Hood, Daniel Books

Wizard's Heir

Daniel Hood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Someone stole part of his inheritance from a wizard 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Despite what is written on the cover of the book, this is NOT a standard fantasy story. Liam Rhenford, the main character, has been everywhere and done everything. After inheriting a familar from a dead wizard friend and a magical house with air conditioning and an endless supply of food from a magic oven, he is set to learn magic. Then someone robs him. They steal stuff only a wizard could use. His city of Southwark is convinced that Liam is the only wizard in town, just ask anyone. Then the newest temple in town is illegally entered and the head of the temple assaulted. The head of the temple wants to fight EVERYONE. Inter-temple violence threatens. How can the two events be related? The local sheriff wants his help. Liam consults the local Thieves' Guild, but it is too poor and disorganized to help. You CANNOT guess who the thief is until the author tells you or even WHY all the running around is going on. If you like fantasy, this book is a step above the normal.

Editorial Review:

Inheriting a wizard's familiar but not the ability to master any magical abilities, Liam instead employs his growing detective skills when his late friend's magical artifacts are stolen and used to commit crime.

Beggar's Banquet

Daniel Hood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Blown away 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Its not that I believed a legitimate honest-to-gosh whodunnit puzzler murder mystery COULDN'T be done in a full-fledged fantasy realm (after all, Randall Garrett came close with his Lord Darcy tales). I just didn't think it WOULD be done. Or at least not well. Daniel Hood has created a series of novels that are both wonderful fantasy and terrific mysteries, complete with first-rate characters. I can't overstate how impressed I am! More more more please!

Well-done fantasy and puzzling mystery all wrapped up in one 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I always believed few authors try to mix genres. It is not that it's impossible, or that it doesn't sell. I imagined it was because of the difficulty of writing well in the first place: one should master one genre before attempting to blaze new trails. This series has lifted the blinders from my eyes.

In this story, Liam Rhenford must troll the sewers of society and game with the glittering aristocracy to solve a murder. I've read one other author who does such a good job of combining fantasy and mystery, and that is Glen Cook, whose Garrett series combines fantasy with hard-boiled noir detective fiction. This is far more the gentleman detective, a genre that seems to be entering decline. With Daniel Hood searching out new territory, it can only get better.

Editorial Review:

Lacking the full skills of a wizard detective, Liam Rhenford nevertheless becomes involved in the case of a stolen magic jewel and is assisted by Fanuilh, his dragon familiar.

Fanuilh

Daniel Hood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Fantasy Murder Mystery! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

When one of Liam's few friends/acquaintances (a wizard) is murdered in his bed, the wizard's familiar bites him on the leg and steals part of his soul. So begins the partnership between Liam Rhenford, a traveler/soldier/poet/historian, and Faniulh, a dog-sized dragon. Faniulh promises to teach Liam some simple spells and such in return for finding Tarquin's (the wizard) murderer.

The story isn't long and is quite simple, yet very engaging. The characters are well-fleshed out and cared for and it was fun to read a mystery story in a fantasy setting. This book is the first in the series and comes as part of a trilogy in A Dragon Familiar. If you enjoy fantasy and mystery this is the perfect book for you!

Fantasy Murder Mystery -- Perfect! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I loved the book. I enjoy fantasy and I also like a good murder mystery. I really do wish there were more books like this.

Editorial Review:

When the wizard Tarquin is murdered in his own bed, his two mourners--scholar Liam Rhenford and Fanuilh, his miniature dragon familiar--set out on a vengeful quest to find the assassin.

Scales of Justice (Return of the Dragon Fanuilh)

Daniel Hood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Expanding the world of Hood 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Daniel Hood again succeeds in creating a world which is as fascinating as it is accessible. Hood's talent lies in making fantasy meet reality - his characters are accessable, his settings imaginative, his tales spellbinding but never beyond the grasp of reality. It is easy to imagine oneself inside the story, riding alongside Liam and his hilariously humorless "sidekick," Fanuilh.

Most importantly, each successive novel builds on the previous and encourages frequent re-reads, but doesn't necessitate the new reader to buy the set. Pick one up. You'll soon want them all!

Hood does for Fantasy what Asimov did for SF 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

A legitimate puzzler whodunnit in a fantasy realm? At first glance, preposterous. It would be too difficult to avoid cheating. Which is what they said of mysteries in Science Fiction before Asimov showed how it could be done. Daniel Hood has pulled off the equivalent feat with his novels of Liam Rhenford, crafting fully satisfying mysteries in a detailed and vivid Fantasy realm. I should confess--I first discovered these stories when the publisher sent me a copy of Beggar's Banquet for review (not understanding that I do not do SF&F reviews). I was first intrigued, then hooked, then wowed. I spent my own money on the other two novels in print, will buy the fourth (actually the 2nd) if it becomes available again, and will snap up those that follow.

Editorial Review:

A wizard was found dead with a smile fixed firm across his face so wide, so hideous--it could only be the work of magic! Liam Rhenford and his faithful dragon familiar have been called to root out the source of the spell. But there's more to this case than meets the eye. .

King's Cure

Daniel Hood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of the best fantasy writers around! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Dan Hood is one of three authors on my "must buy" fantasy list. The others being Steven Brust and George R.R. Martin (Though I will say that George has the potential of going the way of Robert Jordan and taking far too long to tell his story). His world is skillfully developed and feels both real and fantastic at the same time. His characters are interesting and well defined but remain mysterious - leaving a reader with the desire to learn more about them. (I REALLY want to know more about Liam's past as the scion of a noble house fallen on difficult times...)

Hood's plots, however, are the real reason you should buy his novels. He combines logical mysteries with the fantasy world he created and weaves puzzling and challenging plots which leave a reader always wanting to keep on turning pages. One reviewer of an earlier novel (Fanuilh - Hood's first) said it was predictable. I disagree, there were always several possible murderers until near the end - at which point the focus was more on how Rhenford was going to handle the situation.

These novels are great for fantasy enthusiasts and mystery lovers alike. Those who are both are in for a rare treat.

Unfortunately Mr. Hood has recently noted on his website that his publisher is suspending the series due to lower than expected sales. For this reason I suggest that all lovers of good fantasy get out their wallets and buy King's Cure - it is a great read and maybe we can get Liam Rhenford a second chance.

My reason for this is, of course, purely selfish: I want to read more Daniel Hood novels!

Science Fiction Age July 1994 (Volume Two, Number 5)

David Brin, Paul Di Filippo, Rick Shelley, Daniel Hood, Rick Wilber

By: Sovereign Media Co., Inc Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $19.99

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