The Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 1: The Crystal Shard – By R. A. Salvatore

Hey Jared,

Starting a new series that spans a lot of books is hard…..Where do you start? Do you read them chronologically or by publication date or in some other order that the author suggests or in the order that the publisher suggests? The many stories written by Mr. Salvatore is one such example. I have chosen to read these in order of publication, which is also the order suggested by the author. This is in direct contradiction to chronology and publisher suggested order. You can find the order I will use on my extensive book list here.

crystalshard1Title: The Crystal Shard
Series: Forgotten Realms; The Icewind Dale Trilogy; Book 1
Alternately: The Legend of Drizzt; Book 4
Author: R. A. Salvatore
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Higher Magic, Medieval, Dragons
Synopsis: Icewind Dale is a desolate, and nearly forgotten, part of the world. Home to those who have reason to hide and those whom others would prefer to stay hidden. A crystal shard from another realm, a drow in self exile, a halfling of questionable character, and a dwarf long to return to his fallen homeland will converge on the brutal windswept tundra of Icewind Dale.
Recommendation: I liked it. It was a good read. There was something lacking when compared to Dragonlance, but it was still very enjoyable.

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The Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 1: The Crystal Shard – By R. A. Salvatore

Harry Potter Series – Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling

Hey Jared,

Figured I might as well finish this one since I had already started it. You can expect a much more ambitious book for next week…if I finish it in time.

HP&tCoSTitle: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book 2
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: Harry Potter has finished his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although he’s eager to begin his second year, strange forces begin working against him. When student and ghosts alike come under attack Harry ends up in the middle of events decades in the making.
Recommendation: Read it. Read it again….and again and again. While this book is appropriate for younger readers, later books in the series may not be.

– – Spoilers – –

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Harry Potter Series – Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling

SPOILER EDITION – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

HPcursed1.jpg

– – Spoiler Warning – –

This review contains spoilers.
Do not continue without having read the source material first.
Some assembly required. Batteries not included.
By reading this review the reader releases Reading Over The Shoulder from all responsibility and liability for any and all spoilage experienced due to this article.
Viewer discretion is advised.

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SPOILER EDITION – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter Series – Book/Script 8: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I&II – By J. K. Rowling

 

Here it is. The one we’ve been waiting for ever since the second and permanent death of the Dark Lord. The thing she said she’d never do (sort of still hasn’t) but we all knew she would eventually. I give you Harry Potter #8!

Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child_Special_Rehearsal_Edition_Book_Cover.jpgTitle: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book/Script 8
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: It starts at Kings Cross Station 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry is sending off his second child, Albus Severus Potter, off to Hogwarts for the first time. Aaannnddd…..that’s all you get from me here……Mwhahahahah!
Recommendation: I suggest that you read any one of the earlier books before reading this script. It’s very good, but a drastically different experience from what most Potterheads are used to.

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Harry Potter Series – Book/Script 8: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I&II – By J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter Series – Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – By J. K. Rowling

Hey Jared,

I was hoping to get this one and the next one done this week but with all the craziness that went on in the latter half of the week I don’t think I’m going to get another one done in time so this will probably be pushed back to my usual Friday time.

hpsorcerersstone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book 1
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: Harry Potter grew up being treated horribly by the aunt and uncle who raised him. He never knew much about his parents or how famous he is. That is until a letter arrived.
Recommendation: Read it. Read it again….and again and again. While this book is appropriate for younger readers, later books in the series may not be.

– – SPOILERS – –

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Harry Potter Series – Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – By J. K. Rowling

Elantris – Novella: The Emperor’s Soul – By Brandon Sanderson

Hey Jared,

I’ve been eyeing this book ever since finishing Elantris. Finding it in the digital library systems was impossible so I’d either have to pay out or suffer…..I’ll suffer no more! This is a great novella and well worth it.

theemperorssoulTitle: The Emperor’s Soul
Series: Elantris; Novella
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Magic, Higher Magic, Medieval
Synopsis: Shai is a criminal of the Rose Empire. She’s a Forger with all the amazing and nefarious skills that come along with that. When attempting to steal imperial relics right out of the palace itself, she’s caught and imprisoned. Faced with an immediate or postponed  death, she elects for the latter, but must now create the greatest forgery in history. A copy of the emperor’s soul.

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Elantris – Novella: The Emperor’s Soul – By Brandon Sanderson

Spinward Fringe Series – Broadcast 0: Origins – By Randolph Lalonde

Hey Jared,

My reading has suffered. If it’s not the ankle biter begging to go to the park (and playing Pokemon Go along the way) then it’s Rimworld or some other game dropping a big update. Thus I’m a day late and feel only a little guilty.

spinwardfringeoriginsTitle: Origins
Series: Spinward Fringe; Broadcast 0
Author: Randolph Lalonde
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Distant Future, Super High Tech
Synopsis: Jonas and his friends become the unlikely crew of a ghost ship sent out to gather/steal new tech in hopes of saving their home. But the galaxy is even darker and more brutal than they could ever assume. Can he keep them alive or are they destined to become corporate bio assets.

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Spinward Fringe Series – Broadcast 0: Origins – By Randolph Lalonde

DNF – Becoming Human by Eliza Green

becominghuman

I’ve been chipping away at this book for 3 weeks. I’ll admit being on the road for a week didn’t help one bit. We’re now in Spokane, WA and should be for another couple of weeks before we’re on the road again.

There isn’t anything glaringly wrong with this book. Just reading the first few paragraphs and I could tell it’s head and shoulders above either of the eBooks I’ve attempted recently. I’m considering this a FAIL (failure to complete) because I’m only half way and it’s really not catching my interest, but there isn’t any specific reason or problem. It’s just not doing it for me right now.

My impressions are that the author isn’t very experienced, but everyone has to start out somewhere. This inexperience creates a few rough spots but nothing glaring or inexcusable. The characters are well thought out and have real personalities and stories but I think they haven’t been allowed to come through enough. The plot line, as of half way, was a little meandering and certain parts were a little weak but both could be addressed in the latter half of the book.

I seriously might attempt this book again. For now, however, I’m setting it aside.

Robert

DNF – Becoming Human by Eliza Green

The Exodus Trilogy – Book 1: Exodus – By Andreas Christensen

Ok. I’m done with this book. I’m just over 50% of the way and I just can’t do it anymore. Again about 10% of the way in and I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy it but it at least had quotation marks. You deserve a complete analysis of a book, not just part of it. So I soldiered on, but no more. The soldiers have been massacred and those few survivors are scarred and broken.

exodusTitle: Exodus
Series: The Exodus Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Andreas Christensen
Genre: Fiction w/ a touch of bastardized science
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Near Future, Pre-Apocalyptic, Science-less Science Fiction
Synopsis: Plot points disguised as science. Science raped, eviscerated, and then stood up as a warning to logic and reason. (In all seriousness, a rogue planet atomizes Mars before lazily strolling toward Earth. America is able to keep the knowledge secret for years while they build a spaceship to colonize another planet 40 light years away……because that it the safest course of action with the greatest probability of success.)
Recommendation: Don’t. Just don’t.

Spoilers….Hahaha….More like a Public Service Announcement

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The Exodus Trilogy – Book 1: Exodus – By Andreas Christensen

First Born – By Brandon Sanderson

Hello Robert,

I just got my first library card in about 7 years. Aside from college IDs which give access to school libraries. The Edmonton Public Library system is quite impressive to he honest. They have 3D printer maker spaces, sound studios, and tons of events and classes all for free. Honestly going to the library is way cooler than it used to be. Aside from the evil librarians though.

Title: Firstborn17699268
Series: Stand alone
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Sci-fi
Audience: Young Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, FTL(Faster Than Light), Advanced Tech
Synopsis: This morality tale follows a younger brother Dennison Crestmar, who lives his life as all younger brothers due. In the unbearable shadow of his older brother the Silvermane the war hero Varion Crestmar.
Recommendation:
This actually isn’t a book it is more of a short story I read it in like an hour and a half. There isn’t too explicit of content. You only get a description of like two deaths. Any 4th grader should be able to this with reasonable ease.

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First Born – By Brandon Sanderson