Service Goat by Piers Anthony published by Dreaming Big Publications; reviewed by Ally
ABOUT THE BOOK
Orphaned and blind seven-year-old Callie has a service animal – a goat with extraordinary powers.
Ben Hemoth is a down-on-his luck news reporter facing prison. Needing to save his job and his reputation, he teams up with Venus, a young seductress caught up with a teenage drug gang.
When a mysterious letter arrives detailing a top-secret investigative operation, Ben and Venus think they’ve found their chance for redemption. The mission? Investigate a goat.
In exchange for an extravagant paycheck, Ben and Venus must piece together the wild rumors swirling around Callie, her supernatural goat, and a possible UFO visit.
Piers Anthony’s Service Goat is an extraordinary tale rich with adventure, extraterrestrial visitors, secrecy, dangerous governmental operations, and the classic hints of mischief that readers have come to expect and love from the New York Times bestselling author of the Xanth series.
MY REVIEW - Ally
4 out of 5
The concept at the core of Service Goat is an interesting one. It follows through delightfully on the wacky and quirky promises of its summary. On top of that, the plot develops into a thoughtful commentary on interactions between people and the powers of both apathy and empathy.
I only wish that the author had taken a bit more time in developing this plot and the people in it. The story felt rushed and haphazard because of how quickly it flowed from one plot point to another. Because of this harmfully fast pace, at times it reads like a children’s book, just with some clearly adult content, specifically nongraphic sex scenes. If either these scenes were eliminated or the plot was fleshed out with some heavier world building and slower storytelling, the final product would be much more cohesive.
Nevertheless, the novel conveys a very compelling story, exacerbated by an expert decision to divide it between two perspectives and focuses.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piers Anthony is one of the world’s most prolific and popular authors. His fantasy Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and have been on the New York Times Best Seller list many times. Although Piers is mostly known for fantasy and science fiction, he has written several novels in other genres as well, including historical fiction, martial arts, and horror. Piers lives with his wife of 60 years in a secluded woods hidden deep in Central Florida.
Piers Anthony’s official website is HI PIERS at www.hipiers.com, where he publishes his monthly online newsletter. HI PIERS also has a section reviewing many of the online publishers and self-publishing companies for your reference if you are looking for a non-traditional solution to publish your book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Orphaned and blind seven-year-old Callie has a service animal – a goat with extraordinary powers.
Ben Hemoth is a down-on-his luck news reporter facing prison. Needing to save his job and his reputation, he teams up with Venus, a young seductress caught up with a teenage drug gang.
When a mysterious letter arrives detailing a top-secret investigative operation, Ben and Venus think they’ve found their chance for redemption. The mission? Investigate a goat.
In exchange for an extravagant paycheck, Ben and Venus must piece together the wild rumors swirling around Callie, her supernatural goat, and a possible UFO visit.
Piers Anthony’s Service Goat is an extraordinary tale rich with adventure, extraterrestrial visitors, secrecy, dangerous governmental operations, and the classic hints of mischief that readers have come to expect and love from the New York Times bestselling author of the Xanth series.
MY REVIEW - Ally
4 out of 5
The concept at the core of Service Goat is an interesting one. It follows through delightfully on the wacky and quirky promises of its summary. On top of that, the plot develops into a thoughtful commentary on interactions between people and the powers of both apathy and empathy.
I only wish that the author had taken a bit more time in developing this plot and the people in it. The story felt rushed and haphazard because of how quickly it flowed from one plot point to another. Because of this harmfully fast pace, at times it reads like a children’s book, just with some clearly adult content, specifically nongraphic sex scenes. If either these scenes were eliminated or the plot was fleshed out with some heavier world building and slower storytelling, the final product would be much more cohesive.
Nevertheless, the novel conveys a very compelling story, exacerbated by an expert decision to divide it between two perspectives and focuses.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piers Anthony is one of the world’s most prolific and popular authors. His fantasy Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and have been on the New York Times Best Seller list many times. Although Piers is mostly known for fantasy and science fiction, he has written several novels in other genres as well, including historical fiction, martial arts, and horror. Piers lives with his wife of 60 years in a secluded woods hidden deep in Central Florida.
Piers Anthony’s official website is HI PIERS at www.hipiers.com, where he publishes his monthly online newsletter. HI PIERS also has a section reviewing many of the online publishers and self-publishing companies for your reference if you are looking for a non-traditional solution to publish your book.
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