Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
384 Pages
Synopsis: Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, a hero, the Chosen One, was born…and so begins every fairy tale ever told.
This is not that fairy tale.
There is a Chosen One, but he is unlike any One who has ever been Chosened.
And there isa faraway kingdom, but you have never been to a magical world quite like the land of Pell.
There, a plucky farm boy will find more than he bargained for on his quest to awaken the sleeping princess in her cursed tower. First, there’s the Dark Lord who wishes for the boy’s untimely death…and also very fine cheese. Then there’s a bard without a song in her heart but with a very adorable and fuzzy tail, an assassin who fears not the night but is terrified of chickens, and a mighty fighter more frightened of her sword than her chain-mail bikini. This journey will lead to sinister umlauts, a trash-talking goat, the Dread Necromancer Steve, and a strange and wondrous journey to the most peculiar “happily ever after” that ever once-upon-a-timed.
Kill the Farm Boy has been one of my most anticipated novels of 2018. How could it not be with that gorgeous cover and fun premise? Plus, one of the co-authors, Kevin Hearne, is on my top five list of favorite fantasy writers list. I was expecting a fairy tale parody with some Terry Pratchett, Monty Python and Princess Bride thrown in. Instead, much to my dismay, I got raunchy, juvenile humor and double entendres that might appeal to a teenage boy, but for me grew stale very quickly. Despite it being a fairy tale set in the past the story is filled with anachronisms which add to the awkwardness.
The characters are interesting riffs on familiar ones: the Chosen One, the Dark Lord, a seven foot tall Amazon-esque female warrior who’s an aspiring horticulturist, an untalented bard who’s been cursed to be a half-rabbit, and a clumsy rogue assassin with a fear of chickens. While they’re diverse and somewhat appealing, they aren’t enough to overcome the non-stop cringeworthy humor.
There are many 4-5 star reviews on Goodreads, but unfortunately Kill the Farm Boy wasn’t my cup of tea. There are just too many poop and penis jokes and not enough substance. It took me over a week to get through it because I kept putting it down, reading other books, before reluctantly picking it up again. In my opinion not even Miracle Max could breathe life into this.
ambroseandelsie said:
Aww, that is disappointing. Reading the summary, I also got a Princess Bride/Terry Pratchett vibe from it. Just going by the summary, it sounds like it could have been a very fun twist on some old tropes. It’s disappointing that the authors decided to take the raunchy route with the story. 😦
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Both authors are very well respected, so I’m really surprised at the humor.🙇🏻♀️
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beetleypete said:
Sounds bloody awful to me, Kim. Your two stars were generous, i suspect. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It was atrocious Pete. I gave it 2 stars because Idid like some of the characters and I love the cover. Needless to say though I won’t be continuing with the series.
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Teagan R. Geneviene said:
Thanks for this mindful review, Kim. I think I would agree with you. Hugs.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Teagan. I hated writing this.😔
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Karen said:
I just got this from netgalley, ugh!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Uh oh! Well, like I said, it does have lots of positive reviews Karen. It seems to be a love it or hate it book. Maybe you’ll be in the love it group.🤷🏻♀️
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Captain's Quarters said:
Yes matey. I sadly agree. Not me thing at all. I was wishing for something different. Arrr!
x The Captain
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It left me wondering what the heck happened?🤷🏻♀️
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Captain's Quarters said:
I never read anything else by the authors. Bloggers assure me that their work is good. It doesn’t look promising for me though.
x The Captain
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I haven’t read anything by Dawson, but Hearne is one of my favorite fantasy authors.
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shalini said:
Yikes, below the belt humor? Why are those ever needed in a book to make it humorous?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It was non-stop Shalini! I don’t mind a little, Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series (which I loved) had some, but this completely overwhelmed the story.😡
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shalini said:
Maybe I am old fashioned but I don’t like such jokes at all… It puts me off.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Ugh.😔
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shalini said:
I think this ugh is for below the belt humor and not fir me being old fashioned 😉😉😂😂💕💕
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗🤗🤗🤗
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shalini said:
Hahahaha I still haven’t forgotten how much you like me Roarke… 😉😂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
MY Roarke!
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shalini said:
You wish!!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😏😉
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shalini said:
Kim I don’t even want to say ‘in your dreams’ to this comment as I am pretty sure he is right there in your dreams!!!! 😂😂😂😂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Oh yeah!🤣
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shalini said:
😍
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Priyasha said:
Dissatisfied by the book.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it either Priyasha.😔
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raistlin0903 said:
Wow….that really does not sounds like my kind of book either. As I am not a fan of comedy anyway (especially not this kind of humor) I will give this one a pass. Really sorry that this book disappointed you, especially since you had been looking forward to it so much 😢
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Michel. I think you should definitely skip this.😔
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fragglerocking said:
Oh. nope, no poop and penises for me either. Yuck.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Right? It was constant Fraggle. Like, almost every bloody page.🙇🏻♀️
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fragglerocking said:
Literary junk by the sounds of it, but if in book form at least useful if you run out of loo roll oops sorry, toilet paper, in the zombie apocalypse.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
BWAHAHA!😁😂🤣
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
So sorry to hear this failed you, Kim. Sounds like it really had a particular target audience in mind!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I honestly have no idea what they were thinking. It’s definitely written for adults, yet the humor is for teen boys.🤷🏻♀️
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Carrie said:
Great review Kim! I debated on getting this one but had a ton at the time so I didn’t click and can’t say it sounds like I’ll miss much.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Carrie. I have a feeling you’d wind up as frustrated as I was.
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Awww… I LOVE Kevin Hearne. I’m so sad to hear that this one didn’t work out for you. I’m all for poop and penis jokes… I don’t know how much I want them in my fantasy novels. 😕 That cover is gorgeous though!! 😣
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I was so shocked by this Nicole! And I swear I’m no prude. I have no issues with raunchy humor, (like in Hearne’s Iron Druid series) but when it completely overtakes the story…Just ugh.🙇🏻♀️
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
I’m definitely with you on that! We’ll, he can’t have a winner EVERY TIME, I suppose! 😉
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hmm. I suppose.😔
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
Great Review, Kim!💜 The blurb sounded lovely but I am sorry this was a disappointment for you sweetheart. At least the cover is beautiful.😍
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mlbradford said:
So sorry this turned out completely different than what u hoped – and I know how much you admire Kevin Hearne’s work
“an untalented bard who’s been cursed to be a half-rabbit”
Blimey, sounds too familiar, doesn’t it?! 😉
Anyways, I hope this cheers you up:
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yep. I was crushed.😔 Thanks for the link.
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mlbradford said:
Yep, juvenile humour is so easy, anyone could write it – I understand your frustrations
Never disappointed with your book reviews tho! 😉
Bless u
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Brad.
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mlbradford said:
You’re welcome, Kim! 🙂
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lostartofreadingblog said:
Awesome review, I think it’s safe to say that this one is not for me.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Some readers have really enjoyed, so I don’t know. For me, the raunchiness just overtook the story.😔
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lostartofreadingblog said:
I think I would become frustrated and/or annoyed from what you have mentioned
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😔
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Jen said:
Oh nooooo! I’m so sorry that your most anticipated release was such a huge let down. And that humor, ugh. I wouldn’t be okay with that either. Monty Python and Princess Bride are the best btw. 😉 Hugs!!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m STILL upset!🙇🏻♀️
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Jen said:
I would be too!!
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