What do you think?
Rate this book
Appetizers of the Gods
Colin Farnsworth was a loser. Eking an existence from writing cheap sci-fi novels and the few dollars he makes at Fantasy Underworld Card game tournaments he lives the house where he grew up in Anchorage Alaska. His only companion is Heimdall, a four pound Yorkshire Terrier with visions of greatness. Until, that is, The Brothers Four arrive on his doorstep looking for rooms to rent and with a giant troll in pursuit.
Colin’s life is turned upside as he finds himself in a real world that is much stranger than the fiction he writes or the fantasy games he plays.
Leprechauns, Trolls, Faerie Folk, talking animals and crazed municipal building inspectors galore: Welcome to the other side of Anchorage!
In a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett The Four Brothers series is relatively safe for all ages, at least those who know how to giggle.
Colin’s life is turned upside as he finds himself in a real world that is much stranger than the fiction he writes or the fantasy games he plays.
Leprechauns, Trolls, Faerie Folk, talking animals and crazed municipal building inspectors galore: Welcome to the other side of Anchorage!
In a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett The Four Brothers series is relatively safe for all ages, at least those who know how to giggle.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2015
6 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 25, 2019
I think Colin should meet Mercy Thompson, Atticus O'Sullivan, and Prof Croft! Leprechauns invade Colin's rather disappointed life and help save his Yorkie and the neighbor boy from trolls. Absolutely hilarious! Don't miss this fun read and even more raucous listen as it is audio interpreted by the author!
July 11, 2015
Appetizers of the Gods by Basil Sands Colin Farnsworth is a 30-something divorce SFF nerd writing questionable SF by day and playing in Fantasy Underworld card games at night. His life is small until the Brothers Four arrive and do their best to convince him he isn’t dreaming. This leads to public nudity and a chat with the local law enforcement. Pretty soon Colin’s life is filled with trolls, talking animals, and various other faerie folk. Luckily, he has Anne, a lovely neighbor, to bake him cupcakes and see him through this adventure.
This book starts off with Colin doing some online bidding on some Fantasy Underworld cards. He’s in competition with another and the two are going neck and neck for these cards. It’s a little slow at first, but there is some humor, especially with Heimdall the dog letting the reader/listener in on his thoughts. But once the Brothers Four (leprechauns) arrive, being pursued by a loud, whomping troll, things pick right up.
I really enjoyed the humor in this book. Sure, there’s plenty of action. The main characters are always in motion. Yet it was the humor that really carried the story for me. There’s plenty of the one character or another poking fun at themselves in an offhand manner. Plus there is the snappy comments back and forth between characters at times. Like the book’s description says, it reminded me of some of Terry Pratchett’s works (specifically the Nac Mac Feegles in the Tiffany Aching Discworld books).
Anne was also of interest, being a character that knows something about what is going on. This puts poor Colin as the last man in the race for figuring out what is up with these leprechauns and trolls and such. Also, she is a dog person and bakes cupcakes; who wouldn’t like her?
This story starts off with a little mystery – dogs are going missing. So in the second half of this book, we finally figure out how and why. I won’t spoil it, but it is rife with humor and the chastisement of hungry, lazy creatures. All in all, this is a highly enjoyable book and had me chuckling out loud more than once.
I received this audiobook from the author (via the Audiobook Blast Facebook) at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that Basil Sands can not only write awesome stories, he can also narrate. And narrate he does! There’s plenty of accents flying around, all of which he does quite well. He also has distinct voices for all the characters, including believable female voices. Occasionally he tosses in some interesting noises, like a leprechaun hiccoughing. It was a thoroughly entertaining performance.
This book starts off with Colin doing some online bidding on some Fantasy Underworld cards. He’s in competition with another and the two are going neck and neck for these cards. It’s a little slow at first, but there is some humor, especially with Heimdall the dog letting the reader/listener in on his thoughts. But once the Brothers Four (leprechauns) arrive, being pursued by a loud, whomping troll, things pick right up.
I really enjoyed the humor in this book. Sure, there’s plenty of action. The main characters are always in motion. Yet it was the humor that really carried the story for me. There’s plenty of the one character or another poking fun at themselves in an offhand manner. Plus there is the snappy comments back and forth between characters at times. Like the book’s description says, it reminded me of some of Terry Pratchett’s works (specifically the Nac Mac Feegles in the Tiffany Aching Discworld books).
Anne was also of interest, being a character that knows something about what is going on. This puts poor Colin as the last man in the race for figuring out what is up with these leprechauns and trolls and such. Also, she is a dog person and bakes cupcakes; who wouldn’t like her?
This story starts off with a little mystery – dogs are going missing. So in the second half of this book, we finally figure out how and why. I won’t spoil it, but it is rife with humor and the chastisement of hungry, lazy creatures. All in all, this is a highly enjoyable book and had me chuckling out loud more than once.
I received this audiobook from the author (via the Audiobook Blast Facebook) at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that Basil Sands can not only write awesome stories, he can also narrate. And narrate he does! There’s plenty of accents flying around, all of which he does quite well. He also has distinct voices for all the characters, including believable female voices. Occasionally he tosses in some interesting noises, like a leprechaun hiccoughing. It was a thoroughly entertaining performance.
November 2, 2015
There are many things to like about this book. It’s got adventure, humour, action, fantasy all melted into an entertaining story that you want to hear more of. There is some snappy dialogue and poking fun at various aspects of society. The story keeps you engaged and wanting more. I’m happy that there will be more (at least the last line of the book promises there will be…eventually).
If you’re like me and you always raise a skeptical eyebrow and give a repeated listen to the sample when you see a book narrated by the author, and that book that isn’t a biography or written by a stand-up comedian, don’t worry. This is a case where the author is a capable narrator and not just reading their book at you. If I had to complain about anything, it would be that I had to turn my volume noticeably up compared to other books in my library, but other than that it was clear sound.
Basil Sands can do accents, gets across the humour and wit in the lines, and has distinct voices for the characters. This makes for a pleasant listening experience. It is icing on the cake that he wrote the book and therefore you are getting the full effect of what was in the author’s head for the story.
I received this audiobook from the author at no cost in exchange for an honest review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.
If you want an entertaining listen in the light-hearted fantasy / humour category that isn’t too long (it’s 2.5 hrs), this is for you. Warning: Sense of humour required.
If you’re like me and you always raise a skeptical eyebrow and give a repeated listen to the sample when you see a book narrated by the author, and that book that isn’t a biography or written by a stand-up comedian, don’t worry. This is a case where the author is a capable narrator and not just reading their book at you. If I had to complain about anything, it would be that I had to turn my volume noticeably up compared to other books in my library, but other than that it was clear sound.
Basil Sands can do accents, gets across the humour and wit in the lines, and has distinct voices for the characters. This makes for a pleasant listening experience. It is icing on the cake that he wrote the book and therefore you are getting the full effect of what was in the author’s head for the story.
I received this audiobook from the author at no cost in exchange for an honest review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.
If you want an entertaining listen in the light-hearted fantasy / humour category that isn’t too long (it’s 2.5 hrs), this is for you. Warning: Sense of humour required.
November 1, 2015
Disclaimer: I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com
A short novella (2.5 hours) is a really fun romp with leprechauns, trolls and a lot of silliness. Set in Anchorage, the story starts a little slow, following an online auction. The action speeds up once the leprechauns arrive, accelerating to a fast-paced conclusion. The Goodreads summary says "In a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett". There are similarities in style to Adams and Pratchett, tho there were places where it more felt like the author was trying for that, maybe trying a bit too hard. A decent introduction to a series and I'll keep my eye out for future entries.
A short novella (2.5 hours) is a really fun romp with leprechauns, trolls and a lot of silliness. Set in Anchorage, the story starts a little slow, following an online auction. The action speeds up once the leprechauns arrive, accelerating to a fast-paced conclusion. The Goodreads summary says "In a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett". There are similarities in style to Adams and Pratchett, tho there were places where it more felt like the author was trying for that, maybe trying a bit too hard. A decent introduction to a series and I'll keep my eye out for future entries.
January 18, 2016
Colin writes sci fi books and fantasy games.One day he notices a giant bird grab a tiny dog from the street.Pretty soon this is an epidemic. He's a bit of a loser.He lives alone w/his dog Heimdal. Suddenly he is drawn into a world of trolls,leprecauns,etc. The Brothers 4 take up residence in his house,making him food he has not purchased and cleaning up after themselves. He thinks this is odd. As it turns out,he is STILL in the 'real world'. What IS real and will he catch the dog theif?Basil Sands wrote and narrates this wonderfully!I enjoyed it!
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review
November 11, 2015
I was given this book by the author through AudiobookBlast dot com in exchange for my honest review.
This book went kind of slow at the beginning and I found myself questioning where it was even going. After the four leprechaun brothers arrived at Colin's home, the story picked up pace and I found myself laughing and enjoying the book.
This book is uniquely original and can get through it pretty quick. I found each of the 4 brothers to be enjoyable and I loved when they were interacting in the story. I liked how each character brought something to the overall plot.
This book went kind of slow at the beginning and I found myself questioning where it was even going. After the four leprechaun brothers arrived at Colin's home, the story picked up pace and I found myself laughing and enjoying the book.
This book is uniquely original and can get through it pretty quick. I found each of the 4 brothers to be enjoyable and I loved when they were interacting in the story. I liked how each character brought something to the overall plot.
July 21, 2015
**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
This is a super cute and funny story about Colin a computer geek/syfy writer, who finds 4 leprechauns at his door one day...well a story unfolds and a hidden destiny....I laughed out loud and found all the characters to be lively and fun! Definitely want more! Wonderfully Written and Narrated!!!!
Thank You, Audiobookblast(dot)com
This is a super cute and funny story about Colin a computer geek/syfy writer, who finds 4 leprechauns at his door one day...well a story unfolds and a hidden destiny....I laughed out loud and found all the characters to be lively and fun! Definitely want more! Wonderfully Written and Narrated!!!!
Thank You, Audiobookblast(dot)com
August 15, 2015
Delightful and humorous tale of what can happen when your home is invaded by leprechauns! Very enjoyable read.
May 2, 2017
Appetizers of the Gods is a delight. It is appetizer sized at just over two and one half hours. And like an appetizer, it whets your appetite for more.
Colin is a divorced science fiction writer who lives in Alaska with his Yorkshire Terrier, Heimdall (yes, a Yorkie named after a Norse god). He is an avid player of a card game that sounds (at least to the uninitiated like me) like Magic: The Gathering. Colin bids for an extremely rare set of cards online. In the final seconds of the bidding, he faces competition from his arch rival. But something goes horribly wrong:
“And clicked the mouse button but only felt a dull thpuhg from the plastic rodent. The clicker did not click. His mouse had run out of cheese. He raised the mouse off the desk and slammed it back down to the surface. ‘Noooo.’ He slammed and slammed the mouse down with such rapidity that even Dr. Seuss could not have created a rhyme to describe it.”
The broken mouse is not the problem. The problem is Colin did not bid on cards. He bid on hosting four Irish brothers, who happen to Leprechauns. Hosting the brothers turns out to be a blessing in disguise. They do home repairs, cook extremely well and make their own ale. Before Colin knows it, he is thrust into the mythological world of trolls, leprechauns and giant dog-snatching birds.
The story is a lot of fun. It did remind of of the late Terry Pratchett in terms of a sense of insanity lurking behind normal everyday things. Basil Sands, the author, is also the narrator. He does a great job with the varied accents. There are Welsh, English, Irish, Alaskan and Troll. All of the characters, except the brothers, are easily discernible. The male, female and non human characters are all very nicely done.
Appetizer of the Gods is definitely the start of a series. I will be looking forward to the next audiobook. As the author says at the end of the audiobook:
“The end. Well, kind of the end. There’ ll be more. But not right now. The sort of end, that’s what we’ll call it.”
Thank you to Audiobook Reviewer for obtaining a review copy for me in exchange for an honest review.
Colin is a divorced science fiction writer who lives in Alaska with his Yorkshire Terrier, Heimdall (yes, a Yorkie named after a Norse god). He is an avid player of a card game that sounds (at least to the uninitiated like me) like Magic: The Gathering. Colin bids for an extremely rare set of cards online. In the final seconds of the bidding, he faces competition from his arch rival. But something goes horribly wrong:
“And clicked the mouse button but only felt a dull thpuhg from the plastic rodent. The clicker did not click. His mouse had run out of cheese. He raised the mouse off the desk and slammed it back down to the surface. ‘Noooo.’ He slammed and slammed the mouse down with such rapidity that even Dr. Seuss could not have created a rhyme to describe it.”
The broken mouse is not the problem. The problem is Colin did not bid on cards. He bid on hosting four Irish brothers, who happen to Leprechauns. Hosting the brothers turns out to be a blessing in disguise. They do home repairs, cook extremely well and make their own ale. Before Colin knows it, he is thrust into the mythological world of trolls, leprechauns and giant dog-snatching birds.
The story is a lot of fun. It did remind of of the late Terry Pratchett in terms of a sense of insanity lurking behind normal everyday things. Basil Sands, the author, is also the narrator. He does a great job with the varied accents. There are Welsh, English, Irish, Alaskan and Troll. All of the characters, except the brothers, are easily discernible. The male, female and non human characters are all very nicely done.
Appetizer of the Gods is definitely the start of a series. I will be looking forward to the next audiobook. As the author says at the end of the audiobook:
“The end. Well, kind of the end. There’ ll be more. But not right now. The sort of end, that’s what we’ll call it.”
Thank you to Audiobook Reviewer for obtaining a review copy for me in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews