Author: Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder

Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 2: Dragons of the Highlord Skies – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 3 Comments

Hello again Jared,

Ok, this took longer to finish than I thought it would. I might be reaching my limit for Dragonlance, so after the next one I’ll be taking a break for a couple of months.

dragonsofthehighlordskiesTitle: Dragons of the Highlord Skies
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 2
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The story starts in Neraka, where Kitiara uth Matar and Emperor Ariakas hatch a plan to retrieve a dragon orb and thereby destroy Solamnia and the Companions in one fell swoop. But the guardian of the dragon orb, Highlord Feal-Thas, disagrees with this plan. Kitiara must go to Ice Wall to force him to accept Ariakas’ will, but her journey does not end there. Thrown out of favor, she conceives a daring plan to enlist the aid of the most feared beings on Krynn–Lord Soth and the Dark Queen. Meanwhile, Laurana and the Companions retrieve the dragon orb and take it back to Solamnia–not knowing that they bring their allies’ doom with them.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 2: Dragons of the Highlord Skies – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Magisterium – Book 1: The Iron Trial – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

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Hiya Jared,

This is one that Lisa read a while ago that I’d been meaning to read ever since. She described it kind of like Harry Potter but  the only thing similar is “magic school” and even that starts to get a bit frayed only a short way in.

TheIronTrial.pngTitle: The Iron Trial
Series: Magisterium; Book 1
Author: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Higher Magic, School
Synopsis: Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst – and fails at failing. Now the Magisterium awaits him. It’s a place that’s both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .
Recommendation: I would recommended this book for teens.

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Magisterium – Book 1: The Iron Trial – By Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Hype Train #9 – 2018 Is Looking Good Already

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , , , , 3 Comments

In my recent scouring of the Internets for new books from my author-watch list, 2018 is beginning to come together. This isn’t surprising since we are already well into the Fall publishing window that we’d start hearing about Spring 2018.

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Hype Train #9 – 2018 Is Looking Good Already

The Dragon Prophecy Trilogy – Book 1: Crown of Vengeance – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

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Hey Jared,

My review is a bit late but the book is still good. I’ll be interested to hear what you think when you get to it.

crownofvengeance.jpgTitle: Crown of Vengeance
Series: The Dragon Prophecy Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons, Higher Magic, Prequel
Synopsis: Learn the truth about the Elven Queen Vielissiar Faricarnon, who was the first to face the Endarkened in battle and the first to bond with a dragon. She worked some of the greatest magics her world has ever known, and paid the greatest Price.
Recommendation: Adult or late teens. I suggest having at least some knowledge of the World of Obsidian before reading this. That’s not required but I feel it would make just an OK experience into a great one.

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The Dragon Prophecy Trilogy – Book 1: Crown of Vengeance – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

Thunder and Lightning – Book 1: Red Thunder – By John Varley

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Hey Jared,

I took a bit of a break last week, not from reading but the blog in general. I was finding it increasingly difficult to just sit down and write a review so I figured I wouldn’t…..for a week. It also let me get a bit ahead again.

redthunder

Title: Red Thunder
Series: Thunder and Lightning; Book 1
Author: John Varley
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Young Adult/Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern/Near-Future
Synopsis: Seven suburban misfits are constructing a spaceship out of old tanker cars. The plan is to beat the Chinese to Mars–in under four days at three million miles an hour. It would be history in the making if it didn’t sound so insane.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended. I would suggest it for teens or older.

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Thunder and Lightning – Book 1: Red Thunder – By John Varley

DNF – Bloodmage By Stephen Aryan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 1 Comment

bloodmage

Ok, there’s nothing wrong with the book, it’s just not what I was expecting……at all.

The first book was pretty good with a sword and sorcery feel. This book was more like 3 detective stories, probably connected, that could not hold my attention. On top of that after getting 14 chapters in I’ve given up hope on any of the main characters from the first book making a real appearance. It’s basically a standalone novel. I say that because we don’t get a true continuation of characters or major plot arcs. It’s a sequel in the sense that it chronologically set after the first, but that’s it.

Lastly, the book has some strong “modern opinions” that just felt artificial and out of place given the setting and history of the world. These weren’t the main reason but they certainly did nothing to help.

In summary, the book was not as promised and while there aren’t any glaring issues it’s not what I want or like, especially right now. If anyone has read the whole trilogy and can tell me if things change, please let me know.

Robert

DNF – Bloodmage By Stephen Aryan

Adventurers Wanted – Book 1: Slathbog’s Gold – By M. L. Forman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 2 Comments

Hey Jared,

Finally going back to this awesome series which I’d found and read right before we started the blog. In fact it was one of the reasons I wanted to start it because I kept telling you about it and you just sort of went “meh.”

slathbogsgold.jpgTitle: Slathbog’s Gold
Series: Adventurers Wanted; Book 1
Author: M. L. Forman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU/AU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Upon entering Mr. Clutter’s shop, Alex is swept away on an incredible adventure to a faraway land filled with heroic warriors, mysterious elves, and hard-working dwarves. Alex becomes the eigth man in a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red – and evil dragon with a legendary treasure. Along the way, Alex and his new friends must battle dangerous trolls and bandits, face undead wraiths, and seek the wisdom of the Oracle in her White Tower. Alex’s adventure takes him to distant and exotic lands where he learns about courage, integrity, honor, and, most importantly, friendship.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series. Great for younger and older readers alike.

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Adventurers Wanted – Book 1: Slathbog’s Gold – By M. L. Forman