Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne return readers to the pleasant and exciting land of Pell, where danger once again threatens the kingdom and a motley crew embarks on an adventure to set things right. No Country for Old Gnomes is a rough-and-tumble romp across Pell and through various obstacles, including a ghost-hostel, a swamp, and a cabbage field. Dawson and Hearne are ready to once again delight readers with the second book from their The Tales of Pell series, picking up just months after the events of Don’t Kill the Farm Boy and introducing a whole new set of adventurers.
Following the crowning of King Gustave at the end of Don’t Kill the Farm Boy, the lands of Pell have settled into an uneasy peace and the previous adventuring group have all settled down. But now the gnomelands are under attack by dastardly halflings and an unsavory criminal organization. After one particularly close-to-home halfling bomb (it took the kitchen first, the poor room), one gnome known as Offi Numminen finds himself in a difficult position. Forced away from the only home he’s ever known, this rather out-of-place gnome finds himself the leader of a ragtag band of adventurers as they journey to face their villain and stop a war before the gnomes are driven out altogether.
Let me just say that the covers for this series are gorgeous. Invoking beloved fairy tales with vivid colors and striking silhouettes, they are simply a wondrous thing to look at. The first one was beautiful, and this cover is no different.
The cast of this book is instantly lovable. The main two: Offi, who is probably this world’s first goth (rock on) and has a burning desire to prove himself as good as his brother in all things gnome, and Kirsi Noogensen, a gnome with a talent for bristle-witchery. They partner up with a unique group of characters: Båggi Biins, a dwarf on a personal journey; Agape the ovitaur (think a satyr, but more sheep-y); Faucon, a halfling who got mixed up in some impolite company; and Gerd the gryphon, who is very fond of eggs. This strange cast shouldn’t work together as well as they do, but they manage to stumble along through the messy path they have in front of them with only a few issues and some lost toes between them. And while they are a strange crew, it’s comforting to follow them along their journey and watch as these unlikely folk become fast friends. However, with this many characters comes the assorted troubles. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track, and given how many other curious individuals this pack meets on their journey, it can get a tad overwhelming.
No Country for Old Gnomes focuses on war and its effects on everyone, from the normal people crowded in a refugee center/Ping Pong Palace as their homes are destroyed to those brave few who fight for good. The motley crew faces off against deadly mermaids, more halfling bombs, and some heartbreaking scenes in which they question their own motivations. Woven throughout the book is a well-written commentary on personal growth, cloaked in clichés and well-meaning gnomeisms. Through remarkable showings of strength and more than a few bloody encounters, the harsh reality of war is always present, even when it is cloaked in humor. There is also a powerful found-family theme that is just as heartwarming as the similar themes in Kill the Farm Boy. And there were hints of a deeper theme of celebrating differences rather than attacking them as the war between the halflings and the gnomes trudges on, but it doesn’t come to a satisfying resolution. Instead of having an on-page conversation about the nasty business of the halflings, the gnomes come out ahead with the helping hand of magic and a written treaty. While the words are nice, the lack of real action leaves the conclusion without a key narrative.
This book does seem to suffer somewhat from middle-child syndrome; it’s not as engaging as the first novel, and I found myself struggling to move past the middle hump of the book, where the bulk of the travelling and random encounters happen. The ending is precious and pulls on the heart strings, and there are appearances by the first cast of characters to assure us that they’re doing just fine. Dawson and Hearne show us that their original beloved characters are settling in to their Happily Ever After with differing amounts of success. Rest assured, Fia and Argabella, the beloved gay couple from the first book, are still one of the happiest pairings I’ve ever seen in the pages of a book. It’s a neat trick to pull off, and Dawson and Hearne do give us even more characters to get invested in.
Additionally, the humor of this sequel is similar to the first. Pulling a page from the Discworld novels, there is never a dull moment without a strange name or neat pun. But it does get tiring after a time; when you are constantly bombarded with the humor, it starts to lose some of its shine. This may be a book best enjoyed in bursts — take your time, savor the humor, and let yourself sink into the improbable land of Pell.
No Country for Old Gnomes is a good follow-up to the smash-hit that was Kill the Farm Boy. Although the new characters are a little weaker and the action somewhat more confusing to follow, it’s still a fun read and is sure to put a smile on your face with every impossibly intricate chapter title and improbable invention. It’s great for fans of Terry Prachett and Monty Python, so get ready to step into a world of complicated names, heartwarming characters, and only the vaguest semblance of sanity.
And, just to give you a fair warning: Respect the umlaut. Fear the umlaut. Love the umlaut.
No Country for Old Gnomes by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne was released on April 16, 2019 by Del Rey. It is available where all good books are sold.
