Adult

Elantris – Short Story: The Hope of Elantris – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 2 Comments

Jared,

I’m reading this out of Arcanum Unbound, the Cosmere collection of shorts, but this is actually available on Mr. Sanderson’s website for free. But you really shouldn’t read it until you’ve read Elantris first. Normally I don’t read, let alone review, short stories. In this case it’s Sanderson and Cosmere to boot.

thehopeofelantrisTitle: The Hope of Elantris
Series: Elantris/Cosmere; Short Story
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic
Synopsis: New Elantris, the faded imitation of a once great city. But for once the inhabitants don’t care. They have a purpose. When outside forces have designs of their own for this forgotten place, they’ll do what they can to keep hold of their humanity.
Recommendation: Adult or late teen. The events take place during the final events of Elantris, so there are some major spoilers.

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Elantris – Short Story: The Hope of Elantris – By Brandon Sanderson

Dragon Jousters – Book 4: Aerie – By Mercedes Lackey

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 1 Comment

Jared,

We’ve finished the first month of 2017 and I think we are off to a great start! Lets just hope we can keep it up, unlike this sad book. Comparing this book to the first, what happened?!

aerie.jpegTitle: Aerie
Series: Dragon Jousters; Book 4
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Bronze Age, Dragons, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Kiron is now de facto leader of the Jousters for lack of a better alternative. But what role will they purpose do they fill now that there is peace? *sharp left turn* Oh look, an invasion.
Recommendation: Teen. Consistent reading level as the previous books. This book in NOT recommended. Just pretend the third is the last and they live happily ever after.

– – Spoilers – –

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Dragon Jousters – Book 4: Aerie – By Mercedes Lackey

Assassin’s Apprentice – Farseer Trilogy – By Robin Hobb

Jared, , , 8 Comments

Hey Robert,

You know me I love audio books. I read/listened to this over a week long sales trip.

Title: Assasin’s Apprenticethe-assassins-apprentice
Series: Farseer Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Robin Hobb
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU,
Synopsis: This is the story of a young bastard of the heir prince. The story of his life at Buck Keep from about 6 years old to 16, his teachers and tutors.
Recommendation: Teen would probably like this. But there really isn’t any harsh content. Although B**** is used quite a bit but in its meaning of female dog. As usual, I really enjoy this book. I really enjoy almost all books and stories. I think I really just like the act of reading and listening to stories. But this is considered to be a great series and almost even a classic. Continue reading “Assassin’s Apprentice – Farseer Trilogy – By Robin Hobb” →

Assassin’s Apprentice – Farseer Trilogy – By Robin Hobb

Blood on the Stars – Book 1: Duel in the Dark – By Jay Allan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

How’s it going, Jared?

I’m glad I could find this on Amazon Unlimited. He’s a fringe author with an impressive number of titles under his belt. I say “fringe” because he’s mostly indie published but with a few conventionally published too. Clearly he enjoys his work and wants it in the hands of readers, which is a plus in my book. Also it looks like most of his other books are on AU too so I’m looking forward to reading more of his work.

More importantly the sequel for this book, Call to Arms, is out today!

duelinthedarkTitle: Duel in the Dark
Series: Blood on the Stars; Book 1
Author: Jay Allan
Genre: Science Fiction, Military
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Distant Future, FTL Gates (Limited)
Synopsis: The Confederation has fought three wars against the forces of the totalitarian Union. Three generations of its warriors have gone off to war, held the line against the larger, more powerful enemy. Now the fourth conflict is imminent, and the Confederation’s navy is on alert, positioned behind the frontier, waiting for the attack it knows is coming. […]
Recommendation: Late Teen to Adult. This book is a riveting military sci-fi with with good characters and plot. Definitely recommended.

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Blood on the Stars – Book 1: Duel in the Dark – By Jay Allan

Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight – by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 4 Comments

Jared,

I’m glad you’ve read Hunter (Review/Reply) now, though. It’s a bit of a disappointment. You should definitely read the next one though. We need to know if it gets better or not…..plus, better you than me.

On a more immediate topic, first one down, too many to go. I knew this was going to be a long-term project reading Dragonlance, and I know that these books are hefty. Somehow I still wasn’t entirely prepared for the reality of it. This book was long, but still so good.

dragonlancedragonsofautumntwilight.pngTitle: Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The companions return after five years apart. They’d separated to find an evil they’d felt growing in the world. Unbeknownst to them evil had crept into the home they’d left behind and it doesn’t take long before they become embroiled in an adventure with implications reaching the width and breadth on the universe.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight – by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Imperial Radch Trilogy – Book 2: Ancillary Sword – Ann Leckie

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

I’m chipping away at my giant reading list. Mostly focusing on series I’ve only partially read so I don’t forget too much and then move on. This being one such book.

I have to say I love the cover art on this series. The abstract/painted look combined with the very Sci-fi theme just speaks to me on a visceral level.

ancillaryswordTitle: Ancillary Sword
Series: Imperial Radch Trilogy; Book 2
Author: Ann Leckie
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Distant Future, AI, FTL
Synopsis: Breq is a soldier who used to be a warship. Once a weapon of conquest controlling thousands of minds, now she has only a single body and serves the emperor. With a new ship and a troublesome crew, Breq is ordered to go to the only place in the galaxy she would agree to go: to Athoek Station to protect the family of a lieutenant she once knew – a lieutenant she murdered in cold blood.
Recommendation: Still could have been in the YA section. The style may not be for everyone, it’s basically a gender-less society so a persons sex or sexual preference/orientation are completely ignored. This came across more strongly than the previous book but it didn’t feel like one of the main themes so I still enjoyed it.

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Imperial Radch Trilogy – Book 2: Ancillary Sword – Ann Leckie

DNF – The Grace of Kings

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Grace_of_Kings.jpg

Really I just am not ready for this book. For one thing it’s massive. The style is very different from what I’m used to and I was finding it really difficult to get into. Given that it was originally written in Chinese it isn’t surprising.

Sadly I’ve run out of renewals so it’s time to move on. I know it’s pretty cliche but, “It’s not you, it’s me.” This is definitely a book I intend to attempt again.

Robert

DNF – The Grace of Kings

Dragonriders of Pern – Book 1: Dragonflight – Anne McCaffrey

Jared, , , 6 Comments

Robert,

“Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!” -Emperor Palpatine

Is this accurate? This is the feelings I’m getting from you because I am reviewing Dragonsriders of Pern first.

Title: Dragonflight61975
Series: Dragonriders of Pern: Volume 1
Author: Anne McCaffery
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons
Synopsis: Lessa is a young girl who’s life changes when the dragonmen come to her Hold on the Search for a new Weyrwoman. Dragonriders protect the world from the Threads a dangerous enemy from another planet.
Recommendation: I can not say enough good things about this book.

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Dragonriders of Pern – Book 1: Dragonflight – Anne McCaffrey