this really wasn't very good. i always read Thomas the Rhymer fantasy when i come across it, but this one was a bad example of Di Filippo's tendency to throw everything indiscriminately into the pot, including in this case Dante, John Bunyan, Candide, and faerie into the pot and expecting the resultant stew to prosper. it doesn't. the allegories don't work, the time conceit doesn't work, the characters are wooden, and the whole thing isn't as charming as the author would like to think. ( )

A very allegorical fairy tale about good and evil, using well-worn motifs and characters. An early novel from this writer, who I believe is better known in the short form. I don't think this is representative of his typical work. The style is inconsistent and uncontrolled, as though written by a committee, or a young, inexperienced writer (choice b is correct). A wooden story with unsympathetic characters. Disappointing. ( )