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Me Three #1
Og-Grim-Dog: The Three-Headed Ogre
Two heads are better than one.
Three can be a real pain in the arse.
We are Og-Grim-Dog!
We have been loved and reviled! We have been the Hero of the Hour, the Darkest Villain, and everything in between! We have saved this world and travelled to worlds beyond it!
You think you can distil the life of Og-Grim-Dog into some words on a page?
When a stranger visits their inn, the regulars are in for a surprise. Did their Landlord really come here from Gal’azu—the dangerous, edgier province to the east? Could it be that his stories, so fanciful and fantastical, were episodes from his previous life?
When their Landlord is persuaded to have his life story recorded for posterity, the surprises come thick and fast. Just like his regulars, you too can learn how a three-headed ogre came to be a hero. Unlike them, you don't stand to be killed if it all goes wrong...
Three can be a real pain in the arse.
We are Og-Grim-Dog!
We have been loved and reviled! We have been the Hero of the Hour, the Darkest Villain, and everything in between! We have saved this world and travelled to worlds beyond it!
You think you can distil the life of Og-Grim-Dog into some words on a page?
When a stranger visits their inn, the regulars are in for a surprise. Did their Landlord really come here from Gal’azu—the dangerous, edgier province to the east? Could it be that his stories, so fanciful and fantastical, were episodes from his previous life?
When their Landlord is persuaded to have his life story recorded for posterity, the surprises come thick and fast. Just like his regulars, you too can learn how a three-headed ogre came to be a hero. Unlike them, you don't stand to be killed if it all goes wrong...
138 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2020
About the author
Jamie Edmundson
19 books211 followersJamie has always loved a good story, whether real or imagined. He grew up in the south of England before moving to the north, where he worked as a history teacher. He still lives there with his wonderful family, but now spends his time writing, mainly about people hitting each other with swords.
You can connect with him at his website, jamieedmundson.com
Join his newsletter and download the short story collection, Mercs & Magi, for free: https://subscribe.jamieedmundson.com
You can connect with him at his website, jamieedmundson.com
Join his newsletter and download the short story collection, Mercs & Magi, for free: https://subscribe.jamieedmundson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 2, 2022
Re-read this one for the IFA Reading Challenge 2022, and I can safely say it stays on my recommended reads list :)
Og-Grim-Dog! What a champ!
So, I've spent a few nights now at the Flayed Testicles, and I have to say - I found myself thoroughly entertained! This book was relatively short, but it's full of adventure(ing), swearing, alcohol consumption, looting, and the splashing of holy water, so what could ever go wrong?
I loved the world-building, and how Og-Grim-Dog begins by telling his story from somewhere in the middle, yet somehow still from the beginning. I liked the twist this provided, as well as the varied cast of characters. I especially loved the star of the show, Og-Grim-Dog, and "their" conversations. The way ogres work - the different personalities of the heads, and how they bicker - is incredibly entertaining.
This book gives off such a classic DnD feel, bringing back memories from playing the tabletop version of this game "back in the day". I would most definitely recommend it to anyone with a fancy for litRPG!
Og-Grim-Dog! What a champ!
So, I've spent a few nights now at the Flayed Testicles, and I have to say - I found myself thoroughly entertained! This book was relatively short, but it's full of adventure(ing), swearing, alcohol consumption, looting, and the splashing of holy water, so what could ever go wrong?
I loved the world-building, and how Og-Grim-Dog begins by telling his story from somewhere in the middle, yet somehow still from the beginning. I liked the twist this provided, as well as the varied cast of characters. I especially loved the star of the show, Og-Grim-Dog, and "their" conversations. The way ogres work - the different personalities of the heads, and how they bicker - is incredibly entertaining.
This book gives off such a classic DnD feel, bringing back memories from playing the tabletop version of this game "back in the day". I would most definitely recommend it to anyone with a fancy for litRPG!
May 18, 2020
5 Ogre-sized stars
for a badass old-school type of humorous fantasy with a quirky modern twist.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Jamie Edmunson. This was one hell of a ride!
Two heads are better than one.
Three can be a real pain in the arse.
Meet Og-Grim-Dog - the Landlord of The Flayed Testicles and an Ogre of Three Heads.
We are Og-Grim-Dog!
We have been loved and reviled! We have been the Hero of the Hour, the Darkest Villain, and everything in between! We have saved this world and travelled to worlds beyond it! We have deployed weapons of death beyond your imagination! They have called us The Destroyer! The Unclassifiable! We graduated top of our class in Rhetoric! ...
And you can imagine Og-Grim-Dog's surprise and anger when a stranger stranger visits their inn intending to have his life story recorded for posterity. Well mostly anger that is. :D
'You think you can distil the life of Og-Grim-Dog into some words on a page?'
'Maybe,' squeaked the man.
And so the challenge is accepted. The man needs to make sure he gets it all proper, or both him and the inn's regulars will face their death at Og-Grim-Dog's hands.
And the Ogre doesn't plan on making it simple. His heads debate and decide to start in the middle.
'Why the hell would we start there?' demanded the first head angrily.
'A non-linear narrative is more flamboyant,' explained the third head.
'More pretentious,' countered the first.
The start should have already given you an idea about the type of book this is. Hilarious, action packed and full of surprising twists from the beginning to the very end.
From the name of the places to the situations the motley band of adventurers find themselves in, as well as the very characters themselves, this book dishes one surprise after another.
Allow me to give you just a little hint.
At a certain time during his travels, Og-Grim-Dog joins a little party, 'Team Shove It Up Your Ass' by name. Unaccustomed with company of any kind, Og-Grim-Dog must now get along with an exceptionally grumpy looking dwarf with a mean looking axe strapped to his back, a baby faced cleric that keeps flicking water in the Ogre's faces, a wizard who's name makes everyone else ask him 'are you for real?' , an elf with hippie parents and... well, you get the gist. A motley crew that will have you cracking up at almost every page.
In their company you'll get to decide if 'Gurin Fuckaxe' is a proper nickname, sue the Bureau of Dungeoneering, hit dungeons and fight goblins, and much more.
Written in a very easy to follow prose, this first installment in the “Me Three” series is lighthearted, funny and amazingly entertaining. Fast-paced and easily flowing, it will keep you guessing at the mystery till the very last page. And despite the fact that it is full of hilarious situations, this great satire presents a few timeless themes: prejudice and resentment, friendship and honor, as well as standing up for others even when they're different than yourself.
If you're in a mood for an awesome fantasy adventure that will keep you chuckling, pick this one up and you won't be disappointed.
It is badass awesome!
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
for a badass old-school type of humorous fantasy with a quirky modern twist.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Jamie Edmunson. This was one hell of a ride!
Two heads are better than one.
Three can be a real pain in the arse.
Meet Og-Grim-Dog - the Landlord of The Flayed Testicles and an Ogre of Three Heads.
We are Og-Grim-Dog!
We have been loved and reviled! We have been the Hero of the Hour, the Darkest Villain, and everything in between! We have saved this world and travelled to worlds beyond it! We have deployed weapons of death beyond your imagination! They have called us The Destroyer! The Unclassifiable! We graduated top of our class in Rhetoric! ...
And you can imagine Og-Grim-Dog's surprise and anger when a stranger stranger visits their inn intending to have his life story recorded for posterity. Well mostly anger that is. :D
'You think you can distil the life of Og-Grim-Dog into some words on a page?'
'Maybe,' squeaked the man.
And so the challenge is accepted. The man needs to make sure he gets it all proper, or both him and the inn's regulars will face their death at Og-Grim-Dog's hands.
And the Ogre doesn't plan on making it simple. His heads debate and decide to start in the middle.
'Why the hell would we start there?' demanded the first head angrily.
'A non-linear narrative is more flamboyant,' explained the third head.
'More pretentious,' countered the first.
The start should have already given you an idea about the type of book this is. Hilarious, action packed and full of surprising twists from the beginning to the very end.
From the name of the places to the situations the motley band of adventurers find themselves in, as well as the very characters themselves, this book dishes one surprise after another.
Allow me to give you just a little hint.
At a certain time during his travels, Og-Grim-Dog joins a little party, 'Team Shove It Up Your Ass' by name. Unaccustomed with company of any kind, Og-Grim-Dog must now get along with an exceptionally grumpy looking dwarf with a mean looking axe strapped to his back, a baby faced cleric that keeps flicking water in the Ogre's faces, a wizard who's name makes everyone else ask him 'are you for real?' , an elf with hippie parents and... well, you get the gist. A motley crew that will have you cracking up at almost every page.
In their company you'll get to decide if 'Gurin Fuckaxe' is a proper nickname, sue the Bureau of Dungeoneering, hit dungeons and fight goblins, and much more.
Written in a very easy to follow prose, this first installment in the “Me Three” series is lighthearted, funny and amazingly entertaining. Fast-paced and easily flowing, it will keep you guessing at the mystery till the very last page. And despite the fact that it is full of hilarious situations, this great satire presents a few timeless themes: prejudice and resentment, friendship and honor, as well as standing up for others even when they're different than yourself.
If you're in a mood for an awesome fantasy adventure that will keep you chuckling, pick this one up and you won't be disappointed.
It is badass awesome!
Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
November 4, 2020
This humorous fantasy was a quick, easy-going read which poked fun at fantasy tropes, cast a jovial eye over some of the more annoying aspects of modern life and had a number of tongue-in-cheek fantasy book community jokes.
It follows the tale of the three-headed ogre Og-Grim-Dog who is a landlord in a bar called the Flayed Testicles. A stranger convinces him (them?! Three heads, 1 male body) to recount his tales of adventure from pre-landlord days. All the regulars listen intently as Og-Grim-Dog decides to begin in the middle…
It’s an amusing tale of when the ogre went ‘dungeoneering’ with a group of adventurers including a barbarian, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard and a cleric. Before they can raid and pillage dungeons though, they must sign up with the Bureau of Dungeoneering and fill in lots of paperwork that takes them round in circles (of course!). Because that’s the way of things now. Cue a visit to the non-human resources department…
But they soon find that the red tape has taken a lot of joy out of dungeoneering, so much so, that some members of the community are manipulating the system. Og-Grim-Dog decides to investigate.
Og-Grim-Dog is an amusing character. The three heads all have their own personalities and together they have managed to work out how to coordinate and survive. The other characters have just enough about them to make them memorable. Although I did like the elf Raya for her kindness and passion for drinking.
Comedic fantasy isn’t usually my thing, but every once in a while, I’m in the mood for it and this didn’t disappoint. This was an entertaining, easy read with the humour not too forced or cringe-worthy. I was amused by the little touches – like all the names of the various bars the ogre frequents.
If you’re in the mood for a fun fantasy tale with a simple plot that isn’t too taxing and some laugh out loud moments, then this is for you!
This review and more on my blog www.rosalynkelly.co.uk/blog
It follows the tale of the three-headed ogre Og-Grim-Dog who is a landlord in a bar called the Flayed Testicles. A stranger convinces him (them?! Three heads, 1 male body) to recount his tales of adventure from pre-landlord days. All the regulars listen intently as Og-Grim-Dog decides to begin in the middle…
It’s an amusing tale of when the ogre went ‘dungeoneering’ with a group of adventurers including a barbarian, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard and a cleric. Before they can raid and pillage dungeons though, they must sign up with the Bureau of Dungeoneering and fill in lots of paperwork that takes them round in circles (of course!). Because that’s the way of things now. Cue a visit to the non-human resources department…
But they soon find that the red tape has taken a lot of joy out of dungeoneering, so much so, that some members of the community are manipulating the system. Og-Grim-Dog decides to investigate.
Og-Grim-Dog is an amusing character. The three heads all have their own personalities and together they have managed to work out how to coordinate and survive. The other characters have just enough about them to make them memorable. Although I did like the elf Raya for her kindness and passion for drinking.
Comedic fantasy isn’t usually my thing, but every once in a while, I’m in the mood for it and this didn’t disappoint. This was an entertaining, easy read with the humour not too forced or cringe-worthy. I was amused by the little touches – like all the names of the various bars the ogre frequents.
If you’re in the mood for a fun fantasy tale with a simple plot that isn’t too taxing and some laugh out loud moments, then this is for you!
This review and more on my blog www.rosalynkelly.co.uk/blog
September 18, 2020
This one has lots of in-genre jokes, and lots of jokes in general, and some hit better than others. Og-Grim-Dog is The Landlord - the innkeeper at The Flayed Testicles. Business as usual one day until a man with parchment and pen declares that he knows who Og-Grim-Dog is and that he is there to hear the story of their life and record it as told by the ogre.
They start in the middle, like ya do, and tell of the time that they went dungeon crawling with a group of adventurers and the shenanigans that were had in the process. It makes reference to many other works in the genre, whether those references are more subtle or get right in your face would depend on the reader and what they’ve read, for the most part. Again, some of these worked for me more than others.
I did like Og-Grim-Dog, so this was a nice and easy read that I completed in just short of two hours. It’s very short, but leaves lots of room for… well, for the beginning and the end of the story, as it were. Between ‘Team Shove It Up Your Ass’ getting drugged with hallucinogens or Og-Grim-Dog going to Judge Julie’s court to fight for their right to party, this one is short, but has a chuckle or two within, and I’d recommend it to fans of comedic fantasy that don’t mind crass humour.
They start in the middle, like ya do, and tell of the time that they went dungeon crawling with a group of adventurers and the shenanigans that were had in the process. It makes reference to many other works in the genre, whether those references are more subtle or get right in your face would depend on the reader and what they’ve read, for the most part. Again, some of these worked for me more than others.
I did like Og-Grim-Dog, so this was a nice and easy read that I completed in just short of two hours. It’s very short, but leaves lots of room for… well, for the beginning and the end of the story, as it were. Between ‘Team Shove It Up Your Ass’ getting drugged with hallucinogens or Og-Grim-Dog going to Judge Julie’s court to fight for their right to party, this one is short, but has a chuckle or two within, and I’d recommend it to fans of comedic fantasy that don’t mind crass humour.
July 9, 2020
A thoroughly fun read! At 150 pages, if you're looking for a fun fantasy to give yourself a few chuckles from life, then this is the prescription.
Og-Grim-Dog is a three headed ogre, thus the three names,one for each head. Og, Grim, and Dog all have different personalities, but work well with each other; they have to. At any rate, they go on a Dungeon and Dragon like journey to solve a mystery about recent dungeon raids. What ensues is a hilarious cast of characters, with lots of fun and contemporary puns. Any more details would spoil much for the reader. I can easily see myself going on to the next installment, when I need a lighthearted break.
Og-Grim-Dog is a three headed ogre, thus the three names,one for each head. Og, Grim, and Dog all have different personalities, but work well with each other; they have to. At any rate, they go on a Dungeon and Dragon like journey to solve a mystery about recent dungeon raids. What ensues is a hilarious cast of characters, with lots of fun and contemporary puns. Any more details would spoil much for the reader. I can easily see myself going on to the next installment, when I need a lighthearted break.
July 18, 2022
This was so much fun. The first sentence draws you in and it only gets better from there. I loved the interactions between the three ogre personalities and the descriptions of how they had to work together to get anything done.
September 17, 2021
Meet Og-Grim-Dog, also known as Landlord, in this humorous fantasy adventure. They have a mystery to solve and make friends along the way. This book is full of swear words, but it's part of the tongue-in-cheek humor. Some of it is silly. I enjoyed the court scene. It was full of clever humor. I chuckled a few times, even when asked to leave a review. Sneaking the request in like that was brilliant.
July 7, 2021
A Review of
Og-Grim-Dog
By
Jamie Edmundson
So Og-Grim-Dog, the first book in the Me Three series which stars the three headed ogre, Og-Grim-Dog. This book is probably described as a humorous, epic fantasy, LitRPG and it was pretty awesome to be honest. First, it was funny as hell – rarely do I laugh out loud at a book, but within a page or two I was cackling at Gary the Goblin, and it doesn’t stop, the laughs keep coming right until the end.
It takes all the tropes from high fantasy, and D&D, and pokes a bit of fun at them. All your favorite character classes and creatures make an appearance, and the heroes tackle the dungeons level by level. It was that RPG element which was so reminiscent of gaming that earns it the LitRPG tag, and was certainly intentional by the author.
The thing is, this isn’t a silly book- I mean it is, but it really isn’t. The writing is fantastic, the setting is well framed, the pacing is just right, and the characters are really good. This is really well executed story. And, unlike other LitRPGs I’ve read, it’s not just a write up of a dungeon crawl - the plot is really good, yes there’s a party that goes on various dungeoneering adventures but it all has a point, every element has a point, and is all part of the overall plot. And, the plot is good!
Also I’ve been meaning to read this for ages now. One, the author is a great guy I know from social media and conventions, and two, we both used the same cover artist so it was always a must read for me. I'm glad I did. Really enjoyed this one, I’ll be checking out the rest of the series for certain.
Thanks for reading
Lee
Og-Grim-Dog
By
Jamie Edmundson
So Og-Grim-Dog, the first book in the Me Three series which stars the three headed ogre, Og-Grim-Dog. This book is probably described as a humorous, epic fantasy, LitRPG and it was pretty awesome to be honest. First, it was funny as hell – rarely do I laugh out loud at a book, but within a page or two I was cackling at Gary the Goblin, and it doesn’t stop, the laughs keep coming right until the end.
It takes all the tropes from high fantasy, and D&D, and pokes a bit of fun at them. All your favorite character classes and creatures make an appearance, and the heroes tackle the dungeons level by level. It was that RPG element which was so reminiscent of gaming that earns it the LitRPG tag, and was certainly intentional by the author.
The thing is, this isn’t a silly book- I mean it is, but it really isn’t. The writing is fantastic, the setting is well framed, the pacing is just right, and the characters are really good. This is really well executed story. And, unlike other LitRPGs I’ve read, it’s not just a write up of a dungeon crawl - the plot is really good, yes there’s a party that goes on various dungeoneering adventures but it all has a point, every element has a point, and is all part of the overall plot. And, the plot is good!
Also I’ve been meaning to read this for ages now. One, the author is a great guy I know from social media and conventions, and two, we both used the same cover artist so it was always a must read for me. I'm glad I did. Really enjoyed this one, I’ll be checking out the rest of the series for certain.
Thanks for reading
Lee
August 25, 2022
With several laugh-out-loud moments and a cheeky cast, Og-Grim-Dog is the right book for a good time!
Centaurs… *shaking my head*
This was just the book I needed when I read it earlier this summer. It's short, sweet, and hits you right in the funny bone.
Our titular hero, Og-Grim-Dog (or were they three heroes?), was/were fantastic to follow. I enjoyed the crew they hooked up with, who was just complex enough for the light tale.
I laughed out loud at several points, and it kept my rapt attention as the story and the pages flew by.
I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a humorous read and doesn't mind a few raunchy jokes!
Also, Sandon Branderson… good god, Jamie!
Centaurs… *shaking my head*
This was just the book I needed when I read it earlier this summer. It's short, sweet, and hits you right in the funny bone.
Our titular hero, Og-Grim-Dog (or were they three heroes?), was/were fantastic to follow. I enjoyed the crew they hooked up with, who was just complex enough for the light tale.
I laughed out loud at several points, and it kept my rapt attention as the story and the pages flew by.
I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a humorous read and doesn't mind a few raunchy jokes!
Also, Sandon Branderson… good god, Jamie!
May 17, 2020
Og-Grim-Dog was an entertaining, humorous, satirical book that was lighthearted, fun, yet carried some great messages: friendships, working with others not like yourself, needing others in order to be successful, and standing up for others even when they are different. It had an old school Dungeons and Dragons feel that I loved. The story was engaging, it had excellent prose, was easy to follow, flowed well, and I found myself needing to finish to find out the mystery at the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a well written, lighthearted, engaging story with a good message.
June 3, 2020
This book is a great comedic fantasy, a satirical commentary (and associated adventure) on the genre. Basically, our hero is a three-headed ogre who is doing his best to figure out why his dungeon is being over adventured. So he goes to join a band of adventurers and find out. This book is well written, seriously entertaining, and has something interesting to say about the whole genre, including such things as discrimination against ogres for adventures, the annoying bureaucracy that goes along with such things, and even a wizard whose powers only really manifest at the end. In essence, I enjoyed it thoroughly. And I’ve never even played Dungeons and Dragons before, either!
March 2, 2022
※ 4 stars ※ Based on the synopsis, I assumed it had no story, I thought it was all a parody. But it didn't happen that way! Do you remember Nicholas Eames's band? This book reminded me of Kings of the Wyld book. It also had humor, adventure and a good-natured band. I had a good laugh at the characters’ dialogues, Dog is the funniest of them all. I enjoyed the adventure and investigation despite the brevity. I actually got these on 150 pages of what others write on 400 pages or more. So dear Jamie Edmundson surprised me properly. Of course, I’ll continue the series because I need more of Og-Grim-Dog's sarcasm!
“I don’t want us to spend the rest of our lives at the bottom of this dungeon, gnawing on bones. I want us to go on more adventures, while we still can. Alright, maybe we’re not suited to being heroes. Maybe it’s too soon for three-headed ogres to be accepted. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay down here. Hiding from the world.”
※ Its strengths, I think ※
↠ short, but the adventure and investigation are good
↠ characters have a background story
↠ funny, good humor
↠ there is no shortage of excitement
↠ it is quick to read but entertains in the meantime
↠ it is a bit like Kings of the Wyld and The Name of the Wind
“Funny how one word can change the feel of a sentence; change one’s view of the world, and one’s place in it.”
※ Its weaknesses, I think ※
↠ don't take this seriously! :D
“I don’t want us to spend the rest of our lives at the bottom of this dungeon, gnawing on bones. I want us to go on more adventures, while we still can. Alright, maybe we’re not suited to being heroes. Maybe it’s too soon for three-headed ogres to be accepted. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay down here. Hiding from the world.”
※ Its strengths, I think ※
↠ short, but the adventure and investigation are good
↠ characters have a background story
↠ funny, good humor
↠ there is no shortage of excitement
↠ it is quick to read but entertains in the meantime
↠ it is a bit like Kings of the Wyld and The Name of the Wind
“Funny how one word can change the feel of a sentence; change one’s view of the world, and one’s place in it.”
※ Its weaknesses, I think ※
↠ don't take this seriously! :D
July 12, 2021
Monty Python humour in a story gamers would like
While I love Montypythonesque humour and the first line was promising (“It was night-time at the Flayed Testicles.”), this story just wasn’t right for me as I’m not a gamer. A three-headed Og-Grim-Dog goes on an undercover operation to infiltrate raiders to find out why a specific orc dungeon was constantly being looted. The story had a good gamers vibe & Dungeons&Dragons references and I did love the jokes. The Bureau of Dungeoneering, Non-Human Resources and Lawyers Agassi and Sampras definitely made me chuckle and reminded me of Arthur Dent’s adventures in H2G2. Having said that, for me the story dragged on a bit - which the author himself realised judging by the intermission with self-deprecating humour. The cast of characters is numerous but well built and Og-Grim-Dog’s 3 heads also have distinct personalities. If you love gaming and English dry sarcastic humour, this would be a recommended read.
While I love Montypythonesque humour and the first line was promising (“It was night-time at the Flayed Testicles.”), this story just wasn’t right for me as I’m not a gamer. A three-headed Og-Grim-Dog goes on an undercover operation to infiltrate raiders to find out why a specific orc dungeon was constantly being looted. The story had a good gamers vibe & Dungeons&Dragons references and I did love the jokes. The Bureau of Dungeoneering, Non-Human Resources and Lawyers Agassi and Sampras definitely made me chuckle and reminded me of Arthur Dent’s adventures in H2G2. Having said that, for me the story dragged on a bit - which the author himself realised judging by the intermission with self-deprecating humour. The cast of characters is numerous but well built and Og-Grim-Dog’s 3 heads also have distinct personalities. If you love gaming and English dry sarcastic humour, this would be a recommended read.
September 12, 2020
Very easy read.
Only thing wrong with this book is that it's far too short of a read.
Apart from that I enjoyed it.
Lots of genre in jokes.
3.5 stars.
Only thing wrong with this book is that it's far too short of a read.
Apart from that I enjoyed it.
Lots of genre in jokes.
3.5 stars.
April 2, 2022
A Fun Mix of D&D RPG Story & Monty Python like Comedy
Parents- PG13-R YA to adult
Language- moderated bad language with crass humor/references, and several f-bombs
Violence- normal to genre, lots of battle violence and some gore
Sexual Content- insinuations, out right mentioning, crass puns and humor
Og- Grim-Dog is and three headed ogre and the owner of The Falayed Testicles Inn and Tavern. He has a story teller offer to write his story and theatens to kill him and everyone in the tavern if he can't retell his story correctly... The man accepts the challenge to the shagrin of the rest of the people there and the story begins in the middle. You're thrown in and introduced to his other adventuring companions, another tavern called The Bruised Ballocks, find out that rules and regulations control dungeon crawling by the Bureau, and dwarves now considered to have a disability/deformity not as a race. It's a bit on the irreverent/crass side and with the feel of Monty Python that an older D&D crowd will find very entertaining and comical.
The narrator did a good job but I would recommend speeding him up a bit as it just felt a bit slow.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Parents- PG13-R YA to adult
Language- moderated bad language with crass humor/references, and several f-bombs
Violence- normal to genre, lots of battle violence and some gore
Sexual Content- insinuations, out right mentioning, crass puns and humor
Og- Grim-Dog is and three headed ogre and the owner of The Falayed Testicles Inn and Tavern. He has a story teller offer to write his story and theatens to kill him and everyone in the tavern if he can't retell his story correctly... The man accepts the challenge to the shagrin of the rest of the people there and the story begins in the middle. You're thrown in and introduced to his other adventuring companions, another tavern called The Bruised Ballocks, find out that rules and regulations control dungeon crawling by the Bureau, and dwarves now considered to have a disability/deformity not as a race. It's a bit on the irreverent/crass side and with the feel of Monty Python that an older D&D crowd will find very entertaining and comical.
The narrator did a good job but I would recommend speeding him up a bit as it just felt a bit slow.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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September 13, 2021I'm not a big fan of LitRPG, though I do appreciate a good comedic fantasy, so I went into this optimistic.
OGD is about the eponymous character, an ogre with three heads named Og, Grim, and Dog. The framing story involved OGD telling his "origin" story to a crowd at the bar he owns. Said origin involves discovering why the humans have stepped up their dungeon raids against the orcs (OGD's neighbors) and are on the verge of wiping them out. Our hero sets off to find out.
To me, the best part of the tale is the banter between the three ogre heads. All three have separate, distinct personalities and are forced to work together in the sense that the left head controls the left arm, the right head the right arm, and the center head the legs. The practiced cooperation between the heads, and the limitations thereof, are excellent character building and development. The other characters are varied in personality but the book's short length prevents more than surface development for most of them. I appreciated more of the humor than I didn't but it's not going to land for everyone and the LitRPG elements--while parodied in some places--seem to be taken more seriously in others. There are some Easter-egg style references--some subtle, some not--throughout.
All in all, this was a quick, fast-paced read. I'd recommend to fans of LitRPG and comedic fantasy or for someone looking for a non-human protagonist.
OGD is about the eponymous character, an ogre with three heads named Og, Grim, and Dog. The framing story involved OGD telling his "origin" story to a crowd at the bar he owns. Said origin involves discovering why the humans have stepped up their dungeon raids against the orcs (OGD's neighbors) and are on the verge of wiping them out. Our hero sets off to find out.
To me, the best part of the tale is the banter between the three ogre heads. All three have separate, distinct personalities and are forced to work together in the sense that the left head controls the left arm, the right head the right arm, and the center head the legs. The practiced cooperation between the heads, and the limitations thereof, are excellent character building and development. The other characters are varied in personality but the book's short length prevents more than surface development for most of them. I appreciated more of the humor than I didn't but it's not going to land for everyone and the LitRPG elements--while parodied in some places--seem to be taken more seriously in others. There are some Easter-egg style references--some subtle, some not--throughout.
All in all, this was a quick, fast-paced read. I'd recommend to fans of LitRPG and comedic fantasy or for someone looking for a non-human protagonist.
September 19, 2021
Awesome humor!
Jamie Edmundson truly knows the art of mixing great humor into a fantasy story! Elves, ogres, dwarves, goblins, ghouls, and of of course humans! are all in this intrepid Dungeon Crawl!!! Og-Grim-Dog is the ONLY three-headed ogre I have ever heard of, and I have read a lot of fantasy! And the humor! Oh my! You will find yourself rereading lines and paragraphs and asking yourself - What? He said that? The pub is called The Flxxxx Tesxxxxxxs?!
The Landlord of the aforementioned pub is the one relating this very interesting story, and it is a great one! Looking forward to reading the next three books! Highly recommend this!!!
Jamie Edmundson truly knows the art of mixing great humor into a fantasy story! Elves, ogres, dwarves, goblins, ghouls, and of of course humans! are all in this intrepid Dungeon Crawl!!! Og-Grim-Dog is the ONLY three-headed ogre I have ever heard of, and I have read a lot of fantasy! And the humor! Oh my! You will find yourself rereading lines and paragraphs and asking yourself - What? He said that? The pub is called The Flxxxx Tesxxxxxxs?!
The Landlord of the aforementioned pub is the one relating this very interesting story, and it is a great one! Looking forward to reading the next three books! Highly recommend this!!!
January 23, 2022
Three headed ogre goes adventuring
An everyday tale of a three headed ogre and the first of his varied adventures in dungeon crawling the new friends he finds and how he deals with bigotry towards his species
An everyday tale of a three headed ogre and the first of his varied adventures in dungeon crawling the new friends he finds and how he deals with bigotry towards his species
September 10, 2021
Og-Grim-Dog pits a three headed ogre with three distinct personalities into a dungeon crawling adventure (once they have navigated the bureaucratic layers) to discover why adventurers / trespassers keep on attacking the place he calls home, which cannot renew quickly enough to provide enough treasure and orcs to fight.
I had a big grin on my face the entire time reading this. The humour hit the right notes between satire and gently pointing out how ridiculous “adventurers” can be sometimes. Sandon the wizard was a fav, who insisted on infodumping the magical lore. Raya also got a thumbs up from me. There was enough of a mystery to pull me onwards and some great reflective points without going over the top on the satire. It never got too ridiculous, just stayed this side of awesome.
I had a big grin on my face the entire time reading this. The humour hit the right notes between satire and gently pointing out how ridiculous “adventurers” can be sometimes. Sandon the wizard was a fav, who insisted on infodumping the magical lore. Raya also got a thumbs up from me. There was enough of a mystery to pull me onwards and some great reflective points without going over the top on the satire. It never got too ridiculous, just stayed this side of awesome.
April 16, 2021
Ogres and awesomeness didn’t mix, until now!
Og-Grim-Dog had me with its opening line! It was night-time at The Flayed Testicle.
For a relatively short book, it packs some epic punches from its wit and humour to its critique of political correctness, bureaucracy, discrimination and other polarising themes.
This is an enchanting read. I loved Og-Grim-Dog. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d say I loved an ogre! The author brings him/them to life with expert characterisation, each head, Og, Grim and Dog having distinct personalities, a unity and disunity which works really well.
From the blurb, I was expecting a heroic journey of tremendous proportions such as the might and majesty of LotR. The plot is simpler, an ogre’s quest to discover why Dungeoneers are persecuting Orcs, Goblins and other beastly creatures to near extinction. But don’t be fooled, over the course of the pages, Og-Grim-Dog’s unique personalities are changing. I found his personal journey compelling, and the ending, (of the middle), satisfying.
This book is funny, and I don’t read comedy! Rarely do I muster the energy to laugh aloud. I genuinely lol’d several times while reading this book.
I loved the critiques of fantasy tropes and narrative techniques, and the respecting nods to authors such as Sanderson and Rothfuss (Og-Grim-Dog being a landlord and a Chronicler coming to record his story). A couple innuendos and in-jokes went over my head because of my lack of knowledge, not that it spoiled the story. I’d love to read a companion guide/glossary for all the puns, etc.
This book sets up an awesome character, some great side characters, and an interesting world filled with surprisingly similar issues that we have in our own. I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but I did.
Og-Grim-Dog is a character I want to stalk and figure out what the hell happened in his life to turn him into a hero and then end up being a landlord in a backwater tavern (sound familiar?). I have a feeling (coughs to self) with Og-Grim-Dog, I’ll finally get some answers!
I challenge anyone who, like me, oftentimes finds comedy tedious, unfunny and too obvious… read this book. I dare you not to not laugh.
Og-Grim-Dog had me with its opening line! It was night-time at The Flayed Testicle.
For a relatively short book, it packs some epic punches from its wit and humour to its critique of political correctness, bureaucracy, discrimination and other polarising themes.
This is an enchanting read. I loved Og-Grim-Dog. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d say I loved an ogre! The author brings him/them to life with expert characterisation, each head, Og, Grim and Dog having distinct personalities, a unity and disunity which works really well.
From the blurb, I was expecting a heroic journey of tremendous proportions such as the might and majesty of LotR. The plot is simpler, an ogre’s quest to discover why Dungeoneers are persecuting Orcs, Goblins and other beastly creatures to near extinction. But don’t be fooled, over the course of the pages, Og-Grim-Dog’s unique personalities are changing. I found his personal journey compelling, and the ending, (of the middle), satisfying.
This book is funny, and I don’t read comedy! Rarely do I muster the energy to laugh aloud. I genuinely lol’d several times while reading this book.
I loved the critiques of fantasy tropes and narrative techniques, and the respecting nods to authors such as Sanderson and Rothfuss (Og-Grim-Dog being a landlord and a Chronicler coming to record his story). A couple innuendos and in-jokes went over my head because of my lack of knowledge, not that it spoiled the story. I’d love to read a companion guide/glossary for all the puns, etc.
This book sets up an awesome character, some great side characters, and an interesting world filled with surprisingly similar issues that we have in our own. I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but I did.
Og-Grim-Dog is a character I want to stalk and figure out what the hell happened in his life to turn him into a hero and then end up being a landlord in a backwater tavern (sound familiar?). I have a feeling (coughs to self) with Og-Grim-Dog, I’ll finally get some answers!
I challenge anyone who, like me, oftentimes finds comedy tedious, unfunny and too obvious… read this book. I dare you not to not laugh.
August 26, 2021
This is the hilarious DnD-esque tale of Oh-Grim-Dog, a 3 headed ogre. They go on a quest to find out why their dungeon is being ransacked so often and end up dungeoneering with a motley crew of adventurers. There’s Gurin, a grumpy dwarf, Raya, a very friendly elf, Assata, a barbarian, Sandon, a not-very-helpful wizard, and Brother Kane, a constantly smiling cleric. Together they find and loot dungeons except when there’s no loot to be had. The mystery keeps the plot going and makes the story quite entertaining, and the hilarity really brings it all together. If you enjoy satirical fantasy, DnD or gamelit, I think you’ll enjoy this fabulous tale!
October 1, 2021
Only found this by accident whilst looking for a light read, and I realised that I had discovered an absolute gem of a book. Og-Grim-Dog is a light-hearted Fantasy-Fiction novel that does not take itself overly seriously and is full of humour and badinage.
The author dealt brilliantly with the moral, social and political themes in the narrative. This is especially the case as the author unites a disparate group of individuals to go on dungeon quests.
The characters have a variety of different personalities and traits. You would expect this with Ogres, Wizards, et al and it makes for character development leading up to further adventures.
The Inn names and the groups decided upon nom de plume will have the readers smirking. Subtle it is not but comical it most definitely is. There were some neat ideas within the narrative, the supply shop being just one.
This was quite a short read, but it made up for it by being full of action. The descriptions of fight scenes are somewhat vivid, so be warned. There was a freshness about Og-Grim-Dog that left me wanting more. It was not cliché-ridden, and I found that really welcoming.
I have not come across any books by Jamie Edmundson before, so this was a real eye-opener. I have already purchased the remainder of the series and will look into his other offerings as well. I thoroughly recommend Og-Grim-Dog, as it is an ingenious and humorous Fantasy read.
The author dealt brilliantly with the moral, social and political themes in the narrative. This is especially the case as the author unites a disparate group of individuals to go on dungeon quests.
The characters have a variety of different personalities and traits. You would expect this with Ogres, Wizards, et al and it makes for character development leading up to further adventures.
The Inn names and the groups decided upon nom de plume will have the readers smirking. Subtle it is not but comical it most definitely is. There were some neat ideas within the narrative, the supply shop being just one.
This was quite a short read, but it made up for it by being full of action. The descriptions of fight scenes are somewhat vivid, so be warned. There was a freshness about Og-Grim-Dog that left me wanting more. It was not cliché-ridden, and I found that really welcoming.
I have not come across any books by Jamie Edmundson before, so this was a real eye-opener. I have already purchased the remainder of the series and will look into his other offerings as well. I thoroughly recommend Og-Grim-Dog, as it is an ingenious and humorous Fantasy read.
June 24, 2021
It is a fun, fast read and ideal for someone needing a quick chuckle, or a pacy palette cleanser between series. It is short - very short, which is a disappointment when you get into it, as you are half-way done in a seeming eye-blink.
I thought it dropped in somewhere close between Nicholas Eames The Band books and the yawning void in slick humour created by the death of STP. While short, it combined a mystery against the humour of dungeon grinding, which will have many fantasy readers and gamers having a chuckle, (especially of elitist tendencies) with a sizable adventuring newcomer. The three-headed ogre concept is genius, particularly the breakdown of function to head, suggesting much thought (pun intended). The concept works well, the story entertaining, and while I'd have preferred more depth to the mystery, it is rounded off in a not entirely unexpected conclusion. I found the ending a tad too abrupt, even with the neat touches, and the Chekov's gun of the glass cannon finally letting rip.
Well worth a read and it leads neatly into the next in the series, which I'm looking forward too.
I thought it dropped in somewhere close between Nicholas Eames The Band books and the yawning void in slick humour created by the death of STP. While short, it combined a mystery against the humour of dungeon grinding, which will have many fantasy readers and gamers having a chuckle, (especially of elitist tendencies) with a sizable adventuring newcomer. The three-headed ogre concept is genius, particularly the breakdown of function to head, suggesting much thought (pun intended). The concept works well, the story entertaining, and while I'd have preferred more depth to the mystery, it is rounded off in a not entirely unexpected conclusion. I found the ending a tad too abrupt, even with the neat touches, and the Chekov's gun of the glass cannon finally letting rip.
Well worth a read and it leads neatly into the next in the series, which I'm looking forward too.
May 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this fun book which is like a LitRPG book but is not a game but a story, I loved the bawdy names of the pubs, they are so funny and the great three headed ogre, our main character whose three heads talk to themselves and express different emotions. I also loved the fact that so many political issues were handled so beautifully in this book making a fantasy read into something deeper and worth thinking about as many issues mentioned are those we face on a daily basis today. The group of adventurers is well balanced and offers us a mix of skills such as sword and sorcery; healing and guile; elves, dwarves an ogre and humans who bring brawn, magic and know-how to the adventure of a great dungeon crawl. I love also that Assata is part of the resistance against the Empire and that Og-Grim-Dog is out of his own safe space in the human world to do his own investigating into a crime which was besetting the dungeon he lived in. This is a brilliant first book which I hope will turn out to become a great series of fun adventuring with our great three headed ogre!
October 3, 2021
This series starter is a very funny look at what it would be like if D&D adventures were controlled by a bureaucracy. There are plenty of jokes and the author clearly knows the genre he is making fun of - the D&D-style dungeon-crawl fantasy. The book bases its humour in the inherent ridiculousness of there being dungeons full of monsters and treasures just waiting for adventurers to come and plunder.
This book will probably appeal more to D&D (or similar RPG) players, but I think there is enough humour to raise a chuckle from most fantasy readers. I will certainly be reading more in this series.
This book will probably appeal more to D&D (or similar RPG) players, but I think there is enough humour to raise a chuckle from most fantasy readers. I will certainly be reading more in this series.
June 26, 2021
Such a fun read!
I will do my best to say why I enjoyed this story so much. You may see it differently, but I suspect you will enjoy it as much as I did nonetheless.
In my humble opinion, the story started off with a Monty Python sort of vibe. Over the course of the tale, it kind of switched to being the narration of table top D&D session, with John Cleese as DM.
It's an action packed tale that will make you laugh, grimace and roll your eyes. Sometimes it all happens within the same paragraph.
This definitely falls in the "must read" category for lovers of action, adventure, and comedy.
I will do my best to say why I enjoyed this story so much. You may see it differently, but I suspect you will enjoy it as much as I did nonetheless.
In my humble opinion, the story started off with a Monty Python sort of vibe. Over the course of the tale, it kind of switched to being the narration of table top D&D session, with John Cleese as DM.
It's an action packed tale that will make you laugh, grimace and roll your eyes. Sometimes it all happens within the same paragraph.
This definitely falls in the "must read" category for lovers of action, adventure, and comedy.
September 22, 2020
This is definitely one of those books that you aim to finish in a sitting. Prepare to be utterly overwhelmed with in your face humor from characters beyond our mere mortal imaginations. Very pleasantly surprised at how quickly this author immersed me thoroughly into this storyline. I felt like one of the tavern patrons hanging on every word told. What a wonderful introduction into this three in one phenomenon! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
June 29, 2021
When I grow up, I want to be a three-headed ogre!
This little book was SO MUCH FUN! There were plenty of in-jokes that, as a fantasy fan, I loved and the characters were extremely likable. The whole thing just makes me want to go on an adventure.
I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series. Sign me up!
This little book was SO MUCH FUN! There were plenty of in-jokes that, as a fantasy fan, I loved and the characters were extremely likable. The whole thing just makes me want to go on an adventure.
I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series. Sign me up!
July 7, 2022
Og-Grim-Dog is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a romp filled adventure that draws on role-playing games, both tabletop and video game. It's ridiculous, crass and full of farce and slapstick humour. And yet it is undeniably good fun and somehow manages to slot an actual story in between the jokes.
From the moment you meet Landlord, the three-headed troll running the pub named 'The Flayed Testicles', it's abundantly clear that this is not for those who like their humour refined and their language clean. It is however a tongue in cheek look at tropes often seen in RPG's, high fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons, that those used to reading/writing/playing may just find hilarious.
And as I mentioned above, it does actually have a plot and a pretty darn good one. The narrative works, the characters are individuals and the humour just pokes fun at everything. Department for Non-Human Resources, anyone!? All in all, this is an entertaining romp that refuses to take itself seriously and yet somehow delivers an interesting plot at the heart of the novel. That's honestly quite impressive.
From the moment you meet Landlord, the three-headed troll running the pub named 'The Flayed Testicles', it's abundantly clear that this is not for those who like their humour refined and their language clean. It is however a tongue in cheek look at tropes often seen in RPG's, high fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons, that those used to reading/writing/playing may just find hilarious.
And as I mentioned above, it does actually have a plot and a pretty darn good one. The narrative works, the characters are individuals and the humour just pokes fun at everything. Department for Non-Human Resources, anyone!? All in all, this is an entertaining romp that refuses to take itself seriously and yet somehow delivers an interesting plot at the heart of the novel. That's honestly quite impressive.
June 25, 2022
‘Are you Og-Grim-Dog, the three-headed ogre?’ asked the goblin. ‘D’ya see any other three-headed ogres round here?’ asked Dog, rather impolitely. Grim sighed. There was no need to be rude, and sarcasm was wasted on goblins. He was now looking around the cavern for other three-headed ogres.
Og, Grim and Dog have a shared problem. As in three heads sharing one body kind of problem. He sets out to find why adventures are plundering dungeons that well… have nothing left to plunder. Finding himself invited to an adventurers’ team, he sets out to plunder dungeons (and find the answers, of course). Can these brothers find the answers and help the ‘green-skinned’ dungeon citizens?
It turns out there was a seventh dwarf loose in the city – Seven Dwarves! I guess we should have known.
CAN YOU TALK FASTER…
In short, a really funny ‘dungeons and dragons’ type of story. It is easy and quick to read, filled with humour and all the characters you would expect.
OKAY, I HAVE A MINUTE…
What I didn’t like: The storyline drags a little at the three-quarters mark. I’m usually not bothered by names, but the inns and the dwarf’s names didn’t fit the story for me.
What I did like: I loved this little world. From the red tape they have to go through to register their adventure (you know where no one can help you even though they work there…) to the adventures supply shop in the middle of nowhere (franchising…). The author does a great job showing the humour in everyday situations, the characters are fun, and I enjoyed the whole adventure. The concept of who is in charge of what limbs of the ogre is an interesting one.
ARE YOU DONE YET…
If you enjoy RPG stories, this is a fun one. Readers unfamiliar with RPG may miss some of the jokes or the comparisons but still an excellent story to read. It is a fast read, so if you haven’t tried these stories before, this is a good one to start with!
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