From Booklist
Paul Carpenter would prefer to ignore the really weird aspects of his job, but that proves impossible in pest control at J. W. Wells, because pest control is a matter of dragon slaying, and Beowulf is a useful procedural manual. Better this than taking deposits to the Bank of the Dead, though, and it keeps Paul's mind off being dumped by Sophie, the love of his life. Judy di Castel Blanco, partner in charge of entertainment (and queen of the Fay), sends Paul--the only qualified Hero available--to rescue cashier Shumway and the partner in charge of pest control, who have apparently been kidnapped. Paul fails but starts uncovering the truth about his role at Wells and the war among the Fay, in which he is the Chosen One, whatever that means. Judy isn't on the human-friendly side of the conflict, and her plans for Paul and Sophie are diabolical. Paul's sometimes effective but never expected methods of Hero-ing make for a good read, one that Holt's bizarre humor and sense of detail render terrifically funny. Regina Schroeder
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FROM THE PUBLISHER

A brilliantly funny new comic fantasy from Tom Holt, featuring the further adventures of Paul Carpenter, hero of The Portable Door.

Ever been offered a promotion that seemed too good to be true? You know—the sort they’d be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long–serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they’re off some strange and unpleasant hook. It’s the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like H.G. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they’re getting into. And it’s why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he’d paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job–description small print referring to “pest” control…

FROM THE CRITICS

Michael Dirda - The Washington Post