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

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.

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

News: eBook Series to Celebrate Hogwarts

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

Harry Potter Series – Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling

Hey Jared,

Figured I might as well finish this one since I had already started it. You can expect a much more ambitious book for next week…if I finish it in time.

HP&tCoSTitle: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book 2
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: Harry Potter has finished his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although he’s eager to begin his second year, strange forces begin working against him. When student and ghosts alike come under attack Harry ends up in the middle of events decades in the making.
Recommendation: Read it. Read it again….and again and again. While this book is appropriate for younger readers, later books in the series may not be.

– – Spoilers – –

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Harry Potter Series – Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling

SPOILER EDITION – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

HPcursed1.jpg

– – Spoiler Warning – –

This review contains spoilers.
Do not continue without having read the source material first.
Some assembly required. Batteries not included.
By reading this review the reader releases Reading Over The Shoulder from all responsibility and liability for any and all spoilage experienced due to this article.
Viewer discretion is advised.

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SPOILER EDITION – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter Series – Book/Script 8: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I&II – By J. K. Rowling

 

Here it is. The one we’ve been waiting for ever since the second and permanent death of the Dark Lord. The thing she said she’d never do (sort of still hasn’t) but we all knew she would eventually. I give you Harry Potter #8!

Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child_Special_Rehearsal_Edition_Book_Cover.jpgTitle: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book/Script 8
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: It starts at Kings Cross Station 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry is sending off his second child, Albus Severus Potter, off to Hogwarts for the first time. Aaannnddd…..that’s all you get from me here……Mwhahahahah!
Recommendation: I suggest that you read any one of the earlier books before reading this script. It’s very good, but a drastically different experience from what most Potterheads are used to.

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Harry Potter Series – Book/Script 8: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I&II – By J. K. Rowling

Available Jul.31.2016 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part I & II By J. K. Rowling

HPcursed
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter #8)

Continue reading “Available Jul.31.2016 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part I & II By J. K. Rowling”

Available Jul.31.2016 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part I & II By J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter Series – Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – By J. K. Rowling

Hey Jared,

I was hoping to get this one and the next one done this week but with all the craziness that went on in the latter half of the week I don’t think I’m going to get another one done in time so this will probably be pushed back to my usual Friday time.

hpsorcerersstone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Series: Harry Potter Series; Book 1
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Magic, Higher Magic, Modern/Present Day, Dragons
Synopsis: Harry Potter grew up being treated horribly by the aunt and uncle who raised him. He never knew much about his parents or how famous he is. That is until a letter arrived.
Recommendation: Read it. Read it again….and again and again. While this book is appropriate for younger readers, later books in the series may not be.

– – SPOILERS – –

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Harry Potter Series – Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – By J. K. Rowling

Elantris – Novella: The Emperor’s Soul – By Brandon Sanderson

Hey Jared,

I’ve been eyeing this book ever since finishing Elantris. Finding it in the digital library systems was impossible so I’d either have to pay out or suffer…..I’ll suffer no more! This is a great novella and well worth it.

theemperorssoulTitle: The Emperor’s Soul
Series: Elantris; Novella
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Magic, Higher Magic, Medieval
Synopsis: Shai is a criminal of the Rose Empire. She’s a Forger with all the amazing and nefarious skills that come along with that. When attempting to steal imperial relics right out of the palace itself, she’s caught and imprisoned. Faced with an immediate or postponed  death, she elects for the latter, but must now create the greatest forgery in history. A copy of the emperor’s soul.

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Elantris – Novella: The Emperor’s Soul – By Brandon Sanderson

Complete Series Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice Series – By John Flanagan

Hello Robert,

This post goes along with Episode 1 of the ROTS Podcast. I am just going to be going over some of the same ideas and opinions we talked about.

Before we start talking about the actual books and series let me just say that John Flanagan (on the left) is a great guy but he has a similar name to Joe Flanigan (on the right) the actor who plays John Sheppard in Stargate Atlantis. Robert, please note the resemblance.

 

Below is the beautiful list Robert made/found of which countries correspond to their various real world counterparts. Our biggest argument is simply that they are all too similar and all seem to live in isolation. Araluen which pretended to be England seems to simply be lacking any kind of marine war power or trade power. That is until the main characters arrive. In many cased the culture and identity of the nations seems to have also been over simplified.

  • Araluen=England
  • Celtica=Wales
  • Picta=Scotland
  • Hibernia=Ireland
  • Skandia=Scandinavian Countries
  • Gallica=France
  • Teutland=Prussia/Germanic/Germany
  • Arrida=Egypt or other countries near the Arabian Peninsula
  • Toscana=Merged Roman/Italian
  • Iberion=Spain/Portugal
  • Eastern Steppes/Temujai=Mongolian Empire
  • Nihon-Ja=Japan

Magic…. I have only have only big complaint about the magic in John Flanagan’s universe. Where is the rest of it? Honestly the magic was so underdeveloped that it might as well as have been nonexistent. The idea of telepathy and mind control is introduced and used (along with the Kalkara and Wargals)in the first 2 or 3 books and then? Poof. Never hear of it again. Unless you count the Rangers. Who are basically magic with all their abilities of “unseen movement” and archery. Some of the other things COULD be counted as magic but that is mostly because they are unexplained or inexpiable. Please see the ranger ponies and their breeding program for details. Also the saxe knife is too fictitious to not be magical. Not that they aren’t real, historical weapons just they don’t behave like reality.

Let me just wrap up with the characters like a ranger against many foes. Rapid fire!

  • Will. Because of the jumps in timeline his development doesn’t flow well.
  • Alyss. The OTHER girl who ends up getting the guy.
  • Halt. A man larger than his myth until Pauline then degenerated into feelings, nothing but feelings.
  • Horace, so under utilized its not even funny.
  • Cassandra (Evanlyn). Why did she have a crush on Will and then keep crushing on him and there be no real love triangle.
  • Gilan, the coolest character you never get to see the full potential of.

I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of a few of the things I felt robbed by in the Rangers Apprentice. Sadly as I am writing this you will never know what Robert has to say about it. He does say a few words in the podcast but what ever.

Jared

 


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Complete Series Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice Series – By John Flanagan