Stinkletoes: Under the Mountain and Over the Moon by George Lewis Avery is a whimsical yet dark fantasy adventure that dances between satire and high-stakes peril. Written with a self-aware and playful tone, the novel tells the tale of a mysterious Troll with mismatched eyes and an appetite for mischief, and possibly much more. When young Sparrows start vanishing, abducted by the grotesque, poetic gourmand, questions swirl like storm clouds over the Mountain. Is there safety left in the world, or only the strange comfort of storytelling? Suited for preteens yet rich with layers adults will savor, Avery’s unorthodox and minimalist style creates a narrative that invites multiple interpretations, encouraging readers to find their own version of the tale playing out in their mind’s eye. This is literary fantasy that doesn’t shy from the absurd, the grotesque, or the poetic.

Author George Lewis Avery has a strong sense of self as an author, and in this type of surreal fantasy adventure, it’s a very welcome style that flows confidently and matches the mood of the story so well. This is very much a tongue-in-cheek take on fairytales, yet it also retains all the quintessential elements and traditions whilst adding its distinct voice and eerie charm. There’s something wonderfully dark about it all that felt like it was channelled straight out of the Brothers Grimm. The madcap flow of ideas makes for an unapologetically imaginative story packed with concepts and interesting twists on typical fantasy. This book is as quirky as it is thought-provoking. Avery has created something truly unique that is sophisticated for adult readers and literature fans, but has so much to offer the young, too, in its original storytelling and the chance for the reader’s imagination to roam freely. Overall, Stinkletoes is a clever, creepy, and completely original read that I would not hesitate to recommend to fantasy fans.

Stinkletoes, a troll with mismatched eyes, had lived in a pit on Middle Earth long enough not to remember how much time had passed. Contrary to popular beliefs about ogres and monsters, Stinkletoes is a thoughtful and friendly creature. When he encounters Little Sparrow, a young girl cast into the pit by an evil woman called the Pie Maker, he decides to help her. He rescues Little Sparrow from the pit and frees her little sister from the Pie Maker and her band of outlaws. However, a war rages on Middle Earth, and Stinkletoes must embark on a daunting task on which the fate of the future of the world hangs. He has to deliver a mysterious package to the Gods before the prophesied end of days. Allied with a group of six misfits, can Stinkletoes pull off the mission? Even with a terrifying adversary lying in wait? Find out in George Lewis Avery’s Stinkletoes: Under the Mountain and Over the Moon.

Once you flip open this page-turner, you will not stop until you have reached the last page. George Lewis Avery’s Stinkletoes is the perfect pick for lovers of fantasy epics with a touch of adventure, thrills, drama, and humor. Weaving an intriguing, layered plot, Avery whisked me away from reality and dropped me in the middle of magnificent imagination. Using a first-person perspective, with Stinkletoes as the narrator, Avery blends folklore, satire, and poetry. The quirky humor, the underlying whimsical and playful tone, and the philosophical edge accompanying the narration made the story fun and engaging. I enjoyed the clever conversations, which often merged antiquated English with modern wit. The evocative depictions colorfully brought the scenes to life, uniquely capturing mood and setting. I loved this book.