Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry (The Barbaric Ledgers, #1) * * * *

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I picked up Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry purely for fun, without trying to fit it into any reading challenge, and it ended up being quite different from what I expected. According to Goodreads, it's supposed to be humorous, but I honestly didn't find it particularly funny. Instead, I found it to be an imaginative, fast paced fantasy adventure with a surprisingly serious tone.

The story follows a barbarian who, as the title suggests, begins killing wizards. The novel gradually reveals both how he manages to do something that should seem impossible and why he has chosen this path. What kept me listening was the world itself. It blends several fantasy traditions together. There are barbarians, powerful wizards, gods, ordinary people without magic, and even airships, giving the setting a light steampunk flavour without fully becoming steampunk.

The magic system was easily my favourite part of the book. It's unlike the spell based systems that appear in so many fantasy novels. Magic works according to its own strange logic, and although it's difficult to explain without spoiling the experience, it constantly felt fresh and original. Discovering how it all worked became part of the enjoyment.

The barbarian himself was also a pleasant surprise. Instead of being a simple brute, he is thoughtful, capable, and far more cultured than the stereotype his title suggests. As the story progresses, he gathers companions along the way, and their interactions help keep the novella moving at a brisk pace. Despite its relatively short length, the story packs in an impressive amount of adventure, never really slowing down from beginning to end.

If I had one expectation that wasn't met, it was the humour. Going in expecting a comedy probably set me up for something the book never intended to deliver. Once I accepted that it was telling a more serious fantasy story, I enjoyed it much more.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Kill All Wizards to readers looking for an inventive fantasy novella with an unusual magic system, an engaging protagonist, and plenty of adventure packed into a short page count. I'm looking forward to continuing the Barbaric Ledgers series and seeing where this wonderfully strange world goes next.

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