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By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Meghan Maslow (Author, Publisher), Greg Boudreaux (Narrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 938 ratings
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The last thing half-dragon, half-fairy private investigator Twig Starfig wants to do is retrieve a stolen enchanted horn from a treacherous fae, but there's no denying the dazzlingly gorgeous unicorn who asks Twig to do just that. Literally, no denying, because compelling the reluctant detective is all part of a unicorn's seductive magic.

To add to his woes, Twig is saddled with the unicorn's cheeky indentured servant, Quinn Broomsparkle. Dragons are supposed to want to eat humans, but Twig's half-dragon side only wants to gobble up Quinn in a more personal way. Making matters worse, it's obvious the smokin' hot but untrustworthy sidekick is hiding something. Something big. And not what's in his trousers. In the PI business, that means trouble with a capital Q.

Throw in gads of zombies, a creepy ghost pirate ship, a malfunctioning magic carpet, and Twig's overbearing fairy father's demands to live up to the illustrious Starfig name. Naturally, an old but abiding enemy chooses this time to resurface, too. Those inconveniences Twig can handle. The realization he's falling for a human who isn't free to return his affections and whose life may hang on the success of his latest case?

Not so much.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Starfig Investigation
  2. Listening Length
    8 hours and 16 minutes
  3. Author
    Meghan Maslow
  4. Narrator
    Greg Boudreaux
  5. Audible release date
    October 12, 2017
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Meghan Maslow
  8. ASIN
    B076BXDDVX
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 16 minutes
Author Meghan Maslow
Narrator Greg Boudreaux
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 12, 2017
Publisher Meghan Maslow
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B076BXDDVX
Best Sellers Rank #185,651 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,794 in LGBTQ+ Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#3,966 in Fantasy Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#4,080 in Paranormal Fantasy (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
938 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book full of humor and puns. They describe it as an entertaining read with an interesting plot and twisting of expectations. The characters are endearing and likable, with a well-paced story that flows freely without boring spots.

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HumorEnjoymentStory qualityCharacter developmentPacing
32 customers mention "Humor"29 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it witty, clever, and full of puns and silly bureaucratic nonsense. The plot weaves through cleverly crafted episodes full of humor, passion, and juxtaposition. Readers find the characters endearing and find the book a fun, fascinating breath of fresh air.

"...The "good guys" in this book are so ridiculously endearing and Quinn and Twig are so perfect for each other - incredibly flawed separately, but..." Read more

"...I chuckled a lot, shook my head in disbelief even more often, whether it was about the powers of dragons or witches or unicorns, and how they “really..." Read more

"...The book is slow-burn and low heat, but so interesting and well-written all the way through...." Read more

"...The book is hilarious, and the situations, for all their fantasy elements, believable and the entire thing was a pleasure to read from beginning to..." Read more

29 customers mention "Enjoyment"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it entertaining, with an interesting storyline and fun adventures. The characters are quirky and the challenges are funny. The lighthearted approach is balanced well with darker themes.

"...It's so funny, so clever, so original, sweet, sexy & cute, and so well put together...." Read more

"...really” are in terms fo strength of character (or lack thereof) is quite amusing. And the story flows freely and is well paced. No boring spots here...." Read more

"...The book is slow-burn and low heat, but so interesting and well-written all the way through...." Read more

"...elements, believable and the entire thing was a pleasure to read from beginning to end...." Read more

29 customers mention "Story quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find the characters brilliant and the plot twisting engaging. The book is described as an adventure romance with a magic twist at its core. Readers appreciate the action-packed story, interesting characters, and mix of comedy, romance, and drama.

"...It's so funny, so clever, so original, sweet, sexy & cute, and so well put together...." Read more

"...(I think), with really well fleshed-out characters, a fun and action-packed story and the promise of more of the same as the series continues...." Read more

"...She has a great way of subverting fantasy tropes and stereotypes that I love...." Read more

"This was a fun read! It had everything I enjoy: fantasy, adventure, magic, romance, excellent world-building, and hilariously snarky and endearing..." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the characters likable and interesting, from the feisty human servant to the half-dragon fairy.

"...playing the genre like a virtuoso (I think), with really well fleshed-out characters, a fun and action-packed story and the promise of more of..." Read more

"I loved this world and its characters. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and there are not enough good m/m fantasy novels to be found IMO...." Read more

"...romance, excellent world-building, and hilariously snarky and endearing characters. I had so much fun reading this—such a treat!" Read more

"...I loved the characters so much especially Twig and Quinn they fit so well together. When they finally got together it was so worth the wait...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They say it flows smoothly, with no boring spots. The story is full of humor, passion, and juxtaposition. Twig and Quinn fit well together, even though they are flawed individually.

"...are so perfect for each other - incredibly flawed separately, but perfect together...." Read more

"...And the story flows freely and is well paced. No boring spots here...." Read more

"...I loved the characters so much especially Twig and Quinn they fit so well together. When they finally got together it was so worth the wait...." Read more

"...It was sweet, tender, and slow-burning. Quinn was complex, and Twig especially...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • JEN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love, true love - and some seriously funny hijinks
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I LOVED this book to itty bitty bits, every little bit of it I loved. It's so funny, so clever, so original, sweet, sexy & cute, and so well put together. I'm sure there are people who will find that this book is not their cup of tea, but I have absolutely nothing at all negative to say about it. The "good guys" in this book are so ridiculously endearing and Quinn and Twig are so perfect for each other - incredibly flawed separately, but perfect together. How either managed to even survive before they met is a mystery, (though they probably got in a tiny bit less trouble...maybe).

    Greg's narration is spectacular, as always. He made this book all the more amazing & I now can't imagine the characters without his voices for them.

    I've got the next book already queued up to start in the morning.
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  • Hans Hirschi
    4.0 out of 5 stars “By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel” or why I’m still not into fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    My first fantasy novel, ever. Yeah, I admit, I haven’t even read LOTR, the language had me asleep before I got to chapter two in The Hobbit. So why on earth would I want to read a novel about fairies which the title not so subtly alludes to? One reason really: the author. Meghan Maslow is a friend, albeit a rairly recent one, but a good friend nonetheless, and I always read what my friends write, no matter how bad or “out there” their writing seems to be. Meghan sort of attached herself to me and a friend at the San Diego version of GRL, the annual reader-writer convention of people who love gay romance literature, and where I, for some odd reason, have found a home, even though I don’t belong there, since, yeah, I don’t write romance. Meghan is witty, she’s smart, and she’s one hell of a writer, or so I discovered after having read her first foray into what some people refer to as “m/m” (you know how much I despise that word).

    Ergo me reading By Fairy Means or Foul, a novel with more innuendo than anything I’ve read for a long time. Let me get this out of the way right now, before Meghan, who I’m sure will be reading this, gets her dreads in a twist. This is an honest to the bone review, as you’ll see shortly. Here it goes: Meghan is an insanely talented writer, and you can tell by all the subtleties that she’s also well educated and knows her genre, probably a gazillion times better than I do (since, yeah, my first, remember?)

    Reading a book about fairies and dragons and men in slavery just never really made it to my remotest level of interest, but oddly, I found this an amusing read. I chuckled a lot, shook my head in disbelief even more often, whether it was about the powers of dragons or witches or unicorns, and how they “really” are in terms fo strength of character (or lack thereof) is quite amusing. And the story flows freely and is well paced. No boring spots here. I absolutely enjoyed the plays on the genre “rules” that I think Meghan bends, and warps, but without turning hard-core fans off (I hope). Sadly, I can’t be sure, since I don’t read the genre, but yeah, I get the impression that she gets away with her plays… Don’t believe me? Read the reviews online…

    Now, to the parts that didn’t please me quite that much, and they’re part of the genre “gay fantasy” or – shudders – “m/m fantasy”, the way the human always has to be succumbing to the beast (whether a werewolf, a werecat or a dragon). Meghan has an interesting twist on that (no spoilers), but I’m deeply troubled by the whole notion of “active – passive”, “top – bottom” and their portrayal in gay romance, and how it’s really just a prolongation of “saving the damsel in distress”. I’ll grant you, I skipped the sex scenes because it’s even worse to read it than seeing it on screen, so I can’t say if the dragon ever bottomed, but it would somehow defy the genre expectations, wouldn’t it? This is a series, and – Meghan, if you read this – there’s hope… I certainly know Meghan’s heart and mind are in the right place in what we call “IRL”.

    What I did like was the “of course” attitude of the fantasy society to gay love or relationships/mating. It was refreshing to read that, but it also reminds us just how “fantasy” fantasy really is, or is it vice versa? I can never get that right. The other aspect I didn’t enjoy was some of the predictability associated with the romance genre, like the misunderstandings in all the right places, the sex scenes, again, and again, and again, like the pistons in an engine, but even here, Meghan manages to surprise us one more time with a [no spoiler].

    Conclusions? This is a brilliantly written novel (phew, that makes seeing Meghan again in two days so much simpler), playing the genre like a virtuoso (I think), with really well fleshed-out characters, a fun and action-packed story and the promise of more of the same as the series continues. If you love your boys hot, your stories “out there” in the paranormal fantasy realm, then you absolutely MUST read this book
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Phyllida Ludd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great fantasy novel
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this world and its characters. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and there are not enough good m/m fantasy novels to be found IMO. The book is slow-burn and low heat, but so interesting and well-written all the way through. Twig, Quinn, and the rest of the cast of characters kept my interest the whole time. Who doesn't love books about dragons, wizards, tiny fairies, and jerky unicorns? I can't wait to read the next one! Sensitivity warning: indentured servitude/slavery and off-page non-con contained within.
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  • R. Rainer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable trip from beginning to end.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book on a whim, because I liked the name of the book, and I regret nothing. I was a little hesitate at first when it started with a bed slave but the writer handles it well, showing a degree of care that many don't have. The book is hilarious, and the situations, for all their fantasy elements, believable and the entire thing was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. She has a great way of subverting fantasy tropes and stereotypes that I love. I bought it as an audiobook, and before I even finished listening to it, got the epub version, and am looking forward to the next book in the series and cannot recommend it enough.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Christine F
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Light-hearted M/M Fantasy Romance Adventure, Some Steam and Some Silliness
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    a brightly colored but translucent parrot appeared. He fluttered over us, an eye patch covering his left socket. “I’ve been so lonely, ye see. The others have all passed beyond. All except yers truly.” His voice was still deep and rough. Mimicking his former owner’s maybe? He circled us again and I put out my forearm for him to land on. “Many thanks, dragon-fairy. Feels good to rest me old bones. I be Pirate McPiratestein, by the by, but ye can call me Pie.”

    A fun and mostly light-hearted M/M fantasy romance adventure with a half-dragon half-fairy shifter and a wizard hired by a unicorn.
    This was a lot of fun, I liked the less lighthearted “Charm City” books by this author better, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. A great easy read when I wasn’t feeling 100%, and I may come to like the characters even more with the sequels; there’s 4 books in the series so far.
    Read on Kindle Unlimited.

    “By Fairy Means or Foul” by Meghan Maslow.
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  • cindeereads
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great M/M Fantasy Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book so much it was easy to get into and there was never a dull moment the whole way through. I loved the characters so much especially Twig and Quinn they fit so well together. When they finally got together it was so worth the wait. I also liked the other characters especially the ghost parrot Pie and the demon Bill they were so interesting to read about. I really loved the plot it started with a search for something it became something so much more than that. So overall I loved this book I will read more in the series soon.
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  • Stephanie
    3.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fun read! It had everything I enjoy: fantasy, adventure, magic, romance, excellent world-building, and hilariously snarky and endearing characters. I had so much fun reading this—such a treat!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Unknown
    5.0 out of 5 stars Whoop Whoop
    Reviewed in Germany on June 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A thrilling adventure and a hunt for a great treasure. But which treasure is the bigger one?
    A story of friendship and love. About rotten unicorns, not so failed wizzards, bureaucratic fairies, gnarly dragons with a soft heart, crocheting giants, ghost pirate parrots and vegeterian demons and more.
    Bill and Pie had me cracking up so hard I woke my neighbours.
    I am waiting for the film but it will disappoint me anyways.
    Report
  • Bastida
    5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy and funny
    Reviewed in France on January 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It started almost quietly and became a very very crazy story. It's really funny and the characters are awesome!! I loved it
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  • Celpompom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was great story set in an amazing new universe, so different than other paranormal universes.

    I really loved both Starfig and Quinn. They are very different but they fit so so well together. I loved their interactions, they were in turn sweet, fun, loving, hot, heartbraking and heart warming.

    The story itself was very fun as it took us on a journey across the realm. I loved all the different scenery and side characters, good and bad, that we encountered.

    I can't wait to read the next book, this was so easy to read, it takes you in almost from the start and doesn't let you go.
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  • K.H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars You'll giggle, and laugh, and exclaim, and love
    Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was a compulsively readable book! Having read A Cobra's Charm I was excited to see Maslow had written a full length novel. I strongly encourage you to pick up that short, for not only was it excellent, but it gives a great taste of her writing and character style. And while this book made me laugh, it also at times tore at my heart.

    The stars are two characters who don't fit in. As a half dragon half fairy, Twig has never fit in either world. A puny dragon he was kicked out of his mother's clan. As a fairy he is too big with poor magic. Not to mention half breeds are mocked and scorned. Twig gets by, but he doesn't really have any close connections or happiness. Quinn is an indentured servant, a bed slave. He had a rough childhood and now the past three years of his adulthood have been spent at the abuses of a unicorn. Things are never spelled out explicitly but they were not pleasant. He has no home with him humans, but among magic users he is seen as little more than a brainless white. When these two come together their bond starts out of the simple fact that neither makes baseless judgements against the other.

    I was glad that Quinn's situation as a bed slave is explored, but it doesn't result in Twig judging him or being disgusted. Disappointingly often such characters are blamed for their actions to survive, even though they are the victim. Twig has no balm upon Quinn for doing what he must as a bed slave- his issues come up with bonding and commitment which is a whole other can of worms.

    When you learn what Quinn is, why he's indentured, you'll probably have some guesses right off about the problem. What I was delighted about was that the main characters did figure that out, and enact it, and it wasn't the end of the book! No, it was a natural progression in the journey, a journey I quite liked.

    This book has a very fun plot running along. In the search for the horn they are on the job for Quinn and Twig travel all over Elder and meet plenty of creatures. Their relationship gets to form and build while they work together to solve each problem they come across. It was an excellent read, very well paced with an interesting universe.

    This book was such a read that I didn't want to put it down. And then I couldn't and read it in a day. Well worth the pick up, this is a great new book!
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  • Anne V.
    4.0 out of 5 stars good start
    Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting world building and a good set up for the series to come. A little bit heavier on the descriptions of the characters physical attractions and attributes than I personally prefer, but the rest of the storyline was well worth skipping over unwanted turgid part details. And, obviously, if those parts are what you’re looking for, this book is highly recommended.
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