Jasper Fforde

In an alternate United Kingdom, King Snodd aims to control the world by controlling magic, and only 16-year-old Jennifer Strange, acting manager of an employment agency for sorcerers, stands between Snodd and his plans, in the sequel to The Last Dragonslayer. 75,000 first printing.

The Song of the Quarkbeast

Magic has been in a sad state in the Ununited Kingdom for years, but now it’s finally on the rise, and boneheaded King Snodd IV knows it. If he succeeds at his plot, the very future of magic will be at risk! Sensible sixteen-year-old Jennifer Strange, acting manager of Kazam Mystical Arts Management and its unpredictable crew of sorcerers, has little chance against the king and his cronies—but there’s no way Kazam will let go of the noble powers of magic without a fight. A suspenseful, satirical story of Quarkbeasts, trolls, and wizidrical crackle!

Sarah Escorsa

I just love Jasper Fforde! I simply can't resist any book he writes and the different, wacky parallel universes he manages to create. I had enjoyed reading the first instalment in The Last Dragonslayer series but The Song of the Quarkbeast proved even better.

The characters, plot, humour, wit, crazy situations, magic and sheer brilliance of it all make The Song of the Quarkbeast a fantastic read. I just can't wait to read The Eye of Zoltar, the third instalment in this series.

• Book 1: The Last Dragonslayer ★★★★
• Book 3: The Eye of Zoltar ★★★★★
• Book 4: Humans vs. Trolls - to be released.

Jeni Enjaian

This book, like the first, was quirky and wonderful. The primary problem that the narrative sets out to solve is more understandable and flows better. There's less, necessary, world-building than the first book. Since Fforde did not have to spend as much time world-building, he was above to more fully flesh out the various characters which made the story even more enjoyable.

A long time ago Magic faded away, leaving behind only yo-yos, the extremely useful compass-pointing-to-North enchantment and the spell that keep bicycles from falling over. Things are about to change. Magical power is on the rise and King Snodd IV of Hereford has realised that he who controls magic controls almost anything. One person stands between Snodd and his plans for power and riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice. Meet Jennifer Strange, sixteen-year-old acting manager of Kazam, the employment agency for sorcerers and soothsayers. With only one functioning wizard and her faithful assistant 'Tiger' Prawns, Jennifer must use every ounce of ingenuity to derail King Snodd's plans. It may involve a trip on a magic carpet at the speed of sound to the Troll Wall, the mysterious Transient Moose, and a powerless sorceress named Once Magnificent Boo. But one thing is certain: Jennifer Strange will not relinquish the noble powers of magic to big business and commerce without a fight.

The Song of the Quarkbeast

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