What do you think?
Rate this book
Ned Firebreak
ASIN moved from less recent edition
The Firebreaks are a family of dragonslayers. After dispatching the unruly lizards, this father/son team brings back the fair maidens to live on their magically protected princess reservation. At least that's what their brochure would have you believe.
When Ned wakes up from a coma, he finds key memories relating to his rescue missions and missing-in-action father erased by magic. With the help of three motivated princesses and one who’s rather a hindrance, he sets out to uncover his missing memories and reveal the truth of his family's dealings with the dragons of the Eight Kingdoms. Along the way, Ned picks up a tree sidekick, a wizard versed in the ludicrous art of pun magic, and a healthy respect for both princesses and dragons alike.
Can he make the world outside of the reservation safe for the princesses? Will he uncover the true threat to the maidens' well-being? Can he find his father before he must face off against the nefarious black dragon, Rackeesus, who dogs his trail every step of the way?
Find out Ned's fate in this rousing tale that blends fantasy with mystery and heaping helpings of wit.
The Firebreaks are a family of dragonslayers. After dispatching the unruly lizards, this father/son team brings back the fair maidens to live on their magically protected princess reservation. At least that's what their brochure would have you believe.
When Ned wakes up from a coma, he finds key memories relating to his rescue missions and missing-in-action father erased by magic. With the help of three motivated princesses and one who’s rather a hindrance, he sets out to uncover his missing memories and reveal the truth of his family's dealings with the dragons of the Eight Kingdoms. Along the way, Ned picks up a tree sidekick, a wizard versed in the ludicrous art of pun magic, and a healthy respect for both princesses and dragons alike.
Can he make the world outside of the reservation safe for the princesses? Will he uncover the true threat to the maidens' well-being? Can he find his father before he must face off against the nefarious black dragon, Rackeesus, who dogs his trail every step of the way?
Find out Ned's fate in this rousing tale that blends fantasy with mystery and heaping helpings of wit.
271 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2013
I had the privilege of reading Brian Clopper's manuscript for Ned Firebreak as a beta (early) reader an am pleased to report that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast-paced and highly readable, this novel sets up the adventures of the Firebreak family, fearsome dragonslayers who earn their living rescuing princesses from those terrifying beasts of legend. Clopper layers in a healthy dose of his comic wit, nicely balancing comedic scenes and moments with some truly exciting action sequences.
I can easily see "Ned" becoming the first book of a series and hope that the author intends to do just that. Recommended.
I can easily see "Ned" becoming the first book of a series and hope that the author intends to do just that. Recommended.
May 30, 2013
How do I describe Ned Firebreak by Brian Clopper? Quirky? Exciting? Fantastical? Sometimes Silly? Sometimes Funny? Creative? Sometimes Scary? Sometimes Informative? Always Enchanting? Always Fun? Witty as Heck? Nope, not enough on their own, Ned’s tale is ALL of the aforementioned descriptives!
We meet young Ned as he awakens from a long coma, with huge chunks of his memory fuzzy or gone. You see, Ned is part of a father/son family business, per the brochures, they are dragonslayers who save fair princesses from the clutches of evil dragons, then protecting them within the enchanted “princess reservation.” But, where is Ned’s father? Why can’t her really remember him well? How can he find him and save the family business before it goes under? And why is everyone so vague at times, avoiding talking too much about the past year while Ned was in his coma?
What can I say about Brian Clopper? (See descriptives above.) What a gift this author has! I laughed, I loved the characters, I loved the story, I was definitely under its spell! Brian Clopper managed to straddle a fine line with his characters, the princesses were not totally helpless, Ned wasn’t an uber hero, evil was evil and good was good, evil could even be swayed to be good, the characters often worked together, shared ideas and accepted each other’s differences with ease. (A hidden lesson on “playing nice?”) The author wasn’t afraid to use “big” words, then give several other words that fit the bill. (Language Arts?) Through it all, Ned Firebreak is larger than life, with such a diverse cast of characters, from a brave, but sweet fairy princess to princess sisters who cannot go far from each other, to a rather nasty princess who charms the boys to do her bidding. ( Gee, they sound like girls I knew in school) You’re going to love Sir Franklin, Fairbanks with his “pun” magic and Mink, the magical talking sword with the sharp tongue.
This is another perfect book for encouraging ALL younger readers to find the joy and magic in the written word, (as well as Grandmas who love to escape reality for a while)! I REALLY need to thank author Brian Clopper for allowing me to read and review this book and strongly recommend it for all ages!
Publication Date: May 6, 2013
Publisher: Behemoth Books
Age Recommendation: Younger Readers on up!
Rating: 5 Stars
Blog: Tome Tender Book Blog
Find this book at Amazon
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
We meet young Ned as he awakens from a long coma, with huge chunks of his memory fuzzy or gone. You see, Ned is part of a father/son family business, per the brochures, they are dragonslayers who save fair princesses from the clutches of evil dragons, then protecting them within the enchanted “princess reservation.” But, where is Ned’s father? Why can’t her really remember him well? How can he find him and save the family business before it goes under? And why is everyone so vague at times, avoiding talking too much about the past year while Ned was in his coma?
What can I say about Brian Clopper? (See descriptives above.) What a gift this author has! I laughed, I loved the characters, I loved the story, I was definitely under its spell! Brian Clopper managed to straddle a fine line with his characters, the princesses were not totally helpless, Ned wasn’t an uber hero, evil was evil and good was good, evil could even be swayed to be good, the characters often worked together, shared ideas and accepted each other’s differences with ease. (A hidden lesson on “playing nice?”) The author wasn’t afraid to use “big” words, then give several other words that fit the bill. (Language Arts?) Through it all, Ned Firebreak is larger than life, with such a diverse cast of characters, from a brave, but sweet fairy princess to princess sisters who cannot go far from each other, to a rather nasty princess who charms the boys to do her bidding. ( Gee, they sound like girls I knew in school) You’re going to love Sir Franklin, Fairbanks with his “pun” magic and Mink, the magical talking sword with the sharp tongue.
This is another perfect book for encouraging ALL younger readers to find the joy and magic in the written word, (as well as Grandmas who love to escape reality for a while)! I REALLY need to thank author Brian Clopper for allowing me to read and review this book and strongly recommend it for all ages!
Publication Date: May 6, 2013
Publisher: Behemoth Books
Age Recommendation: Younger Readers on up!
Rating: 5 Stars
Blog: Tome Tender Book Blog
Find this book at Amazon
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
May 8, 2013
Fantasy author Brian Clopper goes all out in this tale of a dragonslayer who's lost his memory and has to figure out how he's supposed to continue his trade when he has no recollection of his skills. And why is he in the company of Aunt Nance and four lovely princesses?
On this journey of discovery, my favorite character has to be the magical tree, dubbed Sir Franklin, who leaves his roots behind and branches out in an effort not to leaf Ned to fend for himself on his quest. (See, Clopper's not the only one who can write puns.) But all the characters are solid, and the story moves at a pretty fair clip, culminating in an epic ending.
I had the privilege of reading an early pre-publication copy of this novel, and there are a number of things the author has since adjusted and improved based on feedback from myself and other beta readers. The sign of a good author is one who is enthusiastic about listening to comments and making changes for the sake of a better book. This book has come through the refinement process and is now as shiny has Aunt Nance's sword. The result is a solid and well-written novel for all ages. Thoroughly recommended.
On this journey of discovery, my favorite character has to be the magical tree, dubbed Sir Franklin, who leaves his roots behind and branches out in an effort not to leaf Ned to fend for himself on his quest. (See, Clopper's not the only one who can write puns.) But all the characters are solid, and the story moves at a pretty fair clip, culminating in an epic ending.
I had the privilege of reading an early pre-publication copy of this novel, and there are a number of things the author has since adjusted and improved based on feedback from myself and other beta readers. The sign of a good author is one who is enthusiastic about listening to comments and making changes for the sake of a better book. This book has come through the refinement process and is now as shiny has Aunt Nance's sword. The result is a solid and well-written novel for all ages. Thoroughly recommended.
March 30, 2016
A very enjoyable quirky fairytale with a fresh breeze
I read the book chapter by chapter due to being very tired the last two weeks - so I had sort of a children's experience with it, one chapter before bedtime, which was awesome and frustrating at the same time.
I am certain in another time I would have read the book in one go and I wanted to go on reading every night, every chapter reveals some new mystery until the end.
I can imagine children will love that book, especially after they had heard a few traditional dragon and princess stories they will be rolling on the floor from laughter in moments and be astonished and surprised by others. The characters are very likeable and the story so intriguing ... what's not to love about it?
I am thrilled that there is going to be a second book.
I read the book chapter by chapter due to being very tired the last two weeks - so I had sort of a children's experience with it, one chapter before bedtime, which was awesome and frustrating at the same time.
I am certain in another time I would have read the book in one go and I wanted to go on reading every night, every chapter reveals some new mystery until the end.
I can imagine children will love that book, especially after they had heard a few traditional dragon and princess stories they will be rolling on the floor from laughter in moments and be astonished and surprised by others. The characters are very likeable and the story so intriguing ... what's not to love about it?
I am thrilled that there is going to be a second book.
May 13, 2013
Ned Firebreak is a quirky, fun adventure perfect for pre-teens on up. This tale of princesses, dragons, and other magical beings turns the fantasy genre on its head, uprooting classic ideas, for example: that princesses are kind, gentle maidens and that princes are ever-heroic gentlemen. Clopper busts as many tropes about wizards and dragons, putting a refreshing twist on a genre that’s so often overdone. In that way, Ned Firebreak is not your typical young fantasy tale—it’s much better.
Ned is a likeable character, if sometimes a bit slow on the uptake. He pulls through in the end, though, with a little help along the way.
From the pun-ful chapter titles to the talking sword with an attitude, Clopper draws on his strengths and creates a light-heated, vibrant tapestry in which his witty humor and colorful wordplay often steal the show.
Ned is a likeable character, if sometimes a bit slow on the uptake. He pulls through in the end, though, with a little help along the way.
From the pun-ful chapter titles to the talking sword with an attitude, Clopper draws on his strengths and creates a light-heated, vibrant tapestry in which his witty humor and colorful wordplay often steal the show.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews