This was ok. Kinda over-confusing and under explained. Felt like the author was trying to build a really expansive world, but was unwilling to pay the groundwork for readers to really be able to understand it ( )

A fantasy of manners, a mystery, and an absolutely delightful romp. But it wouldn’t be Victoria Goddard if it was only that – this book visits very dark places as well.

I loved everyone! (And, oh, the pleasure of interconnected series: when you know a certain character’s real identity, mwahahahaha…)

Mr Greenwing: he wouldn’t know what a dishonourable thing was if it hit him on the head; his family circumstances are tragic and strange; there is heartbreak and sneezing issues. I haven’t yet met a fantasy character who was that allergic to… stuff. It is very inconvenient when you are hiding from scary things.

Mr Dart: I liked him immediately and without reservations. “This investigating thing is a lark! What fun it is to have a reason to gossip. Makes me see why people go into sociology.” Also, he blows smoke rings “with the evidence of much practice”.

Mrs Etaris is awesome in every way. “My dear Mr Greenwing, if there is anything I know about, it is how to have an adventure.”

There is a mystery to solve! There are curses, kidnappings, daring rescues. The magic is very, very, very dark and scary. Beware of small sleepy places where “nothing” ever happens, I tell you.

“Thank you for breaking the enchantment back there, Mr Dart.”
“Oh, my pleasure, Mr Greenwing.”

I didn’t expect them to start saying “right ho” as well, but when they did, it wasn’t unexpected at all :)))

The last chapters are a terrifying fever dream. (Don’t. Mess. With. Magic!!!) I couldn’t put the book down! Amazingly, there were also scenes that made me laugh out loud, in the middle of suffocating, sticky, bloody magic.

There are five more books in the series! Good, good, gooooooood. ( )

Jemis Greenwood has returned to Ragnor Bella in disgrace, having failed out of his university and broken up with his girlfriend. He works for Mrs. Etaris at the local bookstore and attempts to keep his head down, even knowing that he's at the fore of small-town gossip these days - and that, even if his father, Jakory, hadn't been known as a traitor. Then a stargazy pie randomly shows up on the town square and Jemis, Mrs. Etaris, and old mate Mr. Dart decide to find out where it came from.

This is the first in the Greenwood & Dart series, which is more lighthearted than The Hands of the Emperor and its immediate sequels, and was also written earlier. The characters were great, though, and there are hints of a more complex world than we see at first blush. As a result, I was willing to forgive some of the flaws, such as a general lack of "things happening" except when a lot of things happen, and the confused ending that I didn't follow at all. But I really love Jemis and his friends, and I'm curious to see what mysteries they come across next. ( )

I'm glad I started reading this series with a thorough grounding of the world already in my pocket, because I enjoyed it enormously. Would recommend reading The Hands of the Emperor first, and preferable a few more in that series before tackling this one. Also, why did I think it would be a novella? It's a full size book with several endearing characters stumbling around learning a bit more about who they are. I also love that the universities have separate traditions, like not ever revealing your last name/heritage at one. I'm very much enjoying Mr. Greenwing's story and his journey navigating coming home again after a transformative experience. The pie is also just wonderfully odd and perfectly hedge-witchery, and I really enjoyed the mysteries going on. Not at all sure about the mermaid, but she certainly adds some flavor. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2023/01/2023015-stargazy-pie-victoria-goddard.htm... ( )