Synopsis
In a realm ruled by idiots, the Fool is their only hope.
You’d think an army of zombie trolls and undead ogres would catch the nobility’s attention. You’d be wrong. The rulers of Halfsock are deeply in denial. Besides, they have taxes to avoid, neighbors to plunder, and relatives to backstab.
With war looming, a goblin latrine slave named Shelly resolves to save Castle Halfsock from itself. He must assume many roles… jester, detective, spy, and political fixer. But his most challenging—especially after a lifetime spent cleaning other people’s toilets—is as a confident goblin worthy of trust, friendship, and maybe even love.
Can the least powerful person in the realm overcome his insecurities to depose rulers, forge alliances, and fend off an undead horde?
A comic tale of politics, friendship, and found family for fans of Nicholas Eames, Terry Pratchett, and J. Zachary Pike.
Review
A politically savvy fantasy novel with a goblin protagonist? You spoil us, Tim Carter.
Hot off the release and success of novella Majordomo (Review: Majordomo by Tim Carter | FanFiAddict), Carter switches his focus from the lowly kobold to the lowly goblin latrine slave. Yes, our main character could hardly have a more unpleasant lot in life. So, when the undead Skeleton Queen threatens the land with a horde of zombies, things actually look like getting worse. You know, on account of being eaten alive …
For main protagonist Shelly, it’s sink or swim. Thus we delve into a court of intrigue. Political moves are played out with Shelly often the pawn. It leads to a novel that is fiendishly cunning in spades as Shelly’s friendships and political gains come to a head.
What starts off with a murder soon becomes a cutthroat game of outmanoeuvring opponents and gaining friends quickly. The political machinations of our protagonist took a little time to get my head round at first but I am pleased to have persevered. I’m not a big follower of politics, least of all in Sci Fi and fantasy, but Jester nonetheless drew me in.
There’s something satisfying in seeing Shelly’s rise from latrine slave to trusted confidant and then to greater things. For a large part of the story he remains the downtrodden and wretched goblin yet by the end of the book he’s much more, not unlike Littlefinger in his standing. Like its MC, Jester is razor sharp with its humour and politicking. Ploys whizz by in an instant, soon replaced by the next. Ulterior motives are par for the course. Jester is a whirring mass of moving parts, its plot machine ticking along nicely.
Of course, the underlying peril of the story is the BBEG herself, the Skeleton Queen. My one gripe with Jester is its refusal to truly scare us by the actual antagonist. She’s a boogeyman for much of the book until the final act. When we do meet her, the time spent feels too short. I’m a sucker for a villain but a truly satisfying evil payoff needs more investment beforehand.
Be that as it may, as the Skeleton Queen descends upon the kingdom by the end of the novel I was fully bought in to Shelly’s plight. A final act of gritted teeth and fist pumps in equal measure followrounded everything off nicely.
Jester, just not a funny one …
Jester makes for a different read for sure but it was an enjoyable one, and definitely worth checking out. Thanks Tim.
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