Review

Adventurers Wanted – Book 1: Slathbog’s Gold – By M. L. Forman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 2 Comments

Hey Jared,

Finally going back to this awesome series which I’d found and read right before we started the blog. In fact it was one of the reasons I wanted to start it because I kept telling you about it and you just sort of went “meh.”

slathbogsgold.jpgTitle: Slathbog’s Gold
Series: Adventurers Wanted; Book 1
Author: M. L. Forman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU/AU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Upon entering Mr. Clutter’s shop, Alex is swept away on an incredible adventure to a faraway land filled with heroic warriors, mysterious elves, and hard-working dwarves. Alex becomes the eigth man in a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red – and evil dragon with a legendary treasure. Along the way, Alex and his new friends must battle dangerous trolls and bandits, face undead wraiths, and seek the wisdom of the Oracle in her White Tower. Alex’s adventure takes him to distant and exotic lands where he learns about courage, integrity, honor, and, most importantly, friendship.
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series. Great for younger and older readers alike.

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Adventurers Wanted – Book 1: Slathbog’s Gold – By M. L. Forman

Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Vol.1: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 5 Comments

Hey Jared,

In the original trilogy there were fairly large gaps in events of the world, some of them quite significant. So this trilogy helps fill in those gaps.

dragonsofthedwarvendepthsTitle: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Tanis and Flint seek out a haven in the dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin while Raistlin is strangely drawn to the haunted fortress known as Skullcap. Sturm seeks the legendary Hammer of Kharas, and Tika embarks on a perilous journey to rescue those she loves from certain death. But it is the Dwarf, Flint Fireforge, who faces the most crucial test. The heroes race against time to save the lives of those dependent on them and Flint is forced to make a difficult choice, one on which the future of mankind may rest.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Vol.1: Dragons of the Dwarven Depths – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

The Stormlight Archive – Book 1: The Way of Kings – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

Here. We. Go.

way-of-kings-cover

Title: The Way of Kings
Series: The Stormlight Archive; Book 1
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience:  Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic, Big Swords
Synopsis: Roshar is a world of stone swept by tempests that shape ecology and civilization. Animals and plants retract; cities are built in shelter. In centuries since ten orders of Knights fell, their Shardblade swords and Shardplate armor still transform men into near-invincible warriors. Wars are fought for them, and won by them.
Recommendation: This book (& everything Sanderson) is highly recommended!

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The Stormlight Archive – Book 1: The Way of Kings – By Brandon Sanderson

Dogsong – By Gary Paulsen

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hello again, Jared.

After what happened with Tracker, I was a little wary about reading more by Mr. Paulsen, but this book has done a lot to alleviate that.

dogsong.jpgTitle: Dogsong
Author: Gary Paulsen
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: CU, the Arctic, Survival
Synopsis: Something is bothering Russel Susskit. He hates waking up to the sound of his father’s coughing, the smell of diesel oil, the noise of snow machines starting up. Only Oogruk, the shaman who owns the last team of dogs in the village, understands Russel’s longing for the old ways and the songs that celebrated them. But Oogruk cannot give Russel the answers he seeks; the old man can only prepare him for what he must do alone. Driven by a strange, powerful dream of a long-ago self and by a burning desire to find his own song, Russel takes Oogruk’s dogs on an epic journey of self-discovery that will change his life forever.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for teens.

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Dogsong – By Gary Paulsen

The Red – Book 2: The Trials – By Linda Nagata

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

Finally going to try and get this trilogy finished! The first book was just a strong start, I just don’t want to leave it hanging for long.

the_trials.jpgTitle: The Trials
Series: The Red; Book 2
Author: Linda Nagata
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Scifi
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern/Near-Future,
Synopsis: Lieutenant James Shelley and his squad of US Army soldiers were on a quest for justice when they carried out the unauthorized mission known as First Light. They returned home to America to face a court-martial, determined to expose the corruption in the chain of command that compelled their actions. But in a country still reeling from the nuclear terrorism of Coma Day, the courtroom is only one battlefield. A new cycle of violence ignites when rumors of the elusive, rogue AI known as the Red go public—and Shelley is, once again, pulled into the fray. Challenged by his enemies, driven by ideals, Shelley feels compelled to act—but are the harrowing choices he makes really his own, or are they made for him, by the Red? With millions of lives at stake in a game of nuclear cat-and-mouse, does it even matter? (Hazard Notice: contains military grade profanity.)
Recommendation: Highly recommended! For mature readers. Graphic violence and explicit sex scenes.

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The Red – Book 2: The Trials – By Linda Nagata

Lord of the Flies – By William Golding

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

With the recent discussions about the possibility of an all-female movie based on this book, I figured I should actually read it. Other than a couple of excerpts I somehow managed to make it through school without sampling this little bit of twisted horror.

lotf2.pngTitle: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Genre: Fiction, Survival,
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: Deserted island, Survival, Social Commentary
Synopsis: When a plane crashes on a remote island, a small group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. From the prophetic Simon and virtuous Ralph to the lovable Piggy and brutish Jack, each of the boys attempts to establish control as the reality – and brutal savagery – of their situation sets in. The boys’ struggle to find a way of existing in a community with no fixed boundaries invites readers to evaluate the concepts involved in social and political constructs and moral frameworks. Ideas of community, leadership, and the rule of law are called into question as the reader has to consider who has a right to power, why, and what the consequences of the acquisition of power may be.
Recommendation: Recommended for teens. Violence and murder. Reader discretion is advised.

–  – Spoilers – –

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Lord of the Flies – By William Golding

Foreigner Universe – Book 2: Invader – By C. J. Cherryh

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Nadi Jared,

I’m continuing my very slow wade into this huge series and very glad that I did. This book confirmed a lot of different things for me, both good and not so good.

invaderTitle: Invader
Series: Foreigner Universe; Book 2
Author: C. J. Cherryh
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Distant-Future, Colonization, FTL, Aliens
Synopsis: Nearly two centuries after the starship Phoenix disappeared, leaving an isolated colony of humans on the world of the atevi, it unexpectedly returns, threatening the stability of both atevi and human governments. With the situation fast becoming critical, Bren Cameron, the brilliant, young paidhi to the court of the atevi is recalled from Mospheira where he has just undergone surgery. Upon his return to the mainland, he Cameron finds that his government has sent in his paidhi-successor, Deana Hanks—representative of a dangerous faction on Mospheira who hate the atevi. Haunted by the threat of assassination, Bren realizes his only hope may be to communicate with the Phoenix as the spokesman of the atevi—an action which may cut him off for good from his own species. Yet if he doesn’t take this desperate action, he may be forced to witness the destruction of the already precarious balance of world power.
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Foreigner Universe – Book 2: Invader – By C. J. Cherryh

Storm Front – Book 1 Dresden Files – By Jim Butcher

Jared, , 3 Comments

Hey Robert,

Remember back in 2007 when the Space channel had a new series called the Dresden Files. Well, they are also a series of books and Jim Butcher is a freaking book wizard.

DF01-StormFront-2000

Title: Storm Front
Series: The Dresden Files; Book 1
Author: Jim Butcher
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Private Investigator (PI)
Audience: You should find this in the adult fantasy section of the library.
ROTS Setting:
Synopsis: Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the “only” at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get interesting. Magic – it can get a guy killed. (summary from Goodreads)
Recommendation: I am so glad I asked people if this was a good series as books. Because I honestly don’t remember much from the TV series. Oh and it is good, we’ll see if is very good depending on how the next books turn out.

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Storm Front – Book 1 Dresden Files – By Jim Butcher

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

As promised, this is a bit late in getting posted but I still got it out today. I decided to make this a series review and just include what I’d said of the first book.

Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.

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Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Jared,

I have seen the light and it is good! I was blind but now I see!! I’m so glad that you recommended this series and even more so now that I’ve finally read it.

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Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik