Piff the Magic Dragon is a famous magician and comedian who rose to prominence on the reality TV show America's Got Talent. Piff, whose real name is John van der Put, is known for his unique style and comedic persona, which involves performing magic tricks while dressed as a grumpy dragon. Piff's signature act includes hilarious banter with his assistant, a Chihuahua named Mr. Piffles, who also participates in the magic tricks. Together, Piff and Mr. Piffles entertain their audience with their witty humor and mind-boggling illusions.
I can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.
Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it s Rachel Morgan s job to keep that world civilized. Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it s Rachel Morgan s job to keep that world civilized.
Piffles entertain their audience with their witty humor and mind-boggling illusions. Piff's deadpan delivery and sarcastic humor have made him a fan favorite among both adults and children. His quirky act appeals to a wide range of audiences, and he has toured all over the world with his successful live shows.
Dead Witch Walking – Kim Harrison (Review)
It took me a long time to get round to reading Dead Witch Walking. The book gets a lot of praise, but it was first mentioned to me as “urban fantasy about killer tomatoes,” and that description did nothing for me. It sounded like comic fantasy, and the list of authors who can manage to do that well is extremely short.
Dead Witch Walking is not comic fantasy, and killer tomatoes don’t really feature. Instead, a weaponised virus used tomatoes as a carrier, eventually wiping out a significant proportion of the human population. In the aftermath of this tragedy, vampires/witches/et cetera revealed themselves to humanity. The book takes place long after this, in a post-masquerade world where monsters are feared but accepted as part of reality.
Rachel Morgan is tired of dealing with bad assignments and unreasonable orders. For years, she’s been an employee of Inderland Security, tasked with solving supernatural problems – rogue vampires, black magic, that sort of thing. Now she’s ready to strike out on her own.
Life outside the I.S. isn’t easy though. With only a pixie and a vampire as backup, Rachel has to find steady work and stay alive, all the while dealing with demons, drug lords, and an agency that really doesn’t like people breaking their contracts.
I think the main thing that impressed me about Dead Witch Walking was how well the exposition was handled. There’s an awful lot of world-building and set-up to get through in order for the plot to make sense, and the opening of the book really doesn’t drag at all. The book has an original and complex setting – a twist and an evolution on standard urban fantasy ideas – yet within a few chapters you have a good handle on what’s happening and why it’s important.
There’s a strong plot, with a lot of twists and threads. I felt that, given the amount of background required in the book, that a simpler plot might have worked a little better. Towards the end of the book, there’s almost too much going on. Dead Witch Walking is the first book in a series, and a slower introduction – perhaps with one of the subplots shifted into prominence and the main plot pushed back into a second volume – might have worked well.
Unlike a lot of urban fantasy with a female protagonist, this book is not simply a fantasy veneer over a romance plot. There is a romance between the protagonist and a side-character, but it’s not the focus at all. In fact, throughout the book, I was hoping for a difference romance. The love interest is fine, I guess, but the character who Rachel really has chemistry with is Ivy, her vampire colleague/housemate.
The characterisation of those two and the detail of their relationship is done really well, and while there are hints at a confusing and complex romance, those plot threads just fade away. I’m not saying that the romance has to happen, but the relationship between the two of them is something that deserves more focus and exploration, whether it goes in that direction or not.
Overall, Dead Witch Walking is a strong start to a series. It’s a book that does a lot of work setting up its world, but manages to create interesting characters with compelling problems. It’s definitely worth reading, and I’ll look out for the sequels.
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- More
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
- Click to print (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
The characterisation of those two and the detail of their relationship is done really well, and while there are hints at a confusing and complex romance, those plot threads just fade away. I’m not saying that the romance has to happen, but the relationship between the two of them is something that deserves more focus and exploration, whether it goes in that direction or not.
In addition to his appearances on America's Got Talent, Piff has also made guest appearances on other popular TV shows, such as Penn and Teller: Fool Us. This show features magician duo Penn & Teller, who challenge other magicians to perform tricks that they are unable to figure out. Piff has successfully fooled Penn & Teller on multiple occasions, showcasing his skills and creativity as a magician. Piff's success as a magician and comedian can be attributed to his unique combination of magic, comedy, and charming stage presence. His ability to connect with the audience and create a memorable experience sets him apart from other performers in the industry. Piff the Magic Dragon continues to entertain audiences around the world with his hilarious and mind-bending performances. His talent and creativity have solidified his place as one of the most beloved and respected magicians in the industry today..
Reviews for "blade of wizardry"
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, string given in /home/default/EN-magic-CATALOG2/data/templates/templ04.txt on line 198