Villains by K.L. Mitchell is a humorous romp through a fairy tale world full of villagers, villains and dangerous ex-librarians.
Revka and her Centaur girlfriend Iyarra need a break from heroing and what better place than The Enchanted Forest, a popular tourist destination. Lots of families visit there and bring their kids, though it’s not exactly kid friendly. It isn’t as magical as they remembered, being more run down and less magical, like visiting your favorite childhood theme park with the grandkids.
Tourists are leaving with a scowl on their face and children bickering in the back of the wagon. Being heroes and all, the girls determine to get to the bottom of all of this misery and discover their world on the brink of collapse. Someone is pilfering all the villains, and now they must hold their nose and save the bad guys.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I laughed and laughed, and laughed some more. I chased my partner around reading parts aloud because I wanted to share this romp through fractured fairy tales.
There are some serious themes, such as taking care to notice if things aren’t as they seem, and finding your true role in life. Mostly, though, the story weaves a large number of recognizable tales into a whole as the reader follows the heroes through many adventures. There are so many parts it’s difficult to choose favorites, but I loved the terrible campfire song, the fairy tale re-telling sidebars, and The Withdrawn, a travelling band of ex-librarians who teach the girls the martial art of bookshido and how to be absolutely quiet.
The writing flows easily, with the narrator occasionally slipping into a second person breaking of the fourth wall that almost makes the reader a part of the story, and consistently smooth dialogue. Revka and Iyarra have a sweet relationship and the world they travel through feels familiar, if a little cracked.
Cons And Heads Up
There is some fairy tale violence involving swords, candelabrum and a pine cone.
The Conclusion
This is a seriously funny book that weaves old classic fairy tales, and a few modern classics, into a skewed and badly fitting tourist tee-shirt that gets re-gifted every holiday. It’s one of those books you have to find someone to read excerpts to, because the twists on fairy tales will bend your mind and anyone else within hearing. Revka and Iyarra are now two of my favorite heroes, and I love the world they travel in.
Excerpt from Villains by K.L. Mitchell
“We’re all over this. We’ve got the moves that, uh…” She trailed off. A look of concern pushed its way past her usual bravado. Something unpleasant was happening down in the region of her…
A moment later, she was flailing around, frantically trying to stomp out the fire in her boot with her other boot. When this inevitably resulted in two fires, she dropped to the ground, smothering the toes of her boots in the dark, loamy earth of the forest. For a moment, she lay there moaning and gazing despondently at her smoking footwear.
Sister Agata turned to Tali and Conan. “By the way, did you instruct them on the principles of slapstick and how they apply to a narrative environment?” she asked.
“Sorry, Miss. Didn’t have time.”
“I shouldn’t worry,” said the elder placidly. “I expect they’ll pick it up as they go along”.
“Yeah,” said Sudgen Two. “They’re clearly naturals.”
“In any case,” said Sister Agata. “I think they are ready for the final test. Kindly put the word out that we are pulling up stakes tomorrow. I’d like us well away by noon, if possible.”
Brother Sudgen pursed his lips. “You really think these two are ready?”
Sister Agata watched as Iyarra fussed over Revka, trying to help her get her boots off. Mostly she was succeeding in dragging the woman along the ground. Sister Agata sighed.
“As ready as they’ll ever be,” she said.
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Series
The Road to Kalazad
Villains
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781954213432
Publisher: Desert Palm Press
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