This Will Be Interesting Summary: A Witty Fantasy Romp
TL;DR: The Quick Brief
What happens when a legendary hero dies saving his realm, then gets yanked back into a future he no longer recognizes?
That is the situation facing Galwell the Great in This Will Be Interesting, a romantic fantasy by E. B. Asher.
Ten years after his sacrifice, Galwell wakes to find his former fiancée married to another man, his death turned into a stage play, and a professional assassin already on his trail.
Set between the vibrant Queendom of Mythria and the cynical canals of Vestriya, the novel blends banter, heists, and political intrigue.
It follows a questing party trying to untangle who wants Galwell dead and why.
Readers who enjoy witty ensemble casts and second-chance romance will find the premise worth a look.
- Premise: A dead hero is resurrected a decade later and discovers his legacy has been rewritten, his ex has moved on, and an assassins’ guild wants him gone.
- Structure: 39 chapters told from three rotating viewpoints — Galwell, River, and Thessia — plus six in-world news interstitials.
- Core cast: A reluctant legend, a guild assassin, an investigative scribe, a queen in a fake marriage, and a criminal underworld heiress.
- Key threads: A hit contract, a frame-up for regicide, a corrupt guild leadership, and a conspiracy reaching into a foreign royal family.
- Emotional core: Characters defined by public roles — hero, villain, damsel, killer — push back against those labels.
- Ending: Resolved. Multiple romances land, a villain is unmasked, and a new coalition forms.
Characters in This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Galwell True (“Galwell the Great”) | Legendary Mythrian hero pulled ten years into the future by time-walking magic; possesses immense hand magic strength. |
| Queen Thessia | Young ruler of Mythria in a sham marriage with Hugh; discovers latent shapeshifting magic. |
| River Pricemark (“Fearless Flyer”) | Deathrose Guild assassin and former circus acrobat with teleportation head magic. |
| Celine Hazelton (“Miss Memory”) | Investigative scribe for the Mythria Spectator with perfect memory and secret fire magic. |
| Sir / King Hugh Mavaris | Former foot soldier who enters a fake marriage with Thessia; possesses vocal charm magic. |
| Mona Grandhart (“Mona the Merciless”) | Clare’s estranged sister and head of a Vestriyan criminal empire; possesses mind-reading head magic. |
| Clare Grandhart | Former bandit turned Mythrian hero of the Four; Galwell’s loyal companion. |
| Beatrice | Member of the Four and Clare’s partner; used secret time-walking magic to resurrect Galwell. |
| Elowen True | Galwell’s younger sister and member of the Four; possesses emotion-sensing heart magic. |
| Vandra Ravenfall | Former Deathrose Guild assassin turned Mythrian hero; provides intel on assassinry. |
| Prince Ario Vestras | Silver-haired Vestriyan prince and spymaster; travels with a snail named Benjamin; later crowned king. |
| Crown Prince Ezio | Popular Vestriyan crown prince who planned a coup against his parents; killed at the Realm Chalice. |
| Tabitha | Thessia’s childhood body double and corrupt leader of the Deathrose Guild. |
| Cheswick Chestlewitt | Famous Mythrian playwright who hired the guild after Galwell’s resurrection ruined his play. |
| Dougal Farkenstomp | Senior guild member who disguised himself as a ship captain to assassinate Thessia and Galwell. |
| Gary & Mary | Twin Deathrose Guild assassins sent after Galwell and Celine. |
| Benjamin | Prince Ario’s chartreuse snail whose slime acts as an antidote to cinderflower poison. |
This Will Be Interesting Summary
Spoiler warning: The section below recounts the novel’s plot, including its ending.
Ten years have passed since Galwell the Great died saving Mythria from the Fraternal Order. His friend Beatrice secretly uses time-walking magic to pull him out of his death moment and into the present.
Galwell returns unchanged in body and age, stepping into a realm that has already finished mourning him.
Continue Reading: The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire Summary & Characters
He attends a play about his own sacrifice, written by the celebrated playwright Cheswick Chestlewitt. There he learns that Queen Thessia, once his fiancée, has married Sir Hugh Mavaris, a former foot soldier. Not long after, an assassin named River Pricemark tries to kill him.
River belongs to the elite Deathrose Guild, and her attempt fails only because she runs into Celine Hazelton, a childhood friend and an investigative scribe for the Mythria Spectator.
The failure damages River’s standing inside the guild. Galwell’s old companions — Clare Grandhart, Beatrice, Elowen True, and Vandra Ravenfall — urge him to leave Mythria.
Clare hands him a sealed letter for his estranged sister, Mona Grandhart, a feared criminal figure in Vestriya. Meanwhile, Thessia and Hugh announce a royal honeymoon voyage to that same western continent. Their marriage, however, is an arrangement built to give Mythria a romantic distraction, and it has never been consummated.
Without knowing about each other, Galwell, River, and Celine all board the luxury ship Sapphire Palace.
Mid-voyage, an undercover guild assassin disguised as Captain Norcross moves to kill Thessia and Galwell. River and Galwell overpower him and set him adrift in a dinghy with supplies.
In Vestriya’s capital, the group tracks Mona the Merciless to her underground magical dance club. She locks Galwell in a dark-metal dance cage before Thessia intervenes with a deal. Thessia promises royal backing if Mona’s network helps identify whoever ordered the hit.
Thessia also attends a royal masquerade ball and dances with Crown Prince Ezio. She learns about his younger brother, Prince Ario, the realm’s elusive spymaster. Hugh joins the party and contributes military experience.
The group finds Prince Ario, an eccentric, self-taught poet in dark puffy clothing who travels with a chartreuse snail named Benjamin. He leads them to the Grotto outside the city, where ancient harpies live, hoping to amplify River’s teleportation magic. The ritual is interrupted by two guild assassins, Gary and Mary, and the party retreats.
At the annual Realm Chalice horseball championship, Galwell is invited onto the field as an honored guest. A guild mimic copies his appearance and physical strength, then hurls the opening horseball at Crown Prince Ezio’s head. Ezio dies instantly, Prince Ario is attacked and left unconscious, and the real Galwell is arrested for regicide.
Thessia and Hugh claim Galwell is Thessia’s future king and request an annulment, hoping to shield him from execution. The Vestriyan monarchs refuse and order him imprisoned. Galwell breaks out and goes into hiding with Mona.
Galwell and Mona travel to the snowy Evriel Mountains to meet the contract buyer. The buyer turns out to be Cheswick Chestlewitt, who hired the guild because Galwell’s resurrection ruined the ending of his play. Chestlewitt also reveals that the Deathrose Guild has fallen under new leadership with ambitions beyond a single contract.
Celine travels to the ruined village of Arveto and traces the cinderflower extract used to poison Prince Ario. She finds it was bought in bulk by the Vestriyan royal guard on orders from King Ezio and Prince Ario’s parents, who intended to eliminate political rivals and blame Mythria. Back at the Pale Palace, Thessia discovers that Benjamin the snail’s slime works as a natural antidote and revives Ario from his coma.
The party decides to expose the conspiracy publicly at Vestriya Now, the realm’s premier broadcast talent competition at the Grand Theatre. River performs an acrobatic act as the Fearless Flyer and drops Celine’s investigative pamphlets over the crowd. Prince Ario takes the stage as “Benjamin Slime – Poet,” with Hugh accompanying on harp, to reveal he is alive and to name his parents’ crimes.
During the event, Thessia is abducted in a staged capture meant to draw out the guild’s leader. The mastermind is Tabitha, Thessia’s former body double, who conspired with guild assassins and the Vestriyan monarchs. Her plan was to kill Prince Ezio, frame Galwell, murder Thessia, and seize the Mythrian crown.
Thessia uses her crystal tiara to cut through her bonds, slashes Tabitha’s face, and escapes. River confronts Tabitha and kills her, ending the guild’s corrupt leadership. The Vestriyan mob overthrows the corrupt king and queen and crowns Prince Ario as the new ruler.
Galwell refuses to marry Thessia and admits he loves Mona. He accompanies her to Cloudcliff Village, where she reconciles with her parents. Thessia and Hugh confess genuine love for each other, dissolve their fake marriage, and marry for real.
River wins Vestriya Now, retires from assassinry, becomes engaged to Celine, and joins her on an interrealm book and performance tour.
Thessia discovers her own latent magic — muted since childhood by Tabitha’s silencing touch — is shapeshifting. The heroes form a permanent coalition of questmates to defend both realms.
You May Also Like: Adversary to the Villain Summary: Book 4 Recap
Books Like This Will Be Interesting
This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher — The direct predecessor set in the same realm ten years earlier, following the original Four as they save Mythria.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst — A cozy fantasy with magical intrigue, charming creatures, and a central romance.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree — Low-stakes high fantasy built on found family, warm relationships, and food.
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher — Romantic fantasy featuring a paladin with a complicated past, a clever heroine, and sharp banter.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy magic, found family, hidden powers, and questions of personal identity.
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher — A comedic fantasy romance pairing a reluctant heroine with a magical guardian figure.
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske — Witty romantic fantasy with magical bureaucracy and a mystery-driven plot.
Book Details at a Glance
- Genre & Subgenre: Romantic Fantasy (Romantasy) / Cozy and Action Fantasy Comedy
- Core Narrative Tropes: Resurrected hero, fake marriage, rivals to lovers, assassin and scribe pairing, misunderstood criminal, body double betrayal, found family
- Tone & Atmosphere: Witty, fast-paced, theatrical, romantic, humorously absurd with emotionally grounded moments
- Primary Conflict: Galwell and his allies must evade Deathrose Guild assassins, clear his name after a regicide frame-up, and expose a cross-realm conspiracy
- Pacing Style: Fast-paced multi-POV plotting with comedy, romance, and action across distinct acts and settings
- Book Structure: 39 numbered chapters alternating between Galwell, River, and Thessia, plus 6 in-world news interstitials from the Mythria Spectator and Voice of Vestriya
- ISBN: 978-0063440319 (ISBN-10: 0063440318)
- Pages: 464
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This Will Be Interesting Summary
Spoiler warning: The section below recounts the novel’s plot, including its ending.
Ten years have passed since Galwell the Great died saving Mythria from the Fraternal Order. His friend Beatrice secretly uses time-walking magic to pull him out of his death moment and into the present.
Galwell returns unchanged in body and age, stepping into a realm that has already finished mourning him.
Continue Reading: The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire Summary & Characters
He attends a play about his own sacrifice, written by the celebrated playwright Cheswick Chestlewitt. There he learns that Queen Thessia, once his fiancée, has married Sir Hugh Mavaris, a former foot soldier. Not long after, an assassin named River Pricemark tries to kill him.
River belongs to the elite Deathrose Guild, and her attempt fails only because she runs into Celine Hazelton, a childhood friend and an investigative scribe for the Mythria Spectator.
The failure damages River’s standing inside the guild. Galwell’s old companions — Clare Grandhart, Beatrice, Elowen True, and Vandra Ravenfall — urge him to leave Mythria.
Clare hands him a sealed letter for his estranged sister, Mona Grandhart, a feared criminal figure in Vestriya. Meanwhile, Thessia and Hugh announce a royal honeymoon voyage to that same western continent. Their marriage, however, is an arrangement built to give Mythria a romantic distraction, and it has never been consummated.
Without knowing about each other, Galwell, River, and Celine all board the luxury ship Sapphire Palace.
Mid-voyage, an undercover guild assassin disguised as Captain Norcross moves to kill Thessia and Galwell. River and Galwell overpower him and set him adrift in a dinghy with supplies.
In Vestriya’s capital, the group tracks Mona the Merciless to her underground magical dance club. She locks Galwell in a dark-metal dance cage before Thessia intervenes with a deal. Thessia promises royal backing if Mona’s network helps identify whoever ordered the hit.
Thessia also attends a royal masquerade ball and dances with Crown Prince Ezio. She learns about his younger brother, Prince Ario, the realm’s elusive spymaster. Hugh joins the party and contributes military experience.
The group finds Prince Ario, an eccentric, self-taught poet in dark puffy clothing who travels with a chartreuse snail named Benjamin. He leads them to the Grotto outside the city, where ancient harpies live, hoping to amplify River’s teleportation magic. The ritual is interrupted by two guild assassins, Gary and Mary, and the party retreats.
At the annual Realm Chalice horseball championship, Galwell is invited onto the field as an honored guest. A guild mimic copies his appearance and physical strength, then hurls the opening horseball at Crown Prince Ezio’s head. Ezio dies instantly, Prince Ario is attacked and left unconscious, and the real Galwell is arrested for regicide.
Thessia and Hugh claim Galwell is Thessia’s future king and request an annulment, hoping to shield him from execution. The Vestriyan monarchs refuse and order him imprisoned. Galwell breaks out and goes into hiding with Mona.
Galwell and Mona travel to the snowy Evriel Mountains to meet the contract buyer. The buyer turns out to be Cheswick Chestlewitt, who hired the guild because Galwell’s resurrection ruined the ending of his play. Chestlewitt also reveals that the Deathrose Guild has fallen under new leadership with ambitions beyond a single contract.
Celine travels to the ruined village of Arveto and traces the cinderflower extract used to poison Prince Ario. She finds it was bought in bulk by the Vestriyan royal guard on orders from King Ezio and Prince Ario’s parents, who intended to eliminate political rivals and blame Mythria. Back at the Pale Palace, Thessia discovers that Benjamin the snail’s slime works as a natural antidote and revives Ario from his coma.
The party decides to expose the conspiracy publicly at Vestriya Now, the realm’s premier broadcast talent competition at the Grand Theatre. River performs an acrobatic act as the Fearless Flyer and drops Celine’s investigative pamphlets over the crowd. Prince Ario takes the stage as “Benjamin Slime – Poet,” with Hugh accompanying on harp, to reveal he is alive and to name his parents’ crimes.
During the event, Thessia is abducted in a staged capture meant to draw out the guild’s leader. The mastermind is Tabitha, Thessia’s former body double, who conspired with guild assassins and the Vestriyan monarchs. Her plan was to kill Prince Ezio, frame Galwell, murder Thessia, and seize the Mythrian crown.
Thessia uses her crystal tiara to cut through her bonds, slashes Tabitha’s face, and escapes. River confronts Tabitha and kills her, ending the guild’s corrupt leadership. The Vestriyan mob overthrows the corrupt king and queen and crowns Prince Ario as the new ruler.
Galwell refuses to marry Thessia and admits he loves Mona. He accompanies her to Cloudcliff Village, where she reconciles with her parents. Thessia and Hugh confess genuine love for each other, dissolve their fake marriage, and marry for real.
River wins Vestriya Now, retires from assassinry, becomes engaged to Celine, and joins her on an interrealm book and performance tour.
Thessia discovers her own latent magic — muted since childhood by Tabitha’s silencing touch — is shapeshifting. The heroes form a permanent coalition of questmates to defend both realms.
You May Also Like: Adversary to the Villain Summary: Book 4 Recap
Books Like This Will Be Interesting
This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher — The direct predecessor set in the same realm ten years earlier, following the original Four as they save Mythria.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst — A cozy fantasy with magical intrigue, charming creatures, and a central romance.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree — Low-stakes high fantasy built on found family, warm relationships, and food.
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher — Romantic fantasy featuring a paladin with a complicated past, a clever heroine, and sharp banter.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy magic, found family, hidden powers, and questions of personal identity.
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher — A comedic fantasy romance pairing a reluctant heroine with a magical guardian figure.
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske — Witty romantic fantasy with magical bureaucracy and a mystery-driven plot.
Book Details at a Glance
- Genre & Subgenre: Romantic Fantasy (Romantasy) / Cozy and Action Fantasy Comedy
- Core Narrative Tropes: Resurrected hero, fake marriage, rivals to lovers, assassin and scribe pairing, misunderstood criminal, body double betrayal, found family
- Tone & Atmosphere: Witty, fast-paced, theatrical, romantic, humorously absurd with emotionally grounded moments
- Primary Conflict: Galwell and his allies must evade Deathrose Guild assassins, clear his name after a regicide frame-up, and expose a cross-realm conspiracy
- Pacing Style: Fast-paced multi-POV plotting with comedy, romance, and action across distinct acts and settings
- Book Structure: 39 numbered chapters alternating between Galwell, River, and Thessia, plus 6 in-world news interstitials from the Mythria Spectator and Voice of Vestriya
- ISBN: 978-0063440319 (ISBN-10: 0063440318)
- Pages: 464
