Beth C.
Written on May 8, 2019
Go big or go gnome. The New York Times bestselling authors of Kill the Farm Boy welcome you to the world of Pell, the irreverent fantasy universe that recalls Monty Python and Terry Pratchett.
“A complete delight, as fluffy and fun as The Lego Movie and as heartfelt as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”—Locus
War is coming, and it’s gonna be Pell.
On one side stand the gnomes: smol, cheerful, possessing tidy cardigans and no taste for cruelty.
On the other side sit the halflings, proudly astride their war alpacas, carrying bags of grenades and hungry for a fight. And pretty much anything else.
It takes only one halfling bomb and Offi Numminen’s world is turned upside down—or downside up, really, since he lives in a hole in the ground. His goth cardigans and aggressive melancholy set him apart from the other gnomes, as does his decision to fight back against their halfling oppressors. Suddenly Offi is the leader of a band of lovable misfits and outcasts—from a gryphon who would literally kill for omelets to a young dwarf herbalist who is better with bees than with his cudgel to an assertive and cheerful teen witch with a beard as long as her book of curses—all on a journey to the Toot Towers to confront the dastardly villain intent on tearing Pell asunder. These adventurers never fit in anywhere else, but as they become friends, fight mermaids, and get really angry at this one raccoon, they learn that there’s nothing more heroic than being yourself.
In No Country for Old Gnomes, Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne lovingly tweak the tropes of fantasy and fairy tales. Here you’ll find goofy jokes and whimsical puns, but you’ll also find a diverse, feminist, and lighthearted approach to fantasy that will bring a smile to your face and many fine cheeses to your plate.
- ISBN10 1524797774
- ISBN13 9781524797775
- Publish Date 16 April 2019
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Imprint Del Rey Books
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 416
- Language English
Reviews
tweetybugshouse
Written on Apr 27, 2019
This a adventure set of the world of Pell and you can easily pick this one up and you won;t be lost it can totally stand on its. In my opinion i feel it a better story then to the Kill the Farm boy. It moves along at a faster pace and i feel that the plot was much stronger. It just as hilarious as the first book and you if you like this one that one is worth your time as well. It a great fun story sure to be enjoyed.
Quirky Cat
Written on Apr 16, 2019
No Country for Old Gnomes is the second novel in the Tales of Pell series. It's a series born from joint effort, being written and developed by both Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne. If you've read the first novel, Kill the Farm Boy, then you already have a strong idea of what sort of inane humor you're going to find within this one.
The series has been described as being a cross between Monty Python and Terry Pratchett. And honestly? There's unlikely to be a more accurate description out there.
As the title suggests, this novel focuses on a different cast of characters than the first novel did, some of whom are gnomes. I am happy to report that the original characters do make appearances as well.
Warnings: Like the original novel, there are some...peculiar moments in the series. And that sometimes results in graphic deaths, animal deaths, and things like that. It's kept mostly light and bubbly, despite the content. Some may find that more jarring though.
No Country for Old Gnomes quite possibly exceeded my expectations. I'm not going to say that I enjoyed it more than Kill the Farm Boy – I think I liked them both equally well. But I did truly enjoy the sudden shift in focus for the series.
This is a whimsical novel, but it's also quirky, odd, and utterly unique. I still maintain that the description above is the most accurate one you're going to get though. I personally enjoyed the unique form of storytelling, and I'm not just talking about the tone of voice or style itself. We don't see enough author team-ups, in my opinion, and I would absolutely adore seeing more.
I must confess that in this instance I am not a reader of both authors – I'm an avid fan of Delilah S. Dawson, but have read very little of Kevin Hearne. Clearly that's something I 'm going to have to change, based on how much I've enjoyed this series.
I can't praise the decisions made for this novel as much as they deserve. I love that an entirely new cast was made, while also allowing for moments for the original characters to make appearances as well.
The new set of characters allowed for a new perspective, a new set of issues and dilemmas, and a better understanding of the world of Pell as a whole. And of course the specific characters chosen helped to enhance the whimsical and sometimes silly nature of the story.
I think in some ways I liked this cast better, though I honestly couldn't quite explain why. They were so cute and endearing on the whole, with such big tasks on their small shoulders. I guess it was impossible not to root for them.
The world of Pell is proving to be surprisingly rich and full of diversity. Best of all, it's filled out with references upon references. That may break the immersion for some, but I personally loved the added touch. Some were references to classic fairy tales, which makes sense, others to more modern writing (relatively speaking), and others yet to modern day events and issues. It's a fascinating blend.
Where Kill the Farm Boy shocked me with a decision made early on in the novel, No Country for Old Gnomes surprised me with its conclusion. I won't say what specifically, for obvious reasons. But I will say that I actually teared up a little bit, and truly hadn't seen it coming. And that's coming from somebody who thought they had steeled themselves to expect anything and everything from this series.
I know that No Country for Old Gnomes just released, but I honestly can't wait to hear more about the next novel. So far I just know the name, Princess Beard, and even then it's not listed on Goodreads yet, so grain of salt with that title.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Apr 15, 2019
From their play on words, to twists on beloved tales such as Macbeth, Dawson and Hearne quickly pulled me in once all the players joined up. As with the first, I found it best to listen to only one or two chapters a night.
Be warned their quest meanders a bit from side quests to personal growth slowing the pace down and at times it was a bit disjointed, but it also played in my favor as I listened at a slower pace picking up on all the clever bits.
I found the story to be tighter than the previous book and enjoyed the characters. The humor and puns was toned down, but there were plenty of fandom references including Star Wars.
A war is waging between a sector of halflings and gnomes. The quest is to go to the Great Library and find the original documents of the gnomeric and halfling civilizations. Joining the gnomes on their quest are an ovitaur named Agape. Agape is mostly human except for the bits that are sheep. I loved Daniels voice for her. We’ve got Halfling Faucon who loves upholding the law and toe rings. Then there is an outcast gryphon, named Gerd, and a dwarf named Båggi Biins. Each seeks answers to questions from the library. Omelettes, an automaatti, side-quests and dangers await them!
Luke Daniels completed this tale with his array of unique voices. Honestly, I do not understand how he kept them all straight. I laughed aloud at his antics. I generally listen to Daniels at 1.3x but slowed this down, as the story is meaty and requires through chewing. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
Written on Mar 14, 2019
I was so excited to receive this book, because I loved the first book in the Pell series (Kill the Farm Boy). I was hopeful that this would continue in the fun vein of the first, and I was not disappointed.
This fantastic book not only turns classic fantasy tropes upside down, it shakes their pockets for loose change. I loved it! It was chock full of puns, ridiculous situations, and hilarious characters.
Offi, the emo gnome might very well be my favorite. There’s nothing like a cute little gnome wearing gothic blacks, and rolling his eyes, to make a person chuckle. Reading his interactions with Onni was a lesson in how funny tweaking words here and there can be.
The writing was fantastic, the story was quick-moving and funny as Pell, and I honestly can’t think of a single thing I’d change. I enjoyed this book even more than the first, and that’s saying something. I’m still grinning, thinking about prophetic cabbages…
If you enjoy quirky books, word plays, and a healthy dose of humor, this book is for you.
*This review will go live on my blog (link posted below) on March 15th. It was also be posted on my Goodreads account at https://www.goodreads.com/WittyandSarcasticBookclub.
annieb123
Written on Jan 13, 2019
No Country for Old Gnomes is a new humorous fantasy co-written by Delilah Dawson ( Blud) and Kevin Hearne ( Iron Druid Chronicles). The second book in the Pell world, it's a standalone novel and can be read without prior familiarity with the earlier book. Due out 16th April 2019 on Random House's Del Rey imprint, it's 416 pages and available in hardback, ebook, and audio formats.
I originally picked this one up because, although I hadn't read the first book, I had enjoyed books by both of the authors previously. For fans of their other works, this book is completely different. It's absolutely full of every punny in-joke imaginable. There isn't a single cultural reference which can't be wrangled, hog-tied, and contorted into a joke. Everything from the title of the book to the chapter header quotes are fair game. I found the unrelenting in-your-face attempts at clever repartee wearying. There's an almost aggressive undertone to the humor in the book.
The blurb compares it to Monty Python and Pratchett's Discworld. The difference is that both MP and Pratchett had a much defter touch with humor (even punnery and slapstick) and an instinctual understanding of varying the rhythm and construction of their humor. This book speeds along at breakneck velocity fish-slapping the reader for 400+ pages.
It is a moderately fun read and I did enjoy it enough to look for the first book in the Pell world and likely pick up the third book, The Princess Beard, when I get the opportunity.
Three and a half stars. I can recommend it to readers on the hunt for extreme farcical silliness. The art and formatting as well as the typesetting are up to a very high standard.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.