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Camelot Wizards #2
Wizards Behaving Badly
Septimus Flyte is studying to be a Good Wizard, but really he wants to be a Bad Wizard. So late one evening he hides in the library of the Anglesey Academy of Magic and steals the Archeognomeicon, reputed to be the most evil and powerful book in the universe.
Soon he and everyone in Camelot find themselves mixed up with some very unpleasant people.
Very unpleasant people indeed...
Soon he and everyone in Camelot find themselves mixed up with some very unpleasant people.
Very unpleasant people indeed...
518 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 2, 2017
Teachers who don't correct spelling and learners who think correct spelling is only for pedants should read Wizards Behaving Badly as a cautionary tale. Sloppiness in reading or writing can lead to serious consequences, from making unfortunate career choices to misunderstanding the origins of the Universe. In common with other books in this series Wizards Behaving Badly is packed with subtle and not so subtle humour. Don't ignore the footnotes, they are caches of gems.
All's well that ends well, but the story reminds us that not everything is as it seems. However much you think you know about life, the Universe and everything this story suggests that reality could be stranger than anything you can imagine.
I recommend this book as a light read, with undercurrents. Read it carefully, apparent typographical errors are nothing of the sort.
All's well that ends well, but the story reminds us that not everything is as it seems. However much you think you know about life, the Universe and everything this story suggests that reality could be stranger than anything you can imagine.
I recommend this book as a light read, with undercurrents. Read it carefully, apparent typographical errors are nothing of the sort.
July 31, 2014
Previously read July 2003.
August 28, 2022
I didn't like this one much. It still had some funny jokes, but the bit set in hell was absolutely gross and completely unfunny (and took up a large portion of the book, unfortunately). The characterisation also fell so flat for me that I couldn't find very many of them amusing - most of the jokes I laughed at were in the footnotes, and on the positive side the one about the moustache WAS a belly laugh.
The plot also didn't quite live up to its potential. The cultural clash between Hergrim and the goblin, for example: it started, it could potentially have had interesting and/or amusing ramifications, and then... nothing. They separate and never encounter each other again. The clash between the proper guards and the temporary replacements: it started, it could potentially have had interesting and/or amusing ramifications, and then... nothing. They separate and never encounter each other again. This leads me to not really care about any of the characters apart from Gwydden and Hergrim (because I know who they are from #1), and Septimus' pet dragon, who is the rather giggle-worthy OTHER reason this book got two stars instead of one.
This is a real disappointment because the characters (even the SIDE characters) and the scenarios they found themselves in were well-rendered enough to be hilarious in #1. That BLASTED thrush, and the way it went to visit its cousin and THEN the punchline from an earlier minor plot point...
I'm hoping this one is an aberration in the series. I'm still going to read at least #3, because I like #1 so much, but this one is not a reread.
The plot also didn't quite live up to its potential. The cultural clash between Hergrim and the goblin, for example: it started, it could potentially have had interesting and/or amusing ramifications, and then... nothing. They separate and never encounter each other again. The clash between the proper guards and the temporary replacements: it started, it could potentially have had interesting and/or amusing ramifications, and then... nothing. They separate and never encounter each other again. This leads me to not really care about any of the characters apart from Gwydden and Hergrim (because I know who they are from #1), and Septimus' pet dragon, who is the rather giggle-worthy OTHER reason this book got two stars instead of one.
This is a real disappointment because the characters (even the SIDE characters) and the scenarios they found themselves in were well-rendered enough to be hilarious in #1. That BLASTED thrush, and the way it went to visit its cousin and THEN the punchline from an earlier minor plot point...
I'm hoping this one is an aberration in the series. I'm still going to read at least #3, because I like #1 so much, but this one is not a reread.
April 18, 2019
Adore these books they make me laugh out loud.
January 4, 2014
Just as funny and satisfying as the series opener, just substituting garden gnomes for the shapeshifting slugs and Bolshevik bunnies. Thanks for the read, Mr Naylor.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews