Tag: fantasy


Mar
2010

Shalador’s Lady

categories: Books
shaladorslady.jpg
Shalador’s Lady: A Black Jewels Novel

Anne Bishop

This book arrived while I was reading two other books. I had started one, and then decided to switch.  Then the latest Anne Bishop showed up and I switched again.  I began reading the evening of the 18th, I think it had actually arrived the day before.  I finished it the evening of the 19th, and only because I had to work on Friday morning did I not stay up and read it Thursday night.

I enjoy the world that Bishop has built, and it sucks me in every time.  It was great to see new and old characters together, and I felt they were well balanced too.  Some of the story lines with the older characters weren’t necessarily needed, but overall the two groups of characters seem to meld well together.  I enjoyed having some of my favorites show up, like Karla, while still keeping up with Cassidy and her new court.  I felt sorry for Theran, but the ending gives me hope.  Cassidy and Gray are amazing, and I loved Gray’s growth and transformation.  It was good that he grew slowly over the two books, and it wasn’t an instantaneous change.

I went through the spectrum of emotions as I read; laughing, crying, anger, sympathy.  The Black Jewels books in general are pretty good at pulling out my emotions and it’s something I enjoy.  I treat it as the mark of a really good book if I’m emotionally invested enough in the characters to cry when something sad happens, and laugh at a moment of humor.

Now, since I have so many books I want to read, I need to resist the urge to pull out the original trilogy and go back to the beginning of Jaenelle’s story.  I think the Black Jewels can sit on the shelf a little longer as I enjoy some other stories that have been wanting my attention.

I hope that Bishop will write more of the Black Jewels Realms.  Some people may believe that she’s milking her money cow, and perhaps to a degree she is.  But if the stories are good and enjoyable, what’s wrong with that.  Bishop created a world that works, and she knows it.  So it doesn’t bother me a bit if that’s her impetus for writing more stories in the Realms of the Blood.  I’ll happily buy and read them as they come out.

three-star

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Jul
2009

Ice Song

categories: Books
icesong.jpg

Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai is the most recent book I’ve finished reading.  I was drawn in by the cover at my local Barnes and Noble, and intrigued by the description on the back of the book.  I put it back on the shelft and sent myself a text so that I might remember to add it to my book wishlist for later.  Dan bought the book he had found and we headed back out to the car, where he then pulled a book out of his bag and handed it to me.  Somehow he had managed to buy me Ice Song, right under my nose with me not being any the wiser.  I loved it!  And I got to read a new book that looked really interesting.  And it was.

Ice Song follows the story of a woman named Sorykah (such a pretty name) and her travails to recover her kidnapped children.  She is unique though, because she is a Trader, someone who can switch genders.  This presents it’s own advantages and disadvantages as she travels in search of the man known as the Collector who has taken her twin babies.  Throughout her journey Sorykah and her alter-ego Soryk, meet all manner of people/creatures who have been affected by something simply known as The Change.  Mixed in with the overall plot there are twines of friendship, romance, lust, passion, jealousy, faith, and simple survival.

The world created is vivid and the characters bring the book to life.  Sometimes I feel it’s hard to find a book or a story that feels new to me, and this one stood out.  The myraid of characters were things my imagination found new and wondrous.  Their stories were all different, and usually touched with sadness.  I felt for all of them, only in different ways. Some characters I did not like at all, some I grew to understand more as their story unfolded and my opinions of them changed.  Some of the characters themselves grew and tried to be better than what they were before.  I find characters who can change, or characters who cause my opinon of them to change to be the most engaging.

Fans of fantasy should definitely check this out.  It’s not the kind of story I am typically drawn to, but it was a good read, and a very enjoyable story.  I was caught up in the life of Soryk/Sorykah, as well as the other characters involved in their epic quest to rescue the babies.

four-star

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Jun
2009

Tailchaser’s Song

categories: Books
Tailchaser’s Song

Tad Williams

 

Tailchaser’s Song is a book that was recommended to me by my boyfriend, Dan.  I hadn’t heard of it before, and he remembered it fondly so I decided to give it a try.  I snagged a copy from Paperbackswap.com and after finishing other books already on my reading list, I decided to pick it up.

Tailchaser's SongThe first thing that struck me about the book was the odd writing style.  The names of the cats and the places took some getting used to, but once I was able to not concentrate so much on the distinctive writing I was able to get sucked into the story.

The story centers around a cat named Fritti Tailchaser (who is referred to by both names throughout the book, something that was mildly confusing for me at first) and his quest to rescue Hushpad, the fela (female cat) that he likes.  While on the journey to find where Hushpad has gone, Tailchaser ends up confronting all manner of fun, crazy, and dangerous adventures with a young kitten sidekick named Quickpounce.  I was drawn into the story and enjoyed finding out what would happen to the cats next.

There were several other supporting characters, and all added their own flavor to the tale.  The descriptions of the characters were well done, although I sometimes did have a hard time picturing them in my head.  Tailchaser seems to be a normal housecat, while some of the other cats are described as being very large comparitively.  For those cats I had more trouble because I was unsure of just what kind of cat they might be.  Not a big problem though, and it certainly didn’t draw me away from the story for long.

Tailchaser’s Song was definitely a fun read.  I was reading the book while on a train ride, and it definitely helped me to pass the time.  It’s a fun fantasy romp, and I highly recommend it if you think it sounds like you’re kind of thing.  I believe I may check out some other books by Tad Williams, just to see how they compare.  This one feels like it has a distinct style to it, so I’m curious.

If you do happen to pick it up, share your thoughts!

three-star

 

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May
2009

The Shadow Queen

categories: Books

The Shadow Queen (Black Jewels, Book 7)

The Shadow Queen (Black Jewels, Book 7)
Anne Bishop

It has been a long time since a book has put its barbs in me and I wasn’t able to let go.  I started this book on a Thursday night, and forced myself to put it down because I had to go to work on Friday.  I was about a quarter of the way into it at that point.  Friday I went to work, then did errands, then went out to eat with a friend.  I didn’t let myself pick the book back up until I had no other obligations that night.  Then I finished the book by about 2 am.  I had a couple of breaks in there, but it was a straight read through for the most part.

I have missed being into a book this much. I laughed out loud at parts, and almost cried at others.  Cassie is a great character and her story was very well told.  Her struggles are almost universal for all women, and that made it very easy to identify with her.  She’s a very real character, her struggles are normal issues that most people will be able to identify with.

The side story involving Daemon, Jaenelle, and Saetan was okay, but kind of superfluous.  It didn’t really relate to Cassie’s story at all and felt like a rehashing of the conflicts Daemon and Jaenelle usually have.  It wasn’t bad, but I was much more interested in Cassie’s story, and felt myself wanting the other pieces to quickly pass by.

There is a sequel to this story already in the works and I can’t wait to read it.  I think it’s going to have a new main character, but still deal with the characters from this story.  I just have to wait another year.

three-star

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May
2009

The Crown Conspiracy

categories: Books
The Crown Conspiracy
The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan

I just finished reading The Crown Conspiracy, and I have to say it was an excellent read.  It is a fantasy book, set in a time of kings, knights, and a hint of magic.  The story revolves around two thieves and we follow them throughout the book.

The story is character driven, with a good plot to back up the characters.  Overall I’d say it was an easy read, there’s plenty of action and good dialogue, without a lot of politics between the characters.  If you like fantasy books, and a good action story to go with it, I’d highly recommend this.  The fantasy isn’t in your face, rather it’s subtly worked in.

There is a second book out now, which is not exactly a sequel, but more of another adventure with some of the same characters set in the same world.  I’m looking forward to reading it.

four-star

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