The Wordsmiths and the Warguild

The Wordsmiths and the Warguild by Hugh Cook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While on the run from an arranged marriage, Togura Poulaan accidentally kills a monster and is mistaken for a great hero. The Wordsmiths, an organization of wizards, send him on a quest to solve the mystery of the Odex, a shiny disc that seems to be a magical treasure chest, frequently vomiting forth treasure, monsters, and refuse. After a disastrous ball, Togura's young lover disappears into the Odex. Can Togura figure out a way to get her out and lose his festering virginity?



That Hugh Cook sure crafted fantasy characters that broke the mold. Togura is young, cowardly, and horny as hell. He blunders from one misadventure to the next, encountering cannibals, pirates, horny sea dragons, wizards, the list goes on and on. Through no actions of his own, he gradually gets closer and closer to his goal, the index to the Odex and the rescue and boning of Day Suet.



While the Chronicles of an Age of Darkness is a series, they aren't so tight that you have to read them in any certain order. Easter eggs abound for those who've read more of Hugh Cook's saga, however. The pirates of the Warwolf make an appearance, as do Bluewater Draven and several other recurring characters. Some scenes in The Walrus and The Warwolf are touched upon from other angles.



If you're looking for the young hero going against great odds, you won't find it here. If you're looking for a hilarious tale about a teenager that's more like someone you know, here it is. You won't be disappointed.







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