Author: Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Book 2: The Sea of Monsters – By Rick Riordan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

When this goes live I will likely be climbing into the driver’s seat of a moving truck on the last leg of the move, somewhere in Oregon.

theseaofmonsters.jpgTitle: The Sea of Monsters
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians; Book 2
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment.
In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Book 2: The Sea of Monsters – By Rick Riordan

The Inheritance Cycle – Book 2: Eldest – By Christopher Paolini

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hi Jared,

The books in this series are longer than I remember. Regardless, today is the day of the big move. At this moment we are already up and frantically trying to finish packing. We pick up the truck this afternoon and hope to have everything in before it gets too dark. Early tomorrow morning we set out.

eldestTitle: Eldest
Series: The Inheritance Cycle; Book 2
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval/Renaissance, Dragons, Magic, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns… Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .
Recommendation: I recommend this series for pre- and early teens.

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The Inheritance Cycle – Book 2: Eldest – By Christopher Paolini

Percy Jackson & the Olympians – Book 1: The Lightning Thief – By Rick Riordan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 4 Comments

Hey Jared,

In addition to my reread of The Inheritance Cycle, I’ll also be rereading the iconic Percy Jackson series over the next month and a half. It’s been 7 or 8 years since my last read through and since then Heroes of Olympus has finished and we’ve now got Magnus Chase and Trials of Apollo. And I’m a parent now. Basically there’s a few good reasons to reread this classic series.

lightningthief.jpgTitle: The Lightning Thief
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians; Book 1
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

Continue reading “Percy Jackson & the Olympians – Book 1: The Lightning Thief – By Rick Riordan” →

Percy Jackson & the Olympians – Book 1: The Lightning Thief – By Rick Riordan

The Inheritance Cycle – Book 1: Eragon – By Christopher Paolini

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 4 Comments

Hey Jared,

I figured it was about time to revisit this childhood classic. It was weird picking up your/our old copy from over a decade ago. If you recall it was just the first two books and I’ve since gotten the second two. But I’ve never read them back-to-back, only the first two and then many years between the others so it’s going to be a bit of an eye opener.

eragon.jpgTitle: Eragon
Series: The Inheritance Cycle; Book 1
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval/Renaissance, Dragons, Magic, Higher Magic
Synopsis: When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . . .
Recommendation: I recommend this series for pre- and early teens.

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The Inheritance Cycle – Book 1: Eragon – By Christopher Paolini

Animorphs – Book 9: The Secret – By K. A. Applegate

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hiya Jared,

It might just be me, but it feels like the series has matured significantly in this book and the last. Our ickle series if really growing up.

thesecretTitle: The Secret
Series: Animorphs; Book 9
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: There’s something pretty weird going on in the woods behind Cassie’s house. The place where Ax and Tobias call home. It seems the Yeerks have figured out one very important thing: Andalites cannot survive without a feeding ground. Visser Three knows the “Andalite bandits” don’t feed where he does, so there can only be one other place. Now Cassie, Marco, Jake, Rachel, Tobias, and Ax have to figure out a way to stop a bogus logging camp. Because if Visser Three finds Ax in the woods, nothing will stop him from finding the Animorphs…
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.

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Animorphs – Book 9: The Secret – By K. A. Applegate

The Red – Book 3: Going Dark – By Linda Nagata

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Hey Jared,

Ha! Finally finished the trilogy and it was well worth it.

goingdark.jpgTitle: Going Dark
Series: The Red; Book 3
Author: Linda Nagata
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Scifi
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern/Near-Future,
Synopsis: James Shelley has left his lover, Delphi, and his companion-in-arms, Jayne Vasquez, with a fortune acquired from a fallen oligarch. They believe him to be dead, and he doesn’t try to set the record straight. His long-running question has been answered: There are other soldiers like him who have served the purposes of the Red—and he has accepted his place among them. As a soldier of the Red he pursues covert missions designed to nudge history away from existential threats—but that doesn’t mean the world is growing more orderly. It’s only in the froth of a “managed chaos” that human potential can grow and thrive. Shelley’s missions eventually take him into orbit—and into conflict with those he loves—Delphi and Jaynie—who are determined to escape the influence of the Red.
Recommendation: Highly recommended! For mature readers. Graphic violence.

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The Red – Book 3: Going Dark – By Linda Nagata