Review

The Stormlight Archive – Book 2: Words of Radiance – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hiya Jared,

I’ve finished this for a few days already but I’m having trouble describing my experience. I keep defaulting to, “It’s awesome!” and can’t seem to get past that.

WordsOfRadianceTitle: Words of Radiance
Series: The Stormlight Archive; Book 2
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience:  Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic, Big Swords
Synopsis: At the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.
Recommendation: This book (& everything Sanderson) is highly recommended!

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The Stormlight Archive – Book 2: Words of Radiance – By Brandon Sanderson

Legend Trilogy – Book 1: Legend – By Marie Lu

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

Yep, this is yet another YA dystopian. But I wager it’s one of the best…..ever.

LegendTitle: Legend
Series: Legend Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction
Audience: Teen/Young Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern/Near-Future, Dystopian
Synopsis: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Recommendation: I would recommended this book for teens, and lovers of dystopians.
[UPDATE: This series is In Dispute for me now. Caution should be taken with this series.]

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Legend Trilogy – Book 1: Legend – By Marie Lu

Keiko – Book 1: Dark Run – by Mike Brooks

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

I read this weeks ago, but the release for the latest book in the series was pushed back. Since my intention was to have them come out around the same time I pushed this review back too with the hope that I can try and get ahead and have a little break for Thanksgiving.

darkrun

Title: Dark Run
Series: Keiko; Book 1
Author: Mike Brooks
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Distant Future, FTL, Terraforming, No Aliens
Synopsis: The Keiko is a ship of smugglers, soldiers of fortune and adventurers, travelling Earth’s colony planets searching for the next job. And nobody talks about their past. But when a face from Captain Ichabod Drift’s former life send them on a run to Old Earth, all the rules change. Trust will be broken, and blood will be spilled.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Not highly recommended but still recommended.

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Keiko – Book 1: Dark Run – by Mike Brooks

Animorphs – Book 6: The Capture – By K. A. Applegate

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hi Jared,

This is one of only a dozen or two that I’m missing from my shelf so I naturally turned to the public library. Two months later it finally shows up and I’m done it in 2-3 hours. A more disturbing discovery is that the library doesn’t have any books later than this one…..so if my readthrough is to continue I’ll need to buy the ones I’m missing. The question is do I pay $4 each and get them as I need them or do I just wait (and pray) for them to show up at my usual hunting spot for a buck?

thecapture.jpgTitle: The Capture
Series: Animorphs; Book 6
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: It was really bad when Jake found out his older brother was one of them. It was even worse when Tobias stayed in his morph too long. But nothing compares to the horror the Animorphs are about to face. Nothing. Jake and the other Animorphs have a feeling they know where the Yeerks’ new base is located. And they’ve found out how to get in – how many people will really notice a few flies on the wall? But they never figured that they might get caught. Or that Jake could fall into the Yeerk pool. That Jake could become a human-Controller. A Yeerk. The enemy.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.

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Animorphs – Book 6: The Capture – By K. A. Applegate

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

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

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

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

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

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