Adult

The Tabernacle of Legion – By Kevin Schillo

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

This is one of the review requests I accepted in the past couple of months. The sample chapters were pretty good and intriguing enough for a closer look.

the tabernacle of legionTitle: The Tabernacle of Legion
Author: Kevin Schillo
Genre: Science Fiction/Hard Science
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Near-Future, Aliens
Synopsis: In the midst of a golden era of space travel, an alien artifact is discovered in the asteroid belt. The artifact seems to defy fundamental laws of physics, and it is at least three billion years old. In an attempt to learn more about the artifact, NASA launches the most advanced spacecraft ever built, crewed by the most qualified men and women in the astronaut corps. But they are not alone in their endeavor. A being from the dawn of human history with a mysterious connection to the enigmatic aliens has been awakened, and he will stop at nothing to reach the artifact and claim its power for himself. And what they discover will be beyond anything they could have imagined
Recommendation: I do not recommend this book at this time.

A copy of this book was provided by the author for the purpose of obtaining a review.

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The Tabernacle of Legion – By Kevin Schillo

Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 3: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

It’s taken me too many months, but I’ve finally gotten around to finishing this trilogy. It was shorter than I thought. Only two books more and I’ve finished the Classic novels, then on to the Fifth Age which I have never attempted.

dragonsofthehourglassmage.jpgTitle: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage
Series: Dragonlance Lost Chronicles; Vol. 3
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Raistlin Majere has become a Black Robe wizard and travels to Neraka, the lord city of the Dark Queen, ostensibly to work for her, though in reality he means to further his own quest for power. But Takhisis finds out that the dragon orb has entered her city and sends her draconians to find and destroy the wizard who has it in his possession. Before her agents can strike, though, Raistlin finds out that Takhisis means to take control of all wizardly magic. She has ordered Kitiara to set a trap for the Gods of Magic on the Night of the Eye, when all the high-ranking wizards will be in Neraka to celebrate. As the forces of light, with help from the good dragons, are turning the tide of battle, Raistlin is forced to flee, for his foes are closing in on him. As the Dragon Highlords vie for the Crown of Power in the Temple of the Dark Queen, Raistlin Majere wages his own desperate battle against Takhisis in the dungeons below and meets again the brother he betrayed. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Lost Chronicles – Book 3: Dragons of the Hourglass Mage – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Temeraire – Book 3: Black Powder War – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 2 Comments

Jared,

Oh ya! China was a nice distraction, but the cannons and dragons are what really pull me into this series.

blackpowderwarTitle: Black Powder War
Series: Temeraire; Book 3
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: Alternate History/Fantasy
Audience:Young Adult/Adult
ROTS Setting: Alternate History: Early 1800s, Dragons, Naval Ships
Synopsis: Captain Will Laurence and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are ordered to retrieve and escort a precious cargo of valuable dragon eggs from Istanbul to England. They take the Old Silk Road from China to Istanbul, crossing deserts and mountains. En route to England, they help the beleaguered Prussians battle Napoleon.
Recommendation: I surprisingly/not surprisingly have fallen in love with this series. Highly recommend it.

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Temeraire – Book 3: Black Powder War – By Naomi Novik

Barsoom Series – Book 1: A Princess of Mars – By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

John Carter is a classic, and this first book has been published for over 100 years. When I saw the movie, which wasn’t that great, it made me want to read the books because I could see what it might be. And I wasn’t disappointed.

a-princess-of-marsTitle: A Princess of Mars
Series: Barsoom; Book 1
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU/AU, Mars, Aliens
Synopsis: Her oval face was beautiful in the extreme, her every feature finely chisled and exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Similar in face and figure to women of Earth, she was nevertheless a true Martian–and prisoner of the fierce green giants who held me captive, as well!
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Barsoom Series – Book 1: A Princess of Mars – By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Foreigner Universe – Book 3: Inheritor – By C. J. Cherryh

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Nadi Jared,

I still question his sanity…. but Bren Cameron may not be that bad of a character after all.

inheritorTitle: Inheritor
Series: Foreigner Universe; Book 3
Author: C. J. Cherryh
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Distant-Future, Colonization, FTL, Aliens
Synopsis: Six months have passed since the reappearance of the starship Phoenix—the same ship which brought a colony of humans to the hostile environment of alien atevi nearly two hundred years ago. During these six months, the atevi have reconfigured their fledgling space program in a bid to take their place in the heavens alongside humans. But the return of the Phoenix has added a frighteningly powerful third party to an already volatile situation, polarizing both human and atevi political factions, and making the possibility of all-out planetary war an even more likely threat. On the atevi mainland, human ambassador Bren Cameron, in a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, has arranged for one human representative from the Phoenix to take up residence with him in his apartments, and for another to be stationed on Mosphiera, humanity’s island enclave. Bren himself is unable to return home for fear of being arrested or assassinated by the powerful arch conservative element who wish to bar the atevi from space. Desperately trying to keep abreast of the atevi associations, how can Bren possibly find a way to save two species from a three-sided conflict that no one can win?
Recommendation: Highly recommended!

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Foreigner Universe – Book 3: Inheritor – By C. J. Cherryh

Temeraire – Book 2: Throne of Jade – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 2 Comments

Hey Jared,

I am once again completely astonished and enamored with this compelling series. Historical fantasy is not my fancy, but I’ll be making an exception from now on. I need more of these dragons in my life and have already got the next book from the library.

throne of jadeTitle: Throne of Jade
Series: Temeraire; Book 2
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: Alternate History/Fantasy
Audience:Young Adult/Adult
ROTS Setting: Alternate History: Early 1800s, Dragons, Naval Ships
Synopsis: When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces. Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.
Recommendation: I surprisingly/not surprisingly have fallen in love with this series. Highly recommend it.

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Temeraire – Book 2: Throne of Jade – By Naomi Novik

DNF – Communication Failure by Joe Zieja

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 2 Comments

communicationfailureI really enjoyed the first book. It was the right mix of absurd, hilarious and sci-fi tropes. Sadly, what was once charming and unique has taken too far. Something closer to slapstick. The main character also seemed to be less of a character and more a handy device in which to hang all the insanity.

It’s also entirely possibly I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I can accept that. Whatever the reason, I’m done.

Robert

DNF – Communication Failure by Joe Zieja

Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 9 Comments

Hi Jared,

….

Did you hear that?……That was the sound of my mind imploding.

oathbringerTitle: Oathbringer
Series: The Stormlight Archive; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience:  Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic, Big Swords, Epic Battles
Synopsis: Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified. Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together–and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past–even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.
Recommendation: This book (& everything Sanderson) is highly recommended!

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Stormlight Archive – Book 3: Oathbringer – By Brandon Sanderson