Promises, Promises: A Romp with Plenty of Dykes, a Unicorn, an Ogre, an Oracle, a Quest, a Princess, and True Love with a Happily Ever After

"You know, going on adventures sound great. Until you actually do it." Drusilla, dispossessed princess of an oppressed people.Promises, Promises is one of those books that people have been telling me I need to read for years. It features witches, oracles, a Red Sonja-like warrior woman, and, as the cover proclaims, plenty of dykes.But more importantly, it is a fun story with some great and memorial characters. This is L-J Baker's first foray into comedy and it's a ton of fun.In the pages of this book she lampoons and satirizes: Star Wars, Dune, Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Princess Bride, Shrek, the Valdemar Books, Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, Eragon, Narnia, every fairy tale, Buffy, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (many times), Harry Potter, Monte Python and the Holy Grail, Conan, and of course lots, and lots of D&D.Not all her jokes hit the mark, but there are so many you don't really care. This is not, as others have claimed. a Xanth-like novel, but the comparison is a fair one.I honestly believe that L-J Baker had to have been (or still is) a gamer. The references are too well done and actually too lovingly well done to be anything else other than admiration. Yes she is poking fun at some long-held tropes but in such a way as only someone who has loved these tropes can.If you love stories of adventures or games of them, then I would suggest getting this for those reasons alone. It points out some of the most ridiculous situations adventurers often find themselves in, but again does it in such a way as never to ridicule, but have light fun. The lack of proper hair care products, insect repellant, steady wages and sleeping accommodations are only the tip of the iceberg. You quickly learn that every adventuring company needs a "Ruth".A couple of nitpicks. Sometimes the book tries to be too clever. Especially when talking about anachronistic details like flushable toilets and advanced cartography. BUT even these are meant to poke fun at modern biases you see in many fantasy books, especially ones based on game worlds.Also I picked up the audio-book for this and the narrator really has a an odd way of pronoucing some words. Not sure what was going on here, but I cringed every time she would say "talons". Other words she just didn't know how to pronounce. I picked up the Kindle version too just to make sure I was not mishearing something.All in all, though the book was extremely fun and enjoyable. There is a good story here and even a message about not having to go out to seek something that you already have.It's no spoiler that there is a Happily-Ever-After (it's on the cover) but like all adventures, most of the fun is getting there anyway.Thank you my internet minions for suggesting this book to me! Now go forth and find me more!(Or...if I take the lesson from this tale, I should just go over to my tower of "To Be Read" and tackle that."

Kept me laughing out loud the whole way through. The characters are so entertaining and lovable you can't help but cheer them on. I devoured the whole thing in a single day!

I haven't laughed out loud at a book in ages! Baker definitely had me chuckling throughout. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted fantasy story involving multiple queer female characters. With so many dark and tortured romances out there, Baker's fantasy romcom is very refreshing. The 4th wall is broken several times and no trope is left unacknowledged.A note of caution to younger queer readers: the term "dyke" is used many times throughout this book, primarily as a term of self-identity. As it is a slightly older novel, one must remember that is was a very common self-referential around its time, though i has fallen out of favor in recent years.That aside, buy this book and ENJOY!

This was a fun little book. It was cutesy and literally had me laughing out loud. Please give us more funny queer books!I really enjoyed the lovable, mosly low skilled characters tramping around their world. The comments on how little adventure stories relate the hardships of adventuring were enlightening and hilarious. The unlikely luck of the adventurers was highly entertaining. Again, please give us more goofy lesbian stories.

Great book, good fun to read and a great self-aware take on the fantasy genre. My only criticism is that the editing could have been tighter in a few places.

I got the audiobook version of this book. At first I was thrown off by the voice actors performance. Took me some time to get used to it. But, my gawd, am I so happy I stuck with it. This book was so funny and silly and enjoyable. I would listen to it on the way home from work laughing to it. Nothing but good things from this book. :)

Not being a "Fantasy" fan, I cautiously downloaded a sample of this book first. I'm glad I did. The writing is clever and witty, the goofy characters likeable and the constant anachronisms delightful. Of course the book is a persiflage of the genre, and an absolutely successful one at that. This one will definitely go into my read-again stash.

This was a delightful journey through the land of make believe, lesbian-style. I recommend to anyone just wanting to get out of your own head (or reality) for a bit.

If there is one thing I'd change about fiction by and about lesbians it is the general lack of humour and, dare I say it, whimsy. This writer changes all that. Baker is such a fun read it is difficult not to dismiss her as fluff; but you would do so at your peril. Her knowing treatment of fantasy in this novel is glib, quick and funny without being cruel. However she still manages to create characters you care about and central relationships which actually work. I bought the book for a holiday read making a huge mistake as I spent the time reading the book instead of enjoying the scenery! (New England, autumn - oh all right, fall! - so you can see how good it is). OK this book will not change your life or give you staggering new insights to the human psyche, but, I defy you not to find it funny and charming.Buy this book - for a fun filled readDon't buy - if you suffer from over-abundant happiness and are in need of extra angst

I purchased this as a gift and it went down a treat.Loved it so much that it was read in one seating.

Engaging and fast-moving plot, great fun to read, many laugh aloud moments. One of my favourite authors - wish there were more books by her around.

Love it. Takes the p out of fantasy novels and people in the funniest way possible. Great characters, pace is rapid and the dialogue leaves you gasping for air.

This book was easy to read, very witty and laugh out loud funny. I will definitely be checking out the author's other works.