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Spit and Song

(Ustlian Tales #2)

Travis M. Riddle (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 57 ratings · 30 reviews

Kali is a merchant who yearns to leave the harsh deserts of Herrilock and travel across the sea, trading goods and soaking in the sights and cultures. With a new potion on the market undercutting her profits, though, her seabound dreams are put on hold indefinitely.

Failed musician Puk hits rock bottom after yet another catastrophic performance. Wandering the city streets ...more

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Paperback, 510 pages

Published November 19th 2019 by Independently published

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Average rating 4.12 ·

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· 57 ratings · 30 reviews

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Jun 15, 2020 Nick Borrelli rated it really liked it

I've been meaning to read a Travis M. Riddle novel for quite some time now. I have heard that his stories are very original takes on standard fantasy tales and that they offer something really different. So when I saw that Storytellers was hosting a tour for his book SPIT AND SONG, well I rushed at the chance to sign up and see what all of the buzz was about. It became pretty clear as I read the opening chapters that the hype is well-deserved.

The book blurb does a pretty good job of touching on ...more

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Oct 09, 2020 Esme rated it really liked it

This was a semifinalist over on FBC but it’s also been on my review request list for a while. I’ve read Riddle’s works before and enjoyed myself, so I was looking forward to reading this one. The cover for this is eye-catching, I don’t typically put a whole lot of stock into cover appearances, but this one did grab me before I even opened the book.

Right away you know this is a high fantasy world, there’s talk of fantasy animals, and otherworldly landscapes and non-human species. There’s a lot co This was a semifinalist over on FBC but it’s also been on my review request list for a while. I’ve read Riddle’s works before and enjoyed myself, so I was looking forward to reading this one. The cover for this is eye-catching, I don’t typically put a whole lot of stock into cover appearances, but this one did grab me before I even opened the book.

Right away you know this is a high fantasy world, there’s talk of fantasy animals, and otherworldly landscapes and non-human species. There’s a lot coming at the reader all at once but after the first chapter or so for each character things smooth out and it was quick reading from there on.

There are two main POVs – Kali is a trader who goes between cities to make a buck off of potions and other items. She’s not rich but she gets by just fine, however, there’s a new potion on the market and it’s making what she usually trades obselete and now she could be in financial trouble if she doesn’t figure out how to get her hands on this new potion. I liked her character, she was easy to relate to, easy to root for, she had a good healthy family and an animal companion/mount. She also is species known as a faif, with pastel colored skin, bright red hair, and she ‘feeds’ herself using the sun. She’s like a plant, she likes sugary water and can go for long lengths of time without eating any solid foods. I loved the imagination in this one, it was overflowing with new ideas and fanciful creatures and races.

The other character is Puk, he’s a down on his luck addict who gets fired from his acting troupe. He keeps showing up to performances blitzed out of his mind, and his troupe finally had enough of his bullshit when he spews vomit on the crowd and passes out. From there he sort of wanders around aimlessly until he runs into Kali. Her father is a very kind hearted man and takes pity on Puk and has him perform in their inn while he gets back on his feet.

The potion that Kali is trading in is a treatment for carapace rot – there’s a species known as the centripts and they are a bug like species with thoraxes and carapace… there’s a mold that can infect their carapace and they slowly rot to death. It’s pretty terrible, but this new potion works much better than the traditional medicine and could be life changing for many. The centripts also have unique and pretty awesome sounding architecture creating cities that are contiguous architecture and known as ‘hives’. One of the other cities was built inside an enormous skeleton from a long extinct animal known as an aeon. It’s a fully fleshed out city, not just a small grouping of houses, so it sounds like this animal was several miles long.

The writing was great, Riddle’s work is always clean and polished and reads very quickly by themselves. However, it took a long time to get this story going, it was about 35% when the two POVs meet and then it still took some time for them to set out on their mission. This book has a long set up and it’s the surreal world building and ease of the prose that kept me going, not because the plot was particularly interesting up to that point.

All in all this was a solid read and I’d recommend it for people who enjoy high fantasy, multi pov, non human pov, clean writing, and one of the more original reads you’re going to find out there. If you go to Goodreads and see that it’s the second in a series, don’t worry about that – I haven’t read the first in this series and I didn’t struggle with it at all. I assume this means they are stand alone books in the same world, but I’m not certain.

For those following my reviews I’ve been omitting scores on some of my reviews for books that are in SPFBO this year. However, since this book was eliminated I’ll go ahead and drop a score for it 🙂

Ratings:
Plot: 10/15
Characters: 11.5/15
World Building: 13/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 10/15
Originality: 15/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 80.5/100 ...more

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Oct 08, 2020 Lukasz rated it really liked it

Shelves: spfbo-2020, 2020, self-published

A strong book. I plan to write a longer review but recently I fount the free time to be in short supply and when I have it I prefer to read :) ANyway, well worth a read.

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Oct 23, 2019 Calvin Park rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Travis M. Riddle has once again given us a unique and imaginative tale. As one might expect, given Riddle’s earlier works, Spit and Song is an intensely personal story. It follows Kali, an aspiring merchant, and Puk, a down and out musician addicted to the titular spit. Set in the same world as Balam, Spring it recaptures much of that novel’s wonder and intricate worldbuilding while being entirely fresh and standalone.

One of the first things that helps Spit and Song distinguish itself is the ch Travis M. Riddle has once again given us a unique and imaginative tale. As one might expect, given Riddle’s earlier works, Spit and Song is an intensely personal story. It follows Kali, an aspiring merchant, and Puk, a down and out musician addicted to the titular spit. Set in the same world as Balam, Spring it recaptures much of that novel’s wonder and intricate worldbuilding while being entirely fresh and standalone.

One of the first things that helps Spit and Song distinguish itself is the character voice. Both Kali and Puk receive viewpoints, and Riddle has given them both distinctive voices. This aids in the use of the two characters as foils for one another. The interaction between them, both in terms of the story and in terms of the technical aspects of crafting the story, creates tension and allows for multiple perspectives on the same sorts of issues. This novel shines in its personal feel. It’s a story about fears, joys, accomplishments, and growth. It excels at making you feel for the characters on the page, aching for their pain and understanding whence it comes. There is a whimsical, fantastical nature to the world as well, but also a seriousness or realness to the characters. Kali’s struggle to be something, to make something of herself is incredibly relatable. Puk is almost the opposite, caring little for who he is and finding solace for his pain in fire-spit, his drug of choice. Their struggles are real and honest and play off of one another. Part of the reason this all works so well is because it’s set against the backdrop of a unique fantasy world. Riddle doesn’t waste time with tired tropes, castles and knights. Rather, he gives us a world populated with wonderful and unique races. From the bug like centripts to cities built in the skeleton of a miles-long dragon to airships and ayote (reptilian mounts suited to desert travel), the novel is vast, deep, and engagingly unique. The worldbuilding is what you might expect to find in an epic fantasy tome, but here it is used to tell a far more intimate story. This engaging yarn is wonderfully relatable while the character development is wrapped in a series of mishaps and errors that make you both laugh and ache for the two main characters.

There are some elements that won’t appeal to everyone. The first is that the novel gets off to a very slow start. Those who aren’t fans of slow setups may find the first half of the novel trying. Riddle is setting up the characters and story here, but it does move slowly in the first half, as character stories often do. The payoff is tremendously fleshed out characters, but those looking for a blockbuster movie-like first half won’t find it. A more objective weakness is that there are some clunky turns of phrase throughout the novel. These weren’t egregious, but every once in awhile one did jar me out of the story a little.

The Dark Crystal meets Final Fantasy IX. Spit and Song is a whimsical, comical tale that is intensely personal in scope. Sure to appeal to fans of character-driven fantasy, Travis Riddle’s latest hits for me. There is a sense of wonder to the world and story akin to classics like The Neverending Story. Riddle tells stories that mean something, that challenge expectations, and that take place in richly crafted worlds. Spit and Song is no exception.

8.2/10

4.1/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing ...more

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Oct 25, 2019 Samantha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Overall: 4.3 stars!
Writing, Language, and Execution: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Character Development: 5 stars
Dialogue: 3.5 stars
Likeliness to Recommend: 4 stars

Riddle does a great job of bringing readers back into the world of Balam, Spring. Set in a totally different country, Riddle successfully brings in beautiful worldbuilding to enchant readers in this wonderful fantasy adventure following two unlikely partners. Riddle’s beautiful writing proves to be an enjoyable read for fans of all genres, ...more

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Nov 18, 2019 D.P. Woolliscroft rated it it was amazing

Spit and Song is a blast. The frog and the flower, your new favorite fantasy odd couple, embark on a series of drug fueled (mis)adventures to get just enough money to sort their lives out. Both of them are way out of their depth, and one half of the couple is dealing with the kind of existential angst that most creatives will know all too well, but nonetheless they work their way through whatever life throws at them, all with a healthy dose of luck. The setting is interesting, feeling like somet ...more

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Oct 28, 2019 Jordan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019

I could not be more satisfied with this book! Riddle continues to prove that I'm pretty much going to love everything he writes.

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

This is the fourth book I've read by Travis M. Riddle at this point and it's also the fourth book of Riddle's that I've sort of loved. I'm not sure exactly how he does it, but Riddle certainly knows how to create a fantastic story.

Spit and Song takes place in the same world as Balam, Spring, but it acts as a standalone and I could not be more satisfied with this book! Riddle continues to prove that I'm pretty much going to love everything he writes.

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

This is the fourth book I've read by Travis M. Riddle at this point and it's also the fourth book of Riddle's that I've sort of loved. I'm not sure exactly how he does it, but Riddle certainly knows how to create a fantastic story.

Spit and Song takes place in the same world as Balam, Spring, but it acts as a standalone and there's no need to read Balam, Spring prior to reading this one (though you really should because it's fantastic). If you have read Balam and enjoyed it, but wish there was more adventure, then Spit and Song is going to be exactly what you're looking for. Spit and Song takes the fantasy world charm and intricate world-building from Balam, Spring and adds a heavy dose of adventure, mischief, and intrigue to make this a warm and welcoming yet also exciting and unpredictable book. I particularly enjoyed getting to explore more of this world and experience a variety of settings compared to the single setting of Balam, as well being able to go deeper into some ideas that were only briefly mentioned about this world prior.

Spit and Song is split POV between Kali and Puk which worked wonderfully and brought the perfect amount of variety and differing perspectives to the story. One of our main characters, Puk, is a qarm and a struggling musician trying to get by in life while also maintaining an addiction to the popular drug called spit. Puk is enormously endearing and despite his occasionally questionable choices that make you want to scold him, he has a charismatic attitude that also makes you want to see what he can do with his life because of how much potential seems to be simmering beneath the surface of his lackadaisical exterior.

The other main character that we follow is a faif named Kali who is currently working as a merchant and who has great future aspirations to become a traveling merchant that gets to travel to an abundance of far-off places and explore countless new things.Kali is extremely relatable in her desire to become something more than she is right now. She doesn't just want to be an average merchant, she wants to be something bigger and better than that and I found that desire was something that both drove her own actions in the story as well as helped to further the plot due to her willingness to take on a new adventure with Puk.

Kali and Puk were both characters that I loved getting to know and also getting behind in their journey--I couldn't help but constantly root for them and look forward to whatever adventurous event would happen next. They both have pretty different personalities and outlooks on life, but something about them together as a team fits perfectly and they couldn't be better suited to work together (well, maybe a little, but they really are a perfect team). There's a good deal of wit and humor that develops within their dialogue and interactions, which only added more depth and enjoyment to their friendship.

Spit and Song has a very steady pace that tends to lean more towards the slow side than a fast-paced one, but I personally thought it worked really well with the story and that the pacing was perfect. I also felt that Riddle incorporate a lot of great themes, morals, and ideas into his story in some really natural and flowing ways. This might be a story about two individuals traveling to track down something for a black market job, but it's also a story about following dreams, overcoming obstacles, hitting rock bottom, taking a leap of faith, and challenging expectations. And it's a hell of a lot of fun!

Overall, I've given Spit and Song five stars! If you loved Balam, Spring, you'll love this one too! If you haven't read Balam, Spring, then go read both of these books and you can thank me later. ...more

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Jun 19, 2020 Sheila Goicea rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-provided-by-author-publisher, 2020-releases, fantasy-adult, 2020-completed-reads

I'm excited to be a part of SPIT AND SONG blog tour with Storytellers On Tour from June 14th - June 20th, 2020!

I received a copy of this book from the author and Storytellers On Tour in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.

description

Content Warning: Profanity, Drug use & abuse, Mention of brothels

Each day they left before the sand could warm
Comfort lost, while the RIbroad pierced the sky
Each night of his far gone with spit and song
And hers a slog onwa

...more

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Jun 15, 2020 Alex rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars

Before talking about the book, I just want to say how much I adore the cover art. It’s stunning! You can find the author Amir Zand’s work at Amirzandartist.com

At times I wasn’t sure whether Spit and Song sits firmly within the fantasy genre, or whether it might be labelled as sci-fi at times. I don’t mean that it feels futuristic, but the city of Yspleash our story begins in feels so much like Jakku and Tatooine from the Star Wars universe in many ways that I couldn’t help but draw comp 4.5 stars

Before talking about the book, I just want to say how much I adore the cover art. It’s stunning! You can find the author Amir Zand’s work at Amirzandartist.com

At times I wasn’t sure whether Spit and Song sits firmly within the fantasy genre, or whether it might be labelled as sci-fi at times. I don’t mean that it feels futuristic, but the city of Yspleash our story begins in feels so much like Jakku and Tatooine from the Star Wars universe in many ways that I couldn’t help but draw comparisons. Most of the characters and creatures we meet are very different than what we’ve come to expect in fantasy, comprising a new and diverse world that feels refreshing.

This book isn’t anything like Star Wars in most other ways and it would be unfair to dwell on comparisons for such a unique feeling book, but if you think of the Cantina bar and its inhabitants, you’ve got a good picture on the sort of world Travis Riddle has created here. There are Centripts, centipede like people living in fear of The Mold, a deadly disease that eats away at them in stages. There are Faifs, like one of our protagonists, Kali. They have bright skin, blue and green coloured with asexual forms and needing to eat and drink very little. Puk, our other protagonist, is Quarmish. He has eyestalks and his kind need four males and a female to reproduce; all five then bring up the child! The depth of the different types of people and animals Riddle has created is really nice to see, especially as I have a new favourite creature – the Ayote. Just like a horse, they’re used for travelling but have a friendlier, more playful nature with a long snout and hard body. It’s easy to get attached to them! (See the cover art for a better idea)

The plot follows our characters of Kali and Puk, the flower and the frog as they set off towards the mysterious city of Myrisih to steal a book from a mage believed to be practicing ‘red magic’ – a malevolent and dangerous type of magic in which the user can create illusions and distort the very fabric of reality.

To follow these characters through a 500 page book, they have to be likeable and interesting. For the most part this rings true – Kali is your typical moral hero whilst Puk is a counter to this to some extent, more morally ambiguous as well as a little annoying at times (though I think that’s an intentional part of the character)

It isn’t 100% character driven though and there’s a lot of world building which is done really well. Those who hate ‘info dumps’ will be pleased to gain a better understanding of the world through natural events and a drip feeding of information rather than being given it all in one go. I’d say the world building is certainly the book’s biggest strength. I really liked the characters and the plot was fun but the world just feels so well thought out and unique that this is immediately the thing that stays in your mind whilst and after reading. For those readers that like things to be central to the main plot at all times and go-go-go may find parts slow. It is certainly a relaxing read in places and there were big chunks you could cut out without affecting the story. Equally though, this extra depth will appeal to other readers who like to devour as much as possible about a new world. As a whole after reading the book, these extra pages do give the book, the characters and the world more substance.

Speaking of substance, shady bars and drugs play a fairly prominent role – the Spit in the title is a strong drug called ‘fire spit’ distilled from the saliva of creatures called Cordols. It’s extremely potent in its raw form! And Puk has a fondness for it, naturally. It’s a dangerous mission our characters set out on but one that brings the unlikely pairing together and gives them a sense of purpose. It may just start as the means to get money for more fire spit for Puk; to fund trading excursions for Kali, but could it be that the journey itself is the real reward? Kali you feel is destined to make her mark on the world, something she doesn’t feel she’s really doing. Discovery is in her bones and you feel this adventure is something she needs, whatever the risks.

Ultimately, if you want a fresh new fantasy read that sticks to everything that makes a fantasy book fun – the adventure, magic and imagination (did I mention a city built within the huge skeleton of a dragon!?) whilst turning alot of traditional fantasy elements completely on their head, or just throwing them away altogether, this is the book for you.

A fresh, colourful, exciting new fantasy full of depth and wonder. Perfect for escaping the struggles of daily life. ...more

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Jun 11, 2020 Matt McAbee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reading-list, blogtour

Spit and Song book two of the Ustlian Tales is a wonderful slice of life fantasy that is a nice change of pace from my normal reads. I usually don’t like the slice of life category but there is something about the way Travis writes that keeps me going. His characters leap off the page and make you really care about them.

The book centers around Kali and Puk. Kali is a Faif a person with multi-color skin and bright red hair, Puk on the other hand is a small being with blue damp skin and eyes like Spit and Song book two of the Ustlian Tales is a wonderful slice of life fantasy that is a nice change of pace from my normal reads. I usually don’t like the slice of life category but there is something about the way Travis writes that keeps me going. His characters leap off the page and make you really care about them.

The book centers around Kali and Puk. Kali is a Faif a person with multi-color skin and bright red hair, Puk on the other hand is a small being with blue damp skin and eyes like a snail. Kali is a travelling merchant crossing the desert to small towns selling her goods, be it potions or instruments. Puk is a travelling singer in a troupe, until he gets to high to perform and is kicked out and left in Seroo,s Eye. The town got its name for being built inside an Aeons skull right under the eye socket. They meet at her parent’s inn, and during a trip to a drug den, Puk overhears about a job to recover a book for a lot of money so he talks to Kali. They agree to do it and split the money, so they can both achieve their goal of getting across the ocean to Atlua.

This book started slower, but with reason. The author used the time to really develop characters that were very realistic. Kali is full of dreams for being a merchant that can bring goods from across the sea, from Atlua, to a wider market. Puk only has dreams of his next high, being an addict to firespit, and getting home to Atlua. This common goal of getting to Atlua is what brings the two together for the job.

I really enjoyed the interactions between the two main characters. Puk at first takes advantage of her being naïve, but slowly changes away from that as he spends more time with her. Kali being so naïve trusts a drug addict and learns quickly from her mistakes. I enjoyed how the characters changed because of what happened and more so of each other.

There is a magic in the way Travis tells a story, I noticed it when I read Balam, Spring. He can build characters and social interactions that will keep you hanging on, like you are a fly on the wall watching everything that happens. I was so invested in the characters I hated for the book to end.
This was a great read and I am looking forward to anything else Travis puts out for us to read. ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Olivia rated it it was amazing

Straight away the intense setting descriptions creates a clear picture to help the reader really feel part of the storyline.
Moving onto the immense feelings descriptions seem to somewhat radiate through the page allowing the reader to feel sympathy towards the character.
The switches between characters throughout the book creates a sense of 'volume' within the novel, keeping people hooked.
Also the time and thought gone into each character is clearly displayed in how deep we can delve into their l ...more

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Jun 16, 2020 Natrosette rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, type-standalone-sff, selfpub-indie, genre-fantasy-high, rep-lgbtq-ace-aro

Despite being the second book in a series, Spit and Song easily reads as a standalone. It follows the musician Puk who’s addiction to fire spit gets him kicked out of his traveling troupe and the trader Kali who’s wares have decreased in value due to the introduction of a new product from across the sea. The book starts out a bit slow, setting up these backgrounds and leading the characters to meetup about 20% in. Both wanting to get to Atlua but running low on money, this unlikely pair teams up Despite being the second book in a series, Spit and Song easily reads as a standalone. It follows the musician Puk who’s addiction to fire spit gets him kicked out of his traveling troupe and the trader Kali who’s wares have decreased in value due to the introduction of a new product from across the sea. The book starts out a bit slow, setting up these backgrounds and leading the characters to meetup about 20% in. Both wanting to get to Atlua but running low on money, this unlikely pair teams up to undertake a dangerous and somewhat-less-then-legal retrieval job that will (hopefully) be worth it for the large payout.

The world-building in this novel was a delight. We’re gradually introduced to a variety of imaginative races that are physically and culturally distinct but don’t fall into the trap (and pet peeve of mine) of being defined by personality traits. Similarly, each city and town that we come across throughout the novel has a unique feel. Everything in this book is very well thought out, but I never felt overwhelmed by it all. There were occasional lengthy descriptions about a city, species, or magic system, but they were provided when you needed them, rather than all up front. I finished this book with a vast knowledge of the world, and yet I find myself wanting to know more.

Though there is a definite plot that drives this book along, I’d still describe it as primarily character-driven. As I mentioned before, this novel is centered around a developing platonic relationship between two decidedly different individuals who are trying to work together to accomplish something that is very much outside of both of their comfort zones. Both characters have realistic flaws (though one arguably much more so than the other), and trust between them certainly isn’t instantaneous. Though none of the side characters received a great amount of development, they did feel similarly authentic to me.

It’s hard for me to say precisely what is keeping me from giving Spit and Song a 4.5 or 5 star rating, but I’m going to try. I think it comes down to the fact that though I liked the characters and thought they were well-done, I didn’t really develop a connection with either of them. I admire this novel a lot for the creativity and meticulousness that obviously went into it, but in the end it didn’t make me feel, which is something I’m looking for in a truly amazing read. Obviously, this is very subjective. So, despite this critique, I would easily recommend this book to almost any fantasy-lover, particularly those who love to sink into a new world and prefer to do without romance.

I received a free copy of this book through Storytellers on Tour in exchange for an honest review.

Check out my blog for more reviews! ...more

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Jun 14, 2020 SFF ●llieSp●t Book Review rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spfbo2020, storytellers-on-tour-upcoming-tour

To compare this to anything, although the writing is different, the feel and style brought to mind One of my favorite series, The Bas Lag Books from China Mieville. It has that dark weirdness and otherworldly odd characters, yet still relatable and unique with a bit of a positive vibe.

This book definitely brought up some comparisons, however, where Mieville’s writing can be “heavy” and uncomfortable (in a good way, if that makes sense), Spit and Song breathed the adventure through the storyline To compare this to anything, although the writing is different, the feel and style brought to mind One of my favorite series, The Bas Lag Books from China Mieville. It has that dark weirdness and otherworldly odd characters, yet still relatable and unique with a bit of a positive vibe.

This book definitely brought up some comparisons, however, where Mieville’s writing can be “heavy” and uncomfortable (in a good way, if that makes sense), Spit and Song breathed the adventure through the storyline with such ease and enjoyment.
The main characters allow us to follow along with them in alternating perspectives. The Flower. Kali, she is the young entrepreneur. She loves to travel, finding items she can purchase in one city, and then sell to another for a profit. The cities are all inhabited by varying, and unique species, so there is the possibility of being successful. She has not made it yet, and after some early events in the story, she is coming to the realization that she needs to expand further, and to take more risks if she wants to really feel successful.

And then there is The Frog. Puk, who is so entertaining and his character growth throughout this book were unexpected and so friggin’ satisfying to me. I really related to some of his struggles, and thought the writer excelled at translating the emotional turmoil that drug use, and the addiction, puts one through. Fire-Spit is the most important thing to Puk as the story begins, he’s 66, which is like middle age for his species. He’s a minor player in a traveling entertainment troupe, it was like the Saturday Night Live of thus world, and Puk is like the Jim Belushi. He finds himself kicked out of the group and hitting that low point in life, stuck far from home with no money, and no friends.

I laughed out loud at times, and you will too reading some of Puk’s misadventures. And Kali has the right spice of personality to make a really entertaining duo that we get to see take off on an adventure to steal something for a lot of money, or crescents.

Although at times it becomes more of a mis-adventure, the organic world building along the way, as well as the colorful dialogue kept this story moving for me and felt satisfied and happy at the end. Feelings that are harder to maintain right now in our crazy human world.
Thank you for stopping by, I really appreciate the time you took to read through this. It means a lot. ...more

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Apr 09, 2020 Phil Parker rated it it was amazing

Spit and Song is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time and that’s why I loved it so much. It flies in the face of so many of the conventional fantasy tropes, almost as if Travis Riddle has deliberately set out to invert everything the fantasy genre expects. Perhaps it is deliberate! Perhaps he’s a revolutionary on a quest to change the world. He’s succeeding if so!
Spit and Song is a buddy story. For such a thing to work you need two characters who are not only very different Spit and Song is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time and that’s why I loved it so much. It flies in the face of so many of the conventional fantasy tropes, almost as if Travis Riddle has deliberately set out to invert everything the fantasy genre expects. Perhaps it is deliberate! Perhaps he’s a revolutionary on a quest to change the world. He’s succeeding if so!
Spit and Song is a buddy story. For such a thing to work you need two characters who are not only very different to one another but share enough common ground to get along – the audience need to love them. You can’t help but love Kali and Puk. The story is told from both their perspectives and Riddle cleverly captures their distinctive voices and sustains them throughout.
What is a significant achievement and turned this into a five star rating for me, is that neither character is human. In fact, you couldn’t get more alien I don’t think! The challenge for the writer here is a complex one. Not only are you faced with defining your protagonists but you also need to create a world in which they fit, a world where everything is different. You have to define their physical appearance but beyond that, their physiology too. That is not something required when the protagonist is a human being. Riddle makes the challenge even greater by using two protagonists who are entirely different races – different physically, socially, culturally. And these two characters need to form a symbiosis that sustains them through their adventures.
Riddle dedicates the book to himself because, ‘this book was damn hard to write’. As a writer myself, I understand why. It’s not just that we have wonderfully vivid characters in this story – there are so many, all of them weird and highly original. (Such as one character who is spherical, with spindly legs and a mouth that takes up most of his body!) It’s not just that every location is so clearly defined that you can imagine yourself being there. It’s not just that these locations are filled with creatures, food and drink, songs, stories and myths – I could go on. You become immersed in this rich and original story.
I’m going to finish my review by quoting a comment from another of Riddle’s novels. It’s from Justine Bergman, reviewer at Fantasy Book Critic. ‘We need more of this. Fantasy isn’t just magic, battles et al. It’s about the newness of things. About the strange things you’ll never get to see, to feel. To taste and to read.’
Justine is absolutely right. We do need more of Travis Riddle’s imagination. He’s a revolutionary in this genre and I’m glad he is! ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Jenna Jaco rated it it was amazing

Review to come!!!

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Jun 16, 2020 Hillery rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Such an enjoyable and satisfying read.

Fantastic and adventurous. I loved the characters, the flower and the frog, and the adventure they risk it all on.

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Jun 22, 2020 Corey (grimdark_dad) rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book so goddamn much. It is for sure Not Your Typical Fantasy Novel, and that’s what makes it stand out. It almost felt a teensy bit like China Miéville’s Bas-Lag world, as populated by creatures from Jabba’s Palace…but also not really like that, either.

All told, Spit and Song is a total quirky gem of a fantasy novel, and I loved it.

Full review:
https://grimdarkdad.wordpress.com/202... ...more

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Nov 15, 2019 kimmi rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

I've wanted to read one of Travis' books for quite some time now so I'm very thankful that he sent me his new book Spit and Song - and it definitely lived up to the expectations I had.

Spit and Song is set in the same world as one of his previous books, Balam, Spring, but is still a standalone novel.

What's special about it is that the two main characters, Kali and Puk, aren't human.
Kali is a faif, Puk is a qarm.
Both are very loveable characters, at least most of the time, and I really enjoyed goi ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Katie P. rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

This and more reviews -> Book Bustle

Spit and Song is a wonderful follow up to Travis M. Riddle's Balam, Spring! Fear not, this can be read as a standalone! I had no trouble understanding the story and the world, even though I hadn't read the first book. Though the book is hefty, weighing in at about 500 pages, I found the story to be easy to understand and it went by rather quickly once I'd gotten a hold on the characters and the other beings in the world.

Kali is a merchant with a dream, and th This and more reviews -> Book Bustle

Spit and Song is a wonderful follow up to Travis M. Riddle's Balam, Spring! Fear not, this can be read as a standalone! I had no trouble understanding the story and the world, even though I hadn't read the first book. Though the book is hefty, weighing in at about 500 pages, I found the story to be easy to understand and it went by rather quickly once I'd gotten a hold on the characters and the other beings in the world.

Kali is a merchant with a dream, and the first character you meet in the story. Next is Puk, a dealer with big aspirations as well. They conduct their business, always looking for a way out, a way to make something of themselves. One day, a chance for a big payday is offered to them, a harrowing journey to find a book that has been lost long ago. Through their adventure, they encounter a wide array of monsters, ruffians, and travel by almost every mode of transportation available in the world!

The book had a slightly slow start, but it picked right up about 1/8 of the way into the book. The names of creatures and other descriptive details got a bit confusing, but quickly were resolved and I knew exactly what was going on. In fact, I appreciated the descriptive details because they gave me a much more clear picture of the world I was reading about and the characters who live there!

The story structure was solid and I'm glad the narrative wasn’t overly complicated or trope heavy. Given the books I've been reading lately, this was a refreshing science fiction/fantasy novel cleanse my pallet! Not only does this book have a fantastic cover, the book itself is also very worth reading! I would recommend this to fans of sci-fi/fantasy who enjoy classic adventure RPG tales with a new twist!

This book was a fun and interesting journey! I am so glad that I was able to participate in this tour! Thank you to the author and Storytellers On Tour for a copy of the book! I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
...more

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Sep 10, 2020 Phil Williams rated it it was amazing

I’d been reading a lot of heavy stuff and wanted something breezy when I gave this a go, well aware Riddle has a slice-of-life, slow-burning peaceful approach from what I knew of Balam, Spring (which I’ve had for years but am yet to read but want to and leave me alone about that). I also knew he could write having enjoyed The Narrows. So, fresh out of mountains of grimdark books that each took two decades to plough through with burning hot tears and rage, this was the perfect antidote.

Honestly, ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Ella (The Story Collector) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, adventure

Kali is a merchant who longs to travel the world, trading good and seeing the sights. Puk is a musician with a drug addiction who has hit rock-bottom and finds himself stranded in an unfamiliar city with no way back home. A chance meeting and an illicit job opportunity bring the unlikely pair together on an epic journey that could change both their lives.

As usual, I am blown away by Travis’ originality. The creatures in this book are like nothing I’ve seen before. Set in the same world as Balam, ...more

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Aug 04, 2020 Steven McKinnon rated it it was amazing

Spit and Song is a mesmerising fantasy buddy comedy set in a Jim Henson-esque wonderland, full of colourful (and all-too human) creatures.

We follow trader Kali and musician Puk on their cross-world race for a mystical artifact, as they butt heads and make friends along the way (and one or two enemies with a vested interest in said artifact...).

It's whimsical, yes, but it also deals with self-destructive impulses such as jealousy and imposter syndrome, and the things we do to tune that negativity ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Lauren Kelsen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-books

If you’re a fan of slower fantasy with amazing world building and complex characters then this is the perfect book for you!! I was so incredibly dazzled with the world, the creatures and the struggle Puk endured with his drug addiction and personal view of his self worth. There was a bit of a lull at midway, but I pushed through and it picked back up for a very exciting ending!

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Jun 07, 2020 Peter rated it it was amazing

Fantastic! What a refreshing read this has been for me, a totally different take on fantasy with some great characters, a brilliant setting and fantastic story. 5/5 from me- a full review will be on my blog soon.

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Dec 20, 2019 Brian rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great read.. Addicting and definite page turner!

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Jan 08, 2020 Angad Oberoi rated it really liked it

Engaging story that is very character driven. I really liked the time given to Puk and Kali to develop! Full marks for that. Story wise it was uncomplicated but still enjoyable.

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Aug 23, 2020 Esteban rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A fun and imaginative adventure of two unlikely characters.

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Jan 21, 2021 Gidon rated it really liked it

SPOILER ALERT: I will not be discussing explicit spoilers, but will be talking about some of the important themes that the book contains.

I just finished this book, and really enjoyed it. Right before this one, I read the previous book in the series: Balam, Spring. While I enjoyed that, it's impressive how much Riddle improved on his writing in Spit and Song. It flows more naturally, and while very rarely the dialogue feels a little awkward, it is believable and makes the characters sympathetic. SPOILER ALERT: I will not be discussing explicit spoilers, but will be talking about some of the important themes that the book contains.

I just finished this book, and really enjoyed it. Right before this one, I read the previous book in the series: Balam, Spring. While I enjoyed that, it's impressive how much Riddle improved on his writing in Spit and Song. It flows more naturally, and while very rarely the dialogue feels a little awkward, it is believable and makes the characters sympathetic. The prose isn't going to win any poetry awards, but it is generally polished, and modern.

Initially the story started off a little bit slow and takes its time, but after reading Balam, Spring, I reckon that's what Riddle is going for. What I found very refreshing in this book was that the characters are, while not always likeable, very lifelike and their ways of thinking relatable. The story is a fairly standard fantasy tale, and relatively small in scale. The setting is quite unique: it is reminiscent of the final fantasy series' setting, but with unique 'races': one of the characters is a light-absorbing, multicolored woman, and the other is a tiny male being with sticky skin and eyes on stalks. Riddle weaves these attributes into the story in a fun and convincing way.

The story was fun, but not the main source of enjoyment for me. What the book is really about (at least for me), is the personal struggles the characters go through. These aren't your average fantasy characters that struggle with mysterious pasts, murdered parents, growing up with magic, but instead the kind of struggles you and me experience every day: growing up, finding your place in the world, jealousy, and most importantly: self doubt, and what it does to you when you let it rule your life. Riddle writes about these themes very naturally, and it feels incredibly relatable. I've read a large collection of fantasy and sci-fi books over the years, and Riddle is one of the only authors that writes characters that struck me as entirely convincing and realistic. This aspect is what makes this book worth 4 stars to me: it's a stand-out quality that not many other writers can pull off.

I'm really looking forward to reading more from Riddle. ...more

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May 09, 2020 Jason P rated it it was ok · review of another edition

A unique but meandering mess of a Tale

Another tale that wears its JRPG Inspiration on its sleeve, this is a unique but meandering story. Unfortunately, the extended length simply doesn't do the story any favors.

Unless you really enjoy JRPG inspired fiction, I just can't recommend this one despite its uniqueness. ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Ronald SmithJr rated it liked it · review of another edition

Fun Readh

Interesting story, doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny, lots of suspension of disbelief, but it was fun. I would a little more of these characters.

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About Travis M. Riddle

Travis M. Riddle

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TRAVIS M. RIDDLE lives with his pooch in Austin, TX, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward’s University. His work has been published in award-winning literary journal the Sorin Oak Review.