"In the good old days, magic was indispensable. But now magic is fading: Drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer."

Enjoy!

Oh my goodness! Thanks for this wonderful book that I can hardly wait to read. I am so excited. Thank you!

I don't know why I liked this book so much, because it kind of was fluff, but it was fun fluff. Like all books by Jasper Fforde, you get a distinct sense that there is more back story to every character and storyline thread than you could ever follow, and you get only a small taste of it throughout the book. The fantasy world is unique but not as strongly defined as something by Tolkien or Rowling. Still, the characters are fun and the storyline has a good pacing, making it a much quicker read than I expected.

Jennifer Strange is a foundling who is nearly 16 and has become the de facto manager of Kazam Magical Arts since the disappearance of Mr. Zambini, to whom she is indentured. Magic is waning and money is tight and the various sorcerers are challenging and quarrelsome people. And a new foundling, Tiger Prawns, has just arrived. Add in the recent prophecy that the last dragon is about to die, the greed of the ubiquitous Consolidated Useful Stuff Corporation, the war-mad King Snodd IV, and a loyal quarkbeast who frightens most everyone and you have the seeds of a romping adventure. Jennifer is an anomaly in her world, an idealist and a clever student of human nature, a strong, curious, and persistent person that you cannot help but like. Tiger is a good apprentice to her and Mother Zenobia is a character I would like to know better.

This book was given to me as a gift at the BookCrossing Convention (the one in Oxford, I think) and normally I make it a point to pass along my registered books received from other BookCrossers. However, with this one, I may share it with others but on a loan rather than gift basis. I think I want to read the entire series and keep them on my shelf for future re-reading.

I kept thinking my downstairs neighbors might enjoy this book, so I left it for them to read when I was feeding their guinea pigs. Maybe it will come back to me, maybe not.

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