From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Roger Eschbacher…

Giantkiller (Leonard the Great, Book 2)

Roger Eschbacher

Why we're reading this: Sequel to Dragonfriend.
[close] Sequel to Dragonfriend.

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Aug 24, 2014 Brian Clopper rated it it was amazing

Let me get this out first: I want to attend an Eschbacher Battle School. There I'm sure I would learn all sorts of provocative combat skills. The man knows his parry from a jab, his leg sweep from a head butt. He can feint with the best of the best. My guess is he's a scoundrel and well versed in skulduggery and all things bruise-inducing. He is no stranger to the pugilistic arts, not that our hero dons any boxing gloves to beat back the giant menace. No, he does it in style with a fashionable s
Let me get this out first: I want to attend an Eschbacher Battle School. There I'm sure I would learn all sorts of provocative combat skills. The man knows his parry from a jab, his leg sweep from a head butt. He can feint with the best of the best. My guess is he's a scoundrel and well versed in skulduggery and all things bruise-inducing. He is no stranger to the pugilistic arts, not that our hero dons any boxing gloves to beat back the giant menace. No, he does it in style with a fashionable solitary gauntlet, making the protagonist sort of the white-gloved Michael Jackson of the medieval world. Although, it might be more apt to draw comparisons to Hellboy and his right hand of doom.

The author's glee with weaponry and knowledge of how to take down assailants is on display in his new book, Giantkiller. This second book in the Leonard the Great series is chock full of tussles, fisticuffs, magical showdowns and rumbles in the stratosphere.

The premise is solid: a rescue in the land of the height enhanced.

While the plot is straightforward, it's the vibrant characters and their ingenious minds that set the story ablaze with a sleek, fetching vitality. He breathes life into every altercation, every character interaction, no matter how slight.

Among my favorites this time out is the playful back and forth between the brownie Piffle and the goblin Biter. It's so lively and engaging. And Merlin, he always steals the show whenever he does his walk-ons.

The wit abounds and pleasantly crops up throughout the book. Roger has a knack for word choice, something I am keen on as I love vocabulary. Bit of a word nerd.

With Arthurian fantasy novels, there's always the worry that the tale will be slovenly stuffy and rooted too much in bland court intrigue and all the snoozer aspects of gallant knights. Not here. The book is always on the move and ripe with characters that no one would accuse of being asleep at the wheel.

If you haven't sampled Leonard's tale, go out and grab the first book and then this one. You won't regret it. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2014 Roger Eschbacher added it · (Review from the author)

Feb 08, 2015 Jaq Greenspon marked it as to-read

1 like · Like

Aug 21, 2014 Roger Eschbacher added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

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