From Publishers Weekly
This sequel to Not Quite the Three Musketeers (1999), part of the Guardians of the Flame series, is not quite honed to rapier sharpness. The story proper doesn't begin until 50 pages into the book, when a contentious group of protectors sworn to Baron Jason Cullinane sets out to transport Jason and his mother to a session of parliament convened by Emperor Thomen. The road to Biemestren, where the parliament is to congregate, is fraught with danger in the form of assassins from rival baronies. Along the way, modern colloquial expressions annoy more than amuse; slang and topical allusions used within this essentially fantastic realm fail to superimpose a contemporary sensibility on these mythic archetypes of dragons, swordsmen and wizards. The novel does contain patches of witty and vivid prose, such as the scene in which Baron Cullinane's guardians attempt to force a potential assassin to reveal his hiding place by using themselves as targets in a zigzag flight across an unnaturally silent meadow. Rosenberg may be off his mark this time, but he is quite capable of a smartly executed riposte in the next adventure in this series. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The sequel to Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (1999) continues the picaresque adventures of ugly Pirojil and dapper Kethol, now accompanied by the brash young wizard Erenor instead of their old comrade, a casualty in Not Exactly, Durine. A certain tension hovers around the champions of House Cullinane, particularly since the dispute over the succession to the barony of Keranahan is anything but resolved. Most of the heirs are missing, and contention among the remainder threatens to set House Cullinane and imperial proctor Walter Slovotsky at daggers drawn against the Emperor Thomen. Fortunately, an acceptable next-best resolution materializes. With a little sleight of hand, Kethol will become baron and wed beautiful Leria. The plot would be too lightweight for a longer book, and even at this length many readers may feel they are just tagging along for the sake of developing relationships, intelligent world building and magic, and new encounters with the dragon Ellegon, a master of sarcasm. Still, it's a treat. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"If you're one of the few people who haven't read Joel Rosenberg, you owe it to yourself to change that right away."-John E. Stith

"Joel Rosenberg tells a great story and each time you see his name on the cover of a new book, it's time to sit down and be royally entertained . . ."-Raymond Feist



Book Description
Several of them, in fact. He's the heir to an empire-but he doesn't want to be. And nobody believes that he could or would walk away, and give the job of ruling the kingdom to someone else.

In this roller coaster of a sequel to Not Exactly the Three Musketeers, it looks like the stage is set for a major shake-up in the kingdom. Jason's help in keeping everything from blowing up are the self-appointed soldiers of the errant Jason, sent by that wily off-worlder Walter Slovotsky to keep Jason in one piece . . . more or less.

There's Kethol, the long and lanky redhead with an easy smile, who's quick with a quip and quicker with a sword; Pirojil, the ugly one, whose looks deceive and whose might and loyalty are worth a kingdom; and the fledgling wizard Erenor, a man who tries to stay two steps ahead of his enemies--as well as one step ahead of his friends. They're all part of the Cullinane retinue, sworn to protect the Cullinane manse and the sometimes-heroic Jason Cullinane and they have their hands full.

Because no one likes a vacuum--or one too many contenders for power, Jason's soldiers are going to have to do some fast adventuring to make it all turn out all right.

Next in Joel Rosenberg's bestselling Guardians of the Flame series, Not Quite Scaramouche continues the adventures of the journeyman soldiers of Castle Cullinane (and their sometimes ill-fated leader) in all their raucous glory.



Download Description
Set in Joel Rosenberg's bestselling Guardians of the Flame series, Not Quite Scaramouche continues the adventures of the journeyman soldiers of Castle Culliane: Kethol, the long and lanky redhead with an easy smile, who's quick with a quip and quicker with a sword; Pirojil, the ugly one, whose looks deceive and whose might and loyalty are worth a kindgom; and the fledgling wizard Erenor, a man who tries to stay two steps ahead of his enemies as well as one step ahead of his friends. They're all part of the Cullinane retinue, sworn to protect the Cullinane manse and the sometimes-heroic Jason Cullinane, who (some say foolishly) chose to renounce his family's right to the throne. Jason is still not Emperor and the plots haven't gotten any clearer . . . or less deadly. And it looks like this time the stage is set for a major shake-up in the kingdom. Kethol and company are going to have to do some fast adventuring to make it turn out right. And even the grand old man, Walter Slovotsky, might not be able to pull the rabbit--or, in his case, dragon--out of the hat in time.


About the Author
Joel Rosenberg is the author of the best-selling Guardians of the Flame books as well as the D'Shai and Keepers of the Hidden Ways series. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home Front is the first in his Ernest "Sparky" Hemingway mysteries, a delightful new series with a wonderfully quirky character set in the land of the Cohen Brothers' Fargo.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Jason Cullinane is a man with a problem. Several fo them, in fact. Being an heir to an empire isn't easy. It's even worse when you decide to walk away and give the job to someone else. The problem is no one believes that you could or would walk away...and, having done so, not immediately want it back.

Jason is still not emperor, and the plots and players haven't gotten any clearer...or less deadly. And it looks like this time the stage is set for a major shake-up in the kingdom. Jason doesn't want the job but can't abandon the nation, and he'll do what he can to keep things from blowing up. He has help of a sort, but what a sort it is: the self-appointed soldiers (or, as they sometimes feel, nursemaids) of the errant Jason, sent by that wily off-worlder Walter Slovotsky to keep Jason in one piece, more or less.

We have Kethol, the long and lanky redhead with an easy smile, who's quick with a quip and quicker with a sword; Pirojil, the ugly one, whose looks deceive and whose might and loyalty are worth a kingdom; and the fledgling wizard Erenor, a man who tries to stay two steps head of his enemies...as well as one step ahead of his friends. They're all part of the Cullinane retinue, sworn to protect the Cullinane manse and the sometimes heroic Jason Cullinane, and they have their hands full.

Because no one likes a vacuum, nor one too many contenders for power. Kethol and company are going to have to do some fast adventuring to make it turn out right.

But this time even thier derring-do may not be enough...and even the grand old man Walter Slovotsky may not be able to pull the rabbit—or, in his case, dragon—out of the hat in time.

Set in Joel Rosenberg's bestselling Guardians of the Flame series, Not Quite Scaramouche continues the adventures of the journeyman soldiers of Castle Cullinane (and their sometimes ill-fated leader) in all their raucous glory. A fun, fast-paced read, it's a rollicking roller coaster of a book that will have fantasy fans reaching for more.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This sequel to Not Quite the Three Musketeers (1999), part of the Guardians of the Flame series, is not quite honed to rapier sharpness. The story proper doesn't begin until 50 pages into the book, when a contentious group of protectors sworn to Baron Jason Cullinane sets out to transport Jason and his mother to a session of parliament convened by Emperor Thomen. The road to Biemestren, where the parliament is to congregate, is fraught with danger in the form of assassins from rival baronies. Along the way, modern colloquial expressions annoy more than amuse; slang and topical allusions used within this essentially fantastic realm fail to superimpose a contemporary sensibility on these mythic archetypes of dragons, swordsmen and wizards. The novel does contain patches of witty and vivid prose, such as the scene in which Baron Cullinane's guardians attempt to force a potential assassin to reveal his hiding place by using themselves as targets in a zigzag flight across an unnaturally silent meadow. Rosenberg may be off his mark this time, but he is quite capable of a smartly executed riposte in the next adventure in this series. (Jan.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

With the death of Durine in Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (Tor, 1999/VOYA June 1999), the eighth book in the Guardians of the Flameseries, the leadership role of the three loyal defenders of the Cullinane family has fallen on Pirojil's shoulders in this ninth book. Pirojil is not at all happy that Erenor, the fledgling wizard, has taken Durine's place. There are many verbal skirmishes between the two as they escort Jason Cullinane, the rightful, but reluctant, imperial heir to Parliament. While the travelers avoid ambushes with the help of the imperial dragon, Ellegon, Walter Slovotsky, proctor to the emperor, tries to keep an upper hand in the court intrigue as to who will be the successor to the throne. Slovotsky's wit is as sharp as a soldier's sword, with hilarious and sometimes ribald jabs that catch the reader off guard. Although the chapters alternate between the court intrigue, as the nobles wait for Parliament to commence, and the adventures of Pirojil, Kethol, and Erenor, as they escort Jason Cullinane's entourage through the forest, the action drags at times. The novice reader might give up on the adventure, but avid fantasy readers, especially those familiar with the series, will wade through the slow parts because they know that Rosenberg is a master at telling intricate tales with endings that leave readers wanting more. Kethol, the soldier, with the help of some wizardry, will become Forinel, the heir to the throne long thought dead, creating enough court intrigue to sustain a book ten in the series—and then some. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and YoungAdult). 2001, Tor, 304p, . Ages 16 to Adult. Reviewer: Ruth Cox SOURCE: VOYA, June 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 2)

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