Majordomo by Tim Carter [Book Review] Guest Post by Dave Lawson

Today’s book review is a guest post by author Dave Lawson! He offered to read and review Majordomo: a Novella by Tim Carter for the blog and of course, I’m thrilled to have him. Keep reading for Dave’s thoughts on this book!

Kobolds are supposed to run away—it’s what they’re best at. But Jack? Born with a club foot, he’s had to adapt. Resilient and clever, he clawed his way to respectability as majordomo of a premiere subterranean estate. He even found a father figure in the famed necromancer who owns the place.

Life was perfect… until a superband of overpowered do-gooders arrived bent on burglary and murder. These mercilessly righteous warriors of light cannot be beaten, or at least that’s how it looks on paper.

Jack must choose between survival and the people he loves… unless he can somehow defy the stats and find an unconventional solution.

Description of Majordomo: A Novella by Tim Carter

Review of Majordomo

To start off, I did not expect this to pack such an emotional punch. The blurb and promos made me think it would be a funny Dungeon & Dragons-esque romp, and it certainly was that, but then it turned into a story about aging parents—an allegory for dementia?—and I sat on my couch thinking, why is this funny book making me emotional? Because those are the best kind of funny books, and this is the best kind of book. 

Tim Carter does a fantastic job with the first-person POV of Jack, the club-footed Kobold who is loveable even as he kills people (they deserved it, okay?) and makes Jack a well-rounded character with the 106 pages of this novella.  The supporting cast adds to the world, and there’s even a touch of romance.

For the D&D fans out there, you’ll love the inside jokes—the necromancer used to hire a lot of goblins at one point, just like the start of just about every campaign—and references to the different classes and races. There’s also a hilarious reoccurring bit about killing Paladins (the self-righteous jerks). 

If you’ve never played D&D (what are you waiting for, go play?), you’ll still love this story because it’s top notch! 

More from Dave Lawson

Dave Lawson is the author of The Envoys of War, a debut fantasy novel you won’t want to miss. It debuts August 1st, 2024, but you can pre-order now! You can also add the book to your Want to Read list on Goodreads now.

Check out Dave Lawson’s website here.

Don’t kill the messengers.
 Gen wants nothing more than to travel, serve her king, and hit things with her sword. Working as an envoy is the perfect job until the king sends her into war-torn enemy territory along with her friend, Cordyn, to deliver vital military intelligence to an allied nation. Cordyn’s the worst kind of libertine: brash, arrogant, and on the run from half the husbands in the kingdom. Normally Gen would enjoy the excitement of traveling with him, but she realizes she’ll still have to clean up his messes, even as they encounter enemy troops, bandits, and dangerous mages.

Along their way, they meet Tobias, a mage with revenge on his mind, and Evalia, a woman searching for her kidnapped brother. As the mission spirals out of control, they embark on a daring rescue, complicated by Cordyn’s increasing complex schemes. Learning of an ominous enemy plot that threatens their safety and that of the companions they meet along the way, Gen and Cordyn must decide what matters more: their mission or their friends.

A rollicking fantasy adventure for fans of Nicholas Eames and Michael J. Sullivan

Description of The Envoys of War

Thanks so much, Dave, for sharing this review with us and sharing about your upcoming novel!