Fantasy

Seventh Tower Series – Book 3: Aenir – By Garth Nix

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Hi Jared,

With this book I’m now halfway through the series. Something that always bugged me was that the series is called “Seventh Tower” but there are only six books……Maybe it’s just my OCD flaring up.

aenir

Title: Aenir
Series: Seventh Tower; Book 3
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: UU/EU, Stone Age/Medieval, Magic
Synopsis: The dream world Aenir is not a safe place. One wrong step can lead to danger, entrapment…or death. Tal and Milla must fight their way through this shifting landscape. They are searching for the Codex, a magical object that will decide the fate of their worlds. Many creatures stand in their way–from the cloud-flesh Storm Shepherds to a swarm of venomous Waspwyrms to a horrifying figure named Hazror. Tal and Milla cannot leave Aenir without the Codex. But finding it might endanger them more than they’ve ever dreamed…
Recommendation: A great short novel for an early reader. I wish this was around when I was in second grade.

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Seventh Tower Series – Book 3: Aenir – By Garth Nix

Anthology Thursday – Sword & Sorcery – Part 1/4

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Anthology Thursday is a series of posts breaking down and reviewing an anthology every month. Because I need to read more short fiction. This month is The Sword & Sorcery Anthology edited by David G. Hartwell & Jacob Weisman.

sword&sorcery

Terrifying barbarians, cunning mages, and daring heroes run rampant through these exceptional examples of the exciting sword and sorcery genre. In “Tower of the Elephant,” Conan takes up jewel thievery but proves to be far better with his sword. “The Flame Bringers” finds antihero Elric infiltrating a band of bloodthirsty mercenaries and outwitting a powerful sorcerer. “Become a Warrior” is the unexpected tale of a child who loses all she holds dear, only to gain unforeseen power and unlikely revenge. Further entries come from early legends such as Jack Vance and Catherine Louise Moore, the next wave of talents including Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock, and modern trendsetters like George R.R. Martin, Karl Edward Wagner, and David Drake. This essential, fast-paced anthology is a chronological gathering of influential, inventive, and entertaining fantasy—sure to appeal to action-oriented fans.

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Anthology Thursday – Sword & Sorcery – Part 1/4

DNF – The Invaders by John Flanagan

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 5 Comments

Flanagan,_John,_The_Invaders.jpgSo I was giving this series another chance. I had hoped that the momentum of the first would have corrected most of the issues I had with it…..but it didn’t. All too soon it became apparent that we were picking up right where it was left and I just can’t be bothered to deal with it.

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DNF – The Invaders by John Flanagan

Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 3: Dragons of Spring Dawning – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 6 Comments

Hey Jared,

I am deep in the nostalgia having finished this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read this trilogy in such quick succession. Which has given me a good perspective on them as a whole. Now it’s on to Dragonlance Legends.

dragonsofspringdawningTitle: Dragons of Spring Dawning
Series: Dragonlance Chronicles; Vol. 3
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: The conclusion of the first Dragonlance trilogy. The companions are still separated but fate would see them together at the end, just as they had been in the beginning. Will the plans of the Dark Queen come to fruition or will the balance be maintained?
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Chronicles – Vol. 3: Dragons of Spring Dawning – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Assassin’s Quest – The Farseer Trilogy – Robin Hobb

Jared, , , 6 Comments

Hello Robert,

I have devoured this series but I don’t know why.

Title: Assassin’s Questhobb_9780553565690_cvr_all_r1.indd
Series: Farseer Trilogy; Book 3
Author: Robin Hobb
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU,
Synopsis: Newly reborn Fitz relearns how to be a man, both how to be human and how to be a man. He is soon called on a quest that leads him away from Buck Keep to places he has never been before.
Recommendation: A great book to finalize the series. If you read the other two books then who are you kidding you have to read the ending. It has some mature themes but nothing a teen audience can’t handle.

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Assassin’s Quest – The Farseer Trilogy – Robin Hobb

Free eBook – The Way of Kings [CLOSED]

The Brothers, , , , , 5 Comments

way-of-kings-cover

Just a heads up for everybody. Tor.com is giving away free copies of The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson right now until tomorrow. Just put in your email address and they’ll send you an email with the link. Since I haven’t read this massive book yet I’m very happy about this and can’t wait to get started.

>> LINK <<

NOTE: Make sure you download your copy by Mar.24.2017 11:59pm ET.

P.S. Thanks Julia for making sure I saw this!

Free eBook – The Way of Kings [CLOSED]

Reply: MISTBORN TRILOGY – BOOK 1: THE FINAL EMPIRE – BY BRANDON SANDERSON

Lisa, , , , 8 Comments

Heeeey Robert and Jared…

It’s finally happened. I read the first book of the Mistborn trilogy! If you’re newly joining us and haven’t enjoyed this delectable delight, head on over here to get caught up, because there will be spoilers!

finalempire1
Portuguese Kindle Cover

Title: 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 years? More importantly, how do you kill a god?
Recommendation: Mature content with a similar reading level. Late teens would be our suggestion.

– – Spoilers – –

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Reply: MISTBORN TRILOGY – BOOK 1: THE FINAL EMPIRE – BY BRANDON SANDERSON

Fablehaven Adventure Series – Book 1: Dragonwatch – By Brandon Mull

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , Leave a comment

Jared,

Here it is! The book I’ve been hyping for the last month.

dragonwatchfbTitle: Dragonwatch
Series: Fablehaven Adventure Series; Book 1
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic, Fairies, Demons
Synopsis: In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help. […]
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series, and strongly encourage reading the Fablehaven series first. Early teens and up can easily handle this book. I advise moderate caution with younger readers as there are some darker themes.

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Fablehaven Adventure Series – Book 1: Dragonwatch – By Brandon Mull

RED RISING TRILOGY – BOOK 3: MORNING STAR – BY PIERCE BROWN

Jared, , , 4 Comments

Hello Robert,

Meet the conclusion to this bastardly series.

Title: Morning Star51nnve8he2l
Series: Red Rising Trilogy; Book 3
Author: Pierce Brown
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Alternate Future,
Synopsis: Darrow survives the coup, but is taken by the Jackel. What you imagine the Jackel does he does and Darrow suffers. Darrow is broken down to nothing and then must rebuild himself into a new man, or the man he once was.
Recommendation: I do not “Recommendation:” this book. It built up my hopes and then dashed them all away. To build them up again and then have them crashed on the rocks of reality. Of course, this book is only really for adults. It is nice though to have the series finished,  now at least I can sleep at night.

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RED RISING TRILOGY – BOOK 3: MORNING STAR – BY PIERCE BROWN