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Mennik Thorn #3
Strange Cargo
What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other?
They're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.
As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever.
Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.
They're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.
As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever.
Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2022
16 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Samphire
34 books189 followersPatrick Samphire is the author of the adult fantasy novels SHADOW OF A DEAD GOD, NECTAR FOR THE GOD, STRANGE CARGO, and the forthcoming LEGACY OF A HATED GOD, as well as the middle grade novels SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB and THE EMPEROR OF MARS. He has published around twenty short stories and novellas.
Patrick has been writing stories since he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of avoiding having to sit through English lessons at school. He was absolutely convinced that he would be famous by the time he was eighteen, but sadly, even infamy has eluded him.
He lives in Wales, surrounded by mountains, with his wife, their sons, and their cat.
When he's not writing, he designs websites and ebooks.
He will now stop talking about himself in the third person.
Patrick has been writing stories since he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of avoiding having to sit through English lessons at school. He was absolutely convinced that he would be famous by the time he was eighteen, but sadly, even infamy has eluded him.
He lives in Wales, surrounded by mountains, with his wife, their sons, and their cat.
When he's not writing, he designs websites and ebooks.
He will now stop talking about himself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 31, 2022
Another fun adventure with our favourite mage Nik! Only negative is it was so short!
In this adventure Nik had past has a past incident coming back to bite him in the ass. The gang of smugglers he pissed off in Nectar now want him for a job (its not a good one). At the same time our favourite barman Dumonoc got an issue with a curse that keeps coming back.
Nik is such a lovable ass, and I live for his relationship with Meroi Gale.
In this adventure Nik had past has a past incident coming back to bite him in the ass. The gang of smugglers he pissed off in Nectar now want him for a job (its not a good one). At the same time our favourite barman Dumonoc got an issue with a curse that keeps coming back.
Nik is such a lovable ass, and I live for his relationship with Meroi Gale.
June 20, 2022
This is such a fantastically fun adventure full of dangerous smugglers, everyone's favorite grouchy bartender, mysteriously floating statues, and Nik Thorn, hapless second-rate mage, stuck in the middle and just doing his best to snark his way through and somehow make it out alive. I think it *might* work as a standalone introduction for someone who hasn't read the first two novels in the series, but if you have read those (and they're so much fun! why wouldn't you?) there's a lot of extra humor to appreciate.
(And my usual disclaimer, to be fair - I am married to the author of this book/series! But on the other hand, when we first met at a writing workshop, I fell for his stories even before I fell for him, so my enthusiasm is 100% sincere. :) )
(And my usual disclaimer, to be fair - I am married to the author of this book/series! But on the other hand, when we first met at a writing workshop, I fell for his stories even before I fell for him, so my enthusiasm is 100% sincere. :) )
July 30, 2022
This one is shorter than the previous two books, but the author's note in the beginning of the book gives the reason for this. I didn't mind; I was just glad to have a new story.
Mennik has been coerced into providing magical concealment services for a gang of violent smugglers. (These are the self same criminals from the previous book, and they are holding a grudge against him for his interference in their illicit activities.) So anyway, he has to assist the smugglers while they're sneaking something mysterious into the city. He's worried about what this potentially harmful object/person/thing might be, but he's not on a need-to-know basis with the crooks.
The language used throughout is just as lively and colorful as it had been in the first two books. Some of the insults were really funny! If you are offended by expletives and swearing, you might want to pass this one by. I love the name he gives for his chaotic distraction spell 😂
The narrative for this series is from Mennik's first-person point of view. The city in which Mennik resides is very well-drawn. The heat, the blinding sun reflecting off the whitewashed walls, the harbor and docks... it makes me think of Agrabah.
He's working on another in this series, and I'll be reading it when it comes out.
Mennik has been coerced into providing magical concealment services for a gang of violent smugglers. (These are the self same criminals from the previous book, and they are holding a grudge against him for his interference in their illicit activities.) So anyway, he has to assist the smugglers while they're sneaking something mysterious into the city. He's worried about what this potentially harmful object/person/thing might be, but he's not on a need-to-know basis with the crooks.
The language used throughout is just as lively and colorful as it had been in the first two books. Some of the insults were really funny! If you are offended by expletives and swearing, you might want to pass this one by. I love the name he gives for his chaotic distraction spell 😂
The narrative for this series is from Mennik's first-person point of view. The city in which Mennik resides is very well-drawn. The heat, the blinding sun reflecting off the whitewashed walls, the harbor and docks... it makes me think of Agrabah.
He's working on another in this series, and I'll be reading it when it comes out.
July 18, 2022
There was no way I could pass up the chance to read Strange Cargo early, as the Mennik Thorn series is one of my favourite ongoing series and just so much fun to read – and this latest instalment did not disappoint. Strange Cargo might be a short novel, especially compared to the previous two, but it doesn’t lack any of the charm and sheer entertainment because of that. It was great to see the storyline with the smugglers followed up on, and while it does feel a little like a sidequest in the grand scheme of things, that didn’t mean it lacked impact of the other books, because with each outing it feels like Nik is coming more into himself.
‘With the heavy weight of the rod in my hand, I felt more confident. Knowing I could crack someone’s skull if it came to it cheered me up.’
Nik remains one of my favourite characters. He’s still an idiot half the time, with little impulse control although he is trying to curb the curiosity that keeps getting him into trouble, but he has such a unique character voice that shines through no matter what he gets into. There’s so much sarcasm and humour (quite a bit of it self-deprecating, because he is wonderfully self-aware of his own limitations even if he doesn’t always use that knowledge), that you can’t help but smile even while you roll your eyes at some of his antics. The reason he’s so endearing though is that humour and sarcasm and idiocy, is paired with a level of integrity and a genuine desire to help (even when he shouldn’t).
I’ve said before that he should be arrested for his own protection (and I think Captain Gale might agree), but at this point I think Nik should be checking to see if he’s cursed because of the bad luck and chaos that follow him. Although admittedly at least half of that is down to his own decision making. Speaking of Gale, it was great to see their interactions in this book, and off all his relationships (most strained or in chaos) it felt like the one that had the most impact and development in this book, and I do love their dynamic and I’m glad that Nik does have someone he can turn to at this point.
Strange Cargo also added some fascinating elements to the world of Agatos, and in particular I enjoyed exploring the different Temples and the differences in worship (even if Nik’s motives for providing that exploration was less than holy), and seeing the slightly less chaotic, but no less impactful influence of a piece of a Dead God. We also got to learn a bit more about the magic of the world, and the differing effects of raw magic (I loved the Jaunt’s Ghost), and I felt that we really got to see Nik in his element here as he explored and tried to solve and remove some of those effects, from tracing the source, to researching at the library and as I said it really did feel that he is coming into himself.
There was plenty of action and chaos as is to be expected from a Mennik Thorne book, and it was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. Samphire does a great job as always of tying together the disparate jobs and threads that Nik finds himself involved in, and I was on the edge of my seat as everything reached a crescendo (because with Nik you always have to be worried).
Strange Cargo is a fantastic addition to the Mennik Thorn series, and I will always be happy to see more outings for Nik and I am already eagerly looking forward to the next book. If you haven’t given this series a shot yet what are you waiting for? It’s without a doubt one of the most entertaining series I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and Nik will steal your heart (even as you call him ten kinds of idiot).
‘With the heavy weight of the rod in my hand, I felt more confident. Knowing I could crack someone’s skull if it came to it cheered me up.’
Nik remains one of my favourite characters. He’s still an idiot half the time, with little impulse control although he is trying to curb the curiosity that keeps getting him into trouble, but he has such a unique character voice that shines through no matter what he gets into. There’s so much sarcasm and humour (quite a bit of it self-deprecating, because he is wonderfully self-aware of his own limitations even if he doesn’t always use that knowledge), that you can’t help but smile even while you roll your eyes at some of his antics. The reason he’s so endearing though is that humour and sarcasm and idiocy, is paired with a level of integrity and a genuine desire to help (even when he shouldn’t).
I’ve said before that he should be arrested for his own protection (and I think Captain Gale might agree), but at this point I think Nik should be checking to see if he’s cursed because of the bad luck and chaos that follow him. Although admittedly at least half of that is down to his own decision making. Speaking of Gale, it was great to see their interactions in this book, and off all his relationships (most strained or in chaos) it felt like the one that had the most impact and development in this book, and I do love their dynamic and I’m glad that Nik does have someone he can turn to at this point.
Strange Cargo also added some fascinating elements to the world of Agatos, and in particular I enjoyed exploring the different Temples and the differences in worship (even if Nik’s motives for providing that exploration was less than holy), and seeing the slightly less chaotic, but no less impactful influence of a piece of a Dead God. We also got to learn a bit more about the magic of the world, and the differing effects of raw magic (I loved the Jaunt’s Ghost), and I felt that we really got to see Nik in his element here as he explored and tried to solve and remove some of those effects, from tracing the source, to researching at the library and as I said it really did feel that he is coming into himself.
There was plenty of action and chaos as is to be expected from a Mennik Thorne book, and it was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down. Samphire does a great job as always of tying together the disparate jobs and threads that Nik finds himself involved in, and I was on the edge of my seat as everything reached a crescendo (because with Nik you always have to be worried).
Strange Cargo is a fantastic addition to the Mennik Thorn series, and I will always be happy to see more outings for Nik and I am already eagerly looking forward to the next book. If you haven’t given this series a shot yet what are you waiting for? It’s without a doubt one of the most entertaining series I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and Nik will steal your heart (even as you call him ten kinds of idiot).
March 8, 2024
Fun as usual
Though a bit abrupt of an end. Mennik himself is fun, wildly imaginative, earnest, and would make a good buddy to have. Another dead god mystery and lots of heavy action keeps things pumping.
Though a bit abrupt of an end. Mennik himself is fun, wildly imaginative, earnest, and would make a good buddy to have. Another dead god mystery and lots of heavy action keeps things pumping.
August 14, 2023
Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire is the third book in the series, but also a bit of a side quest novella in a way.
As it says in the foreword it is its own story line that didn't fit well into book 3 or 4, but needed to happen, so it got its own little book. I really enjoy a quicker bite between the giant tomes, so for me that was not a problem, but more like a bonus!
Events from book two come back to bite him in the bum, and he tries to keep his head over water money wise by taking any job he can find, some of them quite repetitive or simply annoying.
The friendship with Benny is still strained, so in this book there's not really anyone to rely on, and you can imagine how much chaos and disaster follows!
There's a new mystery to solve, mouths to run and bad situations to escape! One hell of a lot of fun!
As it says in the foreword it is its own story line that didn't fit well into book 3 or 4, but needed to happen, so it got its own little book. I really enjoy a quicker bite between the giant tomes, so for me that was not a problem, but more like a bonus!
Events from book two come back to bite him in the bum, and he tries to keep his head over water money wise by taking any job he can find, some of them quite repetitive or simply annoying.
The friendship with Benny is still strained, so in this book there's not really anyone to rely on, and you can imagine how much chaos and disaster follows!
There's a new mystery to solve, mouths to run and bad situations to escape! One hell of a lot of fun!
August 9, 2022
A much shorter Mennik Thorne adventure and he is without his usual crew of Benny and Sereh, nor do the usual complications with his mother and the Wren appear. Nik is, of course, still able to find himself up to his neck in trouble and it is perhaps refreshing to see how he gets out of it single-handed.
This is a worthy contribution to the series. If you loved the first two books, this one will hit the same spot.
This is a worthy contribution to the series. If you loved the first two books, this one will hit the same spot.
July 30, 2022
If the title Strange Cargo, 3rd in Patrick Samphire's Mennik Thorn series, sounds familiar, you may have heard of or even seen the 1940 Joan Crawford/Clark Gable film by that name. Samphire hasn't penned a story about a penal colony and a prostitute, however: the title refers to a mysterious box arriving at the Agatos docks, which smugglers have tagged Mage-for-Hire Thorn to magically hide from the authorities until they can get it safely off the ship. Only, being smugglers and having tussled with the city's only working Mage in the previous installment, Nectar for the God, they have no intention of paying him for his services.
When it rains on Thorn, of course, it pours, and two real clients complicate matters with a trivial case - a dog that gets lost over and over again; and an even stranger case that quickly becomes more serious than Thorn would have believed, a never-ending curse on a local bartender's goods that is driving customers away. To make matters worse, the dog's owner refuses to buy a leash, the bartender hates him with a passion, and the magic that is wafting through his bar threatens a near-apocalyptic end to the neighborhood it sits in - unless Thorn can stop it cold while dealing with the smugglers.
One of the highlights of these ongoing tales of a hapless wizard/detective has been the friends who help him solve his cases - and sometimes involve him in their own troubles - master thief Benny and his knife-wielding daughter Sereh. In Nectar for the God, Thorn becomes deeply estranged from them, and he is mostly on his own tackling the two cases and the smuggler's cargo. He does try to enlist the help of Captain Meroi Gale of the Ash Guard, the city's powerful "magic police", but she tells him to call on the regular City Watch since there is no magic involved. Afraid to reveal the role he's been pressed into by the smugglers, he must wait until he knows magic other than his own is involved before asking for her help again.
While Thorn does an admirable - if sometimes clumsy - job without their help, the absence of Benny and Sereh diminishes the fun somewhat, and this reader hopes the next volume brings them together again in some fashion. In the meantime, this "sidequest" magical adventure does an admirable job of keeping fans of the mage occupied while waiting on the next full-length book.
I received an advance reader copy of Strange Cargo from the author in exchange for this review.
When it rains on Thorn, of course, it pours, and two real clients complicate matters with a trivial case - a dog that gets lost over and over again; and an even stranger case that quickly becomes more serious than Thorn would have believed, a never-ending curse on a local bartender's goods that is driving customers away. To make matters worse, the dog's owner refuses to buy a leash, the bartender hates him with a passion, and the magic that is wafting through his bar threatens a near-apocalyptic end to the neighborhood it sits in - unless Thorn can stop it cold while dealing with the smugglers.
One of the highlights of these ongoing tales of a hapless wizard/detective has been the friends who help him solve his cases - and sometimes involve him in their own troubles - master thief Benny and his knife-wielding daughter Sereh. In Nectar for the God, Thorn becomes deeply estranged from them, and he is mostly on his own tackling the two cases and the smuggler's cargo. He does try to enlist the help of Captain Meroi Gale of the Ash Guard, the city's powerful "magic police", but she tells him to call on the regular City Watch since there is no magic involved. Afraid to reveal the role he's been pressed into by the smugglers, he must wait until he knows magic other than his own is involved before asking for her help again.
While Thorn does an admirable - if sometimes clumsy - job without their help, the absence of Benny and Sereh diminishes the fun somewhat, and this reader hopes the next volume brings them together again in some fashion. In the meantime, this "sidequest" magical adventure does an admirable job of keeping fans of the mage occupied while waiting on the next full-length book.
I received an advance reader copy of Strange Cargo from the author in exchange for this review.
July 14, 2022
Everyone’s (okay, maybe not everyone’s) favorite mage-for-hire Mennik Thorn is back in this short mini-adventure. This third book in the Mennik Thorn series, Strange Cargo, is a short novel that is meant to tie up some unfinished business from the previous book Nectar for the Dead God. Nik once again demonstrates his terrible luck when is forced to do a job he does not want to by a smuggling gang. But weaseling his way out is more complicated than he thinks and may cone with even more consequences.
I really enjoyed this book that I like to think of as more of a side quest than an actual main entry or installment. It does provide the same funny quips and fun situations Nik always manages to get himself into. However, it does not actually progress the other story threads that’s been building in previous installment that I’m looking out for— his budding relationship with Captain Gale and whatever is going on with his sister and her partner. I am fully expecting those to fully bloom in the next book.
Mennik Thorn is just a great character who’s nobility and integrity keep getting in his way despite his better judgement, and I just love that about him. I like his “voice” with his sarcasm and wit and his self-depreciating humor. This time around, he comes off as less of a bumbling idiot and more the unlucky “good guys finish last” man that he actually is. I really hope thing finally goes his way in the fourth book.
Strange Cargo is a fun return to Mennik Thorn in this enjoyable short third novel that is more a tying of loose ends and a tease.
*I requested and was provided an eARC by the author.
I really enjoyed this book that I like to think of as more of a side quest than an actual main entry or installment. It does provide the same funny quips and fun situations Nik always manages to get himself into. However, it does not actually progress the other story threads that’s been building in previous installment that I’m looking out for— his budding relationship with Captain Gale and whatever is going on with his sister and her partner. I am fully expecting those to fully bloom in the next book.
Mennik Thorn is just a great character who’s nobility and integrity keep getting in his way despite his better judgement, and I just love that about him. I like his “voice” with his sarcasm and wit and his self-depreciating humor. This time around, he comes off as less of a bumbling idiot and more the unlucky “good guys finish last” man that he actually is. I really hope thing finally goes his way in the fourth book.
Strange Cargo is a fun return to Mennik Thorn in this enjoyable short third novel that is more a tying of loose ends and a tease.
*I requested and was provided an eARC by the author.
Read
April 7, 2022This is book 3 of the Mennik Thorn series. It's due for publication on July 29, 2022.
Blurb:
What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other?
Answer: they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.
As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or live his life in fear of their revenge.
Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.
This is a short novel, not a full-length novel.
Blurb:
What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other?
Answer: they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.
As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or live his life in fear of their revenge.
Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.
This is a short novel, not a full-length novel.
August 1, 2022
Problem solving is the essence of creativity...
...and Mennik Thorn has many problems to solve. A dog who won't stay with it's owner; a bar that is rotting from inside out and the no small matter of being press ganged into the service of smugglers.
Nik uses his unique creativity to 'solve' all these problems.
This is another smaller slice of the life of Mennik Thorn mage for hire in Agatos. Small slice it maybe, but packed full of usual hapless intrigue for our hero.
I truly enjoy seeing Nik put through the wringer yet again (possibly because that means it's not my turn).
...and Mennik Thorn has many problems to solve. A dog who won't stay with it's owner; a bar that is rotting from inside out and the no small matter of being press ganged into the service of smugglers.
Nik uses his unique creativity to 'solve' all these problems.
This is another smaller slice of the life of Mennik Thorn mage for hire in Agatos. Small slice it maybe, but packed full of usual hapless intrigue for our hero.
I truly enjoy seeing Nik put through the wringer yet again (possibly because that means it's not my turn).
February 23, 2025
next up book 4
enjoyed learning a little more about what Thorn gets up to before the finale.
enjoyed learning a little more about what Thorn gets up to before the finale.
October 31, 2025
Strange Cargo is aptly named and very fun. It's also short, for reasons explained by the author in the foreward. The pacing is quick but the relationships ring genuine and the well trod streets of Agatos feel lived in, a familiarity that gives the story a lot of weight despite it's brevity. My only complaint is really that because of the confession, I did feel like it was the b-sides of Nectar for the Gods and I quite wanted this EP to be a full album. But b-sides can still bring it. "We Will Rock You," by Queen was a b-side back in the day and Strange Cargo brings me my favorite Mennik Thorn quote to date, so I'm definitely not disappointed. Excited to see how all this buttons together in Legacy of a Hated God.
edited: removed several "really"s.
edited: removed several "really"s.
August 15, 2022
Mennik (Nik) is back and in even bigger trouble than usual, in the third installment in the Mennik Thorn series. Strange Cargo was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. It was awesome, unsurprisingly.
I am a sucker for books featuring down-on-their luck rapscallions who can’t seem to stay out of danger. Whether it’s a smart mouth at the wrong time, or a penchant for chasing trouble, these kinds of characters keep me smiling and guessing. Mennik Thorn is high on my list of favorite trouble-finders and each book in the series makes me like him more.
After the events of Nectar for the God, book two in the series, Mennik is on the outs with his best (and some would argue, only) friend. He’s also unfortunately on the outs with a group of smugglers. Seeing as they’d happily see him dead, they choose the next best thing and pressure Mennik into a job protecting an item they plan to smuggle into Agatos. Of course, if he ends up dead in the process, that’s just a perk for them, right?
Not only does this “job” not pay, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. Once Mennik learns what it is he’s helping smuggle in, things go from sideways to dangerous. I won’t ruin the surprise, but it’s a doozy. The stakes keep going up from book to book, keeping me interested and wondering what fresh hell Mennik will find himself in next.
I love that Mennik always has another side problem that he’s trying to solve while the main story arc takes up most of the attention. In this instance, Mennik’s less-than-enthusiastic client is none other than the cranky owner of the crap bar Mennik frequents. Their passive-aggressive conversations entertained me to no end.
Mennik is a brilliant character, a study in contradictions. He tries to do the right thing, but he rarely knows what the “right thing” is. He’s smart-mouthed and mocks pretty much everyone but he is equally mocking of himself. He would probably have a longer life expectancy if he didn’t feel the urge to help people (even when they serve him subpar alcohol), but he can’t seem to stop helping anyway. Oh, and he might as well write Killed by Curiosity on his headstone now and get it over with.
Of course, his character does not exist in stasis. He has grown and changed since book one (Shadow of a Dead God), although he remains delightfully disaster prone. Strange Cargo doesn’t highlight that character growth quite as much because it is shorter (more of a novella than a full-fledged novel). In some ways it shouted “side quest” but it still managed to pack in revelations and world development aplenty.
As always, the writing is phenomenal. Everything is brilliantly described, painting vivid pictures of both Agatos and its inhabitants. The dialogue is witty, and things move at a quick pace. Strange Cargo showcased all the things that I love about the series and made me hungry for more. Book four in the Mennik Thorn series can’t come soon enough!
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
I am a sucker for books featuring down-on-their luck rapscallions who can’t seem to stay out of danger. Whether it’s a smart mouth at the wrong time, or a penchant for chasing trouble, these kinds of characters keep me smiling and guessing. Mennik Thorn is high on my list of favorite trouble-finders and each book in the series makes me like him more.
After the events of Nectar for the God, book two in the series, Mennik is on the outs with his best (and some would argue, only) friend. He’s also unfortunately on the outs with a group of smugglers. Seeing as they’d happily see him dead, they choose the next best thing and pressure Mennik into a job protecting an item they plan to smuggle into Agatos. Of course, if he ends up dead in the process, that’s just a perk for them, right?
Not only does this “job” not pay, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. Once Mennik learns what it is he’s helping smuggle in, things go from sideways to dangerous. I won’t ruin the surprise, but it’s a doozy. The stakes keep going up from book to book, keeping me interested and wondering what fresh hell Mennik will find himself in next.
I love that Mennik always has another side problem that he’s trying to solve while the main story arc takes up most of the attention. In this instance, Mennik’s less-than-enthusiastic client is none other than the cranky owner of the crap bar Mennik frequents. Their passive-aggressive conversations entertained me to no end.
Mennik is a brilliant character, a study in contradictions. He tries to do the right thing, but he rarely knows what the “right thing” is. He’s smart-mouthed and mocks pretty much everyone but he is equally mocking of himself. He would probably have a longer life expectancy if he didn’t feel the urge to help people (even when they serve him subpar alcohol), but he can’t seem to stop helping anyway. Oh, and he might as well write Killed by Curiosity on his headstone now and get it over with.
Of course, his character does not exist in stasis. He has grown and changed since book one (Shadow of a Dead God), although he remains delightfully disaster prone. Strange Cargo doesn’t highlight that character growth quite as much because it is shorter (more of a novella than a full-fledged novel). In some ways it shouted “side quest” but it still managed to pack in revelations and world development aplenty.
As always, the writing is phenomenal. Everything is brilliantly described, painting vivid pictures of both Agatos and its inhabitants. The dialogue is witty, and things move at a quick pace. Strange Cargo showcased all the things that I love about the series and made me hungry for more. Book four in the Mennik Thorn series can’t come soon enough!
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
July 12, 2023
What do you mean I am almost at the last book of the series? *shocked face* I don’t want this to be over yet! And what do you mean I have to wait until the last one is released? Unacceptable.
ANYWAY!
What do they say? The something-something of consequences rarely arrives lubed, right? Well. Mennik Thorn sure does have consequences come at him in this adventure; namely, the smugglers he pissed off in Nectar for the God. Between their demand, and Mennik still being isolated from Benny (his best friend, who dropped him after Mennik endangered his daughter prior), our favourite mage really struggles in this one. Maybe not physically, but certainly in terms of the walls closing in around him. And doing so quick.
Next to seeing Mennik struggle, we also get to know more about Agatos this time around, specifically the bar Mennik has been frequenting in the last two books. This delighted me a bunch since I got to get to know Dumonoc better, though, admittedly, he’s still a jerk. One who, somehow, managed to grow on me a bit and who I really hope we get to see again in book four. We also continue to learn about the magic prevalent in Agatos (or the setting at large, really), with new fascinating facets being revealed through Mennik’s investigation (and desperate attempts at staying alive).
But.
Uh.
Then the book ended.
Like, it ended. It ended after Mennik called Captain Gale by her given name and after he lost his mages rod. And now I am sitting here all desperate to a) see Captain Gale again because excuse me, Sir, how dare you leave me hanging like this, and b) you can’t take the man’s rod away! Is he gonna see it again? Will Captain Gale find it for him? Give it back? And should I have said at the start of the review “a mages rod of consequences rarely arrives lubed” considering we’re all probably thinking it?
Anyway.
I didn’t have a lot to say about this book except I really really loved it and I had a lot of fun reading it. It was tightly packed, every mystery tied together perfectly, and the ending was masterfully plotted.
… and now I wait for the last one.
ANYWAY!
What do they say? The something-something of consequences rarely arrives lubed, right? Well. Mennik Thorn sure does have consequences come at him in this adventure; namely, the smugglers he pissed off in Nectar for the God. Between their demand, and Mennik still being isolated from Benny (his best friend, who dropped him after Mennik endangered his daughter prior), our favourite mage really struggles in this one. Maybe not physically, but certainly in terms of the walls closing in around him. And doing so quick.
Next to seeing Mennik struggle, we also get to know more about Agatos this time around, specifically the bar Mennik has been frequenting in the last two books. This delighted me a bunch since I got to get to know Dumonoc better, though, admittedly, he’s still a jerk. One who, somehow, managed to grow on me a bit and who I really hope we get to see again in book four. We also continue to learn about the magic prevalent in Agatos (or the setting at large, really), with new fascinating facets being revealed through Mennik’s investigation (and desperate attempts at staying alive).
But.
Uh.
Then the book ended.
Like, it ended. It ended after Mennik called Captain Gale by her given name and after he lost his mages rod. And now I am sitting here all desperate to a) see Captain Gale again because excuse me, Sir, how dare you leave me hanging like this, and b) you can’t take the man’s rod away! Is he gonna see it again? Will Captain Gale find it for him? Give it back? And should I have said at the start of the review “a mages rod of consequences rarely arrives lubed” considering we’re all probably thinking it?
Anyway.
I didn’t have a lot to say about this book except I really really loved it and I had a lot of fun reading it. It was tightly packed, every mystery tied together perfectly, and the ending was masterfully plotted.
… and now I wait for the last one.
August 18, 2023
In Strange Cargo, the third book with ‘mage for hire’ Mennik Thorn as its protagonist, the familiar sarcastic, self-deprecating tone that we have come to love from this first-person perspective series is thankfully back again. I really enjoy Mennik’s character, roguish, yet with morals and it was fantastic to spend time with him again.
The world has already been built in the previous books and is now a familiar place with various class-identifying sectors that are fun to return to. We are given occasional reminders which are helpful if it’s been a while between reading the books in the series, particularly with the concepts of both living and dead gods and the way raw magic is drawn from these into the world.
This is a shorter book than the previous two in the series, but the story is equally exciting and the pace is fast, particularly in the book's final quarter, where it revs up to breakneck speed. Mennik is caught up with smugglers this time and has to use his magical knowledge to get himself out of a sticky situation. Employed by a bad-tempered bar owner to remove a curse, Mennik hopes to use knowledge gained from this situation to help him with the more life-threatening scenario he finds himself in with the smugglers. The dynamic between Mennik and the misanthropic bar owner is fabulous and a highlight of the book.
Strange Cargo is an exciting, quick and very enjoyable read and I recommend it highly!
The world has already been built in the previous books and is now a familiar place with various class-identifying sectors that are fun to return to. We are given occasional reminders which are helpful if it’s been a while between reading the books in the series, particularly with the concepts of both living and dead gods and the way raw magic is drawn from these into the world.
This is a shorter book than the previous two in the series, but the story is equally exciting and the pace is fast, particularly in the book's final quarter, where it revs up to breakneck speed. Mennik is caught up with smugglers this time and has to use his magical knowledge to get himself out of a sticky situation. Employed by a bad-tempered bar owner to remove a curse, Mennik hopes to use knowledge gained from this situation to help him with the more life-threatening scenario he finds himself in with the smugglers. The dynamic between Mennik and the misanthropic bar owner is fabulous and a highlight of the book.
Strange Cargo is an exciting, quick and very enjoyable read and I recommend it highly!
September 11, 2022
What It's About: The third Mennik Thorn book sits right on that novel/novella border, and it's quite wonderful. It actually may have been my favorite of the three in the series. This volume takes us to the docks of Agatos, where the hapless Mennik is forced to help a gang of smugglers.
What I Thought: Something clicked for me about what I have loved about this series as I was reading. It's really Mennik's character, and more than that, the type of hero that he is. He's unquestionably a good guy, not a morally grey hero or anti-hero. But he's also not your typical hero. For one thing, he isn't bombastically brave. He doesn't run out looking for trouble. He really does just want to be left alone, and yet he always tries to do the right thing as circumstances force him to. He's a truly likeable hero--in the sense that I feel like I would like to hang out with him if he were a real person!
My only quibble is that the final book in the series isn't out yet, and I want to read it!
What I Thought: Something clicked for me about what I have loved about this series as I was reading. It's really Mennik's character, and more than that, the type of hero that he is. He's unquestionably a good guy, not a morally grey hero or anti-hero. But he's also not your typical hero. For one thing, he isn't bombastically brave. He doesn't run out looking for trouble. He really does just want to be left alone, and yet he always tries to do the right thing as circumstances force him to. He's a truly likeable hero--in the sense that I feel like I would like to hang out with him if he were a real person!
My only quibble is that the final book in the series isn't out yet, and I want to read it!
December 28, 2024
This was a relatively smaller book but just as fun as the past ones in the series. It connects a few tangents that were left unconcluded in the Nectar for the God, and paves the way for a new plot direction in the next book.
Besides the eponymous mysterious artifact which Nik is being coerced into protecting, there were quite a few other fun elements. A strange magical parasite was something I totally didn’t see coming, and neither did I anticipate his barman nemesis Dumonoc getting entangled into the storyline so prominently. But seriously, that guy deserved it all.
Besides bizarre cases, we also get some glimpses of the shady religious organizations of Agatos revealing their true colors. And more creative applications of Nik’s increasingly renowned signature spell, colorfully named as fucksthat.
Full review on SFF Insiders
Besides the eponymous mysterious artifact which Nik is being coerced into protecting, there were quite a few other fun elements. A strange magical parasite was something I totally didn’t see coming, and neither did I anticipate his barman nemesis Dumonoc getting entangled into the storyline so prominently. But seriously, that guy deserved it all.
Besides bizarre cases, we also get some glimpses of the shady religious organizations of Agatos revealing their true colors. And more creative applications of Nik’s increasingly renowned signature spell, colorfully named as fucksthat.
Full review on SFF Insiders
August 5, 2022
Very short and I understand why but this book felt unnecessary to add but I guess I wont know for sure until the next book. Same as the last books the MC is just guess working and seemingly repeating the same dialogue every 10 pages on repeat with small variations. The solution was very deus ex machina only coming up because the author needed a solution to his problem for this book. This story and world has promise but for me it is not living up to it. Overall I did not feel the major plot or any characters develop in this story.
4.3/10
4.3/10
January 13, 2023
Mennik Thorn, mage-for-hire, prefers a simple life of casting spells to find lost dogs and tracking husbands to see if they’re stepping out on their wives. Unfortunately for Mennik, his last big case accidentally caused him to disrupt the work of a smuggling ring, and they’re coming to collect what they feel they’re owed. If Mennik doesn’t help them smuggle in some unknown cargo, well, Mennik won’t have to worry about any problems for too much longer.
STRANGE CARGO is a delightful little adventure that satisfies that urban fantasy itch, despite its smaller size (and epic fantasy setting). The author states up front his reasoning for this book: he had some story threads he wanted to lay out that just weren’t working in books 2 or 3 without making them feel bogged down with too much plot. Never fear that this is half-baked filler material; STRANGE CARGO stands on its own two feet, a full story with plenty of mystery and adventure.
The only real downside is that Mennik mostly works on his own in this outing, without the steadily building cast of characters that have developed over the last few books. The reasoning for their absence makes sense, and Mennik holds his own, but I still missed them.
STRANGE CARGO is another stellar adventure in a series that is proving perfect for those who like mystery in their fantasy. With the final book expected to hit later in 2023, I highly recommend jumping into the Mennik Thorn books, particularly if you’ve ever wanted a mystery series in an epic fantasy series (but without awkward chauvinism or straight out misogny). I’m definitely excited to see where everything lands in the finale!
STRANGE CARGO is a delightful little adventure that satisfies that urban fantasy itch, despite its smaller size (and epic fantasy setting). The author states up front his reasoning for this book: he had some story threads he wanted to lay out that just weren’t working in books 2 or 3 without making them feel bogged down with too much plot. Never fear that this is half-baked filler material; STRANGE CARGO stands on its own two feet, a full story with plenty of mystery and adventure.
The only real downside is that Mennik mostly works on his own in this outing, without the steadily building cast of characters that have developed over the last few books. The reasoning for their absence makes sense, and Mennik holds his own, but I still missed them.
STRANGE CARGO is another stellar adventure in a series that is proving perfect for those who like mystery in their fantasy. With the final book expected to hit later in 2023, I highly recommend jumping into the Mennik Thorn books, particularly if you’ve ever wanted a mystery series in an epic fantasy series (but without awkward chauvinism or straight out misogny). I’m definitely excited to see where everything lands in the finale!
October 27, 2023
I generally enjoy these books and the protagonist is pretty fun, but I always forget how tiresome the incessant profanity becomes. I've always held the firm belief that the use of profanity indicates a lack of imagination, but that would mean the author had zero imagination, and I know that's not the case. Still, I wish I could read a single page in his books without encountering the f-word. A simple find-and-replace would vastly improve the next episode of Mennic Thorn.
July 30, 2022
How our mage of self pity deals with smugglers' request... er.. order to transport a strange cargo is the crux of the story. That's basically it. As the author said it is indeed a short novel and deals with a side adventure of Mennik Thorn, which is a little disappointing. It is not that the novel itself is bad, it is just that it is short. As a fan of WOT, this is like eating a snack.
November 14, 2022
best of the lot
After reading this, I've found that this format works better with this story. These books have always had multiple storylines that culminate in the climax and tie in with the central mystery. It always seemed too busy, like juggling multiple balls at once. This was just right. I'd prefer a novella like this one for future stories. Much easier to digest.
After reading this, I've found that this format works better with this story. These books have always had multiple storylines that culminate in the climax and tie in with the central mystery. It always seemed too busy, like juggling multiple balls at once. This was just right. I'd prefer a novella like this one for future stories. Much easier to digest.
January 14, 2023
Not quite as good as the other two (but they are firm favorites for this year so far so take that how you will). I wouldn't read this one if you haven't read the others cause it won't make much sense.
The Dresden files vibe is strong with this one so I approve heartily.
Looking forward to the final book but also sad that it will be the last one.
The Dresden files vibe is strong with this one so I approve heartily.
Looking forward to the final book but also sad that it will be the last one.
October 14, 2023
Ok
Didn't keep my attention quite like the previous two novels but since this was basically just a filler novel I won't hold it against the series. I can see why the story needed to be told, I assume what happens with Nik will play big into the final novel but I just felt like it was a little drawn out for what happened. I'm still looking forward to the next novel though!
Didn't keep my attention quite like the previous two novels but since this was basically just a filler novel I won't hold it against the series. I can see why the story needed to be told, I assume what happens with Nik will play big into the final novel but I just felt like it was a little drawn out for what happened. I'm still looking forward to the next novel though!
September 13, 2022
A good entry in the series. I like that the city is as much as character as anyone else. Definitely looking forward to the next one. The whole thing reminds me a bit of Daniel Polansky's 'Low Town' series.
August 1, 2022
Another Great One!
Very happy to get this little gem. Very sad that the next book may be the last. One of my favorite series.
Very happy to get this little gem. Very sad that the next book may be the last. One of my favorite series.
October 19, 2023
As the author has said this is more of a half novel that didn’t quite fit into the last story. It is non stop action packed and fun.
June 9, 2025
A well written, fun, short read! Appreciated Nik’s snarkyness in this story.
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