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The Lakeland Knight #1
My Sparkling Misfortune
Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way.
Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead—“a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans.”
Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the Sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of “best interests” is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.
Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead—“a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans.”
Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the Sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of “best interests” is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.
162 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published April 28, 2010
31 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lond
50 books38 followersLaura Lond is an internationally published author of several novels and a collection of short stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Having worked for 2 years at a literary museum, Laura entered the world of business, working for large international corporations like Xerox Ltd. and Fluor Daniel. After moving from Europe to the United States, she has been self-employed as a freelancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 27, 2022
This was utterly absurd, owned it, and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It came as a (hilarious) breath of fresh air in the midst of this reading slump. Three cheers for the things you didn't know you had on your e-reader!
Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle is a self-proclaimed (and perfectly happy) villain. But when Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, defeats him in a rather villainous way, Arkus sets off to right wrongs. Or wrong wrongs. You get what I mean. Robbed of literally everything, he figures his best course of action is to bind an evil spirit to him as a servant. Unfortunately(?), what he ends up with is a sparkling... the most goody-two-shoes of all spirits. And things just get worse (or better?) from there.
Recommend!
Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle is a self-proclaimed (and perfectly happy) villain. But when Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, defeats him in a rather villainous way, Arkus sets off to right wrongs. Or wrong wrongs. You get what I mean. Robbed of literally everything, he figures his best course of action is to bind an evil spirit to him as a servant. Unfortunately(?), what he ends up with is a sparkling... the most goody-two-shoes of all spirits. And things just get worse (or better?) from there.
Recommend!
December 14, 2014
This was a fun book with an interesting twist on the fantasy genre. The story was told from the POV of the self confessed villain Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle. After being outwitted by an aspiring hero, the neighboring Prince Kellemar, by less than heroic means, Lord Arkus decides he needs some help to gain revenge. He aims to do this by capturing an evil spirit and bending it to his will. Unfortunately his plan goes awry and he captures a Sparkling instead. The Sparkling is a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans. Arkus is initially outraged but decides to retain the services of Tulip, the Sparkling, after Tulip fends off the monster that has been hunting him for years.
After his defeat by the Prince and his disastrous capture of a Sparkling instead of an evil spirit Lord Arkus decides to lie low in the next kingdom over until he can regroup. Only with Tulip looking out for his best interests his villainous plans go hilariously awry and before long he is being hailed as a local hero! His own belief in manners and courtesy do not help him convince the Royals of the Kingdom that he is not the hero they think him to be.
All in all this was a fun read that had a similar feel to a Disney movie. Despite his denials Lord Arkus proved to be a likable and worthy hero. I loved how Arkus developed over the course of the story and how he learned the value of loyalty, honor, and friendship. The secondary characters like Tulip and Philip were entertaining and likable. The "hero" of the story Prince Kellemar was an interesting adversary for Lord Arkus.
The only problem with this book was that it was too short! Thankfully there is a sequel.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: This was narrated fantastically well by A. T. Chandler.
After his defeat by the Prince and his disastrous capture of a Sparkling instead of an evil spirit Lord Arkus decides to lie low in the next kingdom over until he can regroup. Only with Tulip looking out for his best interests his villainous plans go hilariously awry and before long he is being hailed as a local hero! His own belief in manners and courtesy do not help him convince the Royals of the Kingdom that he is not the hero they think him to be.
All in all this was a fun read that had a similar feel to a Disney movie. Despite his denials Lord Arkus proved to be a likable and worthy hero. I loved how Arkus developed over the course of the story and how he learned the value of loyalty, honor, and friendship. The secondary characters like Tulip and Philip were entertaining and likable. The "hero" of the story Prince Kellemar was an interesting adversary for Lord Arkus.
The only problem with this book was that it was too short! Thankfully there is a sequel.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: This was narrated fantastically well by A. T. Chandler.
December 14, 2014
This has turned out into a slightly spoilerish mini review. I didn't know what to expect of the book at all and was extremely surprised in a very pleasant way. For a kids' fantasy book, this was much better than a lot of adult ones!
The story was extremely entertaining. It was told from the POV of a self-professed villain, who miserably failed at being one. His interactions with his sidekick (who was supposed to be an evil spirit but turned out to be an extremely benevolent one) were hilarious. And so were his attempts to convince everyone he was not a hero:)
I loved the story, the characters and the humour of the story. I'm only sorry that the story was too short and as it ended on a cliffhanger, I really want to go on with the second book!
The story was extremely entertaining. It was told from the POV of a self-professed villain, who miserably failed at being one. His interactions with his sidekick (who was supposed to be an evil spirit but turned out to be an extremely benevolent one) were hilarious. And so were his attempts to convince everyone he was not a hero:)
I loved the story, the characters and the humour of the story. I'm only sorry that the story was too short and as it ended on a cliffhanger, I really want to go on with the second book!
May 1, 2012
3.75-ish
This is...going to be a bit of a weird, catch-all review, because the fact is, I have never listened to an entire audiobook. I've tried, I really have, but generally the reader gets about 3 sentences out before I say, Um, no. The farthest I've ever gotten in an audio was about 1/4 of the way through The Forest of Hands and Teeth - and though I really actually did like the narration, the only reason I even picked it up was to refresh my memory on the story and style. So agreeing to review an audio was a gamble, as I let Laura know. And I'm going to try to address both the story and the audio aspect, but in the end, I feel like I can't quite separate the two, and couldn't tell you whether I liked the story because of the narration, or liked the narration because of the story.
Because I did like it. There was a huge adjustment period, though. Probably the first 40 minutes was spent with me not being able to focus and finding that my mind had drifted and 10 minutes of audio had passed with out me really absorbing a thing. And I can't really blame that on the story or the narration, because I don't think either was to blame. It's just...I don't like being read too. I was the weird kid that didn't say "Read me a story" but said "I can do it myself!" My mom has this habit of bringing magazines or articles to my attention and saying, "Did you see this?" and proceeding to read them to me. I'm sure most people would find them endearing, but my mom should know better. She knows I hate being read to. I really, really do and I couldn't not tell you why. It just makes my brain feel...cluttered. And I'm sure part of it is some insane control thing, too. So yeah, like I said, this was a gamble. I process differently when I'm listening instead of looking, and it took my brain a bit to switch over and accept that this was how the story was being told.
And if this wasn't for review, I probably would have given up. But I didn't. I had chores that needed doing, and where I normally listen to music while cleaning (because that is the only thing that gives me incentive to clean or *gulp* do laundry), I instead put in my headphones and settled into to listen to MSM. I was all prepared to slog through, and you know what? I instead found myself really liking it. I guess having mindless busy work to do gave me enough to focus on that my brain couldn't wander, and I actually started to absorb the story! I did more chores so I had an excuse to keep listening. Guys, this audiobook thing is genius.
So once my brain switched over and I could actually listen to the story, I found I really liked it. It's not necessarily anything I'm going to rave about or push on all of my friends, but my friends with sons will probably hear about it. It's funny and fairly wholesome, and I was surprised to find myself actually smiling on multiple occasions. Smiling is not something that normally happens while I do dishes... Weirdly, I think that the audiobook helped in this aspect. With an audiobook you can't look ahead, even accidentally, so things do take you by surprise and catch you off-guard, and this humor that crept upon me actually made me chuckle as a result.
And the voice acting was pretty magnificent. A.T. Chandler, who does the narration, reminded me a bit of Danny Elfman as the singing voice of Jack Skellington. (And I know, you're like, Why doesn't he remind you of Chris Sarandon, who did Jack's speaking parts? Is there singing in this book? But there's just a way that Elfman uses his voice, and though Sarandon does it too, I'm sure, it's most memorable and noticeable to me in Jack's songs.) Chandler did lots of different voices, and they all seemed seamless; I never had trouble knowing who was talking, because the voices were all distinctive and memorable. And he was good at accents and ages/sexes. The way he used his voice and the accents he used were part of what made me smile. I couldn't help picturing Jack, as I said, or Groundskeeper Willy, and a few other people. It was...neat. Where I generally have issues with the voices of narrators, I couldn't fault Chandler at all.
And in the end, I did end up liking Lord Arkus and his journey. He's a fun, unwillingly round character, who grows a lot and hates every minute of it (he says), and it was pleasant. I most especially loved the symmetry between Arkus trying to be a villain and ending up a hero, while his nemesis is trying to be a hero and ending up a villain. It was a charming, fun story that I think will appeal to young boys looking for an adventure story, and mothers who don't want their kid's adventure stories to be gruesome or age-inappropriate.
And it convinced me that audiobooks aren't the devil, so I have to give it points for that. :)
This is...going to be a bit of a weird, catch-all review, because the fact is, I have never listened to an entire audiobook. I've tried, I really have, but generally the reader gets about 3 sentences out before I say, Um, no. The farthest I've ever gotten in an audio was about 1/4 of the way through The Forest of Hands and Teeth - and though I really actually did like the narration, the only reason I even picked it up was to refresh my memory on the story and style. So agreeing to review an audio was a gamble, as I let Laura know. And I'm going to try to address both the story and the audio aspect, but in the end, I feel like I can't quite separate the two, and couldn't tell you whether I liked the story because of the narration, or liked the narration because of the story.
Because I did like it. There was a huge adjustment period, though. Probably the first 40 minutes was spent with me not being able to focus and finding that my mind had drifted and 10 minutes of audio had passed with out me really absorbing a thing. And I can't really blame that on the story or the narration, because I don't think either was to blame. It's just...I don't like being read too. I was the weird kid that didn't say "Read me a story" but said "I can do it myself!" My mom has this habit of bringing magazines or articles to my attention and saying, "Did you see this?" and proceeding to read them to me. I'm sure most people would find them endearing, but my mom should know better. She knows I hate being read to. I really, really do and I couldn't not tell you why. It just makes my brain feel...cluttered. And I'm sure part of it is some insane control thing, too. So yeah, like I said, this was a gamble. I process differently when I'm listening instead of looking, and it took my brain a bit to switch over and accept that this was how the story was being told.
And if this wasn't for review, I probably would have given up. But I didn't. I had chores that needed doing, and where I normally listen to music while cleaning (because that is the only thing that gives me incentive to clean or *gulp* do laundry), I instead put in my headphones and settled into to listen to MSM. I was all prepared to slog through, and you know what? I instead found myself really liking it. I guess having mindless busy work to do gave me enough to focus on that my brain couldn't wander, and I actually started to absorb the story! I did more chores so I had an excuse to keep listening. Guys, this audiobook thing is genius.
So once my brain switched over and I could actually listen to the story, I found I really liked it. It's not necessarily anything I'm going to rave about or push on all of my friends, but my friends with sons will probably hear about it. It's funny and fairly wholesome, and I was surprised to find myself actually smiling on multiple occasions. Smiling is not something that normally happens while I do dishes... Weirdly, I think that the audiobook helped in this aspect. With an audiobook you can't look ahead, even accidentally, so things do take you by surprise and catch you off-guard, and this humor that crept upon me actually made me chuckle as a result.
And the voice acting was pretty magnificent. A.T. Chandler, who does the narration, reminded me a bit of Danny Elfman as the singing voice of Jack Skellington. (And I know, you're like, Why doesn't he remind you of Chris Sarandon, who did Jack's speaking parts? Is there singing in this book? But there's just a way that Elfman uses his voice, and though Sarandon does it too, I'm sure, it's most memorable and noticeable to me in Jack's songs.) Chandler did lots of different voices, and they all seemed seamless; I never had trouble knowing who was talking, because the voices were all distinctive and memorable. And he was good at accents and ages/sexes. The way he used his voice and the accents he used were part of what made me smile. I couldn't help picturing Jack, as I said, or Groundskeeper Willy, and a few other people. It was...neat. Where I generally have issues with the voices of narrators, I couldn't fault Chandler at all.
And in the end, I did end up liking Lord Arkus and his journey. He's a fun, unwillingly round character, who grows a lot and hates every minute of it (he says), and it was pleasant. I most especially loved the symmetry between Arkus trying to be a villain and ending up a hero, while his nemesis is trying to be a hero and ending up a villain. It was a charming, fun story that I think will appeal to young boys looking for an adventure story, and mothers who don't want their kid's adventure stories to be gruesome or age-inappropriate.
And it convinced me that audiobooks aren't the devil, so I have to give it points for that. :)
July 14, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Villain as Hero Reading Level: Any age
Disclosure: I picked up a copy while it was free on Kindle last fall; in exchange, I’m happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way.
Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead — “a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans.”
Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the Sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of “best interests” is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.
My Thoughts: Shortly after I discovered this book, I also discovered Lord Arkus on Facebook. You should definitely track “him” down, he’s a hoot.
I really enjoyed this book – it was a lot of fun! Lord Arkus may be a villain, but he’s a villain with a heart of gold (he probably stole it from the next kingdom over), and, of course, he believes in having manners, so sometimes people might get the wrong impression about him just because he’s trying to be polite. Tulip the sparkling – whom Arkus calls Jarvis – is a wonderful friend to Arkus, full of fun and teasing. I also enjoyed Prince Philip’s character. I will definitely be looking to acquire the next book, My Royal Pain Quest, just as soon as I can come up with the funds. It’s been on my wishlist for awhile now, but now I want it even more than before!
At any rate, if you like to root for the villain, if you like a light-hearted and fast read, be sure to check out My Sparkling Misfortune. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I picked up a copy while it was free on Kindle last fall; in exchange, I’m happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way.
Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead — “a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans.”
Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the Sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of “best interests” is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.
My Thoughts: Shortly after I discovered this book, I also discovered Lord Arkus on Facebook. You should definitely track “him” down, he’s a hoot.
I really enjoyed this book – it was a lot of fun! Lord Arkus may be a villain, but he’s a villain with a heart of gold (he probably stole it from the next kingdom over), and, of course, he believes in having manners, so sometimes people might get the wrong impression about him just because he’s trying to be polite. Tulip the sparkling – whom Arkus calls Jarvis – is a wonderful friend to Arkus, full of fun and teasing. I also enjoyed Prince Philip’s character. I will definitely be looking to acquire the next book, My Royal Pain Quest, just as soon as I can come up with the funds. It’s been on my wishlist for awhile now, but now I want it even more than before!
At any rate, if you like to root for the villain, if you like a light-hearted and fast read, be sure to check out My Sparkling Misfortune. Highly recommended.
March 31, 2021
If this book looks ridiculous, it absolutely is and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh.
My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Land...
I fell in love with the villain. He’s a complete joke on many villainous characters and was a delight to read. All the characters cracked me up when I was in college.
If you’ve never read a book that pokes fun at a genre, this book is a wonderful first.
Gonna have to reread it now.
My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Land...
I fell in love with the villain. He’s a complete joke on many villainous characters and was a delight to read. All the characters cracked me up when I was in college.
If you’ve never read a book that pokes fun at a genre, this book is a wonderful first.
Gonna have to reread it now.
June 21, 2020
I was hoping for some lighthearted jokes at Edward Cullen’s expense with a title like that. It just seemed like such a brilliant setup for one!
I don’t normally read mid-grade books, but when someone from Dream Books approached me and asked me if I’d like to review this one, it seemed intriguing enough that I thought I’d give it a try. As you can see from the 5-teacup rating, I have no regrets in doing so!
My Sparkling Misfortune is told from the viewpoint of Arkus, the self-proclaimed villain with a wicked sense of sarcastic humour. Plagued by a rampaging monster and deceived by a prince a few kingdoms over, Arkus vows revenge and tries to catch himself a gormack, a spirit beast who would be bound to him for a time and who would carry out his bidding.
What he got was a sparkling, a spirit that typically binds itself only to heroes. Needless to say, Arkus was not pleased.
What follows is an incredibly fun and funny story of Arkus’s adventures and misadventures with his new sparkling companion, whom he named Jarvi. Arkus finds himself having to cope not only with someone whose sense of humour is as keen as his own, but someone whose very presence changes his reputation from that the villain to that of the hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Laura Lond’s beautiful sense of humour comes across so well in this book, and I found myself laughing aloud quite often. She’s good at knowing what details are important and what can be left out what writing in the first person perspective, especially when one considers that this books is written for younger audiences. I suspect any kids reading this or being read it will be hanging on every word, wanting to know what befalls Arkus next.
I was particularly impressed by the way some good themes are carried through the story without being hammered painfully home. The subtle differences between good and bad, the ultimate strength of friendship, that actions done against evil may in themselves be wrong. Some books try to accomplish this by practically having PSAs at the end of each chapter. Lond wove them into the story so well that they’re most certainly there, but you’re not being beaten about the head with them, and I find that tends to make for a lesson that stays around longer. Actions instead of words, deed over thought.
Fantasy fans of all ages will find something to enjoy in My Sparkling Misfortune, whether it’s the imagery, the humour, or the experience of reading a chapter to their kids at bedtime. Highly recommended, and I hope that I get to see more of Lond’s writing in the future.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
I don’t normally read mid-grade books, but when someone from Dream Books approached me and asked me if I’d like to review this one, it seemed intriguing enough that I thought I’d give it a try. As you can see from the 5-teacup rating, I have no regrets in doing so!
My Sparkling Misfortune is told from the viewpoint of Arkus, the self-proclaimed villain with a wicked sense of sarcastic humour. Plagued by a rampaging monster and deceived by a prince a few kingdoms over, Arkus vows revenge and tries to catch himself a gormack, a spirit beast who would be bound to him for a time and who would carry out his bidding.
What he got was a sparkling, a spirit that typically binds itself only to heroes. Needless to say, Arkus was not pleased.
What follows is an incredibly fun and funny story of Arkus’s adventures and misadventures with his new sparkling companion, whom he named Jarvi. Arkus finds himself having to cope not only with someone whose sense of humour is as keen as his own, but someone whose very presence changes his reputation from that the villain to that of the hero, albeit a reluctant one.
Laura Lond’s beautiful sense of humour comes across so well in this book, and I found myself laughing aloud quite often. She’s good at knowing what details are important and what can be left out what writing in the first person perspective, especially when one considers that this books is written for younger audiences. I suspect any kids reading this or being read it will be hanging on every word, wanting to know what befalls Arkus next.
I was particularly impressed by the way some good themes are carried through the story without being hammered painfully home. The subtle differences between good and bad, the ultimate strength of friendship, that actions done against evil may in themselves be wrong. Some books try to accomplish this by practically having PSAs at the end of each chapter. Lond wove them into the story so well that they’re most certainly there, but you’re not being beaten about the head with them, and I find that tends to make for a lesson that stays around longer. Actions instead of words, deed over thought.
Fantasy fans of all ages will find something to enjoy in My Sparkling Misfortune, whether it’s the imagery, the humour, or the experience of reading a chapter to their kids at bedtime. Highly recommended, and I hope that I get to see more of Lond’s writing in the future.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
January 27, 2011
Ohman!!!! Gush, gush, gush, gush, gush! I absolutely ADORED this book! And I mean ADORED! It is the cutest book I have read since, well, since I read The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. And that's appropriate because, with a debut like My Sparkling Misfortune, Laura Lond really might just be the next Patricia C. Wrede. If you've read them, think of Princess Cimorene's quirky primness coming from a bad guy who is actually good but would never want to admit it and replace the dragons with sparklings, and you've got My Sparkling Mifortune.
If you've never read those books, well, what are you waiting for? Pick them up, but only after you've read My Sparkling Misfortune. You won't be disappointed!
The story starts off when evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is forever chased by a horrible otherworldy beast and can only take refuge in white towers (which are a good guy thing) is tricked and deceived by a prince. In order to redeem his evil name, he somehow finds himself being aided by a Sparkling, a magical creature from another world that can only do good and only help the good guys.
What then ensues is snarky hilariousness, magical wondrousness, and nonstop intrigue. I am not the kind of person who can normally read a book in one sitting, but this one I absolutely did. It's short (because it's aimed at middle grade readers) and every single word was necessary and wonderful. More than that, it's also one of those books with a message. Don't judge people - labeling is just confusing, and there is always more to any given person than a label could ever tell.
Don't be deterred that this was written for younger readers. IT IS FABULOUS (and that's coming from a 28 year old). It is perfect for middle grade readers, of course, but I think it can be enjoyed by adults of all ages, and I do hope you'll give this book a chance!
If you've never read those books, well, what are you waiting for? Pick them up, but only after you've read My Sparkling Misfortune. You won't be disappointed!
The story starts off when evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is forever chased by a horrible otherworldy beast and can only take refuge in white towers (which are a good guy thing) is tricked and deceived by a prince. In order to redeem his evil name, he somehow finds himself being aided by a Sparkling, a magical creature from another world that can only do good and only help the good guys.
What then ensues is snarky hilariousness, magical wondrousness, and nonstop intrigue. I am not the kind of person who can normally read a book in one sitting, but this one I absolutely did. It's short (because it's aimed at middle grade readers) and every single word was necessary and wonderful. More than that, it's also one of those books with a message. Don't judge people - labeling is just confusing, and there is always more to any given person than a label could ever tell.
Don't be deterred that this was written for younger readers. IT IS FABULOUS (and that's coming from a 28 year old). It is perfect for middle grade readers, of course, but I think it can be enjoyed by adults of all ages, and I do hope you'll give this book a chance!
November 21, 2011
3.5 stars
‘My Sparkling Misfortune’ is a super cute story that takes place in a fairy-tale like kingdom. It involves a fairy realm, the place where Sparklings (good fairies) and Gormacks (bad fairies) come from. Arkus is our main character and he thinks himself a villain, yet his actions and words prove that he’s quite heroic. Arkus basically spends his life running from a beast who has been tasked with killing him, and he ends up with a new identity in a kingdom where people think he is their hero.
Arkus provides a very humourous narration. He’s sort of self-deprecating and is almost teasing the reader as he keeps proclaiming what a villain he is. The relationship between the two main characters (Arkus and Tulip -- or Jarvi as Arkus re-names him) is very funny and filled with quips back and forth. As I said, this is a very cute and fun story, and my only real complaint is that it leaves off without real resolution. Some things are wrapped up, but it does leave you hanging for Book 2, as Arkus just decides to end the story at a certain point. Overall a very charming book; a quick read that I think most people would appreciate.
‘My Sparkling Misfortune’ is a super cute story that takes place in a fairy-tale like kingdom. It involves a fairy realm, the place where Sparklings (good fairies) and Gormacks (bad fairies) come from. Arkus is our main character and he thinks himself a villain, yet his actions and words prove that he’s quite heroic. Arkus basically spends his life running from a beast who has been tasked with killing him, and he ends up with a new identity in a kingdom where people think he is their hero.
Arkus provides a very humourous narration. He’s sort of self-deprecating and is almost teasing the reader as he keeps proclaiming what a villain he is. The relationship between the two main characters (Arkus and Tulip -- or Jarvi as Arkus re-names him) is very funny and filled with quips back and forth. As I said, this is a very cute and fun story, and my only real complaint is that it leaves off without real resolution. Some things are wrapped up, but it does leave you hanging for Book 2, as Arkus just decides to end the story at a certain point. Overall a very charming book; a quick read that I think most people would appreciate.
August 15, 2012
What a fun little story, and clever! How cool to read a story from the bad-guy's point of view. Villain's have feelings, too! They have their pride and want to feel good about themselves. Well, here we crawl into said villain's head as he faces his demons.
Thanks, Kimberly Boehm, for suggesting this read. I look forward to the next book!
Thanks, Kimberly Boehm, for suggesting this read. I look forward to the next book!
November 29, 2017
Love Lond's writing style and the way she develops both the setting and her characters. Her plotting is good too. Can't say enough good about her books.
August 24, 2022
What a fun book!! I had so much fun reading it that I'm requiring my teenage son to read it, too. This is a very quick read as the book is only 127 pages long, but it packs a lot into those 127 pages. Poor Lord Arkus just wants to be the best villain he can be, but instead of capturing an evil spirit to help him wreak vengeance on his sworn enemy, Prince Kellemar, "a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead--"a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains' plans." Will Lord Arkus be able to reach supervillain status, or will the Sparkling's influence turn him into a hero instead? As this was just book 1, I plan on reading the next book in the series to find out!
Highly recommend - 5/5 stars.
*** I would like to thank NetGalley and Laura Lond for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Highly recommend - 5/5 stars.
*** I would like to thank NetGalley and Laura Lond for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 5, 2025
Cute story about a villain who begins to turn into a hero, despite his best efforts.
The writing style is kind of juvenile but also kind of endearing. I had fun with the book, although it's really a novella. Super short. I would have liked to keep reading of his adventures but I'm not motivated to buy a separate book. (Although it appears that the sequels are actual book length.)
I liked the illustrations and wished they were larger.
The writing style is kind of juvenile but also kind of endearing. I had fun with the book, although it's really a novella. Super short. I would have liked to keep reading of his adventures but I'm not motivated to buy a separate book. (Although it appears that the sequels are actual book length.)
I liked the illustrations and wished they were larger.
August 31, 2024
Short, hilarious, and amazing!
A very grumpy villain is our lead. He's big, he's bad, he's... honorable? Yup! What fun! He has some adventures and meets new friends and makes some enemies. The classic good vs. Evil but we're rooting for the villain.
A very grumpy villain is our lead. He's big, he's bad, he's... honorable? Yup! What fun! He has some adventures and meets new friends and makes some enemies. The classic good vs. Evil but we're rooting for the villain.
October 9, 2018
Entertaining. A quick, amusing story that captures your attention. Very well written. I look forward to the next episode.
April 27, 2020
Charming, laugh out loud, children's book.
December 30, 2020
Kids book but odd
My son suggested this book to me. He's 22. I think he forgot he was probably in middle school when he read it. :) It is original but quirky to the point I'm not moving on to book 2. If I was reading this with a child I probably would.
My son suggested this book to me. He's 22. I think he forgot he was probably in middle school when he read it. :) It is original but quirky to the point I'm not moving on to book 2. If I was reading this with a child I probably would.
June 16, 2023
Delightful
September 17, 2025
Cute, easy read. I nice break from some of the heavier and more serious books.
November 20, 2025
My family has been wanting me to read this forever. Cute story. Quick & easy read.
October 19, 2011
Read the review on my website.
My Sparkling Misfortune is the hilarious fantasy tale of the evil Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle. Being a villain, and pretty good at that, Lord Arkus is well on his way to becoming the most notorious villain in the entire kingdom. However, when a deal with Prince Kellemar – the supposedly good guy of the story and hero-in-the-making – goes horribly wrong for poor Arkus, involving a raging animal and the destroying of several protective white towers, Arkus is forced to leave the kingdom, and hopefully find a way to protect himself from the monster that’s trying to eat him alive, and meanwhile re-establish his position as criminal mastermind. In an effort to solve his problems, he incidentelly catches a sparkling, a creature often seen accompaning heroes. While Arkus certainly is no hero, the sparkling called Jarvi feels like giving the ol’ lord a shot anyway. That’s when Lord Arkus goes through an adventure that might not only change his life, but his entire reputation as well.
The award for most hilarious villain ever definately goes to Lord Arkus. Whereas he is a nasty fellow who enjoys torturing messengers, doublecrossing princes and backstabbing other villains – but only after they have backstabbed him first, he does have manners – there is quite a noble side to him as well. He is hilarious in the way he describes both himself and his opponents, how he analyzes his own actions and those of others. He is a brilliant character who at times made me laugh out loud. A lot of books try to be funny, but it feels forced and unnatural; that’s definately not the case with My Sparkling Misfortune: this book simply is hilarious, even without trying.
Although aimed at middle graders, the adventure of Lord Arkus and his sparkling Jarvi, may appeal to fantasy fans of all ages. While telling a humorous tale, the story offers some valuable lessons as well. One of them being that a villain must not always remain a villain, and that not all heroes are as good and decent as they might appear. Prince Kellemar is the prime example of this. Although being a prince, and aiming to become a true hero one day, he doublecrosses Lord Arkus in their agreement at the beginning of the book, and continues to do things throughout the novel that made me very skeptic about his worthyness for the hero status. On the other hand, the fact that the sparkling Jarvi sees something in Lord Arkus that nobody else sees, and decides to give him the chance to actually do the right thing for once, also holds a very valuable lesson, namely that sometimes you just need to believe in people to make them do the right thing.
The story is action-packed, fast-paced and highly amusing. The dragons, castles, magical creatures, all make the story come to life, and actually read like a classic fairytale. Lord Arkus and his misfortunes could be standing right next to Cinderella and Robin Hood on the bookshelf. If I had to give a complaint about My Sparkling Misfortune (and the reason why I gave 4,5 rather than 5 stars) is that it’s too short. It seems like the sequel-virus has gotten hold of Laura Lond as well. She leaves an open ending, and hints at dark events in Lord Arkus’ past on several occasions, leaving the path open for a follow-up. I would have liked it more had she made this book slightly larger, and added all the additional facts, and a proper ending to this one. My Sparkling Misfortune is strong enough as a stand-alone novel, and although I would enjoy reading more about Lord Arkus’ misfortunes, I do also like it when a book is nicely tied up.
Although Lord Arkus is by far the most witty, sarcastic and intriguing character in this novel, Jarvi/Tullip is quite the enjoyable fellow as well. He is entertaining, good-natured and kind-hearted, and totally the opposite of the Arkus we meet at the beginning of the novel. That they even get along at al, is amazing. Another nice bonus is that the book is filled with wonderful illustrations of the characters and their adventures. The art looks really good, and it adds a nice touch.
I would advise everyone who loves a good laugh, from middle graders to adults, to read this book. It’s a quick read, and it will make you laugh aloud and forget all about the world around you. Lord Arkus is an admirable character, for a villain, with an amazing writing voice and a hilarious personality. The story itself is anything but predictable, the writing style is amusing, and the premise (a story from the villain’s point of view) is very original. What are you waiting for? Go read My Sparkling Misfortune!
My Sparkling Misfortune is the hilarious fantasy tale of the evil Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle. Being a villain, and pretty good at that, Lord Arkus is well on his way to becoming the most notorious villain in the entire kingdom. However, when a deal with Prince Kellemar – the supposedly good guy of the story and hero-in-the-making – goes horribly wrong for poor Arkus, involving a raging animal and the destroying of several protective white towers, Arkus is forced to leave the kingdom, and hopefully find a way to protect himself from the monster that’s trying to eat him alive, and meanwhile re-establish his position as criminal mastermind. In an effort to solve his problems, he incidentelly catches a sparkling, a creature often seen accompaning heroes. While Arkus certainly is no hero, the sparkling called Jarvi feels like giving the ol’ lord a shot anyway. That’s when Lord Arkus goes through an adventure that might not only change his life, but his entire reputation as well.
The award for most hilarious villain ever definately goes to Lord Arkus. Whereas he is a nasty fellow who enjoys torturing messengers, doublecrossing princes and backstabbing other villains – but only after they have backstabbed him first, he does have manners – there is quite a noble side to him as well. He is hilarious in the way he describes both himself and his opponents, how he analyzes his own actions and those of others. He is a brilliant character who at times made me laugh out loud. A lot of books try to be funny, but it feels forced and unnatural; that’s definately not the case with My Sparkling Misfortune: this book simply is hilarious, even without trying.
Although aimed at middle graders, the adventure of Lord Arkus and his sparkling Jarvi, may appeal to fantasy fans of all ages. While telling a humorous tale, the story offers some valuable lessons as well. One of them being that a villain must not always remain a villain, and that not all heroes are as good and decent as they might appear. Prince Kellemar is the prime example of this. Although being a prince, and aiming to become a true hero one day, he doublecrosses Lord Arkus in their agreement at the beginning of the book, and continues to do things throughout the novel that made me very skeptic about his worthyness for the hero status. On the other hand, the fact that the sparkling Jarvi sees something in Lord Arkus that nobody else sees, and decides to give him the chance to actually do the right thing for once, also holds a very valuable lesson, namely that sometimes you just need to believe in people to make them do the right thing.
The story is action-packed, fast-paced and highly amusing. The dragons, castles, magical creatures, all make the story come to life, and actually read like a classic fairytale. Lord Arkus and his misfortunes could be standing right next to Cinderella and Robin Hood on the bookshelf. If I had to give a complaint about My Sparkling Misfortune (and the reason why I gave 4,5 rather than 5 stars) is that it’s too short. It seems like the sequel-virus has gotten hold of Laura Lond as well. She leaves an open ending, and hints at dark events in Lord Arkus’ past on several occasions, leaving the path open for a follow-up. I would have liked it more had she made this book slightly larger, and added all the additional facts, and a proper ending to this one. My Sparkling Misfortune is strong enough as a stand-alone novel, and although I would enjoy reading more about Lord Arkus’ misfortunes, I do also like it when a book is nicely tied up.
Although Lord Arkus is by far the most witty, sarcastic and intriguing character in this novel, Jarvi/Tullip is quite the enjoyable fellow as well. He is entertaining, good-natured and kind-hearted, and totally the opposite of the Arkus we meet at the beginning of the novel. That they even get along at al, is amazing. Another nice bonus is that the book is filled with wonderful illustrations of the characters and their adventures. The art looks really good, and it adds a nice touch.
I would advise everyone who loves a good laugh, from middle graders to adults, to read this book. It’s a quick read, and it will make you laugh aloud and forget all about the world around you. Lord Arkus is an admirable character, for a villain, with an amazing writing voice and a hilarious personality. The story itself is anything but predictable, the writing style is amusing, and the premise (a story from the villain’s point of view) is very original. What are you waiting for? Go read My Sparkling Misfortune!
April 2, 2011
My Sparkling Misfortune is a story spinning around the self-proclaimed villain, Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle. After being backstabbed by the not-so-honorable wannabe hero, Prince Kellemar, Lord Arkus is now putting his villainous mind to work to think about a deserving revenge for Prince Kellemar. But the first and the most crucial step of the plan goes disastrously wrong as he captures a Sparkling (a good spirit) instead of a Gormack (an evil spirit). For Arkus, the only good in having a sparkling as his servant for five years is that now he is seemingly safe from the monster who has been trying to kill him for many years. But as he soon finds out it is a bit difficult to be evil with a sparkling around who is bent in making him good.
When I first heard the title, My Sparkling Misfortune I had no idea what to make of it. But the book won me over just after its first page. The first page alone showed the villainous intents of Lord Arkus. According to the set belief, villains are to hated and detested but as hard as I tried I couldn’t come even near to hating Lord Arkus. He may proclaim to anyone and everyone that he is a villain from heart and soul but as we read on we realize that he may take pride in being in being a villain but he has nothing evil in him. Arkus’s sarcastic and humorous narrative will send the readers into peals of laughter. Jarvis, the sparkling, too adds to the entertainment factor with his sense of humour. It seems that Jarvis’s sole occupation is to bring out the good in his master, Lord Arkus by preventing him from spending his days in ‘scheming, plotting, attacking, invading, killing, plundering, kidnapping, collecting ransom and having other types of fun’. So, what does it matter if Jarvis gets a little fun out of it by sending Arkus into fits of anger?
Many of the previous books I have read have humour which seemed forced, as if the author was trying to make the readers laugh but was failing miserably. But while reading My Sparkling Misfortune, I never got such a feeling. The humour came naturally. The narrative is entertaining which would keep the readers hooked to the book. Arkus’s not-so-villainous character is both lovable and adorable. By the end of the book it seemed that I had unconsciously decided to support him even if he did something evil. The situation that Lord Arkus finds himself in is hilarious. Instead of catching an evil gormack to aid him in his evil plans he catches a sparkling named ‘Tulip’ (understandably Arkus changes his name to Jarvis, after all which villain would like to have a servant named Tulip), who wants to turn him into a noble and honorable person. The greatest irony in the story was when Arkus unknowingly saves the princess he had planned to kidnap and is hailed as the heroic ‘Lakeland Knight’. Another thing that made the book more interesting to read are the beautiful illustrations at the end of each chapter. The illustrations not only made the characters more alive, they made it easier to visualise the characters. My Sparkling Misfortune with all its humor also sends out a message about how easily we judge a person’s character without even knowing them properly. We generally distribute people into the good and the bad, forgetting that every person has their grey shades. Even the so-called good people sometimes act quite opposite to the popular conception of their characters.
My Sparkling Misfortune is funny and even gives out a good message. It definitely deserves a place in the must read lists of all fantasy enthusiasts.
Overall:
Entertaining, hilarious and now, one of my favorites
Recommended?
Yes, to all middle graders and also, to all fantasy lovers.
When I first heard the title, My Sparkling Misfortune I had no idea what to make of it. But the book won me over just after its first page. The first page alone showed the villainous intents of Lord Arkus. According to the set belief, villains are to hated and detested but as hard as I tried I couldn’t come even near to hating Lord Arkus. He may proclaim to anyone and everyone that he is a villain from heart and soul but as we read on we realize that he may take pride in being in being a villain but he has nothing evil in him. Arkus’s sarcastic and humorous narrative will send the readers into peals of laughter. Jarvis, the sparkling, too adds to the entertainment factor with his sense of humour. It seems that Jarvis’s sole occupation is to bring out the good in his master, Lord Arkus by preventing him from spending his days in ‘scheming, plotting, attacking, invading, killing, plundering, kidnapping, collecting ransom and having other types of fun’. So, what does it matter if Jarvis gets a little fun out of it by sending Arkus into fits of anger?
Many of the previous books I have read have humour which seemed forced, as if the author was trying to make the readers laugh but was failing miserably. But while reading My Sparkling Misfortune, I never got such a feeling. The humour came naturally. The narrative is entertaining which would keep the readers hooked to the book. Arkus’s not-so-villainous character is both lovable and adorable. By the end of the book it seemed that I had unconsciously decided to support him even if he did something evil. The situation that Lord Arkus finds himself in is hilarious. Instead of catching an evil gormack to aid him in his evil plans he catches a sparkling named ‘Tulip’ (understandably Arkus changes his name to Jarvis, after all which villain would like to have a servant named Tulip), who wants to turn him into a noble and honorable person. The greatest irony in the story was when Arkus unknowingly saves the princess he had planned to kidnap and is hailed as the heroic ‘Lakeland Knight’. Another thing that made the book more interesting to read are the beautiful illustrations at the end of each chapter. The illustrations not only made the characters more alive, they made it easier to visualise the characters. My Sparkling Misfortune with all its humor also sends out a message about how easily we judge a person’s character without even knowing them properly. We generally distribute people into the good and the bad, forgetting that every person has their grey shades. Even the so-called good people sometimes act quite opposite to the popular conception of their characters.
My Sparkling Misfortune is funny and even gives out a good message. It definitely deserves a place in the must read lists of all fantasy enthusiasts.
Overall:
Entertaining, hilarious and now, one of my favorites
Recommended?
Yes, to all middle graders and also, to all fantasy lovers.
May 28, 2011
Summary
When Evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, self proclaimed villian, is double crossed by Lord Kellemar, an aspiring hero, he can think of nothing else but avenging his name. So, he concocts a dangerous and diabolical plan (as any villain in this position would do) involving the capture of an evil spirit, a gormack, to assist him with his sinister plight. When he accidentally indentures a "goody-goody" spirit, a sparkling, by mistake, everything he stands for is being threatened. Now Lord Arkus faces a new, more serious challenge. How will he be able to uphold his evil name, with a sparkling as his wingman for the next five years?
Ramblings
BACKGROUND
Laura Lond is a self employed freelance writer with a Bachelor of Arts in history. Her book My Sparkling Misfortune (The Lakeland Knight) took a little over 3 months to write. It was originally published by a small press, but she recently canceled her contract. This book has now been released independently. Laura has plans for a potential trilogy of The Lakeland Knight Series, but a sequel for certain is in the works.
SETTING, PACE AND & STYLE
My Sparkling Misfortune takes place in a mythical land, a faraway place where castles, villains, heros and monsters still exist. Even though its advertised as a fantasy book, it reads more like a classic fairy tales with a twist. Its a story told from a villain's perspective. The book is very short, it can easily be read it one sitting. Laura Lond's writing is light, cute and extremely fun. The story is absorbing, filled with swords fights, epic battles and lots of action. The reader is never quite sure where the adventure will lead.
CHARACTERS & PLOT
The main character of this story is Evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle. He's a self proclaimed villain. He's witty, entertaining and extremely funny. Even though he's the "bad guy" one can't help but fall in love with him because of his good nature and ability to do what's right.
His nemesis, Lord Kellemar, is an aspiring hero, a man who simply falls flat on his face when it comes to upholding a code of honor. He doesn't have any problems backstabbing, lying or cheating to achieve his goals.
This story is about finding one's true self. Its meant to show young readers, villain or hero, a person's actions speak louder than words, titles or labels.
Recommendation:
If you are searching for a short, light, easy to read book which is just a pleasure to read, than pick this one up. Its a spirit lifter. Even though this is advertised as a Middle Grade fantasy book, I'd strongly recommend this to all audiences, especially those who like fairy tales - funny ones. Its super cute, entertaining and witty. Just an all around charming tale which can be enjoyed by men, women, boys or girls. Don't miss out on this one!
PERSONAL NOTE
My Sparkling Misfortune is the type of book intended to teach a lesson. I believe the take home message is to gently remind us to always give each person a chance to show his or her true colors. Claims of being anything from a philanthropist to a complete miser should always be backed up with actions and not just words. Beware, anyone can spout off about how wonderful he/she is, but what truly counts is how certain situations are handled. Take a moment to stand back and quietly observe people, then and only then will you get an idea of what they really are like, no matter what they claim to be. You might just be surprised by what you see!
RATING
5 out of 5 Rings
When Evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, self proclaimed villian, is double crossed by Lord Kellemar, an aspiring hero, he can think of nothing else but avenging his name. So, he concocts a dangerous and diabolical plan (as any villain in this position would do) involving the capture of an evil spirit, a gormack, to assist him with his sinister plight. When he accidentally indentures a "goody-goody" spirit, a sparkling, by mistake, everything he stands for is being threatened. Now Lord Arkus faces a new, more serious challenge. How will he be able to uphold his evil name, with a sparkling as his wingman for the next five years?
Ramblings
BACKGROUND
Laura Lond is a self employed freelance writer with a Bachelor of Arts in history. Her book My Sparkling Misfortune (The Lakeland Knight) took a little over 3 months to write. It was originally published by a small press, but she recently canceled her contract. This book has now been released independently. Laura has plans for a potential trilogy of The Lakeland Knight Series, but a sequel for certain is in the works.
SETTING, PACE AND & STYLE
My Sparkling Misfortune takes place in a mythical land, a faraway place where castles, villains, heros and monsters still exist. Even though its advertised as a fantasy book, it reads more like a classic fairy tales with a twist. Its a story told from a villain's perspective. The book is very short, it can easily be read it one sitting. Laura Lond's writing is light, cute and extremely fun. The story is absorbing, filled with swords fights, epic battles and lots of action. The reader is never quite sure where the adventure will lead.
CHARACTERS & PLOT
The main character of this story is Evil Lord Arkus of Black River Castle. He's a self proclaimed villain. He's witty, entertaining and extremely funny. Even though he's the "bad guy" one can't help but fall in love with him because of his good nature and ability to do what's right.
His nemesis, Lord Kellemar, is an aspiring hero, a man who simply falls flat on his face when it comes to upholding a code of honor. He doesn't have any problems backstabbing, lying or cheating to achieve his goals.
This story is about finding one's true self. Its meant to show young readers, villain or hero, a person's actions speak louder than words, titles or labels.
Recommendation:
If you are searching for a short, light, easy to read book which is just a pleasure to read, than pick this one up. Its a spirit lifter. Even though this is advertised as a Middle Grade fantasy book, I'd strongly recommend this to all audiences, especially those who like fairy tales - funny ones. Its super cute, entertaining and witty. Just an all around charming tale which can be enjoyed by men, women, boys or girls. Don't miss out on this one!
PERSONAL NOTE
My Sparkling Misfortune is the type of book intended to teach a lesson. I believe the take home message is to gently remind us to always give each person a chance to show his or her true colors. Claims of being anything from a philanthropist to a complete miser should always be backed up with actions and not just words. Beware, anyone can spout off about how wonderful he/she is, but what truly counts is how certain situations are handled. Take a moment to stand back and quietly observe people, then and only then will you get an idea of what they really are like, no matter what they claim to be. You might just be surprised by what you see!
RATING
5 out of 5 Rings
March 25, 2012
Review brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell
I was first introduced to author Laura Lond through her novella, A Merman’s Kiss which I very much enjoyed so I was happy to have a chance to dive into another one of her books. My Sparkling Misfortune was such a fun and humorous read!
The story revolves around Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is determined to make sure the reader sees him as nothing less than a villain mastermind. Lord Arkus is visited by Prince Kellemar who wants to strike up a truce with Lord Arkus in order to come off as a hero without actually having to defeat the villain. Lord Arkus agrees but secretly plans to take down Prince Kellemar. But Lord Arkus plans don’t go as planned. He is forced to leave his own kingdom when he chased down by a beast that is determined to kill him even it takes till the end of time. Lord Arkus comes up with a plan to get rid of the beast by catching a Morgon but instead winds up with a Sparkling, a magical creature who helps heroes. Lord Arkus wants to get rid of Jarvi, the Sparkling, but Jarvi made a promise and he intends to keep it. Lord Arkus and Jarvi set out on a crazy adventure which may end up proving that Lord Arkus is more hero than villain—much to his horror.
Even though My Sparkling Misfortune is geared toward middle grade age, I think many who love the Young Adult genre will have a fabulous time reading it. Lord Arkus is the oddest and hilarious villain I have ever read. Lord Arkus is definitely a villain enjoying backstabbing other villains (who have betrayed him first) and double-crossing princes. But he also has manners and a certain sense of nobility and elegance to his character. I love the way he describes everything around him and the characters he interacts with! He is sarcastic and amusing, offering many laugh out loud moments. Jarvi is just as fun. He knows how to push the right buttons to drive Lord Arkus crazy. Jarvi is also kind-hearted, caring and even-tempered. I love the relationship between Jarvi and Lord Arkus.
The story is filled with great action and absolutely amusing characters. The pacing and writing are both fairly well done. The dialogue offers many amusing quips as does the plot but there were moments the writing could have flowed better, seeming a bit choppy. I also wanted more of a backstory to Lord Arkus past and why he chose to become a villain. I was also disappointed in the fact that story was novella length once again. Author Laura Lond has great ideas but she continues to create stories so short in length, which in reality is a hindrance to her, since it limits what she can do with a story and becomes frustrating for those who do enjoy her books.
My Sparkling Misfortune is filled with great moments filled with laughter and moments that will touch your heart. The story and writing is suited for a much younger audience but that shouldn’t stop older fans of the young adult genre from enjoying this novella. A story told from a very witty and well-mannered villain, an original concept you won’t want to miss out on!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/la...
I was first introduced to author Laura Lond through her novella, A Merman’s Kiss which I very much enjoyed so I was happy to have a chance to dive into another one of her books. My Sparkling Misfortune was such a fun and humorous read!
The story revolves around Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is determined to make sure the reader sees him as nothing less than a villain mastermind. Lord Arkus is visited by Prince Kellemar who wants to strike up a truce with Lord Arkus in order to come off as a hero without actually having to defeat the villain. Lord Arkus agrees but secretly plans to take down Prince Kellemar. But Lord Arkus plans don’t go as planned. He is forced to leave his own kingdom when he chased down by a beast that is determined to kill him even it takes till the end of time. Lord Arkus comes up with a plan to get rid of the beast by catching a Morgon but instead winds up with a Sparkling, a magical creature who helps heroes. Lord Arkus wants to get rid of Jarvi, the Sparkling, but Jarvi made a promise and he intends to keep it. Lord Arkus and Jarvi set out on a crazy adventure which may end up proving that Lord Arkus is more hero than villain—much to his horror.
Even though My Sparkling Misfortune is geared toward middle grade age, I think many who love the Young Adult genre will have a fabulous time reading it. Lord Arkus is the oddest and hilarious villain I have ever read. Lord Arkus is definitely a villain enjoying backstabbing other villains (who have betrayed him first) and double-crossing princes. But he also has manners and a certain sense of nobility and elegance to his character. I love the way he describes everything around him and the characters he interacts with! He is sarcastic and amusing, offering many laugh out loud moments. Jarvi is just as fun. He knows how to push the right buttons to drive Lord Arkus crazy. Jarvi is also kind-hearted, caring and even-tempered. I love the relationship between Jarvi and Lord Arkus.
The story is filled with great action and absolutely amusing characters. The pacing and writing are both fairly well done. The dialogue offers many amusing quips as does the plot but there were moments the writing could have flowed better, seeming a bit choppy. I also wanted more of a backstory to Lord Arkus past and why he chose to become a villain. I was also disappointed in the fact that story was novella length once again. Author Laura Lond has great ideas but she continues to create stories so short in length, which in reality is a hindrance to her, since it limits what she can do with a story and becomes frustrating for those who do enjoy her books.
My Sparkling Misfortune is filled with great moments filled with laughter and moments that will touch your heart. The story and writing is suited for a much younger audience but that shouldn’t stop older fans of the young adult genre from enjoying this novella. A story told from a very witty and well-mannered villain, an original concept you won’t want to miss out on!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/la...
August 8, 2012
I was first introduced to author Laura Lond through her novella, A Merman’s Kiss which I very much enjoyed so I was happy to have a chance to dive into another one of her books. My Sparkling Misfortune was such a fun and humorous read!
The story revolves around Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is determined to make sure the reader sees him as nothing less than a villain mastermind. Lord Arkus is visited by Prince Kellemar who wants to strike up a truce with Lord Arkus in order to come off as a hero without actually having to defeat the villain. Lord Arkus agrees but secretly plans to take down Prince Kellemar. But Lord Arkus plans don’t go as planned. He is forced to leave his own kingdom when he chased down by a beast that is determined to kill him even it takes till the end of time. Lord Arkus comes up with a plan to get rid of the beast by catching a Morgon but instead winds up with a Sparkling, a magical creature who helps heroes. Lord Arkus wants to get rid of Jarvi, the Sparkling, but Jarvi made a promise and he intends to keep it. Lord Arkus and Jarvi set out on a crazy adventure which may end up proving that Lord Arkus is more hero than villain—much to his horror.
Even though My Sparkling Misfortune is geared toward middle grade age, I think many who love the Young Adult genre will have a fabulous time reading it. Lord Arkus is the oddest and hilarious villain I have ever read. Lord Arkus is definitely a villain enjoying backstabbing other villains (who have betrayed him first) and double-crossing princes. But he also has manners and a certain sense of nobility and elegance to his character. I love the way he describes everything around him and the characters he interacts with! He is sarcastic and amusing, offering many laugh out loud moments. Jarvi is just as fun. He knows how to push the right buttons to drive Lord Arkus crazy. Jarvi is also kind-hearted, caring and even-tempered. I love the relationship between Jarvi and Lord Arkus.
The story is filled with great action and absolutely amusing characters. The pacing and writing are both fairly well. The dialogue offers many amusing quips as does the plot but there were moments the writing could have flowed better, seeming a bit choppy. I also wanted more of a backstory to Lord Arkus past and why he chose to become a villain. I was also disappointed in the fact that story was novella length once again. Author Laura Lond has great ideas but she continues to create stories so short in length, which in reality is a hindrance to her, since it limits what she can do with a story and becomes frustrating for those who do enjoy her books.
My Sparkling Misfortune is filled with great moments filled with laughter and moments that will touch your heart. The story and writing is suited for a much younger audience but that shouldn’t stop older fans of the young adult genre from enjoying this novella. A story told from a very witty and well-mannered villain, an original concept you won’t want to miss out on!
The story revolves around Lord Arkus of Black River Castle, who is determined to make sure the reader sees him as nothing less than a villain mastermind. Lord Arkus is visited by Prince Kellemar who wants to strike up a truce with Lord Arkus in order to come off as a hero without actually having to defeat the villain. Lord Arkus agrees but secretly plans to take down Prince Kellemar. But Lord Arkus plans don’t go as planned. He is forced to leave his own kingdom when he chased down by a beast that is determined to kill him even it takes till the end of time. Lord Arkus comes up with a plan to get rid of the beast by catching a Morgon but instead winds up with a Sparkling, a magical creature who helps heroes. Lord Arkus wants to get rid of Jarvi, the Sparkling, but Jarvi made a promise and he intends to keep it. Lord Arkus and Jarvi set out on a crazy adventure which may end up proving that Lord Arkus is more hero than villain—much to his horror.
Even though My Sparkling Misfortune is geared toward middle grade age, I think many who love the Young Adult genre will have a fabulous time reading it. Lord Arkus is the oddest and hilarious villain I have ever read. Lord Arkus is definitely a villain enjoying backstabbing other villains (who have betrayed him first) and double-crossing princes. But he also has manners and a certain sense of nobility and elegance to his character. I love the way he describes everything around him and the characters he interacts with! He is sarcastic and amusing, offering many laugh out loud moments. Jarvi is just as fun. He knows how to push the right buttons to drive Lord Arkus crazy. Jarvi is also kind-hearted, caring and even-tempered. I love the relationship between Jarvi and Lord Arkus.
The story is filled with great action and absolutely amusing characters. The pacing and writing are both fairly well. The dialogue offers many amusing quips as does the plot but there were moments the writing could have flowed better, seeming a bit choppy. I also wanted more of a backstory to Lord Arkus past and why he chose to become a villain. I was also disappointed in the fact that story was novella length once again. Author Laura Lond has great ideas but she continues to create stories so short in length, which in reality is a hindrance to her, since it limits what she can do with a story and becomes frustrating for those who do enjoy her books.
My Sparkling Misfortune is filled with great moments filled with laughter and moments that will touch your heart. The story and writing is suited for a much younger audience but that shouldn’t stop older fans of the young adult genre from enjoying this novella. A story told from a very witty and well-mannered villain, an original concept you won’t want to miss out on!
July 23, 2011
My Sparkling Misfortune offers a twist on the traditional fantasy fairy tale stories that lovers of the movie Megamind will enjoy. I can’t help but make that comparison, since both stories feature bad guys who want nothing more than to be known as the most devious and evil person on the planet. Lord Arkus begins his tale by bragging about how evil he is. But when the pompous Prince Kellemar tricks him into running from the kingdom, he goes hunting for a Gormak, an evil spirit to help with his evil plans. Much to his dismay, Lord Arkus winds up catching a Sparkling, a good spirit. And while Lord Arkus realizes that he can use the Sparkling’s powers to protect him from forces hunting him, he can’t directly use the spirit’s powers for anything evil. Being a bad guy is hard enough as it is without a good spirit breathing down your neck, but the Sparkling (named Jarvis) is intent on turning Arkus into a good guy. Talk about pressure!
My Sparkling Misfortune is one of those books that readers of all ages will be able to appreciate and enjoy. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me giggling on just about every page, but My Sparkling Misfortune broke that streak. With such a snarky and hypocritical protagonist who refuses to admit that he actually has a heart of gold…well, how can you blame me? I was sold after the very first paragraph. Lord Arkus’ voice is strong, clear, and the irony and hypocrisy in his actions was hilarious. I could easily read 600 more pages of his story and not get bored. For as evil as he said he was, I just couldn’t bring myself to hate him, especially after he starts working with Jarvis. Jarvis was a wonderful supporting character, able to hold his own against Arkus’ volatile personality. The way the two of them bickered had me thinking that they were a married couple, rather than a master and servant.
Even though the book is short (just over 160 pages), it doesn’t lack in plot, detail, or positive morals. Lond’s world building is top notch, with just enough description for the reader to understand the magic of Arkus’ world and its culture. Even those who are not used to reading fantasy or those who are intimidated by it will find that My Sparkling Misfortune is easy to slip into. Like I said before, I’m positive all who pick up this book will have a fun time reading it! I hope that Lond writes a sequel sometime in the near future.
To read the full review (and others like it), please visit my blog at http://www.oktopusink.blogspot.com
My Sparkling Misfortune is one of those books that readers of all ages will be able to appreciate and enjoy. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me giggling on just about every page, but My Sparkling Misfortune broke that streak. With such a snarky and hypocritical protagonist who refuses to admit that he actually has a heart of gold…well, how can you blame me? I was sold after the very first paragraph. Lord Arkus’ voice is strong, clear, and the irony and hypocrisy in his actions was hilarious. I could easily read 600 more pages of his story and not get bored. For as evil as he said he was, I just couldn’t bring myself to hate him, especially after he starts working with Jarvis. Jarvis was a wonderful supporting character, able to hold his own against Arkus’ volatile personality. The way the two of them bickered had me thinking that they were a married couple, rather than a master and servant.
Even though the book is short (just over 160 pages), it doesn’t lack in plot, detail, or positive morals. Lond’s world building is top notch, with just enough description for the reader to understand the magic of Arkus’ world and its culture. Even those who are not used to reading fantasy or those who are intimidated by it will find that My Sparkling Misfortune is easy to slip into. Like I said before, I’m positive all who pick up this book will have a fun time reading it! I hope that Lond writes a sequel sometime in the near future.
To read the full review (and others like it), please visit my blog at http://www.oktopusink.blogspot.com
November 13, 2015
My Sparkling Misfortune is a fun and interesting tale about a villain whose finds himself stuck in the role of the hero all because he captured a sparkling instead of a gormack. The sparkling has his own agenda, which is vastly different from Arkus', and he uses his magic to turn events to his favor. Arkus sees it happening, but doesn't realize what is going on until it is too late and he has been branded a hero by the people of Ulkaria. So, a man who strived to be the worst villain in the land is now a worshipped hero. I love it!
I really do enjoy a comedy fantasy novel, as can be attested by the books I have reviewed in the Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin starring Skeeve and Aahz. Then, along comes Laura Lond and the first book in The Lakeland Knight series and I found myself enjoying the book immensely. The main character, Lord Arkus, is well-developed and I really enjoyed witnessing a villain making the slow traqnsformation into a hero. As for Tulip, he has many secrets, which I will not reveal here, and I also enjoyed his character quite a bit.
The artwork by Alla Alekseyeva is very nice, but I was disappointed by her rendition of the lizard-like beast. It just looks too much like a giant iguana. I guess I wanted something more dragon-like and a fierce plant-eating iguana just didn't fit the bill. Another thing I didn't like was the placement of the artwork in the book. Most of the artwork appears at the end of each chapter, frequently many pages after the action has already taken place that the artwork is depicting. In my opinion, the artwork should be on the next page so the reader can glance at it while they are reading about what is happening in the artwork.
Laura Lond has created a new wonderful series that starts off in My Sparkling Misfortune. Young Readers will find the book a blast to read and zip through it with a hunger for more. All of the characters are brilliant and the story is very interesting. I know that when I finished reading it, I was disappointed that this fantasy romp was over and wanted to read the next book in this series. Too bad that the next book isn't out yet. Darn it!
Overall, My Sparkling Misfortune is a great start to a series that has a lot of promise. I highly recommend this book to any lover of fantasy and to readers that like humorous twists in a story. I cannot wait to read the second book in this series, My Royal Pain Quest, and just hope that it comes out soon. I guess I will just have to wait patiently, something I am not good at.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
I really do enjoy a comedy fantasy novel, as can be attested by the books I have reviewed in the Myth Adventures series by Robert Asprin starring Skeeve and Aahz. Then, along comes Laura Lond and the first book in The Lakeland Knight series and I found myself enjoying the book immensely. The main character, Lord Arkus, is well-developed and I really enjoyed witnessing a villain making the slow traqnsformation into a hero. As for Tulip, he has many secrets, which I will not reveal here, and I also enjoyed his character quite a bit.
The artwork by Alla Alekseyeva is very nice, but I was disappointed by her rendition of the lizard-like beast. It just looks too much like a giant iguana. I guess I wanted something more dragon-like and a fierce plant-eating iguana just didn't fit the bill. Another thing I didn't like was the placement of the artwork in the book. Most of the artwork appears at the end of each chapter, frequently many pages after the action has already taken place that the artwork is depicting. In my opinion, the artwork should be on the next page so the reader can glance at it while they are reading about what is happening in the artwork.
Laura Lond has created a new wonderful series that starts off in My Sparkling Misfortune. Young Readers will find the book a blast to read and zip through it with a hunger for more. All of the characters are brilliant and the story is very interesting. I know that when I finished reading it, I was disappointed that this fantasy romp was over and wanted to read the next book in this series. Too bad that the next book isn't out yet. Darn it!
Overall, My Sparkling Misfortune is a great start to a series that has a lot of promise. I highly recommend this book to any lover of fantasy and to readers that like humorous twists in a story. I cannot wait to read the second book in this series, My Royal Pain Quest, and just hope that it comes out soon. I guess I will just have to wait patiently, something I am not good at.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
December 4, 2011
I have seen a number of glowing reviews of this book, so I was very surprised when I began reading it at how bad I thought the writing style was; not a single review had mentioned it. Of course one might expect a chidren’s book to be written in a simpler style, but a lot of the phrasing seemed very awkward to me and there were poor transitions between ideas and events. It is easy for me to imagine that if I had pulled this book from a shelf in the store, unaware of said gushing reviews, and glanced through the beginning pages that I would have put it right back. That said, Lond’s style does improve as the book progresses, with only occasional relapses into awkwardness. I have every hope that with the experience of writing this book, and several others, Lond will have perfected her craft and I will not have the same issue with the forthcoming sequel.
Unfortunately, the structure of the book was also problematic, and I am not sure this is something Lond will fix. Throughout the story, events would occur with absolutely no lead-up. They were not fun and surprising, just random and ultimately confusing. Several times important transitions between events were so glaringly missing that I actually stopped, reread the same sentences, and checked to see whether my edition were missing text or pages. I have never done this with another book (besides an edition of The Silmarillion I own that actually is missing pages.) Again, I seem to be the only reviewer who thinks this was a fairly major flaw.
However, I must make it perfectly clear that I really did like My Sparkling Misfortune. Structural problems aside, it is a charming book with a great cast of characters including Lord Arkus, his sparkling Tulip, the would-be hero Prince Kellemar, a beautiful princess, a frightful monster, and others. It is clever, imaginative, and quite hilarious. I laughed out loud several times at poor Arkus’s “misfortunes” and his annoyed commentary on the matters; sometimes I actually pointed and laughed at his expense. If you want a light, very quick read to cheer you up and make you think good things about the world, this book is for you. I definitely recommend it for anyone who likes fantasy or who has a sense of humor, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel, My Royal Pain Quest.
This review was also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.
Unfortunately, the structure of the book was also problematic, and I am not sure this is something Lond will fix. Throughout the story, events would occur with absolutely no lead-up. They were not fun and surprising, just random and ultimately confusing. Several times important transitions between events were so glaringly missing that I actually stopped, reread the same sentences, and checked to see whether my edition were missing text or pages. I have never done this with another book (besides an edition of The Silmarillion I own that actually is missing pages.) Again, I seem to be the only reviewer who thinks this was a fairly major flaw.
However, I must make it perfectly clear that I really did like My Sparkling Misfortune. Structural problems aside, it is a charming book with a great cast of characters including Lord Arkus, his sparkling Tulip, the would-be hero Prince Kellemar, a beautiful princess, a frightful monster, and others. It is clever, imaginative, and quite hilarious. I laughed out loud several times at poor Arkus’s “misfortunes” and his annoyed commentary on the matters; sometimes I actually pointed and laughed at his expense. If you want a light, very quick read to cheer you up and make you think good things about the world, this book is for you. I definitely recommend it for anyone who likes fantasy or who has a sense of humor, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel, My Royal Pain Quest.
This review was also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.
May 18, 2011
Are you a hero or a villain? Answer carefully, or you might find you have misjudged yourself. Take Lord Arkus, lord of Blackriver Castle, one of the most feared villains of his time - he himself has said so. He had no illusions about being a hero, he was a villain through and through. So how did he end up with such a kind, tender-hearted and powerful sparkling named Tulip, a.k.a. Jarvi? If that is not an enough reason yet to read My Sparkling Misfortune, a book written by Laura Lond and exquisitely illustrated by Alla Alekseyeva, then maybe this would change your mind:
Imagine a black-hearted (if he indeed has a heart) villain - cold, calculating, and fiercely stylish (have you ever encountered a frumpy bad guy?), only interested in causing havoc, conquering lands, plundering wealth, and has no second thoughts about hitting his servants. Can you picture that on your mind? Probably thinking about Voldemort or a famous super model? Now, visualize an angelic being whose intentions are pure as a baby's cheek, whose sole purpose of existence is to do good. These two people are certainly on opposite poles, and when put together, they would certainly repel. But what really happens is so hilarious, so heart-wrenching, and a little bit insane you would only believe it if you have read the book yourself.
My Sparkling Misfortune is definitely anything but a misfortune. But its prose does sparkle, the writing humorous and assertive, Lord Arkus' voice genuine and believable. The characters were vividly drawn, as clear as if seeing them in person while reading about them in the book. The pace is quick and to the point, and the tone - though it may sometimes sound dire through the characters' points of view - comes off as hilarious, which reminds the reader to be optimistic and find joy in everything, as Tulip-Jarvi does.
The story is uncomplicated and very light, ideal for young readers yet packs quite a punch during intense moments and at every turn, a lesson is unconsciously taught and learned, and every reader would find themselves changed, though they might not immediately notice it.
I am so glad to have met Arkus and Tulip-Jarvi, and I am sure that a lot of readers would also agree once they have finished reading this book, and has gone to witness these two hilariously different creatures' adventures as villains and heroes.
Imagine a black-hearted (if he indeed has a heart) villain - cold, calculating, and fiercely stylish (have you ever encountered a frumpy bad guy?), only interested in causing havoc, conquering lands, plundering wealth, and has no second thoughts about hitting his servants. Can you picture that on your mind? Probably thinking about Voldemort or a famous super model? Now, visualize an angelic being whose intentions are pure as a baby's cheek, whose sole purpose of existence is to do good. These two people are certainly on opposite poles, and when put together, they would certainly repel. But what really happens is so hilarious, so heart-wrenching, and a little bit insane you would only believe it if you have read the book yourself.
My Sparkling Misfortune is definitely anything but a misfortune. But its prose does sparkle, the writing humorous and assertive, Lord Arkus' voice genuine and believable. The characters were vividly drawn, as clear as if seeing them in person while reading about them in the book. The pace is quick and to the point, and the tone - though it may sometimes sound dire through the characters' points of view - comes off as hilarious, which reminds the reader to be optimistic and find joy in everything, as Tulip-Jarvi does.
The story is uncomplicated and very light, ideal for young readers yet packs quite a punch during intense moments and at every turn, a lesson is unconsciously taught and learned, and every reader would find themselves changed, though they might not immediately notice it.
I am so glad to have met Arkus and Tulip-Jarvi, and I am sure that a lot of readers would also agree once they have finished reading this book, and has gone to witness these two hilariously different creatures' adventures as villains and heroes.
Read
April 15, 2012Black River Castle resides in Arkusville. This domain is filled with goblins, robbers and various outlaws. It's dreary, dangerous and the home of a villain who is known as Lord Arkus of Black River Castle or Arkus the Fearsome or the Dreaded Lord. Take your pick. Either way the name is a good indicator he is no good. When the evil doer Arkus is visited by Prince Kellemar of Dalvanna, asking for a favor, starts this particular adventure.
The Prince wants Arkus to wipe out the Dolmanians completely. And for payment he can take all of their plunder. When Arkus and his men draw out the Dolmanians and go after their treasure hidden away in a cave, they encounter a large lizard-like beast. It is the lizard sent after Arkus by Magner, a wizard he beat in a duel. Arkus realizes as he attempts to escape the lizard that he has been betrayed by the supposed noble Prince Kellemar. You see, the one thing that can keep Arkus safe from the lizard is these white towers that have been strategically placed throughout the land. They protect Arkus from the lizard, and the Nobel Prince has destroyed them.
Arkus must now figure out a way to survive the oversized creature and regain his dastardly reputation of being a villain. In order to do this he must capture a gormack, a powerful spirit that he will be able to command. Instead, Arkus captures Tulip, who happens to be a good-goody sparkling. The two, now bound together for the next five years, begin plotting, planning and adjusting to what makes each other tick.
Readers will find themselves inside the head of this hilarious dastardly dude as he fumbles his way into figuring out if he is a villain or a hero. The fantasy story has everything readers long for in regards to kings, gold, beautiful damsels and dragons. The book ends with readers longing for the next adventure. This quick and easy read is a great target for middle grade boys who would love a great adventure.
About the author:
Laura Lond is an internationally published author of several novels and a collection of short stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Having worked for 2 years at a literary museum, Laura entered the world of business, working for large corporations like Zerox Ltd. And Fluor Daniel. After moving from Europe to the United States, she has been self-employed as a freelancer.
The Prince wants Arkus to wipe out the Dolmanians completely. And for payment he can take all of their plunder. When Arkus and his men draw out the Dolmanians and go after their treasure hidden away in a cave, they encounter a large lizard-like beast. It is the lizard sent after Arkus by Magner, a wizard he beat in a duel. Arkus realizes as he attempts to escape the lizard that he has been betrayed by the supposed noble Prince Kellemar. You see, the one thing that can keep Arkus safe from the lizard is these white towers that have been strategically placed throughout the land. They protect Arkus from the lizard, and the Nobel Prince has destroyed them.
Arkus must now figure out a way to survive the oversized creature and regain his dastardly reputation of being a villain. In order to do this he must capture a gormack, a powerful spirit that he will be able to command. Instead, Arkus captures Tulip, who happens to be a good-goody sparkling. The two, now bound together for the next five years, begin plotting, planning and adjusting to what makes each other tick.
Readers will find themselves inside the head of this hilarious dastardly dude as he fumbles his way into figuring out if he is a villain or a hero. The fantasy story has everything readers long for in regards to kings, gold, beautiful damsels and dragons. The book ends with readers longing for the next adventure. This quick and easy read is a great target for middle grade boys who would love a great adventure.
About the author:
Laura Lond is an internationally published author of several novels and a collection of short stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Having worked for 2 years at a literary museum, Laura entered the world of business, working for large corporations like Zerox Ltd. And Fluor Daniel. After moving from Europe to the United States, she has been self-employed as a freelancer.
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