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60th out of 104 books
—
118 voters
Factotum (Monster Blood Tattoo #3)
by
D.M. Cornish (Goodreads Author)
Rossamund Bookchild stands accused of not truly being a human at all, but of being a monster. Even the protection of Europe, the Branden Rose-the most feared and renowned monster-hunter in all the Half-Continent-might not be enough to save him. Powerful forces move against them both, intent on capturing Rossamund- whose existence some believe may hold the secret to perpetu...more
Hardcover, 695 pages
Published
November 11th 2010
by G.P Putnam’s Sons
(first published November 5th 2009)
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Feb 21, 2012
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fantasy readers
Shelves:
owned-copy,
fantasy,
steampunk,
middle-grade-juvenile,
part-of-a-series,
bbb-review,
read-in-february-2012,
exceptional-worldbuilding,
18th-century,
alternate-history,
alternate-dimension-or-world,
coming-of-age,
angsty-read,
monster-story,
monster-hunters,
animal-character-steals-the-show,
kickbutt-heroine,
tough-as-nails-heroes,
better-living-through-chemistry,
superhuman,
favorites,
hero-to-die-for,
heroine-i-adore,
yearly-reading-challenge,
2012-sky-s-the-limit-club,
chubby-chunkster-2012
I loved this book. It was so rich and intricate, a whole new world. I adore Rossamund. I just wanted to hug him the whole book. I loved his relationship with Europe, how she called him "little man", and was tough on him at times, but you could tell how much she loved him. I loved the deft manner in which Cornish examines the ethics of the man versus monster conflict, which intimately involves both Rossamund and Europe.
This is a book not to be missed by fantasy lovers. Highly recommended, but st...more
This is a book not to be missed by fantasy lovers. Highly recommended, but st...more
It's really unfortunate when a book crumbles under the weight of expectations. For me, the 5+ years I spent waiting for Cornish to finish his story was too much to overcome. The last book introduced a few things that worked (monster rabbit? yes, please!) and a handful of other things that should never have been put to paper. The problem is that the latter trumped all. Introducing a new antagonist halfway through a final book while having the story's true villain die some meager death away from e...more
FACTOTUM is a weak link. I love this series, and if you've read the first two there's a good chance you'll forgive a weak third installment -- I certainly do -- but I'm also going to call it like I see it.
I feel like the problem here is fundamental, inherent in the concept of the book. Pretty much the first thing that we find out is that Rossamund is, in fact, a monster. A monster employed by one of the Half-Continent's greatest monster-killers. As if that's not enough, he's soft-hearted and me...more
I feel like the problem here is fundamental, inherent in the concept of the book. Pretty much the first thing that we find out is that Rossamund is, in fact, a monster. A monster employed by one of the Half-Continent's greatest monster-killers. As if that's not enough, he's soft-hearted and me...more
Apr 07, 2011
Our Library Mornington
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
we-recommend
Beware, here there be monsters … ugly, deadly monsters! The world as we know it no longer exists, and the vast lands of the Half Continent bear witness to centuries of battles between humans and the monsters lurking in every shadow. Bogles, Revermen, Grinnlings and Knickers leave a trail of death and destruction in their wake, and Humankind must rely on Fulgars, teratologists and lahzars to keep safe their families and crops.
Rossamünde Bookchild, a foundling boy with a girl’s name, is destined f...more
Rossamünde Bookchild, a foundling boy with a girl’s name, is destined f...more
Mar 04, 2011
Kim (magicsandwiches) Lawyer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
i-ll-borrow-from-library-again
At last, the final chapter of Rossamund, the foundling boy with a girl's name, unfolds. Rescued from those who accuse him of a terrifying origin, Rossamund finds himself in a position of precarious power and respect as factotum to Europe, the Branden Rose, daughter of a duchess and a legendary monster hunter in her own right. But even his wealthy, titled, and famous employer cannot keep the forces that seek to destroy him at bay forever. Together, Europe and Rossamund fight both human and inhuma...more
It isn't so much the plot as the atmosphere of these three books that is so compelling. Cornish uses a vocabulary all his own to create a rich and imaginative world, with cuisine, mode of dress, slang, history, religion, pastimes, and more all lovingly described - and if there isn't room in the narrative itself, there's a long glossary at the back of each book. When a new character appears, his clothing, hairstyle, and complexion are all laid out for the reader, and if that weren't enough, we of...more
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Its hard to read a long-anticipated book because of the factor called 'expectations.' I think I spent some time getting my head around what I thought might happen and what was actually going on.
While this book didn't continue the story in a way that I had imagined within my limited brain, it was nevertheless delightful and engaging. And for me, I know that I will reread this series (as I already have reread Book 1 & 2). And I know that on my reread of this book, I will enjoy it that much mor...more
While this book didn't continue the story in a way that I had imagined within my limited brain, it was nevertheless delightful and engaging. And for me, I know that I will reread this series (as I already have reread Book 1 & 2). And I know that on my reread of this book, I will enjoy it that much mor...more
Cornish's The Foundling's Tale trilogy is remarkable. The author has created an alternate universe of incredible detail that anyone who enjoys fantasy ought to appreciate. The Half-Continent (as the realm in which the three novels are set is called) strikes me as very much inspired by late-19th century Europe in terms of the description of available technologies, languages used, etc. However, late-19th century was not populated with monsters alongside mankind. Neither did that period in our own...more
I took twenty-five pages of Hannah’s Tale, a novel project I’ve been working on this year, to the PNWA Conference this past August. Actually, I sent the pages ahead of me, to Book Doctor Jason Black. I’d used Jason’s services before and found them invaluable. While twenty-five pages isn’t a full doctoring, I hoped it would be enough to get me thinking in new ways about a novel I was a little sideways on.
Hannah’s Tale is set in a fantasy world, and part of what Jason and I ended up talking about...more
Hannah’s Tale is set in a fantasy world, and part of what Jason and I ended up talking about...more
I just love this series and especially this book! Definitely the best of the three. I miss Rossumund all over again.
Time for the reread!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So sad it is over! I will really miss these characters. But good job D.M Cornish on an excellent trilogy! I hope you write more stories placed in this world: it's fascinating.
Time for the reread!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So sad it is over! I will really miss these characters. But good job D.M Cornish on an excellent trilogy! I hope you write more stories placed in this world: it's fascinating.
In book three of the this series, Rossumund is now working as a factotum for the famous monster slayer, Europe. They return to her home but danger follows. This book has Europe and Rossumund caught up in rumours, political intrigue, new friends and old and of course more monster hunting.
An exciting and satisfying ending to the series.
An exciting and satisfying ending to the series.
Oh, I wish this story kept going! D.M. Cornish created such a gorgeous world and characters with this trilogy. Definitely worth the investment of time. The transformation of the characters, especially Europe, is extremely satisfying, and the unlikely affection between Europe and Rossamünd almost had me tearing up at the end. The only reason I am giving it four stars rather than five is that the lengthy descriptions finally started to get to me in this one. The story was especially riveting towar...more
The third book in D.M. Cornish's 'Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy' or 'The Foundling's Tale',Factotum is as marvelous as the other two. After the events in 'Lamplighter' Rossamund Bookchilde has been spirited away to be the new factotum of Europe, Duchess-in-Waiting of Naims, and one of the most feared and respected monster-hunters on the Half-Continent. It would seem that things are finally looking up for Rossamund but his life, alas, is one of complications.
I will not go into details here because...more
I will not go into details here because...more
Warning - This book series is not easy to read! It is a completely made up realm, with a lot of made up vocabulary. Each book contains a significant glossary, and the reading goes quite slowly in places.
As I read the series, I became less and less bothered by the "work" involved in reading the stories, as I grew to really desire to get to know the characters more deeply. Upon completing the series, the reader really will know the characters well, but each book is quite measured in the amount of...more
As I read the series, I became less and less bothered by the "work" involved in reading the stories, as I grew to really desire to get to know the characters more deeply. Upon completing the series, the reader really will know the characters well, but each book is quite measured in the amount of...more
This book picks up where the last book, Lamplighter , left off and continues much in the same vein as the first two in the series. Cornish's incredibly detailed world-building stands with the fantasy greats, and I love the illustrations of characters that accompany the text. This book is unlikely to appeal to anyone who's not already a hardcore fantasy lover, but there's lots to enjoy here. Pretty intense action, and strong character development. I particularly liked the deepening relationship...more
Third book in the Foundling’s Tale/Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy. I’m constantly amazed at the breadth of vision in these books. I felt like I could reach out and touch the Half-Continent. I found myself thinking a lot about influences with this one. In some ways it felt very European–the whole baroqueness of it–and in others it’s not at all what I’d expect from a European based fantasy.* I suppose this could be related to the fact that Cornish is Australian. I did find myself a bit sad at the en...more
I have been waiting years to read Factotum by D.M. Cornish, the third book in the series and I was not disappointed. When we left Rossamund, in the last book, he was being accused of being a Monster. Europe rescues him and off they set for a new life. But Europe, the Branden Rose, is still killing monsters as her living and thinks the only good monster is a dead one.
This series is so rare. It is beautifully written with an eye for detail that so few authors can imagine. It has it's own language...more
This series is so rare. It is beautifully written with an eye for detail that so few authors can imagine. It has it's own language...more
With the huge size of this last novel in the trilogy I was excited to jump back into this amazing journey. I really enjoyed the whole series. I was even surprised to find myself tearing up at the end a bit!
A word of caution: I spent to much time between reading the second novel and the third which made it difficult for me to remember what all the terms meant specifically (this series is so great at creating a completely different world down to the smallest detail which I loved!) which was making...more
A word of caution: I spent to much time between reading the second novel and the third which made it difficult for me to remember what all the terms meant specifically (this series is so great at creating a completely different world down to the smallest detail which I loved!) which was making...more
Some books are all plot. Others are all character. This isn't either one. It has a fantastically exciting and moving plot, and the characters are complex-both wonderful and terrible at the same time, but this book is different: it's a tiny slice of story from a world that has thousands of years of history and millions of people or monsters who would be fascinating to read about. I don't often read books with terribly complex worlds anymore. I've rather lost my patience with them as I've gotten o...more
This book has everything a reader could want in it. The characters will stand by you forever, and absoute attention to deatil will have you wishing you could write with that much depth. I found this book(along with D.M. Cornish's two others)very thought provoking and an over all good lesson learned.
Factotum will provide an amazing story that reaches out to you and declaire to never let go. The last pages brang tears to my eyes as I said goodbye to my much loved friends and read the last words o...more
Factotum will provide an amazing story that reaches out to you and declaire to never let go. The last pages brang tears to my eyes as I said goodbye to my much loved friends and read the last words o...more
I enjoyed this series, but ultimately was frustrated by the story. The author did an incredible amount of world-building but in the end, we didn't really get to know or love any of the characters beyond the mains. I wanted the human elements, and instead got the vocabulary and detail of setting. I wanted the emotional connection and was held at arms length. In the end it felt like looking at a diorama in a museum - detailed, stunningly beautiful, but not a world I was allowed to inhabit.
One othe...more
One othe...more
If I tell you that D.M. Cornish writes high fantasy for children, I'm describing this strange and beautiful series in the most bare bones way. If Gormenghast was a children's book, it might read a little like this...Cornish, like Peake, is an illustrator. One of the delights of the Monster Blood Tattoo is his admirable sketches of the characters which appear throughout the books. The other delight and frustration is Cornish's swooning love affair with the English language. If he can find an obsc...more
A short public service announcement before my review: If you love D. M. Cornish's work, please make an effort to purchase the British or Australian editions of his books, as his publishers in the United States made the supremely unwise decision to change the name of the series from "The Monster Blood Tattoo Trilogy" to "The Foundling Trilogy" for the release of the final book. This, in my opinion, is an affront to the author's vision, and readers should not support a publisher who is afraid of o...more
I'm not sure why, but it took about a third of the book before I was wanting to completely devour the story. Perhaps, it was because I had read The Foundling and The Lamplighter back to back and then had to wait seemingly FOREVER to read Factotum. Also, D. M. Cornishes style of writing in the Monster Blood Tattoo series takes a bit for me to wrap my mind around and get into a groove of reading. Then too, maybe because I knew this was the final book and just didn't want this world with Rossamund...more
It's a world something like ours but not and the author is determined to fill it with words, some old some new but overall I came away feeling like the author was trying to hard and having too much fun with words, and the words were driving out the plot.
Rossamund Bookchild is now Europe's Factotum and his secret is about to become public knowledge. He's trying to find a place in the world for himself but he has problems finding where he belongs, he's a gentle person who doesn't like conflict but...more
Rossamund Bookchild is now Europe's Factotum and his secret is about to become public knowledge. He's trying to find a place in the world for himself but he has problems finding where he belongs, he's a gentle person who doesn't like conflict but...more
This is one of those great world building series and with the author contributing the illustrations it is one of my favorites.
There is action, adventure, mystery and all of the details you could possibly want. In fact, if there is a drawback - for me - it is the endless description Cornish provides. When it comes to clothing in particular he describes everything in grandiose fashion - colors, styles, etc.
There sheer verbosity can be tiring at time when you simply want to move the plot along. But...more
There is action, adventure, mystery and all of the details you could possibly want. In fact, if there is a drawback - for me - it is the endless description Cornish provides. When it comes to clothing in particular he describes everything in grandiose fashion - colors, styles, etc.
There sheer verbosity can be tiring at time when you simply want to move the plot along. But...more
More like a 2.5 for me. Same problems I had with the second book in the series but I wasn't really satisfied with how the series ended. I really wish there had been a final chapter written "10 years later" or something. The relationship and understanding of each others worlds seemed like it could have been the start of something new. I assume each of them is impacted by this new understanding as they take on new endeavors but working together to form some kind of underground revolution would hav...more
This whole series is a fantastic series of books, not only does the trilogy take you into a completely different world filled with fantastic monsters, but it also introduces you to a whole different civilization, one which developed differently due to their environment. I listened to the first to books on CD, but read the last book. If you get a chance pick up the books in physical form as the author has filled them with fantastic drawings and an explicarium (glossary and appendices helping the...more
I was a little worried when I started this book - it didn't grab me right away like the previous two books of the trilogy - but I needn't of worried. I found this book - the finale - a fitting end. As always, it's wonderfully illustrated and has a fantastic glossary at the end of the book for those just in case moments where you just need to know. I would have like a more detailed map of the city ....but that's me being pouty as the other books had some great detailed maps where all the actions...more
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| Your Thoughts on the Foundling series | 7 | 13 | Feb 23, 2013 04:41pm |
D. M. Cornish (born 1972) is a fantasy author and illustrator from Adelaide, South Australia. His first book is Foundling, the first part of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy. The second book named Lamplighter was released in May 2008. The third in the series is yet to be named.
D.M. Cornish was born in time to see the first Star Wars movie. He was five. It made him realize that worlds beyond his ow...more
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D.M. Cornish was born in time to see the first Star Wars movie. He was five. It made him realize that worlds beyond his ow...more
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Feb 22, 2012 04:24pm