Who Would Like This Book:
Looking for a unique blend of fantasy, humor, and outright absurdity? You'll love "Highfire"! Eoin Colfer delivers a hilarious adventure featuring an Absolut vodka-swilling dragon, Vern, hiding out in the Louisiana bayou. The banter and chemistry between Vern and the scrappy teen, Squib, are pitch-perfect, taking the odd-couple trope to a whole new level. The setting is vivid, the characters are memorable (love them or loathe them, you’ll feel something), and the plot rockets between action and laugh-out-loud moments. This is perfect for adults who enjoy satirical, irreverent fantasy and don’t mind a good helping of crude humor.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re not a fan of crude language, raunchy jokes, or over-the-top villains, you might not vibe with this book. Some found the humor leaned a bit too hard into bodily and adult jokes, and the story sometimes dwells on its cartoonishly evil antagonist. Readers seeking more dragon-lore and less human melodrama, or those who prefer a subtler, more lyrical writing style, may find "Highfire" misses the mark. Definitely not for those expecting the family-friendly tone of Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series.
About:
"Highfire" by Eoin Colfer is a hilarious adult novel set in the swamps of Louisiana, following the story of Vern, a snarky, vodka-drinking dragon who befriends a troubled teenager named Squib. The book combines elements of humor, action, and fantasy, creating a heartwarming and silly narrative that revolves around the unlikely friendship between Vern and Squib as they navigate through dangerous situations involving corrupt cops and criminal activities.
The writing style of "Highfire" is described as witty, engaging, and immersive, with vivid characters and a unique blend of fantasy and everyday life in the Louisiana bayou. Eoin Colfer's storytelling brings to life the colorful setting and characters, offering a mix of humor, suspense, and heart that keeps readers intrigued and entertained throughout the book.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes strong language, violence, and themes surrounding drug use and corruption.
From The Publisher:
"True Detective meets Swamp Thing in the Artemis Fowl author's neo-noirish thriller about a curmudgeonly dragon in Louisiana." -Guardian
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series comes a hilarious and high-octane adult novel about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who lives an isolated life in the bayous of Louisiana-and the raucous adventures that ensue when he crosses paths with a fifteen-year-old troublemaker on the run from a crooked sheriff.
In the days of yore, he flew the skies and scorched angry mobs-now he hides from swamp tour boats and rises only with the greatest reluctance from his Laz-Z-Boy recliner. Laying low in the bayou, this once-magnificent fire breather has been reduced to lighting Marlboros with nose sparks, swilling Absolut in a Flashdance T-shirt, and binging Netflix in a fishing shack. For centuries, he struck fear in hearts far and wide as Wyvern, Lord Highfire of the Highfire Eyrie-now he goes by Vern. However...he has survived, unlike the rest. He is the last of his kind, the last dragon. Still, no amount of vodka can drown the loneliness in his molten core. Vern's glory days are long gone. Or are they?
A canny Cajun swamp rat, young Everett "Squib" Moreau does what he can to survive, trying not to break the heart of his saintly single mother. He's finally decided to work for a shady smuggler-but on his first night, he witnesses his boss murdered by a crooked constable.
Regence Hooke is not just a dirty cop, he's a despicable human being-who happens to want Squib's momma in the worst way. When Hooke goes after his hidden witness with a grenade launcher, Squib finds himself airlifted from certain death by…a dragon?
The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator. He can act as his go-between (aka familiar)-fetch his vodka, keep him company, etc.-in exchange for protection from Hooke. Soon the three of them are careening headlong toward a combustible confrontation. There's about to be a fiery reckoning, in which either dragons finally go extinct-or Vern's glory days are back.
A triumphant return to the genre-bending fantasy that Eoin Colfer is so well known for, Highfire is an effortlessly clever and relentlessly funny tour-de-force of comedy and action.
Ratings (1)
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (14):
Read It (2) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (9) | |
Not Interested (2) |
1 comment(s)
***3.0***
I have a mixed response for this book and I am reading this author for the first time.
It is set on Louisiana river bank area and there are lots of insects/alligators, heat , river bank kind of set up.
Everett "Squib" Moreau is a teenage boy who had a difficult childhood. But he works hard along with his mother,Elodie to pay off their debt and get themselves out of the swamp. And there is Constable Regence Hooke, who is crooked as crooked can be. He has his eye on Squib's mom, which Squib does not like.
So Squib during his day to day work, comes face to face with a dragon. Or more a Wyvern than a dragon. And this Wyvern or Vern gets a soft spot for the boy. From here they go off as a team against Constable Hook who in turn is hell bent on killing both Vern and Squib.
The plot is kind of has a Peter-Pan setup. The plot is good and narration ok. It didnt go so well with me because of the language or slang which I am not so used to. There are enough f-words or such but its ok for me. Totally i didn't understand many of the conversations and went over head. My reading dragged and took lot many days to finish. It was a okish read.
Happy Reading!!!
What can you read after
Highfire?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
