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The Brenda and Effie Mysteries #7
Fellowship of Ink
Brenda is back!
It's the 1930s, and Brenda (of Brenda and Effie fame!) finds herself in the old, medieval university town of Darkholmes in the North of England. She's a housemaid, and teams up with fictionalised versions of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, who are conjuring up monsters from other dimensions through their writings.
Together, they battle demons and solve strange mysteries.
It's the 1930s, and Brenda (of Brenda and Effie fame!) finds herself in the old, medieval university town of Darkholmes in the North of England. She's a housemaid, and teams up with fictionalised versions of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, who are conjuring up monsters from other dimensions through their writings.
Together, they battle demons and solve strange mysteries.
322 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
9 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 13, 2017
Fantastic. This story moves fast and has so many wonderful and wonderfully evil characters that I had to give it a second read, right away. And I am glad I did, I caught some subtle and devilish details that were worth going back for.
If you are familiar with Brenda*, you'll love this.
But you don't need to know any backstory to enjoy or understand this book. My only complaint is I could have spent more time with any of the characters in here. But, I know there is more to come.
* https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...)
If you are familiar with Brenda*, you'll love this.
But you don't need to know any backstory to enjoy or understand this book. My only complaint is I could have spent more time with any of the characters in here. But, I know there is more to come.
* https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...)
June 5, 2018
Disappointing
I really struggled to get into this book. I had read a good third of the book before it hooked me . The characters just didn't grab me, Professor Cleavis and John just aren't fleshed out and this kindle version is very poorly edited. Lots of clumsy sentences and incorrect names being used ( Brenda being referred to as Bessie for example) which made for a jarring read. Not a great addition to Brenda's adventures unfortunately.
I really struggled to get into this book. I had read a good third of the book before it hooked me . The characters just didn't grab me, Professor Cleavis and John just aren't fleshed out and this kindle version is very poorly edited. Lots of clumsy sentences and incorrect names being used ( Brenda being referred to as Bessie for example) which made for a jarring read. Not a great addition to Brenda's adventures unfortunately.
July 4, 2017
I have read several Paul Magrs' novels before - the Brenda and Effie story arc is pretty epic to be honest. I love the idea of these two seemingly elderly ladies pootling along in Whitby who are actually Guardians against Evil overtaking the world as we know it from parallel universes!
Similarly, Brenda has materialised in a 1930s North of England University Town, Darkholmes, this time as a monosyllabic maid to a University Professor and his frustrated wife.
This professor, Reg, holds meetings of like minded specially invited writers, where they read and swap stories about wild and magical lands beyond our own.
There is a new professor, Henry, who has arrived at the university with his 'friend' John, and almost immediately strange things cross their path. John, desperately hoping that the occasional sighting of goblins etc, is down to overstrain on Henry's system, is viscously attacked by a man turned monster in his and Henry's rooms.
Reg's wife, Evelyn, is bored. Bored of her stagnant marriage, by her husband's obsession with his never finished novel 17 years and counting in the writing, of his ignoring her, of her lack of any sort of occupation or love in her life. Her mother's best friend, the glamorous Catriona, arrives to work at the university and enthrals Evelyn with her clothes, her ideas and her stories.
When John is injured, Evelyn befriends him, and soon finds herself embroiled in mysterious and dangerous happenings.
Reg invites Henry to join his writer's group, the Smudgelings, but refuses Catriona - the group is exclusively male. But the group is dangerous - Reg's stories are poking holes in the fabric that separate worlds and someone is not happy about it all. And 'things' with sharp teeth, leather wings and bad attitudes keep leaking through.
And then the circus arrives in town...
Really one of the most random books I have read in a while, but all well within the scope of Paul Magrs' usual standard of writing. I shall keep an eye out for the next installment!
Similarly, Brenda has materialised in a 1930s North of England University Town, Darkholmes, this time as a monosyllabic maid to a University Professor and his frustrated wife.
This professor, Reg, holds meetings of like minded specially invited writers, where they read and swap stories about wild and magical lands beyond our own.
There is a new professor, Henry, who has arrived at the university with his 'friend' John, and almost immediately strange things cross their path. John, desperately hoping that the occasional sighting of goblins etc, is down to overstrain on Henry's system, is viscously attacked by a man turned monster in his and Henry's rooms.
Reg's wife, Evelyn, is bored. Bored of her stagnant marriage, by her husband's obsession with his never finished novel 17 years and counting in the writing, of his ignoring her, of her lack of any sort of occupation or love in her life. Her mother's best friend, the glamorous Catriona, arrives to work at the university and enthrals Evelyn with her clothes, her ideas and her stories.
When John is injured, Evelyn befriends him, and soon finds herself embroiled in mysterious and dangerous happenings.
Reg invites Henry to join his writer's group, the Smudgelings, but refuses Catriona - the group is exclusively male. But the group is dangerous - Reg's stories are poking holes in the fabric that separate worlds and someone is not happy about it all. And 'things' with sharp teeth, leather wings and bad attitudes keep leaking through.
And then the circus arrives in town...
Really one of the most random books I have read in a while, but all well within the scope of Paul Magrs' usual standard of writing. I shall keep an eye out for the next installment!
June 19, 2021
This audiobook was confusing because of it being listed as affiliated with Iris Wildthyme. However, the actual range at Big Finish is Iris Wildthyme and Friends. So as long as someone in this book meant Iris, it's okay. According to Goodreads, this was the 7th book in another series. However, it doesn't really feel like anyone's story in particular. Perhaps, it's more like a braided novel where events are loosely connected. A town where the Smudglings (a parody of the Inklings) are installed as professors begins to experience strange goings on as a result of their work and a lot of weird things begin to happen.
On one hand, the book does a good job of building interesting side characters and telling their stories and giving you a sense of what their deal is. Louise Jameson does an absolutely job reading, characterizing each character in giving them life and also breathing life into the book's more expository passages on the characters' emotional states. There are also some intriguing turns and moments in the book.
Yet, the end doesn't quite leave me satisfied. It feels like a lot is left unanswered for potential future books. I also felt the smudlings are portrayed in a sort of silly shallow stereotypical way and given that they are stand-ins for some of the great fantasy writers of all time, this is a shame.
Overall, Jameson's reading makes for good entertainment, and there are so many intriguing bits along the way adding an above and average production that could have been much better.
On one hand, the book does a good job of building interesting side characters and telling their stories and giving you a sense of what their deal is. Louise Jameson does an absolutely job reading, characterizing each character in giving them life and also breathing life into the book's more expository passages on the characters' emotional states. There are also some intriguing turns and moments in the book.
Yet, the end doesn't quite leave me satisfied. It feels like a lot is left unanswered for potential future books. I also felt the smudlings are portrayed in a sort of silly shallow stereotypical way and given that they are stand-ins for some of the great fantasy writers of all time, this is a shame.
Overall, Jameson's reading makes for good entertainment, and there are so many intriguing bits along the way adding an above and average production that could have been much better.
August 16, 2018
Loved this romp though the Gothic fantasies of Paul Magrs' mind, whose childhood influences seem to have been quite similar to my own. The wonderful Brenda moves from the shadows of the story to gradually take centre stage as she and her literary employers and friends find themselves drawn into the many dimensions of reality dreamed up by the most creative minds in Darkholme.
People who are familiar with the adventures of Brenda will recognise a number of the characters from previous appearances. first time readers will still be able to enjoy the ensemble as a fresh experience and spot the literary figures that they are based upon. The gruesome circus is particularly enjoyable and any fans of the League of Gentlemen will doubtless experience traumatic flashbacks to Papa Lazarou.
I am eager to read the sequel and find out what happens next. There are so many ideas scattered throughout the book any of which could be picked up on and expanded. For those unfamiliar with Magrs' work, I recommend this to anyone who likes a healthy mix of traditional horror tropes, Edwardian fantasy icons and decidedly British humour.
People who are familiar with the adventures of Brenda will recognise a number of the characters from previous appearances. first time readers will still be able to enjoy the ensemble as a fresh experience and spot the literary figures that they are based upon. The gruesome circus is particularly enjoyable and any fans of the League of Gentlemen will doubtless experience traumatic flashbacks to Papa Lazarou.
I am eager to read the sequel and find out what happens next. There are so many ideas scattered throughout the book any of which could be picked up on and expanded. For those unfamiliar with Magrs' work, I recommend this to anyone who likes a healthy mix of traditional horror tropes, Edwardian fantasy icons and decidedly British humour.
July 6, 2017
This is a real return to form for Paul Magrs. I loved the first few Brenda and Effie books but felt they'd lost momentum over the course of the series. Whilst Brenda is a major character in this, she is not the sole focus of the book, and this allows some fresh air into the plot. It felt like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Who, and despite the fact that I'm not a fan of either, I mean that in a good way. The blurring of genres allows for some real randomness as another reviewer rightly says.
October 12, 2017
An interesting story and I wanted to find out what happened. The end was disappointing as it seemed to almost drift away.
As a side note also 1 or 2 typo/editing type errors in the version I was reading which shows a lack of care from the publisher.
Overall a good tale, but not a great one and the concepts within it are interesting but not original.
As a side note also 1 or 2 typo/editing type errors in the version I was reading which shows a lack of care from the publisher.
Overall a good tale, but not a great one and the concepts within it are interesting but not original.
December 2, 2019
Is this book going to get a sequel?! It just finished without any resolution so I hope there is. If not this book is thus not good as the ending sucks big time.
It was an okay tale and seemed to building up to a crescendo of revelations. And then it just ended. Hmm...
Definitely not the best book I’ve read by any stretch though so if there isn’t a sequel I’ll cope
It was an okay tale and seemed to building up to a crescendo of revelations. And then it just ended. Hmm...
Definitely not the best book I’ve read by any stretch though so if there isn’t a sequel I’ll cope
March 10, 2018
Quite a few silly errors in this book which really annoyed me (calling characters by wrong names ie Bessie for Brenda). Not the sort of thing you expect to find from an established writer. The plot itself was as full of holes as the town of Darkholmes.
July 28, 2023
This one was a little weird. Admittedly, it is the first one I have read and it's number 7 apparently. That will have something to do with it. The writing, the magic, the setting were all fantastic. The characters were interesting. I will update after I have read the previous 6 books.
September 29, 2017
Story ok but not a satisfactory end for me. Distracted by many typos. Very poor proof reading.
July 12, 2018
another epic
August 24, 2018
As always fabulous. Typing errors in kindle version slightly off putting, but not so bad.
August 30, 2018
Great to read about Brenda again!
May 22, 2021
I mostly enjoyed this, but the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, like there is another book to come, but I can find no sign that this is actually the case.
July 20, 2021
This is a story of mysterious things happening in a english college town.
July 8, 2022
I didn't enjoy this as much as the other Brenda & Effie stories. But overall was a good read ending seemed a bit rushed.
October 31, 2018
Not what I'd hoped for.
Brenda and Effie's adventures delight me. This volume less so as it fills in some of Brenda's 'memory losses'. Does it fit with the previous stories? I didn't think so. Perhaps, when I read it in future years, it will click into place.
Brenda and Effie's adventures delight me. This volume less so as it fills in some of Brenda's 'memory losses'. Does it fit with the previous stories? I didn't think so. Perhaps, when I read it in future years, it will click into place.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews