Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

Jared,

This review has been pushed back so many times. There’s just so much that takes priority. Plus, this has been out for months already and the next one isn’t expected until the Fall of 2017. Regardless, I wanted to get it written while it was still fresh in my mind. Sadly I’m still having trouble writing this. How much do I reveal? What is or isn’t considered a spoiler when the first book being reviewed is the 4th in the series? The moral dilemma only a book lover can experience.

death-weavers.jpgTitle: Death Weavers
Series: Five Kingdoms; Book 4
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth/Teen
ROTS Setting: EU, Higher Magic
Synopsis: Cole is still on the run. His search for Destiny, Mira’s sister, has taken him and his friends to Necronum, one of the five kingdoms in The Outskirts. But Necronum is home to the Weavers, they interact with the dead. Will he survive or will his journey take him to the afterlife?
Recommendation: Go read the other 3 first. They are an easy read, perfect for an intermediate reader/pre-teen/early teen.

– – Mild Spoilers – –

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Five Kingdoms Series – Book 4: Death Weavers – By Brandon Mull

Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Hey Jared,

Yes, that is three authors. It makes the title of this review really long but I didn’t want to diminish their work by leaving any off or just doing their last names. And yes, this is another book about kids with superhuman abilities or powers. I’m starting to get a little tired of the genre and almost didn’t finish this one.

zeroesTitle: Zeroes
Series: Zeroes Series; Book 1
Author(s): Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Teen/YA
ROTS Setting: AU, Superpowers
Synopsis: Six Californian teens have superpowers and for a time they were friends. But when personalities collide they went their separate ways until the actions of one threatens to reveal them and their powers to the world. Can they unite in time to keep their secrets hidden while avoiding police and drug lords alike?
Recommendation: Not a terribly original take on superpowered teens, but it was still worth reading.

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Zeroes Series – Book 1: Zeroes – By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

Hogwarts Heroes.jpgI’m a little disappointed in these Pottermore Presents books. They say they’re “short stories” and I don’t feel that they are. Are Wikipedia articles short stories? No. No they aren’t. I wasn’t looking for some grand literary master piece, I was looking for short stories, a bed time story, facts with personality, something more than a text book.

I had been planning on reviewing each of the books over the next few days. Upon reading them there isn’t much to review. They aren’t stories so there is no storyline, characters, or writing style/techniques to comment on. So you get one for all three and I’ll do a real review with an actual story for Friday.

The books mostly rehash information you can find on Pottermore, but there are supposedly a couple of extra bits that are brand new.

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Pottermore Presents – By J.K. Rowling

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.

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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)

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