The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set Review

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The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set ReviewGarth Nix delves into the dark heart of high fantasy in the Abhorsen Trilogy, three interconnected fantasies about a family of necromancers who lay the dead -- and forces of evil -- to rest. Humour, detailed writing and deep characters, along with a richly-realize world, make this a classic-in-the-making.

"Sabriel" is the story of a teenage girl living happily at a girl's school, while her necromancer father (the Abhorsen) roams around putting the dead to rest. All that changes when a sending brings her father's sword and bells, meaning that he is dead or incapacitated. So Sabriel takes on her father's duties, accompanied by a Free Magic cat and a mysterious young prince, and battles the specter of a horrible evil creature that is reaching out from death to snare her.

"Lirael" takes us to the cold citadel of the Clayr, a race of seers. Young Lirael is depressed because she doesn't have the gift of Sight yet, even though everybody else her age does. But things take a sinister turn when she sets a horrifying, bloodthirsty creature loose, and must work -- with the help of the mysterious Disreputable Dog -- to get rid of it. But what Lirael doesn't know is that the outside world is in danger too, from a sinister new enemy.

"Abhorsen" brings the series to an explosive conclusion. Lirael and her nephew Sameth -- along with "cat" Mogget and the Disreputable Dog -- are in danger from the Dead. What's more, the Destroyer Orannis has escaped from his prison and is being assisted by an evil necromancer and the Dead called Chlorr -- and an unfortunate pal of Sameth's. Now Lirael must call on her destiny as the future Abhorsen, and kill the Destroyer.

Garth Nix had only written a couple of books, one of which was an "X-Files" novelization, when the first Abhorsen book burst onto the fantasy scene. Now he's one of the most respected, prolific and well-liked fantasy writers in years, with his single books in print and two hit series for younger readers. But despite his newer works, his tales of the Old Kingdom are still his best.

The Abhorsen Trilogy is a perfect example of dark fantasy, with its grotesque dead zombies that occasionally lurch out to attack the heroes, magical bells, and shadowy beasties that can (sometimes) be restrained. It takes the trappings of high fantasy and lets us see them through a mirror darkly. Not to mention the brilliant concept of the Abhorsen necromancers, who have power over dead and/or magical creatures, and bind them with Charter marks and bells.

Virtually all of Nix's characters are likable -- especially the gutsy Sabriel and nervous teenage Sameth -- and the acid-tongued animals and black humor add a wry spin to the fantastical stories. It takes a bit longer to warm up to Lirael, since she spends several chapters in the same-named book feeling sorry for herself, but once she gets moving she's unstoppable -- and very likable.

Garth Nix gave high fantasy a dark twist in the Abhorsen Trilogy. Full of magic, darkness, death and beauty, this is a classic in the making.The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set Overview
To preserve life,the Abhorsen must enter Death


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Langata Rules: Pirates at Lat 10 Review

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Langata Rules: Pirates at Lat 10 ReviewThis was recommended to me by my local bookseller. I am an avid mystery reader, but military suspense has never been my thing. Usually the writing is artless and overly "jargony". While there is some jargon here (a necessity for books like this, I suppose), it is handled deftly and the story moves along at a fine pace. The dialogue is exceedingly well-written and the end result is very satisfying. I look forward to more from the pen of Ken Miller.Langata Rules: Pirates at Lat 10 OverviewThe Odessa has changed hands.African pirates take control of the Odessa, a British merchant ship with seemingly innocent cargo, starting a desperate race among pirates, warlords, rebel insurgents, government agents, shadowy oil interests, and enigmatic business magnates. Will the ship's cargo instigate another catastrophe in the Horn of Africa?Have the double-crossers been double-crossed?And just who are the proverbial bad-guys in this page-turning adventure about business, politics, and crime?

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Switched (Trylle) Review

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Switched (Trylle) ReviewHocking has an uncanny ability to write fascinating little stories that are compellingly addicting. Her books are not my typical reading fare - I tend more toward the adult mysteries and suspense type of thing - however ever since I picked up Hocking's My Blood Approves series, I've been strangely addicted to her work. The Trylle series is no exception. Now, I may not fall in the typical readership for Hocking's books, but because I work as a Probation Officer for teenagers, I tend to read a lot of YA fiction to keep "in touch" with what my kids enjoy.
Hocking's three-part Trylle series, of which Switched is number one, is about a girl who has a miserable existance. Her childhood is filled with little oddities that don't make much sense, and her mother, who refers to her as a "monster" goes so far as to try to stab her to death at her own birthday party. Switched is so much a coming of age tale - with a twist - as Wendy soon discovers that she has another life waiting for her discovery and that she is so much more than an angst filled teenager stuck in high school.
I won't give away any more, as part of the joy of reading this book is discovering - right along with Wendy - just what in the heck is wrong with her and why she has all these odd little habits, abilities and thoughts.
This is not a literary masterpiece for your college Women's Literature 101 class. It was not intended to be so. It is not filled with symbolism and fodder for critical discussion. It IS, however, fun, light reading that will keep your attention. It is a sweet story. Hocking has captured a believable and realistic teenage heroine. She's captured appropriate action, adventure, and even romantic tension. For those reviewers who say the teenage angst is overblown...I would disagree. I work with teenagers for a living and the internal and external dialogue is actually quite realistic for the age group. Perphaps not ALL teens think this way, but the ones I work with quite often do. Many teens - especially girls with abusive backgrounds and lack of a stable parent figure like Wendy - DO think and act this way, althought many of them would be hard pressed to publically admit it.
I've given Switched four stars, not because it isn't excellent, but because I save my five star reviews for books that are out of this world wonderful or books that really speak to me emotionally. This one is excellent, but it is not the definition of perfect. There are a few typos, but they are easily overlooked.
Overall, excellent book. Excellent and believable plot. An overall wonderfully creative and engaging book. Nice job, Amanda - I'm off to purchase #2 in the series and I am looking forward to discovering more.
Switched (Trylle) OverviewSwitched - the first book in the Trylle Trilogy... When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

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The Time Crystal: Octobers, Book 1 Review

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The Time Crystal: Octobers, Book 1 ReviewThis entire series is a wonderful read for children and adults. It takes you back to a place in your imagination where anything is possible and a place of magical wonder. I love these books!The Time Crystal: Octobers, Book 1 OverviewIn the town of Hobble, October never ends. As soon as Hallows Eve is over, the calendars turn back to October 1st, and the enchanted wonders begin again . . .In this first adventure of the October series, Notch Cricklewood is bored by his life at the Museum Of Wonders, where he lives amongst statues and relics from the distant past. Though his father and grandfather hope for him to apprentice with them at the museum, Notch is hungry to live his own adventures and make history.When all the children in Hobble begin to mysteriously disappear, Notch sets out to solve the vanishings in order to make a name for himself. But when a member of the Vothlor army kills someone close to him, the new war becomes much more personal. Notch's persistence soon leads him on a quest to find the legendary Time Crystal-an ancient relic that gives its possessor the power to change the course of history. If he can find the crystal, he believes he can save the missing kids and bring the dead back to life.But what if the Vothlor find it first?THE TIME CRYSTAL is Book 1 in the innovative new OCTOBERS series by J.H. Reynolds and Craig Cunningham. Journey through the same October through four different perspectives. In addition to THE TIME CRYSTAL, read THE HERMIT'S MANSION (Book 2), THE WATCHTOWER SECRET (Book 3), and the PROTECTOR'S EMERALD (Book 4) to solve all the mysteries of the Vanishing, and embark upon an adventure unlike any you've taken before.

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What Stories Does My Son Need? A Guide to Books and Movies that Build Character in Boys Review

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What Stories Does My Son Need A Guide to Books and Movies that Build Character in Boys ReviewThis book is a small-but-potent guide to finding positive entertainment amid all the negativity and violence that's in the movies and television today. I'll take Gurian's suggestions over Doom or the WWF anytime. It outlines 100 movies and 100 books for all age ranges, and my family has benefited from it.What Stories Does My Son Need A Guide to Books and Movies that Build Character in Boys OverviewThe author shows parents and teachers how to harness the media's influence to teach boys the lessons they need in today's confusing moral environment. The author gives particular ethical lessons for many great movies and books.

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Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor Review

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Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor ReviewWhen our book club first received Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor to review, many of us thought this would be another UFO story or off-world space tale, especially after reading the first chapter, which put us on the distant planet of Amerloi.
But we realized that this was no ordinary adventure when we were transported to a very earthly Newport Beach, California! There we meet a couple of surfers, Harlowe Pylott and Matt Riverstone, taking on the waves of a closed beach. They come across a boating accident. Saving its passengers leads Harlowe to his half-alien, soon-to-be significant other, Leucadia Mars. He finds out that having a girlfriend like "Lu" has its consequences, like a promise that could cost all of them their lives. In no time, a series of events leads the boys in search of the galaxy's most powerful weapon: Millawanda, an ancient Gamadin spaceship.
Discovering new words like "robobs," "Dakadudes" and "undog" is only part of the charm of Word of Honor. The fast pace, strategy and battle sequences, and inter-relationships of the characters are well put together. "Flashback" passages are cleverly woven in throughout, providing clarity to the story and in many places, setting the stage for events to come.
The two surfers are fresh, likable, irreverent, good-yet-"bad boys" that you would want to go out with on a date, or just hang out with. They are cool, funny and forthright - definitely hero material. Who would have guessed that two ordinary sixteen-year old boys would lead the resurrection of a once mighty, galactic police force?
We especially enjoyed the portrayal of the two female lead characters, Leucadia and her mother, Sook, who are intelligent, independent and strong - very good role models for our younger female readers. You will find the common thread of love, loyalty and a sense of purpose over self woven throughout the story, as the young characters begin their epic inter-galactic adventure. Even the junior characters of the story have their own special appeal, and a few of them even have the potential to steal the show.
As a club, we found Word of Honor a heartwarming surprise of Southern California lifestyle humor and plot twists, full of imagination. You will find yourself drawn into the Gamadin saga with Book One. It is, we have found, quite a ride!! You don't have to be a sci-fi aficionado to enjoy this adventure. The story and characters are engaging enough to capture both the young adult and the young-at-heart audience. All of us felt the same sense of regret once the story ended, and we look forward with enthusiasm to Book Two!!
Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor OverviewSixteen-year old Harlowe Pylott and Matt Riverstone are body surfing the gnarliest waves of the new century when their fun is interrupted by a yacht capsizing off the Newport coast. After rescuing the famous movie star Simon Bolt and the half-alien socialite Leucadia Mars from certain death, Fate sends them on the greatest ride of their lives. Robobs and the undog are only the beginning! Dakadude killers have swooped down from the heavens looking for the galaxy's most powerful weapon: an ancient Gamadin spaceship named Millawanda. If the Daks cannot capture Millawanda, they will kill her while she is still weak and unprotected . . . along with the Earth and anyone else who gets in their way. If you think finding an ancient spaceship in the middle of the desert is cool, wait till you get a load of what Harlowe and his friends dig up . . . And it still works!!!

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Endymion Spring Review

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Endymion Spring ReviewAlthough I had read partial reviews that were somewhat negative saying this wasn't the next big thing or certainly not "The Da Vinci Code for kids", I have to admit that I expected more.
The story is told in two parts. One is the creation of the spectacular book around which this story revolves, and then the story itself, told in present time at Oxford University.
I had two main problems: I wasn't terribly intrigued by the "spectacular book", and I enjoyed the medieval "back story" more than I did what I believe to have been the main story.
The main character and supporting characters from the 15th century were considerably more tangible than the brother and sister team from present time. Honestly, I didn't care much for either of the latter. The boy, Blake, was too whiny, grumpy and downtrodden to really root for, and his sister was too much of a pain to be likable. Sometimes pain-in-the-rear characters are immensely likable, but I didn't find myself rooting for either.
Also, this was written from a "third person limited" point-of-view. In each part - medieval and present day - there was one main character. In third person limited, the narrator is generally limited to what that one character could theoretically observe. Therefore, I was puzzled as to several usages of British English. To cite one example, when Blake thought of a flashlight, it was always referred to as a torch. In third person limited, it would be referred to as a flashlight - because Blake speaks American English.
Perhaps it was my dull brain, and this is entirely plausible, but I'm not sure that the mystery of the book was entirely resolved. Perhaps it was and I missed it. If so, it's probably because I was a lazy reader at times, frustrated with the material in front of me and looking to push forward and finish the book so I could move on to the next one on my stack.
Somewhere in here was a terrific story dying to be told. But somewhere within Delacorte was an editor not doing a very good of tightening things up.
Honestly, I don't believe the fault lies with the author. Every great writer will admit that they would be lost without their editor. This book was one good editor away from being a terrific read.
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DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book Review

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DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book ReviewFrom my point of view, this new Super Heroes pop-up book has several things going for it. First, I am a big DC Comic fan; have been since a small lad. (I have a very modest but nice collection of "BlackHawk Comics," my favorite, which I have collected over the years). Secondly, I have a lot of little kid in me and delight in pop-up books of any sort. Third, I am fascinated with shiny, colorful and complicated things like clocks, watches, toasters, chess sets and such stuff. I probably have a lot of raccoon in me.
Well folks, if you are like me, then this new offering is bound to delight. It truly is a marvel! I am fascinated with the fact that Matthew Reinhart was able to come up with the engineering dynamics of this thing...I knew he was good, but I did not realize just how good.
When this book is released from its plastic wrapper it expands to just under four inches. (Note here that all measurements I give in this review are approximate). This includes the heavy bound cover and five pages of pop-ups. Now I say five pages, but there are far more three dimensional offerings than just five...more about that later.
I will go through this page by page so the potential buyer knows precisely what they are getting...anyway, I will attempt it.
The first double page, when you open the book is of course...who else, but Superman. His character stands just a bit over one foot tall and the man of steel's left fist reaches out a full seven inches. He literally leaps from the page. This is the main graphic. On each of the two pages there are two other pop-ups; one features the space craft in which the baby Superman is sent to earth in when his home planet is destroyed. The other smaller pop-up is actually two different characters, one of Superman doing battle with the Doomsday monster and the other is our old evil friend Lex Luthor. These smaller pop-ups stand about 2 ½ inches out from the page. Each features a wonderful text.
The second double page features an extremely complicated and detailed Batman answering the call of the Bat Beacon high on a tower on Gotham City. Note that the Bat Signal here, high in the sky, actually lights up! When fully extended this big pop-up leaps approximately 10 inches from the pages.Again, we have two smaller offerings, one on each page. The first of the inside of the Bat Cave and the second is of the Joker. The Joker pops-up to at least 3 ½ inches. Again, all are accompanied by a wonderfully written text.
The next double page spread, my favorite page in the book, is of the Warrior Goddess herself, Wonder Woman! As you open the book she practically leaps into your lap...about 14 inches tall and expands from the page for a distance of at least seven inches. She is clutching and twirling her golden lasso and looks as if she means business. There are three additional pop-up graphics on these pages, the first features the famous Amazon Refuge...yes, "The Island!" The second shows us Wonder Woman in her invisible space craft off on some mission (which is explained in the text). The third features our Warrior Goddess doing battle with Ares...truly a scary sight to behold. Again, all four models are accompanied by an extremely well written description.
Next we have The Green Lanterns of Earth...all five of them in one pop-up. The swoop from the page as if one...over one foot wide, 14 inches tall and five inches right in your face. Good grief! Two other additions, one on each page feature The Flash and the other Aquaman. The colors on all of these pop-ups stay true to the originals and are quite impressive.
As we turn the page, we are encountered with the horrible Darkseid surrounded by eight of his evil minions. Standing over one foot tall, this outrageous beast is over one foot wide and comes off the page at approximately six inches. The two small pop-ups include Gotham's five most wanted in one and Sinestro doing battle with the Green Lantern in another.
The last page is...oh my...the entire Justice League of America doing battle with numerous villains. The name count here is legend: Adam Strange, Amzao, Aquaman, Atom-Smasher, Batman, Batwoman, Bizarro, Black Adam, Black Canary, Black Lightning, Black Manta, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Captain Marvel, Cheetah, Chemo, Clayface, Deadman, Firestorm, The Flash, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Green Arrow, TGreen Lantern, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Krypto, Lex Luthor, Man-Bat, Martian Manhunter, Metallo, Metamorpho, Mister Freeze, Mongul, Nightwing, Plastic Man, Red Tornado, Scarecrow, Silver Banshee, Sinestro, Solomon Grundy, Supergirl, Superman, Wonder woman and Zoom. The main pop up features two towers of fighting action interlinked, standing about 14 inches from the page...straight out! Three small pop-ups feature the first mission of the Justice League, the New Generation of the Justice League and yet another of the Justice Leage together.
Despite the complexity of this book (some of the pop-ups have three and four cards from which the figures are cut, it is quite durable. I am not saying that it could stand extreme handling from little fingers, but this book, for what it is, is very well made.
This book will delight the wee ones and it will delight collectors of such work. I will be honest. I had intended to present this work as a gift to you young 5 year old nephew...but there is little to no chance of my doing it now. I am keeping this puppy for myself!
As advertized, this one does have more than 25 3-D impressions and does indeed light-up with the Bat-Signal. The cosmic Justice League of America battle scene is something to behold...to say nothing of Wonder Woman...sigh.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
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Dragon's Eye Review

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Dragon's Eye ReviewI'm 68 years old. Have read all the Nancy Drew books, the Farley Boys. Love mysteries. I'm sure most teens and younger kids do to. This book is good reading for boys and girls. The girls actions in this book is very team related. And the father in the book is a great role model for guys, he was marvelous. It had humor, real fast action. After buying and reading the book am now going to buy a copy for my granddaughter. This book is very compatible to the Harry Potter books. Courtney Furman, the writer, has a great immagination. I think it would make a great movie. I'd like to see it be made into a hard bound book and all the librarys carry the book. I highly recommend the book.Dragon's Eye OverviewJack Henry, Marjorie, and Rose live a carefree life of sibling rivalry and mischief until it is shattered by a tragic accident.Their grandfather, Papa Rattray, has been killed while on his latest expedition.They are rushed off to their ancient family castle in Scotland to attend the funeral.While on their journey to the castle, their father, Ted, fills their minds with a tale of a lost family treasure - Dragon's Eye - and a mythical dragon that once protected the castle.Arriving, they find the castle as ancient as they had envisioned.Spires, giant doors, stone walls and fantastic rooms greet the children along with a motley crew of servants.Their curiosity pushes them to explore the castle in search of the family treasure.With every turn they make, they discover pieces of a puzzle hiding the treasure.In order to solve this puzzle, they must put aside their sibling contention and work together to find the lost family treasure and the reason behind their grandfather's untimely death.

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A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One Review

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A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One ReviewFirst off, I'm a heavy duty fan of GRRM. I've read over a 100 different fantasy authors in my time (started at 12; I'm now 32). Took about 5 years off from the genre b/c I felt it was all getting too formulaic and cliched.
So, when I came back to fantasy at the end of 1999, I read the usual: Goodkind, Jordan, etc. and then someone told me about GRRM and man, that was the kicker!
Here are the reasons to choose GRRM. I've also listed the reasons not to choose him to make it fair b/c I know their are certain personalities who won't like this series:
WHY TO READ GRRM
(1) YOU ARE TIRED OF FORMULAIC FANTASY: good lad beats the dark lord against impossible odds; boy is the epitome of good; he and all his friends never die even though they go through great dangers . . . the good and noble king; the beautiful princess who falls in love with the commoner boy even though their stations are drastically different . . . you get the idea. After reading this over and over, it gets old.
(2) YOU ARE TIRED OF ALL THE HEROES STAYING ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER CONSTANT DANGER: this gets even worse where the author kills a main hero off but that person comes back later in the story. Or, a hero does die but magic brings him back.
This sometimes carries to minor characters where even they may not die, but most fantasy authors like to kill them off to show that some risked the adventure and perished.
(3) YOU ARE A MEDIEVAL HISTORY BUFF: this story was influenced by the WARS OF THE ROSES and THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR.
(4) YOU LOVE SERIOUS INTRIGUE WITHOUT STUPID OPPONENTS: lots of layering; lots of intrigue; lots of clever players in the game of thrones. Unlike other fantasy novels, one side, usually the villain, is stupid or not too bright.
(5) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIASED OPINIONS AND DIFFERENT TRUTHS: GRRM has set this up where each chapter has the title of one character and the whole chapter is through their viewpoint. Interesting tidbit is that you get their perception of events or truths. But, if you pay attention, someone else will mention a different angle of truth in the story that we rarely see in other novels. Lastly and most importantly, GRRM doesn't try to tell us which person is right in their perception. He purposelly leaves it vague so that we are kept guessing.
(6) LEGENDS: some of the most interesting characters are those who are long gone or dead. We never get the entire story but only bits and pieces; something that other fantasy authors could learn from to heighten suspense. Additionally, b/c the points of views are not congruent, we sometimes get different opinions.
(7) WORDPLAY: if you're big on metaphors and description, GRRM is your guy. Almost flawless flow.
(8) LOTS OF CONFLICT: all types, too; not just fighting but between characters through threats and intrigue.
(9) MULTILAYERED PLOTTING; SUB PLOTS GALORE: each character has their own separate storyline; especially as the story continues and everyone gets scattered. This is one of the reasons why each novel is between 700-900 pages.
(10) SUPERLATIVE VARIED CHARACTERS: not the typical archetypes that we are used to in most fantasy; some are gritty; few are totally evil or good; GRRM does a great job of changing our opinions of characters as the series progress. This is especially true of Jaime in book three.
(11) REALISTIC MEDIEVAL DIALOGUE: not to the point that we can't understand it but well done.
(12) HEAPS OF SYMOBLISM AND PROPHECY: if you're big on that.
(13) EXCELLENT MYSTERIES: very hard to figure out the culprits; GRRM must have read a lot of mystery novels.
(14) RICHLY TEXTURED FEMALE CHARACTERS: best male author on female characters I have read; realistic on how women think, too.
(15) LOW MAGIC WORLD: magic is low key; not over the top so heroes can't get out of jams with it.
REASON TO NOT READ GRRM
(1) YOU LIKE YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS: GRRM does a good job of creating more likeable characters after a few die. But, if that isn't your style, you shouldn't be reading it. He kills off several, not just one, so be warned.
(2) DO NOT CARE FOR GRITTY GRAY CHARACTERS: if you like more white and gray characters, this may unsettle you. I suggest Feist or Goodkind or Dragonlance if you want a more straight forward story with strong archetypes.
(3) MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEWS TURN YOU OFF: if you prefer that the POVS only go to a few characters, this might be confusing for you.
(4) SWEARING, SEX: there's a lot of it in this book just as there is in real life.
(5) YOU DEMAND CLOSURE AT THE END OF EVERY BOOK: this isn't the case for all stories in the series. Some are still going on; some have been resolved; others have been created and are moving on.
(6) IF YOU WANT A TARGET OR SOMEONE TO BLAME: this can be done to some extent but not as much. This is b/c he doesn't try to make anyone necessarily good or evil.
(7) ARCHETYPES: some readers like archetypal characters because it's comfortable; we like the good young hero (sort of like Pug in Feist's THE RIFTWAR SAGA); it's familiar and we sometimes like to pretend we're this upcoming, great hero. You wont' get much of this in GRRM with the exception of one or two characters.
(8) LENGTH: you don't want to get into a long fantasy epic series. In that case, look for shorters works as this is biiig.
(9) PATRIARCHY: men are most of the main characters with lots of power (one female exception). ....
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Inheritance 3-Book Hardcover Boxed Set (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr) Review

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Inheritance 3-Book Hardcover Boxed Set (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr) ReviewI personally like the Inheritance series of books. They aren't quite as sophisticated as The Lord of the Rings, or The Wheel of Time, or Dune. They lie somewhere between the Harry Potters of the World, and The Lord of the Rings.
Are some of the names inspired by other series? Sure. The point isn't to find fault with work on the basis of what was written in other works, but to see whether it can stand by itself, and tell its own story.
I think Brisingr was a brilliant addition to the series (I would agree that Eldest was a little off); and FWIW, the last 5 chapters by themselves would make the book worth it.
Having read Inheritance, I can hardly wait for the last book in the series (Empire) but that's still a couple of years away.
With regards to this hard cover set, the only reason I can imagine you wouldn't want it, is if you're waiting for the final four-box set, which will surely be released with the last book; or already own hardcovers of Eragon and Eldest.Inheritance 3-Book Hardcover Boxed Set (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr) OverviewWITH THE HIGHLY anticipated publication of Book Three in the Inheritance cycle, the hardcover editions of all three books will be available in a handsome boxed set!

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So You Want to Be a Wizard: The First Book in the Young Wizards Series Review

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So You Want to Be a Wizard: The First Book in the Young Wizards Series Review"So You Want To Be A Wizard" is the beginning of an exciting and tantalizing series where wizardry and life in the city are a little too close for comfort. Nita, an intelligent but physically unendowed 13-year-old, finds refuge in the kid's section of the library after a particularly bad beating by a group of school bullies - and finds a book that not only tells her that there *is* magic but how to get it, why to get it, and how to use it.
Kit, a 12-year-old Hispanic boy with school troubles similar to hers, teams up with her in a wizardly Ordeal to gain their powers. Shifted "sideways" into an alternate Manhattan, they discover both their wizardly talents and find friends in each other.
I originally read first High Wizardry (the last books in the series), then Deep Wizardry (the second book) and then this, before going on to A Wizard Abroad. I also enjoyed her Feline Wizards series, of which only two books are in print so far. However, other YA readers may not: they are on an adult reading level and you need to appreciate this.
I also recommend other books (most of these are fantasy) by Patricia Wrede (her Dragons series, "Dealing with Dragons", "Talking with Dragons", etc), the Unicorn series by Tamora Pierce ("Black Unicorn", "Red Unicorn"), the "Hero and the Crown" and "The Blue Sword" by Robin McKinley.
All of these books, including (especially!) So You Want To Be A Wizard have strong female protagonists. I am, after all, a 13-year-old girl and really dislike the knight-in-shining-armour- rescues-the-damsel-in-distress stuff.
I believe you will really enjoy So You Want to Be A Wizard. Either buy it here or ask for it at a library. Interlibrary Loan works really well!
Enjoy!So You Want to Be a Wizard: The First Book in the Young Wizards Series Overview

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Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant) Review

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Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant) ReviewSkulduggery Pleasant is a wonderful name, and the skeletal title character is a fun new addition to the children's fantasy genre. However, when I bought the book, the bookstore clerk told me she thought it read like a TV show, particularly because of its snarky dialogue, and she was right. After an early interlude in which main kid Stephanie seems like a relatively normal child, we discover that the rest of the book is written in that dialect known as Banter, herein practiced by a preternaturally adult child character having snippy-snappy conversations with a childish adult character (Skulduggery).
The clerk also said she's seeing more and more children's books written in this style. Is it because everyone's aiming for a movie someday, like the Harry Potter franchise? Or is it because we have a new generation of writers whose training stems as much from years of TV and movie watching as from reading--writers with an ear for TV-style dialogue and characterization?
The plotting, too, which other Amazon reviewers have described in some detail, feels like a movie or at least a Saturday morning cartoon, albeit a lively one. Evil-villain-takes-over-the-world-with-the-help-of-appropriate-traitors-and-henchmen has been done to death, but Landy does throw in a few fresh twists, though the character of Skulduggery remains his greatest accomplishment. I would like to tell you that I found Stephanie appealing, but her mall-speak didn't quite work for me.
That said, there's obviously a place in the world for rowdy, TVesque books--look at all these rave reviews! Skulduggery Pleasant will be an entertaining read for a lot of kids, and it may yet become a movie or at least a video game. Still, it isn't well crafted in a traditional (award-winning, vanishing-classic, literary) sense. Try Terry Pratchett's Wee Free Men, Tamora Pierce's Terrier, or Jonathan Stroud's Amulet of Samarkind if you want to see what I mean.Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant) Overview

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The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Review

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The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Review[This is a review of the 70th Anniversary Edition, not so much of THE HOBBIT itself. I've reviewed the book proper elsewhere, and would rather focus on the actual edition itself.]
THE HOBBIT is one of those few books that I have felt justified to buy multiple copies over the years. It is a book I have read and cherished, and a book I dearly love. THE HOBBIT is a novel that deserves to be bought multiple times over, and I always enjoy looking at new editions of this classic work. So imagine my excitement when I found out they would be publishing a 70th anniversary edition of one of my most cherished novels!
This has been a big year for Tolkien fans. Christopher Tolkien published THE CHILDREN OF HURIN, a newly completed version of Turin's legend, in April. We've gotten (at long last), THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, expertly handled by brilliant Tolkien scholar John D. Ratcliffe and published in two separate volumes. And of course, we have the 70th anniversary of Tolkien's first primary work, THE HOBBIT, which this edition is published in celebration of that momentous occasion. And does it live up as a major new edition of this fantasy classic?
That's a pretty easy answer. The answer is NO.
First off, here are the positives. The 70th anniversary edition is pretty much how the first edition of THE HOBBIT was actually published back in 1937 with some notable improvements, and conforming to Tolkien's pretty exacting specifications, including how the dust jacket should appear, as well as the art and maps that accompany the text.
These are the notable differences between the first edition and this edition. Due to cost, Tolkien was not able from a production standpoint to have the book appear exactly as he envisioned. The 1937 publication cut some of his artwork, the map was not how he so desired, and the dust jacket, due to printing cost, was limited to three primary colours (green, black, and white). Originally, Tolkien wanted the sun on the front cover and the dragon on the back cover to be totally in red, but this was not feasible.
Obviously Tolkien's work is successful enough that these production costs are no longer an issue, and so this is a relatively accurate facsimile of what Tolkien would have wanted to publish in 1937 had money not been an object, as it too often is in the real world. For that, this edition has some worth.
Now, there are some negatives. And these are big negatives.
First off, paper quality and binding. It's bad.
Then there's the actual art work. The colour artwork is quite nicely implemented into the main text, and overall I don't have a problem with the colour artwork from a production standpoint. The paintings are bright and colourful, and remain true to higher quality prints of Tolkien's phenomenal painting. But unfortunately the same cannot be said of the black and white illustrations. Like a reviewer said before me, it appears Tolkien's drawings were reproduced on a cheap scanner. Tolkien's artwork is highly valuable, but unfortunately the drawings here are rather badly reproduced in this edition.
Then there's the advertisement for LOTR at the end that's rather annoying. They reproduce the first chapter of FELLOWSHIP and place it at the end of the novel, acting like a cheap plug for Tolkien's masterpiece. I don't have any problem with plugging LOTR, but to me this inclusion of the first chapter just cheapens the whole book, especially when it's supposed to be a major edition of a major work. We all know about LOTR. Do we really need the first chapter here? Rather tacky, to say the least.
Then there's the problem of Christopher Tolkien's forward. This is what I was most looking forward too, actually. Having read E. A. Solinas's review, I was under the impression this was a new forward prepared specifically by Christopher for the 70th anniversary of his father's work. Not the case. It's simply a reprint of the forward he wrote for the 50th anniversary of THE HOBBIT, twenty years previously.
As far as textual authenticity, I must be honest in the fact that I've only browsed it at a Borders bookstore, but I'd be very surprised if they did not use the text from The Annotated Hobbit, as it is the most definitive and accurate text yet established for the book. Still, I can't verify that that is the case.
Overall, this is a fair edition of THE HOBBIT. It could have been a lot more. What sets this apart from the other copies is this is how Tolkien truly envisioned how he wanted the book to appear, and for that fact alone, this is a valuable edition to the Tolkien collector. Unfortunately the poor production quality of the black and while illustrations, the rather tacky inclusion of LOTR's first chapter, and the disappointment of the publishers' just reprinting a twenty year old introduction to the 50th anniversary publication rather brings the whole affair down. I think I'll pass on this one.
For those looking for the best edition of Tolkien's book, buy THE ANNOTATED HOBBIT, first published in 1988 and republished in a new format in 2003. The second version of THE ANNOTATED HOBBIT is the definitive edition of this phenomenal work as far as I'm concerned.The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Overview

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Guys Read: Thriller Review

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Guys Read: Thriller ReviewWhat do you get when you take ten of the best-of-the-best kids' action-thriller writers, an imaginative editor, and a innovative publisher and mix them all together? GUYS READ: THRILLER.
This anthology is the second in the GUYS READ library (GUYS READ: FUNNY BUSINESS was the first). The books take a collection of short stories written by truly the best middle grade writers of our time. In THRILLERS, we get M.T. Anderson (Strange Mr. Satie, Feed), Patrick Carman (Atherton, 39 Clues, Skeleton Creek), Gennifer Choldenko (Al Capone Does My Shirts), Matt de la Pena (Ball Don't Lie), Margaret Peterson Haddix (Shadow Children series, Say What?), Bruce Hale (Chet Gecko series, Underwhere series), Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series), Jarrett Krosoczka (Lunch Lady series), Walter Dean Myers (Monster, Game), and James Patterson (Daniel X, Witch & Wizard).

My 9 year old son is an avid reader, and devoured FUNNY BUSINESS (after reading Jeff Kinney's story first), so I wasn't surprised when he stole THRILLERS from me the minute it came in. It took a while to get it back from him! It really is the perfect book for middle grade boys. He could pick it up, read a story in 40 pages, and put it down again. It doesn't detract from school work - my son would rather read "his" book than what he's supposed to be reading for school. The best part, according to him, was, "The stories are just scary enough to be exciting, but not too scary to make me have nightmares."
I couldn't have said it better myself.

GUYS READ books are not just for boys, as I enjoyed all the stories myself, especially the ghost stories, but, let's be honest, these books are perfect for boys. That was the whole point of GUYS READ!
Just in time for Halloween, GUYS READ: THRILLERS is another winner from author/editor/Children's Book Ambassador extraordinaire Jon Scieszka and company! Bravo!

Guys Read: Thriller Overview
A body on the tracks

A teenage terrorist

A mysterious wish-granting machine

The world's worst private detective

The second volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading is chock-full of mystery, intrigue, and nefarious activity. Featuring some of the best writers around, and compiled by certified guy Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Thriller is a pulse-pounding collection of brand-new short stories, each one guaranteed to keep you riveted until the final page.


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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) Review

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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) ReviewI held off buying THE LIGHTNING THIEF for a couple years. The market seems glutted with YA fantasy at the moment, and I read quite a bit of it with my 9-year-old. We've discovered several good series, but THE LIGHTNING THIEF seemed too long to hold his attention when it first came out.
This year we noticed it in the book fair at school, then saw that it was an Accelerated Reader book. So I picked it up and read a couple chapters to try it out. I was 50 pages into it when I realized I needed to be reading this to my son.
I did read it to him. We FLEW through the book (375 pages!) in 6 days because he kept pestering me to read it to him. We finished it up in a 5-hour marathon yesterday, hanging onto every page as Percy and his friends tried to save the world and put things to rights in their own lives.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF is a great book for adults and kids. I've already recommended it to a couple of adult friends who experienced the same kind of can't-put-it-down pull that I did.
Percy Jackson, the hero of the book, comes across as every kid you'd ever meet or ever would. He's no brainiac (he has dyslexia and ADHD) but he has friends who are. But he is courageous and clever, stubborn and loyal. He is the best he can be, and he's getting even better.
Riordan works in many of the Greek myths in the novel. There was a time when knowing Greek mythology was a pre-requisite for having a "classical" education. Many morals and philosophies are presented in the tales.
From the very beginning of the novel, we find out Percy is different when he ends up fighting a harpy in the museum while on a school trip. He's been kicked out of 6 schools in 6 years, lives with his mom and step-dad, Smelly Gabe, an evil guy who deliberately makes Percy's life hard.
Then, when he's on a well-deserved vacation with his mom, he finds out he's a Half-Blood, the son of one of the Greek gods. But his mom doesn't know who his dad was and that's just one of the mysteries Percy ends up solving.
The cool part of the book is peeling away all the mysteries of Percy's life and who really took Zeus's magic thunderbolt. Along the way he gains powers that set my son's head to spinning with hope and delight. Percy's a superhero without the costume, and there are plenty of villains in his world.
Riordan is a teacher who obviously loves kids as well as the subject matter. The Greek gods were a cantankerous lot, and Riordan delivers them well. Not only does he give his readers the stories, but he also brings the gods on stage and gives them personalities.
The series is supposed to run for 5 books. I think it will go on longer. I hope so. I've already ordered books 2 and 3, and my son and I are looking forward to them. The books take a while to read outloud to younger readers, but the effort is well rewarded. The story is rich and deep, and will keep your child's attention. In addition, you'd be surprised how much you can talk about even when you're not reading. And your child may just want to wander around the internet learning more interesting facts about Greek mythology.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF is well worth reading and is probably in most public and school libraries.The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) Overview

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Rise of the Dark Queen (The Frontmire Histories - Book II) Review

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Rise of the Dark Queen (The Frontmire Histories - Book II) ReviewI loved the first book in this series and now the second volume is every bit as good. Now to wait as patiently as I can for the next one. Reading this story was just plain fun. Drama, action and lots of humor, it was hard to put down. I like to read books a chapter or two every evening and then mull the story over until the next night. That was very hard to do with this book. Just wanted to read it right through. I very much recommend this book.Rise of the Dark Queen (The Frontmire Histories - Book II) OverviewAn Epic Fantasy Adventure - sequel to "Prince of the Elves". When Daektoch, mage of the Dark Arts, cast his evil curse upon the Human girl, Andreanna, he had no idea of the misery he was about to cause himself; he should have just killed her and saved himself from a horrific plight! Unbeknownst to him, his hex coupled with her latent Elven magic and produced the most powerful magical force on the planet. Transformed by the magic, she retains her ‘attitude', and she now wields the might to enforce her threats - the Dark Queen! She's about to become his chief nemesis! Meanwhile in Mildra, Jerhad and the Elves hurriedly assemble a makeshift army, and under Stanton's leadership, march out to meet the mage's minions, tens of thousands of Cave Trolls who have been sent to eradicate the Elves. Daektoch revels in his evil. The Trolls threaten to overrun Mildra. Once more, the Elven nation's future lies in Fate's hand. Note Map and Glossary are available on pages on my blog for ease of use:Book III - Kravorctiva - Mistress of Chaos - is now available on Kindle

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PORTAL: Portal Chronicles Book One Review

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PORTAL: Portal Chronicles Book One ReviewPORTAL is a sci-fi romance with well-fleshed characters and an intriguing plot. Normally, a novel in the romance genre would be of no interest to me at all (being a guy and all!) but PORTAL managed to keep my interest throughout thanks to its main character, Arizona, and its fascinating sci-fi plot involving time travel and alternative dimensions. There's such a careful balance of sci-fi versus romance that both genre readers will enjoy it equally. I'd be hard pushed to say which genre comes through the strongest, and in this regard it reminds me slightly of The Time Traveler's Wife, another story that's hard to pigeonhole and one that wouldn't work if either the sci-fi or the romance was taken away.
There's a lot to think about after the book ends. All the complexities of the "experiment" are finally laid out for the readers (and poor Arizona) to see, and yet you come away with your head spinning -- in a good way. The best kinds of movies and novels are those that leave you with something to ponder, and PORTAL certainly does that. And the fact that there's a forthcoming sequel, EQUILIBRIUM, due in Summer 2010, is something of a no-brainer -- there's plenty more story waiting to be explored yet!
Not wanting to give away spoilers, I was happy with Arizona's decision at the end and think it would have been unrealistic for her to choose otherwise. Still, part of me wanted her to "take the plunge" and choose the other option, because what a great story that would make! Maybe that's what we have to look forward to in EQUILIBRIUM... or maybe the author will take us in a new direction altogether. There are so many possibilities, especially after the Epilogue, which almost came out of left field and really throws a sinister spanner in the works. Roll on Book II!PORTAL: Portal Chronicles Book One OverviewCome Find Me Two Years Ago...

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History of the Kings of Britain Review

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History of the Kings of Britain ReviewGeoffrey of Monmouth is the man who really started the "King Arthur Craze" of the 12th & 13th centuries. After writing "The History of the Kings of Britain" we have the explosion of works by Chretien de Troyes, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Marie de France, Gottfried von Strassburg, the Vulgate Cycle and all the rest, eventually culminating in the 15th century with Le Morte D'Arthur. No matter what oral tradition may have been in place before this time (the "little book" loaned to Geoffrey?), this is THE book that starts the true interest in The Matter of Britain.
While King Arthur is the centerpiece of the work, this book contains many tales, many of which were later reworked by other authors, most notably Llyr (Lear) and his three daughters.
This book is not a history in the modern sense. "History" derives from "historia", a story, a tale; such "historical" stories were meant, first and foremost, to be moral, didactic lessons on how to (or how NOT to) conduct one's life. Very little in this book could be construed by modern standards to be a "true history"; conversely, here are tales of nobility, gallantry, perfidy, excess, and the like. The characters are exemplars, not real people. The book, starting with the Fall of Troy, leads towards the glory of King Arthur and then falls away from this point, with the slow decline of the Britons in the face of the Anglo-Saxons.
This book is not an easy read by modern standards. On the other hand, it was a medieval "best seller", a book for which there are dozens of manuscripts to sort out (often with slight differences in the text). If you have a real interest in the Arthurian legends or in medieval literature in general, you owe it to yourself to read this volume. While the tales of the Mabinogian may be older, this is the spark-point that introduces Europe to King Arthur.History of the Kings of Britain Overview"The History of the Kings of Britain" is a mythical historical account of British history, written around 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans of Homer's Iliad, the founding the British nation and continuing until the Anglo-Saxons invasion of Britain around the 7th century. Very entertaining and believed to be the source of at least two Shakespeare plays, "King Lear" and "Cymbeline." There is also an account of Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain, and the story of Merlin, Uther Pendragon, and King Arthur and the historical Conan.

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Harry Palmer: The School for Sordid Sorties Review

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Harry Palmer: The School for Sordid Sorties ReviewTook a chance on buying this despite not finding any reviews online because the premise sounded like What if Harry Potter wasn't a magical boy? What if, in fact, he was a rotten, juvenile delinquent who preferred smoking cigs and gambling to saving the day at Hogwarts? For someone who is a pretty big Potter fan, this sounded like fun.
Except it wasn't.
First, it's a self-published book. Riddled with typos, wonky sentences... as someone who edits for a living it made my teeth itch to try to enjoy something I was picking apart the whole time.
Second, the story was just... boring. I was expecting to smile and even giggle a lot more than I did. I would have had a lot more fun with this story, which I still think is an excellent premise, if the author had chosen to use Harry's point of view in the book, as Rowling did in her series. I would have much preferred to hear about Harry's antics from him, instead of being stuck inside other characters' heads - the honorable and athletic Drake, wise Professor Snide, and a few others who all told their stories as if they were the same person. Most of the time, I was left wondering what mean, miserable little Palmer was thinking, and trudging through the book hoping it would get better and hoping I would see more of him.
I did have a few chuckles at the beginning of the book, but for the most part I was left feeling disappointed that I'd bought it at all. I even left it alone for a long, long time, but didn't feel any less bored when I picked it back up in an attempt to finish.
Sorry Mr. Tracy, you had a fantastic idea, you just didn't execute it very well.Harry Palmer: The School for Sordid Sorties OverviewHarry Palmer is a humorous look at the escapades of a juvenile delinquent, which have more down-to-earth explanations than the outlandish stories you may have heard. His interest in magic is how Harry ingratiates himself with a doddering old headmaster whose interest in witchcraft (and savior complex) blinds him to Harry's true colors.Rather than Quidditch (what the heck is that?), the school is mad for polo, but Harry isn't the star of his house's team.The closest he gets to the polo team is when he tries to pilfer something from another student and gets swept away with it by a cantankerous horse and taken for a wild ride. For punishment he has to clean the stables, but Harry's got a plan to get out of that!Scheming Harry is surrounded by other humorous characters, including the puny and conniving groundskeeper, Haggard, Drake Mollify, a boy with a critical father whom he works hard to please, and Drake's two friends, Denis Crumbe and Geoffrey Galle, who offer sarcastic commentary on Harry and his crew with word-play and puns.They have numerous run-ins with Harry and Juan Walsey, the younger brother and carbon copy of twin siblings who are the school bullies and Drake's main polo rivals, and Perdita Grungy, who seeks approval from her peers by trying to be seductive and worldly, although she usually ends up falling flat on her face and looking very un-sexy.Join Harry and the gang for lots of witty, irreverent fun!

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