Stars: 4 out of 5.

I am not usually a fan of collections of short stories about the same characters. I feel like the format doesn't give the author enough time to develop the characters and tell a compelling story at the same time, especially if the stories aren't in chronological order or were written for different magazines and published at different times. And this compilation suffers from the same drawbacks, but the characters are compelling enough that I derived some genuine enjoyment following them around.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz make an odd pair, to say the least. One is a human knight, skilled with firearms and swords, also a dandy and a bit of a womanizer. The other one is... a living puppet with a singular mission of exterminating rogue godlets who intend to cause harm to the world.  It's also implied that Mister Fitz is a lot older that anyone knows and suspects, older even than the order of Witches from which Sir Hereward originated. Add to that the fact that he used to be Hereward's nanny when he was a little boy, and their relationship is interesting, to say the least. 

Sir Hereward himself is a bit harder to read, probably because we don't get to explore his needs and wants as much in these stories. We know that he is the forbidden child to an order of Witches that are supposed to only sire female (Dune anyone?), but since his mother was part of the ruling council, he was allowed to live, and even train with other witches, but then exiled forever to go and hunt down rogue godlets in the world away from the witch stronghold. But we never really explore what Hereward himself wants in life, or how he feels about being a perpetual nomad, not able to put roots anywhere, traveling from one battle to another with only a living puppet for company. I would have loved to have this aspect explored more in the stories I read.

The world these two characters inhabit is also really interesting. It's full of magic and different deities, called godlets. Some are powerful, some less so. Some are benevolent or simply harmless, while others either intentionally cause harm or are just so incompatible with the world they invaded that they slowly destroy everything around them. I loved the fact that Hereward and Fitz aren't heartless killers who eliminate any godlet they are pointed at. They always assess the situation and do what's right, even disobeying direct orders sometimes, when those orders are unjust. 

I would love to read more stories about these characters, even maybe a novella or a full blown novel where we can explore their inner workings a bit more and dive deeper into this world.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz is a collection of 9 short fiction stories by Garth Nix featuring Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz. Released 22nd Aug 2023 by HarperCollins on their Harper Voyager imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in July 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The titular main characters are a mercenary and his rather-worse-for-wear animated puppet (and sorcerer/lorekeeper). There are flashes of Fafhrd and Mouser, and even a tiny wink to Poirot and Hastings... but the breath of life in the stories comes straight from the delightfully odd mind of Garth Nix.

There are 9 stories; 8 previously published but collected here for the first time in one volume, and a new never previously published story for this collection: The Field of the Fallen Foe. They range in length, but all are well written and engaging.

Short fiction is a challenge and it's interesting to see how the author handles the more restictive length and word count for developing the characters and plot arc. Even the first story historically (and the lead story in this collection) Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz Go to War Again, sees the protagonists springing fully armored and animated from the first paragraph.

Really high quality stories, engaging and imperfect protagonists, interesting stories. This would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition (and given the author, is virtually guaranteed to be in local collections, he's *really* popular), home use, and possibly for book club discussion.

Four and a half stars. The addition of new material makes this one a must read. (And the new story is really good).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This series of short stories following two characters on a continuous journey through the fantastical land is a great read for those wishing for witty, smart, and fun fantasy stories one at a time. This isn’t a new series of stories, but this is where all of them are contained in one spot. Following the same characters throughout this book makes for a fun journey we can go on with them. There are different terms that we learn along the way and conveniently they are around characters who require an explanation.

Overall, I really did enjoy this short story collection and I would highly recommend this for fans of fantasy and those willing to not get extensive, full-length novels but do expect world-building and fun stories!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review and would like to thank the publisher.

The stories in this book are super charming and each had a good dose of heart. I've never read anything about these characters before but the title and cover totally grabbed me and I really enjoyed this. Overall, it was good stuff—I'd absolutely recommend this!

I requested this because I love Garth Nix's Sabriel, but this has a very different feel. The overall tone is a similar overarching darkness full of monsters to Sabriel's tone, but the characters are vastly different.

Sir Hereward is kind of a dudebro. He's sexist, prefers to ogle women (though his definition of beautiful isn't the standard so, yay him I guess but that doesn't make it any less sexist), and is definitely the brawn of their duo.

Mister Fitz is... unsettling. Kinda creepy. He's very ominous and has lots of secrets to kill things with magic. He also seems to view most people other than Sir Hereward as expendable.

Each story introduces a new setting and cast of characters, at least one beautiful woman for him to ogle and attempt to hook up with... and then they all die gruesomely and Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz move on to their next target.

I never felt like any of it was more than sketched in. Which makes sense, since this is a collection of short stories, but I didn't realize they were going to be as unconnected as they were. I didn't really feel like we learned much new information with each story. They also began to feel very similar to one another, as if they were all the same basic plot told and retold with new gods and monsters. It just got dull and I decided I had better things to read since I was really struggling to pick it up.

I listened to the audiobook and I think I found Sir Hereward more annoying and Mister Fitz more creepy and unsettling because of it.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an early copy for review.

Garth Nix has been publishing Sir Hereward & Mr. Fitz stories in anthologies and magazines and such for years; this volume takes all those and puts them in a single collection. I had never read any of these stories, or indeed anything at all by Garth Nix before picking this up.

My overall conclusion: these are fun stories, but I think reading them back-to-back like I did is to their detriment.

Mr. Fitz is a wood and paper-mache puppet, animated by sorcery and centuries old. Sir Hereward is a knight and artillerist. Together they roam the land, Sir Hereward as a mercenary, and Mr. Fitz posing as one of the more common animated puppets who serve as entertainers rather than traveling openly as the powerful sorcerer he is. They are secretly going about their true purpose as members of an ancient order devoted to ridding the world of malevolent minor and not-quite-so-minor gods.

It’s a neat premise, and a great set-up for drop-in episodes like we have here. Each story is well done, and Hereward and Fitz are both great characters.

The problem is, when reading them back to back, I couldn’t help but notice just how many of the women they meet (generally sexy ones) end up dead. None of it seems egregious (which is more than I will say for the story where the sexy novice nun ended up naked for … reasons), but as it went on and woman after woman ended up dead I got distinctly uncomfortable.

A fun read, but better spread out than binged.

While this is an entirely original series of stories, I felt the echoes of Fritz Leiber while reading this. Previously I had only read YA books by Mr. Nix. I had enjoyed them and felt he is a major contemporary fantasy author, this is my first try at fiction from him aimed at an adult audience. The two main characters are awesome, the imagination is wondrous and Nix’s humor is also sprinkled in to make a perfectly enjoyable set of adventures.

For some reason the cover grabbed me, and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint.

I really like the idea of a collection of short stories about the same MC’s and their adventures, and this compiles such from various publications over the last 16 years, plus a new one for fans. Admittedly, this is my first experience with munitions expert Sir Hereward and his companion, sorcerer puppet Mr. Fitz, and I had a grand old time!

Set in a richly layered alternate universe, this medieval-esque backdrop has plenty of swords, explosive armaments, and lots and lots and lots of magic. These two protagonists belong to an ancient council known as the Treaty for the Safety of the World, whose sole mission is to banish evil beings from another dimension who simply exist to corrupt and spread chaos. Sir Hereward and Mr. Fitz have been eternally tasked to find and destroy these troublesome beings, and one can only imagine what obstacles they face and what lengths they must go to to carry out their proscribed duty.

What I liked most was the relationship between these two. Hereward was born into this vocation and really has no choice. He’s more than capable - an expert in all forms of weapons, fighting styles, and varied abilities in subterfuge. Thing is, one gets the feeling that he would gladly hang up his guns and settle down or at least sow his wild oats for a spell as he’s the softie here, always trying to spare/save lives, always on the search for some warm comforts. However, Hereward’s basically the right hand man of Fitz, a puppet who long ago was created to wield otherworldly powerful magic and is singular in his mission and thought processes, doggedly focused on pursuing the next baddie on the list. To say the least, their relationship can be slightly contentious and exasperating between the two of them, but also complicatedly comforting and steadfast, as they unfailingly have the other's back in their perilous exploits.

Again, I found this highly entertaining with spurts of adventurous fun, funny, plus plenty of dire danger!. Be prepared to encounter all sorts - shifters, cannibals, human sacrifice, duels, possession (both human and inanimate objects), charlatans, dragons, pirates, and a heist! I can confidently say you won’t be bored.

I’ve only read one other Nix short, and my experience with this will guarantee I’ll check out more from this imaginative writer!!

Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review posted on Goodreads -https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5882760266?book_show_action=false

My first Garth Nix and I loved these two characters. It was the perfect amount of humor and it was such an interesting world. I liked the short story styling of this and think it worked really well jumping into different scenarios and added to those adventures.

Nix's collection of short stories is like a delightful box of assorted chocolates, leaving you wanting more but thoroughly satisfied with each bite-sized tale.

The worldbuilding is Nix's signature excellence, immersing you in intricate settings while leaving room for your imagination to roam beyond the page. Fitz and Hereward are a dynamic duo worth following, even if you wish their backgrounds were explored further.

Nix's writing prowess shines through, making these stories a joy to read. They offer a unique blend of fantasy and humor, reminiscent of Jamie Lannister and Tyrion Lannister's antics but with a charm all their own.

Having first encountered these tales on a podcast, I found myself captivated once again in print. If you crave exciting fantasy, well-crafted characters, and a distinctive setting, this collection won't disappoint.

I eagerly await more adventures with Sir Hereward and Mr. Fitz, in short or perhaps even novel form. For those seeking a quick yet satisfying fantasy fix, look no further; these stories are a treat for the soul.

Thanks to Nix, the publishers, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be 100% honest: you slap "Garth Nix" on a book and I'm going to devour it. I've loved Nix since the mid-90's when I discovered his style of fantasy for the first time, and I was hooked. The Abhorsen series, The Old Kingdom, Shade's Children, I've read ALL OF IT. I was delighted at the launch of a book targeted at his adult audience, which I'm sure is chock full of readers like me who have loved him since childhood. This book did not disappoint at all. It was quirky, delightful, fantastic, full of adventure, stunning scenes, great characters, and wonderful stories. I will always and forever be a fan.

Ahoy there mateys! I love Garth Nix.  This is an omnibus of all eight stories (and a bonus) about mercenary and knight Sir Hereward and the sorcerous puppet Mister Fitz.  I actually enjoyed the premise of the two taking down proscribed gods from the list.  Woe to anything or anyone who gets in their way.  While I loved the characters and the world, I found these stories to overall be unsatisfying.  The each felt like sections of a chapter taken out of a larger work.  I really wanted the larger work.  Where did the Agents of the Council of the Treaty for the Safety of the World come from?  I wanted more about Sir Hereward and his life growing up in a society of witches.  I certainly wanted way more about Mister Fitz's background and how his magic worked.  I also felt that the plot of every story was just a bit too similar.  The tactics used by the duo did not seem to vary much.  It took me a while to get through the book because I wasn't desperate about what came next.  This sounds so negative but I really am glad I read this.  I just can't help but want the novel behind the hints of the short stories.  Arrr!

I’m usually not a short fan but the cover caught my eye and promised light fantasy adventure. It delivered! I should have known it was going to be good because it was Garth Nix…. I’m glad I read this one. Worth picking up for light short reads since you can enjoy a story when you have the time then come back to the next another day.

"Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz" is a collection of action-packed stories taking place in an intricate and fascinating world, following a sometimes hapless knight and his extremely knowledgeable (and slightly eldritch?) puppet friend. Some of these stories were very easy to follow, particularly "Losing Her Divinity," which is my favorite of the bunch; some of them, however, felt as though I was missing some context for the complexity of the world. This was my first encounter with Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz, but it felt at times as though there were prior adventures or perhaps later adventures that I would have needed to have already read in order to get the most out of the world. I also think I could have really benefitted from a map, which did not exist in this galley. However, I really enjoyed the mechanics of the magic and the godlets, as well as the bureaucracy of Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz's missions, and found both characters very endearing.

I love everything Garth Nix writes and this volume was no exception. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that one of the stories is written from the perspective and in the voice of a journalist of sorts, and he is so extremely annoying that I couldn’t enjoy it. Otherwise, Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz are adorable, smart, funny, with just enough quirks to stop them from being perfect, and I would totally read another volume of their adventures in the business of vanquishing nefarious godlets.

Imgur link goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for August 17th
Blog Post goes live August 18th
Youtube Review should be live August 17th or 22nd


**TL;DR**: A collection of very fun, classic fantasy stories about a knight and a magical puppet. It surprised me and made me laugh out loud several times. If Fantasy shorts are your cup of tea - this is a great pickup.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz are not what I expected, but I'm very happy to have read the stories of their journeys. The two, a knight and his sorcerous puppet companion, travel their realm in search of proscribed godlets. Think eldritch beings that have slipped into the world and are consuming and taking up power from the world and humanity. They have been tasked by a council to remove these godlets from this plane and sending them on to the next. They meet people, make friends and all the fun stuff while they're out and about and the stories are short, snappy and exceptionally fun.

As far as characters and world go we get the bare minimum, but it works. There is enough humor and the attention to the world and the details that are needed at that moment carry the stories. I won't remember the side characters, or the exact details of the settings but I will remember the antics or the way the purple light from Mister Fitz's needle flashed. And that for me is great sign. The interactions and the uniqueness of the setting and stories carried them ultimately.

They're not perfect stories by any stretch but for me they're unique and fun in a way that a lot of short stories aren't always. I never quite guessed where they would go (looking at you, Starfish Godlet) but I enjoyed the ride. I'd read a full length novel of these two or another collection in a heartbeat. If you like fantasy short stories and really enjoy a buddy cop/Sherlock and Watson style dynamic these are the stories for you.

Garth Nix's Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer gathers together seven previously published short stories, with one new story added. These stories will appeal to any reader of magical fantasy or readers of Nix's other work.

The title states our two main characters, but some additional detail might be useful. Sir Hereward is the only son of an ancient line of witches. His day job is as a mercenary artillerist, journeying from troubled spot to troubled spot, except when his family duties call upon him to slay or exorcise an entity not native to his plane of existence. Sir Hereward is (almost) constantly accompanied by Mister Fitz a paper mache puppet constructed and imbued with magical powers. A typical adventure finds the two on their way to a location when they encounter a magical or godly creature, being or situation that demands they deal with it immediately.

Each story stands on its own, as each of the encounters is in different circumstances and have their own challenges. Some of these include: tracking magical statues, seeking the treasure of a hidden pirate fortress or acting as tourists at an ancient and poisonous burial ground. However as one reads through the book they notice something of a formula.

In their interactions, Hereward and Fitz come off as having a long relationship, with all the foibles that can bring, Hereward being the grumbler and Fitz the fount of knowledge. Fitz's is very old and that knowledge comes in handy a few times, but also placing them as the elder of the two. Hereward comes off as a man in his late 20s to 30s, experienced enough not to be naive or needlessly aggressive. He has learned his trade and knows what he likes best for the times of his relaxation.

All the stories, save one are from Hereward's viewpoint. (That one is, one of my favorites from the volume, narrated by another character completely from his spoken viewpoint).

This volume is an all too brief adventure. I hope Garth Nix is able to find a fitting full length journey for these two.

I received a free digital version of this Ebook via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.

The only complaint I have about Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz is the fact that there are not more stories! It is impossible to categorize these into a pigeonhole theme. Swashbuckling pirates? Got those! Mystical entities? Got those too. Bumbling inconvenient side character? Present and accounted for. The general gist is that the titular characters are charged with eliminating "proscribed" godlets and other trans-dimensional entities, but even straightforward adventures often do not go as planned. Between Sir Hereward's dissembling and ability to break anybody on whom deception is ineffective and his companion Mister Fitz's magic needle, they survive and triumph in a number of situations that look otherwise impossible. Well worth the read, and an absolute romp.

Nix was a favorite of mine as a teenager, and so I was thrilled to find some short stories by him that were coming out. His prose remains fantastic, along with characters that you want to root for throughout and a satisfying story arc to boot.

As a kid, I read all of Garth Nix’s middle grade novels. And yet, it somehow never occurred to me that a man so prolific in the children’s fantasy genre would also happen to have written adult fantasy novels. Naturally I jumped on the chance to read this short story collection I’d never even heard of, and I found them mostly delightful.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz is a series of collected short stories, regaling the adventure of one Sir Hereward, witch knight, and Mister Fitz, his combat puppet companion. Although the stories are fantasy in every aspect of their nature, this pair actually hunt extra-dimensional beings considered gods in this world. For some reason, I spent my entire reading of these collection chuckling at this added bit of sci-fi twist that Nix cheekily threw in, only to realize as I write this review that extra-dimensional beings can be a perfectly normal fantasy element as well. Regardless, they hunt these creatures, often getting themselves in the most creative forms of peril.

The stories are well-scoped and each perfectly enjoyable, each chapter containing one whole adventure. Unlike most short story collections I read, I read each piece separately, instead of going cover to cover as I do most collections. The prose is fun and reminiscent of an older style of fantasy, where sentences were written more verbosely and characters talked in more convoluted tongue. I was surprised that while the oldest story was first published in the late 2000s, the most recent one was published only within the last five years. Nix has had a long time to play in this sandbox and it’s impressive he’s managed to do so with such consistency in both prose and worldbuidling.

My one critique, or perhaps warning, I have with these shorts stories is the underlying sexism that feels very ‘of it’s time’. It improves significantly with the more recent stories, but the female characters in the older ones are very clearly seen only as sexual objects, regardless of her power in other areas. She may be a powerful fighter or pirate captain, but there’s always an underlying objectification around how she is described in the eyes of the main character, or other male characters. Which is not to say the stories themselves are sexist, but simply that it’s clearly a product of its era. Granted, Nix does some interesting things (perhaps inadvertently) with gender that would be more deeply explored today, but remains a fun note of how gender was written in the early 2000s.

Overall, I rate this book a 3.5/5. While the underlying sexism was on occasional uncomfortable, the stories themselves were lovely, the characters fun, and the worldbuilding fascinating. My favorite of the collection was ‘Losing Her Divinity’, written entirely from the perspective of a scholar being interrogated by the pair.