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Debunked: Volume One of the Terravenum Chronicles
Sometimes adventure knocks. Other times, it kicks the door in.
"Dearest Alexandria and Ozymandias, If you are reading this, I have perished. My demise likely involved some manner of spiked pit or curiously fanged beast, so it’s doubtful I suffered long. Do not try to find me - the path is too perilous, and I am lost to the mortal plane."
When Alex and Ozzie read their grandfather’s latest “death” letter, they barely blink. Dying six times in two years has to be a record, even for an explorer as incompetent as Sir Quidby Forsythe III. Faster than you can say “kidnapped by a giant, glowing lizard,” the Forsythe twins are dragged into a world of ancient prophecies, sarcastic swords of legend, mutant slime beasts, and a growing awareness their grandfather might be the greatest explorer in history.
With Skhaar the Annihilator hot on their trail, Ozzie and Alex must solve the mystery of Sir Quidby’s disappearance before they become the final victims of the Forsythe Curse.
"Dearest Alexandria and Ozymandias, If you are reading this, I have perished. My demise likely involved some manner of spiked pit or curiously fanged beast, so it’s doubtful I suffered long. Do not try to find me - the path is too perilous, and I am lost to the mortal plane."
When Alex and Ozzie read their grandfather’s latest “death” letter, they barely blink. Dying six times in two years has to be a record, even for an explorer as incompetent as Sir Quidby Forsythe III. Faster than you can say “kidnapped by a giant, glowing lizard,” the Forsythe twins are dragged into a world of ancient prophecies, sarcastic swords of legend, mutant slime beasts, and a growing awareness their grandfather might be the greatest explorer in history.
With Skhaar the Annihilator hot on their trail, Ozzie and Alex must solve the mystery of Sir Quidby’s disappearance before they become the final victims of the Forsythe Curse.
434 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
115 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Dito Abbott
1 book30 followersDito (rhymes with “Cheetoh”) Abbott was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Saudi Arabia, and sailed around the world with his family by the age of twenty-seven.
His debut YA Fantasy novel, Debunked, draws on his love for adventure, googly-eyed slime beasts, and sarcastic swords of legend.
Dito lives in Phoenix with his wife, two daughters, and an invisible dragon named Clyde.
His debut YA Fantasy novel, Debunked, draws on his love for adventure, googly-eyed slime beasts, and sarcastic swords of legend.
Dito lives in Phoenix with his wife, two daughters, and an invisible dragon named Clyde.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 7, 2023
Fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett rejoice! A worthy successor has appeared.
I don’t wanna come off as strong but my word I LOVED THIS BOOK. It’s funny, punny, and a great time.
There isn’t a whole lot for me to say other than READ IT. WHY ARE YOU WAITING DOING YOUR DISHES AND LAUNDRY CAN WAIT.
I WILL 100% be doing a dedicated video review on my Booktube Channel https://youtube.com/@AndrewsWizardlyR... soon
Pacing 4.5/5
Humor 5/5
Adventure 4.5/5
Structure 4.5/5
Prose 4/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Inventiveness 5/5
Overall score 5/5
My only two complaints are that 1 it leans heavy into the silly at times which is fine it’s mainly just a note here for readers picking it up. My second complaint is the sequel isn’t out yet and I must now wait.
I don’t wanna come off as strong but my word I LOVED THIS BOOK. It’s funny, punny, and a great time.
There isn’t a whole lot for me to say other than READ IT. WHY ARE YOU WAITING DOING YOUR DISHES AND LAUNDRY CAN WAIT.
I WILL 100% be doing a dedicated video review on my Booktube Channel https://youtube.com/@AndrewsWizardlyR... soon
Pacing 4.5/5
Humor 5/5
Adventure 4.5/5
Structure 4.5/5
Prose 4/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Inventiveness 5/5
Overall score 5/5
My only two complaints are that 1 it leans heavy into the silly at times which is fine it’s mainly just a note here for readers picking it up. My second complaint is the sequel isn’t out yet and I must now wait.
January 31, 2023
Congratulations to Dito Abbott on becoming a SPSFC Semi-Finalist!
Debunked is a whimsical Sci-Fantasy that is for anyone who feels a strong sense of nostalgia for the classic adventure story. This modern take will have you escaping reality and adventuring through the skies of Terravenum. Debunked reminded me of a curious explorer; unable to be confined by the limits of imagination.
No particular genre can entirely claim it as its own. As a former SPFBO contestant, Debunked entered its sister competition seeking a new adventure. There were some Indiana Jones vibes at the beginning and l loved that the story began with the grandfather’s letter. The tone of the story is quickly conveyed to the reader. I’m smiling to myself as I write this review because I’m remembering so much of the joy I had reading this story.
The setting is very dangerous to our main characters yet you never fear too hard for their safety. There are strong elements of mystery where the characters are collecting clues and solving ancient puzzles using magical artifacts and technology. Despite the fact that they are constantly trying to outrun the villains and escape impossible situations, the stakes never felt like life or death. I think that is the best way that I can describe the atmosphere and tone of the story.
The science fiction elements revolve around airships, these creepy little translating devices, dynami (which is like their magic) infused into special technology, mechanical devices, sky cities, and so much more. The aesthetic involves a lot of mechanical parts and machinery.
I fell hard for many of the places the main characters visited like Amnesia and my favorite, Contrivance. It was such a ridiculous place that made me laugh. I had such a great time there. Each place they visited was so uniquely different and I am astounded by how much detail went into the plotting. Footnotes were scattered throughout the story providing additional history and details, which I thought was a good decision because it kept those fun extra details to a minimum so that the story still flowed.
Debunked features some wonderful found family vibes through a diverse cast of unlikely characters- a camel, a lizard, and two humans. Pascal (Dromedarians) and Layla (Sauracians) were such quirky, fascinating characters with unique characteristics and skill sets. All of the characters that we meet added value to the overall story. The story is told through the perspective of the kids which I think was a good decision. There maintained a sense of wonder and curiosity which is how I felt the author intended the story to be.
There were moments when the plot moved forward a little too conveniently with a magical solution or sudden revelation; however, it worked because it prevented the plot from becoming too convoluted. Overall, the faster pace kept the reader engaged and entertained. I hope we learn more about the Ancients and the voice behind that talking sword in the next installment.
I use a rating system that considers the characters, setting/world building, atmosphere/tone, writing/narrative style, plot, intrigue, enjoyment, pacing, originality of ideas, and use of themes. After rating each of these areas individually out of 10, I add up, divide and I’m left with a final score that has taken into consideration many different aspects of the story. For the purpose of the SPSFC2 competition, this is a rating of 8 out of 10. For the purposes of Goodreads, this is a rating of 4 out of 5. As a reminder, this review only represents my personal opinion and does not reflect the entire teams thoughts. Thank you for reading.
Debunked is a whimsical Sci-Fantasy that is for anyone who feels a strong sense of nostalgia for the classic adventure story. This modern take will have you escaping reality and adventuring through the skies of Terravenum. Debunked reminded me of a curious explorer; unable to be confined by the limits of imagination.
No particular genre can entirely claim it as its own. As a former SPFBO contestant, Debunked entered its sister competition seeking a new adventure. There were some Indiana Jones vibes at the beginning and l loved that the story began with the grandfather’s letter. The tone of the story is quickly conveyed to the reader. I’m smiling to myself as I write this review because I’m remembering so much of the joy I had reading this story.
“Great men chase horizons. Exploring shows us who we are, but debunking whispers who we might become.”
The setting is very dangerous to our main characters yet you never fear too hard for their safety. There are strong elements of mystery where the characters are collecting clues and solving ancient puzzles using magical artifacts and technology. Despite the fact that they are constantly trying to outrun the villains and escape impossible situations, the stakes never felt like life or death. I think that is the best way that I can describe the atmosphere and tone of the story.
The science fiction elements revolve around airships, these creepy little translating devices, dynami (which is like their magic) infused into special technology, mechanical devices, sky cities, and so much more. The aesthetic involves a lot of mechanical parts and machinery.
“There must be a mistake,” Alex said. “Our grandfather wasn’t a good explorer– he mostly wandered around until someone rescued him.”
I fell hard for many of the places the main characters visited like Amnesia and my favorite, Contrivance. It was such a ridiculous place that made me laugh. I had such a great time there. Each place they visited was so uniquely different and I am astounded by how much detail went into the plotting. Footnotes were scattered throughout the story providing additional history and details, which I thought was a good decision because it kept those fun extra details to a minimum so that the story still flowed.
Debunked features some wonderful found family vibes through a diverse cast of unlikely characters- a camel, a lizard, and two humans. Pascal (Dromedarians) and Layla (Sauracians) were such quirky, fascinating characters with unique characteristics and skill sets. All of the characters that we meet added value to the overall story. The story is told through the perspective of the kids which I think was a good decision. There maintained a sense of wonder and curiosity which is how I felt the author intended the story to be.
“Skhaar fishes around in his chest pocket and retrieved the crumpled Interrogation Prompt Card his supervisor insisted he carry at all times.”
There were moments when the plot moved forward a little too conveniently with a magical solution or sudden revelation; however, it worked because it prevented the plot from becoming too convoluted. Overall, the faster pace kept the reader engaged and entertained. I hope we learn more about the Ancients and the voice behind that talking sword in the next installment.
I use a rating system that considers the characters, setting/world building, atmosphere/tone, writing/narrative style, plot, intrigue, enjoyment, pacing, originality of ideas, and use of themes. After rating each of these areas individually out of 10, I add up, divide and I’m left with a final score that has taken into consideration many different aspects of the story. For the purpose of the SPSFC2 competition, this is a rating of 8 out of 10. For the purposes of Goodreads, this is a rating of 4 out of 5. As a reminder, this review only represents my personal opinion and does not reflect the entire teams thoughts. Thank you for reading.
May 5, 2023
YA isn’t something I read a lot of because most of the time it doesn’t really work for me. This came highly recommended though from some readers that enjoyed The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham, which is a book that totally took me off guard with how much I enjoyed it. I can definitely see why Debunked might appeal to that same readership.
This book started out really dramatically. Well, I want to say that it started that way but it pretty much stayed that way the entire way through. This is one big rush from one danger to another with nary a breather in between. While that does sound exciting, it actually can be a little bit exhausting after a while because you just get used to it eventually because the danger doesn’t quite feel as special anymore.
The characters, species, and world are very over the top all throughout. It feels like the author tried to throw in every single ridiculous thing that could be found. For a big part of the book, it was way too much for me personally, though I did laugh pretty hard sometimes. I even found myself laughing out loud here and there, which is not something that happens often. In contrast to that though, there were several times where I struggled to stop myself from skimming some pages because it felt like there were too many extra things added that were distracting from the story. The footnotes somewhat fall under that category but they were also kind of endearing sometimes.
Around 60% into the book though, I all of a sudden found myself much more invested. It felt like we got some of the ridiculousness out of the way and could finally focus more on the storyline. Only some though, trust me, there was still plenty in the rest of the book. I finally found myself caring for these characters and wanted to find out what would happen to everyone.
I don’t want to give too much away when that started to happen but it happened around the time when they were…. Hmmm… what was it again? (IFKYK)
The plot started the feel more intricate at this point with several things making more sense and intertwining more than previously expected. The characters grew into their own a little more as well, which was fun to see.
I also like that the main story arc for book 1 was relatively resolved but there was a great setup for the rest of the series. I’m honestly surprising myself by saying this but I think I might even continue with it despite not enjoying myself for more than half of this book. It just felt like there was more focus on the plot in the end than the world building, which I’m hoping will continue. It even made the little footnotes more fun when I wasn’t overwhelmed with so much else already.
This book started out really dramatically. Well, I want to say that it started that way but it pretty much stayed that way the entire way through. This is one big rush from one danger to another with nary a breather in between. While that does sound exciting, it actually can be a little bit exhausting after a while because you just get used to it eventually because the danger doesn’t quite feel as special anymore.
The characters, species, and world are very over the top all throughout. It feels like the author tried to throw in every single ridiculous thing that could be found. For a big part of the book, it was way too much for me personally, though I did laugh pretty hard sometimes. I even found myself laughing out loud here and there, which is not something that happens often. In contrast to that though, there were several times where I struggled to stop myself from skimming some pages because it felt like there were too many extra things added that were distracting from the story. The footnotes somewhat fall under that category but they were also kind of endearing sometimes.
Around 60% into the book though, I all of a sudden found myself much more invested. It felt like we got some of the ridiculousness out of the way and could finally focus more on the storyline. Only some though, trust me, there was still plenty in the rest of the book. I finally found myself caring for these characters and wanted to find out what would happen to everyone.
I don’t want to give too much away when that started to happen but it happened around the time when they were…. Hmmm… what was it again? (IFKYK)
The plot started the feel more intricate at this point with several things making more sense and intertwining more than previously expected. The characters grew into their own a little more as well, which was fun to see.
I also like that the main story arc for book 1 was relatively resolved but there was a great setup for the rest of the series. I’m honestly surprising myself by saying this but I think I might even continue with it despite not enjoying myself for more than half of this book. It just felt like there was more focus on the plot in the end than the world building, which I’m hoping will continue. It even made the little footnotes more fun when I wasn’t overwhelmed with so much else already.
May 5, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/debunked...
Debunked is the first book in the Terravenum Chronicles, a young adult science fantasy series, written by Dito Abbott. I read it as part of the SPSFC2 semifinals, and honestly, it was a fun read, but it didn't connect with me as well as I would have liked, despite I love many of the elements, such as the humorous style and the steampunk vibes.
A story in the style of a classic escapist adventure, where our two main characters, Ozy and Alex, get an object that will make them travel to the fantastical land of Terravenum in order to search for their uncle, all aboard a steampunk dirigible, with a rather strange crew, but with characters that grow into you.
And overall, I found the story to be quite engaging and interesting, with a world that was amazing to explore, with steampunk vibes that were great. Some funny touches here and there, and a world that is kinda crazy, making it a story with some Indiana Jones vibes.
Honestly, a really enjoyable story, but with some problems that decreased the rating, especially in the first half of the book, before reaching Amnesia. Written humor is really complicated to do well, and while this first half is funny, it is difficult to follow what's happening sometimes, because most of the time it is diluted between jokes.
The pacing is kinda strange, because there is a ton of action scenes in this first half, becoming sometimes tiring.
All of those problems get solved in the second half, where the book certainly increases the level, and where all the silly-goofy things start making more sense; certainly I would say Amnesia became my favourite part of the book.
In general, a solid book, that will be perfect if you like escapism and fun adventures. Do you like Indiana Jones? Try Debunked. Come for the adventures and stay for the fun!
Debunked is the first book in the Terravenum Chronicles, a young adult science fantasy series, written by Dito Abbott. I read it as part of the SPSFC2 semifinals, and honestly, it was a fun read, but it didn't connect with me as well as I would have liked, despite I love many of the elements, such as the humorous style and the steampunk vibes.
A story in the style of a classic escapist adventure, where our two main characters, Ozy and Alex, get an object that will make them travel to the fantastical land of Terravenum in order to search for their uncle, all aboard a steampunk dirigible, with a rather strange crew, but with characters that grow into you.
And overall, I found the story to be quite engaging and interesting, with a world that was amazing to explore, with steampunk vibes that were great. Some funny touches here and there, and a world that is kinda crazy, making it a story with some Indiana Jones vibes.
Honestly, a really enjoyable story, but with some problems that decreased the rating, especially in the first half of the book, before reaching Amnesia. Written humor is really complicated to do well, and while this first half is funny, it is difficult to follow what's happening sometimes, because most of the time it is diluted between jokes.
The pacing is kinda strange, because there is a ton of action scenes in this first half, becoming sometimes tiring.
All of those problems get solved in the second half, where the book certainly increases the level, and where all the silly-goofy things start making more sense; certainly I would say Amnesia became my favourite part of the book.
In general, a solid book, that will be perfect if you like escapism and fun adventures. Do you like Indiana Jones? Try Debunked. Come for the adventures and stay for the fun!
October 20, 2022
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For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Ebook
🚨 I received an advanced reader copy, provided by the author for an honest review. This did not impact my rating in any way. Debunked is an entrant in the 2022, SPSFC-2, and won best cover. As I am not a judge, this is an independent review. 🚨
I wanted to read this the moment I saw the cover, it was just too cool and looked like it was going to be a lot of fun. I wasn’t disappointed, because it was indeed, a lot fun. It’s an action-packed, fast-paced story about the bond of family with magical weapons, monstrous creatures and a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor that kept me giggling throughout with each of the characters. Ozzie is a bit reserved and awkward, while Alex is outgoing and adventurous, and the relationship between the two felt very natural. Pascal, a Dromedarian, which is a camel-like character that is a bumbling inventor, reminds me a bit of Data from The Goonies or Flint from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, his character provides a good bit of the humor. Finally there is Layla, the sauracian, lizard-like warrior that gives off a bit of Drax vibes from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Debunked is an urban, science-fiction, young adult read. Chaos ensues almost immediately and it’s just an epic adventure across worlds that just never relents. It takes inspiration from several great works from the past. For starters, the air ships and its crew, as well as the energy “magic” called Dynami, reminded me a bit of the lightning pirate ships from Stardust. I also got a little bit of a Treasure Planet type of feel as well as a few other adventure classics such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
“There is no accident. You are destined for glorious victory or the eternal shame of excruciating defeat. Given your skills, I’m leaning toward the latter.”
The World-building plays a big part early on and I thought Dito did a great job of that as it not only describes their home in the real world, but also the in-world of Terravenum. I’m not certain if this is accurate, but it seems as if Dito used Terra and venum as a portmanteau to create the name of the in-world. Partly due to it being a terrarium like world and because it is a place that has been “corrupted” by the maelstrom.
I loved the footnotes that Dito left, but after about the half-way point, I stopped clicking on them to see what they were. I think they would’ve been better if it was worked into the story instead of being clickable footnotes. The character progression of Ozzie felt a little rushed, when we meet him he’s awkward and quiet but rather quickly becomes a bit outgoing and a risk-taker. I would’ve liked to see that part of him slowly build throughout the book. On the flip side, Alex never really had any progression as a character, she was the same throughout. This however didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story. Dito did a fantastic job and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Ebook
🚨 I received an advanced reader copy, provided by the author for an honest review. This did not impact my rating in any way. Debunked is an entrant in the 2022, SPSFC-2, and won best cover. As I am not a judge, this is an independent review. 🚨
I wanted to read this the moment I saw the cover, it was just too cool and looked like it was going to be a lot of fun. I wasn’t disappointed, because it was indeed, a lot fun. It’s an action-packed, fast-paced story about the bond of family with magical weapons, monstrous creatures and a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor that kept me giggling throughout with each of the characters. Ozzie is a bit reserved and awkward, while Alex is outgoing and adventurous, and the relationship between the two felt very natural. Pascal, a Dromedarian, which is a camel-like character that is a bumbling inventor, reminds me a bit of Data from The Goonies or Flint from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, his character provides a good bit of the humor. Finally there is Layla, the sauracian, lizard-like warrior that gives off a bit of Drax vibes from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Debunked is an urban, science-fiction, young adult read. Chaos ensues almost immediately and it’s just an epic adventure across worlds that just never relents. It takes inspiration from several great works from the past. For starters, the air ships and its crew, as well as the energy “magic” called Dynami, reminded me a bit of the lightning pirate ships from Stardust. I also got a little bit of a Treasure Planet type of feel as well as a few other adventure classics such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
“There is no accident. You are destined for glorious victory or the eternal shame of excruciating defeat. Given your skills, I’m leaning toward the latter.”
The World-building plays a big part early on and I thought Dito did a great job of that as it not only describes their home in the real world, but also the in-world of Terravenum. I’m not certain if this is accurate, but it seems as if Dito used Terra and venum as a portmanteau to create the name of the in-world. Partly due to it being a terrarium like world and because it is a place that has been “corrupted” by the maelstrom.
I loved the footnotes that Dito left, but after about the half-way point, I stopped clicking on them to see what they were. I think they would’ve been better if it was worked into the story instead of being clickable footnotes. The character progression of Ozzie felt a little rushed, when we meet him he’s awkward and quiet but rather quickly becomes a bit outgoing and a risk-taker. I would’ve liked to see that part of him slowly build throughout the book. On the flip side, Alex never really had any progression as a character, she was the same throughout. This however didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story. Dito did a fantastic job and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
January 13, 2023
Its like an episode of Gravity Falls. If you like this show you will enjoy this book.
May 18, 2023
Great, fun read! Definitely took a bit of time to get into it, but once I got into the flow of the writing and worldbuilding style, I loved it!
Fans of fanciful YA will love this book, and I eagerly anticipate the coming installments. Well done in crafting a fun, engaging, and interesting world, Abbott!
Fans of fanciful YA will love this book, and I eagerly anticipate the coming installments. Well done in crafting a fun, engaging, and interesting world, Abbott!
February 3, 2023
Harmless if consumed with toast
This book is action packed hilarity taking us on a journey with the Forsythe twins through the Divide to a world that has no rules. They just had a funeral for their grandfather who disappeared under unusual circumstances. This led to assassins and secrets and lizards and librarians; the adventure was just beginning.
This line explains exactly why you should read this book:
"how could you know what you know if I don't know what you knew when you knew what I know?"
The authors imagination has No Limit. Well worth reading to escape every reality we have ever known.
This book is action packed hilarity taking us on a journey with the Forsythe twins through the Divide to a world that has no rules. They just had a funeral for their grandfather who disappeared under unusual circumstances. This led to assassins and secrets and lizards and librarians; the adventure was just beginning.
This line explains exactly why you should read this book:
"how could you know what you know if I don't know what you knew when you knew what I know?"
The authors imagination has No Limit. Well worth reading to escape every reality we have ever known.
Read
June 30, 2022I reviewed DEBUNKED for the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off as a member of the BEFORE WE GO blogging team.
It’s safe to say that DEBUNKED by Dito Abbot gets off to a strong start. If I had to make a comparison, it would be like if Douglas Adams wrote YA characters instead of Arthur Dent. We open with a letter from Ozzie’s grandfather, Sir Quidby. “I bequeath to you my travel journey,” the letter says. “Do NOT open it (but when you inevitably ignore my wishes and plumb its depths, remember; mystery and danger are jealous companions—you cannot flirt with one without courting the other).” And of course, chaos almost immediately ensues.
I very much enjoy the humour of Abbot’s work. It’s very tongue-in-cheek, very self-aware, never overly clever, nor crass or uncomfortable. Humour is such a moving target from person to person, but most of the lines that I’ve highlighted were ones that made me laugh literally out loud, and I applaud that accomplishment!
Ozzie and his sister Alex are cleverly realized. Ozzie is quiet and a little bit awkward. Alex is our intrepid adventurer. Their sibling energy is on point throughout.
Mrs. Willowsby is a standout favourite. I loved this fierce maternal warrior, who seemed to live “undercover” as Sir Quidby’s housekeeper.
When Sir Quidby’s funeral is rather rudely interrupted by (as yet) unknown villains, Ozzie and Alex find themselves swept away into a world they didn’t know existed—and they team up with characters who are looking for Sir Quidby. The technology that Ozzie and Alex encounter is in turns interesting and hilarious. The Babel fish analogy was appropriately horrifying but useful.
It’s in the aforementioned chaos that DEBUNKED begins to lose me a bit. I found the action hard to track, and we need to learn a lot about the in-world technology and species in order to keep up. This is a valid method of storytelling—I’m sure Ozzie and Alex felt pretty overwhelmed in their new reality!—but it’s something that I always struggle with. I found myself having to reread passages to figure out what I’d missed. And while the book was still very funny, I didn’t always know what I was laughing about.
What I liked about Ozzie and Alex also, in some ways, added to the struggle. While I liked that they were both rather level headed as far as YA protagonists goes, this also meant that the story was being driven mostly by another character, Pascal, an inventor who also knew Sir Quidby. Pascal is anything but level headed. He’s impulsive, irreverent, and the questionable success of his inventions often pushes the chaos along. Having him drive the story might have been better served if he was given a POV through the book. As it was, I found that at times the chapters were so focused on what Pascal was doing that I would forget whether I was reading Ozzie’s or Alex’s POV, which made it harder for me to keep track of what, exactly, was happening. I will absolutely acknowledge that this is my preference as a reader showing, and not necessarily a criticism of Abbot’s style. It’s just a mismatch of Abbot’s execution against my taste.
Added to this, whenever I try to think of comps for this book, they’re all sci-fi. The talk about technology, the airships, the electricity as a weapon. There’s some mention of dynami, which might be the in-world term for magic, and yes there is a sword, but it’s an overall vibe that shelves this book in sci-fi in my brain, especially with the strong Hitchhiker’s Guide influence. This, in of itself, is not a problem. However, this contest is for fantasy, so I begin to wonder if DEBUNKED might be a better fit for our sister contest, SFSPC. (Mr. Abbot, if you’re reading this, keep an eye on that contest. Maybe when they’re open for submissions, you could offer up DEBUNKED if you’re brave enough to take a second swing.)
All in all, if you like your books to be hectic, hilarious without being crass, and heavily influenced by Douglas Adams, I urge you to pick up DEBUNKED. It’s well polished and a lot of fun.
For the purposes of SPFBO, this is a cut review. I hope it’s some consolation to the author that I bought a physical copy for my daughter. She’s a lot smarter than me and she’s already enjoying it a lot!
For more about SPFBO, check out the BEFORE WE GO team's landing page: https://beforewegoblog.com/spfbo8/
For the entire 300, check out the host, Mark Lawrence's, blog: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2...
It’s safe to say that DEBUNKED by Dito Abbot gets off to a strong start. If I had to make a comparison, it would be like if Douglas Adams wrote YA characters instead of Arthur Dent. We open with a letter from Ozzie’s grandfather, Sir Quidby. “I bequeath to you my travel journey,” the letter says. “Do NOT open it (but when you inevitably ignore my wishes and plumb its depths, remember; mystery and danger are jealous companions—you cannot flirt with one without courting the other).” And of course, chaos almost immediately ensues.
I very much enjoy the humour of Abbot’s work. It’s very tongue-in-cheek, very self-aware, never overly clever, nor crass or uncomfortable. Humour is such a moving target from person to person, but most of the lines that I’ve highlighted were ones that made me laugh literally out loud, and I applaud that accomplishment!
Ozzie and his sister Alex are cleverly realized. Ozzie is quiet and a little bit awkward. Alex is our intrepid adventurer. Their sibling energy is on point throughout.
Mrs. Willowsby is a standout favourite. I loved this fierce maternal warrior, who seemed to live “undercover” as Sir Quidby’s housekeeper.
When Sir Quidby’s funeral is rather rudely interrupted by (as yet) unknown villains, Ozzie and Alex find themselves swept away into a world they didn’t know existed—and they team up with characters who are looking for Sir Quidby. The technology that Ozzie and Alex encounter is in turns interesting and hilarious. The Babel fish analogy was appropriately horrifying but useful.
It’s in the aforementioned chaos that DEBUNKED begins to lose me a bit. I found the action hard to track, and we need to learn a lot about the in-world technology and species in order to keep up. This is a valid method of storytelling—I’m sure Ozzie and Alex felt pretty overwhelmed in their new reality!—but it’s something that I always struggle with. I found myself having to reread passages to figure out what I’d missed. And while the book was still very funny, I didn’t always know what I was laughing about.
What I liked about Ozzie and Alex also, in some ways, added to the struggle. While I liked that they were both rather level headed as far as YA protagonists goes, this also meant that the story was being driven mostly by another character, Pascal, an inventor who also knew Sir Quidby. Pascal is anything but level headed. He’s impulsive, irreverent, and the questionable success of his inventions often pushes the chaos along. Having him drive the story might have been better served if he was given a POV through the book. As it was, I found that at times the chapters were so focused on what Pascal was doing that I would forget whether I was reading Ozzie’s or Alex’s POV, which made it harder for me to keep track of what, exactly, was happening. I will absolutely acknowledge that this is my preference as a reader showing, and not necessarily a criticism of Abbot’s style. It’s just a mismatch of Abbot’s execution against my taste.
Added to this, whenever I try to think of comps for this book, they’re all sci-fi. The talk about technology, the airships, the electricity as a weapon. There’s some mention of dynami, which might be the in-world term for magic, and yes there is a sword, but it’s an overall vibe that shelves this book in sci-fi in my brain, especially with the strong Hitchhiker’s Guide influence. This, in of itself, is not a problem. However, this contest is for fantasy, so I begin to wonder if DEBUNKED might be a better fit for our sister contest, SFSPC. (Mr. Abbot, if you’re reading this, keep an eye on that contest. Maybe when they’re open for submissions, you could offer up DEBUNKED if you’re brave enough to take a second swing.)
All in all, if you like your books to be hectic, hilarious without being crass, and heavily influenced by Douglas Adams, I urge you to pick up DEBUNKED. It’s well polished and a lot of fun.
For the purposes of SPFBO, this is a cut review. I hope it’s some consolation to the author that I bought a physical copy for my daughter. She’s a lot smarter than me and she’s already enjoying it a lot!
For more about SPFBO, check out the BEFORE WE GO team's landing page: https://beforewegoblog.com/spfbo8/
For the entire 300, check out the host, Mark Lawrence's, blog: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2...
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August 23, 2022Debunked was pitched to me on the tagline, "Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy," and I found that a pretty appropriate description.
The book centers around orphaned twins Ozzy (the bookish nerd) and his sister Alex (the daredevil athlete) who are being raised by the grandfather's housekeeper years after their parents died and after the disappearance of their explorer grandfather, Sir Quidby. An attack by assassin, and then bigger assassins, catapults the twins into the world of Terravenum, in hope of tracking down Sir Quidby.
Ozzy and Alex shine as protagonists, as do their companions Pascal and Lilly (respectively, a camel-man inventor and a lizard-woman warrior). I love that all of them have moments of fallibility and doubt, which gave the protagonists a lot of depth. There's a wealth of detail in the worldbuilding and in all of the background people, places, and organizations, which range from shadowy and menacing, to absurd and silly, or both at the same time. I thought the pace and flow of the book was excellent and despite the number of action scenes and immense amount of information relayed, I thought the plot remained coherent and on-target. Finally (and I say this as someone who doesn't buy books for covers) I found this book's cover intriguing and gorgeous.
Humor in SFF is very hit-or-miss for me, so I was not on board with all of it here. Sometimes, I thought it got to be a bit much. Also, with the principle characters being children, I had a hard time identifying with them. That's not a knock, just an acknowledgement that I wasn't the target audience, though I can absolutely see younger readers eating this up.
A great opening effort by this author and something worth checking out.
The book centers around orphaned twins Ozzy (the bookish nerd) and his sister Alex (the daredevil athlete) who are being raised by the grandfather's housekeeper years after their parents died and after the disappearance of their explorer grandfather, Sir Quidby. An attack by assassin, and then bigger assassins, catapults the twins into the world of Terravenum, in hope of tracking down Sir Quidby.
Ozzy and Alex shine as protagonists, as do their companions Pascal and Lilly (respectively, a camel-man inventor and a lizard-woman warrior). I love that all of them have moments of fallibility and doubt, which gave the protagonists a lot of depth. There's a wealth of detail in the worldbuilding and in all of the background people, places, and organizations, which range from shadowy and menacing, to absurd and silly, or both at the same time. I thought the pace and flow of the book was excellent and despite the number of action scenes and immense amount of information relayed, I thought the plot remained coherent and on-target. Finally (and I say this as someone who doesn't buy books for covers) I found this book's cover intriguing and gorgeous.
Humor in SFF is very hit-or-miss for me, so I was not on board with all of it here. Sometimes, I thought it got to be a bit much. Also, with the principle characters being children, I had a hard time identifying with them. That's not a knock, just an acknowledgement that I wasn't the target audience, though I can absolutely see younger readers eating this up.
A great opening effort by this author and something worth checking out.
December 20, 2023
Awesome book, read it a couple of years ago when I met Dito at Game On in Phoenix, AZ. Debunked is in his words, "if Indian Jones met Hitchikers" and I agree! I would add in there a feeling of Disney's Treasure Planet sprinkled as seasoning. Awesome book!! I have met Dito twice and now and I am looking forward to Book 2! (And the audio version)
December 2, 2023
This is a fantastic book! All the right mixes of humor, action, adventure, and random flora and fauna. I loved this book as a 26 year old and only wish that I could somehow travel back in time to deliver this book to a 10 year old version of myself because he would, for sure, be obsessed with this book. Definitely a keeper!
July 10, 2023
Amazing book and incredibly creative worldbuilding! Beautifully written as well.
May 8, 2022
I'm already looking forward to the next one.
Abbott's world building is wide, deep, and rich. Engaging characters, creatures, plants, foods, cultures, technologies, and histories abound. There's nothing about this world that doesn't make you want to stop and poke at it or stare at it a bit longer. While introducing an audience to an entirely new and original world for some might be a chore, in this case, through the clever urgent necessities of adventure, discovery and survival (and an ever-rewarding cadence of humor) Abbott flies you through his elaborate world in a clever and cheeky path that's hilarious to follow. Abbott entertains from beginning to end.
I highly recommend you follow the Forsythe twins into Terravenum as they hunt down answers to lost family and long kept secrets in a world where everyone is trying to stop you. Airships, inventions, robots, battle-ready heroes, and villains galore fill this story. If you ever saw the potential of a stick to become a sword as a child (or adult) Terravenum and its characters will resonate with you.
Abbott's world building is wide, deep, and rich. Engaging characters, creatures, plants, foods, cultures, technologies, and histories abound. There's nothing about this world that doesn't make you want to stop and poke at it or stare at it a bit longer. While introducing an audience to an entirely new and original world for some might be a chore, in this case, through the clever urgent necessities of adventure, discovery and survival (and an ever-rewarding cadence of humor) Abbott flies you through his elaborate world in a clever and cheeky path that's hilarious to follow. Abbott entertains from beginning to end.
I highly recommend you follow the Forsythe twins into Terravenum as they hunt down answers to lost family and long kept secrets in a world where everyone is trying to stop you. Airships, inventions, robots, battle-ready heroes, and villains galore fill this story. If you ever saw the potential of a stick to become a sword as a child (or adult) Terravenum and its characters will resonate with you.
May 9, 2022
OMG this is simply incredible. The author has done such an awesome job with the world building that you feel as though you are right there with the characters as their adventure unfolds and boy what an adventure it turns out to be! It’s an action packed read full of fantasy, steampunk, thrills, suspense, flying machines, hero’s, villains and robots and so so much more! It’s exciting, it’s entertaining, it’s hilarious, it’s fun and I just can’t get enough! Awesome characters, awesome addictive storyline set in an incredible world, I can’t wait to read more.
March 21, 2024
So creative and fun. Probably one of the best books I have ever read for this age group (10-15 year olds). Fun characters. Clever dialogue. The story just keeps you wanting to find out what happens next.
May 12, 2022
This story follows Alex and Ozzie as they search for their missing grandfather and shenanigans ensue. It's a super fun, old school adventure story with capable, funny characters and i'd recomend it for fans of Series of Unfortunate Events or similar. Eagerly awaiting book 2!
April 30, 2023
This book is fun, quirky, and cute! It reads like the Discworld books, or maybe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but much younger. Oh, and throw in some Indiana Jones style mayhem for spice. All in all a great adventure book.
January 20, 2024
So fun! A goofy, fast-paced, and fantastical escape from reality. Dito Abbott didn’t just write a fun story—he crafted a whole world around it, and I feel lucky to have seen some of the cool props, maps, and even the packaging he shipped the book in!
Oh, and that ending…? I’ll be awaiting Volume 2 with bated breath.
Oh, and that ending…? I’ll be awaiting Volume 2 with bated breath.
May 4, 2022
Super fun book- quirky and entertaining. A whole new world with creative creatures.
Highly recommend
Highly recommend
April 27, 2022
Hilariously whimsical this book so many different genres. Steampunk, fantasy, humor, thriller. Alex and Ozzie are woefully unprepared for the adventure that they are thrust into. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and frequently burst out laughing. This is such a diabolically delightful story! I absolutely can’t wait for the next book!
April 22, 2022
This is the tale of how twins Alex and Ozzie were kidnapped - or saved, depends how you view it - and found themselves in a different world. It's action-packed and hilarious, it has camel mechanics and dinosaur technicians and furry arms dealers and big, aggressive librarians and much more. And a map! In short, it has everything to make a youth happy and entertained (I certainly was, though I'm no longer a youth).
The author mentions Pratchett and Adams as an inspiration and it shows - in the humor, the clever wordplays, the footnotes. Love the footnotes!
I received an ARC if this book and this is my opinion: go and read it.
The author mentions Pratchett and Adams as an inspiration and it shows - in the humor, the clever wordplays, the footnotes. Love the footnotes!
I received an ARC if this book and this is my opinion: go and read it.
April 12, 2023
Very well written. There is so much adventure in a completely new world. Highly recommend! Can't wait for the next book!
April 6, 2023
Combine Hitchhiker's Guide to the Guide to the Galaxy with The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica where your main character is Indiana Jones. It's a fun world and a fun story, but it looses me in the details sometimes. Abbot really throws you right in to this strange new world and it can be a bit much at times. Also by the end, I'm still not really not sure I know much about the main characters? They're not super well developed. But it's fun! I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend if you like any of the three series I mentioned above.
July 9, 2023
I found this book through bookstagram and boy am I glad I did! The cover itself is a thing of beauty and draws you in. like I saw it and had to know what lay behind such an intriguing cover. It looks like something that would have been leather bound and on a shelf in an old wizard’s cottage or something. I absolutely adore the map in the front; it lets you know you are in for a real fantasy/sci-if adventure right from the get go. It has such wild place names like Amnesia, Contrivance, Aeronoth, Quagmyre, and the Spires of Dubious Wisdom that show you what a wacky world you are in for even if you don’t get to visit all those locations just quite yet. It centres on brother and sister duo Ozzie and Alex who get pulled into another world after the most recent disappearance and death of the grandfather who is a failed explorer and debunker. The action starts right from the beginning and hardly lets up as they are tossed from one impossible situation to the next facing some formidable bad guys. There’s the giant, bloodthirsty lizard and then also a secret order of assassins who have some pretty crazy weapons chasing them and colossal librarians headed up by one called Brother Deathfist. These kids luckily find help with Layla (also a giant lizard but definitely not on the bad guy team) and Pascal (a dromadarian inventor with a penchant for all things explosive) as they travel by airship to hopefully find their grandfather and keep his journal safe as they do.
The dialogue is absolutely laugh out loud funny and sometimes downright absurd but in the best way. The footnotes are definitely one of my favourite parts of this book. Some are short stories themselves and when we got to the last one, my kid actually sighed like bummer because they were over. The footnote about the Limerick Armistice of 1190 was a particular standout that had us laughing out loud. The bit about Skhaar and his paperwork and Home Office was another part that I absolutely loved. Picturing this giant dinosaur like creature having to fill things out in triplicate just cracked me up.
I loved the action in the story, it was a real swashbuckling adventure and definitely the kind of book any kid (young and old) can enjoy. It has sword fights (Whirling Wall of Death!!!) and lots of insane tech (bugs that are implanted to translate) and lots of close calls with the zaniest rescues.
I really can’t wait to read more about the adventures of Ozzy and Alex and all of the crew! Dito definitely has a wild imagination and I’m just so glad I found this book so I could enjoy the world for just a bit from his point of view.
The dialogue is absolutely laugh out loud funny and sometimes downright absurd but in the best way. The footnotes are definitely one of my favourite parts of this book. Some are short stories themselves and when we got to the last one, my kid actually sighed like bummer because they were over. The footnote about the Limerick Armistice of 1190 was a particular standout that had us laughing out loud. The bit about Skhaar and his paperwork and Home Office was another part that I absolutely loved. Picturing this giant dinosaur like creature having to fill things out in triplicate just cracked me up.
I loved the action in the story, it was a real swashbuckling adventure and definitely the kind of book any kid (young and old) can enjoy. It has sword fights (Whirling Wall of Death!!!) and lots of insane tech (bugs that are implanted to translate) and lots of close calls with the zaniest rescues.
I really can’t wait to read more about the adventures of Ozzy and Alex and all of the crew! Dito definitely has a wild imagination and I’m just so glad I found this book so I could enjoy the world for just a bit from his point of view.
January 6, 2024
A hilariously well told adventure that just doesn’t stop. I cannot wait for the next installment!
March 27, 2023
This was such a fun and zany read. Debunked is like if UP and Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy met up. Abbott has created a lush and wild world in Terravenum. My only critique is that there is so much going on and not a ton of explanations beyond the footnotes that I felt like I wanted a glossary for everything. I really had no idea what to expect from this book but it was a pure delight to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
February 26, 2023I read this as a judge for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2), where it is a semifinalist.
Putting this aside at 33%. May come back to it when life is a little bit less crazy. I don’t think it’s a bad book, but not for me. The first third sets up an adventure scenario where an explorer to another world (that feels like a fantasy world, though it does have electric airships) disappears and needs rescue. It’s lighthearted, but with enough weight to be interesting. And then it seems like a non-stop mortal peril for a hundred pages or so. Which works for a lot of readers, but I personally enjoy a little more time to breathe and get to know the characters in between action scenes.
Right now, I plan to just not score this for SPSFC2 and let my teammates determine its semifinal score, as I’m the not the sort of reader well-positioned to evaluate its strengths. But I’ll consult with my teammates and then make a final call.
Putting this aside at 33%. May come back to it when life is a little bit less crazy. I don’t think it’s a bad book, but not for me. The first third sets up an adventure scenario where an explorer to another world (that feels like a fantasy world, though it does have electric airships) disappears and needs rescue. It’s lighthearted, but with enough weight to be interesting. And then it seems like a non-stop mortal peril for a hundred pages or so. Which works for a lot of readers, but I personally enjoy a little more time to breathe and get to know the characters in between action scenes.
Right now, I plan to just not score this for SPSFC2 and let my teammates determine its semifinal score, as I’m the not the sort of reader well-positioned to evaluate its strengths. But I’ll consult with my teammates and then make a final call.
May 11, 2022
Excellent!
This is a very funny romp through the journey of Ozzie and Alex in their search for Grandfather,
Quidby Forsythe III. There are all kinds of being, creatures, plants and flying machines in this tale. When your sides hurt from to much laughter step back and when the ache is gone jump back in for more.
I received this as an ARC and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
Merged review:
Fun read
This is a very funny romp through the journey of Ozzie and Alex in their search for Grandfather,
Quidby Forsythe III. There are all kinds of being, creatures, plants and flying machines in this tale. When your sides hurt from to much laughter step back and when the ache is gone jump back in for more.
I received this as an ARC and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
This is a very funny romp through the journey of Ozzie and Alex in their search for Grandfather,
Quidby Forsythe III. There are all kinds of being, creatures, plants and flying machines in this tale. When your sides hurt from to much laughter step back and when the ache is gone jump back in for more.
I received this as an ARC and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
Merged review:
Fun read
This is a very funny romp through the journey of Ozzie and Alex in their search for Grandfather,
Quidby Forsythe III. There are all kinds of being, creatures, plants and flying machines in this tale. When your sides hurt from to much laughter step back and when the ache is gone jump back in for more.
I received this as an ARC and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
January 31, 2024
2.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Alex and Ozzie are orphans, and now their grandfather and guardian, the famously inept explorer, has gone missing, presumed dead. Again. Almost immediately, they're launched into a fantastic adventure, fleeing blue-eyed assassins, and seemingly rescued by a mad scientist and his lizard first mate (or is it bodyguard?).
Review
I wanted to liked Debunked; it’s got good ideas, a fun intent, intriguing art. And, to some extent, I did. But it also felt familiar, and really frenetic.
The familiarity, at least in the first third or so, owes a lot to comparisons with Lemony Snicket. There’s a notable Unfortunate Events feeling to the story – so much so that it interfered with my enjoyment, because the thing felt derivative. After a time, that fades away, as it becomes evident that the bulk of the book will take place in a non-Earth environment (or more properly a part of Earth that long ago split from ours).
However, the frenetic pace continues throughout. The children are almost immediately set upon by assassins and launched into a complex escape, broken only by periods of (fairly well done) infodumps. While the machinations are fun, there’s just so much of it, and so fast, that there’s never any time to sit back and enjoy it. By the halfway point, it was all becoming a blur, and the book getting harder and harder to pick up again.
I was also slightly annoyed that Abbott seemed incapable of using the past perfect [I had to look that up] – essentially, never saying ‘had given’ instead of ‘gave’. It makes the writing awkward in places, and often ambiguous, if not clumsy. I noted this in the very first chapter, and it continued for almost 500 pages – irritating.
There’s a lot going on in this story and this world, and clever ideas flying left and right. But the sheer number makes it hard to focus on any, and by chapter 6 I was struggling to be interested. Things improved after a while – I got used to it – but I did wonder why Abbott insisted on cramming so many things in, especially when some (such as the translapede – a renamed Babel Fish) are clearly borrowed. Based on the end-book author’s note, I’m hoping this was meant as homage to Douglas Adams, but to me it struck a false note.
All in all, way too many ideas crammed into far too little space. Room to breathe would have made the whole thing more interesting. As is, I won’t be going on to further books in the series.
Summary
Alex and Ozzie are orphans, and now their grandfather and guardian, the famously inept explorer, has gone missing, presumed dead. Again. Almost immediately, they're launched into a fantastic adventure, fleeing blue-eyed assassins, and seemingly rescued by a mad scientist and his lizard first mate (or is it bodyguard?).
Review
I wanted to liked Debunked; it’s got good ideas, a fun intent, intriguing art. And, to some extent, I did. But it also felt familiar, and really frenetic.
The familiarity, at least in the first third or so, owes a lot to comparisons with Lemony Snicket. There’s a notable Unfortunate Events feeling to the story – so much so that it interfered with my enjoyment, because the thing felt derivative. After a time, that fades away, as it becomes evident that the bulk of the book will take place in a non-Earth environment (or more properly a part of Earth that long ago split from ours).
However, the frenetic pace continues throughout. The children are almost immediately set upon by assassins and launched into a complex escape, broken only by periods of (fairly well done) infodumps. While the machinations are fun, there’s just so much of it, and so fast, that there’s never any time to sit back and enjoy it. By the halfway point, it was all becoming a blur, and the book getting harder and harder to pick up again.
I was also slightly annoyed that Abbott seemed incapable of using the past perfect [I had to look that up] – essentially, never saying ‘had given’ instead of ‘gave’. It makes the writing awkward in places, and often ambiguous, if not clumsy. I noted this in the very first chapter, and it continued for almost 500 pages – irritating.
There’s a lot going on in this story and this world, and clever ideas flying left and right. But the sheer number makes it hard to focus on any, and by chapter 6 I was struggling to be interested. Things improved after a while – I got used to it – but I did wonder why Abbott insisted on cramming so many things in, especially when some (such as the translapede – a renamed Babel Fish) are clearly borrowed. Based on the end-book author’s note, I’m hoping this was meant as homage to Douglas Adams, but to me it struck a false note.
All in all, way too many ideas crammed into far too little space. Room to breathe would have made the whole thing more interesting. As is, I won’t be going on to further books in the series.
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