Review: 4 1/2 Stars
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2009
Plot/Storyline: 4 3/4 StarsThe clever crafting of these storylines shows an unbound imagination combined with high intelligence on the part of Mr. Tuttle. Each of the stories has a unique plot with interesting resolutions.My favorite was the first one. Having it first in the collection was a great idea as I think it did the best job of introducing the two main characters and how they played off of each other.The central theme throughout all three is basically "Use brains, not brawn." The author sticks to that concept in interesting ways.The sense of humor I have come to expect from Mr. Tuttle is present in each story making for a very fun read.I would have liked a little more background to better understand the vow taken by Wistril, how it was enforced, etc.Character Development: 4 StarsThere was a "Forward" included that introduced Wistril and his apprentice, Kern. While helpful, I have always felt that stories should speak for themselves.I didn't expect as much character development in the first two shorter works. The third one was much longer and should have given us more insight, especially into Wistril's motivations.Writing Style: 5 StarsMr. Tuttle's writing style is an absolute joy to read. His humor and vocabulary, which includes some words that won't be found in Webster's, make his work shine.Editing/Formatting: 4 1/2 StarsThere were a few editing errors, but not so numerous as to spoil the mood. The formatting was good except for a couple of line breaks in odd places.Rating: G for everyone