Highfire

A Novel

By: Eoin Colfer

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

From the New York Times best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl series comes a hilarious and high-octane adult novel about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who lives an isolated life in the bayous of Louisiana - and the raucous adventures that ensue when he crosses paths with a 15-year-old troublemaker on the run from a crooked sheriff.

In the days of yore, he flew the skies and scorched angry mobs - now he hides from swamp tour boats and rises only with the greatest reluctance from his La-Z-Boy recliner. Lying low in the bayou, this once-magnificent fire breather has been reduced to lighting Marlboros with nose sparks, swilling Absolut in a Flashdance T-shirt, and binging Netflix in a fishing shack. For centuries, he struck fear in hearts far and wide as Wyvern, Lord Highfire of the Highfire Eyrie - now he goes by Vern. However...he has survived, unlike the rest. He is the last of his kind, the last dragon. Still, no amount of vodka can drown the loneliness in his molten core. Vern’s glory days are long gone. Or are they?

A canny Cajun swamp rat, young Everett “Squib” Moreau does what he can to survive, trying not to break the heart of his saintly single mother. He’s finally decided to work for a shady smuggler - but on his first night, he witnesses his boss murdered by a crooked constable.

Regence Hooke is not just a dirty cop, he’s a despicable human being - who happens to want Squib’s momma in the worst way. When Hooke goes after his hidden witness with a grenade launcher, Squib finds himself airlifted from certain death by...a dragon?

The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator. He can act as his go-between (a.k.a. familiar) - fetch his vodka, keep him company, etc. - in exchange for protection from Hooke. Soon the three of them are careening headlong toward a combustible confrontation. There’s about to be a fiery reckoning, in which either dragons finally go extinct - or Vern’s glory days are back.

A triumphant return to the genre-bending fantasy that Eoin Colfer is so well known for, Highfire is an effortlessly clever and relentlessly funny tour de force of comedy and action.

©2020 Eoin Colfer (P)2020 HarperAudio

Yes. Yes. Yes.

This author has completely nailed yet another location and protagonist. The book was interesting and hilarious, just like everything else he writes. Need a break from pandemic gloom? I highly recommend this book.

Hilarious!

I loved this novel! I loved the setting and accents of the Bayou, and the characters were amazingly unique. I recommend this to anyone who loved adventure and fantasy.

This was a wild romp through the swamp.

Johnny Heller is my narrator de jour. I can't imagine anyone doing it better. This is the second Colfer for adults this month. Thank you Audible for bringing this one to my door. outstanding writing, quirky yet captivating. A good balance of action with interesting, enlightening interludes of plot and character development. As a middle school teacher for many years Eoin Colfer is frequently my one big chance to get kids hooked on a good book. I'd hook them in an instant with Highfire. By chapter 2 I found myself trying to explain the fun I was having listening to it to my 91 year old mother (who raised 5 boys and 3 girls). I'm 69. She said, " I heard you laughing at something, was it that book?" "Yes mom, I'll play you a bit, it's so worth it, he's such an awesome writer and the narrator is outstanding. Following the clip, she said, "They sure swear a lot don't they." I said, Yes, but I can forgive them for such a great tale." Give me more.

Fantastic surprise of a book

Wow! What a book! A wonderful, endearing, heartfelt and funny as hell story. Great narration, even if some of the Cajun terms were not exactly pronounced correctly, but close enough. I hope this is going to be a series because, I definitely want to hear more about Vern and Squibb.

loved it!

The narrator was super awesome!! Story was really a lot of fun and very engaging!

Fun, enjoyable, exciting story

I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest piece of literature but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters and the audio performance was great! I’m excited that it may be coming to tv soon!

Fun, funny and original

Loved it. Lots of fun. Laughed out loud so much I missed parts and had to rewind and play it again.

performance was wonderful

great romp! wonderful take on the whole dragon genre and best of all no secret savior! The " kid" stays a street wise teenager throughout! loved it!!

So. Much. Fun!

I had the best time listening to this story! Reader is awesome! If you live dragons, you’ll love this book. I REALLY hope there will be another book continuing Vern & Squibs story!

Colfer writes book for us adults!

Highfire
A Novel
By: Eoin Colfer
Narrated by: Johnny Heller
Oh my gosh! Colfer wrote a hilarious adult book that is just right! It has a snarky, booze, dragon, named Vern, hiding out in the swamps of Louisiana enjoying a boar now and then. He lives a good life with his gator minions and, other than being lonely for a dragon girl, he does ok. He avoids people until he gets himself into trouble by saving a teen from a crooked cop. Sure, he should've ate the kid but decided to let him live and the antics are on! It is funny, heartwarming, and just downright silly but I loved every minute! Unpredictable, great characters, and I hope this will be a series!
I got the Audible version because Heller I knew would make the book POP and he did! He made it even better! Great pair - Colfer and Heller!