Mansemat Cthonique. Dark Lord of the Plains of Dread. Master of the Castle Terribel. Doting Husband, Father, and Stepfather.
For centuries, the Lands of Night and Light have been locked in a struggle of light against darkness.This is about life in the Land of Night, a place where even Dark Lords have hobbies.
Oh my! Castle Terribel by John Ball is very, very silly – and I mean that in a good way. This is comic fantasy to the nth degree but balanced by hints of seriousness and a definite plot.
Likes:
- The characters are wonderful. I especially like Nisrioch Cthonique.
- Every single part so far has made me laugh at least once – usually more.
- In spite of the rampant silliness a plot is emerging and there are hints of trouble ahead. A delicate balancing act which is working so far.
Dislikes:
- The white text on a black background may be thematically appropriate for a story about a dark lord, but it’s hard on the eyes.
- Very occassionally, especially early on, the silliness is a little overdone. This has calmed down as the story progresses however.
Verdict:
Extremely silly in a good way. If you like comedic fantasy you’ll probably like this. Just don’t read it while eating or drinking, or you’ll end up having to clean your screen.
