It's been quite some time since I last posted anything to this blog - I'm hoping to get back on track with the coming of the fall season!
Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey. This is probably the first book series in quite some time that's thoroughly engrossed me, I'm pleased to report! Kushiel's Legacy - starting with Kushiel's Dart - is a reinterpretation of Renaissance Europe and Christianity. Terre d'Ange, this world's France, the D'Angelines are connoisseurs of all things beautiful and luxurious, and live by a single religious precept - Love as Thou wilt. So it was decreed by Blessed Elua, an Earthly angel born from the blood of Yeshua ben Yosef (aka Jesus Christ), the tears of the Magdalene, and the soil of the Earth. For years this Christ like figure wandered the earth, an outcast from the One God's heaven, spreading his doctrine of love until he gained seven companions, angels who turned their back on the One God in order to attend to Blessed Elua. Now fast forward a few thousand years and the story focuses in on Phedre, a girl who is sold by her parents into the indentured servitude of the Night Court, a place where girls and boys train themselves in the arts of Namaah, one of the Seven Companions who used her body and lay with strangers in order to make sure that Elua was always provided for. Now, the arts of love, sex, and essentially prostitution have become a sacred calling in Terre d'Ange. Always considered imperfect due to the brilliant scarlet mote in her left eye, Phedre is destined to live only as a servant, but is soon brought into the house of Anafiel Delaunay, who recognizes her as one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, destined to experience pain and pleasure as one. Anafiel ensures her tutoring in the arts of Namaah, but also covertcy. As Phedre grows and becomes more proficient as a courtesan, as well as a spy, she finds herself emrboiled in the middle of plots of political intrigue, power, sex and more and Phedre comes to know the special role she'll play in shaping the course of future events, for others as well as herself.
I have to say I've actually known about this book series for years now, but I was reluctant to pick it up because it sounded so..... extreme might be the word I'm looking for. I wasn't looking for some alternative reality laden with themes of S&M, but it was quite remarkably rich. Carey has a natural gift as a writer and an excellent mastery over the English language, so it was a particularly good treat because although it is a plot driven story it definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of the writing. The characters, though, are what make this series the absolute best! I LOVE Phedre, and the author does an excellent job of making sure she is not a one-dimensional character. Another thing I loved was that Carey was willing to take certain risks to ensure the integrity of her story (i.e. like killing off well loved characters...) and it works beautifully (although I am momentarily depressed). It's a hefty first book, some 900 pages, so you'll have your hands full with this one! My recommendation is DEFINTELY READ THIS SERIES! You won't regret it!
***** 5 Stars!
Series Includes:
1. Kushiel's Dart
2. Kushiel's Chosen
3. Kushiel's Avatar
and a second trilogy around another character is as follows
4. Kushiel's Scion
5. Kuhsiel's Justice
6. Kushiel's Mercy
I'm actually reading Kushiel's Scion right now, so if you liked the first three I imagine you'll be doing the same.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
it's been quite some time I must say, but now that I'm starting to adjust to the new pace of my new life I think it's time to update this blog...
The Ephermera Duology by Anne Bishop - another couple of books from this classic favorite of mine. These two books (wishing there were more...) recount the story of Sebastian and his uber-powerful cousin, Glorianna Belladonna. Like a breath of fresh air, Bishop returns to themes of extreme power, darkness, and the will and choices of the one woman who wields them (closer to The Black Jewels, rather than Tir Alainn). Ephemera, once a unified land, was broken into separated landscapes by warriors of the light in order to trap the Eater of the World, the darkest of evils, into an isolated landscape. Years later, to get from one landscape to another people have to cross stationary bridges, but there are also resonanting bridges - those that resonate with your deepest desires, taking you to the place you truly belong to. Sebastian is a half-inccubus living in the Den of Iniquity, a dark landscape full of vice and little virtue - but to Sebastian, the Den has been more a home to him than the 'light' landscape of Wizard City, where he was shunned and neglected as a child when not taken home by his kind, landscaper aunt. Now, dark forces are stirring and landscapers and bridges, those people who create parts of the world and keep them connected, are disappearing and someone, or something, is trying to free the Eater from it's dark prison. It's up to Sebastion to help save Ephemera from its untimely doom and those he loves while preparing for the ultimate battle which will come to his cousin, Glorianna. Probably the most powerful of landscapers, and outcasted by her own kind, Glorianna is the only one with power strong enough to face the Eater of the World, but at what cost to herself and those she cares about? Stay Tuned! I've got to say this was like a breath of fresh air for me - I had purchased Sebastian nearly 3 years before and had yet to pick it up because I was worried it was going to be a step down from the Tir Alainn trilogy. I love Bishop, but of everything I've read so far by her, Tir Alainn was my least favorite (although still entertaining!). But Ephemera was a return to some of the darker themes that were more characteristic of The Black Jewels. I will say that I wish Ephemera had been expanded into at least a trilogy, because some parts of the story could have used a little more development (for example the relationship between Glorianna and Michael...), but perhaps Bishop intended the story to have this sense of immediacy with all the focus being in the present, rather than the future. Either way, I enjoyed these two books, and recommend them - I'll probably be re-reading them during my annual re-read next year!
**** 4 stars
Duology Includes:
1. Sebastian
2. Belladonna
The Ephermera Duology by Anne Bishop - another couple of books from this classic favorite of mine. These two books (wishing there were more...) recount the story of Sebastian and his uber-powerful cousin, Glorianna Belladonna. Like a breath of fresh air, Bishop returns to themes of extreme power, darkness, and the will and choices of the one woman who wields them (closer to The Black Jewels, rather than Tir Alainn). Ephemera, once a unified land, was broken into separated landscapes by warriors of the light in order to trap the Eater of the World, the darkest of evils, into an isolated landscape. Years later, to get from one landscape to another people have to cross stationary bridges, but there are also resonanting bridges - those that resonate with your deepest desires, taking you to the place you truly belong to. Sebastian is a half-inccubus living in the Den of Iniquity, a dark landscape full of vice and little virtue - but to Sebastian, the Den has been more a home to him than the 'light' landscape of Wizard City, where he was shunned and neglected as a child when not taken home by his kind, landscaper aunt. Now, dark forces are stirring and landscapers and bridges, those people who create parts of the world and keep them connected, are disappearing and someone, or something, is trying to free the Eater from it's dark prison. It's up to Sebastion to help save Ephemera from its untimely doom and those he loves while preparing for the ultimate battle which will come to his cousin, Glorianna. Probably the most powerful of landscapers, and outcasted by her own kind, Glorianna is the only one with power strong enough to face the Eater of the World, but at what cost to herself and those she cares about? Stay Tuned! I've got to say this was like a breath of fresh air for me - I had purchased Sebastian nearly 3 years before and had yet to pick it up because I was worried it was going to be a step down from the Tir Alainn trilogy. I love Bishop, but of everything I've read so far by her, Tir Alainn was my least favorite (although still entertaining!). But Ephemera was a return to some of the darker themes that were more characteristic of The Black Jewels. I will say that I wish Ephemera had been expanded into at least a trilogy, because some parts of the story could have used a little more development (for example the relationship between Glorianna and Michael...), but perhaps Bishop intended the story to have this sense of immediacy with all the focus being in the present, rather than the future. Either way, I enjoyed these two books, and recommend them - I'll probably be re-reading them during my annual re-read next year!
**** 4 stars
Duology Includes:
1. Sebastian
2. Belladonna
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
New book, new review!
Evermore - by Alyson Noel. When Ever survives the car crash that takes the lives of the rest of her family, she returns back to the living with strange new abilities. She is able to 'read' peoples' auras and hear their thoughts (I know, I know....Edward you started this all!). Once the most popular girl in school, Ever now dresses in oversized clothing, dark sunglasses, and loud earbuds to drown out the voices and retain some anonymity. A strange new student in an unfamiliar school, Ever's life has taken a nose dive for the worst - until the super sexy, dark Damen shows up. He's everything a girl would want - rich, good-looking, kind, and best of all, he makes the voices in Ever's head go away. But Damen is not your average guy, and there's more to him than meets the eye. What is it about him that causes the supernatural abilities Ever has to stop working? Soon Ever's world is turned upside down as she tries to cope with the truth about Damen, and her very own existence.... Ok, I have to be honest, not the best book I've read . It seems that now I'm reading a string of 3 stars to counter all the 5 stars I reviewed when I first started this blog. What didn't I like about it? RUSHED STORY! Like previously stated, this could've been a really great book, the concept was really cool and it took the supernatural to a new level (aka not a Twilight rip-off). But the romance was rushed, there seemed to be no reason why Ever was suddenly in love with Damen, and in terms of the bad guy, that definitely could've been fleshed out a bit more in order to create a more satisfying ending. One other thing I didn't like was the immature language of the writing - which I promptly realized was characteristic of Noel's writing, since previously she had only published teeny bopper stories about girls in Laguna Beach, etc etc. All in all, I was glad I read it, but I really don't understand what some of the hype was about (in every bookstore this was featured in the teen section as a must read). It was, on a very basic level, entertaining, but lacking in any real substance. I may possibly check out the sequel (due out this July), but only if I can't find anything else to catch my attention.
*** 3 stars
'Evermore' is book one in Noel's "Immortals" series - I believe book two is called "Blue Moon"
Evermore - by Alyson Noel. When Ever survives the car crash that takes the lives of the rest of her family, she returns back to the living with strange new abilities. She is able to 'read' peoples' auras and hear their thoughts (I know, I know....Edward you started this all!). Once the most popular girl in school, Ever now dresses in oversized clothing, dark sunglasses, and loud earbuds to drown out the voices and retain some anonymity. A strange new student in an unfamiliar school, Ever's life has taken a nose dive for the worst - until the super sexy, dark Damen shows up. He's everything a girl would want - rich, good-looking, kind, and best of all, he makes the voices in Ever's head go away. But Damen is not your average guy, and there's more to him than meets the eye. What is it about him that causes the supernatural abilities Ever has to stop working? Soon Ever's world is turned upside down as she tries to cope with the truth about Damen, and her very own existence.... Ok, I have to be honest, not the best book I've read . It seems that now I'm reading a string of 3 stars to counter all the 5 stars I reviewed when I first started this blog. What didn't I like about it? RUSHED STORY! Like previously stated, this could've been a really great book, the concept was really cool and it took the supernatural to a new level (aka not a Twilight rip-off). But the romance was rushed, there seemed to be no reason why Ever was suddenly in love with Damen, and in terms of the bad guy, that definitely could've been fleshed out a bit more in order to create a more satisfying ending. One other thing I didn't like was the immature language of the writing - which I promptly realized was characteristic of Noel's writing, since previously she had only published teeny bopper stories about girls in Laguna Beach, etc etc. All in all, I was glad I read it, but I really don't understand what some of the hype was about (in every bookstore this was featured in the teen section as a must read). It was, on a very basic level, entertaining, but lacking in any real substance. I may possibly check out the sequel (due out this July), but only if I can't find anything else to catch my attention.
*** 3 stars
'Evermore' is book one in Noel's "Immortals" series - I believe book two is called "Blue Moon"
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Another trilogy by my favorite adult romance writer, so here it goes...
The Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts - In the small town of Hawkin's Hollow, every seven years, during the seventh month, for seven days a darkness infects the residents and creatures living within its borders causing them to act wayyyyy out of character and do the most horrific and unspeakable things to each other. The main protagonists are three men who are inadvertently responsible for this spooky and dangerous phenomenon - as ten year old boys they snuck into the dark woods of the Hollow and performed a ritual to make themselves blood brothers, but they also unwittingly released an evil force which had been imprisoned in the Pagan Stone - an altar like boulder that lay center of the clearing. Escaping with their lives, they walk out of the clearing with the ability to regenerate and heal inhumanly fast and each is granted a particular pyschic ability. Since that time, each "Seven," as Roberts dubbs it, is getting progressivly worse and Cal, Fox, and Gage have vowed that this upcoming Seven of their 31st birthday (oh yeah they all share the same birth date), will be the last. In come three women - Quinn, Layla, and Cybil - who bring fortitude, brains, skill, and determination to the table in order to help stop an evil from perpetuating itself, for all involved know that this is the final win or lose, live or die battle against evil. But have the women arrived there by coincidence? I think not - everyone is connected and Quinn, Layla, and Cybil have something very important to bring to the fight, even if they're unaware of it. Can 6 ordinary people with some extradordinary abilities stop, once and for all, the darkness plaguing their town? Stay Tuned! Like I'd written previously, The Key Trilogy by Roberts is still my all time favorite of her supernatural stories (there is one that is about vampires, which I may write about later but that one falls flat in the third and final book). I enjoyed the Sign of Seven trilogy, considering I've already read it twice since I've purchased it, but that's hardly surprising since I normally re-read most, if not all, my Roberts. The idea is really great, the execution is somewhat mediocre. The story still has those typical literary devices that make Roberts' fiction enjoyable, and I enjoyed the romances (especially between the first two couples), but there is one thing that really really really drove me crazy, which became apparent the second time I read it.... and that is Roberts' over-writing of the "All for one, and one for all" theme she had going. I understood the need to emphasize the group effort to thwart the evil bad guy, because hey, everyone had something to contribute to the weapon they ultimately try to use, BUT, every freaking chapter seemed to contain at least one Cub Scout Campfire scene. The story probably would've benefitted from fewer of those scenes and a little more development between the characters or something. It became pretty apparent pretty soon that this was a group - don't really need to be reminded of it all the time. Other than that, it was enjoyable, if very easy to read. Again, perfect for the beach or the commute to work or whatever.
*** 3 and 1/2 - 4 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. Blood Brothers
2. The Hollow (my personal fave)
3. The Pagan Stone
The Sign of Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts - In the small town of Hawkin's Hollow, every seven years, during the seventh month, for seven days a darkness infects the residents and creatures living within its borders causing them to act wayyyyy out of character and do the most horrific and unspeakable things to each other. The main protagonists are three men who are inadvertently responsible for this spooky and dangerous phenomenon - as ten year old boys they snuck into the dark woods of the Hollow and performed a ritual to make themselves blood brothers, but they also unwittingly released an evil force which had been imprisoned in the Pagan Stone - an altar like boulder that lay center of the clearing. Escaping with their lives, they walk out of the clearing with the ability to regenerate and heal inhumanly fast and each is granted a particular pyschic ability. Since that time, each "Seven," as Roberts dubbs it, is getting progressivly worse and Cal, Fox, and Gage have vowed that this upcoming Seven of their 31st birthday (oh yeah they all share the same birth date), will be the last. In come three women - Quinn, Layla, and Cybil - who bring fortitude, brains, skill, and determination to the table in order to help stop an evil from perpetuating itself, for all involved know that this is the final win or lose, live or die battle against evil. But have the women arrived there by coincidence? I think not - everyone is connected and Quinn, Layla, and Cybil have something very important to bring to the fight, even if they're unaware of it. Can 6 ordinary people with some extradordinary abilities stop, once and for all, the darkness plaguing their town? Stay Tuned! Like I'd written previously, The Key Trilogy by Roberts is still my all time favorite of her supernatural stories (there is one that is about vampires, which I may write about later but that one falls flat in the third and final book). I enjoyed the Sign of Seven trilogy, considering I've already read it twice since I've purchased it, but that's hardly surprising since I normally re-read most, if not all, my Roberts. The idea is really great, the execution is somewhat mediocre. The story still has those typical literary devices that make Roberts' fiction enjoyable, and I enjoyed the romances (especially between the first two couples), but there is one thing that really really really drove me crazy, which became apparent the second time I read it.... and that is Roberts' over-writing of the "All for one, and one for all" theme she had going. I understood the need to emphasize the group effort to thwart the evil bad guy, because hey, everyone had something to contribute to the weapon they ultimately try to use, BUT, every freaking chapter seemed to contain at least one Cub Scout Campfire scene. The story probably would've benefitted from fewer of those scenes and a little more development between the characters or something. It became pretty apparent pretty soon that this was a group - don't really need to be reminded of it all the time. Other than that, it was enjoyable, if very easy to read. Again, perfect for the beach or the commute to work or whatever.
*** 3 and 1/2 - 4 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. Blood Brothers
2. The Hollow (my personal fave)
3. The Pagan Stone
Friday, June 5, 2009
So I took a chance and read a book by a new author who's taking her own little dip into the vampire young adult genre...
Evernight by Claudia Gray - When Bianca is forced to attend the prestigious, yet eerily gothic, Evernight Academy she recognizes that something is seriously wrong at the school. Stuck there since both her mother and father are teachers at the school Bianca, painfully shy to the point of anxiety attacks, hates every moment - until, during a weak runaway attempt, she meets the handsome Lucas Ross. The two have an instant connection and chemistry, emphasized by Lucas' strangely overprotective tendencies towards Bianca. But things are not really what they seem at Everynight - it turns out to be a school, and safe haven, for vampires. As certain events unfold, Bianca discovers the lengths she's willing to go to be with Lucas and make sure their love survives.... Where to start? This was an interesting read, but I felt that Gray could've taken it to the next level and didn't. The worst part of the story wasa how rushed the plot felt, for example Lucas and Bianca had great instant chemistry and connection almost immediately, but for some reason Gray just decided to go from that to instant, head over heels love without really having the characters discover each other beyond a superficial level. The unfortunate thing about that is she had the opportunity to write a really great romance, one that comes with all the confusion, misunderstandings, and heartache that usually precedes a satisfying happy ending but not of that was present in the novel. The one thing I did like was that (SPOILER) Gray made Bianca the vampire here, not the boy. Yet again, however, there was no indication that Bianca was a vampire until half-way through the book, which I found really unusual since the story is told from her perspective. A revelation like that would've been more appropriate from third party perspective but not in this case. I also thought Lucas' reaction to the new was unusual considering his role in the book. Gray also ripped off the Stephenie Meyer tool of making the prologue the ending, and then having the first chapter go back to earlier events. All in all, it was an ok read, one that really would've benefitted from more plot development since everything was rushed, not well explained, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic - seriously could've had anywhere from 100 - 150 extra pages with no lag in the story. I'll probably pick up the second book because I'm curious to see what happens to Bianca and Lucas next, and because Evernight felt like the very brief introduction to what will hopefully be a more rich, and complex story (but I won't be holding my breath in hopes that the Evernight series becomes a particular favorite of mine).
*** 3 stars (barely...)
Series so far includes:
1. Evernight
2. Stargazer
Evernight by Claudia Gray - When Bianca is forced to attend the prestigious, yet eerily gothic, Evernight Academy she recognizes that something is seriously wrong at the school. Stuck there since both her mother and father are teachers at the school Bianca, painfully shy to the point of anxiety attacks, hates every moment - until, during a weak runaway attempt, she meets the handsome Lucas Ross. The two have an instant connection and chemistry, emphasized by Lucas' strangely overprotective tendencies towards Bianca. But things are not really what they seem at Everynight - it turns out to be a school, and safe haven, for vampires. As certain events unfold, Bianca discovers the lengths she's willing to go to be with Lucas and make sure their love survives.... Where to start? This was an interesting read, but I felt that Gray could've taken it to the next level and didn't. The worst part of the story wasa how rushed the plot felt, for example Lucas and Bianca had great instant chemistry and connection almost immediately, but for some reason Gray just decided to go from that to instant, head over heels love without really having the characters discover each other beyond a superficial level. The unfortunate thing about that is she had the opportunity to write a really great romance, one that comes with all the confusion, misunderstandings, and heartache that usually precedes a satisfying happy ending but not of that was present in the novel. The one thing I did like was that (SPOILER) Gray made Bianca the vampire here, not the boy. Yet again, however, there was no indication that Bianca was a vampire until half-way through the book, which I found really unusual since the story is told from her perspective. A revelation like that would've been more appropriate from third party perspective but not in this case. I also thought Lucas' reaction to the new was unusual considering his role in the book. Gray also ripped off the Stephenie Meyer tool of making the prologue the ending, and then having the first chapter go back to earlier events. All in all, it was an ok read, one that really would've benefitted from more plot development since everything was rushed, not well explained, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic - seriously could've had anywhere from 100 - 150 extra pages with no lag in the story. I'll probably pick up the second book because I'm curious to see what happens to Bianca and Lucas next, and because Evernight felt like the very brief introduction to what will hopefully be a more rich, and complex story (but I won't be holding my breath in hopes that the Evernight series becomes a particular favorite of mine).
*** 3 stars (barely...)
Series so far includes:
1. Evernight
2. Stargazer
Thursday, June 4, 2009
wow wow wow! Brand new series, totally awesome, and it needs mentioning!
The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare - by far, my new favorite series that I can remember in recent history (well, at least since Twilight :). Here's how it breaks down - on a typical weekend night, 16 y/o Clary Fray doesn't expect to witness a murder at her favorite Brooklyn club, much less committed by a group of teenagers covered in strange and elaborate markings. What follows is totally bizarre: Clary's mom randomly freaks, demanding they pack up and go, but goes missing before hand and Clary is confronted by the deliciously sexy Jace, a golden god, and one of the teenagers who participated in the previous night's "murder." Clary is sucked into the world of Shadowhunters, an elite group of people who are descended from the Angel Raziel and are committed to ridding the Earth of demon kind. With her perception of reality totally skewed, Clary discovers that the stuff of nightmares, and other unworldly creatures like vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and fairies, do in fact exist and live among us. Clary also develops the Sight, the ability that allows her to see this other world normally blocked to everyday humans. In doing so, however, she has to deal with questions about the circumstances of her birth and dealing with a new found ability unique to only her. Filled with drama, excitement, danger, love (and triangles!), and frustrations this was freaking AWESOME! I've loved a lot of the books I've recently read, but this is one of those series that I took with me to my new apartment in New York because I was unwilling to part with it and knew that two months from now I'm probably going to re-read it. And, the last book was recently published so for all those who take a shine to the Mortal Instruments, there is no waiting involved! I'm seriously psyched for the next series Clare writes (called the Infernal Instruments), even if that is still long in coming. Perfect for the summer and if you're looking for something that is totally engrossing.
***** 5 Stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. The City of Bones
2. The City of Ashes
3. The City of Glass
The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare - by far, my new favorite series that I can remember in recent history (well, at least since Twilight :). Here's how it breaks down - on a typical weekend night, 16 y/o Clary Fray doesn't expect to witness a murder at her favorite Brooklyn club, much less committed by a group of teenagers covered in strange and elaborate markings. What follows is totally bizarre: Clary's mom randomly freaks, demanding they pack up and go, but goes missing before hand and Clary is confronted by the deliciously sexy Jace, a golden god, and one of the teenagers who participated in the previous night's "murder." Clary is sucked into the world of Shadowhunters, an elite group of people who are descended from the Angel Raziel and are committed to ridding the Earth of demon kind. With her perception of reality totally skewed, Clary discovers that the stuff of nightmares, and other unworldly creatures like vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and fairies, do in fact exist and live among us. Clary also develops the Sight, the ability that allows her to see this other world normally blocked to everyday humans. In doing so, however, she has to deal with questions about the circumstances of her birth and dealing with a new found ability unique to only her. Filled with drama, excitement, danger, love (and triangles!), and frustrations this was freaking AWESOME! I've loved a lot of the books I've recently read, but this is one of those series that I took with me to my new apartment in New York because I was unwilling to part with it and knew that two months from now I'm probably going to re-read it. And, the last book was recently published so for all those who take a shine to the Mortal Instruments, there is no waiting involved! I'm seriously psyched for the next series Clare writes (called the Infernal Instruments), even if that is still long in coming. Perfect for the summer and if you're looking for something that is totally engrossing.
***** 5 Stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. The City of Bones
2. The City of Ashes
3. The City of Glass
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Trying to plow through the series as I read them....
The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts - so I haven't recently read this, but of all the trilogies Roberts writes of the paranormal variety, I consider this to be the best one. In a small valley town in Pennsylvania, three women get exclusive invites to enjoy an evening at the beautiful, and mysterious Warrior's Peak - the dominating architectural wonder that stands guard above the valley. Mallory, Dana, and Zoe are all at crossroads in their lives, and are offered by the eccentric young couple who live there a chance to turn their misfortunes around. The terms? Each woman has exactly one month, with the help of a clue, to find a magically charged key. If the first succeeds, the following two have a shot at recovering their respective keys. If anyone fails, the whole thing is caput. The prize: $1 million, scotch free, and the penalty of failure: the loss of one year from their lives. While this may seem like a simple game initially, Mallory, Dana, and Zoe soon learn that the keys unlock the chest which holds imprisoned three souls of young demi-goddesses, daughters of the King of the Gods. The curse says that only the hands of mortal women can undue the spell, and while the women struggle with finding a key that could be anywhere, they are also hindered by the evil Kane, the god who trapped the souls in the chest in the first place and will do anything to make sure they don't suceed. Filled with intrigue, adventure, danger, and most important, love, this is a great series, one that I have read multiple times. I think the reason I like it so much is mostly because the characters are really awesome and the relationships aren't so trite - Roberts clearly establishes a connection between them that doesn't come off as contrived or mickey mouse 'clubby,' which she'll have problems with in some of her later writings. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the bad guy is super sexy in a dark, malicious, I like killing mortals kind of way. Quite possibly one of my favorites by her, and I've read EVERYTHING she's every written so that's a pretty good recommendation!
***** 5 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. The Key of Light
2. The Key of Knowledge
3. The Key of Valor
The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts - so I haven't recently read this, but of all the trilogies Roberts writes of the paranormal variety, I consider this to be the best one. In a small valley town in Pennsylvania, three women get exclusive invites to enjoy an evening at the beautiful, and mysterious Warrior's Peak - the dominating architectural wonder that stands guard above the valley. Mallory, Dana, and Zoe are all at crossroads in their lives, and are offered by the eccentric young couple who live there a chance to turn their misfortunes around. The terms? Each woman has exactly one month, with the help of a clue, to find a magically charged key. If the first succeeds, the following two have a shot at recovering their respective keys. If anyone fails, the whole thing is caput. The prize: $1 million, scotch free, and the penalty of failure: the loss of one year from their lives. While this may seem like a simple game initially, Mallory, Dana, and Zoe soon learn that the keys unlock the chest which holds imprisoned three souls of young demi-goddesses, daughters of the King of the Gods. The curse says that only the hands of mortal women can undue the spell, and while the women struggle with finding a key that could be anywhere, they are also hindered by the evil Kane, the god who trapped the souls in the chest in the first place and will do anything to make sure they don't suceed. Filled with intrigue, adventure, danger, and most important, love, this is a great series, one that I have read multiple times. I think the reason I like it so much is mostly because the characters are really awesome and the relationships aren't so trite - Roberts clearly establishes a connection between them that doesn't come off as contrived or mickey mouse 'clubby,' which she'll have problems with in some of her later writings. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the bad guy is super sexy in a dark, malicious, I like killing mortals kind of way. Quite possibly one of my favorites by her, and I've read EVERYTHING she's every written so that's a pretty good recommendation!
***** 5 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. The Key of Light
2. The Key of Knowledge
3. The Key of Valor
Friday, May 29, 2009
Man oh Man, is summer my favorite time of the year because now I'm reading an average of 4 books a week so I've got lots to write about!
The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce - I know I mentioned in a previous blog that if you enjoyed the Alanna and Trickster books, you should just go ahead and read all of Pierce's books and I was going to leave it at that, but I feel the need to post this. The story opens up when 13-y/o Veraldaine Sarrasri, Daine for short, runs away from home and is given a position working for the horsemistress of the Queen's Riders (combat group formed by Queen Thayet of Tortall). What most everyone, including Daine herself, mistake as a keen affinity with animals is really wild magic, a rare brand of magic. Daine has it quantities that have never before been seen, allowing her to communicate and understand animals, and later, shapeshift at will into any creature she desires. Daine's abilities make her invaluable to her monarchs and kingdom, and with her mage teacher, Numair Salmalin, she embarks on many adventures that will help change the course of events for her kingdom, bring her face to face with Immortals from the Divine Realms and also help reveal the strange origins of her birth. This is a great coming of age story filled with adventure, humor, friendship, and blossoming self-awareness that will really keep you turning the page well into the night. I'd have to say, after the Song of the Lioness Quartet, the Immortals was totally my favorite and I really loved the characters of these particular stories. Be warned, if you get the first make sure the second is within reach because you'll want it immediately!
***** 5 stars
Quartet Includes:
1. Wild Magic
2. Wolf-Speaker
3. Emperor Mage
4. The Realm of the Gods
The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce - I know I mentioned in a previous blog that if you enjoyed the Alanna and Trickster books, you should just go ahead and read all of Pierce's books and I was going to leave it at that, but I feel the need to post this. The story opens up when 13-y/o Veraldaine Sarrasri, Daine for short, runs away from home and is given a position working for the horsemistress of the Queen's Riders (combat group formed by Queen Thayet of Tortall). What most everyone, including Daine herself, mistake as a keen affinity with animals is really wild magic, a rare brand of magic. Daine has it quantities that have never before been seen, allowing her to communicate and understand animals, and later, shapeshift at will into any creature she desires. Daine's abilities make her invaluable to her monarchs and kingdom, and with her mage teacher, Numair Salmalin, she embarks on many adventures that will help change the course of events for her kingdom, bring her face to face with Immortals from the Divine Realms and also help reveal the strange origins of her birth. This is a great coming of age story filled with adventure, humor, friendship, and blossoming self-awareness that will really keep you turning the page well into the night. I'd have to say, after the Song of the Lioness Quartet, the Immortals was totally my favorite and I really loved the characters of these particular stories. Be warned, if you get the first make sure the second is within reach because you'll want it immediately!
***** 5 stars
Quartet Includes:
1. Wild Magic
2. Wolf-Speaker
3. Emperor Mage
4. The Realm of the Gods
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
With the end of May, comes June and summer, so I've decided to review a book in a genre slightly different from what I'm used to writing about...
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffen - this is what I would categorize as 'chick lit.' On the eve of her 30th birthday Rachel is thrown a 'surprise' birthday party by her best friend - the stunning, Darcy. Her entire life, Rachel has been one upped by Darcy, who has everything - model looks, hot body, hot men, and the greatest, and undeserved, luck. After the party, in which Darcy proceeded to steal her spotlight, Rachel sleeps with Darcy's fiance. A total mistake, as they were both drunk and things got a little out of hand. What starts out as a one time event becomes something more and so begins a story of friendship, love, and the sacrifices and chances one is willing to make in order to reach real happiness. Perfect for a summer read, and as I've read it a couple of times, pretty entertaining. Every one of my friend's to whom I've lent this book loves it and relate to the main character and her struggles (hello, ladies, have we not all had our own Darcy? I think so...). It's also a super quick read so it's great for an afternoon at the park or lounging around on the beach.
**** 4 stars
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffen - this is what I would categorize as 'chick lit.' On the eve of her 30th birthday Rachel is thrown a 'surprise' birthday party by her best friend - the stunning, Darcy. Her entire life, Rachel has been one upped by Darcy, who has everything - model looks, hot body, hot men, and the greatest, and undeserved, luck. After the party, in which Darcy proceeded to steal her spotlight, Rachel sleeps with Darcy's fiance. A total mistake, as they were both drunk and things got a little out of hand. What starts out as a one time event becomes something more and so begins a story of friendship, love, and the sacrifices and chances one is willing to make in order to reach real happiness. Perfect for a summer read, and as I've read it a couple of times, pretty entertaining. Every one of my friend's to whom I've lent this book loves it and relate to the main character and her struggles (hello, ladies, have we not all had our own Darcy? I think so...). It's also a super quick read so it's great for an afternoon at the park or lounging around on the beach.
**** 4 stars
Monday, May 4, 2009
Ok, it's been awhile, but with graduation and trying to get my life in order, seems understandable. Since I blogged about Anne Bishop last time I felt compelled to read the other trilogy she's written. Now I'm reviewing it...
The Tir Alainn Trilogy by Anne Bishop - In the land of Sylvalan an evil has invaded its borders in the form of Adolfo, Master Inquisitor and Witch's Hammer. Having instigated a major witch hunt, innocent women are being slaughtered everywhere and as a result the world of the Fae, called Tir Alainn (the fair land), suffers. The main plot chronicles the story of a young and lonely witch names Ari, who finds herself the object of attentions from Lucian, the lightbringer and male leader of the fae, her handsome and shy neighbor Neal, and the inquisitors, who threaten Ari, her way of life, and witches all over. Over the course of three books, the story chronicles the efforts of a handful of fae, witches, and magical forces who unite to try to stop a dark, twisted evil and save their races from extinction. This is just a very brief, and not even thorough, summary - so much more actually happens than I can transcribe in just this review, but for all those who want to give it a shot I think you'll find the effort well worth it - although this is no where near as freaking awesome as the Black Jewels Trilogy. Enjoy!
**** 4 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. Pillars of the World
2. Shadows and Light
3. House of Gaian
The Tir Alainn Trilogy by Anne Bishop - In the land of Sylvalan an evil has invaded its borders in the form of Adolfo, Master Inquisitor and Witch's Hammer. Having instigated a major witch hunt, innocent women are being slaughtered everywhere and as a result the world of the Fae, called Tir Alainn (the fair land), suffers. The main plot chronicles the story of a young and lonely witch names Ari, who finds herself the object of attentions from Lucian, the lightbringer and male leader of the fae, her handsome and shy neighbor Neal, and the inquisitors, who threaten Ari, her way of life, and witches all over. Over the course of three books, the story chronicles the efforts of a handful of fae, witches, and magical forces who unite to try to stop a dark, twisted evil and save their races from extinction. This is just a very brief, and not even thorough, summary - so much more actually happens than I can transcribe in just this review, but for all those who want to give it a shot I think you'll find the effort well worth it - although this is no where near as freaking awesome as the Black Jewels Trilogy. Enjoy!
**** 4 stars
Trilogy Includes:
1. Pillars of the World
2. Shadows and Light
3. House of Gaian
Thursday, April 23, 2009
This next review is written about one of my all time favorite book series...
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop - this is an older trilogy (almost 11 years old), but one of my absolute favorites. The setting is another world entirely, one that consists of three realms - Terreille (the terrestrial realm), Hell (the underworld), and Kaleer (the higher realm, not exactly heaven but quasi-celestial in terms of some its more mythical inhabitants). Bear with me as a I try to give a decent synopsis, it's a very complex story that's difficult to describe briefly, and I'm first going to give you an idea of how society is structured. Society constitutes of the 'Blood', humans born with a jewel of power, and landens, non-jeweled humans with no magic abilities whatsoever. The jewels rank from lightest to darkest, white to black, with white being the weakest magically, and black being the most powerful. During adolescence, one makes an offering to the ubiquitious 'darkness,' the almost divine source of their power, and can descend up to three jewel ranks (i.e. if you're born with a red jewel, an already powerful stone, you have the potential to descend to the Black). On top of jewel ranking, there is also social class ranking, and a combination of the two determines your place and influence in society. When reading these books keep this in mind, but there are explanations and definitions at the start of each novel so you should be fine. Ok! Here comes the real meat....the world of the Blood is a matriarchal society, so women have the power and men serve, but in the capacity advisors and companions with the right to disobey the female Blood if it's in their best interest (not slave like at all). However, when the story opens up in Terreille, we learn that society has been completely corrupted by a group of semi-powerful Blood females, led by the malicious Dorothea, a red-jeweled priestess bent on ruling all of Terreille. Men have been completely dominated, the most powerful of whom are forced into harsh slavery (often of a sexual nature). One broken, aka insane, witch, named Tersa, has a prophecy that one day Witch, also known as the Dreams made Flesh, will come and she will be the most powerful witch the world has ever known. Her purpose: to restore order, peace, and balance to the world(s). The main three males most concerned with this myth are Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar, all extremely powerful men (jewels: black, black, ebon-gray respectivly), who will come to mean something different to Witch as the story progresses. The protagonist is young 8-years Janelle Angeline, she who is Dreams Made Flesh. She soons becomes a pawn in the corrupt game of politics, for who ever controls the Queen controls the Darkness and has access to the greatest force of power the world has ever known. Phew....that was the most concise synopsis I ever gave, if you can believe that! I am not kidding when I say this is a complex book, and it's hard to summarize because unlike something like Harry Potter in which each book is an individual adventure that is connected by overarching themes and events, this series is like one long story, divided into 3 parts. Seriously, I know I don't make it sound too awesome, but even the published summary on the back of the books give very little insight into what the story is actually about. I loved this because the characters were absolutely great. Don't let the names Saetan and Lucivar put you off (love them!), this isn't a story about ghouls and devils (although Saetan is the Lord of Hell, which is one of the three realms - it's not the fiery pit Christian theologists describe it as, but more like the dark underworld Hades of Ancient Greek religion). Warning: I will say this, if you're really young (say, under 13 - 14), you may want to avoid this for a couple of years. Particular parts of the story are graphic and there is some disturbing content (i.e. rape). It's not arbitrary, but Bishop uses it to emphasize how corrupt society has become and also the certain challenges and pains Janelle faces growing up Witch. The first book takes place from when she is 8 - 12 years old, the second 12 - 18, and the third 19 - 25 ish. For this reason in particular I loved this series because when I'm following the growth of a person over a substantial period of time I really begin to feel for the character and relate to her (although, since it is complete fantasy I'm relating in a purely mental sense, haha). All I have to say is read it, the story is extremely engaging, keeps you sucked in, and the characters are to die for (LOVE Daemon, so sexy).
***** 5 Stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadows
3. Queen of the Darkness
Also read the following:
4. Dreams made Flesh - this is a small compilation of a few short stories that elaborate on the lives of certain characters (i.e. Saetan's life before the events of the Black Jewels, and Lucivar's activities between Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness). The largest story follows what happens to Janelle and Daemon after the events of Queen of the Darkness...and that should give away who the primary love interest is in the midst of everything....
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop - this is an older trilogy (almost 11 years old), but one of my absolute favorites. The setting is another world entirely, one that consists of three realms - Terreille (the terrestrial realm), Hell (the underworld), and Kaleer (the higher realm, not exactly heaven but quasi-celestial in terms of some its more mythical inhabitants). Bear with me as a I try to give a decent synopsis, it's a very complex story that's difficult to describe briefly, and I'm first going to give you an idea of how society is structured. Society constitutes of the 'Blood', humans born with a jewel of power, and landens, non-jeweled humans with no magic abilities whatsoever. The jewels rank from lightest to darkest, white to black, with white being the weakest magically, and black being the most powerful. During adolescence, one makes an offering to the ubiquitious 'darkness,' the almost divine source of their power, and can descend up to three jewel ranks (i.e. if you're born with a red jewel, an already powerful stone, you have the potential to descend to the Black). On top of jewel ranking, there is also social class ranking, and a combination of the two determines your place and influence in society. When reading these books keep this in mind, but there are explanations and definitions at the start of each novel so you should be fine. Ok! Here comes the real meat....the world of the Blood is a matriarchal society, so women have the power and men serve, but in the capacity advisors and companions with the right to disobey the female Blood if it's in their best interest (not slave like at all). However, when the story opens up in Terreille, we learn that society has been completely corrupted by a group of semi-powerful Blood females, led by the malicious Dorothea, a red-jeweled priestess bent on ruling all of Terreille. Men have been completely dominated, the most powerful of whom are forced into harsh slavery (often of a sexual nature). One broken, aka insane, witch, named Tersa, has a prophecy that one day Witch, also known as the Dreams made Flesh, will come and she will be the most powerful witch the world has ever known. Her purpose: to restore order, peace, and balance to the world(s). The main three males most concerned with this myth are Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar, all extremely powerful men (jewels: black, black, ebon-gray respectivly), who will come to mean something different to Witch as the story progresses. The protagonist is young 8-years Janelle Angeline, she who is Dreams Made Flesh. She soons becomes a pawn in the corrupt game of politics, for who ever controls the Queen controls the Darkness and has access to the greatest force of power the world has ever known. Phew....that was the most concise synopsis I ever gave, if you can believe that! I am not kidding when I say this is a complex book, and it's hard to summarize because unlike something like Harry Potter in which each book is an individual adventure that is connected by overarching themes and events, this series is like one long story, divided into 3 parts. Seriously, I know I don't make it sound too awesome, but even the published summary on the back of the books give very little insight into what the story is actually about. I loved this because the characters were absolutely great. Don't let the names Saetan and Lucivar put you off (love them!), this isn't a story about ghouls and devils (although Saetan is the Lord of Hell, which is one of the three realms - it's not the fiery pit Christian theologists describe it as, but more like the dark underworld Hades of Ancient Greek religion). Warning: I will say this, if you're really young (say, under 13 - 14), you may want to avoid this for a couple of years. Particular parts of the story are graphic and there is some disturbing content (i.e. rape). It's not arbitrary, but Bishop uses it to emphasize how corrupt society has become and also the certain challenges and pains Janelle faces growing up Witch. The first book takes place from when she is 8 - 12 years old, the second 12 - 18, and the third 19 - 25 ish. For this reason in particular I loved this series because when I'm following the growth of a person over a substantial period of time I really begin to feel for the character and relate to her (although, since it is complete fantasy I'm relating in a purely mental sense, haha). All I have to say is read it, the story is extremely engaging, keeps you sucked in, and the characters are to die for (LOVE Daemon, so sexy).
***** 5 Stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadows
3. Queen of the Darkness
Also read the following:
4. Dreams made Flesh - this is a small compilation of a few short stories that elaborate on the lives of certain characters (i.e. Saetan's life before the events of the Black Jewels, and Lucivar's activities between Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness). The largest story follows what happens to Janelle and Daemon after the events of Queen of the Darkness...and that should give away who the primary love interest is in the midst of everything....
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I can't help myself I want to post another recommendation! Plus.... this is a great way to procrastinate :)
Under the Blood Red Moon by Mina Hepsen - Angelica Shelton Belanov, a half-Russian and half-English aristocrat, is most happy when hidden away in the library of her father's English country estate, but when the family fortune is suddenly lost, Angelica, despite her own wishes, goes in search of a wealthy husband to keep her and her brother financially secure. She does, however, have one unusual gift....she's able to hear the thoughts of others (a la Edward Cullen). So when the mysterious and darkly attractive Prince Alexander comes onto the English social scene, Angelica is instantly intrigued. Little does she know that Alex is a powerful vampire lord of Eastern immortals, come to England to hunt a rogue vampire that threatens to expose them all and their well protected place among human society. Angelica finds herself in over her head, but will risk is to save her family from ruin and explore the strong sexual pull she feels towards Alexander. I thought this was a fun read, but it had very little substance to it....just another average author who decided to jump on the vampire bandwagon that is popular fiction today. It was entertaining, with some sexy moments, and an incredibly fast read, but there was little character development and the romance seemed a bit rushed (nothing annoys me more than rushed plot development!). If Hepsen had rounded out Alexander and the villan that would probably have helped, because we get a decent enough idea of who Angelica is since the story is told from her perspective. I can imagine that this would be great for a quick late night chapter or an afternoon on the beach, but it's not a necessary staple to any romance, fantasy, or vampire lovers library.
*** 3 stars
Under the Blood Red Moon by Mina Hepsen - Angelica Shelton Belanov, a half-Russian and half-English aristocrat, is most happy when hidden away in the library of her father's English country estate, but when the family fortune is suddenly lost, Angelica, despite her own wishes, goes in search of a wealthy husband to keep her and her brother financially secure. She does, however, have one unusual gift....she's able to hear the thoughts of others (a la Edward Cullen). So when the mysterious and darkly attractive Prince Alexander comes onto the English social scene, Angelica is instantly intrigued. Little does she know that Alex is a powerful vampire lord of Eastern immortals, come to England to hunt a rogue vampire that threatens to expose them all and their well protected place among human society. Angelica finds herself in over her head, but will risk is to save her family from ruin and explore the strong sexual pull she feels towards Alexander. I thought this was a fun read, but it had very little substance to it....just another average author who decided to jump on the vampire bandwagon that is popular fiction today. It was entertaining, with some sexy moments, and an incredibly fast read, but there was little character development and the romance seemed a bit rushed (nothing annoys me more than rushed plot development!). If Hepsen had rounded out Alexander and the villan that would probably have helped, because we get a decent enough idea of who Angelica is since the story is told from her perspective. I can imagine that this would be great for a quick late night chapter or an afternoon on the beach, but it's not a necessary staple to any romance, fantasy, or vampire lovers library.
*** 3 stars
Here's what I consider to be a classic series that you all really should read...
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman - one of the classic child / teen series in the genre of sci-fi / fantasy. The trilogy opens up in the parallel world of Jordon College (our equivalent of Oxford). Living in the hallowed halls is 12-years old Lyra Belacqua, ward of the Master of Jordon College. One fateful afternoon Lyra, hiding in a closet in the Master's private sitting room, witnesses someone pour poison into a wine intended for her uncle, Lord Asriel, who has come to Jordon to show the scholars of the school an incredible discovery he has made. After having his life saved by the vigilant Lyra, Asriel soon departs leaving behind a miserable Lyra who wants to go with her uncle on his adventures. At this time rumors are spreading from town to town of children being kidnapped, by the so-called "Gobblers." This doesn't seem to worry Lyra overmuch, until one night when her best friend, Roger, is also taken by the Gobblers. Subsequently, Lyra starts a journey to the North to retrieve her friend and thwart the evil plans of the Magisteriate, the organization behind the vicious kidnappings. This, however, doesn't simply remain a rescue mission, but sets into a motion a prophecy in which Lyra is a key figure. Frought with peril, danger, and meetings with pirates and talking polar bears this is a great tale of adventure and self-discovery. The first book starts off as a single tale but is only the beginning of something much more epic that pans out in the last two books. Warning: this is an extremely Anti-Christian series, what is often considered a response to the very Pro-Christian Chronicles of Narnia, so if that's going to offend your sensibilities I would exercize caution. It can be enjoyed as simply a tale of fantasy ficton, but, in my opinion the story is also enhanced by the religious allegories and theological substance of the tale, which is why it's great for both children and adults. I highly recommend it because it's a series that requires more thinking, and still remains very gripping and suspensful. I would also recommend buying all three books at the same time because of the cliffhangers - the format is more like one long story chopped up into three parts, and each book picks up right where the previous left off.
***** 5 stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. The Golden Compass
2. The Subtle Knife
3. The Amber Spyglass
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman - one of the classic child / teen series in the genre of sci-fi / fantasy. The trilogy opens up in the parallel world of Jordon College (our equivalent of Oxford). Living in the hallowed halls is 12-years old Lyra Belacqua, ward of the Master of Jordon College. One fateful afternoon Lyra, hiding in a closet in the Master's private sitting room, witnesses someone pour poison into a wine intended for her uncle, Lord Asriel, who has come to Jordon to show the scholars of the school an incredible discovery he has made. After having his life saved by the vigilant Lyra, Asriel soon departs leaving behind a miserable Lyra who wants to go with her uncle on his adventures. At this time rumors are spreading from town to town of children being kidnapped, by the so-called "Gobblers." This doesn't seem to worry Lyra overmuch, until one night when her best friend, Roger, is also taken by the Gobblers. Subsequently, Lyra starts a journey to the North to retrieve her friend and thwart the evil plans of the Magisteriate, the organization behind the vicious kidnappings. This, however, doesn't simply remain a rescue mission, but sets into a motion a prophecy in which Lyra is a key figure. Frought with peril, danger, and meetings with pirates and talking polar bears this is a great tale of adventure and self-discovery. The first book starts off as a single tale but is only the beginning of something much more epic that pans out in the last two books. Warning: this is an extremely Anti-Christian series, what is often considered a response to the very Pro-Christian Chronicles of Narnia, so if that's going to offend your sensibilities I would exercize caution. It can be enjoyed as simply a tale of fantasy ficton, but, in my opinion the story is also enhanced by the religious allegories and theological substance of the tale, which is why it's great for both children and adults. I highly recommend it because it's a series that requires more thinking, and still remains very gripping and suspensful. I would also recommend buying all three books at the same time because of the cliffhangers - the format is more like one long story chopped up into three parts, and each book picks up right where the previous left off.
***** 5 stars!
Trilogy Includes:
1. The Golden Compass
2. The Subtle Knife
3. The Amber Spyglass
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ok, I must be imagining things....on a previous post, I wrote that The Host by Stephenie Meyer would be coming out in paperback on April 26, 2009. HOWEVER, although I swear I thought I saw it posted as such on Amazon, I can't find any record of a paperback release on that date. In fact, I can't find a paperback release for any date! I must be delusional, or I really wanted it to be, so I imagined it. Sorry for the miscommunication!
Mrs. E.C.
Mrs. E.C.
Here's something with a bite of different flavor....
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier - Marillier has made a pretty awesome name for herself in the realm of adult fantasy. I really enjoy historical fiction, and I especially those based in folklore (which is moving more into the fantasy realm, I suppose...), and this book by Marillier is actually based on an old Celtic legend. It follows the story of Sorcha, the youngest child, and only dauaghter, of the powerful Irish lord of Sevenwaters, who is well loved and favored by her 6 older brothers. They live relatively peaceful and content lives, but that changes when her father brings home a new wife, but looks can be decieving. She's young, beautiful, and by all appearances a devoted woman, but in reality she's a sorceress who casts a spell on Sorcha's 6 brothers that turns them into swans. Sorcha, fortunately, escapes the same fate, and with the help of the Lady of the Forest is given a task to help break the spell and return her brothers back to their human forms, under certain conditions - she's not allowed to speak until her task is completed and not to tell anyone what she hopes to achieve with her task. Sorcha's adventure is fraught with danger and obstacles, and she must try to break the spell, while at the same time trying to protect her heart from the Briton (enemies of the Irish) who 'kidnapps' her away. I thought this was a pretty good book, Marillier's use of language was excellent, but it was a bit slow to start and the course of Sorcha's thoughts have a tendency of slowing down the plot at some points. All in all, I'm glad I bought the book and plan on reading more of Marillier's books in the future.
**** 4 Stars
Sevenwaters Trilogy Includes:
1. Daughter of the Forest
2. Son of the Shadows
3. Child of the Prophecy
I reviewed this book as a stand alone, (1) because I've only read the first book and (2) because although this is a trilogy each book is about a different character from different generations of the same family (so, Son of the Shadows is going to be about Sorcha's children...). I plan on reading the last two since the first one has piqued my interest, and for those of you who end up reading all three and want more, Marillier has recently released a 4th Sevenwaters novel in 2008 called...
4. Heir to Sevenwaters (still in hardcover)
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier - Marillier has made a pretty awesome name for herself in the realm of adult fantasy. I really enjoy historical fiction, and I especially those based in folklore (which is moving more into the fantasy realm, I suppose...), and this book by Marillier is actually based on an old Celtic legend. It follows the story of Sorcha, the youngest child, and only dauaghter, of the powerful Irish lord of Sevenwaters, who is well loved and favored by her 6 older brothers. They live relatively peaceful and content lives, but that changes when her father brings home a new wife, but looks can be decieving. She's young, beautiful, and by all appearances a devoted woman, but in reality she's a sorceress who casts a spell on Sorcha's 6 brothers that turns them into swans. Sorcha, fortunately, escapes the same fate, and with the help of the Lady of the Forest is given a task to help break the spell and return her brothers back to their human forms, under certain conditions - she's not allowed to speak until her task is completed and not to tell anyone what she hopes to achieve with her task. Sorcha's adventure is fraught with danger and obstacles, and she must try to break the spell, while at the same time trying to protect her heart from the Briton (enemies of the Irish) who 'kidnapps' her away. I thought this was a pretty good book, Marillier's use of language was excellent, but it was a bit slow to start and the course of Sorcha's thoughts have a tendency of slowing down the plot at some points. All in all, I'm glad I bought the book and plan on reading more of Marillier's books in the future.
**** 4 Stars
Sevenwaters Trilogy Includes:
1. Daughter of the Forest
2. Son of the Shadows
3. Child of the Prophecy
I reviewed this book as a stand alone, (1) because I've only read the first book and (2) because although this is a trilogy each book is about a different character from different generations of the same family (so, Son of the Shadows is going to be about Sorcha's children...). I plan on reading the last two since the first one has piqued my interest, and for those of you who end up reading all three and want more, Marillier has recently released a 4th Sevenwaters novel in 2008 called...
4. Heir to Sevenwaters (still in hardcover)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Just thought I'd get this one particular review out of the way, since I don't know how useful it will be in terms of opening your eyes to a new story
The Host by Stephenie Meyer - see what I mean? By now, Meyer is a household name in the genre and tons, if not all, of you have probably already heard of this title. Yet, I'm still sometimes amazed by the number of people I come across who are wary of reading The Host - I'm sure it's partially because the Twilight saga is such a unique thing and now enjoys a very distinct reputation, that some people are nervous picking up something by Meyer that has nothing to do with vampires. Meyer proclaims The Host to be "sci-fi for people who don't like sci-fi." I'll admit its very different from Twilight, but I really did love reading this, and have so far read it twice and I will be purchasing the paperback edition when it comes out this month (April 26). So here it is - the story opens up at some unnamed point in Earth's history, although it doesn't seem to be too far into the future, possibly present day, and nearly all humans inhabiting Earth have been implanted and taken over by an alien species called 'souls' - hence the title the Host. Wanderer, the protagonist, is a well-traveled soul, maybe the most traveled, having started on the mother planet, simply called the Origin, and having lived lives on at least 8 other planets (totalling to hundreds of years of life). She is placed into the body of a young lady named Melanie, part of a dying rebellion against the invasion of the souls. Melanie, however, refuses to fade away as normal humans due upon the insertion of a soul, a reflection of her strength and independence (a quality Bella haters will relish), so essentially two people with two distinct consciousnesses reside in one body. Interesting huh? Well, let's just say it's frustrating initially for both females. The story continues as Melanie tries to harbor secrets of some consequence from Wanderer, and Wanderer finds herself being saturated by Melanie's feelings for Jared, the man Melanie loves and so begins a journey, against her nature as a soul, to find him. The story starts kind of slow because initially the dialogue and the main rapport is between two people living in one body, but by the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat, completely sucked in. Like I wrote before, different from Twilight, but just as enjoyable and satisfying (maybe more so since it's a stand alone novel and resolution is reached at the end, so you're not dying for more - although that too is a great sensation). I loved the characters, and for me that can make or break a novel, so if I'm crying or laughing because of something they do or because of something that's happened to them, then I think the author has done something right (and this did happen for me with The Host). Read it!
***** 5 Stars (I know, I know.....don't smirk!)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer - see what I mean? By now, Meyer is a household name in the genre and tons, if not all, of you have probably already heard of this title. Yet, I'm still sometimes amazed by the number of people I come across who are wary of reading The Host - I'm sure it's partially because the Twilight saga is such a unique thing and now enjoys a very distinct reputation, that some people are nervous picking up something by Meyer that has nothing to do with vampires. Meyer proclaims The Host to be "sci-fi for people who don't like sci-fi." I'll admit its very different from Twilight, but I really did love reading this, and have so far read it twice and I will be purchasing the paperback edition when it comes out this month (April 26). So here it is - the story opens up at some unnamed point in Earth's history, although it doesn't seem to be too far into the future, possibly present day, and nearly all humans inhabiting Earth have been implanted and taken over by an alien species called 'souls' - hence the title the Host. Wanderer, the protagonist, is a well-traveled soul, maybe the most traveled, having started on the mother planet, simply called the Origin, and having lived lives on at least 8 other planets (totalling to hundreds of years of life). She is placed into the body of a young lady named Melanie, part of a dying rebellion against the invasion of the souls. Melanie, however, refuses to fade away as normal humans due upon the insertion of a soul, a reflection of her strength and independence (a quality Bella haters will relish), so essentially two people with two distinct consciousnesses reside in one body. Interesting huh? Well, let's just say it's frustrating initially for both females. The story continues as Melanie tries to harbor secrets of some consequence from Wanderer, and Wanderer finds herself being saturated by Melanie's feelings for Jared, the man Melanie loves and so begins a journey, against her nature as a soul, to find him. The story starts kind of slow because initially the dialogue and the main rapport is between two people living in one body, but by the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat, completely sucked in. Like I wrote before, different from Twilight, but just as enjoyable and satisfying (maybe more so since it's a stand alone novel and resolution is reached at the end, so you're not dying for more - although that too is a great sensation). I loved the characters, and for me that can make or break a novel, so if I'm crying or laughing because of something they do or because of something that's happened to them, then I think the author has done something right (and this did happen for me with The Host). Read it!
***** 5 Stars (I know, I know.....don't smirk!)
Here comes what I guess no one expected....a book I didn't love!
Sunshine by Robin McKinley - Not what I was hoping for, especially from someone who enjoys quite a bit of fame for her stories and her writing abilities. This book takes place in a modern society quite like one any of us live in today - except here supernatural and fantastical beings are part of the everyday, and vampires are no longer a myth but a very real threat, one that roams the streets at night. The story is told from the perspective of Sunshine, a young, average woman, barely older than a girl, who lives a seemingly ordinary life. One night Sunshine is visiting a lake she frequented during her childhood and is kidnapped by vampires and subsequently taken prisoner. During her incarceration she meets Constantine, a fellow prisoner, but also another vampire. Sunshine soon rediscovers a secret ability she's had since she was a little girl that was buried in her subconscious, now utilized in her time of greatest need. Sounds pretty awesome right? Wrong - at least I thought so. This should have been an excellent read, the premise of the story sounded so promising, but there was very little to keep my attention riveted. McKinley is a beautiful writer, and I'll give her credit for her prose, but it's this exact thing that caused the story to lag - too much description and tangents of Sunshine's thoughts slowed down the plot for what should have been an exciting ride. One other thing I found quite annoying was McKinley's tendency to jump from scene to scene without much transition and / or setting the stage, so to speak, so I found myself pretty confused at different points throughout the story. I will say there were a couple of sexy moments between Sunshine and Con, but the relationship between the two was barely touched upon until nearly the end of the book, and even then there was no real resolution. To give McKinley the benefit of the doubt, she may have intended to leave this part of the story vague to imply the possibilities of such an unusual and taboo relationship. All in all, I didn't think this was worth my time and it took me forever to finish which is always a bad sign with me as I'm a super fast reader. Part of the reason I picked this up was the great reviews it got from other novelists and magazines (Neil Gaiman: "Pretty much perfect"). If you're a die hard McKinley fan, check it out at your risk, you may like it, you may not, but from what I hear this is certainly not her best.
** 2 Stars
Sunshine by Robin McKinley - Not what I was hoping for, especially from someone who enjoys quite a bit of fame for her stories and her writing abilities. This book takes place in a modern society quite like one any of us live in today - except here supernatural and fantastical beings are part of the everyday, and vampires are no longer a myth but a very real threat, one that roams the streets at night. The story is told from the perspective of Sunshine, a young, average woman, barely older than a girl, who lives a seemingly ordinary life. One night Sunshine is visiting a lake she frequented during her childhood and is kidnapped by vampires and subsequently taken prisoner. During her incarceration she meets Constantine, a fellow prisoner, but also another vampire. Sunshine soon rediscovers a secret ability she's had since she was a little girl that was buried in her subconscious, now utilized in her time of greatest need. Sounds pretty awesome right? Wrong - at least I thought so. This should have been an excellent read, the premise of the story sounded so promising, but there was very little to keep my attention riveted. McKinley is a beautiful writer, and I'll give her credit for her prose, but it's this exact thing that caused the story to lag - too much description and tangents of Sunshine's thoughts slowed down the plot for what should have been an exciting ride. One other thing I found quite annoying was McKinley's tendency to jump from scene to scene without much transition and / or setting the stage, so to speak, so I found myself pretty confused at different points throughout the story. I will say there were a couple of sexy moments between Sunshine and Con, but the relationship between the two was barely touched upon until nearly the end of the book, and even then there was no real resolution. To give McKinley the benefit of the doubt, she may have intended to leave this part of the story vague to imply the possibilities of such an unusual and taboo relationship. All in all, I didn't think this was worth my time and it took me forever to finish which is always a bad sign with me as I'm a super fast reader. Part of the reason I picked this up was the great reviews it got from other novelists and magazines (Neil Gaiman: "Pretty much perfect"). If you're a die hard McKinley fan, check it out at your risk, you may like it, you may not, but from what I hear this is certainly not her best.
** 2 Stars
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Next recommendation -
The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - This is actually a very well known book series, so for all you guys who have been keeping up with the teen fantasy genre chances are you've either read it, heard of it, or have seen it somewhere. Gemma Doyle is a 16-years old English girl living in colonial India in the Victorian Era (c.1900). After the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma is forced to relocate back to England and is sent to a boarding school outside of London....This, however, is no normal school, and upon her arrival a series of events take place that reveal to Gemma her previously dormant magical abilities, a new parallel world called the Realms, and the clues that may give her the answers to solving her mother's death. The romantic bit comes in the form of an attractive Indian teen who follows Gemma back to England with a secret purpose of his own. Also included are the classic 'frenemies,' girls who initially despise Gemma and then grow to be her friend (occassionally, with conditions I found annoying and caused me to lose respect for the characters, although it can be interpreted as an accurate description of the fickle nature of spoiled, beautiful adolescents). Anyway - great read, especially for those with a penchant for historical fiction. Finishing the last book broke my heart a little, the way it does every time I find myself wanting more of the story and characters, but alas, all good things come to an end.
***** 5 Stars
I know it seems like I'm giving easy 5 stars out, it just happens that the first books I'm blogging about happen to be some of my favorites - as I start new books from new authors I'll be giving them the appropro ratings
Includes:
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty
2. Rebel Angels
3. The Sweet Far Thing
Mrs. E.C.
The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - This is actually a very well known book series, so for all you guys who have been keeping up with the teen fantasy genre chances are you've either read it, heard of it, or have seen it somewhere. Gemma Doyle is a 16-years old English girl living in colonial India in the Victorian Era (c.1900). After the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma is forced to relocate back to England and is sent to a boarding school outside of London....This, however, is no normal school, and upon her arrival a series of events take place that reveal to Gemma her previously dormant magical abilities, a new parallel world called the Realms, and the clues that may give her the answers to solving her mother's death. The romantic bit comes in the form of an attractive Indian teen who follows Gemma back to England with a secret purpose of his own. Also included are the classic 'frenemies,' girls who initially despise Gemma and then grow to be her friend (occassionally, with conditions I found annoying and caused me to lose respect for the characters, although it can be interpreted as an accurate description of the fickle nature of spoiled, beautiful adolescents). Anyway - great read, especially for those with a penchant for historical fiction. Finishing the last book broke my heart a little, the way it does every time I find myself wanting more of the story and characters, but alas, all good things come to an end.
***** 5 Stars
I know it seems like I'm giving easy 5 stars out, it just happens that the first books I'm blogging about happen to be some of my favorites - as I start new books from new authors I'll be giving them the appropro ratings
Includes:
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty
2. Rebel Angels
3. The Sweet Far Thing
Mrs. E.C.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Speaking of Tamora Pierce, I may as well just mention that for all of us who enjoyed the Alanna series you may just be interested in looking into pretty much anything Pierce has written. The stories are a little bit formulaic but if you don't get sick of that and are interested in falling in love with new characters just go ahead and enjoy!
The Trickster Duology by Tamora Pierce - this follows the adventures of Alanna's 16-years old daughter Alianna, who is a dissatisfied, court attending teen tired of her chosen lifestyle, but also unable to pursue her desire of becoming a spy (forbidden to her by her parents). Unfortunately, on a normal outing, poor Aly gets sold into slavery, setting in motion a series of events where Aly finds herself actively partaking in espionage, making use of her cunning personality and talents, and, of course, helping a prophecy come to fruition. Aly's a lovable character - strong and headstrong, with a surprisingly soft center. I enjoyed this duology immensly, but, as I would soon learn, it may be better to read the other series by Pierce before hand. The Trickster books can be read as stand alone after the Alanna books, but there will be a few references to characters and events that took place in the Immortals quartet and the Protector of the Small quartet. Depending on who you are this may be great news! Now you've got 8 new books to get through before getting to Aly's story :)
p.s. there are more books written by Pierce than I've mentioned above, but some takes place in a separate universe, versus these 4 which all take place in Tortall, and she's currently working on a new Tortallan tale, one which takes place 200 years before the events of the Song of the Lioness
***** 5 stars!
Duology Includes:
1. Trickster's Choice
2. Trickster's Queen
The Trickster Duology by Tamora Pierce - this follows the adventures of Alanna's 16-years old daughter Alianna, who is a dissatisfied, court attending teen tired of her chosen lifestyle, but also unable to pursue her desire of becoming a spy (forbidden to her by her parents). Unfortunately, on a normal outing, poor Aly gets sold into slavery, setting in motion a series of events where Aly finds herself actively partaking in espionage, making use of her cunning personality and talents, and, of course, helping a prophecy come to fruition. Aly's a lovable character - strong and headstrong, with a surprisingly soft center. I enjoyed this duology immensly, but, as I would soon learn, it may be better to read the other series by Pierce before hand. The Trickster books can be read as stand alone after the Alanna books, but there will be a few references to characters and events that took place in the Immortals quartet and the Protector of the Small quartet. Depending on who you are this may be great news! Now you've got 8 new books to get through before getting to Aly's story :)
p.s. there are more books written by Pierce than I've mentioned above, but some takes place in a separate universe, versus these 4 which all take place in Tortall, and she's currently working on a new Tortallan tale, one which takes place 200 years before the events of the Song of the Lioness
***** 5 stars!
Duology Includes:
1. Trickster's Choice
2. Trickster's Queen
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
As previously mentioned, I love Twilight, and lucky for us fans, with the success of the series the teen fantasy genre is booming more so than ever! Now, I know a very popular comlpaint of those who read Twilight is Bella and her damsel-in-distress routine. Here is a book series I find you'll enjoy if you're looking for a fantasy with a strong female heroine
Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce - This is the tale of Alanna of Trebond, a 10-years old girl who wants to become a knight, so in order to fulfill her dreams, switches places with her twin brother Alan and goes to the capital of the Kingdom of Tortall to become a page. Chronicles her journey, adventure, and growth over the course of four books and it's really a treat to watch Alanna prove herself worthy of fighting among men and, in the later books, try to balance being a 'man' and a woman (intriguing romances - I will say, most of the books I'll be posting about will probably have some love story or romantic elements because I'm a romantic fool). This is a great read for anyone who is interested in a well balanced story that offers a bit of everything and strong characters! The one weakness I'll grant it is that initially the writing seems a little immature and weak, but this is a work of teen fiction, and the first book is about children and pre-teens essentially. As you read the later books the content reflects the ages and seriousness of the plot situations.
***** 5 stars! (from here on out, I'll be giving a rating from 1 - 5 demonstrating how well I enjoyed the read)
Includes the following four titles:
1. Alanna: The First Adventure
2. In the Hand of the Goddess
3. The Woman Who Rides like a Man
4. Lioness Rampant
Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce - This is the tale of Alanna of Trebond, a 10-years old girl who wants to become a knight, so in order to fulfill her dreams, switches places with her twin brother Alan and goes to the capital of the Kingdom of Tortall to become a page. Chronicles her journey, adventure, and growth over the course of four books and it's really a treat to watch Alanna prove herself worthy of fighting among men and, in the later books, try to balance being a 'man' and a woman (intriguing romances - I will say, most of the books I'll be posting about will probably have some love story or romantic elements because I'm a romantic fool). This is a great read for anyone who is interested in a well balanced story that offers a bit of everything and strong characters! The one weakness I'll grant it is that initially the writing seems a little immature and weak, but this is a work of teen fiction, and the first book is about children and pre-teens essentially. As you read the later books the content reflects the ages and seriousness of the plot situations.
***** 5 stars! (from here on out, I'll be giving a rating from 1 - 5 demonstrating how well I enjoyed the read)
Includes the following four titles:
1. Alanna: The First Adventure
2. In the Hand of the Goddess
3. The Woman Who Rides like a Man
4. Lioness Rampant
Here we go...
So....welcome to the newly formed 'Diaries of a Bibliophile'. As the title tells you I absolutely LOVE to read - and actually find myself in a bit of trouble over it (Katy: 'Books should NOT take the place of people in your life, M') - and I also love collecting books. At a friend's urging, I've created this blog to help those of us who are always looking for more to read, or for those who are new to the world of books and need to be pointed in a direction.
Twilght -- I'm sure tons of us, those who aren't and some who are fans, are sick of hearing and seeing it everywhere. Twilight lovers, it seems, are taking over the world, one gaggling teen at a time. It's an infection, and it's spreading. I personally LOVE the series, so as this is my first blog, my first recommendation is the Twilight series. BUT the whole point of this endeavor is to find more....we all know what Twilight is already. So.....Stay Tuned, and as I find new books, series, and lovable characters I'll share them with you.
Twilght -- I'm sure tons of us, those who aren't and some who are fans, are sick of hearing and seeing it everywhere. Twilight lovers, it seems, are taking over the world, one gaggling teen at a time. It's an infection, and it's spreading. I personally LOVE the series, so as this is my first blog, my first recommendation is the Twilight series. BUT the whole point of this endeavor is to find more....we all know what Twilight is already. So.....Stay Tuned, and as I find new books, series, and lovable characters I'll share them with you.
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