Hey Robert,
So honestly I was kinda pissed off that you read this series before me. Both times! When we read them as teens and now again for this. But at least you did all the explaining in your review.
So yeah…. spoilers… Duh.
For non spoilery recommendation please read Robert’s Review Here.
Continue reading “Available Jun.6.2017 – Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau”
Jared,
It was disturbingly difficult getting a hold of this book. The only one in the series not in the library system! Never-the-less, I have prevailed.
Title: Above the Veil
Series: Seventh Tower; Book 4
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: UU/EU, Stone Age/Medieval, Magic
Synopsis: The Underfolk are restless. For a long time, they have kept quiet, occupying the lower levels of the Castle. But now they are going to be heard… Tal and Milla are no longer alone in their quest for the truth about their world. They have been joined by Crow, a rebel Underfolk, and his band of conspirators. They know many secrets about the Castle–and are on the verge of uncovering the greatest secret of all. The darkness is growing deeper. The shadows are growing stronger. And Tal and Milla are in greater danger than ever before.
Recommendation: A great short novel for an early reader. I wish this was around when I was in second grade.
Continue reading “Seventh Tower – Book 4: Above the Veil – By Garth Nix”
Hey Robert,
So you mentioned that Jim Butcher who writes the Dresden Files also wrote a book about the Roman Legion and Pokemon. After that conversation, I went to my library website and politely asked for them to send me the audio book.
Title:
Furies of Calderon
Series: Codex Alera; Book 1
Author: Jim Butcher
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Teen
ROTS Setting: Iron age, elemental magic, UU
Synopsis: For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies – elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious High Lords plot and maneuver to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon.” “Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy – the Marat – return to the Valley, he will discover that his destiny is much greater than he could ever imagine.” Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave named Amara. But she is actually a spy for Gaius Sextus, sent to the Valley to gather intelligence on traitors to the Crown, who may be in league with the barbaric Marat horde. And when the Valley erupts in chaos – when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies – Amara will find Tavi’s courage and resourcefulness to be a power greater than any fury – one that could turn the tides of war. -Synopsis from Goodreads
Recommendation: This is such a cool idea I love it. It is a late teen book. There is way too much gore for it to be for the same age of kids that Pokemon is marketed to. WARNING: There are some strong themes of sexual assault and rape in this book.
Continue reading “Codex Alera – Book 1: The Furies of Calderon – By Jim Butcher”
Jared,
I’ve been prowling for short fiction lately, especially intros to new series or authors, and I found this one. The cover and synopsis caught my attention and since it’s short I could give it a shot without investing too heavily.
Title: Father of Zaan
Series: Path of Zaan; Book 0
Author: C. K. Rieke
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Magic
Synopsis: Adventure. Wonder. Fear. Danger. The first of his family to leave their hometown in generations, Janos Talabard seeks the adventure of his life. Traveling out into the open lands of Essill, he finds himself truly vulnerable for the first time. Because of unforeseen circumstances on the road, he must find a way to continue on, or chose to return home in shame.
Recommendation: Based solely on this, it is not recommended.
Continue reading “Path of Zaan – Book 0: Father of Zaan – By C. K. Rieke”
Jared,
Things have been crazy, and I’d taken a step back from reading these past couple of weeks assuming that I’d scheduled everything as I should and I discover now that I hadn’t. And we all know what happens when you assume.
Title: Warbreaker
Series: Warbreaker (Cosmere Universe)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Unique Universe, Cosmere, Magic, Medieval,
Synopsis: Sisters Vivenna and Siri are princesses of Idris. Susebron is the God King one must marry. Lightsong is the reluctant minor god of bravery. Vasher is an immortal still trying to undo mistakes of centuries before. Magic from individual breath from everyday objects can perform all manner of miracles and mischief.
Recommendation: Highly recommended.
Jared,
I’ve begun trying to clear out my backlog of stuff I want to read. This had been on my list for since before the blog started. I really like the idea of works of short fiction that introduce authors and series that I’m interested in. Sample chapters are good too but they’re always incomplete by nature. At least with a novella or short story it’s intended to be a more complete story.
In this short it’s clearly a part of something bigger but it provided everything that I was hoping for. I got a feel for the character dynamics, the setting in general terms and the author’s style. And I liked what I saw.
So Mr. Sullivan is now firmly on my authors to watch list and Riyria is a series I want to make time for.
Robert
Hey Robert,
So I have read all the books prior to this in the series but I didn’t have the time to re-read all of them before this one called to me from the audiobook library and made me listen.
Title: Bands of Mourning
Series: Wax and Wayne Series; Book 3
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Cosmere, Magic
Synopsis: It’s six months after the end of Shadows of Self and Wax is getting married.
Recommendation: Good book for adults or late teens. Not my favorite Mistborn novel but talked more about the Cosmere which is slowly fascinating me more and more while also driving me insane.
Continue reading “Wax and Wayne Series – Book 3: The Bands of Mourning – By Brandon Sanderson”
Jared,
Ok. Not as good as the first one. The book went full YA on me and things I thought were perfect in the first book were continued in this one when they shouldn’t have.
Title: The Fallen Gatekeepers
Series: The Gatekeeper’s Son; Book 2
Author: C. R. Fladmark
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: YA
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic
Synopsis: […] Being a modern teenager is complicated. Family expectations. Japanese teenage-girl warriors. Shape shifting lizard-men. Alternate worlds. All a day in the life of Junya Thompson. It’s been months since sixteen-year-old Junya survived his savage battle with the Evil Ones, but now that he’s back in San Francisco he’s still feeling the effects. His limp is slow to heal, his shoulder aches from the bite that should have killed him, and black poison lingers in his blood, tainting his life energy. […]
Recommendation: Still recommended but not highly. For late teens and adult. MATURE CONTENT.
Continue reading “The Gatekeeper’s Son – Book 2: The Fallen Gatekeepers – By C. R. Fladmark”
Hey Robert,
So over my last long drive, I listened to Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection by Brandon Sanderson. All in all, as a bit of a Sanderson Fanboy I love the whole thing. Some of the stories are more worthwhile than others but if you follow along I’ll point out the best ones.
Continue reading “Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection – By Brandon Sanderson”
Reading Over The Shoulder 