The Fanfiaddict team is here with our first finalist review! Today, we’re taking on Jester by Tim Carter. Below you’ll find reviews from 4 team members and our final score. Expect more reviews to come–probably two per month–as we read all the finalists!
Let’s talk Jester!
First, the 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.
What the judges had to say:
Michael Vadney: This book had me laughing out loud before I even got past the opening credits and trigger warnings. That should tell you everything you need to know about the tone, but let me tell you about everything else, because Jester is so much more than just a funny book. Shelly is a goblin latrine slave at the bottom of every possible social ladder in Castle Halfsock, and following him through this story is an absolute joy. He is rife with contradictions, wanting personal safety, growing into a fierce pride, reaching for control over his own life, and watching those desires collide with each other and with the absurd political landscape around him is endlessly entertaining. But what makes Shelly special is the emotional honesty underneath the humor. At its heart, this is a story about self-worth, about combating the constant negative self-talk that comes from a lifetime of being treated as less than, and about taking control of your life even when every system around you says you can’t. That thread runs through the entire book and gives it a surprising emotional weight. The supporting cast is just as strong. Characters are introduced at regular intervals, giving you enough time to really understand each person before the next one arrives. Despite a decently sized cast, it never feels overwhelming. And these aren’t placeholder side characters either. They grow in complexity almost as much as Shelly does, revealing new and deeper facets as the story progresses. Every one of them could carry their own story. No one is flat. No one is one-dimensional.
The plot is a very well thought-out political fantasy, and it’s genuinely smart in how everything fits together. You follow all the machinations through Shelly’s perspective as he’s learning how to navigate them himself, which gives the story a natural excuse to explain what’s happening without ever feeling like exposition. I couldn’t guess where things were going, and every twist and turn felt earned. The way all the pieces come together is deeply satisfying. The pacing is a real strong suit. It moves quickly without rushing through important moments, and while the tempo varies, it never bogs down. The prose is cheeky and sarcastic with several laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout, but it also knows when to slow down and let something land with real weight. The world itself is fairly standard fantasy, your classic races with a darker, more sarcastic twist and some pointed commentary on prejudice baked in. It’s not reinventing the wheel on that front, but it doesn’t need to. The world serves the story and the characters, and the story and the characters are exceptional. Jester is a really good book. It’s hilarious, politically sharp, emotionally resonant, and carried by a cast of characters who feel fully alive. If you want a fantasy that makes you laugh out loud, surprises you with its plot, and quietly moves you with its heart, this one belongs on your shelf.
Isabelle Wagner: There’s not a lot that I have to say about Jester by Tim Carter, but don’t let that deter you. I adored this book. It’s such a weird mix of cozy and epic fantasy.
I loved getting all the epic fantasy feels without the wider world to keep up with. It has diverse races, big political conflicts, and interesting world building, but the whole story was contained to one character the whole time, most of it even within the same small location. And the humor scattered throughout the story gave it a more relaxed and cozy feel as well.
Sometimes cozy books do make me feel a little bored when they meander too much, but the high stakes of this story kept me hooked the entire way through. I really enjoyed Majordomo before this one, but for some reason I was still a little bit hesitant to read this. I won’t make that mistake again. If Tim Carter writes it, believe me, I will read it.
Will Swardstrom: What if Dobby from Harry Potter actually impacted the story? Oh, I know Dobby was important and he got a sock and all that, but in Jester, we follow Shelly, a goblin latrine slave in a grimdark fantasy world who…solves murders, acts as a double agent, acts with cunning and political intrigue, and saves the day (and his own freedom). In J.K. Rowling’s universe, Dobby is an afterthought, but Tim Carter makes this lowly servant the central figure in this short novel that creates a whole new subgenre, putting the “e” in grimedark. At every step along his journey, you feel the danger that he’s in and the absolutely filfthy and gross living conditions in Shelly’s world. And as we see the world through Shelly’s eyes, we see there is so much more to it as his role in it expands, eventually culminating in a war against the Skeleton Queen and her army — a war in which Shelly’s unique position and skills play a key role. I was fortunate to be able to read alongside listening to the audiobook of Jester and Tim Carter found a wonderful narrator in the voice of Aubrey Parsons. The book has a lot to say about equality, fairness, and the ability of the underdog in challenging situations. I had a fantastic time with Jester and will gladly sign up for more from Tim Carter.
Dave Lawson: Jester by Tim Carter is a rollicking good time. A underdog story that you can’t help but fall in love with. And most importantly, a story that surprises you.
Which shouldn’t have surprised me. Carter’s first novella Majordomo seemed like it was going to be a funny dnd-based fantasy and then it absolutely massacred my feels when it became so much more than that: a heartfelt story about a parent with dementia/alzheimers.
Jester doesn’t go to quite the same places emotionally, but it is an inspiring story of friendship, accepting others for who they are, and underdogs who just won’t quite.
Shelly is a goblin with the worst job ever: he’s a latrine slave who spends all of his time dealing with human refuse. It’s gross. However, it serves a purpose, because this is a story of Shelly’s ascent to one of the most important members of the Castle hierarchy, even if only he and a few others know his true role.
Shelly becomes embroiled in a murder mystery and the resulting politicking amongst the nobles, all while an undead horror, The Skeleton Queen and her massive army of the undead, approach.
There’s not much hope of surviving. How do you even kill the undead?
Well, Shelly and co have a plan. Several of them, actually. He has help from Buckingham, a vampire, Myrryn, a sorceress, Bettecia, a common born woman who is the lover of the new Duke, Alistair,and Rose, another goblin slave who Shelly crushes on. Shelly and co try to fight back against the looming evil all while trying to keep things from crumbling from the inside.
This is a short novel. Under 300 pages, but Carter has a way with characters and he uses his well-done prose and astute character development to tell the story in a way that you don’t need more pages. This isn’t a sprawling epic, but a deeply human (or goblin) story about overcoming prejudice and overwhelming odds through hard work and friendship.
There’s wit, moments of humor, and a cast of lovable characters, but this story is so much more than just a silly dnd book. Carter’s characters will live on with you after you’ve finished the book, and you’ll be wishing for more. So Tim, I need another book, please!
All in all, I highly recommend this novel and Tim’s other work. It’s perfect for fans of Nicholas Eames, Terry Pratchett, Dungeons and Dragons, and anyone who enjoys a good, fun story.
Do yourself a favor and check it out!
There you have it! Jester comes in with a score of 9 from team Fanfiaddict. We’re off to a fantastic start to the finals!
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