Adult

The Obsidian Trilogy – Book 1: The Outstretched Shadow – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

I am really enjoying reading some of the iconic books we grew up with. Usually I have difficulty rereading books because I know what’s going to happen. Thankfully that has not been the case. This blog seems to be helping me pick out things I normally don’t pay attention to. Also my parched parental brain has conveniently forgotten much, so I’ll remember the general story lines but very few details.

At this point I plan to review each of the books in The Obsidian Trilogy. My primary reason being that it has a significant influence in how I read and enjoy novels in the Fantasy genre. A pillar of my pantheon.

The-Outstretched-Shadow.jpgTitle: The Outstretched Shadow
Series: The Obsidian Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons, Higher Magic,
Synopsis: Kellen doesn’t fit the life his father plans for him. A High Mage, like his father, fulfilling the potential and responsibility of his forefathers. A leader in the Golden City, Armethalieh. However, the perfect life prepared for him has dark shadows. When three books find their way into his possession, Kellen must decide to remain in the relative safety of the City of a Thousand Bells or follow the whims of a greater Power.
Recommendation: Adult or late teens. Mild sexual content and innuendos. Moderate violence and high gore, but well balanced and done with purpose. I highly recommend this book!

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The Obsidian Trilogy – Book 1: The Outstretched Shadow – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

Dragon Jousters Series – Book 1: Joust – By Mercedes Lackey

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

This book should be familiar to you since I know you have at least one book in the series on your shelf. It’s been many years since I read Joust, so I was eager to open the pages again and rediscover it.

joustTitle: Joust
Series: Dragon Jousters; Book 1
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Bronze Age, Dragons, No Higher Magic
Synopsis: Vetch leads a pitiful, miserable life. That is because Vetch is a serf. Bound to work the land of his forefathers for the rest of his life he is less than a slave. However the chance encounter with a Jouster and his dragon will alter the paths of nations.
Recommendation: I read this when I was in my late teens but I met a 10 year old at the library pulling it off the shelf to read again. That might be a bit young however I would recommend it for teens and up.

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Dragon Jousters Series – Book 1: Joust – By Mercedes Lackey

Mistborn Trilogy – Book 1: The Final Empire – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hey,

So you are probably saying, “About time, Robert! What took you so long?!?” Well, to be honest, Jared…..The beginning of the book was a little….boring. Too much flash. Too much doom and gloom……not enough meat in the first few chapters. I tried 3 different times to get through those first dry pages over the years. At last I have finally succeeded. Bout time!

Mistborn-cover.jpgTitle: The Final Empire
Series: Mistborn Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Unique Magic
Synopsis: The Final Empire controls the known world and rules with a tyrannical iron fist. A group of professional thieves turn revolutionaries have the best chance in the last thousand years to fracture the Empires hold. Their job is near-impossible. How do you bring down a government that has stood for a thousand year? More importantly, how do you kill a god?
Recommendation: Mature content with a similar reading level. Late teens would be my suggestion, definitely no earlier. It took me until really the end to decide that I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. Correction ….. I already have. Booya!

– – Mild Spoilers – –

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Mistborn Trilogy – Book 1: The Final Empire – By Brandon Sanderson

The Martian – By Andy Weir

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 2 Comments

Sup Jared?

……Sorry about that. I’m starting to get bored of starting every review the same and Mark might have been a touch of a bad influence on my professionalism.

18007564.jpgTitle: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Hard Scifi
Synopsis: Mark Watney is stranded on Mars. His fellow crew members, thinking him dead, left him behind. He was very much not dead. Follow his struggles and triumphs in this realistic, hard science, look at surviving a failed mission to Mars.
Recommendation: Mild language, but over all a pretty easy read. A 12 year old could probably get by without too much difficulty. An understanding of the more complex technical aspects may require an older reader. WARNING: Book contains several old people references. Notably music of the 70’s and movies of the 70’s and 80’s. Continue reading “The Martian – By Andy Weir” →

The Martian – By Andy Weir

The Book of Phoenix – By Nnedi Okorafor

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

Great to see you finally getting words on a page. Your reply on the Ranger’s Apprentice really points out that it needs a review of the entire series as a whole. We’ll need to figure out a good way to do that….I might have some ideas but I’ll need to get them sorted.

Anyway, I read this little book in a day. It was a good read and a pleasure to dig into.

The-Book-of-PhoenixTitle: The Book of Phoenix
Series: N/A (Prequel to “Who Fears Death”)
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU/EU, Near Future, Apocalyptic
Synopsis: Phoenix is only 2 years old, but in the body of a 40 year old woman. If only that was the strangest thing about her or her fellow “projects.” When events begin to spin rapidly out of control, Phoenix must choose to remain as she is or spread her wings and fly. Her decision will either let the world march to inevitable destruction or set it on fire.
Recommendation: Late teens to adult. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

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The Book of Phoenix – By Nnedi Okorafor

News – The Expanse; Pilot Episode

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

This isn’t going to be a book review. Sorry. But it’s at least related.

I stumbled across the pilot episode of The Expanse that airs this coming Monday, Dec 14th and finally got around to watching it. As Syfy channel shows go, this is one of the better ones. It’s still too early to tell, but I’m actually looking forward see how they portray the books and where they add or step away from them. As you know I’ve read most of the books released and am currently reading the 5th and most recent one. (Check out my review of the first book.)

(UPDATE: Pilot episode was set to “private” as of Dec 20, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZeQD1Vf2s however you can view it along with episodes 2, 3 and 4 over at Syfy.com.)

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News – The Expanse; Pilot Episode

Echo Series – Volume 1: Approaching Shatter – By Kent Wayne

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Jared,

This one is going to be a little different. It’s an eBook by an aspiring writer. You might have noticed we’ve picked up a couple of followers and he’s one of them. The book was promising so I thought I’d take a chance. Here is the breakdown…..

Approaching Shatter– eBook ONLY –
Title: Approaching Shatter
Series: Echo; Volume 1
Author: Kent Wayne (Pen Name)
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: EU, Advanced Future, Mech
Synopsis: Atriya is an elite soldier that has continually pushed both his body and mind to the limit in hopes of attaining new heights and abilities. That is until his life slowly comes apart at the seams. Now he’s on the precipice with the only path leading straight down when all he wants is to keep climbing higher.
Recommendation: Definitely a late teen/adult book. There is tremendous potential here and I’m really looking forward to seeing where it goes.

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Echo Series – Volume 1: Approaching Shatter – By Kent Wayne

A Song of Ice and Fire Series – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – By George R. R. Martin

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

I loved reading your review of Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. I even placed a hold on it at the library…….I realize now that could have been a bad idea, but I won’t know until I read the book. Either way, I should get it sometime next week and I can add it to my huge “to read” pile (current count is 12).

My newest literary conquest is a prequel in the Game of Thrones universe, but let me give you the break down first.

A Knight of the Seven KingdomsTitle: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire
Author: George R. R. Martin
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons, No Higher Magic
Synopsis: This prequel takes place 100 years before the events in Game of Thrones and is a compilation of 3 novellas. Join Dunk and Egg, a hedge knight and his squire, as they travel the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Part 1 introduces the characters and sets a bleak stage. Part 2 will test both knight and squire in very different ways. Part 3 will climatically bring the the duo into the that eternal quest for the Iron Throne.
Recommendation:  An interesting perspective to the series. Although this book was much tamer than those in the main series, I still feel compelled to only recommend this book to adult readers. Cause, you’ll fall in love with it and want to read the others too.

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A Song of Ice and Fire Series – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – By George R. R. Martin

The Expanse Series – Book 1: Leviathan Wakes – By James S. A. Corey

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

If you recall from my last review I mentioned “half a million word monsters.” I’d now like to introduce you to one. Honestly, I don’t know how many words it’s got but it’s a BIG book with relatively small print. But, on to the break down.

Leviathan WakesTitle: Leviathan Wakes
Series: The Expanse; Book 1
Author: James S. A. Corey (Pen Name)
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU (Current Universe), Futuristic, No FTL Tech
Synopsis: James “Jim” Holden is just an officer on an ice hauler until he ends up in the center of the greatest period of change in human history. On Ceres Station Josephus Miller is a corporate police officer tasked with keeping the peace as the solar system slowly unravels. Both their journeys will collide while driving humanity to the brink of all out war.
Recommendation: I strongly recommend this book to mature audiences only. (Late teens or adult.) This is due to the quantity and detail of the violence.

Continue reading “The Expanse Series – Book 1: Leviathan Wakes – By James S. A. Corey” →

The Expanse Series – Book 1: Leviathan Wakes – By James S. A. Corey