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Who Will Rule Magic?: Kraken, Dragon, Cat vs. Kangaroo, Cockatoo, Crocodile
There must be a representative for each element on the Council for Creatures of Magic except when it comes to the Law of Singularity. This year, Australia is hosting the International Conference for Creatures of Magic and their Representatives. Standard procedure, a bit of a lark for the delegates. Nothing ever changes. Except this time. Kraken abdicates. Dragon resigns. The host country must provide Candidates to undertake the Test of the Puzzle. If they fail, Cat becomes Overall Ruler of Magic, the Overlord, the King of all he surveys, by the Law of Singularity. Uh, uh. Cockatoo can’t have a cat-killer lording it over the creatures of Air. Never. Not on his sticky-beaking watch. But it can’t be done by one – all must succeed, or all fail.
167 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2017
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 8, 2019
This book is a curious combination of anthropomorphized animals, human-type government, and elemental magic. It is an intricate adventure that pits animal against animal and element against element – all with the underlying intent of saving Mother Earth and the biodiversity that lives on the Earth. It's a curious combination that works.
We come into the tale just as an annual (animal) world Council of Magic is about to take place, where it soon becomes apparent that Cat is going to attempt a coup to become the sole overlord of magic over all. Of course there are some of the assembled who are going to do their best to stop Cat. The protagonist is from the air, a cockatoo named Cocky. His Australian comrades from the other two elements of water and land are a crocodile, Croc and Roo, a kangaroo. Others assembled who will do their vital parts in this endeavor are Dove, Owl, and Emu. There also are those in the mix who may or may not be allies. It becomes a race against the most wicked villain, Cat, and they don't have much time.
The setting for, “Who Will Rule Magic?...” is Australia, but the adventurers do travel to other places in their quest. There is a nautical section for those who are into sailing.
The story flips back and forth between Cocky, Croc, and Roo trying to fulfill the quest that will hopefully stop Cat and the Council assemblage, where Cat is doing his level best to make himself Supreme Ruler of Magic. There is a lot of finessing there with laws, by-laws, rules, how to get around them, how to sustain them, etc. which were very interesting in a way that anyone who has experience with or is interested in the machinations of a governing body would find interesting.
Throughout the book is a continuing thread of environmentalism which talks about human's effect on the planet and how it affects all of the creatures. The magical elements here are mostly focused on how animals are able to successfully navigate, procreate, and survive under the duress of a compromised planet.
What is most delightful about “Who Will Rule Magic?...” is the protagonist, Cocky. He's got a tall order ahead of him: saving the Earth. His two companions are not, at first appearance, very well-equipped to assist him. Croc is a female who is heavy with her eggs and needs to worry about getting them laid in the proper place. Roo is a rather obnoxious egotist who likes to complain. Cocky rolls with it and keeps a level head at all times and puts it to good use. His insider at the assemblage, Dove, is equally important in the success of the mission and needs to step up with her inner courage to keep the dastardly Cat from victory and the world from doom.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which took me out of my comfort zone but was well worth sticking with it. The book is a refreshing change of pace in genre combinations.
We come into the tale just as an annual (animal) world Council of Magic is about to take place, where it soon becomes apparent that Cat is going to attempt a coup to become the sole overlord of magic over all. Of course there are some of the assembled who are going to do their best to stop Cat. The protagonist is from the air, a cockatoo named Cocky. His Australian comrades from the other two elements of water and land are a crocodile, Croc and Roo, a kangaroo. Others assembled who will do their vital parts in this endeavor are Dove, Owl, and Emu. There also are those in the mix who may or may not be allies. It becomes a race against the most wicked villain, Cat, and they don't have much time.
The setting for, “Who Will Rule Magic?...” is Australia, but the adventurers do travel to other places in their quest. There is a nautical section for those who are into sailing.
The story flips back and forth between Cocky, Croc, and Roo trying to fulfill the quest that will hopefully stop Cat and the Council assemblage, where Cat is doing his level best to make himself Supreme Ruler of Magic. There is a lot of finessing there with laws, by-laws, rules, how to get around them, how to sustain them, etc. which were very interesting in a way that anyone who has experience with or is interested in the machinations of a governing body would find interesting.
Throughout the book is a continuing thread of environmentalism which talks about human's effect on the planet and how it affects all of the creatures. The magical elements here are mostly focused on how animals are able to successfully navigate, procreate, and survive under the duress of a compromised planet.
What is most delightful about “Who Will Rule Magic?...” is the protagonist, Cocky. He's got a tall order ahead of him: saving the Earth. His two companions are not, at first appearance, very well-equipped to assist him. Croc is a female who is heavy with her eggs and needs to worry about getting them laid in the proper place. Roo is a rather obnoxious egotist who likes to complain. Cocky rolls with it and keeps a level head at all times and puts it to good use. His insider at the assemblage, Dove, is equally important in the success of the mission and needs to step up with her inner courage to keep the dastardly Cat from victory and the world from doom.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which took me out of my comfort zone but was well worth sticking with it. The book is a refreshing change of pace in genre combinations.
August 1, 2019
I loved the imagination that went into this allegorical book. Australia is host to the International Conference for Creatures of Magic, and right from the start, nothing goes as planned. Cat makes a play to become the Overall Ruler of Magic, and by default, the ones obligated to stop him belong to the motley Australian delegation: Cockatiel, Kangaroo, and Crocodile. They must undertake the Test of the Puzzle and can’t afford to fail or the entire animal kingdom will be at the mercy of Cat.
The book flips back and forth between the Test of the Puzzle, a misadventure by the Australian trio, and the proceedings at the conference where Grey Dove defends the Book of Laws at her personal peril. I enjoyed the stark contrast between the doomed fiasco of the Test, and the erudite and highly formal conference.
The animal characters have fun well-rounded personalities, and the dialog is full of clever insults and snark. Environmental degradation is a major concern among the animals and is responsible for the loss of magic as well as the extinction of species. The theme of complacency plays a role as well. An entertaining read for anyone who enjoys an unusual allegory.
The book flips back and forth between the Test of the Puzzle, a misadventure by the Australian trio, and the proceedings at the conference where Grey Dove defends the Book of Laws at her personal peril. I enjoyed the stark contrast between the doomed fiasco of the Test, and the erudite and highly formal conference.
The animal characters have fun well-rounded personalities, and the dialog is full of clever insults and snark. Environmental degradation is a major concern among the animals and is responsible for the loss of magic as well as the extinction of species. The theme of complacency plays a role as well. An entertaining read for anyone who enjoys an unusual allegory.
July 15, 2019
I really liked this book. I was initially confused by the character names which threw me a bit as I thought it was generic names and not individuals. But once I figured it out, the story flowed nicely and let's face it, who doesn't like magic and animals together?
I would like to purchase a hard copy but cannot find it online anywhere? Anyway, nice story Cage, a thoroughly enjoyable read which I highly recommend.
I would like to purchase a hard copy but cannot find it online anywhere? Anyway, nice story Cage, a thoroughly enjoyable read which I highly recommend.
October 9, 2024
A rather odd mixture of parable and drama, with anthropomorphized animal characters. There is a lot of procedural and legal stuff featuring Grey Dove of Peace mixed with a desperate quest carried out by Cocky the sulphur-crested cockatoo, a combative kangaroo, and a crocodile anxious about her eggs and the world in general. The matter at issue is the magic available to the creatures of the world, and the villain is a conniving Cat who wants it all for himself.
The focus shifts from the quest to the conference and back again. I was a bit confused by all the legalistic stuff and the rules of a test that was supposed to decide who was to rule magic. The ending was definitely dramatic, and the first time I have seen bugs in a heroic role.
As I read, I kept wondering about humans. None are mentioned until near the ending, except for a brief appearance by pirates at one point. But frequent mention is made of extinctions and changes in weather that cause distress and hardship for most animals, which led me to suspect that this indeed is a tale relevant to our present time.
The focus shifts from the quest to the conference and back again. I was a bit confused by all the legalistic stuff and the rules of a test that was supposed to decide who was to rule magic. The ending was definitely dramatic, and the first time I have seen bugs in a heroic role.
As I read, I kept wondering about humans. None are mentioned until near the ending, except for a brief appearance by pirates at one point. But frequent mention is made of extinctions and changes in weather that cause distress and hardship for most animals, which led me to suspect that this indeed is a tale relevant to our present time.
October 24, 2019
This fable-like tale would be funny if I couldn't connect to the undercurrent that feeds it. Too close to the mark.
However, the main character was funny, sad, pitiable, relatable, and big-hearted. That's a lot of weight for a poor old cocky to have to carry, so it's a good thing he has a weird kangaroo and a level-headed croc to accompany him, or should that be to keep him on the path?
Whatever, it was fun, and it wasn't. Loved it, and feared what it meant.
Allegory with teeth - or should that be 'sting'?
However, the main character was funny, sad, pitiable, relatable, and big-hearted. That's a lot of weight for a poor old cocky to have to carry, so it's a good thing he has a weird kangaroo and a level-headed croc to accompany him, or should that be to keep him on the path?
Whatever, it was fun, and it wasn't. Loved it, and feared what it meant.
Allegory with teeth - or should that be 'sting'?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews