I read the ebook version of this before I bought the audiobook. Since then, I've listened to the audiobook the full way through at least twice. That's how hilarious and well written the book is. I also love Croshaw's narration and his ability for voices is amazing. I'm very glad to have listened to the audio because otherwise I never would've known how to pronounce a lot of the character names.
This is a very well written story with interesting characters. Each person has their own take on the "political correctness storm" that comes in when the Fluidics enter our dimension seeking asylum. From the "social justice warriors" to the "Shoggoths are dangerous" the entire spectrum is well represented. And as much flack as Dr. Pavani gets for thinking that people possessed by the Ancients should be referred to as "Dual Consciousness" I give her full credit for putting her all into what she does. She never backs down and even confronts a lot of fears that those around her do not. At the same time, I love the character of Mike Badger, a former freelance bounty hunter for the Ministry who regularly killed Fluidics. He honestly goes with the flow pretty well and, when he learns that Shoggoths are sentient and protected creatures, he finds other things to do to earn money. You get quite a range here and I love how these characters play off of each other. A lot of them are, essentially, good people who just want to do their best. Some just play better by the rules while others break/create the rules.
The Fluidics/Shoggoths are absolutely adorable. Croshaw plays the reaction to them just right. Because they are so utterly inhuman and talk with a cute lisp ("We would wike to wequest asywum") humanity utterly adores them and goes out of their way to chastise any who would endanger them. Meanwhile, the possessed humans get a lot less sympathy because they are so very human in appearance. The "YouTube video comments" sections of the book are so spot on. From the public feeling that Dual-Consciousness are spoiled kids to people who "identify as Fluidic-kin". You get a lot of almost too real reactions.
The murder mystery itself is a delight! It's another case of Croshaw leaving all the clues there for you to see but you (or at least I) don't notice them or put them together quite right until the reveal. There were no gaps or leaps in the conclusion. There were no "what did I miss?" moments. It's all right there but Croshaw's story is so engaging, you don't notice the little things so easily. So when the killer is revealed, you are surprised in a good way and never feel cheated.
I absolutely loved this book. I've read/listened to it many times now and it still makes me laugh.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Rachel Noel
Croshaw's best work yet
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on August 27, 2019
Michael E. Fleming
Funny and Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on January 19, 2022Amazon Customer
Good Storytelling, Good Worldbuilding, Great Humor.
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on January 10, 2021Zomnivore
This book gives me fits
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on January 12, 2021J. Garver
Satirical and Stimulating. An excellent story that will keep you guessing.
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on February 1, 2021polarbearug
Fun read, lots of twists, laughed out loud, made my family wonder what was wrong with me.
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on June 5, 2020Martin Roestorff
Funny and compelling
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on December 19, 2021
Rook Ruin Oberon
This has become one of my favorite books of all time. Read it.
Reviewed in the United States ๐บ๐ธ on June 25, 2019Top reviews from other countries
Mr. S. ColvilleRea
Yahtzee Crowshaw writes another cracker
Reviewed in the United Kingdom ๐ฌ๐ง on October 30, 2022
Nick Simmons
Smart, compelling and a big improvement since Mogworld
Reviewed in the United Kingdom ๐ฌ๐ง on July 31, 2019kitokat_mh
Very interesting story, somewhat let down by the ending
Reviewed in the United Kingdom ๐ฌ๐ง on September 28, 2020Bill Flowerpot
Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom ๐ฌ๐ง on February 1, 2020