Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fantasy. Show all posts

February 17, 2012

The Firelight of Maalda by Melissa Douthit

I just finished the second book in “The Legend of the Raie’Chaelia” trilogy, rightfully named “The Firelight of Maalda.” The book picks off right where “The Raie’Chaelia” (first book in the series) left off. Chalice and her group make their way to Portalis, the city ruled by the Terravaillian. As Chalice begins to learn about the history of this secret city, she clashes with the rules and social customs of her new surroundings. Butting heads with many of her advisors and guards, she discovers the heavily guarded secrets that reside within the library and archives of Portalis.

Along the way, Chalice learns that Dar’Maalda possesses the Firestone, the black obsidian stone stolen from her in the previous book. While he doesn’t know how to unlock its secrets, both him and Chalice know its importance. Practicing her skills and connecting more with her daeioden, she begins to harness her powers and truly evolve into the Raie’Chaelia D’Ielieria. Also gaining speed is her romance with Jeremiah, when Chalice must defend her feelings to the Terravailians of Portalis.

I must say that I blazed through this book in about three days. Motivated by the unanswered questions of the first novel, Melissa Douthit cleverly enticed me to read her second creation. With even more adventure and danger than the first novel, “The Firelight of Maalda” brings new, fantastical creatures to life (such as the mysterious Naezzi) and delves deeper into the detailed world of the Terravailian and the Naeon. Bringing back favorites, such as Bunejab, Ben, and Ardenne, the reader can dive right into this magical world. Chalice continues to impress readers with her dedication to morals and bravery even though those around her disagree with her every move. Not only does she embody an independent woman, she continually puts herself in dangerous situations for the good of her people. Her selflessness sets her apart from other characters, and quite honestly makes the reader wonder what she will try next.

So what exactly does the Firestone do? What are the Naezzi? And more importantly, what is Portalis hiding behind its doors? These questions and more will be answered in the second installment of this trilogy. But don’t expect for every mystery to be solved. Douthit leaves the reader hungry for more and, much like the first novel, ends “The Firelight of Maalda” on a cliffhanger. Her third novel, “The Return,” is not released until August 2012, so you will have plenty of time to ponder the mysteries of Naeo’Gaea.

5 stars

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Reviewed by Brittany Barry at 2:56 PM 0 comments
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February 15, 2012

The Raie'Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

In “The Raie’Chaelia,” the first book of “The Legend of the Raie’Chaelia” trilogy, the reader meets Chalice, a stubborn, strong young woman. She suddenly flees her hometown of Canton in the middle of the night per her grandfather’s instructions. On horseback, she makes her way to a farm in Branbury and finds her friend Jeremiah alone in a ghost town. Both piece together pieces of the puzzle and realize that the King’s men are looking for them, destroying towns and killing many people in the process. Meeting up with a friendly Chinuk (the cutest teddy bear creature) and an older man, Ben, the two begin to realize that there is more to this journey than they realize.

Chalice has no knowledge of her parents and has grown up with her grandparents in Canton for the entirety of her seventeen-year-old life. Possessing only a strange birthmark, she finds this marking in a book dropped by the Chinuk. As she slowly discovers facts about her true identity, Melissa Douthit examines the concept of self-identity and choosing between duty and love.

I found this book slow toward the beginning, but it certainly picked up the pace toward the third chapter and suddenly I became hooked! Any woman will find a role model in Chalice as she refuses to bend to anyone’s will but her own and stands to fight for her beliefs, family, and friends. The chapters are long, twenty to over thirty pages at times, and the names will certainly send your tongue into a tailspin. That being said, this book is packed full of adventure, mystery, and danger. Douthit ends this first book on a cliffhanger, so be prepared for unanswered questions. I certainly will be reading the next two books in this trilogy!

4 stars

**To read my review of the second book in the series, "The Firelight of Maalda" click here.

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Reviewed by Brittany Barry at 6:02 PM 0 comments
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February 10, 2012

Telesa- The Covenant Keeper, by Lani Wendt Young

I'm sure you've read Twilight, so let's slip back into that world for a moment. Back to the first time you read it, before the very word "vampire" made you roll your eyes and sigh. Oh, it doesn't do that to you? Well it does to me, especially as I follow Pixel of Ink, where every other book is either paranormal YA or features simpering Amish maidens.

Now imagine that it wasn't Edward with the special powers, but Bella. And Bella isn't as annoying, doesn't snarl as often or stick her nose up at everything and everyone around her. And instead of a dark forest in the Pacific Northwest, they're in the tropical paradise of Samoa, with muscular tattooed rugby players and exotic beauties and a conflicting mixture of devout religious observation and violence.

Leila is the daughter of an American Peace Corps volunteer and a beautiful Samoan native. But after her mother is reportedly killed in a hurricane, her father brings her to live with his wealthy mother on the East coast. As a biracial teen Leila has a hard time fitting in, especially in the posh all-girl schools her grandmother insists upon. When her father dies suddenly, his last wish is that Leila will never attempt to return to Samoa. This request seems so nonsensical and mysterious that Leila becomes even more curious about her Samoan heritage and decides to visit.

Upon reaching the land of her birth, Leila is surprised by the cold welcome she receives from her remaining family there, but is determined to prove that not all American teenagers are wild, and also to find out about her mother. She enrolls in school and is unfailingly obedient and mannerly. One day a frighteningly beautiful woman arrives claiming to be Leila's mother. Leila's aunt tells her the woman is "Telesa," a sort of elemental goddess of Polynesian lore. It sounds crazy, but when kissing a local rugby star causes her to burst into flame, Leila must face the idea that there's more to the myths -and to her mother- than most people realize.

What makes this book stand out is the Polynesian element. The islands of the Pacific have long held a romantic appeal for millions. This book takes the reader away from the chain hotels and tourist traps into the real Samoa, a proud and beautiful culture. The author is herself from Samoa, and teaches there, and has seen how little is out there in pop culture that Polynesian youth can relate to. She did an outstanding job. In any other setting this book would be just another of hundreds of Twilight fan fiction novels, but Young made it her own. Her love for the people and culture of Samoa really shines through.

According to this review / interview, Young has been in touch with people in the film industry. If they do translate this book into film, I hope Samoa is prepared for the influx of rabid women that will descend upon it!

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Reviewed by Memarie Lane at 11:47 AM 0 comments
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February 9, 2012

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to earth to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

The setting switches back and forth between a heavenly scene and earth with Matt and Emily going back and forth between the two. The catch, Matt and Emily are only Matt and Emily in the heavenly setting, they are placed in the lives of other humans on earth, trying to remember who they are and what they are there for. While many young adult novels have one-dimensional characters, Amy Lignor's characters are anything but and I loved both the main characters but also the supporting cast. And I really felt the love and confusion that Emily felt as she tried to remember her true purpose, a feeling I think we can all relate to as we try to decide what we think we should do and what we feel. 

Until Next Time surprised me. While I was expecting fantasy, I was surprised by how many parts of it actually rang very true on a deeper level to me, which made this story much more than just your typical young adult novel.  Things like Emily and Matt learning and training in heaven to prepare them for their time on the earth. And that when they are sent to earth their knowledge being taken away so that they can be tested and learn during their earthly experiences. Other small insights throughout the novel give this story and the characters in it more depth and meaning to me and I loved it. This is Book 1 in the Angel Chronicles and I will definitely be reading the next one to see where Emily and Matt's partnership takes them next. 5 stars.
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Reviewed by Britni at 8:09 PM 4 comments
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January 31, 2012

Pool of Souls by Cheryl Landmark

by BethW

Pool of Souls is a story of a fantasy world named Regalis where evil sorcerer, Queen Saranor is working her way across the land using magic, terror and brutality to gain control. Her erstwhile commander, General Viadon, had defected and is now battling against her to save the land.

Cazlina Narzin has left her sleepy village to chase after her brother, Gareth, who left to join General Viadon'c crusade against the queen. Along with Caz is her horse, Miris, with whom she can telepathically communicate.

During her travels, a horse thief attempts to steal Miris while Caz is sleeping. Caz chases him off but he has an annoying habit of showing up to rescue her from beasts and beastly men.

After Caz finds General Viadon and her brother, she is conscripted into the general's army to work by his side as a scout, using her telepathic abilities to help her. She encounters wonderous beasts, heroes, villans and finally the queen's army and pool of souls.

I enjoyed the book. One of the gratifying characteristic is Landmark's writing style. She has such a good command of the English language and it was a pleasure to read a book that flowed well and was eloquent. I also enjoyed the story. It is always nice to see a heroine instead of a hero.

I do wish more information was provided on the horse thief, Jorin since he plays a substantial role in the story. I also had a hard time believing a general of such a huge army would take Caz under his wing and make her part of his inner circle. Granted, much of it was due to her gift of aminal communication, but she used it sparingly and didn't use it at times it would have provided useful. The ending was a bit too nice for my tastes. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't go further, but I do wish it were a bit grittier.

The ending seemed to hint at a sequal. I would love to read it and, hopefully, learn more about Caz's gift and Jorin's past.

I give this 3 stars out of 5.




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Reviewed by Beth at 7:01 PM 2 comments
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The Briar King

The Briar King by Greg Keyes is the first book of the fantasy series Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone.  The plot elements are the usual fantasy fare:  the Briar King, a legend from children's tales and folklore, is waking from his slumber and threatening the kingdom (and ultimately the entire world).  The host of characters includes but is not limited to a headstrong princess, a quiet but courageous woodsman, and a dedicated priest.

If I had to sum up this book quickly, I would say "good but not great".  The story reminds me of a host of other books:  Game of Thrones, Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.  A fantasy story with a multi-perspective narrative combined with the end times has been done by many authors, and it really needs to be extraordinary if it's going to stand out.  

While Keyes does a great job with world building, there is no rhythm to the flow of the narrative.  Sometimes you may hear from one character for a single chapter and never get their perspective again.  It jumps around too much.  A major new character is even introduced in the last third of the novel--but by then I didn't really care, I just wanted to hear from the few well-established characters.  

I enjoyed this book enough that I plan to eventually pick up the second one in the series.  But I'm not in any rush. 

3.5 stars
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Reviewed by Beth C. at 10:16 AM 0 comments
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December 29, 2011

Ravenstoke by Augusta Blythe


Ravenstoke is the second book in a series called Universe Unbound by Augusta Blythe.

I read and reviewed her first book, Winterborne, at the start of the year, and you can find that review here.

Ravenstoke continues to follow Loie and Mia as they learn more about who they really are and the secrets that tie them together.  Loie is coming into her own as a Universal and learning that she is way more powerful than she ever imagined.  Andreas is still around, helping Loie train by day and smooching with Mia by night.

When Andreas is pulled into a secret mission in England, Loie is left on her own to train... until the replacement shows up.  Gorgeous and sly, Cian.  Cian decides to try and push Loie as far as she can go to really test out her limits.  And they both realize that she's quite amazing.

I can't really go into any more detail than that or I risk giving away some of the goodies... the twists, turns and surprises that makes this book great.  This book works really hard at developing characters and relationships, especially Loie's, and it pays off in the end.  You also get to meet the illusive Mr. Winterborne... finally!  And Cian... swoooooon.

This book is absolutely transitional... not as action packed as the first, but definitely leading up so some good drama... I can feel it.

You'd definitely want to read these in order, or you'll be lost.  Loie is a Universal, not a witch or a magical creature.  You need some backstory to grasp the details.

Read them... you'll like it!  I can't wait for the next one!

4 Stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  These are my honest opinions.
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Reviewed by Nicole at 5:31 PM 0 comments
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November 28, 2011

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner is a young adult fantasy novel that won a Newberry award in 1997. It popped up as suggested in my Goodreads feed and was highly rated, so I thought I would give it a try. It tells the story of a thief named Gen, recruited out of prison to help the king’s scholar steal a mythical treasure.

I enjoyed a lot of the elements of the novel—I like the fantasy genre, trickster-style characters, and a dash of adventure. But I just found this book incredibly slow. At least 75% of the novel describes their journey to get the treasure. I’m not talking about adventure-filled, action-packed travels where they fight evil and meet interesting side characters, I’m talking about a trudging, slow moving, character-development-through-long conversation type of trip.

I wasn’t a fan of the mythology in the book. I couldn’t picture a similar time period in my head, it varied from Biblical times, to feudal society, to ancient Greece. Oh, and then there were guns. I understand that fantasy writers pick and choose the elements of their world, but the use of very specific historic words from different time periods (like magus and megaron and dukes juxtaposed with guns) made it feel cobbled together to me.

On the plus side, I do find Turner to be a talented writer, even if I don’t like the way the story unfolded. And the last few chapters are great. Seriously, that’s what I wanted to entire book to be like. But it was just too little too late for me.

Two stars.
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Reviewed by Beth C. at 11:19 AM 0 comments
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November 15, 2011

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children follows the story of 16 year old Jacob.  Jacob grew up dreaming of adventure and listening to his grandfather tell tales of a magical safe haven, levitating and invisible children, and of fighting evil monsters.  Although the teenage Jacob no longer believes in such stories, he finds himself questioning everything he thinks he knows after his grandfather's sudden violent death. He embarks on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up in hopes of finding answers.

The book starts off strong.  The first person narration is compelling and fast-paced.  The first half of the book does a wonderful job with letting the story unfold in such a way that keeps you wanting more. 

What makes this book so extraordinary are the creepy vintage photographs.  Whenever the narrator describes a photograph (or occasionally a letter or handwritten note), it is included on the next page.  I frequently caught myself peeking ahead in the book, hoping for another photo.

I wasn't quite as impressed with the second half of the book.  There was a lot of flat-out of telling the mythology behind the action, rather than building it up organically.  The character of Emma was disappointingly two-dimensional.  Indeed, most of the Peculiar Children weren't fleshed out enough, both in terms of their personality and their back stories.  (There is a particularly eerie photo of two "snacking ballerinas" that could easily give you nightmares--but their characters are never even addressed.) 

Despite the creepy photographs, this novel is closer to a fantasy novel than a horror story. 

Four stars

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Reviewed by Beth C. at 3:25 PM 3 comments
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November 14, 2011

Something Witchy This Way Comes by Veronica Blade

Tessa is your average high school senior.  She gets good grades, has good friends and is a good girl.  She has a kid sister that she absolutely adores, and takes most of the responsibility for, since her parents have sort of checked out.  While they're there to pay the bills and keep the fridge stocked, they aren't there for much of anything else.

One day Tessa gets called into the principals office to be informed that she's in danger.  The principal assigns the rudest and biggest player and straight up bad boy in school to play bodyguard for Tessa... only problem is, he's insanely hot.  Normally she wouldn't think twice about going for a guy like Hayden, but as they begin to hang out more, their chemistry begins to ignite.

Tessa also learns some life changing news during her visit with the principal.  Turns out, she's a witch.  She's got super special abilities, like reading minds, telekinesis and blocking... amongst other things.  She begins working with her principal (also a sorcerer) to develop her skills and learn about her abilities.  Things begin to heat up when she learns that there are two sides to every story.

She must choose between two sides... good versus evil... but which is which, she can't tell?  She must decide and pledge her allegiance to the right side before her 18th birthday, but choosing wrong could cost her her life.  In her journey to pick a side, she uncovers mysteries about herself, her family and Hayden that puts her life in danger... and time is running out.

I really really enjoyed this book.  I mean, is there anyone that doesn't enjoy a good YA Fantasy?  And, I'm not afraid to admit it... I loved Twilight... yeah, I'm that girl.   What I loved about this book was that it dove straight into my emotions.  When she and Hayden had a steamy scene, I felt it too.  When she was getting into trouble, I was biting my nails.  When she discovered truths, I gasped and even cried.  It was a great emotional roller coaster... and with the fun of the fantasy stuff thrown in.

What I didn't love about the book was that there was a bit too much teenage girl doubting questioning drama... "I like him, but he's a jerk, but he's so cute, but he's gonna break my heart, but he's sometimes sweet, but..."  It's like every other page Tessa would decide to either love or hate Hayden forever.  I wanted to scream DECIDE ALREADY!  But, that's oh so typical teenage girl behavior, isn't it?  The other thing, being a Twilight fan, it's hard not to compare.  There were some similarities... as I also found in Hush, Hush and Shiver.  I just would LOVE to find a YA Fantasy that was waaaaay out there... with nothing, nothing, nothing to remind me of Edward and Bella's epic love story.

This book was great fun.  I peeled through it.  4 Stars.

If you're interested in learning more about Something Witchy This Way Comes by Veronica Blade, you can join the Veronica for an author chat on November 18 at 8pm EST.  She'll be giving away a copy of her book and answering questions live via chat.  Sounds like fun!  I'll be there!

Click HERE to join the party!
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Reviewed by Nicole at 7:00 AM 0 comments
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November 8, 2011

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

I haven't read any of Marr's other books, but apparently she's rather well known for her young adult "Wicked Lovely" series. 

"Graveminder" is about Rebekkah Barrow, who returns to her hometown of Claysville after the murder of her grandmother.  Bek grew up helping her grandmother tend graves and watching as she performed an odd ritual at funerals, complete with the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."  It turns out that these words have special meaning in Claysville as the dead in this town are somehow connected to the living.  Rebekkah must learn to fill the role that her grandmother left behind, complete with the help of the current undertaker and her long-ago childhood love, Bryon. 

This book was good but not great.  I loved the setting and the world-building.  The description of the town and the land of the dead were vivid and well done, especially contrasting the way that Bek and Byron viewed them.  I liked Daisha's parts too--Marr did a good job of making you care about a character that would be easy to hate.

Overall, the characterization left something to be desired.  I felt as if some of the minor characters like Amity or Bek's cousins had a lot of potential to be more interesting, but were rushed.  The love story between Byron and Bek left a lot to be desired--it seemed as if there was never any true conflict besides Rebekkah being melodramatic.  Plus any scene with Charlie/Mr. D (who really ought to be the most interesting character in the book!) was just kind of slow and didn't tie into the rest of the book very well.

Three and a half stars
 

 
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Reviewed by Beth C. at 1:36 PM 1 comments
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November 1, 2011

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe


Private Bronwyn Hyatt returns from Iraq to her small hometown in Tennessee.  A returning hero, she has mixed feelings about coming back to the childhood home she gladly left behind.  She is part of an insular community of "Tufa"--a dark-haired mysterious clan with a supernatural affinity to music.  Bronwyn's unique heritage comes with certain obligations and she finds, much to her dismay, that she can no longer outrun her past. 

Iraq left her wounded, both in body and soul.  Her homecoming is marked with omens of impending death and a restless "haint", waiting to speak with her.  This story follows her journey of healing and trying to find the place where she fits with her people.

One of the things that I loved about this book is that it doesn't read like the average fantasy novel. The description of the small-town mentality, the well-written dialogue, and the characterization seem more like a modern novel with fantastic and magical elements naturally blended into the book.   The third person narrative skips between several characters, giving you a well-rounded view of both the action and the motives of characters. 

The only reason it fell short of five stars (and indeed, the first 75% of the book truly earned it) is that certain aspects felt oddly incomplete.  There were several moments where the characters, especially Bronwyn's parents, acted in ways that didn't seem genuine and didn't make sense.  There were also a couple of loose ends that I feel weren't fully explained.  Still, it was overall an amazing novel, and one of my recent favorites!

4 stars
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Reviewed by Beth C. at 2:06 PM 2 comments
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September 24, 2011

Evermore by Alyson Noel



I picked Evermore up for four dollars at my local Hastings simply because I have seen many people reading it and wondered what all the fuss was about.  This is the first in an ongoing series and I'm pretty sure there are currently seven books in this series and a spin off series featuring one of the characters.

Where to begin?  This novel is definitely YA - not that it's a bad thing but the writing is simple, the story is simple, the action sequences are simple - well you get the picture. 

Sixteen-year old Ever is the only survivor of a horrible car crash that kills her family.  She moves from Oregon to LA to live with an estranged aunt.  She is an outcast at her new school and turns inward, ignoring everyone else.  That is until, Damen shows up.  He's the new, incredibly gorgeous, very mysterious guy who miraculously shows an interest in Ever.  But Ever knows there is something weird about him but she can't put her finger on it.  He's too beautiful, moves too fast, seems to be able to read her mind, and pulls red tulips out of thin air.  As she gets to know Damen, she is thrust into a world where immortals are real and she's deeply involved - although not in the way you expect. 

So here's the gist.  Good story, lots of potential - especially when you get to the explanations at the end of the book - but while reading this, I seriously thought I was reading a different version of Twilight.  It's so similar Stephanie Meyer could probably sue Noel and win.  It's not until the end that you get a differing plot line.  I have high hopes for the next books in this series but if it continues to be a Twilight doppelganger I will move on. 

Overall, decent read.  3 stars.  Read for a quick fantasy YA or if you love Twilight.  Adults and Teens.


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Reviewed by Anonymous at 11:37 PM 1 comments
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September 9, 2011

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima


I have read a lot of YA fantasy.  A lot.  Some of it is exceptional and I can't wait to get someone else to read it and others are extremely mediocre and dull.  Where does The Warrior Heir fall?  Somewhere in the middle.  Was it OMG awesome?  No.  Did I read it in two sittings? Yes.  Will I read more from this author and most likely finish the series?  When I think about it.

The story follows Jack, a 16 year old from Ohio.  He's nothing special and the only thing odd about him is that he has to take a pill everyday for a heart surgery he had as a baby.  One day Jack doesn't take his medicine and he feels stronger, more aggressive, more confident, and all around better.  But, he loses control and almost kills another student at soccer practice.  Enter Jack's odd Aunt Linda, who bares news about Jack - he's Weirlind; part of a magical people.  He's the center of The Game, the war platform for the two sects of wizards.  The Game pits two Warriors against each other in a gladiator like battle - winner takes control of all the Weirlind.  And guess who is the very last warrior?  That's right - Jack.

Overall, this was a fun, simple read without any huge themes or difficult subject matter.  It is straight YA popcorn (light, fluffy, eaten by the handful).  If it sounds interesting to you, go for it!  You'll enjoy it but it probably won't rock your world.  It did have some interesting aspects and I think if she ever wanted to expand the story fully it could be a fantastic adult fantasy.

 I would recommend this for teens and preteens.  Adults - it's something fun to read that's quick, entertaining, and with little depth. 


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Reviewed by Anonymous at 11:59 PM 0 comments
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September 1, 2011

Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan


I discovered this novel by chance on goodreads.com.  I was already reading Brennan's other novel Warrior and have enjoyed it so far so I thought, Hey - what the heck?  I'll try this one too.  Wow, I'm glad I did! 

Midnight Never Come is a novel of Fae and Human entanglements but the story was different than anything else I had read before.  It takes place during Queen Elizabeth I reign in England so there is a historical aspect but the novel is more about the story than the history.  The novel begins with an imprisoned young Elizabeth being visited by an ambitious usurper named Invidiana.  Elizabeth strikes a deal with the fairy who has promised her the throne. 

Both women become Queens and political intrigue becomes a well known part of their rule.  Lune, a Fae courtier who has fallen out of favor with the Queen tries everything in her power to be in Invidiana's good graces again - including becoming involved in Elizabeth's affairs.  Michael Deven, a newly appointed Gentlemen Pensioner for Elizabeth, knows there is something unknown dictating Elizabeth's affairs but he can't figure it out.  How these two become involved and the paths they take - one against and one for - is one of the best story lines I think I have read in a long time.  The story twists and turns and what you think will happen doesn't and the ending you think you have figured out isn't true.

There are couple of things that did keep me from giving this 5 stars, however.  First, the writing, although engaging, has a couple of weird and rather repetitive quirks.  I was able to overlook them in favor of the story but they did annoy me at the time and annoy me still.  And second, there are certain parts of the book that are presented without explanation and with too little description.  Again, I was able to overlook them, but the story would have been superb if these had been given the time they deserved.

Overall, 4 stars.  Recommended for teens and adults .


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Reviewed by Anonymous at 1:25 AM 1 comments
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August 15, 2011

The Paladin by Ken Newman


Wowee!  The Paladin is a ride.  Not only is it a humorous and fun read but it's very original.  This book follows the mission of one Maggie Black, paladin extrodinare, on her quest to stop a devoted husband from lifiting a curse put on his wife that has kept her entrapped for hundreds of years.  Oh - did I mention the wife is a supernatural demon who has the power to destroy the world?  Or that her husband uses witches and shape-shifters to stop Maggie?  And how about the fact that Maggie works for an angel named Larry and owns a sword that's really a demon?  And the fun just starts there.  Wait until you meet the hypocritical town preacher or Silas Cole, the once-thought murderer who is actually the worlds savior? 

The Paladin is pure entertainment.  Nothing really deep.  My only critiques would be the cover art (not a good representation of the book) and the characters are slightly shallow (but I was so excited to read the next page that it didn't bother me one bit).  Read this book for the pure joy of reading or for a laugh.  It's easily picked up, put down, and picked up again.  If you like fantasy set in the real world, stories featuring a strong female lead, characters that span the range of human personality, even action set to an intriguing background, try The Paladin. 

Recommended for older teens and adults.  4.5 stars!


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Reviewed by Anonymous at 3:56 PM 0 comments
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July 12, 2011

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles Book One) by Rick Riordan

First I must admit that I have been a longtime fan of Rick Riordan and his Heroes of Olympus series is fantastic. I was excited to read his new series and had very high expectations. And Mr. Riordan - you did not disappoint!

I love Egypt and have ever since I was a kid. I think the whole civilization is fascinating and went into this book hoping I would get a healthy does of Egyptian lore and myths. Oh I did - and it was awesome.

The book follows the quest of Sadie and Carter Kane to rescue their father from a very angry Egyptian god. They have to navigate new magical abilities, commune with other gods, and fight demons of all kinds. There are twists and turns and shockers galore all cramed in with great action sequences and terrific dialouge. The only part of the book I have any negative comment on - and its not even really negative - is that the chapters switch back and forth between the two kids and in the beginning was slightly confusing. Once I got used to the characters, though, it was a lot easier to follow and I truly began enjoying the different viewpoints and sibling banter.

This is a fantasic addition to the YA genre and a great read for adventure lovers of all ages. 5 stars!

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Reviewed by Anonymous at 4:26 PM 1 comments
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July 7, 2011

The Future Perfect by Kirk Mustard

My dad introduced me to Douglas Adams as a kid, and I've always loved his stuff because it's funny. I learned about Kurt Vonnegut in college, and appreciated his skill at demonstrating the absurdities of the human condition. Kirk Mustard has taken elements of both of these writers, put them in a blender with Aldous Huxley, and served the result in a tall frosty glass with a little umbrella and a few chunks of fruit.

The Future Perfect (an abbreviated title by the way) is the story of Earth somewhere between now and the society portrayed in Wall-e. Consumerism has... well, consumed the planet, science has taken over everything, even the afterlife, and nature has been all but eradicated by society's paranoia of germs.

Weighty topics are skillfully explored through a fascinating assortment of Adams-esque characters. There's Zenith, a loud colorful ad executive who must constantly churn out new products to a ravenous public, at one point even conceiving of and publishing a book during a short commercial break. His good friend is Monty, a witty self-proclaimed Luddite who longs for simpler times yet panics at the sight of a roasted chicken. Apex Caliente is the unwitting catalyst to the truth behind Nophy, a computer generated afterlife.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the detail of technological advances of the future. The synthesized food was disgusting, but probable. The voting system, which uses television ratings to determine what people really want subconsciously, was very creative. My favorite thing, which I really hope to see one day, is the flexy-screen, basically a screen the size and nature of a piece of paper, and used as such.

There are only two negatives to this book. First, there are a lot of grammatical and typographical errors. But overall the writing was good enough and the story interesting enough that it was easy to overlook. Second, the style of writing is a bit uneven. There's a lot of fantastic material between the beginning and the end, but it starts out choppy and ends suddenly. If the errors were fixed and the beginning and end rewritten, this would be a five star book.

I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review.


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Reviewed by Memarie Lane at 3:08 PM 0 comments
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July 3, 2011

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Princess Academy is a book I've heard about a lot, maybe because it's a Newberry Honor Book. My little sister read it and loved it, and I've been meaning to pick it up for a while. When I heard the author Shannon Hale talking about how she came up with the characters and how she wrote the book at the National Book Festival a year ago my fate was sealed, I had to read this book.

It took me all of three hours sitting by the pool to finish the book. It's a very quick and fun read. The basic storyline is that the king's priests have determined that the next princess lives in a small town high up in the mountains. All of the girls ages 12-17 are forced to go to a Princess Academy for a year to prepare for a ball where the prince will choose his princess from one of those girls.

Like Hunger Games, this book has just the right amount of fantasy, romance, competition, and action. I loved the main character, Miri, as well as the other girls trying to become the next princess. And unlike a lot of other young adult lit I've read, the end actually surprised and delighted me. Definitely worth reading. 5 stars.

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Reviewed by Britni at 12:00 AM 1 comments
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May 16, 2011

"Other People's Heroes" by Blake M. Petit

(Disclosure: I received a copy of the e-book Other People's Heroes for review purposes.)

I admit, I'm 37 and I like superhero stories. I subscribe to a couple of superhero comics. I could pretend that it's just to share them with my sons, but ... well, ... that's serendipitous.

Other People's Heroes is a different kind of superhero story. The narrator begins the story as a reporter in Siegel City, working for a magazine called Powerlines, which focuses on the rather-large superhuman community of the city. He soon discovers, though, that he's one of them.

He then learns that the superhumans are all orchestrated, that their battles are staged, and that it's all about marketing. From there, the story moves through his decision to expose the racket, his acceptance of it, and then the big superhero-type ending.

The long-missing superhero Lionheart hangs over the story. His disappearance and mysterious death marked the end of the real heroes, and the beginning of the staged events. His memory haunts the more-noble characters, especially those who knew him.

I liked the story. It dealt with the issues in a mature, adult fashion while retaining the superhero feel. Clearly, Blake Petit knows the heroic world and wanted it to feel like more of the real world than you usually get from a comic. This, he did very well.

While the story takes a cynical turn, it delivers the moments that make comics worth reading: the dramatic appearance, the big ending, the moral triumph, and the optimistic finish. What's left of Lionheart's old team, most of whom retired after he died, come back for the big dramatic battle. It's a moment that makes you cheer. Even without the big, full-color, two-page pinup panel that it deserved, that moment comes across perfectly.

The book is also full of jokes about the genre -- comments about costumes and a snide reference to wearing just eyeglasses to disguise oneself, comments about returning from the dead, and being bitten by radioactive creatures, for example. For even a casual comic fan, or even one who has seen a few movie adaptations, I think that these jokes would come through.

This might be somewhat of a specific-niche book, but it's definitely worth the read. I enjoyed it tremendously. 4 stars.

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Reviewed by WKen at 10:23 PM 1 comments
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