Fantasy

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Hey Jared,

As promised, this is a bit late in getting posted but I still got it out today. I decided to make this a series review and just include what I’d said of the first book.

Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.

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Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 3 Comments

Jared,

I have seen the light and it is good! I was blind but now I see!! I’m so glad that you recommended this series and even more so now that I’ve finally read it.

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Reply: Temeraire Series – Book 1: His Majesty’s Dragon – By Naomi Novik

The Kingkiller Chronicles – Book 1: The Name of the Wind – By Patrick Rothfuss

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 4 Comments

Hey Jared,

I really want to get this out so it’s going up on an unusual day. The book and I need some space to cool off.

thenameofthewindTitle: The Name of the Wind
Series: The Kingkiller Chronicles; Book 1
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons (sort of)
Synopsis: Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.
Recommendation: This book is In Dispute due to the contrasting public and personal opinion of the reviewer.

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The Kingkiller Chronicles – Book 1: The Name of the Wind – By Patrick Rothfuss

Leven Thumps Series – Book 1: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo – By Obert Skye

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

I can’t remember if you were still around when Mom and Dad listen to this series. I just recall that they did and seemed to love it, so I was hopeful.

leventhumpsandthegatewaytofooTitle: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
Series: Leven Thumps; Book 1
Author: Obert Skye
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic,
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps (a.k.a. “Lev”) lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds — the real world and Foo, a place created at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve Lev, who alone has the power to save Foo.
Recommendation: This book is recommended.

Continue reading “Leven Thumps Series – Book 1: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo – By Obert Skye” →

Leven Thumps Series – Book 1: Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo – By Obert Skye

The Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Howdy Jared,

This was supposed to be published on Monday, but I forgot to schedule it. It’s almost the end of the month so I’m sprinting to the end.

I’ve got the first two books on my shelf  (Bookshelf Blitz) but since they’re so short I figured I should probably just review the whole series at once instead of piecing them out. Also expect a review of the movie soon-ish.

Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Faeries, Dragons,
Synopsis: The Field Guide sets up the story of the Grace children—13-year-old Mallory and 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon—who with their mother move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate only to quickly find themselves sucked into a dark and fascinating world of faeries.
Recommendation: This book is recommended. Suitable for nearly all ages.

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The Spiderwick Chronicles – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black – Complete Series Review

Earthsea Series – Book 1: A Wizard of Earthsea – By Ursula Le Guin

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 6 Comments

Hey Jared,

Good to hear you’re alive. I really want to hear your opinions on the Stormlight Archive before I start my read through. In the mean time I’m continuing my Bookshelf Blitz.

awizardofearthsea.jpgTitle: A Wizard of Earthsea
Series: Earthsea; Book 1
Author: Ursula Le Guin
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: YA
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, High Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore the balance.
Recommendation: This book is recommended. Suitable for teens.

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Earthsea Series – Book 1: A Wizard of Earthsea – By Ursula Le Guin

DNF – The Roar by Emma Clayton

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 1 Comment

DNFtheroar

I’ve tried to start reading this twice but I could not manage to get very far. The premise is painfully hard to get past. Because of some plague spread by all animals (suspect on its own) they literally built a wall cross the northern part of the planet to hide behind…..across continents, mountain ranges and two oceans……Ya, that’s more than unlikely it’s impossible, let alone doing it while under siege from plague ridden animals and the civil unrest that would cause.

Next is the characters. We get an OP girl with superpowers and a pet monkey who escapes a space station and blindly tries to run home. Her brother who can feel what she feels. And the Bad Guy who is instantly shallow.

There’s nothing to keep me going in this book. So why fight it?

Robert

DNF – The Roar by Emma Clayton