The Winchester Codex

I thoroughly enjoyed The Winchester Codex! It was so completely not what I was expecting ... in a good way! The blurb looked interesting but I was in for a very pleasant surprise. The story is fun, sweet and entertaining. A dragon, Fitz, and a knight, Perceval, go off on a quest in the 21st century. Along the way a runaway, Anna, joins them and the quest turns into something so much more. Friendship, a noble cause and a kidnapping! There are laugh out loud moments and a colour changing horse, a wild mother and delusional dragon slayers. An awesome read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fitz is not quite the last dragon left in the world, but he certainly feels as though time has left him behind. Though the rest of the world is intent on imagining dragons as violent creatures who want to do nothing but burn things down and destroy villages, Fitz really wants nothing more than to be left alone in his cottage in Wales, where he is happy with his garden, his bees, and his baking. But Fitz has something else in his cottage- a millennia-old book containing ancient wisdom that many would kill to obtain. When his old friend Perceval comes to Fitz to ask for his help on one last quest, Fitz must finally stir from his comfortable life and face the fact that his past is not ready to let go of him. When the questing pair makes friends with a teenager on the run, their adventure takes on a twenty-first-century flair when the teen, Anna, suggests they document their walk along the Welsh coast on social media. They gain thousands of followers, but not everyone is there to cheer them on. There are people who know what book Fitz has, and will do anything to take it and its wisdom for themselves.

Grim and gritty fantasy novels have been all the rage for quite some time, and it can be difficult to find a fantasy novel that is straight-up fun and charming. Fortunately, we are starting to see more books where earnestness and friendship are features and not flaws- cozy fantasies where the characters get along with each other, do their best to make amends after arguments, and are perfectly happy to sit down in a soft chair with a cup of tea and a pastry and tell stories around the fire.

The Winchester Codex is just such a book. Fitz and Perceval are perfectly charming characters with a long history of adventures and misadventures behind them. Though they haven’t seen each other for a long time, they pick up right where they left off, and it doesn’t take much convincing for Perceval to get Fitz out of his comfortable cottage and into the wild blue yonder. Their banter is always amusing- especially with they meet up with Anna and end up dealing with social media. They’re already outsiders in time, and seeing a dragon and a knight trying to fathom something like Instagram is especially amusing.

Though most of the book is devoted to Fitz, Perceval, and Anna’s quest in modern Wales, there is a historical interlude involving Alfred the Great and his fight to save his kingdom from the oncoming Viking armies. Here, the historical details are pretty much spot on and provide insights into English history (albeit, an alternate history with dragons) and into Fitz and Perceval’s background. This, too, has plenty of charm, and is worth the diversion from the main story.

If you’re looking for a fantasy novel featuring a band of unlikely friends going on an adventure together combined with humor and self-reflection, The Winchester Codex is an excellent book to start with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with both an eBook and a physical copy of the book.

This was a fun & entertaining story! The Blurb makes this book sound interesting & it was but I was surprised by how entertaining it was! I sat down one afternoon & by that evening I had finished the book! It has adventure, humor, history & friendship! The historical descriptions where fantastic! It talks about Alfred the Great & the Vikings! Definitely a good read! I would love to read more about these characters! So hopefully there will be another book! Thank you RR Book Tours & Frances Spurrier for sharing this wonderful book with me!

It was a very fun, entertaining, and highly amusing read.
Lots of humour and friendly banter, from a band of unlikely friends. (Misfits)

The story follows Fitz, and his old friend Perceval.
It was full of adventure, and it also had some great historical facts that provided quite an insight.

I enjoyed the writing style. It had great descriptions and was very visual. And the world building was very unique, nothing like anything I have previously read.

“ℳ𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓈𝒽𝑒𝒹. 𝒪𝓇 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒.”

This book became a new all time favorite of mine, I am obsessed with it and so sad that I finished it… But wow, I devoured this novel!

This book surprised me in so many aspects, one of the main character was a dragon who is not the last dragon on earth but the humans definitely make it feel like it. There was so many thought-provoking things to ponder about. The world imagine dragons as violent creatures and when they find out the truth in an interview with Fitz the dragon they are disappointed by they standards how boring Fitz is who loves gardening and only flies to the supermarket. It was so interesting to think about all the things that came up in the book. But also this was such an adventurous and interesting journey to read about, I felt like I was walking with Fitz, Perceval and Anna and of course Oscar the horse who can change colors. There was also so many fun conversations, intriguing historical stories. I loved the friendship between them so much, it was heartwarming to read. This was a beautifully written book the author’s first novel which I’m definitely shocked because she’s just so talented and this book was unlike anything I’ve ever read.

I highly highly recommend to read this masterpiece of a book to everyone!

This story blends ancient history and mythology with modern elements in a quirky and unique tale. The story revolves around Fitz, supposedly the last dragon and guardian of a dangerous book. A surprise visit from an old friend leads to a strange quest that eventually forces them both to confront the past.

At its heart, the novel is a delightful exploration of friendship and the unexpected connections that bind us together. Their quest involves a rather eclectic group — the last dragon who is mostly interested in gardening, a temporarily homeless teenager, a multicolored horse, and an out-of-touch knight. Together, they embark on a coastal walk in Wales to raise funds for charity, documenting their adventure on social media.

Spurrier's narrative style is infused with humor, making the journey an enjoyable and entertaining experience. The banter between the characters, particularly the old friends Fitz and Perceval, adds a charming layer to the story. I adore how confused Perceval is about the modern world and how Fitz has to explain these things to him. Despite its charm, the novel explores deeper themes beneath its lighthearted surface.

While the story unfolds as a simple walk for charity, it soon transforms into a journey into darkness and the gates of death as someone seeks the long-neglected Winchester Codex. The plot twists kept me on my toes for sure and the suspense builds steadily throughout the novel. I did NOT expect that ending but it was apropos.

This book is WEIRD. But it's also a delightful and charming novel with its humor, unique characters, and unexpected twists.

Thanks to R&R Booktours for the copy. This is an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. The cover photo is quite intriguing and I instantly knew that I had to read this book.

In this whimsical narrative, the threads of ancient lore and contemporary quirks are intricately woven together. At the heart of the tale is Fitz, the presumed final dragon, who stands as the vigilant protector of a tome fraught with peril. An unexpected reunion with a long-lost companion embarks them on an enigmatic journey, one that inexorably draws them towards a reckoning with their shared history.

The writing skills of the author are beautiful and I was engaged throughout the book without getting bored. I had a great time Reading it while drinking coffee. Through her Captivating writing style I could visualise myself in that world and see the whole plot unfolding in front of my eyes Little by little.

Fitz and Perceval, the endearing duo, boast a storied tapestry of escapades. Despite the chasm of time since their last encounter, their camaraderie resumes without missing a beat. With little persuasion, Perceval coaxes Fitz from his cozy abode to the vast expanse of the unknown. Their witty exchanges are a delight, reaching new heights of humor when they cross paths with Anna and navigate the labyrinth of social media. As anachronisms in the modern era, the spectacle of a dragon and a knight grappling with the intricacies of Instagram is nothing short of hilarious.

I will highly recommend this book. Grab your copy today and you will definitely enjoy reading it as much as I did.

#NetGalley