Billibub Baddings
(and the Case of the Singing Sword)
Written by Tee Morris
Review by: Tina Morgan

As a warrior of the good forces of Acryonis, Billibub Baddings was battling Black Orcs and saving the world from evil when he's accidentally transported into a dangerous and terrifying world of 1929 Chicago.

What's a 4 foot tall dwarf to do in the era of prohibition and gangsters? Flailing away with an enchanted battleaxe isn't going to win him any friends or pay the rent so Billibub does the only thing a self-respecting dwarf can do. He becomes a private detective.

The Case of the Singing Sword takes Billibub into the heart of Chicago's notorious gang culture. Hired by a beautiful woman to discover the reason behind her boyfriend's death, Billibub meets the infamous Al Capone and lives to tell the tale, if only just. The case puts him at odds with the police and in trouble with Capone's goons but worst of all, it brings up a part of his past that he thought was a distant memory. When he discovers the true nature of the Singing Sword he realizes there's a lot more at risk than just a gangland war. Evil has spilled into his new home from Acryonis.

Perhaps my favorite part of this novel was the main character, Billibub. He's an excellent example of a less than physically perfect hero. He's short, hairy and just the right height to be mistaken as harmless.

In a first person narrative, the main character needs to be larger than life and Billibub - despite his short stature - lives up to that promise.

With quips about elves polishing their armor until it glows (making them easy targets) and more, Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword kept me entertained and giggling throughout. Move over Mickey Spillane. Billibub is on the job and he's a dwarf with attitude and brains.

Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword rates  * * * * 1/2 stars.

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Rating Scale:
* * * * * = Un-put-downable, excellent reading!
* * * * = Good value, interesting reading.
* * * = Had potential, but could have been better.
* * = Slow, difficult to read, could have been improved.
* = Imminently forgettable.