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Tarquin The Honest #1
The Hand of Glodd
Tarquin the Honest, Wizard of the Silver Weasel, is a liar, a coward, a charlatan and a cheat. And, according to his diminutive roguish sidekick Lunar Nix, those are his most endearing qualities.
On a perilous quest to recover The Golden Gauntlet for a mysterious patron, Tarquin and his band of unlikely warriors must navigate the terrors of the Sorrow Wood, battle zombies, giants, zombie-giants and an entire evil order of necromancers. Despite never living up to the expectations of his hero father, somehow Tarquin – through his multitude of dubious skills and a deluded perception of his own greatness must defy death to overcome a series of complex challenges. Will Tarquin betray his friends to save his own skin, or will he roll the dice and risk everything? Only the goddess Fortuna knows and she’s not telling.
On a perilous quest to recover The Golden Gauntlet for a mysterious patron, Tarquin and his band of unlikely warriors must navigate the terrors of the Sorrow Wood, battle zombies, giants, zombie-giants and an entire evil order of necromancers. Despite never living up to the expectations of his hero father, somehow Tarquin – through his multitude of dubious skills and a deluded perception of his own greatness must defy death to overcome a series of complex challenges. Will Tarquin betray his friends to save his own skin, or will he roll the dice and risk everything? Only the goddess Fortuna knows and she’s not telling.
Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 25, 2022
I love the Wardini's bookstore so I'm pretty much always going to buy books one of the owners writes. The fact that I always love the books is an added bonus
This was such a fun, silly book. Tarquin is a great character so full of himself and is hilarious. Lunar is another great character and the banter/abuse between the two is great. This is such a well-developed world with some really cool characters. I really hope the author returns to this world cause I would love to follow Tarquin in some more adventures
This was such a fun, silly book. Tarquin is a great character so full of himself and is hilarious. Lunar is another great character and the banter/abuse between the two is great. This is such a well-developed world with some really cool characters. I really hope the author returns to this world cause I would love to follow Tarquin in some more adventures
June 11, 2024
DNF,
Just didn't suit my taste.
Just didn't suit my taste.
December 30, 2022
Fun, funny and imaginative. So many clever ideas and references, I'm sure I missed plenty. No slow bits, you're into the story right away. But you have to like wizard stories, such as The Hobbit.
December 17, 2022
A little odd to find a story so brazenly set in a D&D story (elven wizards, gnomish rogues, half-orc barbarians all introduced and left to their devices without preamble or twists whatsoever; there are occasions you can practically hear the class abilities clunk into place to my great amusement) without it being an actual Dungeons & Dragons book... but amusing enough in its flippant humor as a palate cleanser.
Would happily pick up and one-sitting a sequel again.
The airship's genie is just the best.
Would happily pick up and one-sitting a sequel again.
The airship's genie is just the best.
April 9, 2025
Tarquin the Honest By Gareth Ward Nz Author. Finished 6/04/25
A problem in the book is the main character is being a complete and utter scoundrel. This is highlighted in the part of the book where Tarquin cheats in gambling. A quote is “In that instant, I switched the dice for the ones palmed in my hand and dropped them into the shaker.” This shows that Tarquin is no different to a common cheat in the real world in the way that he has no conscience and happily cheats others to win big.
It is human nature to judge things by your morals, as it is your compass in a vast confusing world but tarquins morals show a different view.
Plus he isn’t just a cheat but also a coward, nearly every battle in the book he lets his allies take the blows or shield him. One of the main examples of this from the book is: “Nor did I contemplate the merits of simply letting the black-hooded rogue that pressed a dagger to her throat finish the job and save me repaying three thousand crowns”. This is Tarquin “not contemplating” sacrificing his friend’s life to save three thousand crowns. This is because Tarquins morals are about one thing: himself. This is because he has learnt this through his past. Once he had been fending for himself for so long, his morals did not include others. When he met others he tried to change. However changing your morals is destroying part of your identity which feels unnatural. So maybe the reason Tarquin is so immoral towards others is because he has to get used to his change in morals, particularly life and death situations. Tarquin’s morals are a problem for the book as they endanger those around him.
A problem in the book is the main character is being a complete and utter scoundrel. This is highlighted in the part of the book where Tarquin cheats in gambling. A quote is “In that instant, I switched the dice for the ones palmed in my hand and dropped them into the shaker.” This shows that Tarquin is no different to a common cheat in the real world in the way that he has no conscience and happily cheats others to win big.
It is human nature to judge things by your morals, as it is your compass in a vast confusing world but tarquins morals show a different view.
Plus he isn’t just a cheat but also a coward, nearly every battle in the book he lets his allies take the blows or shield him. One of the main examples of this from the book is: “Nor did I contemplate the merits of simply letting the black-hooded rogue that pressed a dagger to her throat finish the job and save me repaying three thousand crowns”. This is Tarquin “not contemplating” sacrificing his friend’s life to save three thousand crowns. This is because Tarquins morals are about one thing: himself. This is because he has learnt this through his past. Once he had been fending for himself for so long, his morals did not include others. When he met others he tried to change. However changing your morals is destroying part of your identity which feels unnatural. So maybe the reason Tarquin is so immoral towards others is because he has to get used to his change in morals, particularly life and death situations. Tarquin’s morals are a problem for the book as they endanger those around him.
May 5, 2025
Oh that was FUN! Following the quest of Tarquin the Honest (you may have heard of him) and his companions was a lot of fun. A good romp across country and city and sky and cave and forest, etc.
The writing had a Pratchett-like energy, just more smarmy given the nature of our narrator. His pompous importance coming up against his party’s sarcasm and jibes was so good. I really liked the team dynamic.
Before I finished the novel, I turned to my husband and said “it has the energy of a D&D campaign with your friends.” And here we are.
Why five stars? Couldn’t put it down, had a rollicking good time, and would recommend to lovers of fantasy particularly those who play D&D with their mates.
The writing had a Pratchett-like energy, just more smarmy given the nature of our narrator. His pompous importance coming up against his party’s sarcasm and jibes was so good. I really liked the team dynamic.
Before I finished the novel, I turned to my husband and said “it has the energy of a D&D campaign with your friends.” And here we are.
Why five stars? Couldn’t put it down, had a rollicking good time, and would recommend to lovers of fantasy particularly those who play D&D with their mates.
October 12, 2023
this is a fantastic adventure story with well thought out characters. Reading it feels like a D&D adventure and the imagination runs wild as you proceed through the wonderful story.
My mind loves reading the book as it is a story you can feel through it, with a real need to follow through the story. It certainly appeals with different age groups too (my son is now reading and enjoying it)
I am very much looking forward to the next iteration of Tarquin the Honest, before that release I am sure I will be re-reading this book a number of times.
My mind loves reading the book as it is a story you can feel through it, with a real need to follow through the story. It certainly appeals with different age groups too (my son is now reading and enjoying it)
I am very much looking forward to the next iteration of Tarquin the Honest, before that release I am sure I will be re-reading this book a number of times.
February 10, 2025
First off I love that the authors living in NZ that’s amazing
But in regard to the story it was just really lacking for me. I wish there had been more editing cause I caught a few mistakes here and there without even trying
I also wish it was more fleshed out. I didn’t get a sense of found family (which I feel like maybe the author was trying to convey) cause we just spent no time with them instead we spent it with some Wizard who thinks he’s a lot better then he is
I will continue the series only because I have the next book and I’m hoping it is better
But in regard to the story it was just really lacking for me. I wish there had been more editing cause I caught a few mistakes here and there without even trying
I also wish it was more fleshed out. I didn’t get a sense of found family (which I feel like maybe the author was trying to convey) cause we just spent no time with them instead we spent it with some Wizard who thinks he’s a lot better then he is
I will continue the series only because I have the next book and I’m hoping it is better
February 16, 2023
Pleased to have finished this slog of a book. Only reason i did was because it was given to me as a gift. The characters were unlikeable, basic and unmemorable. It felt like very chapter ended with a”and then THiS happened..” cliffhanger to lead into the next chapter, which got old fast. Have never given a one star, and I did finish it so upgraded to two stars because of the brilliant book cover. Book cover was the best thing about the book sorry to say
dnf
April 30, 2023Just not for me. To be fair I only gave this book 3 chapters of a chance, but after those 3 chapters I was not motivated to pick it up again and after this long, I have decided to just return it to the library and focus on other things I enjoy more. Writing style is really important to me, and this one didn't grip me. I found the characters more annoying than funny, and thus persevering just wasn't really worth it.
February 13, 2023
This is upfront about being a D&D writeup, and it is reminiscent of every bad D&D game you have ever played (or heard of). You know, the ones with a dodgy wizard, a dodgier gnome, a thicko half-orc, and jokes about "leading from the rear". It is well-written, but more importantly, its fun. Which is something I needed in these dark times.
May 17, 2023
Great adventure story. Enjoyed most of the humour - some of it did get a bit repetitive. In terms of reaching the end goal for the books name sake it was a bit long, very side questy at times. Pans out like a game of D&D.
Overall not a bad book, but nothing to write home about.
Overall not a bad book, but nothing to write home about.
June 28, 2023
Light, fun, funny, and tightly written. I'd happily read a sequel or two, to be honest. And I'm nothing if not honest.
July 20, 2023
AJDJFHSJDHSJD so fun and I am so excited for the sequel!!!!!!
October 4, 2025
Rewarded the diligent reader!!
October 8, 2025
Really fun, with an enjoyably dodgy narrator. It's like a very silly D&D campaign, being episodic and rather random, but that's part of the charm.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews