Rogues to Riches

First Quest #1

by J. Robert King

Two thieves steal a rose from two paladins, unaware that there is a curse on the rose, and must complete a dangerous quest in order to escape the curse while attempting to avoid capture by the paladins.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

313 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Blaire Mulcahy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For what it is, this book was a fun time. I recommend this as a way to get young readers interested in DnD, or vice versa young DnDers to get into reading.

*next day edit*
For anyone above a middle school reading level it might get old fast. It’s just constant bad luck with 2d characters and a classic high fantasy plot. If you’ve seen the movie Connan the Barbarian than you have read this book - a book that’s meant to feel fast past and action packed but only does so because how else is the plot supposed to move forward?

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great when you want a silly one-off fantasy novel. The humor is just right.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of humor. Lots of unbelievably ridiculous tales told, that are very far-fetched and simply rich in imagination. A pleasant read.

[STU · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good humorous book that gets more absurd as it progresses.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ok. It's not that groundbreaking and it's not going to stick in your memory long after you read it, but it was decent enough.

[Hollowspine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tooles and Rengie, two bumbling, but lovable rogues seem to be on a losing streak in this book. From the moment you start reading about the pair they're scrambling from one frying pan into the next with the bonfire mere inches from their toes.

I read this as part of my nostalgia month and found it still had it's edge of hilarity, but perhaps the fart jokes have gotten a little bit...stale...with my more advanced age. This was perhaps the first 'fantasy' novel I read, and in a way kind of a strange book for me to have read. As I kid, I know I didn't understand most of the many role-playing references that dot the narrative. Looking back at it even now, if not for my brother, I would have only known that there was a reference, but not exactly to whom it was referring.

I remembered a few key scenes from the book, but for the most part my re-reading it was almost as if I were reading it for the first time with a strange sense of deja-vu every once and a while.

I'm not sure that it had any huge impact on me as a kid (or in forming my adulthood), but I can say that it represents in a way my first gaming experiences, fun, mainly ridiculous, epic without being overly serious. This was the beginning of a time in my life when I devoted much of my time to reading fantasy literature and playing in a fantasy world. Since then my habits have changed and I have grown away from fantastical things. I still read some fantasy, but nothing like I used to and things much darker than "Rogues to Riches."

This book made me look back on a time when things were more simple and I was more readily able to imagine myself away from this reality which I'm forced to inhabit. Sometimes I wonder if my embitterment would be abated if I just read more fantasy. If I would really become becalmed if only I enjoyed the mellowing agents of ketchup. Sometimes once a taste is lost however, it never returns.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps my favorite novel of all time. Includes action, drama, and comedy. The characters are so unique from the typical heroes. I share this book with my classes at school all the time. I even read it to my language arts classes.

[Lanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and enjoyable. It's like a spoof of more serious fantasy novels. :) a good pick if you like humorous stories. My favorite part of the book was when they broke the forth wall with the guard. :) uber funny.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so over-the-top hilarious, and the characters so enjoyable, that I've read it multiple times.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had fun reading it when I was a kid.
Simple funny story. Something to read to lighten your mood.