The Last Dragonslayer

The Chronicles of Kazam, Book 1

By: Jasper Fforde

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

In the good old days, magic was indispensable - it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery.

Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians - but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer.

If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam - and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic.

©2010, 2012 Jasper Fforde (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Perfect for older kids

My kids are 5 & 2 and way too young to get the humor in this book, so I continued it without them. Fforde is one of my favorite authors, I adore the Thursday Next books. The humor in this book mostly hinges on government regulations and the absurdity of a dragonslayer being a beleaguered teenage orphan who has been single-handedly running an agency of magicians that is being run into the ground by a reduction in the demand for magic and an increase in paperwork. If you enjoy the humor and novelty of Piers Anthony without the weird misogyny and awkward sexual content, you will love this.

Fforde can write a strong female lead, and Jennifer Strange is a good one. There is no romance here, which is a good thing, it's quirky humor, wordplay, and magic!

Amazing voice

One of the best stories I've read in a while. I was very impressed and amazed by the voice actress as well, she was perfect for the role.

This is now my new favorite story

I'm glad that there's more because I plan to keep listening. I find that Jasper Fforde has created an excellent work featuring a clever and whimsical story balanced with an artful craft of writing. My life's create regret is not reading his works sooner. I also think the narrator has a wonderful tone for the main character, her voice and narration is perfect for the story.

Opening Curtains

Any additional comments?

Jasper Fforde is back with his new series 'The Last Dragonslayer.' This series follows a 16 year old orphan as she tries to find her place in the world. It is a promising start to a new series from a great writer. If you expect this series to be exactly like Thursday Next, you will be disappointed. 'The Last Dragonslayer' isn't about a love of books or language. It is about something completely different, and Fforde does a great job making that clear, and giving this series a new voice while maintaining his hilarious and dry sarcasm. So, put Thursday Next aside and read this book with a clear mind. If you do, you will enjoy this new series.

I Didn't Even Notice the Hours Passing

This was an incredible journey, one that I am more than ready to continue with the next book.

Though I liked the narrator for the vast majority of the story, she didn't have a very wide selection of different voices. It wasn't that big of a deal since she didn't have to use a whole lot of voices at once and the dialogue helped differentiate between most characters.

Overall, this was just as fun if not more so than I was expecting and I'm so glad I finally listened

Great author

I love all his books
This one not his best but worth the cost and time!

slow

the British voice I listened to was a bit slow... one chapter was 36 minutes

Charming

I found it absolutely charming and clever from beginning to end. I recommend the whole series.

A quark delivered flawlessly

Although the story was a wonderful experience with twists, turns, and surprises, a huge round of applause is due to Elizabeth Jasicki who narrated with such flow and style that she made the experience that much better. DEFINITELY a title to recommend to someone who wants to give an audiobook a go

Another fun Jasper Fforde franchise sure to please

Jasper has done it again. He has taken all the sophisticated goofy wit and Monty Python style charm of his Thursday Next books and distilled into the character of 16-year-old Jennifer Strange and the insane world she inhabits. I loved it and just purchased the 2nd book in the series and will be back for each new installment. Elizabeth Jasicki is superb!