44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Series Turned into A Feminist Statement, March 19, 2008
Robert Asprin, say it ain't so!
What happened to the light hearted yet quick to turn serious series we all loved so well?
Never mind the awful plot(a contest between Skeeve and Aahz to see who can make the most money) just about everyone except Chumley in the book is out of character. At some point before the story even began Skeeve had decided he's going to suck as a magican and comes out of retirement(WHY, he took the sabbatical to become a more powerful magician?)
When did Bunny become the level head of the group?
When did her and Tananda become buddy buddy? They were going at it tooth and nail before Myth nomers and Impervections, yet somewhere in the almost decade lull between books they're best girlfriends?
Aazh and Skeeve's friendship has overcome so much in the first 8 books alone and now they're at each others throats because of some contest? Wasn't Aahz bothered by Skeeve's becoming more ruthless in Myth Inc. LINK? Why would he encourage such behavior?
Why does Skeeve get punked out multiple times in this book by stupid ninja and magical spirits? Wasn't he studying magic on his sabbatical?
What happened to the Bunny/Sleeve love angle that was being built up over 4 books? There's almost no development in that whatsoever in this book or almost the previous 4 books. No one who hadn't been following the series since the 90s would know they were a perspective couple by reading this book and Bunny lacked the caring qualities along with the efficient attitude that made her such a good match for Skeeve one upon a time.
But before the book is done with, she's called skeeve an idiot multiple times,(And I guess he's been acting like one since Nye interjected herself in the series) and by the end of the book, she's in charge of Myth Inc and punking out Skeeve in his own series.
I know it was intended to take Bunny to a more 3d character from the moll gimmick she first appeared with, but she's a totally new person in this series, bossy, and uncompassionate towards Skeeve's problem. I like strong female characters, but Bunny was all cardboard here and no new ground was covered with her.
I prefer the pre Something Mtyh Inc Bunny, who worked out like a freak and yet kept things going for Myth Inc on the money side. Her elevation here to the head of Myth Inc seemed forced and without much substance.
It's Skeeve's book series(WHY IS FORMER ASSISTANT HIS BOSS NOW?!)
There were some pros to the book. (Phil Foglio on the art for one. Love the girl genius, Phil! Phil does fantasy art like none other and his work on the Myth Comics minseries in the late 80s brought the series even more alive than ever before) We got to see the dangerous side of Tananda behind all the curves when she almost kills Skeeve and Skeeve did some cool magic tricks to save Aahz and company from a swamp. But then that's when he wasn't being punked by Ninjas who make cake and stupid Fox Ghosts(Don't ask me, the book and the 1 dimensional, stupid character didn't make much since at various parts)
I have more whys for this book than I can list here. It was really bad. I wouldn't recommend it and I won't recommend the series until Nye is gone and Asprin gets back on track.
Why are bombarded with this pointless garbage contrived by Nye?
What about great concepts introduced in the background of the comics about why Garkin was in exile and Tanandas love affair with him and Isstvans and Skeeves linked Destiny with the awesomely powerful sorcerers the PRIMEWORLDERS(makers of the D Hopper), or even some characters from the hilarious is so final comic run like the Law Robots orDuke Pincpini and Kitten?) There is so much potential still in the series, but it's being run into the ground by Nye and her one dimensional characters. Please Mr. Aspinr, for Skeeve's sake, end the series, or do the series justice and put out straight graphic novels with Phil Foglio on the art so the Myth Series can become that place our imagination temporarily escapes to once again.
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Talk about a disappointment, March 27, 2008
I may be one of the few readers in that I actually was still somewhat able to enjoy the latest Myth books. I've reread the series more times than I'd like to admit, and what a let down!
This book could have been good. Had it not been for the characters all seeming to become cardboard images on themselves. Tananda all of a sudden is hurt by Skeeve's actions and is showing crying eyes instead of simply confronting him? Aahz has forgotten all the things he learned from Skeeve and is bad mouthing him at the Bazaar? Skeeve...where to begin? I don't mind someone getting the magical drop on him but what the heck is up with him losing focus of the goal... to the point where he put Aahz's life at risk for even a moment? What is this?!
And that ending... Is this series now about Bunny? Maybe we can get a series about Pookie and Spider as they seem to encompass the Skeeve/Aahz relationship better than Skeeve and Aahz do at this point.
I got the most enjoyment in this book out of our Princess and Prime Minister. The plot could have been a fun ride had it not turned so bitter and false to the characters. For that, it gets 2 points. If you knew nothing about this book and it characters it may've been more enjoyable with just a touch of background.
Can we have our beloved characters back please?
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