Now Before the Dark
by Sam HookerAlso by this author: Dead of Winter
Published by: Black Spot Books on December 8, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Humor
Pages: 456
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Rating:
Time is running out for the Old Country.
How does one save a nation when the erstwhile gods are against the idea? In the finale of Terribly Serious Darkness, it's up to Sloot Peril--the world's greatest accountant and poorest everything else--to figure it out.
Unfortunately, he'll have help. A philosopher who'd sooner die (again) than do any real work, a bard who can't play his non-instrument, and a spooky wizard who's often mistaken for a vampire may not be ideal allies, but with any luck—which Sloot's never had—they'll occasionally get out of his way.
Does Sloot stand a chance against serpent cults, demons, dragons, and the most sinister financial report every written? Doubtful. If he's even going to survive the dance contest, he'll have to think of something now, before the Dark swallows everything up.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- A fun adventure with constant subverted expectations.
- An older protagonist who’s really only good at accounting but still has to save the day somehow.
- Reluctant heroes.
- A cast of fun, quirky characters that it’s impossible not to love.
- Terry Pratchett-esque humor and world-building.
Many thanks to Black Spot Books and JeanBookNerd for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and for inclusion on this blog tour.
I’m always up for a good humor book, especially one that reminds me so much of Terry Pratchett. I read the first chapter of the first book in this series, Peril in the Old County, and immediately knew this series was going to be for me.
Now Before the Dark takes the reader to new unexpected places, gives us new characters to love while bringing back some old favorites, and takes the reader on a funny romp of an adventure, never knowing what to expect.
I’ve been having trouble lately getting into books and sticking with them, but I whipped through this series in a handful of days, I just enjoyed it so much! If you’re looking for something a little less serious, with a sort of dry humor, that’ll keep you engaged and guessing, this book really hits the spot!
This review may contain mild spoilers for books one and two in this series.
Hooker has a very Pratchett-esque way of writing, complete with a larger-than-life world, lots of humor, funny situations, and plenty of on-point world-building.
There’s a certain non-linear way that Pratchett writes that I recognized in Hooker’s work immediately, and it’s a method of storytelling that I absolutely love, especially the way it allows the author to play with world-building and slip in large anecdotes about the world and those that inhabit it. If you’re the sort that needs a perfectly linear storyline, though, this probably isn’t going to work for you.
Hooker builds a world that is both familiar and fantastical, weaving familiar real-world elements beside goblins and gremlins and demons. There’s always something new to see and discover, and since Sloot himself has never really left the safety and routine of the Old Country, it makes sense to discover things with him.
More than that, though, the story is just funny. It’s dark in some places, but overall, compared to what I usually read, this feels more like a light, humorous read. The plot and characters immediately grabbed me, and just when you think surely the adventure is almost over, something new comes up and off we go again.
The result was a severe overcrowding of the city’s hospitals and a run on antacids that led to the Great Pharmacy Riots. If the Domnitor, long may he reign, had bee the sort of person who required education on any subject, the lesson here would have been that saying “let them eat cake” never ended well.
Sloot Peril makes a fabulous protagonist, as an older character without an iota of desire or qualification to be a hero, except that he’s really good with numbers.
If I’m honest, accountants in general are really akin to heroes anyway. Anyone who can work that long and hard with numbers and not spontaneously combust is obviously working some type of dark magic, as far as I’m concerned.
Reluctant heroes are my favorite, and Sloot isn’t just reluctant, but he’s wholly unqualified. For … well, anything, really, except accounting and worrying. Those things he’s got down pat. I love Sloot as a protagonist, because among a cast of extraordinary characters, he’s utterly ordinary and in way over his head.
“I’m his bard,” said Igor, correcting her assumption that he was a standard-issue gremlin.
“He’s not my bard.”
“We’re having a trial basis.”
There are so many characters that are easy to love in this that I found myself attached to every one, even the new ones.
Maybe especially them, since this book introduces Igor, the gremlin bard. And who doesn’t love a bard, the poor creatures? Just trying to make it in such an unfriendly world, even though they really are the lowest of creatures. … No offense to any bards reading this, of course.
The character interactions in this book are definitely some of my favorite, from the utterly intolerable (and helpless/useless) Willie to the *hisses* philosopher Arthur, they just crack me up! It’s rare that I so thoroughly love an entire cast, and maybe there are one or two exceptions in this series among the villains, but everyone else? It’s really hard not to love their antics.
“They did their worst,” said Sloot. “They beheaded you.”
“Nonsense,” said Arthur. He gestured to his neck. “Explain this.”
“You were dead for years!”
“I got better.”
About Sam Hooker
Sam Hooker writes darkly humorous fantasy novels about thing like tyrannical despots and the masked scoundrels who tickle them without mercy. He knows all the best swear words, though he refuses to repeat them because he doesn't want to attract goblins.
– 1 Winner will receive a Copy of NOW BEFORE THE DARK and Shirt.
– 1 Winner will receive a NOW BEFORE THE DARK Shirt.
—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
See the full tour schedule here.
WEEK ONE
DECEMBER 7th Welcome to MLM Opinon’s Reviews REVIEW
DECEMBER 8th JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
DECEMBER 9th Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST
DECEMBER 10th BookHounds YA INTERVIEW
DECEMBER 11th A Court of Coffee and Books EXCERPT
DECEMBER 12th Casia’s Corner EXCERPT
DECEMBER 13th Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon GUEST POST
WEEK TWO
DECEMBER 14th The Bookwyrm’s Den REVIEW
DECEMBER 15th Insane About Books REVIEW
DECEMBER 16th Gwendalyn’s Books REVIEW
DECEMBER 17th Ya It’s Lit REVIEW
DECEMBER 18th Kelly Riser REVIEW
DECEMBER 19th Crossroad Reviews SPOTLIGHT
DECEMBER 20th TTC Books and More EXCERPT
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I can’t fully read the review because I’m afraid of spoiling the rest of the series but I’m glad you liked it!
Jenny recently posted…#Blogmas Day 14: Blog Blitz Review – Christmas at the Marshmallow Cafe by CP Ward
I hope you check out the series! It’s definitely worth reading. 😀