Customer Reviews

Lord Toede

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book actually made me chuckle out loud, which is saying a lot for a fantasy novel. I don't mean to say that many authors haven't used humor to good effect in Forgotten Realms and Dragon Lance novels. They have, but never as effectivley as Jeff Grubb. Jeff pokes fun at the afterlife by having two middle-management minions of hell gamble with Toede's fate. The bet: If given a second chance, could an evil guy like Toede become selfless and noble. A "second chance" turns into a third and fourth and so on as Toede continuously reverts to his greedy, conniving self with hysterically fatal results. Does he eventually lift himself above his evil ways? I won't spoil the ending. Don't be disappointed that the book doesn't spend the multitude of pages it would take to describe Toede's life prior to his "first" death, like the other novels in the Dragon Lance Villains series. That's missing the point of the story Jeff wrote here. Besides do we really care what Toede was doing before now. Personally I don't think the character had that much appeal until Jeff wrote this story about him anyway.

I would like to offer a different opinion of Load Toede. I found it to be a refreshing change from the rest of the DragonLance books. I would agree that the book did not really focus on the Toede that has been described in the other books; but I loved the highly entertaining interplay between Toede and the mischievous Deities. I very much enjoyed Grubb's introductory paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter. For me they really set the stage for what was to come. I think that the book was more about what everyone else would have like to have done to Toede as opposed to what Toede did to everyone else

I'll admit it: This was the first Dragonlance book I ever actually bought. I read it over a 3 hour period one Christmas, and had assembled most of the series within the next month. This was just laugh out loud funny. I would have payed good money to have seen this referred to in Dragons of Summer Flame. Read this book! It's hillarious offers a great commentary on a world of high fantasy. I hope Jeff does MORE Toade stuff someday!

Sometimes DL can get a little heavy handed (which is part of their appeal), so I usually re-read "Toede" whenever I need a laugh. I can just picture him, eyes wide in disbelief, mouthing "berry picking," and absentmindedly calling the scholar "Bunny Snot." Sticks with the Krynn mythology, but gives a very funny change of pace.

THE STORYLINE: a cruel, pompous, hideous hobgoblin named Toede is chosen as the subject of an experiment. Two monsters from the Abyss (like Hell) wish to know the meaning of true nobility, whether one can be noble and still be evil. They bring him back to life, and watch what happens.

I agree with that rude person's review at least in that I would also have appreciated a story of Lord Toede's first life before he was ressurected: but hey, that can still be done. I believe this book was misunderstood. It is much different from most DragonLance books. It flees the normal barriers of writing and creates an entirely new approach. In all, this book was simply very fun to read. It was not a deep tale of woe or the legend of a valiant hero- it was an enjoyable piece of literature. It was a relief from the basic book. It involves the reader and leaves him/her refreshed.

I can see Jeff Grubb laughing and enjoying himself with this book. My only warning: keep your mind open- you have nothing to loose by reading this book. Savour something different, aimless, pointless, and FUN.

I recently had finished the War of the Spider Queen series. That series was terrible (see my scathing review of the last book). It left me annoyed and unsatisfied, so I set out to find a different sort of fantasy book. This one fit the bill.

Unlike the typical Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms book, this book progresses in multiple acts and has numerous interesting and often funny twists. The book gets particularly funny in the last few chapters.

I've read about authors who boast that they don't know how a book is going to end until they finish writing it. I personally find that sort of writing to be pathetic at best. Lord Toede isn't like that at all. This book is a wonderfully intricate lattice of events and characters. I really wish there was an audiobook version of this book.

In short, it was a very refreshing change of pace. I'm actually worried about what I'm going to read next. This is a tough act to follow.

This book is fast becoming my favorite non Chronicles/Legends book. Very funny account of Lord Toede's lives. Very enjoyable reading,my favorite part is when Toade offers his own discriptions of the Heroes of the Lance. Please read if possible

When I first found this book about two months ago, I had no idea what to expect. I figured that this novel would be about a vicious, depraved, and ignoble hobgoblin named Toede who is forced into an experiment by two middle-managers in the Abyss.

I was correct, but what I did not expect was to be rolling on the floor, howling with malevolent glee, with everyone staring at me as if I were quite mad. Jeff Grobb (spelling?) spins a wondrous tale of high adventure and high jinks, chronicling Lord Toede's struggles againts treacherous allies, old friends, and a nasty disposition.

Yes, Jeff weaves a hilarious tale, but he proves his mettle as an author and projects a deeper meaning into a tale originally meant to be a farce.

Toede, hobgoblin bootlicker from Dragonlance, has a problem. It seems everyone thinks he has been dead for six months. Well, he is very much alive, and on a mission to become noble even if it kills him.

The author is very talented with words. Early in the novel Toede and his sniveling underling Groag have been captured by kender, hobbit like beings. Groag relates his sad treatment at the hands of the kender and Toede replies:

"'Have they...tortured you?'" asked Toede hesitantly of his own favorite amusements and wondering if the kender matched up.
'Worse,'sighed Groad. 'Were they to torture me I respond with good hobgoblin stoicsim.'
At least for the first five seconds, thought Toede but said nothing.

Ah, good stuff.

People who will like this book: those who like comedy, are a little familiar with Dragonlance, and don't take fantasy too seriously.

People who will not like this book: those take Dragonlance *very* seriously and can't take jokes about this fantasy creation, as well as people who are completely unfamiliar with Dragonlance(they will not understand some of the references the author makes).

So what happens when two demons of the abyss want to do an experiment to discover if you can be evil and die noble. Well, they bring back Toade and hilarity ensues. That's all I've got to say. This book was brilliant and so much fun... yet it still had adventure and plenty of fantasy to spare. An awesome book and well worth the read.