Flaming Hats and Firebreathing Unicorns
Mar. 1st, 2026 11:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobearOn Friday night, I went with a group of friends to see a production of Carmina Burana at the Royal Festival Hall. The music was amazing and it was a highly enjoyable evening - though apparently not nearly as spectacular as the last time I saw it (see entry from 18 Jan 2009)...
Playing With Fire by RJ Blain is one of the most ridiculous books I've ever tried to read - but I can't say I wasn't warned, since the blurb starts with the following:
Warning: This novel contains excessive humor, a fire-breathing unicorn on a mission of destruction, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.
Unfortunately, there was another issue with it that wasn't covered by the above - it was incredibly repetitive. Bailey gets called to deal with a magical goo incident, Baily drools over Chief Quinn, Bailey gets contaminated by magical goo, Bailey drools Chief Quinn - repeat ad nauseam.
If the genders had been reversed and a male protagonist had been objectifying a female character to the degree that Bailey objectifies Quinn, I would have given up in disgust much earlier on - which perhaps says more about me than about the book.
I made it to the 40% mark and then found myself actively avoiding switching on the audiobook when I would normally be listening, so decided to call it a day.
Playing With Fire by RJ Blain is one of the most ridiculous books I've ever tried to read - but I can't say I wasn't warned, since the blurb starts with the following:
Warning: This novel contains excessive humor, a fire-breathing unicorn on a mission of destruction, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.
Unfortunately, there was another issue with it that wasn't covered by the above - it was incredibly repetitive. Bailey gets called to deal with a magical goo incident, Baily drools over Chief Quinn, Bailey gets contaminated by magical goo, Bailey drools Chief Quinn - repeat ad nauseam.
If the genders had been reversed and a male protagonist had been objectifying a female character to the degree that Bailey objectifies Quinn, I would have given up in disgust much earlier on - which perhaps says more about me than about the book.
I made it to the 40% mark and then found myself actively avoiding switching on the audiobook when I would normally be listening, so decided to call it a day.
