Spoilers

Dragon Jousters Series – Book 2: Alta – By Mercedes Lackey

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 2 Comments

I had no intention to review this book when I started reading it. Sadly there are several points that I feel need addressing. So here we are with a review. Please expect at least mild spoilers as it’s hard to make specific arguments or realizations without giving away some details.

Alta-Mercedes-LackeyTitle: Alta
Series: Dragon Jousters; Book 2
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Bronze Age, Dragons, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Kiron, the serf formerly known as Vetch, has made it through the desert with his young dragon, Avatre. As he returns to his homeland of Alta, Kiron shows the superiority of tamed dragons over their traditionally wild-caught cousins. Now it is up to him to hatch, train, and lead a Wing of tamed dragons and their riders before it’s too late.
Recommendation: Teen, although with mature themes probably better suited to late-teens or adults. This book isn’t as good as the first, but still passable.

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Dragon Jousters Series – Book 2: Alta – By Mercedes Lackey

The Obsidian Trilogy – Book 2: To Light a Candle – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

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Here comes the review for the second book in The Obsidian Trilogy. I’ve broken down and ordered used copies of the entire trilogy and those in the next one as well. Public Library: ∞, Robert: 1. Eat that Library who doesn’t bothering to have the best books ever! Best thirty bucks I’ve spent in a long time. They’re all hardcover, which is my preference, and they were as cheap as the paperbacks.

To-Light-a-Candle-Mercedes-LackeyTitle: To Light a Candle
Series: The Obsidian Trilogy; Book 2
Author: Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Kellen Knight-Mage has grown a lot from the boy who was Banished from Armethalieh. His new Wild Magic abilities are increasing daily, but will it be enough to keep the Elves from killing themselves out of tradition? Only Leaf and Star knows.
Recommendation: Adult or late teens. Mild sexual content and innuendos. Moderate violence and high gore, but well balanced and done with purpose. I highly recommend this book!

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The Obsidian Trilogy – Book 2: To Light a Candle – By Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

Mistborn Trilogy – Book 1: The Final Empire – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hey,

So you are probably saying, “About time, Robert! What took you so long?!?” Well, to be honest, Jared…..The beginning of the book was a little….boring. Too much flash. Too much doom and gloom……not enough meat in the first few chapters. I tried 3 different times to get through those first dry pages over the years. At last I have finally succeeded. Bout time!

Mistborn-cover.jpgTitle: 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 year? More importantly, how do you kill a god?
Recommendation: Mature content with a similar reading level. Late teens would be my suggestion, definitely no earlier. It took me until really the end to decide that I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. Correction ….. I already have. Booya!

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Mistborn Trilogy – Book 1: The Final Empire – By Brandon Sanderson

Reply: Ranger’s Apprentice Series – Book 1: Ruins of Gorlan – By John Flanagan

Jared, , , , 1 Comment

91yg6kZecWL9Hi Robert,

Ok Game of Thrones isn’t really my thing, I don’t usually enjoy that much graphic content. At least from what I’ve seen of the TV series. But A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms seems to be the kinda thing I might like. Even if I don’t read the books, you can still review the A Song of Fire and Ice Series.

Based on your review I went ahead and read the Ruins of Gorlan of the Ranger’s Apprentice Series. I started reading about 2 weeks ago and now I’m done book 12 if that gives you any hints of how I have liked it. But now onto the actual reply.

Please note I have added a SPOILERS disclaimer, in order to provide a more in depth look at the book. If you have not read this book I would recommend you do so before continuing on.

—-SPOILERS—-

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Reply: Ranger’s Apprentice Series – Book 1: Ruins of Gorlan – By John Flanagan

Breaking Sky – By Cori McCarthy

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Jared,

Finished this book early this morning. Finally. I have so much to do with the holidays coming up and this book was difficult to get through. Anyway, check it out.

Breaking SkyTitle: Breaking Sky
Author: Cori McCarthy
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Near Future
Synopsis: Set in a dystopian-esc America which has been backing into a lonely corner by Chinese drones, Chase “Nyx” Harcourt must battle daddy issues, cat fights, a psychotic psychologist turned school counselor, not being told about extremely classified information she doesn’t need to know, and not having her newest boy toy have a break down because she just wants him for his body……and she hasn’t even left the ground yet in one of only two super jets.
Recommendation: Even factoring in how I hate teen/high school drama, I still don’t recommend this book. Mild spoilers ahead.

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Breaking Sky – By Cori McCarthy

The Flaxfield Quartet – Book 1: Dragonborn – By Toby Forward

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

There’s probably no point in waiting to publish this, so here it is. This is the first book that is not highly recommended from me and for the blog. It’s a sad milestone but it was bound to happen. I kind of want you to read it so I won’t be alone in my misery but it would be best if you avoided it.

DragonbornTitle: Dragonborn
Series: The Flaxfield Quartet; Book 1
Author: Toby Forward
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Dragons, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Sam was on his way to becoming a wizard. However when his master dies, questions begin to arise about the young apprentice. Fearing those questions the boy runs away……Everything else follows for no other purpose than to connect abstract plot points.
Recommendation: Mild death and torture references so probably 10-12 year old reading level, but requires a post-secondary reading comprehension to vaguely understand anything beyond the pure text. I’m somewhere between “meh” and “this was a terrible book.”

Please note that spoilers will be used heavily in this review because I really feel I need to explain why this book isn’t very good.

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The Flaxfield Quartet – Book 1: Dragonborn – By Toby Forward

Reply: Alcatraz Series – Book 1: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – By Brandon Sanderson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , Leave a comment

Hey Jared,

Alcatraz Versus the Evil LibrariansOur first reply posts. You working on Rangers Apprentice, me working on Alcatraz.  It will never be the same again……..But we were lame before and now we’re awesome.

Ok, reading Alcatraz might have changed me as a writer……or broke me. I am broken.

I agree with your recommendation of 5th grade/10 years old range. I would have liked to have found this in 2nd or 3rd grade personally because I jumped straight to Dragonlance for lack of good books in between.

On a serious note, there will be many spoilers beyond this point. For readers with a weak literary constitution, please do not read any further.

You have been warned.

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Reply: Alcatraz Series – Book 1: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – By Brandon Sanderson