What do you think?
Rate this book
Thyme in a Flask
Jon Chandler is a seventeen-year-old youngster presented with a difficult quest-to find a magical flask, destroy it, and then somehow find his way back home. As Jon reluctantly accepts his responsibility, he is accompanied by the haughty yet beautiful Dorthea, who constantly challenges him. At least his best friend, Samuel, a gentle giant-all eight feet in stature and 480 pounds of him-doesn't get under his skin like Dorthea does. But there's a fine line between love and hate, and Jon and Dorthea hover on it constantly! Samuel is left behind as the quest leads Jon and Dorthea into a parallel world, where few living people have ever gone before. How can they locate a flask that has been missing for sixteen years? Along the way, they encounter demons and wizards who will test their strength and ability, and they find they must solve several riddles before they can return home. What they learn about themselves and about life is far more priceless than the magical flask. Glen Quarry has written an enchanting story that fantasy fans will gobble up in one sitting. Filled with twisting plot lines and likeable characters, Quarry is sure to become a favorite of the genre. Glen Quarry is currently working on the sequel to his novel. He lives in Iowa.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 27, 2015
*I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
From the start this book had a very old-time, classic, fairytale feel about it. I think that kind of writing, which I haven’t read in quite some time, felt almost like being sucked in as though it were a bedtime story.
The writing was engaging, and the story was filled with great settings, a variety of sub-plots, and interesting characters.
I have to admit Samuel was probably my favourite character of the lot :D He had a sort of down-to-earth personality which I hooked onto immediately.
But the writing throughout this and the feel of that classic fantasy just held my interest until the end.
It is one of those stories that I enjoyed but can’t really talk about for fear of giving away spoilers as there was so much packed into this book! You can be certain of plenty of fantastical creatures and memorable moments throughout though.
I will admit I found it a bit overwhelming to keep up with so much to begin with, but the further I got pulled into the book, the easier my mind just flowed with the story and I found my imagination going into overdrive there was just so much to think of.
It is a more in-depth book, one you probably would have to give a bit of time to (at least for me anyway), but the flow and writing were easy to read, which certainly helped to keep me going and wanting to find out more about the array of characters and plots within this novel.
Overall, it’s a great read with a real fairytale, class fantasy feel about it. Anyone who enjoys this genre should definitely give this book a look!
From the start this book had a very old-time, classic, fairytale feel about it. I think that kind of writing, which I haven’t read in quite some time, felt almost like being sucked in as though it were a bedtime story.
The writing was engaging, and the story was filled with great settings, a variety of sub-plots, and interesting characters.
I have to admit Samuel was probably my favourite character of the lot :D He had a sort of down-to-earth personality which I hooked onto immediately.
But the writing throughout this and the feel of that classic fantasy just held my interest until the end.
It is one of those stories that I enjoyed but can’t really talk about for fear of giving away spoilers as there was so much packed into this book! You can be certain of plenty of fantastical creatures and memorable moments throughout though.
I will admit I found it a bit overwhelming to keep up with so much to begin with, but the further I got pulled into the book, the easier my mind just flowed with the story and I found my imagination going into overdrive there was just so much to think of.
It is a more in-depth book, one you probably would have to give a bit of time to (at least for me anyway), but the flow and writing were easy to read, which certainly helped to keep me going and wanting to find out more about the array of characters and plots within this novel.
Overall, it’s a great read with a real fairytale, class fantasy feel about it. Anyone who enjoys this genre should definitely give this book a look!
May 15, 2010
It took me a long time to read this novel (really long), and now the review gives me just as much headache. It also breaks my heart because what started out with a lot of potential turned out to be a great disappointment. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with it. I had to chew my way through most of its 300 pages and the only thing that kept me going was the hope that, once things start rolling, it would become...just...better.
The beginning was very promising. I liked the writing, the somewhat slow introduction as we meet Jon, who works in his grandfather's smithy and doesn't seem to be very pleased with it. Then the plot started taking on a form of something seen before; next thing you know, he is told by a wizard that there is impending peril if something very powerful is not destroyed and Jon happens to be the one who is supposed to find and destroy it. Of course, the main villain wants it as well. So Jon's journey begins; beside the wizard, he is also accompanied by a friend of a considerable size and hearty appetite. On his journey he is followed by a black rider on a horse whose scream chills the marrow of your bones and who attacks him in an inn.
The first thing that bothered me was the passivity of the main character. He seems to be towed around without much will of his own, or offering meek resistance, but generally doing what he's told. As a main character, he lacks depth and life which I found in some supporting characters. There was nothing about Jon that would make me feel sympathetic towards him, nothing to root for, nothing to fear. If he is taking it all so lightly, I never felt compelled to dread over him. The one character that I felt real was Peeter, who, sadly, appears only in few scenes. His motifs are clear; having lost his parents in an attack of the witch's army, he dedicates himself to the fight.
Next thing--oddities in the plot.
SPOILER ALERT
There is a crucial scene of a fight between two very powerful and (more or less) wise wizards, the good guy and the bad guy. Jon, at this point still a regular human and unaware of his extraordinary power, finds himself watching bolts of fire flying around, their force fields blazing. The bad guy is gaining advantage; of course, Jon has to help his ally, the good wizard, whose strength is dwindling. And what does Jon do?
He throws a cobblestone into the bad guy's head.
And it works.
In two turns.
Not to mention the big twist.
At the end, we find out that the impersonation of evil is actually a very nice lady who has been victim of some nasty rumor. The above mentioned powerful wizard seemingly shrugs and says something in the spirit of "Oh, dear, I guess I was wrong", and everyone lived happily ever after.
Another thing that was driving me mad was the complete lack of emotion not just in Jon, but in all characters alike. Huge revelations, such as those about Jon's true predecessors are made without any hint of excitement, sadness or joy. Which leads us to another problem--dialogues. They seem so artificial, so stretched. I am told many things, but I never felt any of it. So Jon is angry, he says so. But he doesn't really look like it.
It's hard to pinpoint why I found it so difficult to read. The narration was ever so slow, even when the very action demanded a faster pace.
Not everything was so bad. As I've said, the writing is very nice, elegant and "medievaly" rich. The setting of Ilisinor is well-done, picturesque and cozy. I'm glad to say that Mr. Quarry has all the skills necessary to write a mind-blowing fantasy, and with a bit character-development and few edits in the plotline, the sequel to Thyme in a Flask will show all of the authors tremendous potential.
The beginning was very promising. I liked the writing, the somewhat slow introduction as we meet Jon, who works in his grandfather's smithy and doesn't seem to be very pleased with it. Then the plot started taking on a form of something seen before; next thing you know, he is told by a wizard that there is impending peril if something very powerful is not destroyed and Jon happens to be the one who is supposed to find and destroy it. Of course, the main villain wants it as well. So Jon's journey begins; beside the wizard, he is also accompanied by a friend of a considerable size and hearty appetite. On his journey he is followed by a black rider on a horse whose scream chills the marrow of your bones and who attacks him in an inn.
The first thing that bothered me was the passivity of the main character. He seems to be towed around without much will of his own, or offering meek resistance, but generally doing what he's told. As a main character, he lacks depth and life which I found in some supporting characters. There was nothing about Jon that would make me feel sympathetic towards him, nothing to root for, nothing to fear. If he is taking it all so lightly, I never felt compelled to dread over him. The one character that I felt real was Peeter, who, sadly, appears only in few scenes. His motifs are clear; having lost his parents in an attack of the witch's army, he dedicates himself to the fight.
Next thing--oddities in the plot.
SPOILER ALERT
There is a crucial scene of a fight between two very powerful and (more or less) wise wizards, the good guy and the bad guy. Jon, at this point still a regular human and unaware of his extraordinary power, finds himself watching bolts of fire flying around, their force fields blazing. The bad guy is gaining advantage; of course, Jon has to help his ally, the good wizard, whose strength is dwindling. And what does Jon do?
He throws a cobblestone into the bad guy's head.
And it works.
In two turns.
Not to mention the big twist.
At the end, we find out that the impersonation of evil is actually a very nice lady who has been victim of some nasty rumor. The above mentioned powerful wizard seemingly shrugs and says something in the spirit of "Oh, dear, I guess I was wrong", and everyone lived happily ever after.
Another thing that was driving me mad was the complete lack of emotion not just in Jon, but in all characters alike. Huge revelations, such as those about Jon's true predecessors are made without any hint of excitement, sadness or joy. Which leads us to another problem--dialogues. They seem so artificial, so stretched. I am told many things, but I never felt any of it. So Jon is angry, he says so. But he doesn't really look like it.
It's hard to pinpoint why I found it so difficult to read. The narration was ever so slow, even when the very action demanded a faster pace.
Not everything was so bad. As I've said, the writing is very nice, elegant and "medievaly" rich. The setting of Ilisinor is well-done, picturesque and cozy. I'm glad to say that Mr. Quarry has all the skills necessary to write a mind-blowing fantasy, and with a bit character-development and few edits in the plotline, the sequel to Thyme in a Flask will show all of the authors tremendous potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2010
I just finished this book a few days ago and personally thought it was good. Thyme in a Flask is an engaging novel about the seventeen-year-old, Jon who embarks on a journey to search for a magical flask and destroy it. The novel is set in a world filled with all sorts of fascinating creatures - wizards, apes, shape-shifters, druids and blood-walkers. At the beginning of the story, I find it rather hard to remember all the names of the places because they are so many of them and I'm the type of person who gets confused easily. But after reading it twice, I'm able to cope this problem.
The author's writing is easily understood, and there are not any rhetorical descriptions, which will make readers, especially the younger ones to understand and enjoy this story better. The plot is filled with twists and turns which helps the protagonist, Jon to learn more about everything in life. I like Samuel's character. He's a good friend of Jon, and is willing to help him in every way. He's a timid person, but when it has something to do with his best pal, Jon, he's willing to fight even the most dangerous and evil people. I think Dorthea has quite an interesting character too. She likes complaining about various things, like most girls. On the journey, she eventually develops a liking for Jon, especially after knowing the truth about Jon's lineage. How I hoped the author can write more about the romance between Dorthea and Jon!
However, there is something I don't really understand. Why Jon did not explain his connection with Danil before their last battle? Even the bad guys deserve the truth, alright. The ending of the story took me by surprise. I really liked the way the author planned and wrote this story. There are a few typos, but that doesn't affect the story overall.
In a nutshell, Thyme in a Flask is an interesting, fun-filled book which will surely attract young readers and fantasy lovers. This book is suitable for everyone, so get your own copy now!
The author's writing is easily understood, and there are not any rhetorical descriptions, which will make readers, especially the younger ones to understand and enjoy this story better. The plot is filled with twists and turns which helps the protagonist, Jon to learn more about everything in life. I like Samuel's character. He's a good friend of Jon, and is willing to help him in every way. He's a timid person, but when it has something to do with his best pal, Jon, he's willing to fight even the most dangerous and evil people. I think Dorthea has quite an interesting character too. She likes complaining about various things, like most girls. On the journey, she eventually develops a liking for Jon, especially after knowing the truth about Jon's lineage. How I hoped the author can write more about the romance between Dorthea and Jon!
However, there is something I don't really understand. Why Jon did not explain his connection with Danil before their last battle? Even the bad guys deserve the truth, alright. The ending of the story took me by surprise. I really liked the way the author planned and wrote this story. There are a few typos, but that doesn't affect the story overall.
In a nutshell, Thyme in a Flask is an interesting, fun-filled book which will surely attract young readers and fantasy lovers. This book is suitable for everyone, so get your own copy now!
![Profile Image for Ria [The Beaucoup Review].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1346493347i%2F3302448._UY200_CR32%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 13, 2010
Rating
Characters: 4.5/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
For the first couple of chapters I was forcing myself to read it. I wasn't into the book, I didn't feel it, and I wasn't enjoying it. But by chapter 7- I was into it I couldn't put it down!
All the adventures, near death incidents, lies being uncovered, and as you read on- the characters really come alive and you feel yourself in the adventure.
I was so intrigued, and instead of forcing myself to read it, I was forcing myself to stop! If you read this book- don't give up after the first chapter, wait for the story to develop, because you won't regret it. Big thanks to author, Glen Quarry, for sending me this fantastic book.
Main Characters:
Jon: He has been sent on a quest to find 'the flask'. Along the way, he learns the truth, and he finds out just how special the flask is......
Samual: Lovely friendly, 6 foot tall giant, and Jons best friend. He doesn't speak proper English- but refuses to leave his friend.
Dorthea: Jons 'sister'. She is quick to get her point across, and likes to get her own way. She -too- refuses to leave Jon.
Othan: He accompanys Jon through his quest, and unnveales the truth to him. He can be very grumpy, but has a soft spot for Samual.
The Searcher: Horrible, mean, and kills anything in his way. But is he really bad? And remember, DON'T look into his eyes.....
Characters: 4.5/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
For the first couple of chapters I was forcing myself to read it. I wasn't into the book, I didn't feel it, and I wasn't enjoying it. But by chapter 7- I was into it I couldn't put it down!
All the adventures, near death incidents, lies being uncovered, and as you read on- the characters really come alive and you feel yourself in the adventure.
I was so intrigued, and instead of forcing myself to read it, I was forcing myself to stop! If you read this book- don't give up after the first chapter, wait for the story to develop, because you won't regret it. Big thanks to author, Glen Quarry, for sending me this fantastic book.
Main Characters:
Jon: He has been sent on a quest to find 'the flask'. Along the way, he learns the truth, and he finds out just how special the flask is......
Samual: Lovely friendly, 6 foot tall giant, and Jons best friend. He doesn't speak proper English- but refuses to leave his friend.
Dorthea: Jons 'sister'. She is quick to get her point across, and likes to get her own way. She -too- refuses to leave Jon.
Othan: He accompanys Jon through his quest, and unnveales the truth to him. He can be very grumpy, but has a soft spot for Samual.
The Searcher: Horrible, mean, and kills anything in his way. But is he really bad? And remember, DON'T look into his eyes.....
March 11, 2011
Any fans of fantasy will enjoy reading Glen Quarry’s Thyme in a Flask. This novel is a fantasy novel geared for the young adult reader; and tells the story about seventeen year old Jon Chandler. The conflict of this novel arises when Jon, a blacksmith apprentice is charged with a magical quest and the seemingly ordinary world around him falls away. Aided by the feisty Dorthea and his best buddy, Samuel (who happens to be an eight foot giant) Jon finds himself in a parallel universe where they must find a magic flask in order to get back to normal.
The pacing of this novel is good and the author’s writing is easy to read, which everyone can appreciate. My favorite character is Dorthea because I love relationship conflict, and this character gives us the goods. I also love the magic and the sense that the world really is warping around all these characters. The writer did well with creating an alternate sense of reality.
I recommend this read for any fans of magic, fantasy creatures, and paranormal elements.
The pacing of this novel is good and the author’s writing is easy to read, which everyone can appreciate. My favorite character is Dorthea because I love relationship conflict, and this character gives us the goods. I also love the magic and the sense that the world really is warping around all these characters. The writer did well with creating an alternate sense of reality.
I recommend this read for any fans of magic, fantasy creatures, and paranormal elements.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews