Fenzig's Fortune [Hardcover]

The Gnome Thief

Fenzig's Fortune (2007) is a standalone Fantasy novel. It is set in a world of small principalities where one king is trying to expand his realm.

In this novel, Fenzighan is a young gnome. He has curly hair on top of his feet and usually goes barefooted. Fenzig is also an honorable thief; he never harms anyone and never steals all their wealth.

Erlgrane is the King of Burlengren. He has already annexed the lands to the south of Burlengren all the way to the sea. Now he is trying to expand north by annexing K'Nosha.

Rehmir is Duke of K'Nosha. He has a fortified dwelling and a standing army. King Erlgrane wouldn't want to face him in a fair battle.

Carmen the Magnificent is a traveling peddler of nostrums. He is small and slender, wears flamboyant clothing and has a gaily painted wagon.

In this story, Fenzig is caught within King Erlgrane's treasure room. The guards take him down to the dungeons and throw him into a cell. It looks nasty, smells worse and has rats.

The next morning, King Erlgrane offers Fenzig a deal. If the gnome steals three emeralds from Duke Rehmir, the King will let him go. Of course, the King has his ancient wizard put a homing spell of Fenzig. After some time, the spell will kill him unless it is removed.

Fenzig receives a magic sword, a ring of invisibility, and a white pony for the excursion to K'Nosha. After a little while, Fenzig begins to think that he shouldn't have chosen a white pony, because it is too conspicuous. Then he decides that he is too conspicuous because of his smell and dirt.

Fenzig decides to steal some clothes, but is also tempted into stealing a pie. He gallops out away from the farm with the farmer just behind him. Then he turns into the haunted woods and loses the farmer.

But there are craven cats in the woods, six legged felines with a hunger for man and pony. Fenzig kills one of the cats and climbs a tree to avoid the rest. But the cats get his pony.

The next day, the cats slink away from the sunlight and Fenzig returns to the road. Now he doesn't have anything to ride and his time is running out. Then Carmen comes down the road and Fenzig flags him down.

Carmen is very talkative. He talks about many things, including his wares. He even notices the heart on the back of Fenzig's hand and comments that it looks like a homing spell.

Fenzig asks Carmen whether he is going to K'Nosha and he says no. So Fenzig wonders how he will reach K'Nosha in time to steal the emeralds. He even thinks about knocking Carmen in the head and stealing the wagon. Then Carmen changes his mind and offers to take Fenzig all the way to the town.

This tale makes Fenzig feel like a puppet on a string. First King Erlgrane manipulates him, then Duke Rehmir does, and finally Carmen pulls his strings. And various people try to kill him. He is not having a good time.

The gnomes in this story are much like the hobbits in Tolkien's tales. They even have hairy -- and bare -- feet. Other authors seem to have very similar creatures, yet nobody calls them "hobbits"! Haven't the copyrights expired yet?

The story seems straight forward, but then something surprising happens, again and again. This plot has more twists than a mountain road. Read and enjoy.

Highly recommended for Rabe fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magic spells, little people, and true friendship.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Five Star publishing lives up to its name with a fine book by Jean Rabe. This would be a good introduction to fantasy fiction for younger readers, or a fine follow-up for people who like The Hobbit. In a couple of places, it's not as polished as Rabe's current work (it was originally written over a decade ago), but there's still more fun and fantasy than in any two books by less-accomplished authors. If you like this book, you should certainly check out Jean's other work -- including her Dragonlance work, her collaborations with Andre Norton, and her short stories and Blue Kingdoms adventures. The book's premise is simple, Fenzig is a young gnome thief who gets in over his head while on a job, but the twists and turns will keep you guessing right up until the end. A fun fantasy book for all ages!

A delightful tale. Jean Rabe's obvious affection for her characters gives them a warmth and charm not often found in fantasy adventures. Plenty of action, surprising twists and turns, and gentle humor in a story about a gnome thief who thinks he has lost all control over his own destiny, but finds otherwise as he learns lessons about life, family, work, outrageous fashions, and tattoos. Recommended for tweens, teens, and all lovers of fast-paced, humorous fantasy. Donald J. Bingle, Author of Forced Conversion.

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