then suddenly Asprin passed away. Nye continued on with Myth-Quoted and Myth-Fits. I have no idea what happens in these volumes, or how these go generally with Nye fully in charge.
Even with the mixed results of this catchup, I am still glad I did it. It was nice to see how these old friends were doing, and seeing that they were in good hands with Nye. I think Asprin would be happy. And my brothers and I can debate this endlessly as well.
Scoopriches
April 28, 2013
The tenth Myth Adventures book. Following immediately after its predecessor, M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action, this book opens with Skeeve and the gang back in the kingdom of Possiltum, hanging fire while Skeeve frets over Queen Hemlock’s ridiculous “ultimatum” (marry her, or she will abdicate and give him the throne – which is (a) not Skeeve’s problem, (b) scarcely credible given what he knows about her power-hungry ways, and (c) an impotent threat even if carried out since he could just abdicate in turn, leaving her kingdom to some trusted ally).
While Skeeve whines, his friends give him various bits of advice about marriage, and the drinking problem he seems to have developed. And there’s the usual tangents about such decidedly non-fantasy-setting themes as bookkeeping and, most incongruously, why it’s not so great to be a professional model. (Asprin will pad these books with dialogues on anything.) While it’s still amusing, in a groan-inducing kind of way due to wordplay, it lacks even the pretense of a plot, and with no action-related material of any kind, this is a rather low point in this by now moribund series.
[Read three times: 8/4/94, 7/5/97, 1/25/12]
While Skeeve whines, his friends give him various bits of advice about marriage, and the drinking problem he seems to have developed. And there’s the usual tangents about such decidedly non-fantasy-setting themes as bookkeeping and, most incongruously, why it’s not so great to be a professional model. (Asprin will pad these books with dialogues on anything.) While it’s still amusing, in a groan-inducing kind of way due to wordplay, it lacks even the pretense of a plot, and with no action-related material of any kind, this is a rather low point in this by now moribund series.
[Read three times: 8/4/94, 7/5/97, 1/25/12]
June 2, 2015
And here we come to the last of the books I read in my youth. Since this has been an exercise in nostalgia for me, I don't think I'm going to go on to read the rest of the available books, at least not right now.
It's an interesting note to end on. I've said over and over that the series is basically terrible with women, reducing even the main characters to their physical appearances and at least once a book treating women like objects or prizes. This one is no different, except for the fact that it acknowledges what it's doing. Some of the women call the men out on what they're doing, in text, and yet the narrative still treats women like objects. Not to mention the relentless heterosexuality (not just in practice, because frankly most things still do that, but in statements like (I paraphrase here) 'all healthy boys like girls').
I've enjoyed rereading these, but I've also ended up a lot more judgmental about my younger self's taste in reading materials.
It's an interesting note to end on. I've said over and over that the series is basically terrible with women, reducing even the main characters to their physical appearances and at least once a book treating women like objects or prizes. This one is no different, except for the fact that it acknowledges what it's doing. Some of the women call the men out on what they're doing, in text, and yet the narrative still treats women like objects. Not to mention the relentless heterosexuality (not just in practice, because frankly most things still do that, but in statements like (I paraphrase here) 'all healthy boys like girls').
I've enjoyed rereading these, but I've also ended up a lot more judgmental about my younger self's taste in reading materials.
November 9, 2008
The focus returns to Skeeve. There's a whole lot of Skeeve to go around in this one. He's suddenly found himself surrounded by admiring females (of all races), and is in a bind to figure out to do with all this adoration.
This one's fun, even if it did cause me to cringe in a few places. Skeeve seemed to move from an adorable bumbling Klahd to a naive, misinformed, suddenly alcoholic dink.
The other disappointing thing for me was the ending. A cliffhanger like that, and it took years and YEARS for Asprin to publish another Myth book, and then when he does, it takes place before this one?
All the while I'm screaming on the inside, What happened to Gleep?
This one's fun, even if it did cause me to cringe in a few places. Skeeve seemed to move from an adorable bumbling Klahd to a naive, misinformed, suddenly alcoholic dink.
The other disappointing thing for me was the ending. A cliffhanger like that, and it took years and YEARS for Asprin to publish another Myth book, and then when he does, it takes place before this one?
All the while I'm screaming on the inside, What happened to Gleep?
November 22, 2011
This book in the series was a bit slow with little action. It was full of the main character's internal introspection but little was actually accomplished or figured out. From what I understand, all the action going on with the other characters is in the next book, so we'll see how that one goes.
Update: I forgot to say how peppered this book was with typos. It was very annoying. I hate reading typos or other grammatical errors (even though I know I make plenty of them myself) but a book should be as free of errors as possible and this one wasn't even close.
Update: I forgot to say how peppered this book was with typos. It was very annoying. I hate reading typos or other grammatical errors (even though I know I make plenty of them myself) but a book should be as free of errors as possible and this one wasn't even close.
October 19, 2007
The problem with this book is that not only did the series begin to noticeably run out of steam, this particular volume ends on a massive cliffhanger, to be resolved in the next volume. Said next volume was, to my knowledge, never written.
December 24, 2008
Skeeve does seem to treat women as things, and this is what contributed to my discontinuing the reading of the books. The book seems to be trying to reach a conclusion that it never gets to. There seems to be no point or plot, perhaps that really is life but it doesn’t work in this book.
February 24, 2020
It's good to see were getting back to the old Skeeve we know and love.
July 22, 2025
One of the most preposterous storyline hooks in fantasy history is featured in this book. Main character Skeeve is presented with two choices by the Queen of the Kingdom of Possiltum; either marry her and rule the kingdom side-by-side or she will disappear leaving him to run the kingdom himself. After building up the queen as a cold-hearted leader who would do anything to get and keep power, suddenly Skeeve thinks that he may need to marry her so he will not have to rule by himself. Except he is not in charge and can dimension hop at will and would in no way need to be the king.
The rest of the book is simply Skeeve wondering around asking the supporting characters what they think he should do while feeling pity on himself. There is also a thrown in (and very sudden) drinking problem with Skeeve that appears after his blind date with a vampire and is not resolved other that Skeeve drinking water for a chapter or two before just drinking wine again. That vampire blind date is a storyline that goes no where and is dropped never to be referenced again, even after reconning the vampire planet to be welcoming to him after a previous book had him boarding up the doorway to the world to prevent anyone from the planet from coming through to their world.
The book is a mess of aborted ideas and storylines that somehow ends in a sudden cliffhanger with Skeeves dragon laying on the ground with an arrow in its leg. I bought this book when it was released and had a nine year wait for the conclusion while Robert Asprin tried to rediscover his love of the characters. Thankfully you will not have to wait that long to continue the story.
The rest of the book is simply Skeeve wondering around asking the supporting characters what they think he should do while feeling pity on himself. There is also a thrown in (and very sudden) drinking problem with Skeeve that appears after his blind date with a vampire and is not resolved other that Skeeve drinking water for a chapter or two before just drinking wine again. That vampire blind date is a storyline that goes no where and is dropped never to be referenced again, even after reconning the vampire planet to be welcoming to him after a previous book had him boarding up the doorway to the world to prevent anyone from the planet from coming through to their world.
The book is a mess of aborted ideas and storylines that somehow ends in a sudden cliffhanger with Skeeves dragon laying on the ground with an arrow in its leg. I bought this book when it was released and had a nine year wait for the conclusion while Robert Asprin tried to rediscover his love of the characters. Thankfully you will not have to wait that long to continue the story.
March 27, 2023
1.5 stars and rounding up
The Myth Adventure books have been declining in quality the past two books but they were still fun fluff.
This one however was really, and I do mean REALLY bad.
Skeeve now has all the intelligence and social awareness of a damp tissue. Everyone is falling over themselves for his sake because of his amazing MC-ness. Special attention needs to be given to every single woman's front and rear ends... and only that, if it's a she then that's the one description you get.
Worse part? There is no adventure in this book. Skeeve contemplates marriage and women in general so the whole book is him looking at the issue from the outside while someone else mansplains it to him. Again, and again, and again, and again. This is the whole book!
The humor is Skeeve who was witty and sharp previously is now taking everything literally with the mental maturity of a 5 year old "oh she said she's pumping iron? Hm, I didn't know ironing could make a woman's arm so muscular."
All the clever solution and con artist schemes that saved the characters in the other books are absent here.
The writing style also changed to what can only be termed "stalling for time". If any little thing happens then the author uses it as an excuse to vomit some stereotypes and dress it up as "wisdom and how things are" so as to get a few paragraphs added to the word count.
Over all this one was boring, a little frustrating and almost as if it was written by another person altogether stalling until the actual writer arrived to the meeting or something.
The Myth Adventure books have been declining in quality the past two books but they were still fun fluff.
This one however was really, and I do mean REALLY bad.
Skeeve now has all the intelligence and social awareness of a damp tissue. Everyone is falling over themselves for his sake because of his amazing MC-ness. Special attention needs to be given to every single woman's front and rear ends... and only that, if it's a she then that's the one description you get.
Worse part? There is no adventure in this book. Skeeve contemplates marriage and women in general so the whole book is him looking at the issue from the outside while someone else mansplains it to him. Again, and again, and again, and again. This is the whole book!
The humor is Skeeve who was witty and sharp previously is now taking everything literally with the mental maturity of a 5 year old "oh she said she's pumping iron? Hm, I didn't know ironing could make a woman's arm so muscular."
All the clever solution and con artist schemes that saved the characters in the other books are absent here.
The writing style also changed to what can only be termed "stalling for time". If any little thing happens then the author uses it as an excuse to vomit some stereotypes and dress it up as "wisdom and how things are" so as to get a few paragraphs added to the word count.
Over all this one was boring, a little frustrating and almost as if it was written by another person altogether stalling until the actual writer arrived to the meeting or something.
June 19, 2023
So, another day, another Myth book. 10th in the series. almost halfway done with the series.
As for this one, if you're looking for a myth book where actual STUFF happens, you can actually skip over this one. This one is very introspective on Skeeve's character and really just talks about his lack of romantic experience as well as him diving deep into his desires and thoughts.
Is this a BAD thing? No. Not really, but if you're coming into this expecting another wacky Myth adventure, you're going to be sorely disappointed. It's really just going in with certain expectations.
In this one, he has a request from the Queen for marriage and he spends the entire book hemming and hawing over it, talking to his different friends on whether he should marry her or not. If that sounds interesting to you, then go for it and read this book. If not, then well...you can absolutely skip this one and I wouldn't judge you for it.
I didn't mind it that much since i've grown to learn all about these characters over nine books and want to learn more about them, but i can ABSOLUTELY see why someone would not care about this and desire to skip this.
The book still reads fine as per usual and i got through it in three days. The language is still very fun and easy to read, and doesn't ever confuse or feel like a chore, so that's good. Still though, the story in ITSELF CAN be a little dry.
All in all, not the best book in this series, but definitely not the worst. Just know what you're in for. even 3 out of 5.
As for this one, if you're looking for a myth book where actual STUFF happens, you can actually skip over this one. This one is very introspective on Skeeve's character and really just talks about his lack of romantic experience as well as him diving deep into his desires and thoughts.
Is this a BAD thing? No. Not really, but if you're coming into this expecting another wacky Myth adventure, you're going to be sorely disappointed. It's really just going in with certain expectations.
In this one, he has a request from the Queen for marriage and he spends the entire book hemming and hawing over it, talking to his different friends on whether he should marry her or not. If that sounds interesting to you, then go for it and read this book. If not, then well...you can absolutely skip this one and I wouldn't judge you for it.
I didn't mind it that much since i've grown to learn all about these characters over nine books and want to learn more about them, but i can ABSOLUTELY see why someone would not care about this and desire to skip this.
The book still reads fine as per usual and i got through it in three days. The language is still very fun and easy to read, and doesn't ever confuse or feel like a chore, so that's good. Still though, the story in ITSELF CAN be a little dry.
All in all, not the best book in this series, but definitely not the worst. Just know what you're in for. even 3 out of 5.
November 14, 2021
I was concerned when the frequency of the Myth book releases started to wane, and four years had passed since M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action was published (and the next would not be released for another seven!). Part of what I like about this series is how down-to-earth Skeeve is as a naive protagonist, who suffers from a bit of imposter syndrome, but this time around it's about women and a possible marriage of convenience. Ultimately, I felt this book delivered and I felt a bit relieved that this series hasn't lost its touch, so I'll likely continue the series.
Though I was getting a minorly bit annoyed of the parade of women that the plot seemingly afforded, it turned around a bit when Chumley started talking a bit unorthodoxly about marriage and why people shouldn't go into it lightly, or even stay together in a bad marriage, which is a bit of a sore spot for me having been once divorced. Asprin's words made me stop and think, and no, love doesn't conquer all, but a good partnership with similar goals will mean a better marriage. Regardless, as he does in all the books, Skeeve matures, and I'll be curious to see what happens in the next one.
Though I was getting a minorly bit annoyed of the parade of women that the plot seemingly afforded, it turned around a bit when Chumley started talking a bit unorthodoxly about marriage and why people shouldn't go into it lightly, or even stay together in a bad marriage, which is a bit of a sore spot for me having been once divorced. Asprin's words made me stop and think, and no, love doesn't conquer all, but a good partnership with similar goals will mean a better marriage. Regardless, as he does in all the books, Skeeve matures, and I'll be curious to see what happens in the next one.
November 2, 2017
After reading a suggestion from my dad to start reading Myth Adventures, by Robert Asprin, and quickly reading #1-9, although it’s not required, I then asked my dad to order #10, titled The Sweet Myth-tery of Life… and it was, odd, to say the least.
The book is about “The Great” Skeeve, pro wizard and co-founder of M.Y.T.H. INC, finding love. Queen Hemlock of Positum sends him a notification that if Skeeve doesn’t marry her, she will make him the prince. There’s also true loves who left, and come back, showing their real selves, Blind dates with vampires,( “So, wait, is she blind, or will I become blind?”) and fights between staff and clients.
I would, as I have before, recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, dragons, adventure, and now (satirical) romance. I don’t really like this book, as it feels like every chapter is just a way for another character to give Skeeve some advice, except for the last chapter, the newest character is a Dues Ex Machina, and all the characters are FLAT AS PAPER, except when their not, then their FLAT AS CARDBOARD! Still a good book with a nice twist at the end.
The book is about “The Great” Skeeve, pro wizard and co-founder of M.Y.T.H. INC, finding love. Queen Hemlock of Positum sends him a notification that if Skeeve doesn’t marry her, she will make him the prince. There’s also true loves who left, and come back, showing their real selves, Blind dates with vampires,( “So, wait, is she blind, or will I become blind?”) and fights between staff and clients.
I would, as I have before, recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, dragons, adventure, and now (satirical) romance. I don’t really like this book, as it feels like every chapter is just a way for another character to give Skeeve some advice, except for the last chapter, the newest character is a Dues Ex Machina, and all the characters are FLAT AS PAPER, except when their not, then their FLAT AS CARDBOARD! Still a good book with a nice twist at the end.
January 22, 2025
Honestly not sure why I am still reading the series. Stockholm Syndrome? Somewhere between a coming-of-age novel and a letter to my younger self private journal entry, this installment is pretty pointless with a generous side of gross and completely disappointing. No caper, the humor has officially gone flat, no plot to speak of, and Queen Hemlock was just having a bit of jolly fun before entirely letting Skeeve off the hook? I do not know what the point of this whole book was. I guess I am skipping Myth-ion Improbable and reading Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. instead so I can find out what happened to Gleep. Do not know if Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. will be enough to turn my opinion around but at the very least, I expect to take a break from the series after that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 2, 2023The Myth books are a light and entertaining fantasy series about a magician's apprentice who doesn't really know what he's doing, and his mentor, a demon who lost his magic powers due to a practical joke. I read them as a teen and just started to reread them.
The early books in the series are my favorites, funny and engaging stories that parody traditional fantasy novels, with adventures in multiple interesting worlds. The later books are disappointing, as the young protagonist becomes a bureaucrat and more and more elements of the real world get added in — mafia, graduate school, business development. All are a quick read — I reread this one in a few days.
The early books in the series are my favorites, funny and engaging stories that parody traditional fantasy novels, with adventures in multiple interesting worlds. The later books are disappointing, as the young protagonist becomes a bureaucrat and more and more elements of the real world get added in — mafia, graduate school, business development. All are a quick read — I reread this one in a few days.
September 27, 2025
So, to date, I have only read two "Myth Adventures" series books prior to this one (#5 and #6) and they were fun reads. Can't say the same for this one. It was a total slog. The story just meandered all over the place, like it was trying to find itself...hoping to arrive at some sort of coherence. Instead, it is an entire novel about Skeeve talking, talking, and more talking with various characters. No real action of any sort, no adventure...nothing but boring drama.
Sad to say, the only thing that made me sit up and take notice was the cliffhanger at the end of the book. Hopefully #11 is a step up from this one.
Sad to say, the only thing that made me sit up and take notice was the cliffhanger at the end of the book. Hopefully #11 is a step up from this one.
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