Pringle Prawn Book Review, Blog Tour, and #Giveaway #LoneStarLit

Ben’s luck is changing. He has his iconic VW bus, a hot, wealthy girlfriend, and he’s managed to buy an old fixer-upper in an upscale neighborhood—just the thing to convince his girlfriend’s influential father that he’s husband material. But his new home has a secret, and when Ben opens a mysterious grandfather clock, he finds himself dropped into a magical land. There he meets Pringle, a six-inch prawn with a supercharged attitude and a pouchful of fairy dust. She saves his life, and when Ben returns to his world, Pringle returns with him.

Pringle’s adjustment to the modern world is a hilarious series of incidents that completely disrupt Ben’s life. When Russian mobsters and a vengeful HOA president attempt to hijack Ben’s life, Pringle zooms to the rescue—a pinch here, a pinch there, nothing a little fairy dust can’t fix.

But it’s when Pringle begins to grow that things really get interesting, because as Pringle’s size increases, so do her feelings for Ben. Ultimately, Pringle must decide whether to return to her world—or follow her heart and stay with Ben.

PRINGLE PRAWN is for all the readers still looking for magical alternative worlds in the back of wardrobes. 👋Hi. It’s me. I’m the reader still looking for magical alternative worlds. 

“The point is, that all myths and legends have a grain of truth. Finding this grain is the challenge historians face.”

 

World-Building

What stands out right away is the world-building in PRINGLE PRAWN. Part of the story exists in the contemporary universe. But Almeera is where Mr. Clifton’s incredible imagination shines. Horse-sized T. rexes WITH WINGS are the general mode of transportation. Then there is the wizard’s house made from a living tree with magical soap and a scrying basin. If I were to live somewhere fictional, a house within a living tree sure would be at the top of the short list.

Back in the contemporary world, Ben purchases a house which he likens to the Munster’s over on Mockingbird Lane. With that call out, I quickly had a fully descriptive picture in my mind of Ben’s house. And once Pringle starts weaving her magic, the house becomes even more enchanting. The door comes alive, concrete lions protect the house, and of course there is a gargoyle.

 

Writing

Right from the start of the novel, the action and Ben’s circumstances pulled me in. I was engrossed through most of the novel.

I wasn’t initially sure about the point of the redacted for spoilers B Plot in the novel. The plot and pacing of the novel really shine here, blending the contemporary world with the magical world.

I chuckled and highlighted all the subtle shout-outs to pop culture, from Star Wars, to Dr. Who, to Groundhog’s Day. I can see that Mr. Clifton and I have very similar tastes in entertainment!

The ending of the novel closes out Pringle and Ben’s story, but also leaves enough of an opening to the possibilities of more adventure in Almeera.

 

Characters

I found Ben to be relatable as a main character. Completely out of his element, in a very foreign land, he takes everything more in stride than I think I would. I also enjoyed supporting characters Archie and Hank. Ben couldn’t have better friends in these two.

While there are adult themes, PRINGLE PRAWN is a delightful read that I’m calling 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thanks to author Michael Scott Clifton and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity to review PRINGLE PRAWN. I received the novel free in exchange for my honest review.

Multi-award-winning author Michael Scott Clifton lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie. An avid gardener, rapacious reader, and movie junkie, his books contain facets of all the genres he enjoys—action, adventure, magic, fantasy, and romance. His fantasy novels, The Janus Witch, and the Conquest of the Veil series, (The Open Portal, Escape from Wheel, A Witch’s Brew, and Cavern of the Veil Queen) all received 5-Stars from the prestigious Readers Favorite Book Reviews. The Open Portal has been honored with a Feathered Quill Book Finalist Award. In addition, his YA novel Edison Jones and The Anti-Grav Elevator received a Feathered Quill Book Award Bronze Medal. Two of his short stories have earned Gold Medals, with “Edges of Gray” winning the Texas Authors Contest, and “The End Game” winning the Northeast Texas Writer’s Organization Contest. Professional credits include published articles in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine.

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