#WritersReview: Mossbelly MacFearsome & the Dwarves of Doom
Posted on February 14, 2020

Mossbelly MacFearsome and the Dwarves of Doom

written by Alex Gardiner

cover & chapter headings by

published by Andersen

240 pages in paperback

fun & fantasy with a fine Scottish tang

Summary from publisher’s website

Roger is just an ordinary boy, in an ordinary world – or so he thinks, until a grumpy dwarf warrior, Mossbelly MacFearsome, appears out of thin air and saves him from the school bully. If that isn’t incredible enough, now Moss has decided that Roger is the perfect human companion for his daring quest to defeat the dwarves’ arch-enemy Leatherhead Barnstorm and his horrifying horde of monstrous (but very polite) gorefiends. If Roger doesn’t help Moss, the world as we know it will be destroyed by ogres and dragons and the race of humans will be annihilated. If he does help, he will be late for his tea and his mum will be going mad with worry. A Highland castle, a trainee witch who knows karate, and an ancient spell to be broken – by King Golmar’s braces, just what has Roger got himself into?
From a reader’s point of view

The title of Alex Gardiner’s tale Mossbelly MacFearsome and the Dwarves of Doom promises a funny fantasy – and he definitely delivers. The strange and amusing speech of the dwarf warrior is a joy, and the Scottish setting gives a lovely local flavour.

There’s plenty of drama in the actual story, and a proper plot with an environmental theme. Indeed, there is an abundance of slapstick humour as you’d expect from James Lancett’s colourful designs for cover and chapter headings, but Roger and Moss have a real quest to fulfil.

It’s short, punchy and fun. Highly recommended for independent readers looking for an amusing read with thrills and daft fantasy along the way. A good one to share too: ideal to read aloud if you can do the voices!
an editor and writer’s perspective

Points to note:

Nicely evoked Scottish setting.
Clever use of language for humour and characterisation.
The dialect gradually increases as the reader becomes accustomed to it.
Array of funny, distinct characters.
Themes of courage, friendship and humans’ effect on the environment.
Slapstick, comic-strip ridiculousness at times to lighten the quest.
Treachery and peril – but cartoonish violence softens the impact.
28 short punchy chapters – including The Tale of the Twisted Toenail.
Sense of a wider fantasy world beneath the text.
Neatly up for a sequel.

This entry was posted in Review and tagged funny fantasy, MG, Scottish by KMLockwood.

Mossbelly MacFearsome is a dwarf warrior on a mission. His nemesis, Leatherhead Barnstorm, has stolen the Doomstone Sword and is planning to use it to bring about the end of the human race.

It’s up to Moss and his recently elected Destroyer, Roger – an ordinary boy who meets Moss on his way to get beaten up by a bully, impressing the dwarf with his ‘bravery’ in facing someone tougher than he – to save the day (and hopefully avoid getting grounded in the process…)

As this is the first book in a new series for children (the second book, Mossbelly MacFearsome and the Goblin Army, slated for release at the beginning of September) I wasn’t surprised that some aspects of the story were rather clunky. Establishing the lore of the world (introducing Moss and the dwarves, the Witchwatchers and Warlockwatchers, and goblins, ogres and dragons, too) causes the pace to suffer, the amount of exposition making it hard to keep track of the plot at times.

However, that’s both a negative and a positive thing. Although it makes the book feel a bit too long, it also proves Alex Gardiner has done a lot of world-building and has crafted this with potential for expansion in mind. The attention to detail shows Gardiner is invested in the story and the characters, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there are quite a few installments in the Mossbelly MacFearsome series to come.

There’s even a bonus chapter at the end of the book featuring a fairy tale which is referenced regularly throughout the story, making you feel even more involved in the world.

I read Mossbelly MacFearsome out loud to my partner and daughter, and had much joy trying to embody the various members of the gang. This book is a perfect bedtime story, as there are lots of made up words that will get children giggling, but it also features a few difficult terms that will help expand your child’s vocabulary.

If you’re looking for a series for your child which will be fun for you and them, give Mossbelly MacFearsome a try.

A bullied child, a dwarf set on revenge, ogres and dragons.....what more could you want from a book?

When we meet Roger he is gearing up for a fight with the local bully....enter Mossbelly McFearsome and you get a different outcome.
Suddenly Roger is to be feared. Mossbelly is a dwarf sent to find the Doomstone Sword and when his path crosses with Roger’s there begins this fast paced, adventurous story of a dwarf and a boy. They must find and destroy the Doomstone sword or the human race will be wiped out. It is a race against time and against Mossbelly’s arch enemy Leatherhead Barnstorm. Roger has been chosen to be the destroyer of the sword and must go where Mossbelly goes.
Mossbelly has a unique way of speaking and there are miscommunications to make you laugh out loud. There are Uber polite villains made from grave wax. There are witchwatchers and girls with great skills in karate. It is a hilarious story of the fight between humans, ogres and dwarves.
I am now passing this story to my 10yo son who I think will love Mossbelly, his thunderous voice and the adventure waiting within the pages!

A brilliant funny story for anyone looking for an adventure!