Review

Animorphs – Book 8: The Alien – By K. A. Applegate

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Hi Jared,

This might be one of the most useful books to the series. Maybe not the best, but a lot happens in a very short amount of time.

thealienTitle: The Alien
Series: Animorphs; Book 8
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: What would you do if you were the only alien trapped on a strange planet? Probably freak out, right? Well, that’s what Ax feels like doing. But as an Andalite warrior-cadet, he has to be pretty cool about stuff like that. He’s been hanging out with the Animorphs ever since the Dome ship was destroyed by the Yeerks and his brother, Prince Elfangor, was destroyed by Visser Three. Life on Earth is pretty different for Ax. But there is one thing he, Cassie, Marco, Jake, Rachel, and Tobias have in common. Something that one alien, four kids and a hawk know they have to do: stop the Yeerks…
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.

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Animorphs – Book 8: The Alien – By K. A. Applegate

Barsoom Series – Book 1: A Princess of Mars – By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

John Carter is a classic, and this first book has been published for over 100 years. When I saw the movie, which wasn’t that great, it made me want to read the books because I could see what it might be. And I wasn’t disappointed.

a-princess-of-marsTitle: A Princess of Mars
Series: Barsoom; Book 1
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU/AU, Mars, Aliens
Synopsis: Her oval face was beautiful in the extreme, her every feature finely chisled and exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Similar in face and figure to women of Earth, she was nevertheless a true Martian–and prisoner of the fierce green giants who held me captive, as well!
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Barsoom Series – Book 1: A Princess of Mars – By Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Keys to the Kingdom – Book 1: Mister Monday – By Garth Nix

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

This book is one trippy ride. But in amongst the layers of crazy there’s an internal logic that manages to pull it altogether. It’s a feat of extreme skill and a slightly unhinged imaginative mind…..so, perfectly Garth Nix.

mistermondayTitle: Mister Monday
Series: The Keys of the Kingdom; Book 1
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic (sorta)
Synopsis: Arthur Penhaligon’s first days at his new school don’t go too well, particularly when a fiendish Mister Monday appears, gives Arthur a magical clock hand, and then orders his gang of dog-faced goons to chase Arthur around and get it back. But when the confused and curious boy discovers that a mysterious virus is spreading through town, he decides to enter an otherworldly house to stop it. After meeting Suzy Blue and the first part of “the Will” (a frog-looking entity that knows everything about the House), Arthur learns that he’s been selected as Rightful Heir to the House and must get the other part of the clock hand in order to defeat Monday. That means getting past Monday’s henchmen and journeying to the Dayroom itself. Thankfully, Arthur is up to the challenge, but as he finds out, his fight seems to be only one-seventh over.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for youth, 8-12yrs.

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The Keys to the Kingdom – Book 1: Mister Monday – By Garth Nix

Five Kingdoms – Book 5: Time Jumpers – By Brandon Mull

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Hey Jared,

The end of a series. It’s a bitter sweet time but I’m happy to see this series end and not get dragged out.

time-jumpersTitle: Time Jumpers
Series: Five Kingdoms; Book 5
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Trapped in a world where magic is powerful and dreams are real, Cole’s epic adventure comes to a close in book five of the New York Times bestselling “fanciful, action-packed adventure” series (Publishers Weekly, starred review), from the author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series. Cole and his friends are pushed to the limit in this finale to the bestselling Five Kingdoms series. Will they finally be able to restore magic to the world of the Outskirts and find their way back home?
Recommendation: I recommend this series. They are an easy read, perfect for an intermediate reader/pre-teen/early teen.

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Five Kingdoms – Book 5: Time Jumpers – By Brandon Mull

Dragon Keeper – Book 1: Dragon Keeper – By Carole Wilkinson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Hey Jared

I picked this up a couple months ago because I was in the mood for something a bit lighter and liked the idea of a dragon story based in Chinese mythology. And this book didn’t disappoint.

dragonkeeperTitle: Dragon Keeper
Series: Dragon Keeper; Book 1
Author: Carole Wilkinson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Ancient China, Dragons, Magic (sorta)
Synopsis: In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, the last remaining dragon is in danger of being killed by the cruel Emperor. A nameless orphan with no past and an uncertain future becomes his unlikely ally. The young orphan soon discovers that it is her destiny to protect the aging dragon and his mysterious purple stone. Chased by an evil dragon hunter and a powerful sorcerer, their adventure is not easy. Each must learn to help and understand the other if they are to survive. To succeed in her task, the young orphan must reach deep within herself to find courage she never knew existed. No longer can she be the timid, shy orphan she once was. She is now the one, true Dragon Keeper.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for youth, 8-12yrs.

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Dragon Keeper – Book 1: Dragon Keeper – By Carole Wilkinson

Foreigner Universe – Book 3: Inheritor – By C. J. Cherryh

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Nadi Jared,

I still question his sanity…. but Bren Cameron may not be that bad of a character after all.

inheritorTitle: Inheritor
Series: Foreigner Universe; Book 3
Author: C. J. Cherryh
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Distant-Future, Colonization, FTL, Aliens
Synopsis: Six months have passed since the reappearance of the starship Phoenix—the same ship which brought a colony of humans to the hostile environment of alien atevi nearly two hundred years ago. During these six months, the atevi have reconfigured their fledgling space program in a bid to take their place in the heavens alongside humans. But the return of the Phoenix has added a frighteningly powerful third party to an already volatile situation, polarizing both human and atevi political factions, and making the possibility of all-out planetary war an even more likely threat. On the atevi mainland, human ambassador Bren Cameron, in a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, has arranged for one human representative from the Phoenix to take up residence with him in his apartments, and for another to be stationed on Mosphiera, humanity’s island enclave. Bren himself is unable to return home for fear of being arrested or assassinated by the powerful arch conservative element who wish to bar the atevi from space. Desperately trying to keep abreast of the atevi associations, how can Bren possibly find a way to save two species from a three-sided conflict that no one can win?
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Foreigner Universe – Book 3: Inheritor – By C. J. Cherryh

Adventurers Wanted – Book 3: Albrek’s Tomb – M. L. Forman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

As I mentioned previously, I skipped this book during my recent reread of the series because the library didn’t have it in any format. However, since I finally convinced Lisa to try the series she immediately purchased the entire series as eBooks so she wouldn’t need to stop or even slow down. (It only took her a week, btw.) So now the book is at my very fingertips. *insert evil cackle*

albrek'stombTitle: Albrek’s Tomb
Series: Adventurers Wanted; Book 3
Author: M. L. Forman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU/AU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Two thousand years ago, the dwarf Albrek went looking for new mines in the land of Thraxon in the hopes of becoming rich — and vanished. Now the dwarves must find Albrek’s magical Ring of Searching before their mines run dry, a possibility which threatens the livelihood of the entire dwarf realm. Alexander Taylor joins a familiar company of adventurers on a quest to discover what happened to Albrek, find his mythical tomb, and locate the lost talisman. But finding the ring may be the least of the adventurers’ problems once they cross paths with an ancient, wandering paladin, Bane, who warns of a great evil working in all of the known lands. Following in Albrek’s footsteps, Alex and his friends travel to the haunted Isle of Bones, where a mysterious creature lurks in a deserted village, to the cursed city of Neplee, where the dwarfs are hunted by the undead hellerash, and through the shadow of an empty oracle’s tower, where a whispered legend is about to come true.
Recommendation: I recommend this series. Great for younger and older readers alike.

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Adventurers Wanted – Book 3: Albrek’s Tomb – M. L. Forman

Temeraire – Book 2: Throne of Jade – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 2 Comments

Hey Jared,

I am once again completely astonished and enamored with this compelling series. Historical fantasy is not my fancy, but I’ll be making an exception from now on. I need more of these dragons in my life and have already got the next book from the library.

throne of jadeTitle: Throne of Jade
Series: Temeraire; Book 2
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: Alternate History/Fantasy
Audience:Young Adult/Adult
ROTS Setting: Alternate History: Early 1800s, Dragons, Naval Ships
Synopsis: When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces. Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.
Recommendation: I surprisingly/not surprisingly have fallen in love with this series. Highly recommend it.

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Temeraire – Book 2: Throne of Jade – By Naomi Novik

DNF – Communication Failure by Joe Zieja

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 2 Comments

communicationfailureI really enjoyed the first book. It was the right mix of absurd, hilarious and sci-fi tropes. Sadly, what was once charming and unique has taken too far. Something closer to slapstick. The main character also seemed to be less of a character and more a handy device in which to hang all the insanity.

It’s also entirely possibly I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I can accept that. Whatever the reason, I’m done.

Robert

DNF – Communication Failure by Joe Zieja

Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 9 Comments

Hi Jared,

….

Did you hear that?……That was the sound of my mind imploding.

oathbringerTitle: Oathbringer
Series: The Stormlight Archive; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience:  Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic, Big Swords, Epic Battles
Synopsis: Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified. Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together–and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past–even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.
Recommendation: This book (& everything Sanderson) is highly recommended!

Continue reading “Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson” →

Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson