Book Review: Kosti, pasti, slepice

“When you aren't where you're supposed to be, the things that are meant to happen to you happen to someone else instead.”

Lately, many fantasy titles are being released that you read, but quickly forget you ever stumbled upon. That is not the case with the book by Jeffery Russell – Kosti, pasti, slepice.

I’m not “that” reader who picks books by their cover. With this title, however, it was love at first sight. I looked up the international covers and I must admit that Yiri Kus did an amazing job, because the Czech cover is truly top-tier! The illustrator managed to capture the atmosphere of the book while making it easier for the reader to imagine what some of the characters look like.

As the blurb suggests, we finally get a break from perfect, all-powerful heroes. The story revolves around Durham, a guard whose fate gets him tangled up with a group of professionals specializing in all sorts of odd jobs – the Kobkanýři. Before we can even get our bearings, the author sends us on a quest where there is no shortage of funny, explosive, mysterious, and heroic moments. The individual characters have distinct charisma. Durham undergoes the biggest transformation, evolving from a relatively boring character into a guy you’d love to join on more than one adventure.

Even though the book has a fairly brisk pace, readers won't just encounter humans and dwarves, but also elves, skeletons, necromancers, and a lich. Each “race” has its own mentality and way of speaking, which sometimes leads to interesting dialogues and clashes of opinion between the beings. Personally, I grew fond of the chickens, especially the hen named Kokodák (you should read the book for her alone).

“I had a cat that regularly puked in my shoes, but I felt that was typical for cats.”

I’ve hinted at it a few times, but the plot really moves along quickly. During the journey, we are rapidly introduced to a large number of characters. We don't stay in one place for long, and soon we end up in a dungeon, where the real fun begins. Just like in a D&D session, traps stir things up here, and we aren't sure of anything until the very finale. I started saving the last few pages because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to this gang yet.

“Cheese. That’s when you take what flows from a cow’s tits, mix it with a bit of juice from the fourth stomach of her little calf, and then let it rot for a few years, right?”

In short… this book is for everyone who loves fantasy worlds known from D&D gaming sessions and The Witcher book series. The book will swallow you whole and won't let go. Kosti, pasti, slepice features fantastic dialogue. At times, the incorrect humor, sarcasm, and rougher treatment of animals make this book a great way to introduce “casual readers” to fantasy. The author is well aware that he isn't writing the next “GOT,” but he delivers a “feel-good” fantasy full of explosives, mysteries, skirmishes, and life wisdom. My favorite piece of advice: “Good manners almost always pay off.”

Don't hesitate to buy this book… Mystery Press will soon release the second volume in the series, Mlha, moře, mordýři.

author Adéla Tomanovicsová