Thraxas at War

Thraxas #7

by Martin Scott

In the enchanted city of Turai, the royal family is corrupt, the politicians can be bought, and the civic guards have better things to do than guarding. Thraxas may look unprepossessing, being overweight and not quite overbrained, and more interested in pursuit of his next glass of beer than pursuit of justice, but if you're in trouble in Turai this portly private eye is probably your only hope. At least, in normal times.
But this time, the entire city is in trouble. Years ago, the Orcs attacked Turai, and came frighteningly close to victory. Since then, the Orcs's usual internecine squabbles and feuds have kept them too divided to be a serious menace. But now a new charismatic leader has united the Orc legions under his banner and they are preparing to march on Turai.
Thraxas may have been a hero of the last Orc War (according to him) but he's intent on keeping his head down this time. Unfortunately for his preferences, he has had to take on an investigation at the war ministry. There are suspicions of treachery within the city government itself and a Senior Councilor has been murdered. And this last case may take the cake, because that's just what the murder weapon seems to be.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction

Hardcover

First published July 3, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

A pen name of Martin Millar.

Reviews

[Dantegideon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best

I love these books, and this is one of the best of them. The author has a very deft touch; this has some raucously funny scenes of Thraxas outraging everyone and generally being a boor, but it is also surprisingly moving. One of the few series I’d recommend to anyone without reservation.

[Travis Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite Thraxas book, of the first seven. It has all the trademark humor, wonderful characters, some fantastic twists, and most of all some great revenge.

A lot of characters who have had it coming, receive their coming.

So far, this is the quintessential Thraxas.

[Veselin Nikolov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Траксас участва в подготовката за война срещу орките като глас на разума, заедно с другия глас на разума - Лизутария. Нещо сериозно не е наред около Макри, която получава твърде много цветя и злоупотребява с дрога. В сърцето на всичко е едно разследване за убийство.

[Michael Starke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by one of the best in the series! The twists and turns this one throws will definitely make your jaw drop!!

[CONNIE BALTHROP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has everything, action, romance and a few shockers near the ending.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best so far. Great intrigue And fight scenes.

[Rajit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other books have been building up to this, as all out war finally comes to Turai. This may be my favorite book in the series, even though it ends rather abruptly.

[Daniel Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

TLDR; This was a pretty good book for someone to read while they're waiting for the next Vlad Taltos book from Steven Brust.

This was recommended as a good example of "comic fantasy." It's certainly lighthearted for the most part, although keeping that tone in the context of a murder investigation and an impending war and siege is an uphill battle, and one that doesn't completely succeed. There's a blurb on the front cover-- "blindingly funny." It turns out that this is actually an excerpt from a review of a different book in the same series, which is a practice I've always found distasteful and vaguely fraudulent. I have not read that particular book-- maybe it's "blindingly funny." This one wasn't. Vaguely amusing, sure. Laugh-out-loud funny? No. Blindingly? Not hardly.

I also found the protagonist profoundly unlikable. Maybe I was supposed to? I'm not sure. But it kind of said something that this ex-soldier turned private investigator was much less appealing than Brust's assassin. I think it might have been the particular choices of "amusing foible" used to characterize Thraxas-- just as an example, misogyny played for comic effect is still misogyny. It's 2015, guys (ok, 2007 when it was written). Having the "good guy" in a work espouse a position lends weight to the position, especially if he does not actually suffer for the espousal. Saying, "Oh ha ha isn't he a jerk" does not actually excuse him being a jerk.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The grumpy PI and his strange sidekick Makri get involved in political scandal and intrigue as the clouds of war start to form with the orcish lands. This one is not quite as tightly structured as the earlier ones in the series, and Scott still feels obliged to throw in every character he has featured in the past. Add to this the political theme which does not really suit Thraxas too well and we have a book which is not really up to snuff. But still diverting and fun, and clearly sets up the next one. Rated M for drug references, violence and supernatural themes. 3/5

[Simon Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Martin Scott book. Downside, a little short and too much going over the background - good if this is the 1st Thraxas you read, but quite annoying for my 7th!

[Boneist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really gotten into the style of the Thraxas books, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book, once I've managed to get my little paws on it!