As a child, I absolutely adored Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series. It was so funny, so smart, so quick, and it absolutely hooked me while often making me howl with laughter. To this day, it’s still one of my favourite series. So I was delighted to find that Colfer was bringing out an adult fantasy novel for the very first time.

From the very first page, I got the sense that this would be unlike anything else I’ve ever read before. I know I say that a lot on this blog, but with Highfire I really really mean it. The novel is about an alcoholic dragon wearing a Flashdance t-shirt, for crying out loud. It’s certainly a memorable book. And I have never seen another one quite like it.

The same humour that I found in the Artemis Fowl books all those years ago [trust me, I don’t even want to think about how long ago I first read them because it makes me sound old] is stark across every single page. There’s lots of quippy lines, read-between-the-line jokes, and just funny happenings and situations. The action is made all the punchier for it because the humour really lends voice to the characters. Even though it’s in third-person, there’s a lot of narrative flair to this book. While I think anyone who loved the Artemis Fowl books will find this appealing, I will say that it is a very very adult book. There’s lots of profanity, talk about drugs, violence and mentions of sex. So you might want to consider that before buying it for a kid, or reading it in plain view on public transport :’D

To be honest, this helps a lot with the plot. If we’re being blunt, not a whole lot happens in it. But then, this is actually something I came to love about Highfire– it isn’t a fantasy book that deals with impending world destruction or giant-scale wars or kingdoms that need rescued. It’s a very small affair. Set in Louisiana, the book is really just about the characters doing their own thing. That’s not to say that nothing interesting happens, of course. There’s quite a bit of fighting and life-impacting stuff that unfolds over the course of the narrative, but, while there are some high stakes at times, it feels geographically focused and more… idk, down to earth? I know, it’s such a bizarre thing to say about a book like this, but there’s just something about its small-scaleness that seriously appealed to me. It was so refreshing. Not to mention it was hilarious trying to imagine a dragon living out in the Louisiana swamp.

As with all of Colfer’s oeuvre, the characters were very well developed. I came to adore Squib and cheer for him every time he appeared on the page. And while Vern was prickly, by the end I just wanted to hug him. I imagine the humour went a long way to making these characters likeable, but there’s also a lot of nuance to both of them and there were some serious, interesting backstories and things that balanced the jokes nicely.

I will say that the story wasn’t an immediate hook for me, and while it had a lot of stuff going for it, it missed a lot of the action and fast-paced moments I was hoping to see woven into it. As I said earlier, I do appreciate that the stakes managed to be legitimately high while also small-scale, but I could have done with a touch more action. There were definitely chunks of the book where I found it reasonably easy to put down, and the middle was a tad saggy. There are some high action moments, but there was also maybe just a smidge too much of a lull between them.

Overall, I’d give Highfire an 8/10 stars. I thought it was an utterly unique fantasy story, and I really have nothing to compare it to. The humour was as amusing as anything else Colfer has ever written, and you can definitely see his writing style shining through. But I do think the pacing lagged at moments, and it took a while to hook me and make me determined to keep reading.

Colfer did it again!
A funny and witty story about the last dragon and a boy. And what the dragon it is! He isn't the dragon you would expect to see in the usual fantasy. He is a very modern person who enjoys TV-shows, has a smartphone and social accounts, and likes to drink vodka. He is a little bit sarcastic and untrusting been hiding from humans for a long time. But when young Squib comes into his life he can't avoid jumping into the adventurous swirl of events that could lead to death.
Colfer portrays his characters in a hilarious way but at the same time, they are highly believable. Regence Hooke is my new favourite villain. You don't want him to win, you don't want him to change, but you are fascinated with him. He is so vile, without a tiny bit of compassion, but you can see what caused his current state of mind. At some point, he reflects himself as the main character of Mobi-Dick who can't stop until he kills the whale.
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'Regence Hooke was without a doubt a colourful individual. There wasn't hardly a crime he hadn't participated in or turned a blind eye to at one point or another. Safe to say that he didn't get to where he was by attending church regular and baking cookies for Africa.'
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'Another quote from Faraiji: 'The eyes are the windows to the soul. But not in your case, Sergeant. I see no soul.' Hooke had to agree. He sincerely believed that his soul had been excised, or at least forfeited, so his grey eyes were windows to bedlam. To look into Regence Hooke's eyes was to understand that this man's religion was a blend of avarice and chaos. Hooke knew that people found it difficult to hold his gaze. They felt it in him, the deep well of aggression, the boundless need for conquest.'
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I immensely enjoyed all of the action with chasing, fighting, and plotting. A bit of violence is present, it was sad about what happened with Waxman, and attack on the Ivory mansion was a somewhat a massacre, but this kind of details is really fit for this story.
I highly recommend this book for everyone who likes action with fire, fights, and explosions, and a lot of jokes, who likes a convincing villain, and who likes the unique protagonists who might not be all goody-goody but have their moral compass right.

Review is Published on my Goodreads profile and on the Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1066777836862466/posts/1411223219084591/

Thank you to Quercus Books for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions stated are my own.

I read and enjoyed Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books when I was well outside of the target audience age-bracket, so I was very excited to find out about his new book aimed at adults.

Highfire features a foul-mouthed (hah!), misanthropic dragon who would rather stick to his keto diet and watch Flashdance than get involved with humans. Squib is a smart-mouthed, 9-finger- having teenager who loves his momma but can't seem to stay out of trouble. They're an unlikely pair but they're both being pursued by cold-blooded sociopath, Regence Hooke. They get into peril, they get out of it and then they get back into. The plot itself isn't particularly inspired or new; if you've read any sort of thriller/crime novel, the shape of the book will feel very familiar - after all, there aren't many new ways to shoot at someone.

What Colfer does do very well in this book is what he does very well in his Artemis Fowl series. He's created interesting, nuanced characters who are a bit bad, a bit good and all interesting. He de-romanticises dragons and their mythology and makes them relatable, human and more believable. Squib is the latest in a long line of good-at-heart rapscallions, a literary descendent of Robin Hood but with a smartphone. Even the antagonist feels fairly fleshed out and 3D, despite being basically the worst human ever. He feels a bit more pantomime towards the end but right at the beginning, I even wondered if he might be redeemable what with his backstory and how in some basic ways, he behaved quite like Squib. Colfer has always had a knack of crafting characters and he hasn't lost his touch in the book. The relationships between the characters dance off the page and Colfer's ear for dialect and language means we can hear the bayous of Louisiana come to life. There is not much plot in the book, because in reality, we're actually being pulled along by intriguing characters, their inner thoughts and dialogue. The book is very much of its time, rammed full of pop culture references, from Game of Thrones to Blade Runner. The characters even have WhatsApp.

It was a fun read and it was very easy to keep on reading. I liked the book but I didn't love it, hence the 3.5 star rating I'm going to give to it.

I am not sure what I was expecting from Highfire but heavy-handed smart, yet slapstick, comedy wasn't it. This is a treat made delightful by the irreverent, thoroughly entertaining and jaded, Vern, a semi-tame dragon hiding out in the bayous of Louisiana. Vern has a weakness for vodka (less caloric than beer) and flashdance t-shirts and spends his days evading detection from swamp tour boats. Eoin Colfer is a comic genius and I laughed often reading the misadventures of a dragon - the last of his kind - hiding from humans as he becomes reliant on his new cohort, Squib, a teenager who finds himself indebted to said dragon. Let's not leave out Hooke, the dirty, bent copper who is keen to cosy up to Squib's Momma whilst also getting his hands on the delinquent Squib. As you might expect, things go amiss but the laughs keep rolling on.

A hilarious book, Highfire is filled with whit, sarcasm and lots of heart, there is little here of a serious nature to tax the soul so a perfect, lighthearted adventure of escapism. A joyous fun romp.

Eoin Colfer’s first foray into adult fiction bundles up all his zany humour into a wonderful wacky southern thriller about a crooked cop, wayward youth and a vodka swilling, Netflix binging swamp dragon.

The Artemis Fowl author is no stranger to mixing stories about criminal enterprises with fantasy and folk-lore but never has he had as much free reign as he does here, combining the whip-smart comic playfulness of his children’s books with bone-crunching violence and “naughty words” to create a whole new level of fun.

The character of dragon Vern is particularly well crafted, and his burgeoning relationship with apprentice crook Squib Moreau provides much of the shine early as the story is set up. The dialogue is a hoot and offers plenty of moments of razor sharp wit before an action-driven second half that sees Vern taking on all kinds of dangers – including a hilarious hand-to-hand battle sequence.

A solid start to what is hopefully an ongoing series.

What can I say about the master of words that is @eoincolfer ? Apart from the fact that you need to go read this book immediately!

This story is what you get when you mix an ancient vodka-loving dragon, a swamp boy who is always in some kind of trouble and a cop who is looking to take over a cartel’s business. It was fabulous, had me hooked almost instantaneously, and the time just slipped away while I was reading it. Whenever I had to put it down I never wanted to, I was always left wondering what was going to happen next, and now I have finished I feel like I am going to be thinking of Eoin’s genius at storytelling for a long time

Like many I was intrigued to read this adult fantasy novel by Eoin Colfer having grown up with the Artemis Fowl books. I loved the concept and particularly the characters of Waxman and Vern - their relationship was both endearing and comical. I mean, who doesn't like the idea of a vodka-swigging dragon? However I found the coarseness of the prose really offputting. You don't need to add swear words and vulgarity in order to write for adults. It just seemed unnecessary and spoilt the book for me.

I went into this book now knowing what to expect, and it was certainly different from anything else I have read recently. It's a believable story of a dragon living in secret in the Bayou, which sounds crazy but the logic fits really well into the story. What makes this book stand out though is the characters. We have a likeable rogue of a boy hero who you are rooting for all the way through, and an absolute despicable villain to play against him and then varied cast around them who bring the world to life. The dragon himself is a really interesting character but he doesn't hog the limelight, instead its the 2 main characters who dominate the pages.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes an interesting, and often funny story. Leave any preconceptions at the door and enjoy the ride!

In the Louisiana swamp, Vern is hiding from the world and leads a quiet and depressing life binge-watching Netflix and drinking Absolut Vodka. Who is Vern? He is a dragon, probably the last one on the planet, and his only friend is an old Mogway. Until his path crosses with that of 15-year-old Everett Moreau, better known as Squib, and corrupted police officer Regence Hooke. From then on, his life will be far from quiet…

This is my first Eoin Colfer’s novel (I know… shocking!!!) and I loved it!!! Why have I never read any of his novels before? I enjoyed his sense of humour and the great characters he created. The plot is original and adventurous. It’s nothing at all what I expected and I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything like it.

The story is at times brutal and violent, but it is also funny, smart, and entertaining. The characters are well-developed. Vern is not your usual dragon. He is grumpy and angry all the time and he hates all humans. His friendship with Squib is unlikely and beautiful and I loved reading about it. Squib has been raised by a single mother and, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it, he is always in trouble, especially with local police officer Regence Hooke, an arrogant psychopath who is trying to turn the swamp in his own personal kingdom.

Highfire is poignant, thrilling, and addictive, a fantastic story that will make you laugh and will make you hold your breath at the same time. A must-read!!!

Highfire is bestselling children’s author Eoin Colfer’s first adult fantasy novel, and I guess this is one of those situations whereby the old adage ”better late than never” seems particularly apt. So, in the end, was it actually worth waiting for? The short answer is yes, absolutely. The apparent lack of the dreaded hype machine to latch onto this as an upcoming early 2020 publication at the back end of last year when it was announced has worked every bit in its favour. I must admit it's been quite a while since I indulged in one of Colfer’s children's masterpieces but few would have the gall to propose / proffer that they are lacking in any kind of fashion. For children's fantasy Colfer was, and still is, one of the finest working (in the genre) today. However, with this, he proves overwhelmingly, with more of a nuanced plot and exploration of a diverse and intriguing range of adult themes, that he indeed can write exquisite fantasy epic for the bigger kids!

His masterful storytelling speaks for itself and alongside the mix of wit and humour, impressive characterization, intricate worldbuilding and completely immersive experience, Colfer throws his hat squarely in the ring for adult fantasy of 2020 and we haven't yet departed the opening month! It also retains some of the quirky fun and playfulness featured in many, if not all, of his children literature/works and it WORKS incredibly well. It's an exquisite, escapist dream and a book I know I will reread before the year is out. Highfire is the literary equivalent of Disneyland but more fun, outlandish and appealing more to adults. It's safe to say that Colfer's first foray into the adult fantasy genre has been a resounding success. Unforgettable. Unputdownable. A must-read for every type of fantasy fan. Many thanks to Jo Fletcher Books for an ARC.

“Squib was marked and he knew it. I gotta sort this out, he thought. I gotta get out from under that dragon. Which is not a problem most people have to solve in their lifetimes. In general, most folks who get to meet a dragon only get to think about it that one time for about five seconds.”

The teenaged boy Squib becomes the familiar of Vern, who is perhaps the last surviving dragon. Vern is sort of like a 7-foot, winged alligator, who walks upright, wears cargo shorts and lives in a Louisiana swamp. I liked the relationship between Vern and Squib, which evolved over the course of the book. It had a sweet YA vibe by the end of the book. However, nothing else about the book is YA. It is coarse, vulgar and profane. I’m ok with that in moderation but my problem with the book was that nothing about the book was as clever or humorous as the author believes. It’s probably just a case of my not sharing his sense of humor. He seems to believe that referring to “balls”, “piss” and “ass” is the height of humor. I disagree.

The description of this book made it sound like something I would like, but I just couldn’t get into the writing style. None of this was funny to me: neither “A tiny species of hydrophytic buttercup, indigenous to the swamp, was blasted into extinction. No one ever saw it and no one would ever miss it — apart from the bullfrogs that ate it for its hallucinogenic properties. Cue thousands of cold-turkey bullfrogs croaking their sacs off for what was left of the summer.” nor “Vern’s response to this apparition was to unleash his junk and take an arcing piss.”

I haven’t read anything else by this author, but I know he’s very popular. I’m sure this book will appeal to others but it just wasn’t for me. The end of the book leaves room for a sequel. I think I’ll pass.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Highfire is a great romp. With the signature snarkiness of Artemis Foul, ratcheted up an order of magnitude for adult audiences, Colfer treats us to the unlikely confluence of dragons, corrupt lawmen, and swamp… lots of swamp.

Squib Moreau is a Cajun teen, tooling around in his boat in the bayou. The local law enforcement, while thoroughly corrupt, is just an annoyance, although the constable’s attentions to Squib’s mom are more than annoying. Squib’s amateur attempt at spying on the dirty cop reaps considerably more than expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this blast through the bayous.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are some books you know you are going to love from the minute you start reading and Highfire was definitely one of them! There was nothing I didn't love about this. It's a completely new take on dragons - a world away from Westeros or Middle Earth - this is a dragon who lives in a shack with his lazyboy, TV and beer, wearing a flashdance t-shirt and speaking in the local deep South accent of the bayou and the swamp culture he lives in - 'you can sing that brother!' was one of my favourite lines! This is a dragon who has left his high mythological past firmly behind him but, improbably and hilariously, finds that part of him reawakened not by a lost king, farm boy or knight but an awkward, accident-prone teenager who becomes his errand boy and annoys him into action to save him and his mother from the clutches of the evil and quite disturbing bent copper who is after them all. Every character is brilliantly written - fans of Artemis Fowl won't find much similarity here but it is a fantastic and highly entertaining read. I really hope it is the start of a new series!

Vern might live in the Louisiana swamps, but he's not short on luxury: vodka, cable tv, his beloved Flashdance t-shirts. The 'gators bother him from time to time, sure, but any people who do likewise tend not to make it back out of the swamp. Which might be because Vern is short for Wyvern, Lord Highfire, last of the breed of dragon lords.

Still, even Vern might not be a match for 15-year-old 'Squib' Moreau, troublemaker and entrepreneur, constantly on the run from Louisiana's most bent cop - who happens to be sweet on Squib's mother. When these three combine, it might just get explosive...

Eoin Colfer is probably best known for the Artemis Fowl books. This isn't his first book for adults, but it is for grown ups: yes, the main character is a talking dragon, but his language isn't always clean and the violence is often spectacularly gory.

Still, if neither of those things put you off, then this book is huge amounts of fun. Well, there's a sarcastic dragon with a passion for pop culture, for a start! Squib is also a great character, a bit surprising given he's a teenager, and their developing friendship is done very well. Ooh, and I loathed the psychopathic Constable Hooke just as I'm sure I was supposed to - he's a nasty one, but never pantomime-baddy.

Big shout out, too, for the descriptions of the setting. They plunge you completely into the mosquito-heavy atmosphere of the bayou, even if New Orleans seen from a dragon's point of view isn't exactly vacation-appealing!

Recommended - a full Squib-fingered score from me! ;)

This book comes with high expectations - it's Eoin Colfer! - and I'm glad to say it fully met them. That's not as foregone a conclusion as it sounds - not only this is Colfer's first adult fantasy (authors don't always transplant well) but he has gone for quite a tricky genre mix here.

Vern is an old guy living in a swamp in a beyond-the-back-of-nowhere corner of Louisiana. He loves his vodka. He's irritable, reclusive and Heaven help anyone who trespasses on his island and disturbs him...

Vern is also the last dragon in the world, living in a swamp in a beyond-the-back-of-nowhere corner of Louisiana. He loves his vodka. He's irritable, reclusive and Heaven help anyone who discovers he exists - because then he will have to kill them...

Also nosing about that swamp are the bright, but underrated, boy Squib Moreau who runs errands on the river, and murderous parish constable Regence Hooke who wants Squid out of the way so he can move in on his mother, Elodie. As you can imagine it gets very complicated. All kinds of things might happen out on the bayou and no-one would be any the wiser. Hooke has wider plans than those concerning Elodie, and there are no limits to what he might do.

I just loved this book. I can't classify it in genre terms. It's not a slick urban fantasy, with an intricate world of supernatural creatures. Yet it's patently of this world, with a convincing setting and powerfully evoking place (from the polluted chemical runoff in the water to the humid air, the mud, decaying vegetation and the alligators stirring). It also has a heartbreaking backstory, in Vern's memories of how his species were wiped out (there are reasons he hides from humans).

At its heart is the encounter between the old dragon and the teenage boy, which is often humorous - they understand each other very well. This is, however, continually disturbed by the grandiloquent scheming of Hooke, who has a military background, a cache of weapons that wouldn't disgrace an average sized state, and plans to employ both. Hooke is a masterpiece of characterisation, a monster and a bully who has always got what he wanted - until he met Elodie. We see a lot inside his he'd, and it's not a nice place to be.

That might be the moment to repeat a warning the publishers have included in the press release for this book - yes, the book does have adult content. There is lots of violence and some gruesome deaths, and also some sexual themes (both comic - we learn what a dragon does with his bits to keep them safe in combat) and less so. While there's nothing really explicit, it really isn't a YA book, a point I suppose that has to be made when marketing a crossover book like this.

It is, though, incredibly fun. We see things through Vern's, Squib's and Hooke's eyes and the plot is pretty straightforward so one can pretty much anticipate what's going to happen. How it happens is though different - Colfer has produced a compelling and action-packed narrative that demands you keep reading and reading: there is no place you can stop, any more than a dragon fully loaded with oil and screaming in for the burn is going to bank away and retreat...

I hope we hear more about Lord Wyvern of Highfire. He must have quite a backstory to explore.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Highfire set in the Louisiana Bayou is Eoin Colfer's first fantasy novel for adults, and it is just as captivating as the ones he has written for young people. Everett (Squib) Moreau is pretty sure his life would improve significantly if he could convince Constable Regence Hook to stop sniffing around his Mama. In hopes of catching him at something to use against him, he follows Hooke into the swamp one evening and gets a whole lot more than he was planning on. Not only does he almost get caught filming Hooke committing murder, but while attempting to escape undetected, he makes the acquaintance of a dragon. Lord Highfire of Highfire Eyrie is the last wyvern in the world. He goes by the name Vern and is a Flashdance loving, vodka swilling, fire breathing holy terror. Vern didn’t get to be the last wyvern by trusting humans and now not only does Squib have Hooke on his trail, but he has a dragon that doesn’t intend to leave any witnesses to his presence. What ensues is a roller coaster ride of adventure with evil drug lords, things blowing up, pirate gold and at its heart true friendship. I enjoyed this book immensely and would be delighted if future books continued the adventures of Squib and Vern. Publishing Date January 28, 2020. #NetGalley #Highfire #EoinColfer #QuercusBooks #JoFletcherBooks #bookstagram #DragonTales #FantasyNovels

When I heard Eoin Colfer was writing his first book for adults I got so excited as I have recommended his Artemis Fowl series and other titles to so many people because of his unique humour. And oh boy Highfire was way beyond my expectations, I mean only Eoin Colfer can give you a Dragon hiding out in the bayou with a penchant for Vodka and Flashdance who only really wants a quiet life away from humans. This doesn’t quite go to plan when he meets Squib. A fantastic debut that has so much heart I totally loved it

My thanks to Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Highfire’ by Eoin Colfer in exchange for an honest review.

This is Colfer’s first fantasy for adults though I expect that many ‘grownups’ have enjoyed his highly popular Artemis Fowl series. This was my first experience of Colfer’s writing and I was completely won over.

‘Highfire’ is set deep in the Louisiana bayou where Vern (short for Wyvern), the last living dragon, has made his home far from prying human eyes. He is a wise-cracking, vodka-drinking dragon who is obsessed with reality television, Netflix, and the ‘80s ‘Flashdance’. Quirky right?

Vern’s peace is shattered by the intrusion of teenager Everett Moreau, nicknamed Squib. He is a Cajun boy, who is a little swamp wild but generally good hearted and supportive of his mother. Crooked local cop, Regence Hooke, has his eye on Squib’s momma and would very much like Squib out of the picture so he can make his move. How these characters come together and the consequences form the bulk of the tale.

Enjoying it so much I find myself a little lost to find adequate words. Overall, I found ‘Highfire’ an excellent blend of action and comedy with just a touch of Southern Gothic horror. Colfer clearly enjoyed himself writing it and that sense of enthusiasm jumps gleefully from its pages.

I adored its characters, especially Vern and Squib. The repartee between them was brilliant. Hooke was a very full-on baddie and his evil machinations had me on the edge of my seat.

I was genuinely sad to reach the final pages. Will Vern have further adventures? I hope so as he is such a brilliant creation. I now plan to buy my own copy, likely of its audiobook edition as I feel it would translate well to this format.

Certainly a novel worthy of its prepublication buzz. Highly recommended.

https://lynns-books.com/2020/01/27/highfire-by-eoin-colfer/
3.5 of 5 stars
I have slightly mixed feelings about Highfire. On the one hand, I really enjoyed certain aspects of the story and would no doubt read more if the author intended to revisit. But, at the same time I did struggle a little to get into this and I’m not entirely sure why, other than my reading seemed to ebb a little last week so maybe I was just not in the right frame of mind.

This is fantasy of a very different kind. To an extent, without Vern (who was actually more akin to a Wyvern than a dragon) and his mysterious friend, the fantasy aspect of the story is very low key. This is a story that plays out in the bayous of Louisiana and I have to say upfront that I loved the setting.

Deep in the bayou lives a dragon, the last of his kind maybe. He’s all about keeping a low profile and keeping the howling mobs at bay. In the modern era your likeness and a full on video can be recorded so easily that Vern has taken to hiding out, he’s a bit depressed, he lacks companionship, he has something of an alcohol problem and I suppose he lacks purpose. Until Squib enters his life.

Basically this is a story that focuses very much on the characters. Everett Moreau, aka Squib, is a teenage boy who is one step away from crossing the line. He’s not had the easiest childhood and although at heart he’s basically a good lad he’s struggling to help his mother with a debt that she didn’t run up whilst at the same time trying to keep the attention of the local law from focusing too hard on either himself or his mother. Everett is quite easy to like, especially his enthusiasm for Vern the dragon.

Vern has lived a long life. He doesn’t like humans, mainly due to the fact that they turned on his kind many centuries ago and killed them off, leaving Vern alone and bitter. I suppose you could say that Squib really shakes Vern’s life up, a lot and I did enjoy their interactions, especially the slow way that Vern comes round to this new human in his life.

Regence Hooke is the local law and a bigger lowlife you are unlikely to ever meet. Being privy to his internal thoughts is positively hideous. He’s a murderer and a nasty piece of work. Your basic psychopath really, and he has the big hots for Squib’s mum and would very much like to take Squib out of the picture entirely so that he can move his agenda forward. He really is quite despicable.

The story revolves around these three characters, starting fairly low key until their lives become inextricably entangled and go down the route of no return – things then reach an explosive climax.

I think what held me back from a little with Highfire is that it has a fairly young feel – yet, it’s undoubtedly an adult read. There is violence, people getting their faces ripped off and their guts spilled but in spite of the adult content, for me, this felt almost like Pete and his dragon. I haven’t got a problem with that in some respects but I think I was expecting a darker tone somehow. Vern is definitely an impressive beast and you wouldn’t want to get on his wrong side, but at the same time the comic feel to the story prevents him from having any real menace and I confess it took me a while to form any real attachments to the characters.

Okay, I was aware that this was going to be full of humour when I picked this up so the comic elements weren’t really a surprise but not all the humour quite hit the spot for me personally.

I don’t really mean to come across as overly negative. On finishing this book I would say that I enjoyed it. The ending was satisfying and refreshingly creative and I immediately felt that if more books were planned with Vern as the central character then I would be keen to pick them up, but, I’m not totally in love with the characters just yet, they still have a little more work for me to be totally on board.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This is one of my most anticipated books of the year, if not the most anticipated. When Eoin Colfer announced the release of this book at World Con, Dublin 2019, I knew I was going to love it. Colfer has long been one of my favourite writers since childhood, I was luckily enough to meet him twice last year and I can honestly say, this book is now one of my favourites.
'Highfire' takes every single thing I love from Colfer's writing, from the wonderful characters to the razor sharp humor, and remake them into a unique story that turns everything we expect from a story with a dragon and his familiar on its head and gets it drunk on vodka martinis.
Vern stole my heart. How could I not love a world weary dragon who lives on Absolut vodka, hates people and loves Flashdance? He is the last of his kind, he is wary of all humans (same, Vern) and is coagulating in his own sorrows. He struggles constantly between giving up and ending it all and continuing on to hate on humans further. He even considers having sex with an Alligator to liven things up for him. You really feel for this dragon who used to be royalty and is now reduced to just living in hiding every day. His only friend, a Mogwai named Waxman, is even kept at arms length. Then in comes Squib Moreau.
I would honestly die for Squib. Have you ever had that need to make sure the characters in your book are okay when you put the book down? That was me every waking minute with Squib. He has a face that gets him into trouble but is so pure and good you even wonder how he will survive in this world. Squib and Vern's scenes are some of my favourite in the entire book. Their dynamic of master/familiar quickly grows into a friendship each needs as much as the other.
Colfer displays his usual skill of handling a tight plot that refuses to let the reader a moment to breathe. I mentioned already that I found it hard to put this down and I honestly mean that. This is a fast paced story with some very gory scenes that will leave you glued to the book while totally disgusted.
This book while also being tense and very graphic in places is extremely funny. Vern has some of the best lines in the book, but honestly the person who made me laugh is Waxman. He functions almost as Vern's Renfield but if Renfield could kill Dracula at any moment but can't be bothered. I lost it laughing at the below quote;

'Makes me seem a character,' he said. "Crazy Waxman" would be better, or maybe, "Scary Waxman" to keep the kids away, but "Waxman" will do just fine. I'm like Boo fuckin' Radley on crack to these backward-ass folk.'

If you are a fantasy fan who likes your fantasy with a bit of black humor, or like me, you grew up reading any of Colfer's books, this is for you. I can't recommend this book enough, it is honestly my favourite book so far this year and I'm so glad I got to read it early too. Thank you to Netgalley, Jo Fletcher Books and Colfer for giving me a copy of the book for an honest review.