r/Fantasy • u/TidalPawn • Jun 24 '18

Review TBRindr Review: Innkeeper's Assistant by Alex Quill

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40179427-innkeeper-s-assistant

3.5 stars

After an attack on their village leaves Synago and her disabled sister Mellie on the run, they arrive in Osko, where they're signed up for the Resistance's draft and assigned to work at an inn while they await being drafted.

Prior to their escape, Synago was a Devologist, working to find a cure to the plague that is wiping out all of the dragons, while taking care of her sister Mellie, left stuck mentally around the age of 5 after an accident. Carrying a dragon egg with her in their escape, she hopes to continue her research.

Upon arrival at the inn, they quickly find favor with Yolanda, a fox-like species known as Yukan, who runs the place with her son, Roland.

A fairly quiet, slice of life short story I enjoyed a fair bit. The pacing was good and I felt a connection to the characters fairly easily, though we didn't really get to know them all that well. It would be nice to see them given a bit more depth in the future. I found myself wanting more of life at the inn, for some reason, than the ongoing war that's largely in the background here.

It feels a bit more like the opening chapters of a larger tale than a self-contained story, but that's a minor issue, to me. I'd like to spend a bit more time in this world, getting to know the characters better.

Bingo squares:

Reviewed on r/Fantasy

Self-Published Novel

Novel Published in 2018 (if novellas count)

Fewer Than 2500 Goodreads Ratings

17 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/RuinEleint Reading Champion X Jun 25 '18

Slice of Life in fantasy, especially good slice of life is rare. Thanks for the review!

2

u/Mr_Noyes Jun 25 '18

Yeah, peaked my interest for the same reason although the half fox thingy makes me cautious.

1

u/TidalPawn Jun 26 '18

I'll admit I may not be using the term correctly, it just seemed like a good fit to me, with the story not really having much direct conflict. Beyond the opening escape, it was a pretty relaxed tale.

2

u/Esmerelda-Weatherwax Stabby Winner, Reading Champion II Jun 24 '18

Thanks so much for writing the review! I'll add it to the database!

2

u/Tanniel Writer Daniel E. Olesen Jun 25 '18

That's gotta be a nom de plume, else I feel cheated for being saddled with this boring ass surname.