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.

Continue reading “Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Book 3: The Knights of Crystallia – By Brandon Sanderson” →

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

Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , , Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading “Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling” →

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!

Continue reading “Mistborn Series – Mistborn: Secret History – By Brandon Sanderson” →

Mistborn Series – Mistborn: Secret History – By Brandon Sanderson

Blog News: Suggest-A-Book

The BrothersLeave a comment

Just a quick note.

If you have a book or series you think we’d like, you can now use our submission form. The link is in our site menu in the top right of every page as “Suggest-A-Book.” In the form we’ll ask for your name so we can give you a shout-out for suggesting it (or put N/A or Anonymous). Then we’ll need the book/series name and if you happen to remember the author’s name too. Check the box for genre and lastly a bit about why you are suggesting the book/series. What was it that you liked about it? Cool magic? Amazing tech? Actually likable characters? Dragons? Or something more mundane like just being readable.

rotssuggestion

And let’s just be clear, you are submitting a suggestion, only. We may or may not act on it. Lastly, if you are an author, do not suggest your own work. Contact us directly.

The Brothers

P.S. Authors & Publicists, check out our Review Policy. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Blog News: Suggest-A-Book

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

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 1 Comment

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.

Continue reading “The Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 1: The Crystal Shard – By R. A. Salvatore” →

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

News: eBook Series to Celebrate Hogwarts

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , , , , Leave a comment
Hogwarts
Image from the Pottermore announcement.

Pottermore announced Aug.17.2016, that a series of 3 new eBook shorts will be published Sept.6.2016 that will focus on various aspects of Hogwarts.

Pottermore Presents is a series of bite-sized eBooks that dig deep into the Harry Potter stories, with titbits taken from Pottermore’s archives and original writing from J.K. Rowling. The series offers Harry Potter fans added insights into the stories, settings and characters and were all lovingly curated by Pottermore.

Continue reading “News: eBook Series to Celebrate Hogwarts” →

News: eBook Series to Celebrate Hogwarts