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Bob the Wizard
Bob, a chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, shotgun-wielding ex-garbage man, chases his family’s killer—the gray-skinned Galvidon—through the realms of the mysterious Astraverse. The trail leads him to Hub, a world in turmoil populated by wizards, blue elves, faeries, giants, dragons, and unfortunately, plain old humans. Chained by his addictions and haunted by his past, Bob must find a way through this dark, magical realm and uncover its secrets, or lose all hope of ending Galvidon once and for all.
See through the haze of smoke. Glimpse the dragon. Follow Bob across the Astraverse.
See through the haze of smoke. Glimpse the dragon. Follow Bob across the Astraverse.
546 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2023
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449 people want to read
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March 11, 2024
My complete review of Bob the Wizard is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Bob the Wizard, the debut dark fantasy by M.V. Prindle, is a raucous ride featuring Robert Caplan, or Bob, as his friends know him. Bob is a chain-smoking recovering alcoholic, a foul-mouthed ex-garbage man from Texas who will stop at nothing to avenge his family’s death.
The novel opens with Bob in the aftermath of tragedy, his wife and son viciously murdered by a gray-skinned man known as Galvidon. Powered by nicotine and an unrelenting thirst for revenge, Bob chases the killer across the various worlds and slices of reality that make up the Astraverse, carrying nothing but a backpack, a pistol, and an enigmatic object called the Gatekey. This solar-powered Gatekey, which enables Bob’s world-hopping, had been gifted to him by a mysterious creature prior to his death. Somehow the Gatekey also seems to facilitate Bob’s communication with other intelligent beings wherever he goes.
While Bob the Wizard features a fun cast of side characters, Bob himself steals the show. Grimdark readers will appreciate the complexity of Bob’s character: he is a deeply flawed protagonist, fighting addiction and emotional trauma while on a monomaniacal quest for vengeance. However, despite his gruff and imposing exterior, Bob has a heart of gold and learns much about himself along the journey, discovering his own powers and reevaluating his priorities.
M.V. Prindle writes with heartfelt intensity and strikes a great balance of emotions throughout Bob the Wizard. There is sadness, hope, anger, and an abundance of laugh-out-loud humor. Although Bob the Wizard also features plenty of action, there were some pacing issues in the middle part of the book. I think the story could be streamlined a bit to help maintain a more consistent pacing throughout the novel.
M.V. Prindle’s layering of science fiction and fantasy elements in his worldbuilding is quite brilliant. Bob the Wizard takes the opposite approach of many other sci-fantasy novels, which often incorporate science fiction elements within a fantasy world. Prindle turns this inside-out in his debut, creating an entire fantasy world within a sci-fi multiverse framing device. The world features plenty of fantastical beasts and humanoid races, including faeries, blue elves, and lizard people. We also learn many details about the Astraverse itself, especially in the latter part of the novel.
Overall, Bob the Wizard is an exhilarating and wildly creative tale. M.V. Prindle is a natural storyteller, and I’m eager to see what his unbridled imagination will come up with next.
Bob the Wizard, the debut dark fantasy by M.V. Prindle, is a raucous ride featuring Robert Caplan, or Bob, as his friends know him. Bob is a chain-smoking recovering alcoholic, a foul-mouthed ex-garbage man from Texas who will stop at nothing to avenge his family’s death.
The novel opens with Bob in the aftermath of tragedy, his wife and son viciously murdered by a gray-skinned man known as Galvidon. Powered by nicotine and an unrelenting thirst for revenge, Bob chases the killer across the various worlds and slices of reality that make up the Astraverse, carrying nothing but a backpack, a pistol, and an enigmatic object called the Gatekey. This solar-powered Gatekey, which enables Bob’s world-hopping, had been gifted to him by a mysterious creature prior to his death. Somehow the Gatekey also seems to facilitate Bob’s communication with other intelligent beings wherever he goes.
While Bob the Wizard features a fun cast of side characters, Bob himself steals the show. Grimdark readers will appreciate the complexity of Bob’s character: he is a deeply flawed protagonist, fighting addiction and emotional trauma while on a monomaniacal quest for vengeance. However, despite his gruff and imposing exterior, Bob has a heart of gold and learns much about himself along the journey, discovering his own powers and reevaluating his priorities.
M.V. Prindle writes with heartfelt intensity and strikes a great balance of emotions throughout Bob the Wizard. There is sadness, hope, anger, and an abundance of laugh-out-loud humor. Although Bob the Wizard also features plenty of action, there were some pacing issues in the middle part of the book. I think the story could be streamlined a bit to help maintain a more consistent pacing throughout the novel.
M.V. Prindle’s layering of science fiction and fantasy elements in his worldbuilding is quite brilliant. Bob the Wizard takes the opposite approach of many other sci-fantasy novels, which often incorporate science fiction elements within a fantasy world. Prindle turns this inside-out in his debut, creating an entire fantasy world within a sci-fi multiverse framing device. The world features plenty of fantastical beasts and humanoid races, including faeries, blue elves, and lizard people. We also learn many details about the Astraverse itself, especially in the latter part of the novel.
Overall, Bob the Wizard is an exhilarating and wildly creative tale. M.V. Prindle is a natural storyteller, and I’m eager to see what his unbridled imagination will come up with next.
February 4, 2023
I can honestly say this is the best book I've ever read that I wrote.
May 25, 2023
Absolutely loved it!
Full review can be read here:
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-bob-th...
Full review can be read here:
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-bob-th...
June 23, 2023
Now that Mark Lawrence has opened the self published fantasy competition, SPFBO 9, I’ve taken an early plunge into it, earlier than I usually test the waters, often waiting for some filtering by the judges.
I simply chose this book because of the cool cover (and that’s another story too) and intriguing title.
I found it a mature enjoyable fantasy adventure, something you couldn’t imagine would be a first attempt by a new author though I’ve no idea what the author’s background or experience is.
Bob the Wizard, from Texas, has one aim; revenge. Why this is so is spelt out clearly in the first 2-3 pages. Thereafter the story is mainly about his pursuit of revenge, the mysterious killer he follows through many worlds before the main body of the story starts.
Most of the action takes place on a world where Bob gets caught up in issues apparently secondary to his pursuit. It’s a faux medieval world with humans, some good, some bad, blue skinned elves, giants, fairies and some other nastier creatures. Sounds a bit too classical fantasy? I didn’t find that was so in the way the different populations of the world were used. There’s also Bob’s distinctive personality with gruff, blunt observations in between his compulsive smoking, a habit which turns out to be more life enhancing for Bob than it is in our real world. The author even has Bob giving an especially helpful fairy the nickname ‘Tinkerbell’.
It’s a richly constructed world. Not just the array of creatures but this world also has its place in an almost multiverse of other worlds though they’re mostly a distant part of the backstory in this book.
One potential problem I find with stories set in a new fantasy world, with a wide range of creatures, many in conflict and with plenty of history between them, magic systems (plenty of that in this story), other worlds and forces in the background is whether we get too many ‘info dumps’ explaining all this to us (via conversations Bob has usually). I thought there were 2-3 sections where it got a bit close to that stage of ‘info overload’ but overall I think the author did a good job of not loading us down too much with previously unknown facts in one go.
It’s an adventure, with Bob meeting many of this world’s peoples/tribes/races, getting involved with their problems, though usually with the aim of it furthering his core vengeful task. There’s some conflict and a climatic battle towards the end of the book. This is volume 1 of I don’t know how many more in this series. There’s no indication of what’s to follow. The story itself concluded the main plot threads satisfactorily in this volume and leaves us with Bob about to go beyond the world where the action has thus far concentrated.
Overall I was impressed and enjoyed it. A page turning adventure with a gruff lead character and a plot which isn’t claiming to explore any deeper meanings in life, other than to entertain. Bob is the only character with any real depth in this tale, and I quite liked him though paradoxically one of the main plot components is that he doesn’t really know who he is!
I’m still not certain if the complexity of the world, with the deep background we’re eventually supplied, was necessary for this particular volume - maybe more of that could have been held back for future volumes? I also found the fact that Bob is stated as having traversed a number of worlds in pursuit of his revenge over some years strange in that it merits no further commentary. While just weeks in this specific world open up the most profound personal revelations. But that’s just me trying to find some criticisms, some rare points that didn’t run smoothly for me during my reading of the story.
From having read a fair few SPFBO entrants in the past I would have thought this book has finalist qualities, certainly for those who enjoy classical style fantasy adventures with plenty of novel twists to the genre.
4* from me; enjoyable well constructed adventure though I prefer somewhat deeper characterisations.
EDIT: There was some controversy about an AI designed cover that the author was unaware of. It now comes with a new ‘human’ cover…
I simply chose this book because of the cool cover (and that’s another story too) and intriguing title.
I found it a mature enjoyable fantasy adventure, something you couldn’t imagine would be a first attempt by a new author though I’ve no idea what the author’s background or experience is.
Bob the Wizard, from Texas, has one aim; revenge. Why this is so is spelt out clearly in the first 2-3 pages. Thereafter the story is mainly about his pursuit of revenge, the mysterious killer he follows through many worlds before the main body of the story starts.
Most of the action takes place on a world where Bob gets caught up in issues apparently secondary to his pursuit. It’s a faux medieval world with humans, some good, some bad, blue skinned elves, giants, fairies and some other nastier creatures. Sounds a bit too classical fantasy? I didn’t find that was so in the way the different populations of the world were used. There’s also Bob’s distinctive personality with gruff, blunt observations in between his compulsive smoking, a habit which turns out to be more life enhancing for Bob than it is in our real world. The author even has Bob giving an especially helpful fairy the nickname ‘Tinkerbell’.
It’s a richly constructed world. Not just the array of creatures but this world also has its place in an almost multiverse of other worlds though they’re mostly a distant part of the backstory in this book.
One potential problem I find with stories set in a new fantasy world, with a wide range of creatures, many in conflict and with plenty of history between them, magic systems (plenty of that in this story), other worlds and forces in the background is whether we get too many ‘info dumps’ explaining all this to us (via conversations Bob has usually). I thought there were 2-3 sections where it got a bit close to that stage of ‘info overload’ but overall I think the author did a good job of not loading us down too much with previously unknown facts in one go.
It’s an adventure, with Bob meeting many of this world’s peoples/tribes/races, getting involved with their problems, though usually with the aim of it furthering his core vengeful task. There’s some conflict and a climatic battle towards the end of the book. This is volume 1 of I don’t know how many more in this series. There’s no indication of what’s to follow. The story itself concluded the main plot threads satisfactorily in this volume and leaves us with Bob about to go beyond the world where the action has thus far concentrated.
Overall I was impressed and enjoyed it. A page turning adventure with a gruff lead character and a plot which isn’t claiming to explore any deeper meanings in life, other than to entertain. Bob is the only character with any real depth in this tale, and I quite liked him though paradoxically one of the main plot components is that he doesn’t really know who he is!
I’m still not certain if the complexity of the world, with the deep background we’re eventually supplied, was necessary for this particular volume - maybe more of that could have been held back for future volumes? I also found the fact that Bob is stated as having traversed a number of worlds in pursuit of his revenge over some years strange in that it merits no further commentary. While just weeks in this specific world open up the most profound personal revelations. But that’s just me trying to find some criticisms, some rare points that didn’t run smoothly for me during my reading of the story.
From having read a fair few SPFBO entrants in the past I would have thought this book has finalist qualities, certainly for those who enjoy classical style fantasy adventures with plenty of novel twists to the genre.
4* from me; enjoyable well constructed adventure though I prefer somewhat deeper characterisations.
EDIT: There was some controversy about an AI designed cover that the author was unaware of. It now comes with a new ‘human’ cover…
June 28, 2023
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: Kindle ebook
I happened to see this book while I was scrolling through Amazon, and instantly fell in love with the cover. I mean, how can you not? This is literally one of the coolest covers I’ve seen on a fantasy book or really any book. Unfortunately, it ended up being A.I. generated and the author was duped by the artist, but the good news is that he was able to procure a new one that is just as top notch, which is what you see now! On top of that, I was lucky enough to get a signed copy from the author, who happens to be a fellow Texan and now an entrant in the SPFBO-9 and of course a cover finalist. What I thought was going to be a story similar to The Punisher, Max Payne, The Crow, John Wick, and many many other revenge type of stories, Prindle actually throws a wrench into the wheel and delivers something much much more in this impressive debut, though the new cover does change this up a bit. What I would say about this, is that this is more of a story of Bob’s self-discovery as the main course and a bit of vengeance as the icing.
There was a lot of depth to this story and the world building as a whole, and I thought it was beautifully done. Hub is a very colorful world filled with all the fantasy creatures we all know and love, but what I really found unique about this is that it had a tinge of Sci-Fi to it that reminded me so much of the James Spader & Kurt Russell led film and many spin-off tv shows, Stargate with its use of Astralgates for certain characters to be able to go to different worlds. One character even had an ability that was very similar to the film Jumper, which I thought was pretty cool tool to use. There was also some Lord of the Rings to Hub and the story and characters as well.
"When I got here, I'd lost my way.
I'd forgotten how important every life was. I only thought of myself-what I wanted. If l'm a better man than I was then, even a little, it's because of the En'harae."
Speaking of characters, we need to talk about Bob! I really like Bob, and I think Prindle did a masterful job with the care and the development he took to make sure this character didn’t come off as an overpowered sociopath bent on revenge. Now I will say this, I do feel like there was a missed opportunity during the prologue to show the death of Bob’s family and then start chapter 1, just so we could get that full effect of feeling for him immediately because it did take a while to hear the story and truly feel for him and truly understand his revenge. But as I said, his development throughout the book was masterfully done, and the first her we got in, the more I was ready for him to finally get his vengeance. One of the races we meet in Hub, are the blue elves known as En’harae, what really stuck out to me was that it seems Prindle mirrored them off of indigenous tribes that dealt with losing their land, slavery and other atrocities in our own world. I can’t say that for certain, but it did seem like they were the inspiration for the elves of Hub, and it was definitely a nice touch.
In other words this is a Stargate meets Lord of the Rings with an MC who has some Punisher-like qualities. As I stated above, coming into this, I was expecting something that was going to be along the lines of The Punisher’s vengeance story arc of just absolutely wreaking havoc, and don’t get me wrong, there are scenes where Prindle delivers some of that brutal ferociousness and I absolutely loved it, especially the unforgettable final 100 pages. Even though I really liked this, the expectation I built based off the cover and book description, affected my rating just a tad, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for Bob next. So what I say to the person reading this, go in with a different expectation, because what you will find is something deeper more profound than a sociopathic vengeance story.
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: Kindle ebook
I happened to see this book while I was scrolling through Amazon, and instantly fell in love with the cover. I mean, how can you not? This is literally one of the coolest covers I’ve seen on a fantasy book or really any book. Unfortunately, it ended up being A.I. generated and the author was duped by the artist, but the good news is that he was able to procure a new one that is just as top notch, which is what you see now! On top of that, I was lucky enough to get a signed copy from the author, who happens to be a fellow Texan and now an entrant in the SPFBO-9 and of course a cover finalist. What I thought was going to be a story similar to The Punisher, Max Payne, The Crow, John Wick, and many many other revenge type of stories, Prindle actually throws a wrench into the wheel and delivers something much much more in this impressive debut, though the new cover does change this up a bit. What I would say about this, is that this is more of a story of Bob’s self-discovery as the main course and a bit of vengeance as the icing.
There was a lot of depth to this story and the world building as a whole, and I thought it was beautifully done. Hub is a very colorful world filled with all the fantasy creatures we all know and love, but what I really found unique about this is that it had a tinge of Sci-Fi to it that reminded me so much of the James Spader & Kurt Russell led film and many spin-off tv shows, Stargate with its use of Astralgates for certain characters to be able to go to different worlds. One character even had an ability that was very similar to the film Jumper, which I thought was pretty cool tool to use. There was also some Lord of the Rings to Hub and the story and characters as well.
"When I got here, I'd lost my way.
I'd forgotten how important every life was. I only thought of myself-what I wanted. If l'm a better man than I was then, even a little, it's because of the En'harae."
Speaking of characters, we need to talk about Bob! I really like Bob, and I think Prindle did a masterful job with the care and the development he took to make sure this character didn’t come off as an overpowered sociopath bent on revenge. Now I will say this, I do feel like there was a missed opportunity during the prologue to show the death of Bob’s family and then start chapter 1, just so we could get that full effect of feeling for him immediately because it did take a while to hear the story and truly feel for him and truly understand his revenge. But as I said, his development throughout the book was masterfully done, and the first her we got in, the more I was ready for him to finally get his vengeance. One of the races we meet in Hub, are the blue elves known as En’harae, what really stuck out to me was that it seems Prindle mirrored them off of indigenous tribes that dealt with losing their land, slavery and other atrocities in our own world. I can’t say that for certain, but it did seem like they were the inspiration for the elves of Hub, and it was definitely a nice touch.
In other words this is a Stargate meets Lord of the Rings with an MC who has some Punisher-like qualities. As I stated above, coming into this, I was expecting something that was going to be along the lines of The Punisher’s vengeance story arc of just absolutely wreaking havoc, and don’t get me wrong, there are scenes where Prindle delivers some of that brutal ferociousness and I absolutely loved it, especially the unforgettable final 100 pages. Even though I really liked this, the expectation I built based off the cover and book description, affected my rating just a tad, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for Bob next. So what I say to the person reading this, go in with a different expectation, because what you will find is something deeper more profound than a sociopathic vengeance story.
March 20, 2023
Where do I even begin telling you about this lovely little gem?
We’ll start with the title. How could I NOT purchase a book with such a simple, yet intriguing title? Bob the Wizard? Come on! Sounds like a children’s book, although the cover definitely indicates otherwise. The blurb sucked me in even more. Check it.
“Bob, a chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, shotgun-wielding ex-garbage man, chases his family’s killer—the gray-skinned Galvidon—through the realms of the mysterious Astraverse. The trail leads him to Hub, a world in turmoil populated by wizards, blue elves, faeries, giants, dragons, and unfortunately, plain old humans. Chained by his addictions and haunted by his past, Bob must find a way through this dark, magical realm and uncover its secrets, or lose all hope of ending Galvidon once and for all. See through the haze of smoke. Glimpse the dragon. Follow Bob across the Astraverse.”
Worth noting. If you’ve never tried writing a blurb, you’ve no idea how challenging they are. But this is a good one. Moving on…
If travelling through the Astraverse sounds a little sci-fi to you, well, you aren’t wrong. There’s a nice little touch of science fiction thrown in. However, Prindle does an excellent job of painting any science fiction topics with broad fantasy strokes.
“Someone from his Earth had once said that any technology, sufficiently advanced, was indistinguishable from magic.”
As with all SFF, suspension of belief is necessary to fully grasp what is happening and how high the stakes really are. And the stakes are much higher for the residents of Hub than Bob’s personal vendetta against Galvidon. Culture wars, unexpected friendships, slavery, self-discovery, greed, altruism, religious fanaticism, all collide in glorious technicolor.
We know Bob is on a mission of vengeance when he arrives via Gatekey to Hub. That much is clear from the get-go. Hot on Galvidon’s trail, he quickly finds himself involved in a skirmish with bandits while hitching a ride with a local to the nearest town. The wagon’s owner, and several of the bandits, are killed in the raid and Bob assumes the wagon’s cargo as his raison d’etre for being in the town in the first place. At the city gates, his sunglasses are questioned. He passes them off as wizard glasses and gifts them to the guards. Things go wildly downhill from here for Bob. He is seized by the city watch, thrown into jail, stripped of his belongings (including his shotgun and Gatekey), and enslaved in an iron ore mine.
While in the mines, he is eventually befriended by the blue-skinned En’harae, or elves, to use the local pejorative. Understandably mistrustful of anyone who resembles their human oppressors, the En’harae are a resilient, gracious people with a rich cultural history. Bob makes in-roads to gaining their trust when he saves their leader, Torael, from being crushed in a mine collapse. He wins them over with his honesty, frank curiosity, attempts to learn their language, and genuine concern for their welfare. Together, Bob and the En’harae plan their escape, the retrieval of Bob’s Gatekey, and Galvidon’s ultimate demise.
Along the way, Bob makes the acquaintance of a real wizard, Bernard, who helps him understand his role in the greater, cosmic scheme of things. Under Bernard’s tutelage, Bob discovers his kinship with the Earth spirit, Erto, and learns to literally move mountains. He is also adopted by a fairy scientist, Osivia, who is fascinated by human behavior and determined to accompany Bob through any adventure. Bernard, Erto, and Osivia are integral players in the En’harae uprising.
Obviously, there’s more to the story than I’m telling but since I’m not a fan of spoilers, that’s all I’ll say here. Bob spends quite a long time on Hub and while the passage of time can be tricky for authors, Prindle does an excellent job navigating this common pitfall. He lingers in the right places and move quickly when the narrative calls for it. It feels like Prindle was inspired by Native American history in his structure and creation of the En’harae. He is respectful without being obsequious or grasping at tropes. Likewise, his treatment of an En’harae ally, the men of the Nine Peaks, leans into Norse legends without treating the Niners like gregarious buffoons.
Prindle allows his characters to grow and learn, to celebrate their victories and grieve their losses. He gives his readers space to savor each emotion before charging into the next fray. Don’t take that to mean Bob the Wizard is a slow moving narrative. The pace is fast when it needs to be, more relaxed when it can afford it. Prindle’s timing is impeccable.
Fortunately, the ending is not only supremely satisfying, but also leaves readers wanting more. Thankfully, it seems another installment of Bob is in the works. I look forward to reading it.
Et tessat sheerat morae.
May the spirits guide our journeys.
(Did I mention the glossary and maps? No? Well, now I did.)
We’ll start with the title. How could I NOT purchase a book with such a simple, yet intriguing title? Bob the Wizard? Come on! Sounds like a children’s book, although the cover definitely indicates otherwise. The blurb sucked me in even more. Check it.
“Bob, a chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, shotgun-wielding ex-garbage man, chases his family’s killer—the gray-skinned Galvidon—through the realms of the mysterious Astraverse. The trail leads him to Hub, a world in turmoil populated by wizards, blue elves, faeries, giants, dragons, and unfortunately, plain old humans. Chained by his addictions and haunted by his past, Bob must find a way through this dark, magical realm and uncover its secrets, or lose all hope of ending Galvidon once and for all. See through the haze of smoke. Glimpse the dragon. Follow Bob across the Astraverse.”
Worth noting. If you’ve never tried writing a blurb, you’ve no idea how challenging they are. But this is a good one. Moving on…
If travelling through the Astraverse sounds a little sci-fi to you, well, you aren’t wrong. There’s a nice little touch of science fiction thrown in. However, Prindle does an excellent job of painting any science fiction topics with broad fantasy strokes.
“Someone from his Earth had once said that any technology, sufficiently advanced, was indistinguishable from magic.”
As with all SFF, suspension of belief is necessary to fully grasp what is happening and how high the stakes really are. And the stakes are much higher for the residents of Hub than Bob’s personal vendetta against Galvidon. Culture wars, unexpected friendships, slavery, self-discovery, greed, altruism, religious fanaticism, all collide in glorious technicolor.
We know Bob is on a mission of vengeance when he arrives via Gatekey to Hub. That much is clear from the get-go. Hot on Galvidon’s trail, he quickly finds himself involved in a skirmish with bandits while hitching a ride with a local to the nearest town. The wagon’s owner, and several of the bandits, are killed in the raid and Bob assumes the wagon’s cargo as his raison d’etre for being in the town in the first place. At the city gates, his sunglasses are questioned. He passes them off as wizard glasses and gifts them to the guards. Things go wildly downhill from here for Bob. He is seized by the city watch, thrown into jail, stripped of his belongings (including his shotgun and Gatekey), and enslaved in an iron ore mine.
While in the mines, he is eventually befriended by the blue-skinned En’harae, or elves, to use the local pejorative. Understandably mistrustful of anyone who resembles their human oppressors, the En’harae are a resilient, gracious people with a rich cultural history. Bob makes in-roads to gaining their trust when he saves their leader, Torael, from being crushed in a mine collapse. He wins them over with his honesty, frank curiosity, attempts to learn their language, and genuine concern for their welfare. Together, Bob and the En’harae plan their escape, the retrieval of Bob’s Gatekey, and Galvidon’s ultimate demise.
Along the way, Bob makes the acquaintance of a real wizard, Bernard, who helps him understand his role in the greater, cosmic scheme of things. Under Bernard’s tutelage, Bob discovers his kinship with the Earth spirit, Erto, and learns to literally move mountains. He is also adopted by a fairy scientist, Osivia, who is fascinated by human behavior and determined to accompany Bob through any adventure. Bernard, Erto, and Osivia are integral players in the En’harae uprising.
Obviously, there’s more to the story than I’m telling but since I’m not a fan of spoilers, that’s all I’ll say here. Bob spends quite a long time on Hub and while the passage of time can be tricky for authors, Prindle does an excellent job navigating this common pitfall. He lingers in the right places and move quickly when the narrative calls for it. It feels like Prindle was inspired by Native American history in his structure and creation of the En’harae. He is respectful without being obsequious or grasping at tropes. Likewise, his treatment of an En’harae ally, the men of the Nine Peaks, leans into Norse legends without treating the Niners like gregarious buffoons.
Prindle allows his characters to grow and learn, to celebrate their victories and grieve their losses. He gives his readers space to savor each emotion before charging into the next fray. Don’t take that to mean Bob the Wizard is a slow moving narrative. The pace is fast when it needs to be, more relaxed when it can afford it. Prindle’s timing is impeccable.
Fortunately, the ending is not only supremely satisfying, but also leaves readers wanting more. Thankfully, it seems another installment of Bob is in the works. I look forward to reading it.
Et tessat sheerat morae.
May the spirits guide our journeys.
(Did I mention the glossary and maps? No? Well, now I did.)
August 15, 2024
4.25 Stars
Bob the Wizard by M.V. Prindle hit my personal SPFBO-9 TBR very early on. Controversy aside regarding AI artwork, the original cover really appealed to me. Even though the newer cover is still solid, I feel the original cover still fits the story better. The newer cover set other expectations for this read that didn't really happy for me. I'll get to that more in a bit. With that being said, I still regret waiting so long to finally get to this story as I truly enjoyed it!
One of the reasons I finally made the push to get this one read in July was I also got my hands on a physical copy of the original cover. I found it being sold second hand online and it turned out it was being sold by someone from the Booktube community that I consider a friend that I've respected his feedback regarding many things book for a couple of years now.
The pacing of Bob the Wizard worked fairly well for me. I thought the story progressed rather smoothly with only a handful of noticeable edit issues. This was by no means a long read at 546 pages but some readers may have differing opinions on that. It still felt like it read quickly though. It never felt rushed to me but when I had moments to sit down and read, the pages seemed to roll bad in chunks. I didn't have any issues with names of characters or locations with this story either.
The world building was really good. This is one of those areas I wanted to pause and touch on my previous expectations versus realities. The newer cover had me thinking this might be comparable to Harry Dresden (Dresden Files) in the fact of a wizard in a more modern or futuristic world. Though that might not have been as accurate a expectation on my part, the actual story turned out to be such a good world to get lost in. This book was complex in the fact that it actually encompasses many worlds. Though most of the book takes place in a more primitive or medieval world with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
As the story unfolds we are given plenty of depth to the current world along with more and more history over time filling in backgrounds of other worlds. I can't imagine these types of tales can be easy to tell. I know I'd struggle with a single world and it's history, let alone adding multiple layers to that. In this case, this was such a job well done by Prindle.
The character development was right up there with the quality of world building for me. We see so much growth for so many characters in Bob the Wizard. Obviously, our biggest growth is of our protagonist Bob. That is only the start. So many characters enter Bob's story and we see a lot of growth for many of them. A couple of my favorites characters were Bernard, Osivia, Gorrelai and even Kelael. I did wish we would have seen more of the briefly mentioned Hilda at the beginning of the story. I loved her spunk!
Overall, I had so much fun with this read. I'm glad that I was able to add a physical copy to my collection. I think this story would really appeal to fans who enjoy their fantasy to have some elements of science fiction for sure. If you struggle with tech or more modern items showing up in your fantasy worlds, you might struggle with this one a bit. I can't think of any other stories to compare this to. M.V. Prindle has a very unique story to tell here and I hope this isn't the end of this world in the future.
Bob the Wizard by M.V. Prindle hit my personal SPFBO-9 TBR very early on. Controversy aside regarding AI artwork, the original cover really appealed to me. Even though the newer cover is still solid, I feel the original cover still fits the story better. The newer cover set other expectations for this read that didn't really happy for me. I'll get to that more in a bit. With that being said, I still regret waiting so long to finally get to this story as I truly enjoyed it!
One of the reasons I finally made the push to get this one read in July was I also got my hands on a physical copy of the original cover. I found it being sold second hand online and it turned out it was being sold by someone from the Booktube community that I consider a friend that I've respected his feedback regarding many things book for a couple of years now.
The pacing of Bob the Wizard worked fairly well for me. I thought the story progressed rather smoothly with only a handful of noticeable edit issues. This was by no means a long read at 546 pages but some readers may have differing opinions on that. It still felt like it read quickly though. It never felt rushed to me but when I had moments to sit down and read, the pages seemed to roll bad in chunks. I didn't have any issues with names of characters or locations with this story either.
The world building was really good. This is one of those areas I wanted to pause and touch on my previous expectations versus realities. The newer cover had me thinking this might be comparable to Harry Dresden (Dresden Files) in the fact of a wizard in a more modern or futuristic world. Though that might not have been as accurate a expectation on my part, the actual story turned out to be such a good world to get lost in. This book was complex in the fact that it actually encompasses many worlds. Though most of the book takes place in a more primitive or medieval world with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
As the story unfolds we are given plenty of depth to the current world along with more and more history over time filling in backgrounds of other worlds. I can't imagine these types of tales can be easy to tell. I know I'd struggle with a single world and it's history, let alone adding multiple layers to that. In this case, this was such a job well done by Prindle.
The character development was right up there with the quality of world building for me. We see so much growth for so many characters in Bob the Wizard. Obviously, our biggest growth is of our protagonist Bob. That is only the start. So many characters enter Bob's story and we see a lot of growth for many of them. A couple of my favorites characters were Bernard, Osivia, Gorrelai and even Kelael. I did wish we would have seen more of the briefly mentioned Hilda at the beginning of the story. I loved her spunk!
Overall, I had so much fun with this read. I'm glad that I was able to add a physical copy to my collection. I think this story would really appeal to fans who enjoy their fantasy to have some elements of science fiction for sure. If you struggle with tech or more modern items showing up in your fantasy worlds, you might struggle with this one a bit. I can't think of any other stories to compare this to. M.V. Prindle has a very unique story to tell here and I hope this isn't the end of this world in the future.
January 14, 2024
I had such a good time with this book. Bob is a very gruff character that I really came to love and cheer for. He's been through a lot and I respect his tenacity for revenge. One thing that will really suck me into a book is if the world is really cool. I think Prindle crafted a super interesting and creative world here. I appreciated the slow unraveling of who Bob is and the details behind the world he is traveling through. Bernard and Quackers were an absolute delight. I loved spending time training with him and watching his dynamic with Bob. Some many of the side characters in this novel were also so well written. I had so many people, elves, half-blooded giants, and all sorts of fantasy creatures to cheer for. If you like cool worlds, a bit slower paced stories, interesting action scenes, and well-written characters, give this story a shot! I had a great time with it.
April 16, 2025
Bob the Wizard
By M.V. Prindle
The book itself was overall a massive success, in my opinion. I did have a couple quibbles, but nothing that took away from the fact that I’m invested in this story now!
The good:
The characters. Bob, himself, is complex and interesting. On the surface he is only about revenge, but when he ends up on Hub he suddenly has to slow down and actually do some introspection. I thought he was very well rounded and loved his character growth. The other main characters were each interesting in their own way. The world-building was interesting, if a bit complicated. But then when your dealing with a universe made up of worlds, it’s going to get complicated.
Quibbles:
It was a little info-dump-y. Most of that was done by the “old wizard mentor” character which is one of my favorite tropes, so I forgave him for his rambles 😂 Anything else was really not a big deal overall, so I’m just going to leave it at that one.
So there you have it. I highly recommend you go check it out! Fantastic read.
By M.V. Prindle
The book itself was overall a massive success, in my opinion. I did have a couple quibbles, but nothing that took away from the fact that I’m invested in this story now!
The good:
The characters. Bob, himself, is complex and interesting. On the surface he is only about revenge, but when he ends up on Hub he suddenly has to slow down and actually do some introspection. I thought he was very well rounded and loved his character growth. The other main characters were each interesting in their own way. The world-building was interesting, if a bit complicated. But then when your dealing with a universe made up of worlds, it’s going to get complicated.
Quibbles:
It was a little info-dump-y. Most of that was done by the “old wizard mentor” character which is one of my favorite tropes, so I forgave him for his rambles 😂 Anything else was really not a big deal overall, so I’m just going to leave it at that one.
So there you have it. I highly recommend you go check it out! Fantastic read.
July 24, 2023
Cover to cover - fantastic read! I like Bob. He just might be one of my fav new characters!
January 7, 2026
The title made this seem like an odd/eccentric take on an epic fantasy but, it turns out, by the halfway point, it was just another humdrum, predictable time wasting effort.
DNF
DNF
February 20, 2023
Bob the Wizard is the kind of book I'd love to see turned into a movie. The author paints a beautiful story with his details, allowing the reader to feel like they're part of the journey. Prindle's characters are unique and individual.
Bob, specifically, isn't what I originally expected. He's driven, but kind-hearted, and cares more than he'd like to admit, though he can be cut throat when necessary. The book takes you on a journey that begins with a deep need for vengeance and becomes something much more as Bob chases down the man who murdered his wife and son.
Bob the Wizard is a creative twist of fantasy and adventure that leaves the reader enthralled and flipping pages, sucked in and waiting to see what happens next. The universe Prindle created is complex, which is a testament to his clever mind and love for writing. I'm excited to see what happens next!
Bob, specifically, isn't what I originally expected. He's driven, but kind-hearted, and cares more than he'd like to admit, though he can be cut throat when necessary. The book takes you on a journey that begins with a deep need for vengeance and becomes something much more as Bob chases down the man who murdered his wife and son.
Bob the Wizard is a creative twist of fantasy and adventure that leaves the reader enthralled and flipping pages, sucked in and waiting to see what happens next. The universe Prindle created is complex, which is a testament to his clever mind and love for writing. I'm excited to see what happens next!
March 17, 2023
A richly imagined world. Highly recommended!
How often do you see a cover this magnificent, and find a story behind it that more than lives up to the promise? Bob The Wizard won me over from the first page.
A foul-mouthed, chain-smoking garbageman with a shotgun and a Gatekey chasing a supernatural being through the Astraverse, bent on revenge for the murder of his family. That’s a pretty good setup that could go a lot of different ways.
But when Bob lands in a world of kings and slaves, wizards and lizards, elves and fairies, the story’s true nature takes hold. Bob, and the other characters he encounters, are deeply realized and full of complexity. Bob himself is fundamentally flawed, and realizes he is. He fully embraces his imperfections and tries to rise above them at the same time, making him a character that will live with me for quite awhile. And hey – when you have a fairy that believes in you, you can’t be all bad.
It’s a story of brotherhood, bravery and redemption, wrapped in a swords-and-wizardry setting that’s well worth a visit. Highly recommended!
How often do you see a cover this magnificent, and find a story behind it that more than lives up to the promise? Bob The Wizard won me over from the first page.
A foul-mouthed, chain-smoking garbageman with a shotgun and a Gatekey chasing a supernatural being through the Astraverse, bent on revenge for the murder of his family. That’s a pretty good setup that could go a lot of different ways.
But when Bob lands in a world of kings and slaves, wizards and lizards, elves and fairies, the story’s true nature takes hold. Bob, and the other characters he encounters, are deeply realized and full of complexity. Bob himself is fundamentally flawed, and realizes he is. He fully embraces his imperfections and tries to rise above them at the same time, making him a character that will live with me for quite awhile. And hey – when you have a fairy that believes in you, you can’t be all bad.
It’s a story of brotherhood, bravery and redemption, wrapped in a swords-and-wizardry setting that’s well worth a visit. Highly recommended!
August 4, 2023
Shit. Christmas had been postponed. Maybe even cancelled.
So. This book has left me with what I consider to be a sizeable conundrum in terms of ranking, rating and overall reberation. I'm not sure the latter is a fully accepted word (at least not in polite company) but after reading nearly 600 pages of… fantasy(???) I'm going to graciously give myself the benefit of the doubt. But let's try anyway...
The task is so monumentally difficult, so beyond what the mind believes itself to be capable of, that it must be tricked.
I enjoyed the book , "Bob the Wizard" by M.V.Prindle. Sure, it wasn't an entirely even nor in some spots very quick read. I also still think that there were some plot holes that you could push a tortum through with the help of even a relatively small wind spirit (so two dead humans and a dead "alien" plus an alcoholic garbage man disappearing didn't raise any alarms with the cops?). And the fact that the cover (the apparently re-done non-controversial one I think I should say) and what actually happen in the book don't have much to do with each other was also disorienting. But in end effect, it was indeed an entertaining, albeit long read. I must admit after reading the promo blurb that it was totally different than I expected but still, like I obtusely hinted at, it was more than readable enough.
Sometimes the faeries come. Sometimes bandits. Now and then a fucking dragon will swoop out of the sky for my sheep. So no, some asshole with horns don’t really rattle my cage.
However… I did not like Bob the Wizard , the protagonist of "Bob the Wizard" (betcha didn't see that coming) much at all. Yes, I guess he did ultimately redeem himself as anti-heroes of this ilk are supposed to do but I just never warmed up to his non-stop rush towards vengeance as well as some pretty acute strategic errors caused all too often by his smart-ass mouth. I also grew a bit tired of all the smoking (arguably a habit about as difficult to quit as drinking) and his utter lack of connection to his erstwhile training to become a police officer. There were more than a few moments where that would have not only come in handy but should have been screaming at him in his frontal (or backal) cortex in terms of how to approach given situations.
Anger was easier than grief.
I mean, let's be honest: this type of main character isn't very unique, and I'm not just talking about the "huge loss" or "grumpiness" or even clichéd heavy, long jacket to boot. Among my favorite examples of same - sticking just to the broader fantasy offers and not diving into the more scifi-y Captain Spacestud-type selections - include Douglas Lumsden's amazing "Alex Southerland" and also Peter Hartog's "Tom 'Doc' Holliday" aka THE Guardian of Empire City. Heck, there have also been more than a few examples from young authors C.J.Powell and Alexander Nader that I won't name by name (or bad habits) here! Heck, You could even make an argument for a few from my new-found love of "Weird Westerns" while we're at it… but I've got to try and keep this list somewhat manageable (oh wait, what about…). My point being (I think there was one), I would have liked to have liked (huh?) Bob a lot more than I did. Oh well, to each their own…
First you threaten to kill me, then you ask for my help. You need to work on your people skills.
In addition, and this is a big one, I didn't feel like this tale HAD to be another multi-verse type of story, even though by my count we're only even exposed to three realms, with one being Earth (our version) and another only mentioned ever so briefly at the beginning. Yes, I get that this was a complex who invented whom and are we descended from gods or are we gods type of (hm, I've already used conundrum above) scenario, but I'm just kind of over this trope, both in literature and obviously the movies. But having said that, the stories strength does lie then in its more fantasy-oriented plot-lines.
Who brings a duck to a meeting?
And its during this almost Tolkien-esque journey of our crew that Prindle delivers the best bits. From faeries to giants to "not elves don't call them elves" to dragons, elemental spirits and more, this is the strength of it all. Sure, you could argue that we should have drawn the line at the more "mundane" of fantasy creatures before we started in with the alien Sleestak-esque creatures, but to each their own. And besides, what better lesson do you need to learn other than "no matter which world they visit, the British are always going to wind up being total bastards while mistreating the natives." At the end of the day, that's gonna my final take-away from all this and I'm stickin' to it!
Et tessat sheerat morae.
So. This book has left me with what I consider to be a sizeable conundrum in terms of ranking, rating and overall reberation. I'm not sure the latter is a fully accepted word (at least not in polite company) but after reading nearly 600 pages of… fantasy(???) I'm going to graciously give myself the benefit of the doubt. But let's try anyway...
The task is so monumentally difficult, so beyond what the mind believes itself to be capable of, that it must be tricked.
I enjoyed the book , "Bob the Wizard" by M.V.Prindle. Sure, it wasn't an entirely even nor in some spots very quick read. I also still think that there were some plot holes that you could push a tortum through with the help of even a relatively small wind spirit (so two dead humans and a dead "alien" plus an alcoholic garbage man disappearing didn't raise any alarms with the cops?). And the fact that the cover (the apparently re-done non-controversial one I think I should say) and what actually happen in the book don't have much to do with each other was also disorienting. But in end effect, it was indeed an entertaining, albeit long read. I must admit after reading the promo blurb that it was totally different than I expected but still, like I obtusely hinted at, it was more than readable enough.
Sometimes the faeries come. Sometimes bandits. Now and then a fucking dragon will swoop out of the sky for my sheep. So no, some asshole with horns don’t really rattle my cage.
However… I did not like Bob the Wizard , the protagonist of "Bob the Wizard" (betcha didn't see that coming) much at all. Yes, I guess he did ultimately redeem himself as anti-heroes of this ilk are supposed to do but I just never warmed up to his non-stop rush towards vengeance as well as some pretty acute strategic errors caused all too often by his smart-ass mouth. I also grew a bit tired of all the smoking (arguably a habit about as difficult to quit as drinking) and his utter lack of connection to his erstwhile training to become a police officer. There were more than a few moments where that would have not only come in handy but should have been screaming at him in his frontal (or backal) cortex in terms of how to approach given situations.
Anger was easier than grief.
I mean, let's be honest: this type of main character isn't very unique, and I'm not just talking about the "huge loss" or "grumpiness" or even clichéd heavy, long jacket to boot. Among my favorite examples of same - sticking just to the broader fantasy offers and not diving into the more scifi-y Captain Spacestud-type selections - include Douglas Lumsden's amazing "Alex Southerland" and also Peter Hartog's "Tom 'Doc' Holliday" aka THE Guardian of Empire City. Heck, there have also been more than a few examples from young authors C.J.Powell and Alexander Nader that I won't name by name (or bad habits) here! Heck, You could even make an argument for a few from my new-found love of "Weird Westerns" while we're at it… but I've got to try and keep this list somewhat manageable (oh wait, what about…). My point being (I think there was one), I would have liked to have liked (huh?) Bob a lot more than I did. Oh well, to each their own…
First you threaten to kill me, then you ask for my help. You need to work on your people skills.
In addition, and this is a big one, I didn't feel like this tale HAD to be another multi-verse type of story, even though by my count we're only even exposed to three realms, with one being Earth (our version) and another only mentioned ever so briefly at the beginning. Yes, I get that this was a complex who invented whom and are we descended from gods or are we gods type of (hm, I've already used conundrum above) scenario, but I'm just kind of over this trope, both in literature and obviously the movies. But having said that, the stories strength does lie then in its more fantasy-oriented plot-lines.
Who brings a duck to a meeting?
And its during this almost Tolkien-esque journey of our crew that Prindle delivers the best bits. From faeries to giants to "not elves don't call them elves" to dragons, elemental spirits and more, this is the strength of it all. Sure, you could argue that we should have drawn the line at the more "mundane" of fantasy creatures before we started in with the alien Sleestak-esque creatures, but to each their own. And besides, what better lesson do you need to learn other than "no matter which world they visit, the British are always going to wind up being total bastards while mistreating the natives." At the end of the day, that's gonna my final take-away from all this and I'm stickin' to it!
Et tessat sheerat morae.
June 30, 2023
I've placed Bob The Wizard into the top three of my favourite books for 2023. It is going to be hard to beat.
As a writer, you learn from other writers. It's given me pause for thought to decide what makes this such a good story. I think it all comes down to this.
Momentum.
The best stories have energy. It comes from the interaction between characterisation and world building. One ignites the other and builds and builds. The climax forms the explosion, the release of that combustive energy.
Bob the Wizard has that energy. Bob is utterly engaging. He is amusing, emotionally complex and driven. These qualities attract others like him. Over the course of the story, a merry band of adventurers form. We lose some of them. This drama sustains the energy, it introduces tension with the constant levels of threat. These deaths are never over-dramatised but they contribute to the narrative's sustainability. Each character, without exception, is readily distinguished. Important when the cast list is so long. Characters like Kelael whose relationship with Bob changes over time in such subtle ways we accept their bond. Likewise Osivia, whose humour brings a light delicacy to moments of drama and darkness. Bernard, who delivers a lot of the exposition but in ways that avoid info dumping. Instead, he brings more questions to keep us curious, engaged.
Then there is the world building. More accurately, universe building. Its scale grabbed me once its implications began to sink in. For this reason, managing the drip, drip, drip of exposition was crucial. Clever too, that each drop impacted on Bob.
For this is a universe which defies any other I've encountered in recent fantasy. There's a touch of Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks here. Portals to other dimensions exist in lots of stories but in this one, Matthew Prindle defines the 'astraverse' - a magical highway that connects these portals. Beyond that, a variety of people with differing roles who operate within this universe. There is so much material here it's obvious the story only scratches the surface. More books will follow. Fair enough. But establishing a universe on such a scale while telling a complex story - that requires real talent!
My point about momentum reaches this conclusion. Like a whirlwind or tornado, the story's energy must continue to increase. Bob's travels introduces him to people, creatures and communities which help build this momentum. Always with one thing in mind - finding a way to wreak vengeance on Galvidon for murdering his family. The story starts off as a vengeance drama but rapidly turns into something bigger than that. Even though, for so many characters, their own vengeance is never far away.
Finally, there is the mystical factor that increases the effectiveness of world building. Access to spirits that are not the kind that are worshipped in traditional ways. This mysticism benefits our protagonist and his buddies. But it informs some of the societies we encounter too. I enjoyed this element especially. It brought depth and maturity to the story, made it thought provoking. It provides an ecological message to the book which needed making.
All in all, I strongly recommend this book. It is part of the Self Publishing Fantasy Blog Off competition this year. I hope it features as a finalist.
As a writer, you learn from other writers. It's given me pause for thought to decide what makes this such a good story. I think it all comes down to this.
Momentum.
The best stories have energy. It comes from the interaction between characterisation and world building. One ignites the other and builds and builds. The climax forms the explosion, the release of that combustive energy.
Bob the Wizard has that energy. Bob is utterly engaging. He is amusing, emotionally complex and driven. These qualities attract others like him. Over the course of the story, a merry band of adventurers form. We lose some of them. This drama sustains the energy, it introduces tension with the constant levels of threat. These deaths are never over-dramatised but they contribute to the narrative's sustainability. Each character, without exception, is readily distinguished. Important when the cast list is so long. Characters like Kelael whose relationship with Bob changes over time in such subtle ways we accept their bond. Likewise Osivia, whose humour brings a light delicacy to moments of drama and darkness. Bernard, who delivers a lot of the exposition but in ways that avoid info dumping. Instead, he brings more questions to keep us curious, engaged.
Then there is the world building. More accurately, universe building. Its scale grabbed me once its implications began to sink in. For this reason, managing the drip, drip, drip of exposition was crucial. Clever too, that each drop impacted on Bob.
For this is a universe which defies any other I've encountered in recent fantasy. There's a touch of Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks here. Portals to other dimensions exist in lots of stories but in this one, Matthew Prindle defines the 'astraverse' - a magical highway that connects these portals. Beyond that, a variety of people with differing roles who operate within this universe. There is so much material here it's obvious the story only scratches the surface. More books will follow. Fair enough. But establishing a universe on such a scale while telling a complex story - that requires real talent!
My point about momentum reaches this conclusion. Like a whirlwind or tornado, the story's energy must continue to increase. Bob's travels introduces him to people, creatures and communities which help build this momentum. Always with one thing in mind - finding a way to wreak vengeance on Galvidon for murdering his family. The story starts off as a vengeance drama but rapidly turns into something bigger than that. Even though, for so many characters, their own vengeance is never far away.
Finally, there is the mystical factor that increases the effectiveness of world building. Access to spirits that are not the kind that are worshipped in traditional ways. This mysticism benefits our protagonist and his buddies. But it informs some of the societies we encounter too. I enjoyed this element especially. It brought depth and maturity to the story, made it thought provoking. It provides an ecological message to the book which needed making.
All in all, I strongly recommend this book. It is part of the Self Publishing Fantasy Blog Off competition this year. I hope it features as a finalist.
September 1, 2023
This is a 3-star review. My experience would be closer to 3.5 stars, but I cannot justify rounding it up to 4 stars.
The premise of the book is that our hero, Bob, watches some otherworldly figure murder his family. He is handed a magical device that will allow him to jump between astral planes/parallel-worlds/time/etc. He follows his family's murderer through space and time.
Bob eventually finds himself in a place where he discovers that he isn't the good guy anymore. He outright kills a couple of good guys. He didn't know, but the deaths are the result of Bob arrogantly thinking that all of his prior actions had been appropriate.
He soon discovers who the bad guys are and is enslaved by them. He eventually helps his fellow slaves escape and they all meet up with the good guys. He discovers that he is a descendant of a unique race. He learns to use some powers. His side eventually wins the day.
While I was fully engaged with the characters and the general narrative, there were just too many instances of poor writing for me to overlook. Also, this is obviously the first book in a series. I discount books in a series that are not self-contained story arcs.
In the early scenes, Bob finds himself up high on a building that has banister. Bob hangs from the banister rather than standing on a ledge that the banister would be protecting. I think the author wanted the cool image of Bob hanging off the side of a building. A little later on, Bob jumps from the building to follow his objective through a dimensional portal. He ends up landing on the grass without much fuss. All of that moment from the fall apparently doesn't matter when passing through a portal that is hanging in midair.
At another point, Bob suggests that he is "wondering" the "Astraverse". I think he meant that he is "wandering". There is an instant where it is apparent that the author doesn't know how guns work. There is a reference to a deer having "fauns". The word is "fawns".
With a little copyediting, this would be a solid 4-star book.
The premise of the book is that our hero, Bob, watches some otherworldly figure murder his family. He is handed a magical device that will allow him to jump between astral planes/parallel-worlds/time/etc. He follows his family's murderer through space and time.
Bob eventually finds himself in a place where he discovers that he isn't the good guy anymore. He outright kills a couple of good guys. He didn't know, but the deaths are the result of Bob arrogantly thinking that all of his prior actions had been appropriate.
He soon discovers who the bad guys are and is enslaved by them. He eventually helps his fellow slaves escape and they all meet up with the good guys. He discovers that he is a descendant of a unique race. He learns to use some powers. His side eventually wins the day.
While I was fully engaged with the characters and the general narrative, there were just too many instances of poor writing for me to overlook. Also, this is obviously the first book in a series. I discount books in a series that are not self-contained story arcs.
In the early scenes, Bob finds himself up high on a building that has banister. Bob hangs from the banister rather than standing on a ledge that the banister would be protecting. I think the author wanted the cool image of Bob hanging off the side of a building. A little later on, Bob jumps from the building to follow his objective through a dimensional portal. He ends up landing on the grass without much fuss. All of that moment from the fall apparently doesn't matter when passing through a portal that is hanging in midair.
At another point, Bob suggests that he is "wondering" the "Astraverse". I think he meant that he is "wandering". There is an instant where it is apparent that the author doesn't know how guns work. There is a reference to a deer having "fauns". The word is "fawns".
With a little copyediting, this would be a solid 4-star book.
Want to read
February 3, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A garbage man with a magical key hops between worlds chasing the gray demon who killed his family - reminding me of The Dark Tower
The prologue of this story makes wonderful use of one of fictions strengths: the ability to tell the audience things they need to know and get through a lot of material fast.
The narrative shares our MC’s late wife’s brief meditation on grief, starting with some of the most potent writing in this opening. The prose is clear, steady as a rock, and deeply thoughtful.
This gives a sense of tonal balance to the cigarette chewing, shotgun wielding, trench coat wearing Bob we meet in chapter 1.
Grief is how our story starts. We’re told, without detail, that our MCs wife and child were killed by some demon. He got a key from some weird thing that then died, and then some kind of computer in another realm told him how to use the thing.
Writing from the perspective of a character who knows little about how everything works gives an author and a story a lot of room to do what it needs to do without bogging us down with explanations. This does that.
Ch1 slows down, and begins with action. Not action we totally understand, but that feels besides the point. It’s a good jumping off point, literally, before Bob finds himself in what is for us a familiar fantasy realm.
The dialogue, when it shows up, is as natural and establishing of character as the prose. I think this is off to a great start and is a great debut.
I’m surprised by the setting we’ve landed in, which is making me think of Army of Darkness, but I’m on board, and this makes me hope there will continue to be surprises in the story. I don’t know just where it will go yet, except after this demon.
Our MC has a big clear goal. There’s a lot we don’t know yet, and I’m hopeful the more I read, the more the story will fill out. This has been a treat to read so far. I’m in!
A garbage man with a magical key hops between worlds chasing the gray demon who killed his family - reminding me of The Dark Tower
The prologue of this story makes wonderful use of one of fictions strengths: the ability to tell the audience things they need to know and get through a lot of material fast.
The narrative shares our MC’s late wife’s brief meditation on grief, starting with some of the most potent writing in this opening. The prose is clear, steady as a rock, and deeply thoughtful.
This gives a sense of tonal balance to the cigarette chewing, shotgun wielding, trench coat wearing Bob we meet in chapter 1.
Grief is how our story starts. We’re told, without detail, that our MCs wife and child were killed by some demon. He got a key from some weird thing that then died, and then some kind of computer in another realm told him how to use the thing.
Writing from the perspective of a character who knows little about how everything works gives an author and a story a lot of room to do what it needs to do without bogging us down with explanations. This does that.
Ch1 slows down, and begins with action. Not action we totally understand, but that feels besides the point. It’s a good jumping off point, literally, before Bob finds himself in what is for us a familiar fantasy realm.
The dialogue, when it shows up, is as natural and establishing of character as the prose. I think this is off to a great start and is a great debut.
I’m surprised by the setting we’ve landed in, which is making me think of Army of Darkness, but I’m on board, and this makes me hope there will continue to be surprises in the story. I don’t know just where it will go yet, except after this demon.
Our MC has a big clear goal. There’s a lot we don’t know yet, and I’m hopeful the more I read, the more the story will fill out. This has been a treat to read so far. I’m in!
June 2, 2023
There are many controversies surrounding this novel, but the first and foremost is the intellectual theft and the continued usage of an artificial intelligence (AI) generated cover. In the artistic world, someone like M.V. Prindle would be shunned, and the fact that he hasn't been, rather embraced under the notion that he didn't know, only shows the poor quality of the literary world. In no other field would this behavior be acceptable except in the indie publishing world as he flaunts his so-called "win" at the cover contest and the AI-generated cover in the face of those who call out the unethical behavior.
Nonetheless, the more egregious aspect of the novel does not reveal itself to be the cover art but the writing. While there are many attempts at writing that fall flat on their faces due to the steep learning curve that is writing, Bob the Wizard is vacant of those attempts as the cadence and word choice is indicative of an even worse problem: AI-generated writing. While those who are unfamiliar with AI-generated content will declare loudly that it is not AI-generated -- for fear of their own work being revealed or an incompetence and ignorance of the power of AI generators, it is not known -- the predictability of the word choice, the cadence in which it is set, and the word choice in which only a computer could choose all point to AI. There is no creativity in those words, no life or voice to set it apart. It is an affront to writing. There is a difference between a human and a computer "telling, not showing", and in this case, anyone with an ounce of software and grammar knowledge can pinpoint that M.V. Prindle is as real as his cover art.
The worst aspects of the indie publishing community and AI-generated art have married in this atrocity of the written word. Bob the Wizard is indicative of a future in which creativity is sacrificed on the altar of fame.
Nonetheless, the more egregious aspect of the novel does not reveal itself to be the cover art but the writing. While there are many attempts at writing that fall flat on their faces due to the steep learning curve that is writing, Bob the Wizard is vacant of those attempts as the cadence and word choice is indicative of an even worse problem: AI-generated writing. While those who are unfamiliar with AI-generated content will declare loudly that it is not AI-generated -- for fear of their own work being revealed or an incompetence and ignorance of the power of AI generators, it is not known -- the predictability of the word choice, the cadence in which it is set, and the word choice in which only a computer could choose all point to AI. There is no creativity in those words, no life or voice to set it apart. It is an affront to writing. There is a difference between a human and a computer "telling, not showing", and in this case, anyone with an ounce of software and grammar knowledge can pinpoint that M.V. Prindle is as real as his cover art.
The worst aspects of the indie publishing community and AI-generated art have married in this atrocity of the written word. Bob the Wizard is indicative of a future in which creativity is sacrificed on the altar of fame.
October 3, 2023
Boom, what a fantastic debut book, Bob the Wizard by M.V. Prindle. Hopefully, this is the start of a new epic series, damn I couldn’t get enough. Who wouldn't love to read about a grizzled, ex-garbage collector, chain pipe smoking, shotgun-weilding wizard.
Please, M.V. Prindle, gonna need more of Bob in the very near future. Bob the Wizard is a brilliant mix of sci-fi and fantasy beautifully intwind together to give us one of my favourite books of the year.
The cover of the book hooks you with its magnificents, and let me tell you, the story absolutely lives up to the cover with its amazing worldbuilding, plot, and setting, where our protagonist Bob travels the Astraverse bringing you new adventures across the worlds.
The author introduces you to an array of fantastic mixed diverse characters that you will love and hate. Fast-paced, action-packed full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Bob is a fun character that's full of witty dialogue that will have you laughing out loud. When I picture Bob the Wizard in my head, Billy Butcher from The Boy's series comes to mind and is lodged permanently.
In this book, Bob comes comes home from work to find two supernatural beings in his sitting room, one lying injured and dying the other standing over the bodies of his wife and son. The killer Galvidon suddenly disappears, leaving Bob dumbfounded.
When the dying being Rashindon, offers an explanation of what just happened to his family. He gives him an Astral gate key to go after Galvidon. Loaded with a shot gun, a pack of smokes, and a gate key, Bob sets off across the Astraverse, set on vengeance for his murdered family.
Absolutely awesome. If this sounds like it's right up your alley, then what are you waiting for? Check out this roller coaster of a read, very highly recommended.....😁🔥💀🧚♂️🧝♂️
Please, M.V. Prindle, gonna need more of Bob in the very near future. Bob the Wizard is a brilliant mix of sci-fi and fantasy beautifully intwind together to give us one of my favourite books of the year.
The cover of the book hooks you with its magnificents, and let me tell you, the story absolutely lives up to the cover with its amazing worldbuilding, plot, and setting, where our protagonist Bob travels the Astraverse bringing you new adventures across the worlds.
The author introduces you to an array of fantastic mixed diverse characters that you will love and hate. Fast-paced, action-packed full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Bob is a fun character that's full of witty dialogue that will have you laughing out loud. When I picture Bob the Wizard in my head, Billy Butcher from The Boy's series comes to mind and is lodged permanently.
In this book, Bob comes comes home from work to find two supernatural beings in his sitting room, one lying injured and dying the other standing over the bodies of his wife and son. The killer Galvidon suddenly disappears, leaving Bob dumbfounded.
When the dying being Rashindon, offers an explanation of what just happened to his family. He gives him an Astral gate key to go after Galvidon. Loaded with a shot gun, a pack of smokes, and a gate key, Bob sets off across the Astraverse, set on vengeance for his murdered family.
Absolutely awesome. If this sounds like it's right up your alley, then what are you waiting for? Check out this roller coaster of a read, very highly recommended.....😁🔥💀🧚♂️🧝♂️
July 3, 2023
After the AI controversy, I checked this little book out. On the one hand, it's quirky. I get a Douglas Adams sort of narrative vibe... a bad Douglas Adams sorta narrator. The story isn't horrible, and there are some clever bits scattered throughout, but the writing is iffy at best. There's been speculation that the book was AI-assisted, and at points, I found myself almost hoping it was as an excuse for the writing. Maybe I'm just picky, you say? Yes, yes I am. However, I skimmed for the first head-slapper and it didn't take long...
"He snapped his fingers over the little wheel on the lighter and pressed the resulting flame to the end of the cigarette, sucking in the tobacco with relish."
So, let's ignore the overwrought, clunky-clinical description and get to my point... sucking in the tobacco with relish? Aside from it sounding more like he's smoking a hot dog, when smoking a cigarette you do not suck in the tobacco. Spittin' grit, baby!
Call me a literalist if you like, but that's iffy writing. But hey, let's blow that one off, forgiveness is next to godliness and all that. Next page...
"Then, the butt of the cigarette smoldering in his mouth, winking at the smoke, he took off his pack and rooted around."
Iffy writing all around, but wait! The butt of his cigarette is smoldering in his mouth? Have you ever smoked a cigarette until the butt burns? AKA smolders? It wreaks and will get hot as hell fast... Spit it out, Bob! Spit it out! For the love of... Don't even get me started on winking at the smoke.
You get the point. Human or AI assisted, it doesn't matter. The writing is poor.
"He snapped his fingers over the little wheel on the lighter and pressed the resulting flame to the end of the cigarette, sucking in the tobacco with relish."
So, let's ignore the overwrought, clunky-clinical description and get to my point... sucking in the tobacco with relish? Aside from it sounding more like he's smoking a hot dog, when smoking a cigarette you do not suck in the tobacco. Spittin' grit, baby!
Call me a literalist if you like, but that's iffy writing. But hey, let's blow that one off, forgiveness is next to godliness and all that. Next page...
"Then, the butt of the cigarette smoldering in his mouth, winking at the smoke, he took off his pack and rooted around."
Iffy writing all around, but wait! The butt of his cigarette is smoldering in his mouth? Have you ever smoked a cigarette until the butt burns? AKA smolders? It wreaks and will get hot as hell fast... Spit it out, Bob! Spit it out! For the love of... Don't even get me started on winking at the smoke.
You get the point. Human or AI assisted, it doesn't matter. The writing is poor.
June 7, 2023
Wow, wow, wow! That was such an incredible book. I admit that I probably wouldn't have given it a go, but I saw a lot of good stuff being said about it on Twitter, and I thought why not?!
I'm so glad I did because following Bob on his journey was epic! Bob was awesome as were Osivia, Kelael and a few other characters that we met along the way!
I thought the writing was brilliant, and the world building was amazing.
It was fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns.
I can't wait for book 2 and see what adventures await for Bob and the crew next. Well, I'm hoping some of the characters we met in this book will make an appearance in the next one.
Highly recommend this book!
I'm so glad I did because following Bob on his journey was epic! Bob was awesome as were Osivia, Kelael and a few other characters that we met along the way!
I thought the writing was brilliant, and the world building was amazing.
It was fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns.
I can't wait for book 2 and see what adventures await for Bob and the crew next. Well, I'm hoping some of the characters we met in this book will make an appearance in the next one.
Highly recommend this book!
April 5, 2023
I'm still trying to think of words for this book. It was an incredible story. Truly. I wasn't sure if it would be one of those drawn out stories or not. At first, I was kind of afraid it would be, but it wasn't. It was a great story. I loved the characters, felt for Bob so much & felt the struggles he did. The others he met, you either hated or loved them. It was just magnificent. I hope there are going to be more stories with Bob later on. I'm invested now.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 8, 2023
This book has had many reviews praising its characters and world. That was not my experience. I found the writing style flat and predictable with simple sentences and repeated words that made me think of a juvenile writing it. The plot felt almost like a description of the a story rather than a story in itself. The characters again felt flat, as if they were summaries of personalities. I would not go so far as another reviewer in suggesting the book was AI generated, although the author has claimed the cover was without their knowledge.
August 23, 2024
I don't DNF alot of books but after reading the AI controversy on the cover art, I've an inkling suspicion that the writing is also AI assisted. Who goes out of their way to write how a character strikes a lighter and smokes a cigarette, while taking 2 paragraphs to do this? This doesn't end in the 1st chapter either, similar writing occurs when Bob wanders around town and it just gets me out of the story. Phillip Chase gave this book a chance and I would like to do so either but sadly I'll have to put this down as a DNF
May 26, 2023
4.5 stars.
Absolutely fun read. On the surface it was rocking some of that 80s and 90s vibe, (especially with the characters and the world Bob finds himself in) but underneath there were some serious issues (handled well) like colonisation, slavery and the destruction of nature.
Bob is a well executed protagonist and completely relateable and I loved what his magic 'focus' was.
I would've given this a full 5 stars but there were a couple of times I personally felt the pacing drag as some scenes were overlong without needing to be and I was tempted to skip to the next chapter. YVMV of course.
Absolutely fun read. On the surface it was rocking some of that 80s and 90s vibe, (especially with the characters and the world Bob finds himself in) but underneath there were some serious issues (handled well) like colonisation, slavery and the destruction of nature.
Bob is a well executed protagonist and completely relateable and I loved what his magic 'focus' was.
I would've given this a full 5 stars but there were a couple of times I personally felt the pacing drag as some scenes were overlong without needing to be and I was tempted to skip to the next chapter. YVMV of course.
July 9, 2023
3.5 stars. Decent, but I didn't find it engrossing. The writing is overall a bit flat though mostly...fine...discounting a few typos, including using "it's" in place of "its."
The events of the story were interesting enough to read, and the ending was pretty good, but I had almost zero interest in the overarching background/universe. That's surprising because I often find that to be the coolest part - especially when spanning multiple worlds - whereas here it felt primitive. Oh well.
The events of the story were interesting enough to read, and the ending was pretty good, but I had almost zero interest in the overarching background/universe. That's surprising because I often find that to be the coolest part - especially when spanning multiple worlds - whereas here it felt primitive. Oh well.
November 16, 2024
Such a fun read!
The mix of fantasy and Bob's urban background offers delightful contrasts when he bumbles through this world, making friends and enemies and overall finding out who he really is and what he wants. I loved the takes on elves and fairies and also the greater concept of ancient-race-behind-the-curtain that left me curious for more.
The mix of fantasy and Bob's urban background offers delightful contrasts when he bumbles through this world, making friends and enemies and overall finding out who he really is and what he wants. I loved the takes on elves and fairies and also the greater concept of ancient-race-behind-the-curtain that left me curious for more.
June 28, 2023
It's a 3.5 rounded up. This was okay at times great at others. I loved every single side character and shed a couple of tears more than once. I loved Bob's character development but sill found him a tiiiiiny bit bland. All in all this solid read.
July 23, 2023
Enjoyable read
A grizzled, ex-garbage collector, chain smoking, shotgun-weilding wizard. If that's not enough to convince you to pick this book up, I don't know what is. Looking forward to the next installment.
A grizzled, ex-garbage collector, chain smoking, shotgun-weilding wizard. If that's not enough to convince you to pick this book up, I don't know what is. Looking forward to the next installment.
July 27, 2023
Such an amazing book! Definitely in my top 2 reads so far this year! Can't wait for the next book in the series. Mr. Prindle, very well done. What a great adventure so far. Loved the characters and had plenty of laughs. The new cover art is for the book is perfect as well.
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