Wizard at Large

Terry Brooks

Mar 2022 · Landover Book 3 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jeremy Arthur

About this audiobook

Book Three of the Magic Kingdom of Landover Series

It all began when the half-able wizard Questor Thews announced that finally he could restore the Court Scribe Abernathy to human form. It was his spell that had turned Abernathy into a Wheaten Terrier—though with hands and able to talk.

All went well—until the wizard breathed the magic dust of his spell and suddenly sneezed. Then, where Abernathy had stood, there was only a bottle containing a particularly evil imp. It had been in the collection of Michael Ard Rhi, former King of Landover, now exiled to Earth. Abernathy must now be a part of that collection!

High Lord Ben Holiday set forth for Earth, taking his green but beautiful love, Willow, with him. Unfortunately, they were long in returning. And without the soil in which to root as a tree at times, Willow could not long survive.

That left it up to Questor Thews to save them. Grimly he set out to seek help, knowing himself to be incompetent. And to make things worse, the imp had escaped and sought the help of the evil witch Nightshade, now back from exile in Faerie. 

Questor's only idea seemed impossible, but . . .

Ratings and reviews

I remember reading this one as a paperback. The mentions of Willow's conditions were frequent. They were so frequent that I became tired of them. It was like "Ugh... I'm dying" every 2 pages which was pretty whiney and annoying. I'm glad they lessened this in the audiobook. I can't say I'm happy that the fight between the wizard and the dragon appeared to be slightly abridged as well. I seem to recall there being some more fun in that scene than was read in the audiobook, and it was the best scene in the book in my opinion. The overall plot basis seemed too fabricated. The "Let's let the wizard who's magic works only half the time do an experiment with the King's medallion" is comparable to the victims in horror films who choose to hide in a room full of chainsaws. It's not the best book in the Landover series by far. The only one that's worse is A Princess of Landover.

About the author

Terry Brooks has thrilled readers for decades with his powers of imagination and storytelling. He is the author of more than thirty books, most of which have been New York Times bestsellers. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

Jeremy Arthur is an audiobook narrator. Books Arthur has narrated include Spring Chicken by Bill Gifford, Pickett’s Charge by Charles McNair, and The Game by Jon Pessah.