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The Art of Myth-Direction
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Expected 12 Sep 25Tianna always thought that being the chosen one meant wielding a legendary sword. Instead, she’s stuck with a talking frying pan and the unenviable task of defeating the Dark Lord. With her battle-hardened uncle Thane, the wise muscleman Blarg, her determined little sister Rea, and Nyx, a cat with a suspicious talent for chaos, Tianna embarks on a not-so-epic journey.
In a world where dragons are glorified pests, gnomes ponder life’s big questions, and trolls prefer building bridges rather than hiding under them, the path to the Dark Lord’s fortress is anything but straightforward. With unlikely allies, absurd obstacles, and a destiny that seems to have misplaced the instruction manual, Tianna’s about to learn that heroism is a lot messier than the stories ever let on.
The Art of Myth-Direction is a witty, satirical fantasy adventure filled with quirky characters, unexpected twists, and a frying pan that is far more than it seems. If you’re a fan of humor and high-stakes absurdity, this is the tale for you—because saving the world never quite goes according to plan.
In a world where dragons are glorified pests, gnomes ponder life’s big questions, and trolls prefer building bridges rather than hiding under them, the path to the Dark Lord’s fortress is anything but straightforward. With unlikely allies, absurd obstacles, and a destiny that seems to have misplaced the instruction manual, Tianna’s about to learn that heroism is a lot messier than the stories ever let on.
The Art of Myth-Direction is a witty, satirical fantasy adventure filled with quirky characters, unexpected twists, and a frying pan that is far more than it seems. If you’re a fan of humor and high-stakes absurdity, this is the tale for you—because saving the world never quite goes according to plan.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2025
6 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
M. L. Tilford
1 book4 followersMike is a writer of all things funny. Whether it’s Fantasy, Sci-Fi, or Personal Essays, he really can’t help himself. He started writing in his teens, convinced he was the next great American author. (He wasn’t. Not even close.) The early work, mercifully unpublished, can best be described as “enthusiastic.”
It wasn’t until years later, after stumbling across the likes of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and David Sedaris, that Mike had a literary epiphany: books can be funny. (Yes, this genuinely surprised him. We don’t know how either.) He returned to writing with comedy at the forefront and finally started making sense—on the page, not in life.
He spent ten years living in Thailand and somehow remained astonishingly pale throughout. He now lives just outside Los Angeles with his wife, his daughter, and several cats who think they deserve a co-author credit, for the many times they walked across his keyboard.
It wasn’t until years later, after stumbling across the likes of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and David Sedaris, that Mike had a literary epiphany: books can be funny. (Yes, this genuinely surprised him. We don’t know how either.) He returned to writing with comedy at the forefront and finally started making sense—on the page, not in life.
He spent ten years living in Thailand and somehow remained astonishingly pale throughout. He now lives just outside Los Angeles with his wife, his daughter, and several cats who think they deserve a co-author credit, for the many times they walked across his keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 14, 2025
The Art of Myth-Direction is a comical take on a classic epic fantasy tale, where a group of villagers band together under the guise of prophecy to defeat the evil Dark Lord (interchangeably referred to as the Dark One) and restore peace to the land. There are nods to J. Zachary Pike's (Orconomics) take on class structure, as well as many puns reminiscent of Piers Anthony's Xanth series. It is a fun, breezy tale that worked for me on some levels, but not on others.
There are aspects of the story I quite enjoyed. Tilford's prose shines; there are some beautifully crafted passages with a humming cadence, especially when describing new environments. The metaphors are numerous (though they were laid on a bit thick at times), but the author does an excellent job of painting vivid pictures in the mind. While some of the humor didn't land for me—there's quite a bit of bathroom jokes and silly "we're on drugs!" dialogue—there were many instances of clever trope subversions and funny situational humor that landed well.
Several times throughout the story, I wished the author had used more restraint. There were close to 100 footnotes in the first half of the book alone, and these footnotes were solid paragraphs or longer. In some cases, there were multiple footnotes on one page, and while some had humorous punchlines, they more often interrupted the flow of the story. It was a jolting experience to constantly pull away from the narrative for humorous one-offs, especially when most weren't plot-relevant. After a while, these footnotes became a chore, sometimes leading to a frustrating reading experience.
Some scenes went on a bit too long. One example is when several characters under the influence of hallucinogenic spores reacted as if every comment was learning the 'secrets of the universe'— which in itself is funny and relatable—but the phrase was repeated several times in one chapter, devaluing the cleverness of the insight.
There was also a miraculous 'saved from the precipice of death' moment for one character that was oddly never explained. It was shrugged off with a "it's a long story, I'll tell you later," but was never revisited. It was a pretty major plot point, and it's almost as if the author forgot to resolve it.
Regardless of my nitpicks, and humor being largely subjective, your results may vary. If you're looking for a fun and comical fantasy tale with some genuine heart, you'll find a lot to like by checking this one out.
There are aspects of the story I quite enjoyed. Tilford's prose shines; there are some beautifully crafted passages with a humming cadence, especially when describing new environments. The metaphors are numerous (though they were laid on a bit thick at times), but the author does an excellent job of painting vivid pictures in the mind. While some of the humor didn't land for me—there's quite a bit of bathroom jokes and silly "we're on drugs!" dialogue—there were many instances of clever trope subversions and funny situational humor that landed well.
Several times throughout the story, I wished the author had used more restraint. There were close to 100 footnotes in the first half of the book alone, and these footnotes were solid paragraphs or longer. In some cases, there were multiple footnotes on one page, and while some had humorous punchlines, they more often interrupted the flow of the story. It was a jolting experience to constantly pull away from the narrative for humorous one-offs, especially when most weren't plot-relevant. After a while, these footnotes became a chore, sometimes leading to a frustrating reading experience.
Some scenes went on a bit too long. One example is when several characters under the influence of hallucinogenic spores reacted as if every comment was learning the 'secrets of the universe'— which in itself is funny and relatable—but the phrase was repeated several times in one chapter, devaluing the cleverness of the insight.
There was also a miraculous 'saved from the precipice of death' moment for one character that was oddly never explained. It was shrugged off with a "it's a long story, I'll tell you later," but was never revisited. It was a pretty major plot point, and it's almost as if the author forgot to resolve it.
Regardless of my nitpicks, and humor being largely subjective, your results may vary. If you're looking for a fun and comical fantasy tale with some genuine heart, you'll find a lot to like by checking this one out.
August 11, 2025
If you're a fan of Terry Pratchett, you'll love this!
The Art of Myth-Direction is a humorous adventure. Imagine your typical random Dungeons & Dragons group embarking on a quest without a plan, led by a talking frying pan. During their journey, the heroes encounter many notable creatures and face dangerous challenges, but there is also room for personal growth, friendship, and reflection.
The story is mainly light-hearted, but bits of political commentary and wisdom are also sprinkled in. It's an amusing but also thought-provoking read, similar to the works of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. Please also pay attention to the footnotes. They are a genre in their own right.
Definitely recommended!
The Art of Myth-Direction is a humorous adventure. Imagine your typical random Dungeons & Dragons group embarking on a quest without a plan, led by a talking frying pan. During their journey, the heroes encounter many notable creatures and face dangerous challenges, but there is also room for personal growth, friendship, and reflection.
The story is mainly light-hearted, but bits of political commentary and wisdom are also sprinkled in. It's an amusing but also thought-provoking read, similar to the works of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. Please also pay attention to the footnotes. They are a genre in their own right.
Definitely recommended!
August 10, 2025
It was like watching one of the best adventure movies ever but it was the words that were providing the detailed description, I was pulled into a fantastic adventure! The humor, the wit, the characters, the book was so well written and easy to follow. This book takes you on a mental vacation and you are begging for more in the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2025
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.75/5 stars
For fans of Terry Pratchett, Nicholas Eames, Zachary Pike, Travis Baldree and Robert Aspirin.
Think The fellowship of the ring meets Pratchett's footnotes and humour with Douglas Adam's absurdity.
Some great references and easter eggs - the most obscure award goes to the Azaria Chamberlain reference.
Suffered a bit in ebook format for me, I'd love to see a paperback version as it made the footnotes a little tiresome; but that's a me problem as I don't usually read that way.
My favourite scene was the astral gumbo/Zen gnome scene.
I enjoy the way he writes about shadows and the hooded cultist summoning scenes were hilarious.
The quotes at the start of chapters were very enjoyable too - "glorious gourds and their peculiar properties", "the imperial bestiary and botherations of the realm" are just two.
Blarg was a cracking character and somehow the most filled out, Sword like Kring in The colour of magic plays their part well by being as annoying to the reader as to the characters.
An enjoyable read and worth checking out.
3.75/5 stars
For fans of Terry Pratchett, Nicholas Eames, Zachary Pike, Travis Baldree and Robert Aspirin.
Think The fellowship of the ring meets Pratchett's footnotes and humour with Douglas Adam's absurdity.
Some great references and easter eggs - the most obscure award goes to the Azaria Chamberlain reference.
Suffered a bit in ebook format for me, I'd love to see a paperback version as it made the footnotes a little tiresome; but that's a me problem as I don't usually read that way.
My favourite scene was the astral gumbo/Zen gnome scene.
I enjoy the way he writes about shadows and the hooded cultist summoning scenes were hilarious.
The quotes at the start of chapters were very enjoyable too - "glorious gourds and their peculiar properties", "the imperial bestiary and botherations of the realm" are just two.
Blarg was a cracking character and somehow the most filled out, Sword like Kring in The colour of magic plays their part well by being as annoying to the reader as to the characters.
An enjoyable read and worth checking out.
September 4, 2025
4.5 rounded up. Allow me to illustrate how charmed I was by this novel of adventuring, dark lord-summoning, goblins, and of course, cats. For reasons too unfortunate to taint this review with, The past month++ I have found myself, approximately weekly, having to cart my laundry to a soulless little establishment known as Sparkles Laundromat. Do not let the name fool you—Sparkles is where dreams (particularly dreams of not paying $8 for a load of laundry) go to die.
However, something almost unimaginable happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Waiting for my laundry to finish, and feeling my mental storm clouds of sadness start to gather, I tried something new and opened The Art of Myth-Direction on my ereader. Listen to me when I tell you that this book made me, legitimately, laugh out loud...not just once, but several times...while I was trapped in Sparkles (and, to be clear, after I left as well). Thank you, M.L. Tilford, for bringing light to even the darkest of places.
But besides curing my laundry-induced depression, there was a lot to love about this debut. For me, the writing style is something original and special—I loved the descriptions that also delivered little snacks of delightful imagery, the sense of humor, and the footnotes. When I find that kind of authentic voice in a debut, it makes me excited to see what the author does in the future. Indeed, if more SpireVerse novels were to materialize from the ether, I would certainly pick them up!
For my satirical fantasy fans out there: I think we are witnessing the start of something magical here - I would give this one a shot!
[Disclaimerito: I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.]
However, something almost unimaginable happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Waiting for my laundry to finish, and feeling my mental storm clouds of sadness start to gather, I tried something new and opened The Art of Myth-Direction on my ereader. Listen to me when I tell you that this book made me, legitimately, laugh out loud...not just once, but several times...while I was trapped in Sparkles (and, to be clear, after I left as well). Thank you, M.L. Tilford, for bringing light to even the darkest of places.
But besides curing my laundry-induced depression, there was a lot to love about this debut. For me, the writing style is something original and special—I loved the descriptions that also delivered little snacks of delightful imagery, the sense of humor, and the footnotes. When I find that kind of authentic voice in a debut, it makes me excited to see what the author does in the future. Indeed, if more SpireVerse novels were to materialize from the ether, I would certainly pick them up!
For my satirical fantasy fans out there: I think we are witnessing the start of something magical here - I would give this one a shot!
[Disclaimerito: I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.]
September 1, 2025
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First thing's first - I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated. I am a creature of habit and comfort, so I typically gravitate towards books/authors I know or that have come recommended from someone I trust. When the author sent an ARC, I was hesitant, but it absolutely grabbed me after the first couple chapters. Now, there are certainly a few things that aren't my favorite and I'll get to that in a bit, but on the whole this was a SUPER fun read.
I love Pratchett, Nicholas Eames, J. Zachary Pike, among others, but this definitely harkens to those specific styles. It uses typically fantasy tropes and just throws them in your face, while still being somewhat heartfelt. I really liked the tongue-in-cheek nature of the self-referential, fourth wall breaking, bla bla bla jokes as well. It ALMOST got to be a little too much, but it toed the line well for me. Hell, I even liked the jokes and bits referencing contemporary/modern day topics. Normally that might take me out of a story, but he handled those really well. He also used footnotes in a similar fashion as Terry Pratchett in a really fun way, although that could have been dialed back a tiny bit.
For a pretty typical fantasy setting, I felt like the worldbuilding was good. Not breaking the mold or anything, but the author was able to describe the setting beautifully. Combined with the little quips and details about certain organizations and whatnot you really get a well thought out world.
One thing I have to say about this author, is that he can absolutely paint a damn picture. There are some beautiful passages in this book. That said, sometimes the paintings can get a little...long? I don't know, that metaphor didn't really work. There were a number of times where I felt fully "in" a scene and I felt as though that particular plot point had been told, but instead of moving on to the next thing, there would still be a couple of pages left describing how "the air was thick with *insert adjective here*". Now, I am not saying that at any point it pushed me over the edge, but there were some spots where it dragged on a little.
EDIT - I am going to leave this paragraph in, but the author sent an updated portion of the book that completely solved this issue and as such, this criticism is moot. [One aspect that did bug me a little, was the lack of closure/explanation on a few plot points, specifically one towards the end. I am totally fine letting certain things go untold and letting a reader's imagination handle the rest, but there were a few points that kind of just got swept under the rug and that kind of leaves me wanting to know what the hell happened.]
All that longwinded gasbagging is to say - I absolutely enjoyed this book, even considering my small amount of gripes. If you have ANY interest in a comical fantasy with a heavy helping of dry humor, this is a great read. 9.9/10. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
First thing's first - I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated. I am a creature of habit and comfort, so I typically gravitate towards books/authors I know or that have come recommended from someone I trust. When the author sent an ARC, I was hesitant, but it absolutely grabbed me after the first couple chapters. Now, there are certainly a few things that aren't my favorite and I'll get to that in a bit, but on the whole this was a SUPER fun read.
I love Pratchett, Nicholas Eames, J. Zachary Pike, among others, but this definitely harkens to those specific styles. It uses typically fantasy tropes and just throws them in your face, while still being somewhat heartfelt. I really liked the tongue-in-cheek nature of the self-referential, fourth wall breaking, bla bla bla jokes as well. It ALMOST got to be a little too much, but it toed the line well for me. Hell, I even liked the jokes and bits referencing contemporary/modern day topics. Normally that might take me out of a story, but he handled those really well. He also used footnotes in a similar fashion as Terry Pratchett in a really fun way, although that could have been dialed back a tiny bit.
For a pretty typical fantasy setting, I felt like the worldbuilding was good. Not breaking the mold or anything, but the author was able to describe the setting beautifully. Combined with the little quips and details about certain organizations and whatnot you really get a well thought out world.
One thing I have to say about this author, is that he can absolutely paint a damn picture. There are some beautiful passages in this book. That said, sometimes the paintings can get a little...long? I don't know, that metaphor didn't really work. There were a number of times where I felt fully "in" a scene and I felt as though that particular plot point had been told, but instead of moving on to the next thing, there would still be a couple of pages left describing how "the air was thick with *insert adjective here*". Now, I am not saying that at any point it pushed me over the edge, but there were some spots where it dragged on a little.
EDIT - I am going to leave this paragraph in, but the author sent an updated portion of the book that completely solved this issue and as such, this criticism is moot. [One aspect that did bug me a little, was the lack of closure/explanation on a few plot points, specifically one towards the end. I am totally fine letting certain things go untold and letting a reader's imagination handle the rest, but there were a few points that kind of just got swept under the rug and that kind of leaves me wanting to know what the hell happened.]
All that longwinded gasbagging is to say - I absolutely enjoyed this book, even considering my small amount of gripes. If you have ANY interest in a comical fantasy with a heavy helping of dry humor, this is a great read. 9.9/10. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
September 4, 2025
(Review for an ARC provided by the author)
This was a fun read that played with the genre of fantasy itself.
Parody is a hard line to walk. Be too funny and you're not really telling a story, just making fun of one. But be too serious and you're not a parody at all, just a humorous entrant in the genre. Tilford's debut novel is an enjoyable read, but one that errs a little too close to the silly over the story. The plot is familiar: a chosen one and their companions on a quest to defeat the Dark Lord.
It does a good job subverting some expectations while leaning into others. Making fun of common fantasy tropes is good, but take too many at face value and it feels like you're missing your own joke.
Past that, the prose itself is good. A few too many similes, but it was snappy and genuinely funny. Most of the characters didn't have much depth to them, but there's one in particular I really liked. I thought the moments of deeper introspection (like the brute reexamining how he feels about goblins) were the strongest points, but they were few and far between.
If you go in expecting a truly silly fantasy romp, you're sure to enjoy it (and I did). Just don't expect too much more.
This was a fun read that played with the genre of fantasy itself.
Parody is a hard line to walk. Be too funny and you're not really telling a story, just making fun of one. But be too serious and you're not a parody at all, just a humorous entrant in the genre. Tilford's debut novel is an enjoyable read, but one that errs a little too close to the silly over the story. The plot is familiar: a chosen one and their companions on a quest to defeat the Dark Lord.
It does a good job subverting some expectations while leaning into others. Making fun of common fantasy tropes is good, but take too many at face value and it feels like you're missing your own joke.
Past that, the prose itself is good. A few too many similes, but it was snappy and genuinely funny. Most of the characters didn't have much depth to them, but there's one in particular I really liked. I thought the moments of deeper introspection (like the brute reexamining how he feels about goblins) were the strongest points, but they were few and far between.
If you go in expecting a truly silly fantasy romp, you're sure to enjoy it (and I did). Just don't expect too much more.
See everything I've read on david.reviews!
July 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this as a fantasy adventure novel, it uses the overall concept in a unique way and has that feel that I enjoyed from the genre. It was a unique take and had that overall feel that was familiar and enjoyed getting into the world. M. L. Tilford was able to create a strong storyline and glad it had that element that I was hoping for. The characters were my favorite element of the book and one of my favorites.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2025
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/5 ⭐️
Finally had time to finish!
I didn’t quite jive with this book. The author has a fun writing style and I enjoyed the creative descriptions. There were definitely points that I thought were amusing or touching, but much of the humor was a little too on the nose for my tastes. There’s also a lot of traveling in this book, and I think that’s a really difficult thing to write and make interesting.
The concept of the footnotes was fun! I haven’t seen many books use that as a comedic element and I appreciated the ingenuity. Some of the footnotes gave me a good chuckle, others I felt didn’t add anything to the story. I’ll also say that the footnotes worked better when I was reading on my kindle than they did from my phone, especially for the longer ones.
Overall, this book was difficult for me to get into, but it still had its moments.
2.5/5 ⭐️
Finally had time to finish!
I didn’t quite jive with this book. The author has a fun writing style and I enjoyed the creative descriptions. There were definitely points that I thought were amusing or touching, but much of the humor was a little too on the nose for my tastes. There’s also a lot of traveling in this book, and I think that’s a really difficult thing to write and make interesting.
The concept of the footnotes was fun! I haven’t seen many books use that as a comedic element and I appreciated the ingenuity. Some of the footnotes gave me a good chuckle, others I felt didn’t add anything to the story. I’ll also say that the footnotes worked better when I was reading on my kindle than they did from my phone, especially for the longer ones.
Overall, this book was difficult for me to get into, but it still had its moments.
August 12, 2025
Solid sarcastic/dry humor poking fun at the fantasy tropes. It is obviously a hard balance to strike between seriousness and levity/sarcasm, and at times the book does take itself too serious.
It also felt like some of the emotional weights were rushed relative to how/what we knew about the characters. Perhaps if there was more exposition or emotional depth added earlier on? I’m not sure but some of the early scenes about deciding to travel made me cringe. Again, I am not sure if this relates to the tough balance between seriousness and sarcasm.
Still a solid read if you want to take a break from the standard template “hero’s journey” and want to read about “hero’s” being guided by their heroic cats.
It also felt like some of the emotional weights were rushed relative to how/what we knew about the characters. Perhaps if there was more exposition or emotional depth added earlier on? I’m not sure but some of the early scenes about deciding to travel made me cringe. Again, I am not sure if this relates to the tough balance between seriousness and sarcasm.
Still a solid read if you want to take a break from the standard template “hero’s journey” and want to read about “hero’s” being guided by their heroic cats.
July 31, 2025
Living at the edge of the Empire in the town of Nothing-to-See-Here, Tianna works hard to balance her job at the local tavern with raising her little sister Rea and her cat Nyx. Everything changes when a weapon of legend reveals itself to Tianna, showing her grim visions of the Dark Lord’s army. There’s just one problem: the magical weapon happens to be a talking frying pan. Unfortunately for Tianna, the journey just gets stranger from here, as she sets out alongside her uncle Thane, a man of many secrets, and Blarg the Unstoppable Doorhammer, a warrior who loves to smash, on a truly unforgettable adventure.
As a reviewer of indie fiction, I’ve read great books, terrible books, and everything in between. But every so often, I come across a true gem that validates my entire career. The Art of Myth-Direction by M. L. Tilford is one such literary treasure. Imagine, if you will, the best roleplaying game session ever, turned into a novel that’s so immersive it feels cinematic. Tianna, the reluctant hero, sets out on her mission to defeat the Dark Lord and fulfill her destiny. Unfortunately, destiny doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and Tianna finds endless mayhem as she traverses the freezing wilderness. Thane is the backbone oft he group, his common sense and serenity contrasting with Blarg’s good-natured ‘smash first’ attitude. Little Rea is surprisingly nuanced, as determination and anxiety fight deep within her spirit. Nyx is a true cat in every sense of the word, locating the perfect nap spot before leading his clueless humans to safety…again. Sword the Frying-Pan of Legend is endlessly sarcastic, hoping for a chance to finally engage in combat instead of running away all the time. Together, this motley crew must escape psychedelic gnomes, navigate a carnivorous treasure room, and evade cuddly critters bent on destruction as they race to fight a Dark Lord unlike anything they could have imagined.
The action is unparalleled, the fight scenes are engrossing, and the motivations of the characters feel so real, it’s like stepping into a movie. There are a few small type errors, and Rea’s dagger somehow shapeshifts into a slingshot along the way, but these minor imperfections in no way detract from the brilliance of the whole. With wit, humor, and a story filled with the unexpected, this book showcases the absolute best of independent fiction, earning five out of five stars.
Containing fatalities, blood, crude humor, psychedelic mushrooms, and fantasy violence, this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is perfect readers 13 and up who love epic journeys with a side of belly laughs. Each page will have you on the edge of your seat, as this ragtag group of heroes faces the hilariously unbelievable. I can’t wait for a sequel!
I received a free review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a reviewer of indie fiction, I’ve read great books, terrible books, and everything in between. But every so often, I come across a true gem that validates my entire career. The Art of Myth-Direction by M. L. Tilford is one such literary treasure. Imagine, if you will, the best roleplaying game session ever, turned into a novel that’s so immersive it feels cinematic. Tianna, the reluctant hero, sets out on her mission to defeat the Dark Lord and fulfill her destiny. Unfortunately, destiny doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and Tianna finds endless mayhem as she traverses the freezing wilderness. Thane is the backbone oft he group, his common sense and serenity contrasting with Blarg’s good-natured ‘smash first’ attitude. Little Rea is surprisingly nuanced, as determination and anxiety fight deep within her spirit. Nyx is a true cat in every sense of the word, locating the perfect nap spot before leading his clueless humans to safety…again. Sword the Frying-Pan of Legend is endlessly sarcastic, hoping for a chance to finally engage in combat instead of running away all the time. Together, this motley crew must escape psychedelic gnomes, navigate a carnivorous treasure room, and evade cuddly critters bent on destruction as they race to fight a Dark Lord unlike anything they could have imagined.
The action is unparalleled, the fight scenes are engrossing, and the motivations of the characters feel so real, it’s like stepping into a movie. There are a few small type errors, and Rea’s dagger somehow shapeshifts into a slingshot along the way, but these minor imperfections in no way detract from the brilliance of the whole. With wit, humor, and a story filled with the unexpected, this book showcases the absolute best of independent fiction, earning five out of five stars.
Containing fatalities, blood, crude humor, psychedelic mushrooms, and fantasy violence, this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is perfect readers 13 and up who love epic journeys with a side of belly laughs. Each page will have you on the edge of your seat, as this ragtag group of heroes faces the hilariously unbelievable. I can’t wait for a sequel!
I received a free review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2025
I received this book as an e-ARC from the author.
A fantasy read for fans of Orconomics/The Dark Profit Saga and/or Terry Pratchett's Discworld. With a bit more polish and editing, this could be a great satirical fantasy, but it's not yet there.
To quickly recap - thee novel introduces us to the Spireverse, and starts off with a bang. The dark lord (The Dark One) of this world has just been summoned from beyond the grave, and a new set of quirky heroes has been called to foil his plans.. Tianna, her magical talking frying-pan, and her family step up to this challenge, and stumble upon several amusing conflicts on their along the way - from bridge trolls that collect tolls, to long-dead but still chattering skeletons, and even several comedic rescues from the party's pet cat Nyx.
Let's start with what worked great. The character Blarg, and his giant hammer, is the best companion in this entire book, and yes I'm including the cat in this comparison. Blarg was so much fun, and I loved his always-speak -in-third-person shtick. Plus, Blarg just gives the best life advice ("Garlic! Tis Glorious!"). My second favorite thing was a section of the book that I call the Yeti chapter. This chapter was probably one of the most polished chapters in the book, and even included a pretty good fight scene with a Yeti-like monster. In addition to that, the footnote explaining the Yeti and its abilities is my absolute favorite of the many footnotes in this book.
Now, we can touch on some of the struggle points, starting with the footnotes. Tilford includes multiple footnotes in this book- in a very Discord-like fashion- and while some of them are great (see Yeti from above), I think there's just too many of them. There was something close to 90 footnotes within the first half of the book. While they did add to the comedy, they also started to detract from the story as the book went on.
The second problem was excessive and sometimes repetitive descriptors, in both the satirical and serious sense. Sometimes this meant an unneeded joke placement because one had just been done the paragraph before, and sometimes this meant too many paragraphs describing a single scene/visual/joke with too-little difference in the material. This issue was especially amplified in a couple rougher scenes in the book that just stretched out a bit too long. I think Tilford just needs a developmental editor to help fine-tune these two issues, and the book would flow a lot better.
Ultimately, "The Art of Myth-Direction" is better than a lot of other self-published books I've read, and Tilford deserves congratulations for his soon-to-be-released debut!
A fantasy read for fans of Orconomics/The Dark Profit Saga and/or Terry Pratchett's Discworld. With a bit more polish and editing, this could be a great satirical fantasy, but it's not yet there.
To quickly recap - thee novel introduces us to the Spireverse, and starts off with a bang. The dark lord (The Dark One) of this world has just been summoned from beyond the grave, and a new set of quirky heroes has been called to foil his plans.. Tianna, her magical talking frying-pan, and her family step up to this challenge, and stumble upon several amusing conflicts on their along the way - from bridge trolls that collect tolls, to long-dead but still chattering skeletons, and even several comedic rescues from the party's pet cat Nyx.
Let's start with what worked great. The character Blarg, and his giant hammer, is the best companion in this entire book, and yes I'm including the cat in this comparison. Blarg was so much fun, and I loved his always-speak -in-third-person shtick. Plus, Blarg just gives the best life advice ("Garlic! Tis Glorious!"). My second favorite thing was a section of the book that I call the Yeti chapter. This chapter was probably one of the most polished chapters in the book, and even included a pretty good fight scene with a Yeti-like monster. In addition to that, the footnote explaining the Yeti and its abilities is my absolute favorite of the many footnotes in this book.
Now, we can touch on some of the struggle points, starting with the footnotes. Tilford includes multiple footnotes in this book- in a very Discord-like fashion- and while some of them are great (see Yeti from above), I think there's just too many of them. There was something close to 90 footnotes within the first half of the book. While they did add to the comedy, they also started to detract from the story as the book went on.
The second problem was excessive and sometimes repetitive descriptors, in both the satirical and serious sense. Sometimes this meant an unneeded joke placement because one had just been done the paragraph before, and sometimes this meant too many paragraphs describing a single scene/visual/joke with too-little difference in the material. This issue was especially amplified in a couple rougher scenes in the book that just stretched out a bit too long. I think Tilford just needs a developmental editor to help fine-tune these two issues, and the book would flow a lot better.
Ultimately, "The Art of Myth-Direction" is better than a lot of other self-published books I've read, and Tilford deserves congratulations for his soon-to-be-released debut!
September 10, 2025
Would anyone really be surprised at this point if I said my favorite characters were the frying pan and the cat?
The first thing that drew me to this ARC was its title. The Art of Myth-Direction is, as many readers have already pointed out, clearly inspired by Terry Pratchett. That said, it never feels like a rip-off or unoriginal—it has its own voice, and I found myself enjoying it immensely. Honestly, I think I loved the footnotes almost as much as the story itself.
This isn’t a high-fantasy, high-stakes kind of book. If that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to look elsewhere. Instead, this story is light, quirky, and delightfully random. The perfect kind of read when you just want to unplug from reality for a while.
For me, the real highlights of The Art of Myth-Direction were the absurdity of the plot and, of course, the footnotes. They add so much lore and texture to M.L. Tilford’s world, details that wouldn’t easily fit into the main narrative. However, this can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In a few places, the footnotes felt overwhelming, dominating entire pages and slowing the pacing. A little more restraint or synthesis would have made those sections tighter without losing their charm.
Tilford’s writing style is whimsical and humorous, with a lightness that makes the book easy to read. That said, there were times when scenes felt over-described with details that didn’t move the plot forward. Even so, I’d happily pick up another of Tilford’s works in this genre. I’m confident the storytelling will only get sharper and funnier with each new book.
Thank you, BookSirens and M.L. Tilford, for the ARC!
The first thing that drew me to this ARC was its title. The Art of Myth-Direction is, as many readers have already pointed out, clearly inspired by Terry Pratchett. That said, it never feels like a rip-off or unoriginal—it has its own voice, and I found myself enjoying it immensely. Honestly, I think I loved the footnotes almost as much as the story itself.
This isn’t a high-fantasy, high-stakes kind of book. If that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to look elsewhere. Instead, this story is light, quirky, and delightfully random. The perfect kind of read when you just want to unplug from reality for a while.
For me, the real highlights of The Art of Myth-Direction were the absurdity of the plot and, of course, the footnotes. They add so much lore and texture to M.L. Tilford’s world, details that wouldn’t easily fit into the main narrative. However, this can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In a few places, the footnotes felt overwhelming, dominating entire pages and slowing the pacing. A little more restraint or synthesis would have made those sections tighter without losing their charm.
Tilford’s writing style is whimsical and humorous, with a lightness that makes the book easy to read. That said, there were times when scenes felt over-described with details that didn’t move the plot forward. Even so, I’d happily pick up another of Tilford’s works in this genre. I’m confident the storytelling will only get sharper and funnier with each new book.
Thank you, BookSirens and M.L. Tilford, for the ARC!
September 2, 2025
This book has some excellent descriptive text—but it has far, far, FAR too much of it. For that reason, I found it a struggle to get through. It's a pity, because with a good editor, this is some five-star writing. Sure, the storyline is nothing new, and the characterisation isn't that strong (the author is too busy adjective-ing everything else going on)—but the sheer imagination and humour are solid.
I think the most egregious example of over-description was in some scenes involving gnomes (not a spoiler). We learn about the surroundings from the perspective of each character, so you find yourself reading pages upon pages upon PAGES of description of the exact same place. I don't need that. I also don't need half a dozen similes and metaphors for any given thing.
Had the author spent more time on action and developing some dramatic tension, this would have been a stronger book. Had it not been an ARC, I would have DNF'd the book when I noticed myself wanting to skim. I certainly didn't click into the footnotes, because by that point, I was emotionally exhausted.
I do think there are a lot of people who would like this book, and it's better than a LOT of the indie writing out there. I just personally needed it to be cut in half.
ETA: I also found the beginning of the book too slow; it was too difficult to understand at the outset who the protagonist/main character was, and to whom I needed to be paying attention. Cutting the intro and epilogue characters, and jumping straight to Tianna's perspective, would have helped grab my attention.
I think the most egregious example of over-description was in some scenes involving gnomes (not a spoiler). We learn about the surroundings from the perspective of each character, so you find yourself reading pages upon pages upon PAGES of description of the exact same place. I don't need that. I also don't need half a dozen similes and metaphors for any given thing.
Had the author spent more time on action and developing some dramatic tension, this would have been a stronger book. Had it not been an ARC, I would have DNF'd the book when I noticed myself wanting to skim. I certainly didn't click into the footnotes, because by that point, I was emotionally exhausted.
I do think there are a lot of people who would like this book, and it's better than a LOT of the indie writing out there. I just personally needed it to be cut in half.
ETA: I also found the beginning of the book too slow; it was too difficult to understand at the outset who the protagonist/main character was, and to whom I needed to be paying attention. Cutting the intro and epilogue characters, and jumping straight to Tianna's perspective, would have helped grab my attention.
September 7, 2025
The Art of Myth-Direction is a comedic fantasy novel, one in which a group of villagers—and a talking frying pan—journey to tackle the Dark Lord and save the world.
First and foremost, I will say Tilford's prose was excellent. It flowed well, and was never too dense or simplistic; passages where Tilford was explaining new landscapes were well crafted, I could visualise the environment well. There were areas and aspects of the story I thoroughly enjoyed. The comedy was well done for the most part, and I really enjoyed the scenes with the Dark Lord. I had a good time when he was active in the scenes.
I did, however, have a few issues. I found that there was little cause and effect throughout the novel: something would happen, then something else would happen etc. The scene progression didn't feel natural to me, unfortunately. There is a scene in which the band finds themselves in a cave—I will refrain from too much detail for the sake of spoilers—and this scene completely threw me off. It just felt like it came out of nowhere and for no real reason. There is also a very strange ending for a character that I did not like, as it made no sense at all and was never explained.
One should also be aware that there are copious amounts of footnotes, especially in the first half of the novel. There are so many, in fact, that they can detract from the flow of the story. I wasn't too bothered by them, but I can see how it could be for others.
Overall, it's a decent first novel with some teething issues, but I fully believe Tilford can work on them for the subsequent book.
First and foremost, I will say Tilford's prose was excellent. It flowed well, and was never too dense or simplistic; passages where Tilford was explaining new landscapes were well crafted, I could visualise the environment well. There were areas and aspects of the story I thoroughly enjoyed. The comedy was well done for the most part, and I really enjoyed the scenes with the Dark Lord. I had a good time when he was active in the scenes.
I did, however, have a few issues. I found that there was little cause and effect throughout the novel: something would happen, then something else would happen etc. The scene progression didn't feel natural to me, unfortunately. There is a scene in which the band finds themselves in a cave—I will refrain from too much detail for the sake of spoilers—and this scene completely threw me off. It just felt like it came out of nowhere and for no real reason. There is also a very strange ending for a character that I did not like, as it made no sense at all and was never explained.
One should also be aware that there are copious amounts of footnotes, especially in the first half of the novel. There are so many, in fact, that they can detract from the flow of the story. I wasn't too bothered by them, but I can see how it could be for others.
Overall, it's a decent first novel with some teething issues, but I fully believe Tilford can work on them for the subsequent book.
September 11, 2025
Rounded up to 4. This was a satirical fantasy that pokes a little fun at the fantasy genre. It’s a lot of dry humor/sarcastic humor and there’s an immense amount of footnotes. I personally am not one for footnotes, think of them as the footnotes in the Nevernight chronicles (if you’ve read), where there’s big dumps of info or witty comments, etc. There was easily almost 100 in the first half, but that did start to taper off in the second, but personally I read some and skipped over others. The metaphors were laid on a bit thick at times and sometimes there was too much description. I felt like I really didn’t get to learn too much about the characters but I really liked Blarg, he was probably my favorite character. I also liked the talking frying pan. I liked the prologue AND epilogue, definitely poked fun at fantasy. If you want something that’s a lighthearted read, where the group still fights some monsters and some social commentary is sprinkled in (no romance in the book either) then you might enjoy it! Thank you ML Tilford for a chance to read your debut early, good luck on your writing journey!
September 11, 2025
~ 4.5
The Art of Myth-Direction is a magnificently comedic twist on the age-old beloved hero's journey. The Dark Lord has returned and chaos is about to spread. It's up to Tianna and her trusty frying pan to save the day. I was amazed by how fun and exciting this book was while staying cozy and comforting. The family dynamics and found family were my favourite parts of this book. The way Tianna and her unlikely group of heroes overcame (or well ... Outlasted) certain death was strangely hilarious and sometimes incredulous. Despite being comedic the story tackles heavy themes of loss, grief, discrimination, manipulation, and redemption. The way the characters complemented each other and supported each other was heartwarming and clever. I can't believe how attached I got to characters I did not like in the beginning. This book made the impossible possible, in the weirdest of ways. The plot is straightforward but also unique and unexpected at times. Oh and as a cat lover, Nyx is one of the best parts! There's quite a bit of action and mystery that keeps a reader guessing. Not to mention well executed twists and turns. I loved every minute I spent reading this book.
The Art of Myth-Direction is a magnificently comedic twist on the age-old beloved hero's journey. The Dark Lord has returned and chaos is about to spread. It's up to Tianna and her trusty frying pan to save the day. I was amazed by how fun and exciting this book was while staying cozy and comforting. The family dynamics and found family were my favourite parts of this book. The way Tianna and her unlikely group of heroes overcame (or well ... Outlasted) certain death was strangely hilarious and sometimes incredulous. Despite being comedic the story tackles heavy themes of loss, grief, discrimination, manipulation, and redemption. The way the characters complemented each other and supported each other was heartwarming and clever. I can't believe how attached I got to characters I did not like in the beginning. This book made the impossible possible, in the weirdest of ways. The plot is straightforward but also unique and unexpected at times. Oh and as a cat lover, Nyx is one of the best parts! There's quite a bit of action and mystery that keeps a reader guessing. Not to mention well executed twists and turns. I loved every minute I spent reading this book.
September 6, 2025
Excellent prose and a lot of action packed into just 300 pages. The world Tilford created gave insightful social commentary and I liked how the characters and different races were quite fleshed out.
The story and the world the author created definitely leaves a lot to expand upon, which I appreciate.
I enjoyed how the story was light-hearted and funny, but serious when the situation called for it. The book could however use a little bit more editing, as the funniness sometimes got a ahead of itself and jokes got lost in one another. Hard to appreciate good humor when there is just so much of it.
There was a little deus ex machina, which wasn't explained as much as I would've liked, but I chalked it up to "this story is not that serious".
In a more higher fantasy book, I would've been peeved.
Overall, a good start of the authors writing career. I would recommend for someone wanting to have a good time.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story and the world the author created definitely leaves a lot to expand upon, which I appreciate.
I enjoyed how the story was light-hearted and funny, but serious when the situation called for it. The book could however use a little bit more editing, as the funniness sometimes got a ahead of itself and jokes got lost in one another. Hard to appreciate good humor when there is just so much of it.
There was a little deus ex machina, which wasn't explained as much as I would've liked, but I chalked it up to "this story is not that serious".
In a more higher fantasy book, I would've been peeved.
Overall, a good start of the authors writing career. I would recommend for someone wanting to have a good time.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 11, 2025
This book was absolutely hilarious and so fresh amongst the same-same kind of books, I was delighted to get an ARC from booksirens to review it, thank you very much!
The story is so random and absurd sometimes, the jokes are great and fit in well with the writing style. The minus one star is for the poop jokes and the sometimes too long or repetitive descriptions of surroundings, however the world building is amazing and the author really paints a picture in your head, it’s like watching a movie. I’d love to see this as a movie or series, we’re lacking good fantasy on our screens, we need more!
I’d love to read more from this author in this same writing style, well done!
Favourite character is by far the talking frying pan, of course!
Thanks again to booksirens for a copy and broadening my reading experiences!
The story is so random and absurd sometimes, the jokes are great and fit in well with the writing style. The minus one star is for the poop jokes and the sometimes too long or repetitive descriptions of surroundings, however the world building is amazing and the author really paints a picture in your head, it’s like watching a movie. I’d love to see this as a movie or series, we’re lacking good fantasy on our screens, we need more!
I’d love to read more from this author in this same writing style, well done!
Favourite character is by far the talking frying pan, of course!
Thanks again to booksirens for a copy and broadening my reading experiences!
August 28, 2025
When the Dark Lord needs to be vanquished, you don’t immediately think of two young sisters, their uncle, a garlic munching warrior and a cat called Nixie as being the heroes for the job, but stranger things can happen. And did I mention the frying pan that used to be a sword …….
When I started reading this story, it soon brought to mind the books of the great Terry Pratchett which I first read more than twenty years ago and which still sit on my bookshelf today. However, although this is a fun story and full of great metaphors, there was just something missing to give it that extra punch. There are maybe a few too many footnotes too, but it’s still worth a read 🐈⬛
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When I started reading this story, it soon brought to mind the books of the great Terry Pratchett which I first read more than twenty years ago and which still sit on my bookshelf today. However, although this is a fun story and full of great metaphors, there was just something missing to give it that extra punch. There are maybe a few too many footnotes too, but it’s still worth a read 🐈⬛
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2025
This is a light-hearted fun fantasy romp with some well rounded characters and a great storyline. I really enjoyed how the story took some classic fantasy tropes and gave them a ironic twist. Amidst the satire was some serious moments that gave the characters and this fantasy world depth, inviting readers to ponder the politics of empires and 'enemies'. You can see the influence of Terry Pratchett's Discworld on the style of writing and I look forward to seeing how this author develops as I would love to know what happens to these characters next.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2025
Such a fun read! Tilford takes your favorite fantasy tropes and turns them on their heads with hilarious results. The story teems with interesting re-imaginings of familiar fantasy creatures and the exact type of meta-humor about genre and story structure that this reader eats up with a spoon. If Douglas Adams had turned his sights on Fantasy instead of Sci-Fi, this book would have been the result. Highly recommend!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2025
Disclaimer: ARC Review. 3.5/5
Fun read. Sometimes a bit hard to follow.
The footers/appendix were funny and entertaining but at some points way too long and made me forget what I was reading. If they could be shortened they would have been really good.
My main issue is lack of emotional appeal. At certain points the book tries to invoke strong emotions but the reader has barely gotten to know the characters, let alone feel for them.
Still it was a fun and quirky read.
Fun read. Sometimes a bit hard to follow.
The footers/appendix were funny and entertaining but at some points way too long and made me forget what I was reading. If they could be shortened they would have been really good.
My main issue is lack of emotional appeal. At certain points the book tries to invoke strong emotions but the reader has barely gotten to know the characters, let alone feel for them.
Still it was a fun and quirky read.
August 13, 2025
This book is an absolute delight. It’s like Monty Python did a special where they embarked on a D&D campaign but along the way they picked up a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The plot keeps you wanting to know more, the characters and the dialogue are engaging, and the dry humor will have you bursting out laughing.
August 23, 2025
Tianna with Uncle Thane, Rea, Nyxie the cat and Blarg the Unstoppable Doomhammer with Thumkin his massive hammer accept the challenge of an adventure from a talking frying pan (the sword).
After leaving their town of Nothing-to-See-Here they encounter lots of creatures and action heading to slay the Black Lord. Really enjoyed this ever challenging read.
After leaving their town of Nothing-to-See-Here they encounter lots of creatures and action heading to slay the Black Lord. Really enjoyed this ever challenging read.
August 30, 2025
Fantasy and humor, these are some of my favorite things! I greatly enjoyed this arc and cannot wait to read more of M.L. Tilford!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2025
A witty take on the fantasy genre—This novel is a top-notch comic fantasy. Tilford is not a modern Terry Pratchett—the humor is wit rather than whimsy, with many laugh-out-loud moments. Better still, it has a point. It’s thought-provoking as well as highly entertaining.
September 11, 2025
The author is clearly a big fan of Terry Pratchett and has taken the right inspirations to set out on his own journey as a writer.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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August 12, 2025Enjoyed this read. Full review to follow.
August 27, 2025
Quite good and funny. I enjoyed it. Thanks for the advanced reader copy. 👍
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