So, in song form, how I feel about Tome of the Undergates and Sam Sykes.
Now, on a serious note. This was without a doubt one of the funniest books I have read in a long time and all those people saying that it is nothing but fight scenes and people insulting one another have obviously never a spent a weekend with any of my mates.
Tome is practically tame. There is indeed plenty of name calling and general threatening of one another but it never gets carried away and it's completely refreshing to read a novel that isn't all about politics, various nations at war and ancient mysterious powers that seem to only be remembered as parts of children's nursery rhymes.
My only issue with this book was that more than once I came to a word and went - huh? Now, I admit, simple Aussie bloke that I am, I'm not exactly well read when it comes to the dictionary, but do I really need to go and get one out every chapter? It's almost as if Mr. Sykes is trying to come off as clever - I know more words than you, so I must be extra smart.
But thankfully that was my only real issue. The rest of Tome flows with a descriptive elegance that paints a rather colourful story with tried and true cliches with just enough Sykes twist to make them thoroughly enjoyable.
*Note* This review is in no way influenced by the fact that Sam Sykes is a freaking giant and is known to hunt down and beat to death negative reviewers with a hardcover copy of his literal tome.
