Tag: Thraxas

Thraxas of Turai (Thraxas #11) ★★✬☆☆

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This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Thraxas of Turai
Series: Thraxas #11
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 172
Words: 58.5K



Synopsis:

From the Publisher

Thraxas, perhaps the doughtiest warrior ever born within that city’s walls, (as he describes himself) is almost home. The army led by Lisutaris reaches Turai, ready to retake their city. Thraxas begins the book in some trouble, having been flung in the stockade following a disreputable brawl, but will soon be back in action, investigating a politically awkward murder while making ready for battle. At his side is Makri, whose mathematical skills are called upon for some complicated sorcerous calculations designed to bring down the walls. There are dragons in the sky, hostile forces ahead, and, worst of all as far as Thraxas is concerned, a general beer shortage. When this is all over, Thraxas intends to spend the rest of his days sitting comfortably in his favourite tavern. But first, he has a city to retake.

My Thoughts:

I just re-read my review for the 10th Thraxas book (Thraxas and the Oracle) and most of the same issues apply here. This book ends with Thraxas being the first soldier back into Turai and then just ends. Scott is obviously leaving himself openings for more books but really, who is going to read any more of this series? I won’t be.

Thraxas as drunken, bumbling Private Investigator just isn’t funny any more. Even though it has been 3 years since I read book 10, it felt like it was just yesterday and that I hadn’t had any break from the infantile behavior of Thraxas. He’s moved from grouchy and curmudgeonly yet still amusing to just plain old annoying. I won’t be reading any more Thraxas books.

At 175’ish pages, Scott could have written another 50 and wrapped the series up. At some point an author needs to accept that his creation has run its course and it’s time to finish the story. Do yourself a favor Martin Scott/Milar, end the series and stop embarrassing yourself.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Thraxas and the Oracle (Thraxas #10) ★★★☆☆

~ Bookstooge ~ 11 Comments

thraxasandtheoracle (Custom).jpgThis review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Thraxas and the Oracle
Series: Thraxas #10
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 184
Format: Digital Edition

 

Synopsis:

The armies have come together and they all, under the leadership of Lisutaris, begin the march to Turai to take the fight to the orcs. Thraxas has been made head of Security and his number one job is to find Deeziz the Unseen before she wreaks havoc on the barely holding together armies. Add to that that Lisutaris must consult with an Oracle who has been banned and whose followers have been wiped out by the true church.

Thraxas is going to have a very hard time. Worst of all, there are no taverns and Lisutaris has told him to stop drinking.

The oracle proves right in all her accounts that do come to pass, Thraxas does find Deeziz (who escapes yet again) and the allied armies surprise an orcish one and completely route it. Now they can begin to head to Turai.

 

My Thoughts:

This was probably the weakest Thraxas story to date. In the middle of an army is not the place to have Thraxas being a gluttonous drunk. It just didn’t work for me this time. Thraxas is just hit or miss for me and I can’t figure out the why’s and wherefore’s of the formula regulating that. I guess it’s just a mystery! In terms of enjoyment, this was a bunt. I still connected with the ball, but it didn’t knock it out of the park for me.

If I were to recommend these books to anyone, I’d say to stop at book 8. Yes, there isn’t any resolution at the end of that book, but 2 books later there still isn’t any resolution. Also, considering that it has been 3 years since this book was published and there hasn’t been another, I’d say Scott has dropped the creative ball and is done as an author. These are not long books. If you are on fire, it doesn’t take 3 years to write a sub-200page book. It is only when struggling that that is the case.

Scott needs to write one more book where the armies take back the city of Turai, Thraxas marries Makri, becomes the proconsul of the newly renovated Turai and the whole gang (Lisutaris, Gurd, Tamrose, etc) all hang out at a brand new bar and shirk their duties. The End. Seriously.

★★★☆☆

bookstooge

 

 

Thraxas and the Ice Dragon (Thraxas #9) ★★★☆½

~ Bookstooge ~ 18 Comments

thraxasandicedragon (Custom)This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Thraxas and the Ice Dragon
Series: Thraxas #9
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 198
Format: Digital Edition

 

Synopsis:

Thraxis, Makri and Lisutarus all survive and end up in the small kingdom of Samsarina, which is quite strict about such things as public drunkeness, thazis use and dwa. Not the best place for our three Heroes to end up!

But Samsarina is a staging ground for the surrounding kingdoms to gather, create a warhost and march on Thraxas’ beloved city of Turai and free it from the orcish horde that has conquered it.Of course, by the time they all actually agree, there might not be much of Turai left.

Lisutaris, as head of the Magic Guild, must contend with other jealous sorcerers who want her removed and themselves installed as head of the Guild and then most likely as head of the Warhost.

Makri enters a fighting contest because they are broke and Thraxas has a sure fire gambling plan, ie, Makri will win every fight and make them rich.

Thraxas runs across an old flame, now a duchess and her daughter is convinced someone is out to kill her. Thraxas is hired as Number One Investigator to find out what’s going on.

It all ends with Makri winning the fight because she was kind to a baby dragon. Mama dragon eats Lisutaris’s Number One Foe and Thraxas solves the crime AND wins over 10,000 gurans. Everybody, except the dead sorcerer, is happy!

 

My Thoughts:

Man, I’d forgotten just how much light hearted fun these Thraxas books are. Filled with witty banter, huge amounts of alcohol, drugs and a Fat Private Investigator, you simply can’t go wrong. Throw in the whole realm of fantasy and you’ve got a sure fire winner.

Everything that I have written about previous Thraxas books still applies to this one as well. Shallow, whiny, tiresome one liners, this has them all in spades.

BUT THAT IS WHAT A THRAXAS BOOK IS ABOUT!!!!

So I just sat back, let the shenanigans roll along and had a jolly old time. I would say that Thraxas is like a circus peanut. A small amount goes a long way and you definitely don’t want to overdose. But my goodness, when you haven’t had circus peanuts for over a year, and you open that bag and pop that first delectable sugar delight into your mouth and feel it melting on your tongue, it is good!

★★★☆½

bookstooge

Thraxas Under Siege (Thraxas #8)

~ Bookstooge ~ 3 Comments

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This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, Booklikes & Librarything by  Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission.

 
Title: Thraxas Under Siege
Series: Thraxas #8
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 272
Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:   Spoiler

Turai is besieged by the orcs. Everyone, including Thraxas, must pull duty on the walls. At the same time, it gets out that there is an artifact that can raise storms and it is missing. If it falls into the hands of the Orcs, Turai is doomed. The head mistress of the Sorcerer’s guild hires Thraxas to find said artifact. He is also hired to find 14,000 gurans of hidden treasure, the finders fee which will enable Thraxas to get in on a high stakes card game. Because hey, being under siege doesn’t mean life has to stop.

While this is all going on, it is deep winter and the winter malady is hitting people right and left. Sometimes a little to close to Thraxas’s circle of acquaintances. The book ends with the orcs over running Turai and Thraxas dragging Makri and Lisutarius into a boat and escaping.

 

My Thoughts: 

Thraxas is dense. There is no denying it. People literally falling ill, with no symptoms beforehand, as soon as they step into the Avenging Axe and he doesn’t suspect a thing? Throw in that an orcish sorcerer named Dazeez the Unseen is known to be out and about and you have to roll your eyes.

This was exactly like the previous books. Thraxas complain, Thraxas eats and fights, people harass Thraxas, Makri prances around in her chain mail bikini, Thraxas ignores said spectacle. Thraxas solves some of the issues and not others.

The card game was the highlight for me. In it Thraxas is playing against an orcish sorcerer and other high lords of Turai. The stakes are Makri’s hand in marriage or the storm artifact. What a game.

The ending was ok.  It could either be taken as the end of the story and series, or just a temporary set back. In the omnibus edition, this is the last story but i know there are 2 more, as I have them in my tbr list. So I’m wondering if Martin ended the series and then picked it back up again. I am glad to know that there are more Thraxas stories. We all need more stories about fat gluttons who are more worried about their bellies than beautiful women. Even beautiful women who fill out chainmail bikinis 😀

star30full-custom

Thraxas at War (Thraxas #7)

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This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes. blogspot.wordpress.com by  Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission.

Title: Thraxas at War

Series: Thraxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 272

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

While the war council for Turai is in session, a Senator is murdered and Lodius is the main suspect. Lodius’ wife hires Thraxas to prove his innocence. Thraxas reluctantly takes the case. The orcs pull a sneak attack on Turai with the help of a traitor and while the city survives, no allies are going to be able to help for months.

Thraxas solves the case but it is completely overshadowed by the traitor and the war. Ends with Turai under siege.

 

My Thoughts:

This really sucked me in. A lot of the time the “mystery” doesn’t do much for me and I just swing along for the ride. But for whatever reason, this time around, it just sucked me in.

The war story is bigger than one book so while this is the start, it doesn’t conclude anything or even really continue. I guess I’ll have to read the next book or 3 to finish that.

 

Thraxas and the Dance of Death (Thraxas #6)

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Title: Thraxas and the Dance of Death

Series: Thraxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 256

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

Lisutarius has lost a priceless gem that helps protect Turai against an orcish invasion. So she hires Thraxas to find it without anyone else finding out. But of course things don’t go quite according to plan and everywhere the gem goes, death follows. So much so that an enterprising fellow starts a betting ring on how many people will die before Thraxas can find the jewel.

An undead sorcerer comes to town to steal the jewel for himself, falls in love with Makri and threatens Thraxas.

 

My Thoughts:

It was nice returning to Turai and watching Thraxas threaten, bluster and bumble his way through yet another investigation.

Things get a little bit more serious as Thraxas must deal with politics, having his investigators license revoked, Tanrose leaving the inn and a possible orc invasion just as the city is being wracked by a dwa epidemic and the elves are weaker than ever.

I tore through this in about 3 lunchbreaks. The only problem is that by the time I get around to writing a review, I’m halfway through the next book and get the details muddled in my head. But I remember having fun reading this, so I think that is enough.

Thraxas and the Sorcerers (Thraxas #5)

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Title: Thraxas and the Sorcerers

Series: Thraxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 186

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

The Sorcerer’s Guild needs a new Leader and everyone is meeting in Turai. Each City State is putting forth its top Sorcerer for the job. Unfortunately for Turai, their top Sorcerer is a thazi addled addict who can’t even walk straight, much less run a Guild of the most powerful people in the realm.

So it is up to Thraxas and others to buy, threaten, cheat, extort and whatever else is needed, to get the votes for their Sorcerer. And Thraxas has been made a Tribune, so he’s officially back in the Politics Game.

 

My Thoughts:

This was a murder mystery mixed with rigged elections and so much dwa that it felt like I, the reader, was practically swimming through the stuff. So pretty much, just like all the previous books.

I have the omnibus, The Complete Thraxas, and have been reading these on my phone, back to back. I think I reached my limit here. Need to take a break and put these back into the regular queue.

I like these and want to make sure that I keep on liking them.

Thraxas and the Elvish Isles (Thraxas #4)

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Title: Thraxas and the Elvish Isles

Series: Thraxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 186

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

The royalty of Turai are trying to strengthen ties with the Elves. They send a delegation to one of the Elvish Isles to help celebrate. At the same time, Thraxas is coming along at the request of one of the Elves, who was his friend during the War with the Orcs. Unfortunately, he’s coming along because said Elf’s daughter is accused of trying to destroy the Sacred Tree AND killing the Head Priest. Makri comes along because she’s literally chased out of Turai by some thugs.

On the Island, life is pretty usual for Thraxas. No one likes him, no one will answer his questions, there isn’t enough Beer and gambling opportunities abound.

 

My Thoughts:

I say this for every book, but it is true: This was FUN!

Thraxas just stumbles along through the case and because of pure dumb luck, every time, solves the case. Makri gets to fight, Thraxas annoys everyone in authority and money and beer, in great quantities, are gathered and lost.

And everything is the fault of of the drug Dwa.

Thraxas at the Races (Thraxas #3)

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Title: Thraxas at the Races

Series: Thraxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 256

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

This time Thraxas is hired by a Senator to find his missing artwork, that his dwa addicted wife has stolen to fuel her habit. Of course, just as Thraxas finds the loot, he also finds the Senators dead body and is charged with the crime.

He is rescued only to find he is now expected to guard an Orc chariot driver.

From the frying pan into the fire!

 

My Thoughts:

I am very glad to be using the half star rating system, that is for sure. These books are pure fun but not solid enough for a re-read. Plus, with the mystery being solved, I’m not sure that I’d enjoy slogging through the same territory again. But that in no way diminishes just how awesome these books are.

My only real complaint, again, is the lousy new covers. I suspect it has something to do with legal rights and what not. I also suppose that it is supposed to be Makri, the half human, quarter Elf, quarter Orc, woman who guards Thraxas’ back and has the potential to be a love interest at the end of the series. But she’s described as having slightly red skin, her hair is not dyed and while she does wear a chain mail bikini [for tips at the bar], she fills it out. I’ve seen the old covers and I have to say, they really appeal to me.

Thankfully, the author stays away from “character development” and over arching story arcs. Just the type of story I’m looking to read for 20’ish minutes a day while on lunch break.

Thraxas and the Warrior Monks (Thraxas #2)

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Title: Thraxas and the Warrior Monks

Series: Braxas

Author: Martin Scott

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 256

Format: Kindle digital edition

 

Synopsis:

Thraxas is hired to defend an apprentice who is accused of murdering his master. At the same time, some dolphins want him to find their magic healing stone, 2 rival groups of monks are trying to kill him to recover a 2 ton statue AND a shipment of the king’s gold goes missing. And if that isn’t enough, thugs are after Thraxas as are some of the leaders of the Guards.

In fact, it seems everybody wants Thraxas dead.

 

My Thoughts:

This was complicated, convoluted and fun; in fact, it was just as fun as the previous book. Sometimes, humor across books can change but this keeps the same tenor.

I tried to keep things straight in my head while reading so I could write about it, but half way through I just gave up. I just let the story roll me along like a pebble in the ocean.

When I’m done these Thraxas book, I’ll have to go see if Scott wrote any more.