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Pike's Quest

K.J. Bennett (Goodreads Author)

4.29 · Rating details · 17 ratings · 10 reviews

In a future where horses are revered as gifts of the gods, and sheep and hounds are the beasts of burden, ancient magicks have been rediscovered. But there are those who wish to uncover the technology of the past and take control of the world for their own evil ends. Now, more than ever, the world needs a hero.

In the tiny hamlet of Ooze, a hapless, fish-faced, flaky-skinne ...more

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Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 183 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by K.J. Bennett

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4.29 ·

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· 17 ratings · 10 reviews

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Dec 22, 2011 Julie Witt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

I am so glad I took a chance on this book and this indie author because this book was terrific!! K.J. Bennett has created a whole world set well in the future (called the New Dawn), with a quirky cast of characters that I can just describe as hilarious! Pike is the main character who is told by Moorlock the Warlock that he is destined to go on a quest to save the world - yes, the world! His journey will take him across hazardous terrain, to the Pit of Zidor, where he will claim the heart of a fa ...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed

CHECK OUT THE REVIEW ON MY BLOG WITH THE CHANCE TO WIN A PAPERBACK COPY OF THE BOOK! http://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.it...

Pike's Quest is the work of Kevin Bennet, an emerging author who decided to self-publish his book. I really had no expectations about this book; I know this is completely wrong but I often choose a book from its cover and if the author hadn't offered me a copy of his novel, I think I would have never discovered Pike's Quest. And I would have lost something really magnifice CHECK OUT THE REVIEW ON MY BLOG WITH THE CHANCE TO WIN A PAPERBACK COPY OF THE BOOK! http://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.it...

Pike's Quest is the work of Kevin Bennet, an emerging author who decided to self-publish his book. I really had no expectations about this book; I know this is completely wrong but I often choose a book from its cover and if the author hadn't offered me a copy of his novel, I think I would have never discovered Pike's Quest. And I would have lost something really magnificent! I was amazed by the author's writing skills, he was so expert in describing landscapes, monsters and all circumstances that it really impressed me. Pike's Quest was an alternative reading for me, because I think it is distinct from other books.

The plot is kind of ordinary and it re-used the idea of chivalry, common in the Middle Ages; I think is not a coincidence that in the title we find the word "Quest" that symbolises the research for something. The book is set in a magical
world, even if is not full of common mythological creatures such as Faeries, Dwarfs or Werewolves. The author created a brand new world that had been destroyed in the past by the men's desire of achieving more and more power. In this devastated world, lived people such as Pike and his family; the most precious thing is melon, horses are sacred beasts and men are not allowed to ride them. At his sixteenth birthday, Pike would have never expected to be the One who would have been chosen to save the Warlock Moorlock, the only who can assure to Ooze peace and serenity.In his "quest" he will be helped by a Sparrow, called Robyn, ( and not Robin!!) and Horse, the omonymous animal, that will accept, after a lots of falls, to be ridden by a human being. In their journey they will encounter strange animals, cannibal flowers, giant sabre-toothed worm and one-eyed Winglekrats. At the end of his journey, Pike must win the heart of a fair maiden, but what if fair maidens are not always females? Twist, hilarious scenes and a strong moral will make this book a very interesting reading.

What will immediately comes to your mind, as soon as you start reading Pike's Quest, is the pinch of humourism that the author loves to put here and there. I have never read comic books but I have to admit that sometimes I couldn't stop myself from bursting into laughter! Besides, the humor was always soft and well placed during the course of events .I noticed, during the reading, that for the first time there was not a depth descriptions of the characters, of their passions or feelings toward other people, but I felt like it was not necessary. In other book there are often entire chapters dedicated to a particular character or to the protagonist; in Pike's Quest this is not present: the author succeeded in revealing the characters' features, only by describing their behaviours during certain situations, the way they reacted in front of difficulties. As for Pike, I can't remember a chapter in which he was widely described, even if he was the protagonist. By the way I feel like I know him, and I could see the he had greatly grown up, during the course of events. There was a real evolution of the protagonist: from the beginning to the end, the change was nearly palpable. I really enjoyed the importance that the author gave to animals; personally I'm an animal lover so this aspect of the book really impressed me. I think the moral of the book is simply unique, really. Under all the humorism and the fantastic circumstances the author wrote this book for a purpose, and I'll explain what I mean with a quote from the book, that I really liked:

"Man needed forts and cities, then the cities and forts needed technology so that they could outdo each other and gain power - and this time I mean the sort of power that corrupts, where some men rule over others and expect those others to be totally subservient. Man is unique in this aspect, Pike: once human tastes
power over just one thing, he wants it over all. One village is not enough: he wants a town, then a city, then a whole continent. Finally, the world."
...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: british-books-challenge

Pike's Quest, self-published by indie author K.J. Bennett in October 2011, is a fantasy novel set in the far future, after mankind has – almost – destroyed the earth. Here, in the age of the New Dawn, a fish-faced boy named Pike is destined to be a hero and save the world from... Well, never mind, I want you to go and read the book, so don't expect details!
I was warned before I started reading that there would be a lot of that so-called English or British humour which I always thought I enjoy. A Pike's Quest, self-published by indie author K.J. Bennett in October 2011, is a fantasy novel set in the far future, after mankind has – almost – destroyed the earth. Here, in the age of the New Dawn, a fish-faced boy named Pike is destined to be a hero and save the world from... Well, never mind, I want you to go and read the book, so don't expect details!
I was warned before I started reading that there would be a lot of that so-called English or British humour which I always thought I enjoy. And I did! Only that I realised I probably don't get is as much as I thought. That being said, here is my opinion of the book.

I really enjoyed the beginning, the description of Pike as a kid, the irony with which he is mobbed. It made me laugh a lot, and then I got tired of it.
I really enjoyed the ending; it had the grand final battle which you expect in a fantasy adventure. It kept me glued to the screen of my eReader.
It's just the middle part which makes writing this review a bit difficult: I don't understand it. More precisely, I don't understand the characters. The story line is very clear and well laid-out, the pace with which everything happens is, probably, a bit rushed, but you don't have to stretch, right? The characters, though...
There's Pike, who is told by a warlock that he is destined to be a hero, and although Pike neither wants to be one or thinks he could be one, he goes on a quest guided by a talking sparrow. Why? Because he is told that it is his destiny. Maybe that's meant to be satirical, in fact I hope so. Otherwise, it would just be a lack of character development.
Pike is not the only character I don't understand. Some scenes, some actions throughout the book, really threw me off, because some character did something that didn't fit the personality I thought that character had. To me, it looked like it was done simply because the storyline required it.
I think the characters that populate the world in the New Dawn are interesting, funny, weird – all you need for humorous fantasy. I'm just not sure, because I don't think I really got to know them, and that's a pity.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was funny. It was clever. Maybe it was too clever for me. I think you should judge for yourself. It's not expensive, and it is worth it. ...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Grammar*Kitten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Pike's Quest as part of a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

Having had the opportunity to read some of Kevin Bennett's other work, I started Pike's Quest with the preconception that I enjoyed his writing style; I was wrong. I absolutely LOVED this novel and the way in which it was written. It was witty and clever, with nearly every part of the dialogue being witty banter or a play on words and the different understandings of them. Indeed, it is this that make ...more

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Jan 22, 2012 L.K. Jay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I always thought that I wasn't much of a fan of the fantasy genre but of course that is rubbish as I love sci-fi (which is fantasy with a bit of sci) and I have of course read Lord of the Rings and am part way through the Game of Thrones endurance event.

At the beginning of the story, we meet our hero the young Pike and his skin condition, sitting on a sacred stone. Which talks to him. He's sent to save Moorlock the Warlock and on the way, he has adventures and makes friends including Horse, Roby ...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Vera rated it it was amazing

K.J Bennett is a masterful writer. With a skillful use of language he has created quirky, lovable characters, all of whom made me laugh hysterically. From the little hamlet of Ooze, crusty-faced Pike ventures forth, the seventh son of a seventh son, to carry out his destiny. Along the way he is joined by Horse and Robyn (a dear sparrow). Together they face giant sabre-toothed worm thingies, Winglekrats and stinking Peat Bogs of Lanklanddishire. There are wonderfully vicious villains, warlocks an ...more

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Oct 27, 2011 K J Bennett rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: wrote-it

I think it's great, but I wrote it, so I'm biased!

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Dec 26, 2011 Eleanor Katherine rated it really liked it

Very amusing and suitable for most ages, I think this is a great book to read. Someone please publish this! :)

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Sep 01, 2012 Sam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, funny-fiction, for-the-young-at-heart, goodreads-giveaways, read-in-2012, fantasy-quest

This was a light-hearted fantasy quest story, fairly short and, I think, pretty much aimed at older kids. It's been a long, long while since I read them, but it does remind me of Terry Pratchett's books for younger readers—the Diggers etc. series, and Johnny and the Bomb. Pike's Quest isn't too deep or complicated, it's great fun, and there's enough in there to keep an adult reader amused and interested as well.

Here be spoilers....

(view spoiler) This was a light-hearted fantasy quest story, fairly short and, I think, pretty much aimed at older kids. It's been a long, long while since I read them, but it does remind me of Terry Pratchett's books for younger readers—the Diggers etc. series, and Johnny and the Bomb. Pike's Quest isn't too deep or complicated, it's great fun, and there's enough in there to keep an adult reader amused and interested as well.

Here be spoilers....

(view spoiler)

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I'm intrigued to see what will happen in the next book, especially to find out more about Robyn. If you enjoy fantasy and/or fiction aimed at younger readers, I'd definitely recommend this.

Finally, I will state that I won a copy of Pike's Quest through a Goodreads giveaway—thankyou! The author has had no input to or preview of this review before I put it up on Goodreads. It's all my own work :-) ...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Vinca Russell rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is an entertaining read that definitely doesn't take itself too seriously. If you enjoy fantasy you'll find plenty of references to chuckle at and if not there is still plenty of fun to be had. The parts written in accents (one with a strong lisp and another with a West Country accent) grate a little at first but soon seem quite natural and all in all it's a light read to make you smile on a grey day.

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