Showing posts with label ya fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ya fantasy. Show all posts

The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set Review

The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

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


Want to learn more information about The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant) Review

Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

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

Want to learn more information about Scepter of the Ancients (Skulduggery Pleasant)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Reaper Review

The Reaper
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Reaper? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Reaper. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Reaper ReviewDuring the years I've known Jamie, he has been hard at work on this novel, writing, re-writing, honing it, and getting it perfect. Though I have not yet had a moment to read the finished novel, I had the privilege of reading many of the preliminary drafts, which even in their raw state showcased Jamie's gripping writing style and fantastic character development. Hard to put down, and highly recommended!The Reaper OverviewTobias Peters was human until the day he died, trying to save his best friend. Upon the moment of his death, an angel appeared and asked him a favor from God.“Become the Angel of Death."So begins Tobias's long journey through time until the day he falls in love with a mortal. They have a son together, but Tobias's wife is burnt at the stake for the crime of witchcraft and his son goes missing, lost in Time itself.Tobias is drawn to a young man named Harvey White. Together, they quickly discover that all is not well with the world. The Demons are trying to free Evuhl from its Seal, to bring chaos and destruction to the world. It is up to the Angel of Death to make sure that doesn't happen.Can Tobias really prevent innocent people from dying, all the while trying to work out just who Harvey really is? One thing is for certain-the world needs the Angel of Death now more than ever.For more titles like this, go to http://oaklightpublishing.com or type “oaklight" or “dreamz-work" into the search field.

Want to learn more information about The Reaper?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Last Great Wizard of Yden Review

The Last Great Wizard of Yden
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Last Great Wizard of Yden? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Last Great Wizard of Yden. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Last Great Wizard of Yden ReviewThe Last Great Wizard of Yden was the last bedtime story my 13 year old son let me read to him. There were so many components of Jon Hansen and Yden that made us look forward to bedtime. It was exciting, compelling, and believable. We were hooked from the first chapter. Fans of fantasy and adventure stories, we are anxiously awaiting the sequel! Perhaps he'll let me read it to him.The Last Great Wizard of Yden OverviewAfter his father is kidnapped, sixteen-year-old Jon stumbles across a closely guarded family secret--one that will challenge everything he has ever believed about his father and himself. A magical ring his father leaves behind unlocks a portal to another dimension, but in using it, Jon unwittingly unchains the forces of evil. A crisis develops when a malevolent wizard transports to Earth to kidnap one of Jon's friends. With the help of some unlikely schoolmates, and a warrior princess from Yden, Jon embarks on a dangerous quest to free his friend and his father from the most vicious wizard the magical world has ever known. In the end, Jon will be forced to fight for his life as he attempts to rescue the last great wizard of Yden.

Want to learn more information about The Last Great Wizard of Yden?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity Review

Nandi: Nandi and The Renewal Of Serenity
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity ReviewThis is a wonderful fantasy novel that even someone with a mild interest in the realm of fantasy would enjoy. The Egyptian elements were a nice touch that is rarely found in YA fantasy and will also help to perhaps make the reader more curious.
There were some missteps with wording but nothing that I found annoying or distracting. The tale itself held my interest from start to finish. The only thing that kept my review from being 5-star was the font. The font the author chose is one that can be difficult to read, especially for weak eyes. Yes, it goes with the tale but it makes it hard for the reader. The cover is excellent and the author has a wonderful book that should go far.Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity OverviewFrom the scrolls of ancient Egypt a fable unfolds...CIVILIZATION has been gifted to earth, started in Egypt and now must be protected. However, being born first but in secrecy, Nandi's legacy--the protector of the secrets of civilization (the Oath of Serenity)--has been falsely claimed by an evil half brother she never knew she had... in a bizarre twist of fate, either can unleash it but only one may possess it. In Kemet, many do not believe in Mer Wer, a mystical land hidden in a rainforest of Africa, but it is about to surface quite literally. The urgent 'Calling of Charge' gongs and Mer Wer comes to collect one of its own--the non-believing thirteen-year old named Nandi.She is about to be initiated into an ancient and mystical society to prepare for in the coming fourteen days--just a fortnight--three realities bestowed by her coin (an aged coin that once belonged to her deceased mother) will be confirmed; the Runes are unprecedented, a resurrection from the Nile is possible, and her birth is the 'Promised Legacy' of Egypt. So to Mer Wer she shall go for she is the only one who can renew it honorably. NANDI AND THE RENEWAL OF SERENITY (trilogy) is an epic "sword and sorcery" quest taken by a peasant, two valiant friends, three apprentices and their seer, three heartless villains; a most unexpected ending and lots of mystical touches. Like The Hobbit it includes historical particulars, depicting the period's cultural respect for spirituality and echoes the themes of companionship and resilience of the human spirit when faced with adversity. Also celestial possibilities happen. Unlike so many young-adult fantasy books today that rely on sexual or violent innuendo, this novel offers a more suitable reading experience while bringing hair-raising adventure to the fore.

Want to learn more information about Nandi: Nandi & The Renewal Of Serenity?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Billy: Messenger of Powers Review

Billy: Messenger of Powers
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Billy: Messenger of Powers? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Billy: Messenger of Powers. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Billy: Messenger of Powers ReviewBilly: Messenger of Powers is one of the best books I've read. I may be quite young, but I have read so many books it's crazy! This book really caught my attention though... I read the description and tried it, seeing the cover was so perfect. At first, I can agree with some people that it is pretty boring, but keep reading!!! I thought about putting my book down too, but once it gets to the buster bumpkin bunny burps part, it will get better. The dragon part was just kind of random, except for the fact that it provokes Billy to ask about it... but other than that its pretty random. The fun starts in the middle where the Zombies come in. Actually the fun starts when he meets Blythe during class. Plus, when he dies and comes back to life without the assistance of anybody, you think, "OMG! He's immortal!" but, frankly he's not even a Power. He has no clue how to use magiq, and he has only now known about Wolfen. His history teacher is actually Lumilla and so on... It's a great story... I can't wait to read another!!!Billy: Messenger of Powers Overview"BILLY WAS ONLY THIRTEEN YEARS OLD THE FIRST TIME HE DIED."And with those words the saga of Billy Jones begins with BILLY: MESSENGER OF POWERS. Billy, like many of us, leads what he believes is a fairly normal life: trying to get through school, trying to deal with his first crush, and trying to avoid the bullies who seem intent on trying to prove he can be flushed down a toilet. But all that changes (or at least some of it) when Billy discovers that Powers walk among us. These Powers (what you or I would call witches or warlocks) have divided into two camps: the Dawnwalkers, dedicated to the protection of humanity and the secrecy of the world of the Powers; and the Darksiders, who want nothing more or less than complete control of the world and the enslavement of all humanity.For years the Darksiders and Dawnwalkers have lived in a state of uneasy truce: ever since the last War of the Powers, when the evil Darksider Wolfen was defeated and banished, cast out of the world of the Powers and ordered never to return.But now there are whispers. There are stirrings. Portents.Wolfen has returned. The Darksiders are on the rise.And Billy is the only one who can save the world.

Want to learn more information about Billy: Messenger of Powers?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...