F/SF

Once again I find myself liking the book because Evans takes the story further than just the plot described in the blurb. We get to see dimensions of the world and characters beyond the formulaic fantasy plot lines. ( )

A fun book, although it drags a bit in places. It has a not-typical fairytale ending, with the protagonist having grown a bit. Tobas makes a appearance in the later Esthar novel Spell of the Black Dagger. ( )

The Ethshar books are some of my favorite fantasy books. The heroes are not overpowering, and the world has a very primitive and interesting feel to it. In some ways it reminds me of a cross between Piers Anthony and Prachett, without the over the top puns. Straightforward, fun fantasy, not a long slog of an epic. Its short and entertaining. ( )

While not quite as good as The Misenchanted Sword, With a Single Spell is still a well-written entertaining novel. Set in the same world, Ethshar, as the Misenchanted Sword, this tale takes the reader on an adventure with a young wizard-in-training whose master dies after he has only learned one spell. Considered too old for another wizard to concern themselves with taking him on as an apprentice, Tobas must figure out what to do with his life and his one spell. At least that spell is a fairly useful one, although even that manages to back-fire on him from time to time and cause even more angst to our young protagonist. As with the first book in the series, Watt-Evans manages to keep the action flowing while keeping the tone light and humorous. A good read for those who need a break from today's heavier fantasy offerings. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series soon. Also, the books in this series are all stand-alones, so you don’t have to read them in any particular order which is also refreshing. ( )