Review

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 4: The Shattered Lens – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

I’ve got another one down. Don’t know how much of an accomplishment it is but I did it. Really these books are an easy read and fairly entertaining too. Now I just need to wait for the next one to finish being processed.

ShatteredLens.jpgTitle: The Shattered Lens
Series: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians; Book 4
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, No Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Alcatraz stopped the assassination of the Council of Kings, but lost an ancient book to his mother. Now the capital of Mokia is about to fall but the Knights of Crystallia nor the Council of Kings are willing to intercede. In a stoopid and equally brave attempt force their hand, Alcatraz travels to Mokia.
Recommendation: Early teens or moderately skilled readers. And do what the book says…..it’s better that way.

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Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 4: The Shattered Lens – By Brandon Sanderson

Age of Darkness – Book 1: Battlemage – By Stephen Aryan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

I’m looking forward to your take on the books you’ve been reading. I know at least one of them I’ve already read and it will be interesting to see where our views differ. (Cryptic, but I can’t give too much away now can I?)

battlemage.jpgTitle: Battlemage
Series: Age of Darkness; Book 1
Author: Stephen Aryan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Military, High Magic
Synopsis: Balfruss is a battlemage, sworn to fight and die for a country that fears and despises his kind. Vargus is a common soldier — while mages shoot lightning from the walls of the city, he’s down in the front lines getting blood on his blade. Talandra is a princess and spymaster, but the war may force her to risk everything and make the greatest sacrifice of all.
Recommendation: For adult readers and I’m open to reading the next book.

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Age of Darkness – Book 1: Battlemage – By Stephen Aryan

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard – Book 2: The Hammer of Thor – By Rick Riordan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

I pre-ordered it from Amazon because they ship it a couple of days in advance so it would arrive on the day of release. From the tracking the first one never made it out of Texas. The morning of the release, Oct.4.2016, a noticed time stamped 6 hours in the future said it was “delayed.” That night it then said to expect it by the 7th, but if it hadn’t shown up by the 8th to check back for other options. Morning of the 6th the second one was shipped from the nearby Amazon facility and was promptly delivered by late that afternoon.

I chose Amazon to avoid hassle. No need to leave the house to find a copy at a local bookstore, or some box store. I’m always depressed after going to either. The first because of the books I couldn’t buy or the money I shouldn’t have spent and the second because of all the people. Too many people. It should have just painlessly arrived at my door without a second thought. I was so wrong.

hammerofthorTitle: The Hammer of Thor
Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard; Book 2
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: The hammer of Thor is missing…..again. If it’s not found soon it may mean a giant invasion of Midgard, aka Earth. But other forces are at work and if left unchecked they may bring about the end of the universe. No pressure.
Recommendation: Teen. The book is mediocre at best, which makes it the worst in the Riordan-verse to date.

– Spoilers –

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Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard – Book 2: The Hammer of Thor – By Rick Riordan

Harry Potter Series – Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – By J. K. Rowling

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Jared,

I had intended to do a review of The Hammer of Thor this week. Even pre-ordering it! Of course there was a shipping delay and I didn’t get it until yesterday. I’ll publish the review as soon as I’ve finished it. As for today, I give you Prisoner of Azkaban instead. I hadn’t planned to do this one so soon. However, we were able to get a copy of the audio books (Jim Dale, FTW!) and I loaded it onto Lisa’s phone. Of course, she turned it on while we were driving back from vacation and once we started I had to finish it. You’ll probably noticed we’ve been home for weeks. Well there has been so much happening this past month it had to be pushed back until this unexpected opening.

HP3Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book 3
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: Harry has survived his first two years at Hogwarts. As the beginning of this third year rapidly approaches he accidentally blows up a relative. Now on the run he discovers Voldemort might be after him again. But this time he’ll use escaped mass-murder Sirius Black.
Recommendation: This is my favorite book in the series. It should be noted that it’s takes the first step away from the Youth audience toward Teen.

– – Spoilers – –

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Harry Potter Series – Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – By J. K. Rowling

The Trials of Apollo – Book 1: The Hidden Oracle – By Rick Riordan

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Hey Jared,

Since I’m waiting for The Hammer of Thor to come out in mere days, I figured I could finally get around to reading the first book in this new series. I was honestly a little hesitant because it broke with convention and had a non-demigod as the main character. Could the perspective of a divine being be both relatable and compelling? Yes. Yes, it can.

thehiddenoracleTitle: The Hidden Oracle
Series: The Trials of Apollo; Book 1
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Mythology/Supernatural
Synopsis: Apollo messed up…..big time. As punishment, he was stripped from his all his goddy powers. What’s more, nefarious forces are at work. Can he survive his acne or will a monster put him out of his misery.
Recommendation: Another great addition to the Riordan multiverse. I would suggest reading Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus first as this series directly builds off them.

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The Trials of Apollo – Book 1: The Hidden Oracle – By Rick Riordan

Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Jared,

This review has been pushed back so many times. There’s just so much that takes priority. Plus, this has been out for months already and the next one isn’t expected until the Fall of 2017. Regardless, I wanted to get it written while it was still fresh in my mind. Sadly I’m still having trouble writing this. How much do I reveal? What is or isn’t considered a spoiler when the first book being reviewed is the 4th in the series? The moral dilemma only a book lover can experience.

death-weavers.jpgTitle: Death Weavers
Series: Five Kingdoms; Book 4
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Cole is still on the run. His search for Destiny, Mira’s sister, has taken him and his friends to Necronum, one of the five kingdoms in The Outskirts. But Necronum is home to the Weavers, they interact with the dead. Will he survive or will his journey take him to the afterlife?
Recommendation: Go read the other 3 first. They are an easy read, perfect for an intermediate reader/pre-teen/early teen.

– – Mild Spoilers – –

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Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

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Hey Jared,

Yes, that is three authors. It makes the title of this review really long but I didn’t want to diminish their work by leaving any off or just doing their last names. And yes, this is another book about kids with superhuman abilities or powers. I’m starting to get a little tired of the genre and almost didn’t finish this one.

zeroesTitle: Zeroes
Series: Zeroes Series; Book 1
Author(s): Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Teen/YA
ROTS Setting: AU, Superpowers
Synopsis: Six Californian teens have superpowers and for a time they were friends. But when personalities collide they went their separate ways until the actions of one threatens to reveal them and their powers to the world. Can they unite in time to keep their secrets hidden while avoiding police and drug lords alike?
Recommendation: Not a terribly original take on superpowered teens, but it was still worth reading.

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Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

With book 5, The Dark Talent, coming out this past week I’ve been trying to get through the previous books I hadn’t read yet. That would be this one, The Knights of Crystallia, and The Shattered Lens. I made sure to get on the hold list for book 5, and should get one of the first few copies but I don’t know how long it will take to get them into circulation. My last experience was about 3 weeks but this is the new system that is much larger and hopefully more efficient.

knightsofcrystallia.jpgTitle: The Knights of Crystallia
Series: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, No Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Alcatraz as survived the fabled Library of Alexandria, and successfully rescued his father. Now he’s finally arriving in Nalhalla, one of the Free Kingdoms and home of his birth. But the Evil Librarians are already there poised to seize one of the other kingdoms in the name of peace. Can Alcatraz unravel the plot in time? Will his own ego prevent him from entering the building? Or will Bastille have to save them all?…..Again.
Recommendation: Early teens or moderately skilled readers.

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Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia – By Brandon Sanderson

Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

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Hogwarts Heroes.jpgI’m a little disappointed in these Pottermore Presents books. They say they’re “short stories” and I don’t feel that they are. Are Wikipedia articles short stories? No. No they aren’t. I wasn’t looking for some grand literary master piece, I was looking for short stories, a bed time story, facts with personality, something more than a text book.

I had been planning on reviewing each of the books over the next few days. Upon reading them there isn’t much to review. They aren’t stories so there is no storyline, characters, or writing style/techniques to comment on. So you get one for all three and I’ll do a real review with an actual story for Friday.

The books mostly rehash information you can find on Pottermore, but there are supposedly a couple of extra bits that are brand new.

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Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

Mistborn Series – Mistborn: Secret History – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

Oh boy do I want to read more Mistborn now! It’s actually kind of painful. This little novella filled in so many holes and answered so many questions……but now I feel so ignorant of the larger universe. I guess I’ll just have to read more Sanderson novels. Woe is me.

Secret HistoryTitle:Mistborn: Secret History
Series: Mistborn; Mistborn Trilogy Companion
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU/Cosmere, Unique Magic
Synopsis: Taking place during the events of the original trilogy, it follows Kelsier after his death. Dead, but not gone. And certainly not helpless.
Recommendation: Definitely read the original trilogy before even attempting this. The author even recommends reading the next three too. A wonderful addition to the series!

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Mistborn Series – Mistborn: Secret History – By Brandon Sanderson