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The Hat #1
The Hat
Paranormal Fantasy
Lizzie St. Laurent is dealing with many of the struggles of young life. She lost her grandmother, and her living arrangements. Her new roommate abandoned her, and she's working multiple jobs just to keep her head above water.
She inherits an old hat from her grandmother’s estate, but it belonged to her grandfather. This is no ordinary hat, but a being from an alternate dimension. One with special powers.
Lizzie and the hat don't exactly hit it off right away, but when her best friend's newborn is kidnapped by a ring of baby traffickers, Lizzie turns to the hat for help. This leads her deep into her family history and a world she's never known.
Lizzie gives up everything to rescue the babies. She loses her jobs, and may wind up in jail before it's over. Along the way, she and the hat may have a new way of making ends meet.
Humorous and fun, The Hat is novella length. Wonderful escapism for an afternoon.
Lizzie St. Laurent is dealing with many of the struggles of young life. She lost her grandmother, and her living arrangements. Her new roommate abandoned her, and she's working multiple jobs just to keep her head above water.
She inherits an old hat from her grandmother’s estate, but it belonged to her grandfather. This is no ordinary hat, but a being from an alternate dimension. One with special powers.
Lizzie and the hat don't exactly hit it off right away, but when her best friend's newborn is kidnapped by a ring of baby traffickers, Lizzie turns to the hat for help. This leads her deep into her family history and a world she's never known.
Lizzie gives up everything to rescue the babies. She loses her jobs, and may wind up in jail before it's over. Along the way, she and the hat may have a new way of making ends meet.
Humorous and fun, The Hat is novella length. Wonderful escapism for an afternoon.
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First published January 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 24, 2018
I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.
The Hat by C.S. Boyack is such a great read. The main characters are a young girl, Lizzie St Laurent, a twenty-one-year-old college dropout whose grandmother has died and who has been left to fend for herself in a city far from home and the Hat. Lizzie is working a couple of jobs to pay the bills and keep a roof over her head. She also has a deal with the landlord whereby she keeps the garden tidy and trim in return for free utilities. Lizzie is struggling and when her uncle doesn’t want to give her a keepsake from her grandmother’s estate, she helps herself to one from the back of the removal van. Boy, does she make a good choice. She ends up acquiring a hat that can communicate with her, transform its shape, transfer her to a “safe house’ built by her grandfather and teach her how to play a musical instrument. What is even better is that the Hat is magically bound to Lizzie’s family and is there to assist her out of tight spots in life. When the baby of a friend of Lizzie’s is stolen, the Hat is right there by her side to help her rescue the babies form a band of ruthless kidnappers.
Along the way, Lizzie will have some fun experimenting with great fashion items and meeting some interesting musicians. The Hat is a fast-paced novella which will keep you turning the pages, giving you lots of laughs along the way.
I rated this book five stars out of five.
The Hat by C.S. Boyack is such a great read. The main characters are a young girl, Lizzie St Laurent, a twenty-one-year-old college dropout whose grandmother has died and who has been left to fend for herself in a city far from home and the Hat. Lizzie is working a couple of jobs to pay the bills and keep a roof over her head. She also has a deal with the landlord whereby she keeps the garden tidy and trim in return for free utilities. Lizzie is struggling and when her uncle doesn’t want to give her a keepsake from her grandmother’s estate, she helps herself to one from the back of the removal van. Boy, does she make a good choice. She ends up acquiring a hat that can communicate with her, transform its shape, transfer her to a “safe house’ built by her grandfather and teach her how to play a musical instrument. What is even better is that the Hat is magically bound to Lizzie’s family and is there to assist her out of tight spots in life. When the baby of a friend of Lizzie’s is stolen, the Hat is right there by her side to help her rescue the babies form a band of ruthless kidnappers.
Along the way, Lizzie will have some fun experimenting with great fashion items and meeting some interesting musicians. The Hat is a fast-paced novella which will keep you turning the pages, giving you lots of laughs along the way.
I rated this book five stars out of five.
June 17, 2018
The Hat is a quick and fun read that involves a young woman with a magic hat, missing babies, music, and an anachronistic artifact trying to figure out the Internet. There is a good amount of humor and tension-fueled action, so it’s a hard book to put down. Length wise it’s definitely more novella than novel, which means perfect for a reader with very little extra time.
The driving force for me with this story is the interaction between Lizzie and The Hat itself. It reminds me a lot of Venom when he was the Lethal Protector, but with fewer teeth and no promises of brain eating. There are battles for control between the two since they’re practically thrown together and need to figure things out. The fast pace of the story gives the characters little time to play the doubt and hesitation game that you see a lot in superhero stories, which makes sense for a short work. Although, there are moments when it feels like Lizzie accepts things a bit too easily, but it’s hard to tell since she has moments of giddiness about the whole thing. Can’t say I’d be any different if I had a magical hat that allowed me to do things like play music or fight crime. So, there’s definitely a realism to them.
I really enjoyed discovering The Hat’s powers because you don’t really see such a thing as that powerful. It’s introduced as fairly basic as protective, which you can see by its first few actions. This begins to branch out throughout the story when they reach situations that it can help with. At first, I thought it would be rather deus ex machina, but it all makes sense. Nothing goes that far off the established base with The Hat. It can talk to Lizzie in her head? Then, it makes sense that it can mess with the mind of anyone else that touches it. I won’t say how, but The Hat really is cunning. By the end, I felt like I had a clear understanding of the workings of this artifact.
The only issue I had with the story is that its shortness worked against it in a few places. If it was spread out a little more then the urgency of the action wouldn’t crash into the more laid back comedy. Both of these were really well done, but there wasn’t much of a transition between the two points. There’s a point that starts with an urgency to give chase, but Lizzie and The Hat stopped to go shopping. I mean, it was important stuff that they were getting, but I was scratching my head about the sudden stop to the tension. It was explained why they weren’t in such a rush after the fact and the scene really opened up Lizzie’s personality. Yet, I kind of felt like this was an unfortunate stumbling of pace, which it did recover from. The grand finale was amazingly well done and the final chapter hit a perfect action/comedy combination.
I would recommend this story, especially for anyone who loves superheroes and paranormal tales, but lack the time to read a full novel.
The driving force for me with this story is the interaction between Lizzie and The Hat itself. It reminds me a lot of Venom when he was the Lethal Protector, but with fewer teeth and no promises of brain eating. There are battles for control between the two since they’re practically thrown together and need to figure things out. The fast pace of the story gives the characters little time to play the doubt and hesitation game that you see a lot in superhero stories, which makes sense for a short work. Although, there are moments when it feels like Lizzie accepts things a bit too easily, but it’s hard to tell since she has moments of giddiness about the whole thing. Can’t say I’d be any different if I had a magical hat that allowed me to do things like play music or fight crime. So, there’s definitely a realism to them.
I really enjoyed discovering The Hat’s powers because you don’t really see such a thing as that powerful. It’s introduced as fairly basic as protective, which you can see by its first few actions. This begins to branch out throughout the story when they reach situations that it can help with. At first, I thought it would be rather deus ex machina, but it all makes sense. Nothing goes that far off the established base with The Hat. It can talk to Lizzie in her head? Then, it makes sense that it can mess with the mind of anyone else that touches it. I won’t say how, but The Hat really is cunning. By the end, I felt like I had a clear understanding of the workings of this artifact.
The only issue I had with the story is that its shortness worked against it in a few places. If it was spread out a little more then the urgency of the action wouldn’t crash into the more laid back comedy. Both of these were really well done, but there wasn’t much of a transition between the two points. There’s a point that starts with an urgency to give chase, but Lizzie and The Hat stopped to go shopping. I mean, it was important stuff that they were getting, but I was scratching my head about the sudden stop to the tension. It was explained why they weren’t in such a rush after the fact and the scene really opened up Lizzie’s personality. Yet, I kind of felt like this was an unfortunate stumbling of pace, which it did recover from. The grand finale was amazingly well done and the final chapter hit a perfect action/comedy combination.
I would recommend this story, especially for anyone who loves superheroes and paranormal tales, but lack the time to read a full novel.
January 13, 2018
This new book by C. S. Boyack is very creative in approach. His characters are highly engaging as the story unfolds. There are several twists along the way as Lizzie discovers her hat is more than it appears and she's then drawn into an adventure with her new companion. Boyack, holds your attention and keeps you turning pages with this entertaining story and intriguing characters. This book won't disappoint readers.
Note: I received an advanced release copy and was not required to review it.
Note: I received an advanced release copy and was not required to review it.
January 28, 2018
The Hat by C.S. Boyack is a new paranormal novella. Elizabeth “Lizzie” St. Laurent has had a rough time since her grandmother became ill and then passed away. She was living with her grandmother and the house was sold to pay for the assisted living facility. Lizzie moved into an apartment with a roommate who soon bailed. She is working two jobs to pay her living expenses. Her uncle, Steve is cleaning out her grandmother’s antique store and Lizzie goes by to get a memento. Her uncle declines her request. On the way to her car, Lizzie grabs a box from the moving truck. When Lizzie opens the box, she discovers a brown fedora and it looks like it has eyes with eyebrows. She puts it on her head and the hat starts talking to her. Lizzie is not sure what to make of the hat. Then Lizzie receives a call from Dave, the owner of Sandi’s diner where she works. Dave and Sandi’s newborn has been stolen from the hospital and the police do not have any leads. The hat states he can help her find the baby. Lizzie and the hat take off to find the baby. Along the way, Lizzie finds out the history of the hat and how it came to be in her family. Lizzie is in for a wild ride with the hat as they set out to recover Dave and Sandi’s child.
The Hat is an entertaining and creative story. The hat is a great character. He can change his form as needed (different types of hats, scrunchies, etc.) and has witty dialogue. He has been put away for the last twenty years and needs to catch up on current events, slang, fashions and so much more. The hat has some interesting characteristics and talents. He can play a three-quarter sized upright bass through Lizzie (you will have to read the book to find out how). I liked Lizzie who is a strong female, but I wish the author had fleshed out her character a little more. The story is well-written and fast paced with plenty of action. The duos antics will have you laughing throughout the story. I do wish, though, that the author had eliminated the foul language from the story. It was unnecessary and off-putting (for me). The Hat has a great ending. The author took Lizzie’s character in a new direction. I hope C.S. Boyack will write another story involving Lizzie and the hat (he really needs a name).
The Hat is an entertaining and creative story. The hat is a great character. He can change his form as needed (different types of hats, scrunchies, etc.) and has witty dialogue. He has been put away for the last twenty years and needs to catch up on current events, slang, fashions and so much more. The hat has some interesting characteristics and talents. He can play a three-quarter sized upright bass through Lizzie (you will have to read the book to find out how). I liked Lizzie who is a strong female, but I wish the author had fleshed out her character a little more. The story is well-written and fast paced with plenty of action. The duos antics will have you laughing throughout the story. I do wish, though, that the author had eliminated the foul language from the story. It was unnecessary and off-putting (for me). The Hat has a great ending. The author took Lizzie’s character in a new direction. I hope C.S. Boyack will write another story involving Lizzie and the hat (he really needs a name).
January 14, 2018
An entertaining tale that combines adventure with speculative elements. Mix in a dash of super hero mystique with a shady crime to solve, and you end up with this breezy read that will have you cheering on Lizzie and the hat (which is much more than it appears) as they take on a ring of baby nappers. Lizzie and her “partner” make a unique crime-fighting duo, vividly imagined by the author. I loved the little graphic embellishments that pop up here and there throughout the story to add emphasis. Loads of fun!
Note: I received an advanced release copy of this book and was not required to review it.
Note: I received an advanced release copy of this book and was not required to review it.
October 7, 2020
Such a Fun Read!
I loved this book and read it in one day. Couldn't put it down! The witty banter between Lizzie and The Hat is hilarious! This is so far out of my preferred genre, but great storytelling and characters with heart and soul drew me in, captivating me from the first page to the last. Highly recommend! Need a break from 2020? You've just found the antidote.
I loved this book and read it in one day. Couldn't put it down! The witty banter between Lizzie and The Hat is hilarious! This is so far out of my preferred genre, but great storytelling and characters with heart and soul drew me in, captivating me from the first page to the last. Highly recommend! Need a break from 2020? You've just found the antidote.
January 22, 2018
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Hat is a novella length (116p.) story by C.S. Boyack. It's quite hard to categorize, with elements of speculative fiction/fantasy, a little dash of noir, and some chick-lit thrown into the mix.
I'm truly not a book snob and I do make an effort to read and review smaller self published books. I'm so glad this one caught my attention. It's a joy for me to be able to give a good review for books which don't fit the mold and aren't mammoth-juggernaut-publishing-wonders™ with gazillion dollar budgets.
After a poke around his blog and having read this novella, I can say with certainty that the author is a gifted and creative storyteller with a sure voice. Most of the characters are well written and the dialogue and plotting are entertainingly readable. One big thing that struck me whilst reading The Hat was how consistently funny it was. Humor is so variable and so difficult to write. This book is really really funny in a lot of places. I was also struck by how sure the author's voice was when writing the female protagonist. She is believable.
There were a few less than stellar moments. Her interaction with her uncle was flat and seemed like exactly what it was (a plot device to get The Hat into her possession). A lot of her interaction with the bad guys was over the top, but then again, she's teamed up with a sentient inanimate object, so the author is owed a lot of suspension of disbelief wiggle room.
Just an all around fun read. It's a couple of hours' diversion and entertainment. I, for one, would love to read more adventures from Lizzie and co. Intergalactic do-goodery with a rockabilly soundtrack?! Count me in!
Four and a half stars, beautifully written and funny .
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
The Hat is a novella length (116p.) story by C.S. Boyack. It's quite hard to categorize, with elements of speculative fiction/fantasy, a little dash of noir, and some chick-lit thrown into the mix.
I'm truly not a book snob and I do make an effort to read and review smaller self published books. I'm so glad this one caught my attention. It's a joy for me to be able to give a good review for books which don't fit the mold and aren't mammoth-juggernaut-publishing-wonders™ with gazillion dollar budgets.
After a poke around his blog and having read this novella, I can say with certainty that the author is a gifted and creative storyteller with a sure voice. Most of the characters are well written and the dialogue and plotting are entertainingly readable. One big thing that struck me whilst reading The Hat was how consistently funny it was. Humor is so variable and so difficult to write. This book is really really funny in a lot of places. I was also struck by how sure the author's voice was when writing the female protagonist. She is believable.
There were a few less than stellar moments. Her interaction with her uncle was flat and seemed like exactly what it was (a plot device to get The Hat into her possession). A lot of her interaction with the bad guys was over the top, but then again, she's teamed up with a sentient inanimate object, so the author is owed a lot of suspension of disbelief wiggle room.
Just an all around fun read. It's a couple of hours' diversion and entertainment. I, for one, would love to read more adventures from Lizzie and co. Intergalactic do-goodery with a rockabilly soundtrack?! Count me in!
Four and a half stars, beautifully written and funny .
Disclosure: I received an electronic-ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
October 15, 2021
A fun read
What a fun and easy read this was. The interaction between an ancient hat and a modern young woman is spot on, especially when trying to teach the hat the do’s and don’ts of modern thinking.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
What a fun and easy read this was. The interaction between an ancient hat and a modern young woman is spot on, especially when trying to teach the hat the do’s and don’ts of modern thinking.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
March 23, 2018
What a brilliant, original story this proved to be - I loved it! ‘The Hat’ is one that Elizabeth (Lizzie) St Laurent took from her grandmother’s possessions that her Uncle was disposing of. Little did either of them realise that ‘The Hat’ is sentient, adaptive and a great character in its own right! As soon as she puts it on, ‘The Hat’ communicates with Lizzie. When Lizzie has a phone call from her friend and boss, Dave, telling her that his newborn baby has been stolen ‘The Hat’ offers to help her find it! So starts a very entertaining, funny adventure and mystery!
‘The Hat’ has some interesting abilities and talents that you’ll discover as you read the story which is well paced and engaging with plenty of action. There are new discoveries for ‘The Hat’ to make regarding contemporary artefacts, events, language and fashion as ‘he’ has been in a box for the last couple of decades. I enjoyed the interactions between ‘The Hat’ and Lizzie but must confess that some of the author’s language choices detracted from my enjoyment of the story - the use of foul language added nothing to the story IMHO, but that’s most likely just me! Still, other than that, this is a great story that I really enjoyed reading and I do hope there will be more stories involving this dynamic duo in future.
I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
‘The Hat’ has some interesting abilities and talents that you’ll discover as you read the story which is well paced and engaging with plenty of action. There are new discoveries for ‘The Hat’ to make regarding contemporary artefacts, events, language and fashion as ‘he’ has been in a box for the last couple of decades. I enjoyed the interactions between ‘The Hat’ and Lizzie but must confess that some of the author’s language choices detracted from my enjoyment of the story - the use of foul language added nothing to the story IMHO, but that’s most likely just me! Still, other than that, this is a great story that I really enjoyed reading and I do hope there will be more stories involving this dynamic duo in future.
I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
January 15, 2018
Every now and then I stumble across a story that just makes me feel good. Such is the case with Boyack’s The Hat.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some terrible occurrences and potential dire consequences. This book isn’t short on drama or action.
But it’s just so darn creative and fun.
Lizzie seems like someone I’d hang out with at home. She’s a good friend, albeit a little snarky and a lot overworked. But her personality appealed to me. The author did a great job crafting her.
That said, she’s not my favorite character. I absolutely love Hat. He has a rich history, an interesting take on life, and a curiosity about the Internet that had me giggling as I read the story.
The two of them together are magic.
This was a feel-good buddy story that managed to combine mystery with mayhem, thrills with thoughtfulness, and synergy with sarcasm. What a fantastic blend! And the music the author managed to weave throughout was the harmony to an already stellar melody.
The Hat is a great little story that gives a whole lot to the reader in a quick and tidy package. I recommend it without reservation.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some terrible occurrences and potential dire consequences. This book isn’t short on drama or action.
But it’s just so darn creative and fun.
Lizzie seems like someone I’d hang out with at home. She’s a good friend, albeit a little snarky and a lot overworked. But her personality appealed to me. The author did a great job crafting her.
That said, she’s not my favorite character. I absolutely love Hat. He has a rich history, an interesting take on life, and a curiosity about the Internet that had me giggling as I read the story.
The two of them together are magic.
This was a feel-good buddy story that managed to combine mystery with mayhem, thrills with thoughtfulness, and synergy with sarcasm. What a fantastic blend! And the music the author managed to weave throughout was the harmony to an already stellar melody.
The Hat is a great little story that gives a whole lot to the reader in a quick and tidy package. I recommend it without reservation.
January 14, 2020
What a fun escape from the gloom and doom of the world’s woes.
I remember trying on a variety of wigs at a costume shop once and as I looked in the mirror I was met with so many different versions of myself… In Lizzie’s case, it is a hat that opens up possibilities and talents that she had no idea existed.
With the very serious baby kidnapping case to solve, initially the hat assumes control encouraging its sceptical partner into action. But, soon Lizzie begins to showcase her own ingenuity and the two of them are unstoppable.
When your life is not particularly fulfilling and you have suffered tough times, it is hard to put your trust in anyone, let alone an antique, inanimate object who tells tall stories about your long dead family members. But, as the story evolves, it is clear that there is a new crime fighting duo in town and they are entertaining as well as effective.
I recommend The Hat as an escape from reality with a well written plot, wit, great characters, including the versatile hat, and the promise of more to come. I am looking forward to Viral Blues the second book in the series.
I remember trying on a variety of wigs at a costume shop once and as I looked in the mirror I was met with so many different versions of myself… In Lizzie’s case, it is a hat that opens up possibilities and talents that she had no idea existed.
With the very serious baby kidnapping case to solve, initially the hat assumes control encouraging its sceptical partner into action. But, soon Lizzie begins to showcase her own ingenuity and the two of them are unstoppable.
When your life is not particularly fulfilling and you have suffered tough times, it is hard to put your trust in anyone, let alone an antique, inanimate object who tells tall stories about your long dead family members. But, as the story evolves, it is clear that there is a new crime fighting duo in town and they are entertaining as well as effective.
I recommend The Hat as an escape from reality with a well written plot, wit, great characters, including the versatile hat, and the promise of more to come. I am looking forward to Viral Blues the second book in the series.
February 18, 2018
This book introduces you to Lizzie St. Laurent, working several jobs to pay the bills.
With The Hat, C. S. Boyack presents us with a hilarious paranormal suspense story in novella length. The story is skillfully elaborated and has a great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with this story – he created living people instead of mere characters; even if the hat is not human - it has personality. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to Lizzie and - the hat. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a wonderful time reading The Hat. It is a highly enjoyable read - hopefully the first in a series.
This is for you if you like stories in novella length, paranormal events, hilarious moments, superheroes, and very likeable characters to cheer on.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!
With The Hat, C. S. Boyack presents us with a hilarious paranormal suspense story in novella length. The story is skillfully elaborated and has a great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with this story – he created living people instead of mere characters; even if the hat is not human - it has personality. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to Lizzie and - the hat. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a wonderful time reading The Hat. It is a highly enjoyable read - hopefully the first in a series.
This is for you if you like stories in novella length, paranormal events, hilarious moments, superheroes, and very likeable characters to cheer on.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!
January 15, 2018
FIVE STARS!
Lizzie St Laurent has a lot on her … erm … head! When she picked up the old box behind her uncle’s back, she got a lot more than she bargained for. The hat is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling’s talking hat, and as soon as Lizzie dons it, she finds herself transported elsewhere with a pop. What is this hat? Where did it come from? What does it want?
A wonderful thread of humour runs throughout this engaging and entertaining story. In particular, I love the odd graphic that appears here and there, which emphasises the narrative beautifully. In addition to the humour, you will find action and drama and suspense with several twists and turns.
All in all, this is a fun and feel-good quick read at just over a hundred pages. I recommend it highly.
Lizzie St Laurent has a lot on her … erm … head! When she picked up the old box behind her uncle’s back, she got a lot more than she bargained for. The hat is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling’s talking hat, and as soon as Lizzie dons it, she finds herself transported elsewhere with a pop. What is this hat? Where did it come from? What does it want?
A wonderful thread of humour runs throughout this engaging and entertaining story. In particular, I love the odd graphic that appears here and there, which emphasises the narrative beautifully. In addition to the humour, you will find action and drama and suspense with several twists and turns.
All in all, this is a fun and feel-good quick read at just over a hundred pages. I recommend it highly.
April 10, 2018
I've read a few of this author's books, and after Clovis from The Playground, the Hat is probably my favorite character. I think the two of them would really hit it off if they ever got together - in fact, I feel like they're destined to meet.
Action, adventure, humor - they all reside within this unique novella. It's such a fun read, and I chuckled my way through it. Boyack is a talented storyteller, and as demonstrated with Patty in his novel Will O' the Wisp, also excels at creating believable female characters. Lizzie has some fantastic, badass moments, and the Hat's struggles to learn modern technology are especially comical.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to escape for a couple of hours and immerse themselves in a thoroughly enjoyable, original novella.
Action, adventure, humor - they all reside within this unique novella. It's such a fun read, and I chuckled my way through it. Boyack is a talented storyteller, and as demonstrated with Patty in his novel Will O' the Wisp, also excels at creating believable female characters. Lizzie has some fantastic, badass moments, and the Hat's struggles to learn modern technology are especially comical.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to escape for a couple of hours and immerse themselves in a thoroughly enjoyable, original novella.
July 21, 2020
Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know I like my fiction pretty dark. However, I do enjoy a good laugh (especially if the humour is pretty dark). So, when I finally got around to reading C.S. Boyack's 'The Hat', it didn't take more than the first few pages to realise I was onto a winner.
The idea of a sentient hat tickled me going into this book, and from the moment heroine Lizzie St. Laurent opened a box of her grandfather's belonging and discovered the Hat, I was grinning at 'his' antics. This is a dude with a wicked sense of humour, a damn good taste in music, and a warped idea of what constitutes as fun. Hilarity and adventure arise from Lizzie and the Hat's fateful meeting, as they launch into an investigation to find a snatched baby.
The Hat quickly enlightens Lizzie as to the realities of the world - you know, vampires and ghouls do exist, magic guns are a thing, and big ass basses make for the best stringed instruments out there - and a wary, wry, warm friendship unfolds between the unlikely pair. Lizzie and the Hat shopping for clothes is one of my favourite scenes - an ancient Roman artefact quipping about female fashion...it doesn't get any better.
This book was right up my alley. The writing is clever, the humour sharp, and Boyack keeps the pace tight and action flowing. That said, there is a fair amount of heart in this book; the friendship between Lizzie and the Hat is really lovely to see develop, as is Lizzie's confidence in her own abilities. Of course, heart doesn't get in the way of blasting a few bad guys away with some hand cannons, so for me, it's the best of both worlds.
If you're looking for an entertaining read that'll get you grinning, you can't go wrong with The Hat. If you want a buddy comedy with a lot of heart, you should grab a copy of The Hat. And hell, if you want to pick up a few fashion tips while you're reading...get your hands on a copy of The Hat...who knew there were so many different types of headgear out there?
The idea of a sentient hat tickled me going into this book, and from the moment heroine Lizzie St. Laurent opened a box of her grandfather's belonging and discovered the Hat, I was grinning at 'his' antics. This is a dude with a wicked sense of humour, a damn good taste in music, and a warped idea of what constitutes as fun. Hilarity and adventure arise from Lizzie and the Hat's fateful meeting, as they launch into an investigation to find a snatched baby.
The Hat quickly enlightens Lizzie as to the realities of the world - you know, vampires and ghouls do exist, magic guns are a thing, and big ass basses make for the best stringed instruments out there - and a wary, wry, warm friendship unfolds between the unlikely pair. Lizzie and the Hat shopping for clothes is one of my favourite scenes - an ancient Roman artefact quipping about female fashion...it doesn't get any better.
This book was right up my alley. The writing is clever, the humour sharp, and Boyack keeps the pace tight and action flowing. That said, there is a fair amount of heart in this book; the friendship between Lizzie and the Hat is really lovely to see develop, as is Lizzie's confidence in her own abilities. Of course, heart doesn't get in the way of blasting a few bad guys away with some hand cannons, so for me, it's the best of both worlds.
If you're looking for an entertaining read that'll get you grinning, you can't go wrong with The Hat. If you want a buddy comedy with a lot of heart, you should grab a copy of The Hat. And hell, if you want to pick up a few fashion tips while you're reading...get your hands on a copy of The Hat...who knew there were so many different types of headgear out there?
January 22, 2018
The Hat is a novella weighing in at 116 pages of pure fun and creativity written in the speculative fiction genre. Hang onto your - hat (sorry, I couldn't resist) it's about to get good!
Lizzie is having a rough time of it after losing her grandmother. Her uncle has control of her grandmother's estate leaving Lizzie out in the cold. In a last-ditch effort to own something that belonged to her grandmother, she snatches a box from her uncle's moving truck. Lizzie has no idea what is in the box, and when the hat reveals himself to her is when the real fireworks start.
As the title suggests, the protagonist is a magical hat who possesses the ability of speech. I got the sense that the hat is some sort of sentient being. I also found the hat to use a distinctively male voice who also had the ability to change into any form of head covering that Lizzie desired.
The characters are enchanting and the dialogue is full of humor as the hat and Lizzie work together to solve the disappearance of numerous babies missing from the local area. The fast-paced action left me breathless - in between bouts of laughter. Seldom do I find such engaging banter between characters. It was pure serendipity.
I loved the idea that the hat could play the bass through Lizzie's fingers as long as she wore him while playing. The musical aspects of the story were brilliant. In addition, the author added a few graphic comic book type images strategically placed which added to the visual elements of the story on my Kindle.
The Hat is one of those rare feel-good books that ends with the reader wanting more. I can only hope that the imagination of C. S. Boyack devises a few more capers for these two characters to solve. And, at only $.99 this novella was well worth the price for an afternoon's entertainment.
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
Lizzie is having a rough time of it after losing her grandmother. Her uncle has control of her grandmother's estate leaving Lizzie out in the cold. In a last-ditch effort to own something that belonged to her grandmother, she snatches a box from her uncle's moving truck. Lizzie has no idea what is in the box, and when the hat reveals himself to her is when the real fireworks start.
As the title suggests, the protagonist is a magical hat who possesses the ability of speech. I got the sense that the hat is some sort of sentient being. I also found the hat to use a distinctively male voice who also had the ability to change into any form of head covering that Lizzie desired.
The characters are enchanting and the dialogue is full of humor as the hat and Lizzie work together to solve the disappearance of numerous babies missing from the local area. The fast-paced action left me breathless - in between bouts of laughter. Seldom do I find such engaging banter between characters. It was pure serendipity.
I loved the idea that the hat could play the bass through Lizzie's fingers as long as she wore him while playing. The musical aspects of the story were brilliant. In addition, the author added a few graphic comic book type images strategically placed which added to the visual elements of the story on my Kindle.
The Hat is one of those rare feel-good books that ends with the reader wanting more. I can only hope that the imagination of C. S. Boyack devises a few more capers for these two characters to solve. And, at only $.99 this novella was well worth the price for an afternoon's entertainment.
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
January 26, 2018
I so enjoy reading anything written by C.S. Boyack. He has a talent for merging historical, supernatural, mystery and humorous genre elements in his writing. These elements are then woven into a seamless story that carries the reader late into the night saying, "Just one more chapter".
The Hat is no exception to this. Think Thelma and Louise where Thelma is a landscaping waitress named Lizzie and Louise is a hat. It's not just any kind of hat, however. It's powers are magical, but also useful.
Told from the perspective of 20-something Lizzie, Boyack excels at telling the reader what she is experiencing with a sense of humor that masks underlying fluctuations between confidence and fear. Lizzie's character is engaging, but so is that of the hat. Not since J.K. Rowling brought us the sorting hat in the Harry Potter series has a hat been so entertaining.
Boyack's incarnation of the hat, however, has many talents. I won't spoil the plot elements of the story here, but I will say, If you read this novella, you will not be disappointed by any aspect of it except that it is over so quickly.
Boyack mentions that Lizzie and her hat companion might be worth bringing back at the end of the book in his notes. I second that thought enthusiastically.
So, a tip of the cap to C.S. Boyack for The Hat. I truly believe that his work is on the verge of discovery from a much larger reader market.
The Hat is no exception to this. Think Thelma and Louise where Thelma is a landscaping waitress named Lizzie and Louise is a hat. It's not just any kind of hat, however. It's powers are magical, but also useful.
Told from the perspective of 20-something Lizzie, Boyack excels at telling the reader what she is experiencing with a sense of humor that masks underlying fluctuations between confidence and fear. Lizzie's character is engaging, but so is that of the hat. Not since J.K. Rowling brought us the sorting hat in the Harry Potter series has a hat been so entertaining.
Boyack's incarnation of the hat, however, has many talents. I won't spoil the plot elements of the story here, but I will say, If you read this novella, you will not be disappointed by any aspect of it except that it is over so quickly.
Boyack mentions that Lizzie and her hat companion might be worth bringing back at the end of the book in his notes. I second that thought enthusiastically.
So, a tip of the cap to C.S. Boyack for The Hat. I truly believe that his work is on the verge of discovery from a much larger reader market.
September 24, 2020
Lizzie St. Laurent has several low wage jobs to help pay for her “luxury basement apartment.” Now that grandma has died from a stroke, Lizzie needs jobs over a college education to pay the gas bill for her blue Mini Cooper, food, and clothes. Late for the family meeting deciding the fate of Grandma’s belongings, all Lizzie gets is an ashtray from Caesars Palace that Uncle Steve says, “She used a lot.” So Lizzie grabbed a box out of the moving van and took it with her to the park to cry.
Lizzie soon discovers that inside the box is a magical hat once belonging to her grandfather. It’s a being from an alternate dimension with powers of speech, mind control, and teleportation, to name just a few.
Since her boss, Dave, just had a baby stolen from his hospital bassinette by a ring of baby traffickers, Lizzie and the hat take it upon themselves to find the thieves and return baby Brent to his parents. In so doing, Lizzie loses her jobs and could very likely end up in jail.
What transpires is a wild ride as Lizzie is introduced to a magical world she had no idea existed. She also learns a thing or two about firing a gun, playing a bass violin, and finding out that witches, vampires, and ghouls are for real.
C.S. Boyack’s novella, The Hat, is an entertaining read with non-stop excitement. His characters are well developed, the plot has unexpected twists, and the author’s imagination is pure inspirational. Highly recommended.
Lizzie soon discovers that inside the box is a magical hat once belonging to her grandfather. It’s a being from an alternate dimension with powers of speech, mind control, and teleportation, to name just a few.
Since her boss, Dave, just had a baby stolen from his hospital bassinette by a ring of baby traffickers, Lizzie and the hat take it upon themselves to find the thieves and return baby Brent to his parents. In so doing, Lizzie loses her jobs and could very likely end up in jail.
What transpires is a wild ride as Lizzie is introduced to a magical world she had no idea existed. She also learns a thing or two about firing a gun, playing a bass violin, and finding out that witches, vampires, and ghouls are for real.
C.S. Boyack’s novella, The Hat, is an entertaining read with non-stop excitement. His characters are well developed, the plot has unexpected twists, and the author’s imagination is pure inspirational. Highly recommended.
February 11, 2018
First, Superman's cape. Now, it's Lizzie's Hat
The Hat is a wonderfully off-beat paranormal fantasy, a YA novel that will also appeal to the adult reader, and I sincerely hope to is the start of a series of similar adventures for Lizzie and her animated headgear. The Hat is a character in its own right - earnest, droll, and a wee bit manipulative (in the service of good, of course). Lizzie is the typically at-loose-ends, scrambling for subsistence new adult. She's hard working, ambitious, undermined by the circumstances of her life but trying to keep going. She acquires the Hat in an act of rebellious theft. Her greedy relatives have usurped her inheritance, so she steals a box from the movers who are cleaning out her deceased grandmother's "flea market" store. Said box, unopened for decades, contains the Hat. When the Hat reveals its true nature to Lizzie, they form a team dedicated to righting wrong, starting with the kidnapping of Lizzie's fiends' new baby. It's a hoot and a half, with clever plot twists and an all's well ending - one of those books that leaves you smiling and wanting more. I'm reviewing an ARC of this book (thank you) and in my voluntary and independent opinion, this Hat belongs on your bookshelf!
The Hat is a wonderfully off-beat paranormal fantasy, a YA novel that will also appeal to the adult reader, and I sincerely hope to is the start of a series of similar adventures for Lizzie and her animated headgear. The Hat is a character in its own right - earnest, droll, and a wee bit manipulative (in the service of good, of course). Lizzie is the typically at-loose-ends, scrambling for subsistence new adult. She's hard working, ambitious, undermined by the circumstances of her life but trying to keep going. She acquires the Hat in an act of rebellious theft. Her greedy relatives have usurped her inheritance, so she steals a box from the movers who are cleaning out her deceased grandmother's "flea market" store. Said box, unopened for decades, contains the Hat. When the Hat reveals its true nature to Lizzie, they form a team dedicated to righting wrong, starting with the kidnapping of Lizzie's fiends' new baby. It's a hoot and a half, with clever plot twists and an all's well ending - one of those books that leaves you smiling and wanting more. I'm reviewing an ARC of this book (thank you) and in my voluntary and independent opinion, this Hat belongs on your bookshelf!
May 27, 2019
This book is not in my usual reading genre, but nonetheless, a delight to read. The Hat is a whimsical tale of a dynamic team - Lizzie, a 21 year old girl with troubles it seems at every corner, who manages to team up with the talking hat.
Lizzie manages to scoop a box off the moving truck taking away what's left of her recently passed grandmother's estate. Completely unaware what's in the box, Lizzie strikes a real gem when she discovers in that box is a hat, but not just any hat.As Lizzie and the talking hat get acquainted, finally becoming friends, the hat teaches her more about her family background, and ultimately becomes her cohort in her quest to save the kidnapped babies she learns about after her friend's baby is kidnapped.
The story progresses through the quest to solve the crime, all the while experiencing magical situations and escapes when she puts on the hat and it empowers her with its magical properties, even being able to transport her to safety when the goings get rough.
A fun escape with lots of laughs and a perfect short read and entertaining read for a rainy afternoon.
Lizzie manages to scoop a box off the moving truck taking away what's left of her recently passed grandmother's estate. Completely unaware what's in the box, Lizzie strikes a real gem when she discovers in that box is a hat, but not just any hat.As Lizzie and the talking hat get acquainted, finally becoming friends, the hat teaches her more about her family background, and ultimately becomes her cohort in her quest to save the kidnapped babies she learns about after her friend's baby is kidnapped.
The story progresses through the quest to solve the crime, all the while experiencing magical situations and escapes when she puts on the hat and it empowers her with its magical properties, even being able to transport her to safety when the goings get rough.
A fun escape with lots of laughs and a perfect short read and entertaining read for a rainy afternoon.
February 24, 2018
Lizzie St Laurent is heartbroken that her grandmother died and she got nothing from the estate. In anger, she grabs a box out of the back of a moving truck vacating her grandmother's antique shop. Once she finally settled in with a glass of wine and opens it, she is shocked to find a fedora hat. She quickly discounts it and continues grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother. But, the hat is a living entity attached to her family through Lizzie's grandfather and generations before him. And while it takes her a little time to adjust to it, they turn out to be quite the team. From playing the upright bass, which Lizzie ha\sd never touched in her life, to rescuing kidnapped babies, the Hat takes Lizzie on quite the journey. I loved this novella from C.S. Boyack. It has so many different elements and plot twists that it always kept me guessing. The ending couldn't have been more perfectly executed. If you like off-the-wall stories with elements of supernatural, ghouls, witches and a Hat that can perform all sorts of magic, you'll love this story.
July 5, 2018
The Hat by C. S. Boyack is a novella written in the speculative fiction genre with elements of supernatural, fantasy, and horror. It is a fun, fast pace read.
Lizzie’s grandmother died leaving her alone with the responsibility of paying their apartment’s rent among other debts. Lizzie worked two jobs to pay the bills, but it was not enough. She loved her grandmother and wanted something to remember her by, so she went to her grandma’s antique shop to find a keepsake. Her greedy uncle refused to give her anything, so when she left the shop she grabbed a random box from a van, parked outside, loaded with her grandmother’s things.
When she returned home, she opened the box and found a hat, but this was no ordinary hat. The hat talked and had magic powers. The adventure began when Lizzie donned the hat.
I enjoyed this book, especially the interaction between Lizzie and the hat. I recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys reading speculative fiction, sprinkled with fantasy, supernatural, and horror.
Lizzie’s grandmother died leaving her alone with the responsibility of paying their apartment’s rent among other debts. Lizzie worked two jobs to pay the bills, but it was not enough. She loved her grandmother and wanted something to remember her by, so she went to her grandma’s antique shop to find a keepsake. Her greedy uncle refused to give her anything, so when she left the shop she grabbed a random box from a van, parked outside, loaded with her grandmother’s things.
When she returned home, she opened the box and found a hat, but this was no ordinary hat. The hat talked and had magic powers. The adventure began when Lizzie donned the hat.
I enjoyed this book, especially the interaction between Lizzie and the hat. I recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys reading speculative fiction, sprinkled with fantasy, supernatural, and horror.
February 1, 2018
I was drawn to this book from the numerous great reviews I've read and I'm glad I decided to pick it up!
A young woman, devastated by the recent loss of her grandmother, asks her uncle for a keepsake. He brushes off her request, anxious to sell everything on the estate to make money. Hurt, Lizzie grabs a box from the moving truck and races home with it, unaware that she's just become the beneficiary of a magical hat. The hat is from an alternate dimension and comes with a host of special powers.
When Lizzie learns of the kidnapping of her best friend's newborn, she implores the hat to help her find the baby. Instead, they find an international baby trafficking ring and must work together to save the children before they disappear forever.
This story is by turns, funny, suspenseful, quirky, and an all-round enjoyable read!
I give The Hat 4 lovely kisses!
First posted on It's All About the Romance
A young woman, devastated by the recent loss of her grandmother, asks her uncle for a keepsake. He brushes off her request, anxious to sell everything on the estate to make money. Hurt, Lizzie grabs a box from the moving truck and races home with it, unaware that she's just become the beneficiary of a magical hat. The hat is from an alternate dimension and comes with a host of special powers.
When Lizzie learns of the kidnapping of her best friend's newborn, she implores the hat to help her find the baby. Instead, they find an international baby trafficking ring and must work together to save the children before they disappear forever.
This story is by turns, funny, suspenseful, quirky, and an all-round enjoyable read!
I give The Hat 4 lovely kisses!
First posted on It's All About the Romance
March 15, 2018
I loved this fantasy novella by Mr. Boyack! Lizzie St. Laurent loses not only her grandmother and her place to live but is left without any mementos to remember her by. This is when Lizzie decides to grab a box from the truck loaded with her grandmother’s things and leaves. This quick decision changes her life. She soon finds herself with a living hat and a family history she was unaware of. The conversations between Lizzie and the hat had me laughing out loud. When a baby is kidnapped, the hat suggests Lizzie and the hat work together to find him. The concept of an inanimate object being alive is intriguing to me and “The Hat” accomplishes this well. This had everything I enjoy in a story, action, humor, depth, and unusual characters—plus, who wouldn’t want a talking hat with magical powers? I highly recommend this if you love fantasy and paranormal themes-- or are looking for something different. I’m hoping there will be more stories with Lizzie and the hat!
May 13, 2019
Great dialogue with some fun banter between the main characters. Interesting story line which almost takes a back seat to these characters. I feel the author took a chance with the serious nature of the plot, baby trafficking, and the humorous exchanges while dealing with that. It paid off. Boyack made this work.
It’s on the shorter side (a novella) which is a perfect length for this story. It doesn’t take a break from action and dialogue but didn’t feel rushed. There were some scenes that moved quickly or bounced from one place to another but these fit with the characters and did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. While the end did not feel unfinished, I will say that it reads a bit like an episode from a TV series—which is not a bad thing. I mean, I can seriously see this as a half-hour show. A comedy/crime-solving duo: “Lizzie and The Hat”.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
It’s on the shorter side (a novella) which is a perfect length for this story. It doesn’t take a break from action and dialogue but didn’t feel rushed. There were some scenes that moved quickly or bounced from one place to another but these fit with the characters and did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. While the end did not feel unfinished, I will say that it reads a bit like an episode from a TV series—which is not a bad thing. I mean, I can seriously see this as a half-hour show. A comedy/crime-solving duo: “Lizzie and The Hat”.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
February 10, 2018
I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
I loved this novella from the get go. The main character is a girl called Lizzie who after her beloved grandmothers passing obtains a Hat from her estate. Lizzie's reaction in finding that the Hat is a magical one is where the story and the adventure begin. There is a witch and baby snatchers and Lizzie's very bad mood that make the many twists and turns of this wonderful tale very amusing and a great read. Lizzie is a girl of today with the contest use of her phone to find out information, listen to music and the many uses of phone apps.
I would recommend this story and give it 5+ stars. I hope to read more books by C. S. Boyak.
I loved this novella from the get go. The main character is a girl called Lizzie who after her beloved grandmothers passing obtains a Hat from her estate. Lizzie's reaction in finding that the Hat is a magical one is where the story and the adventure begin. There is a witch and baby snatchers and Lizzie's very bad mood that make the many twists and turns of this wonderful tale very amusing and a great read. Lizzie is a girl of today with the contest use of her phone to find out information, listen to music and the many uses of phone apps.
I would recommend this story and give it 5+ stars. I hope to read more books by C. S. Boyak.
February 10, 2018
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. It's a fun book and, aside from the language, would make a great YA read. That said, it really read like a YA novel. The writing is not sophisticated, the prose merely telling the story and nothing more. No flowery descriptions. No evocative imagery. Just clear, straightforward language telling an unusual story.
I couldn't help but like the story, though at times it was a bit cheesy, particularly the dialog. It's the retelling of an outlandish adventure. There is no moral to the story, no takeaway message, no universal truths. It's just a fun story that should have been written more towards the YA market. In fact, despite the language, I'd have to classify it as such.
I couldn't help but like the story, though at times it was a bit cheesy, particularly the dialog. It's the retelling of an outlandish adventure. There is no moral to the story, no takeaway message, no universal truths. It's just a fun story that should have been written more towards the YA market. In fact, despite the language, I'd have to classify it as such.
March 9, 2018
Lizzie St. Laurent is a bit off-track from her life goals. She was working two jobs rather than going to college due to the death of her grandma. So she grabbed a box as a memento from the antique store her grandparents had run before her uncle totally cleaned it out and sold everything. In the box, a hat. A 3,000 year-old talking, magical hat who liked to play the upright bass. So she did what every right-thinking American girl would do, she learned to play bass, start a band and hunt monsters with the aid of her hat. Now, the details of how this all came about are the fun of the story, that I will not spoil! Read The Hat for yourself and enjoy the ride! Hopefully C. S. Boyack will write more adventures of Lizzie and the Hat!
July 17, 2019
In this short read, Boyack has teamed up Lizzie, a young woman with two part-time jobs, and a talking hat that she stole/inherited from her grandmother’s estate. Yes, you heard that right—a talking hat. At first, she’s rather suspicious and freaked out by the hat, but when a friend’s newborn is stolen as part of a larger baby-napping ring, Lizzie and the hat set out to rescue the infants.
What ensues is pretty entertaining. The banter between Lizzie and the hat is exceptionally witty, particularly as the hat navigates advances in technology (it’s been in a box for a long time). The duo reminded me of wise-cracking detective team with snappy dialog and lots of attitude on both sides.
This book can be polished off in a couple of hours and is well worth the time. Highly recommended.
What ensues is pretty entertaining. The banter between Lizzie and the hat is exceptionally witty, particularly as the hat navigates advances in technology (it’s been in a box for a long time). The duo reminded me of wise-cracking detective team with snappy dialog and lots of attitude on both sides.
This book can be polished off in a couple of hours and is well worth the time. Highly recommended.
February 1, 2021
What a hoot! I loved this story. It was short, and just funny all the way to the end. A woman returns to her recently deceased grandmother's antique shop, to find her uncle hauling everything away. He gives her an ashtray as a inheritance, she swipes a box off his truck. Inside she discovers a hat, trying it on, she she discovers it talks! I personally thought she was pretty calm about the talking hat, but it was just so funny! The hat pretty much runs the story, but it was hilarious! Much more fun then the sorting hat of Harry Potter fame. This hat has a real personality! Pretty quick read! I'd love to read more by the author.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
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