Review: 149. Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara...

I love Kaylin, and I love watching her growth in Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra series.

Title: Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra #7)
Author: Michelle Sagara
ISBN-13: 9780373803309
eBook: 325 pages
Publisher: Luna, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
She started out in this series an awkward young woman, on the beat for the Halls of Law, irreverent and impetuous, and known more for being late than anything else. With each installment Kaylin Neya's grown a bit more--either in her magic, or her understanding of it. Of course, it's still in dribs and drabs, considering that there's nobody around who could tell her about her magic...

In Cast in Ruin, Kaylin's back at lessons. Etiquette lessons, which she needs if she's to survive a meeting with the Emperor, because apparently dragons don't have any sense of humor at all... And if you've followed Kaylin's journey, you know she's not very good at lessons. It's almost a miracle she's still alive, actually...

Lessons aren't the only thing Kaylin has to do in this installment, of course. She's called to Tiamaris' fief to do some investigating when bodies start appearing. Seven identical bodies, to be exact. And nobody knows who they are or where they've come from.

What follows is a tale of epic proportions, complete with backstory, a villain, a hero, and a damsel. Of sorts. And Kaylin, of course--even if she's gotten a hold of her irreverence (or at least attempts to not verbalize it) and sometimes checks her impetuousness at the door. I love the new characters introduced in Cast in Ruin, and I loved that Severn and Kaylin's relationship hasn't changed much, even with a few more things out in the open. I love the dialog and the action, too. And I love how things worked out, which isn't something I can always say about a book in a fantasy series! I'm looking forward to the next installment, Cast in Peril, even though I have no clue when it'll be out. Please make it soon!!

drey's rating: Outstanding! If you haven't read this series (yet), start with Cast in Shadow.

And if you have read it, what did you think?

Review & Giveaway: 145. The Shattered Vine by Laura Anne Gilman...

I've been looking forward to Jerzy's journey since Weight of Stone... And here it is.

About the book:

An island nation has vanished. Men of honor and magic have died unnatural deaths. Slaves flee in terror. . . . Are the silent gods beginning to speak? Or is another force at work in the Lands Vin?

Laura Anne Gilman’s critically acclaimed, Nebula Award–nominated Flesh and Fire introduced a brilliantly imagined world where the grapevine—cultivated by the Vinearts who know the secrets of wine magic—holds together disparate lands. Now, confusion, violence, and terror are sweeping over the Lands Vin. And four people are at the center of a storm.

Jerzy, Vineart apprentice and former slave, was sent by his master to investigate strange happenings—and found himself the target of betrayal. Now he must set out on his own journey, to find the source of the foul taint that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. By Jerzy’s side are Ao, who lives for commerce and the art of the deal; Mahault, stoic and wise, risking death in flight from her homeland; and Kaïnam, once Named-Heir of an island principality, whose father has fallen into a magic-tangled madness that endangers them all.

These four companions will travel far from the earth and the soul of the vine, sailing along coastlines aflame with fear, confronting sea creatures summoned by darkness, and following winds imbued with malice. Their journey will take them to the very limits of the Sin Washer’s reach . . . and into a battle for the soul of the Lands Vin. For two millennia the Sin Washer’s Commandment has kept these lands in order: Those of magic shall hold no power over men and those princes of power shall hold no magic. Now, that law has given way. And a hidden force seeks the havoc of revenge.

Title: The Shattered Vine (Vineart War #3)
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
ISBN-13: 9781439101483
Hardcover: 343 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books

drey's thoughts:
Jerzy heads home in this final installment of Laura Anne Gilman's Vineart War trilogy. He's left his vines, traveled far and wide, seen creatures real and fantastical, and avoided the Washers. He's more aware now of the power a vineart mage can wield, yet realizes that with power comes responsibility. Oh how I wish that were true of our politicians! Ok, sorry, I got distracted. Won't happen again...

The first part of The Shattered Vine covers Jerzy's return (with his friends) and getting settled back in. Things have changed while Jerzy was away. Lords are making pacts with their Vinearts, and the Washers are understandably nervous. Though Jerzy has no love for the Collegium at all, he realizes that their role is a necessary one--even if they go overboard with that responsibility. Because the alternative is far worse than some overzealous Washers, as he well knows.

I liked the scenes with Ao in them, his sense of humor is infectious. And wish there was a bit more of Mahault and what shape her future takes. As for Kainam, he's still a Prince--there'll always be a place for him in the world.

The second part of The Shattered Vine reveals the anti-climactic conclusion to this series. It was honestly a tad underwhelming, especially after all the build-up of evil and taint so far. But still, this is a very satisfying conclusion to a very imaginative world from Gilman.

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read The Shattered Vine? What did you think?

Giveaway!
It's release week for The Shattered Vine, and in celebration, the publisher has one copy of the book for you! This one's US-only (no PO Boxes, please). Enter by filling out the form before November 3rd. Good luck!

Review & Giveaway: 144. Ashes of a Black Frost by Chris Evans...

Hello, Publication Day! Chris Evans' third book in the Iron Elves series is out today!

About the book:

In the bestselling traditions of Terry Brooks, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Bernard Cornwell comes the third novel in the acclaimed epic fantasy series following The Light of Burning Shadows.

Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this all-new epic adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves’ perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, now takes on greater urgency....

Packed with wit, high adventure, and political intrigue, Ashes of Black Frost will hook readers on this bold and exciting series.

Title: Ashes of a Black Frost (Iron Elves #3)
Author: Chris Evans
ISBN-13: 9781439180662
Hardcover: 435 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books

drey's thoughts:
Ashes of a Black Frost picks up after the bitterly hard-won battle with Major Konowa Swift Dragon emerging from the haze of blood and guts barely cognizant of those around him. He's lost so much to get to this point, and it's not even a point he wanted to be at. But being a soldier, he has to go on, because the Iron Elves' salvation is the most important task to him. Plus, someone has to kill these obnoxious hordes of evil.

This is still an epic military fantasy read--there's lots of battle, orders, guns, strategies, and guts and gore and death. But there's also the characters caught up in the mayhem and chaos. The Major is one, of course. Worried about his family and friends, missing (yes, even if he only admits it to himself) his crusty Sergeant--one of my favorite characters in this story, trying his best to keep the remnants of his troops alive to get to the end, hoping to get to the Shadow Monarch to end this curse, the Major is a pivotal character in this series. However, my favorite character in this installment is Viceroy Alstonfar, the diplomat-turned-entertaining-solder-and-strategist. He takes the place of Yimt in providing a touch of humor in this otherwise bleak and despairing landscape. And I'll leave the character-talk here since I can't discuss some of the other characters from the series without letting you know whether they're alive or dead, which would be very spoiler-esq. And you all know I don't do spoilers!

Will Konowa find his Iron Elves? Will he be able to free them all from the curse of the Shadow Monarch? You'll have to pick this up and find out. Fans of military fantasy will love this conclusion to Chris Evans' Iron Elves series.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read Ashes of a Black Frost or Chris Evans' Iron Elves series? What did you think? If you haven't, check out the giveaway below!

GIveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have a copy of Ashes of a Black Frost for you! US residents only, no PO Boxes please. To enter, fill out the form below before November 1st. Good luck!

Review: 120. The Soul Mirror by Carol Berg...

I've been looking forward to more of Carol Berg's Collegia Magica series... 

Title: The Soul Mirror (Collegia Magica #2)
Author: Carol Berg
ISBN-13: 9780451463746
Paperback: 515 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:  
Soul Mirror takes place after the events in The Spirit Lens, and tells the story from the viewpoint of Anne de Vernase--the daughter who named her father traitor, saw her brother imprisoned, lived with her mother's madness, and grieves her sister's death. So much tragedy in this young woman's life...

When she is summoned to Merona to answer for her family's treachery, Anne is thrust into a court filled with deadly intrigue and magical dealings. Not having magic of her own, Anne is suspicious of the Queen's magician Dante. Of course, the gossip she hears and the goosebumps he leaves behind does nothing to lessen those suspicions.

I loved the cast of characters Carol Berg has provided in this series. Portier is a side dish here, as the main course is all Anne. Using her wits and her sister's gifts, Anne is determined to find out what is plaguing the Queen. And while she's at it, clear her family's name. All by herself of course, as there's not a single person she dares trust. Not too much for a twenty-two-year-old to take on, is it?

The intrigue is absorbing, the plot is solid, and the storytelling superb. I want friends like Ilario and Portier. The ending reveals a villain who'll surprise you, and a willing victim of all the schemes put into play in The Spirit Lens... Loyalties are not always where they seem to lie.

drey's rating: Excellent! I want more Portier, and I definitely want more Anne and Dante! Can't wait for The Daemon Prism...

Have you read Soul Mirror? Thoughts?

Review: 109. The Magician King by Lev Grossman...

The Magician King is the follow-up to 2009's The Magicians, which I liked but didn't get into.

Title: The Magician King (Magicians #2)
Author: Lev Grossman
ISBN-13: 9780670022311
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Penguin

drey's thoughts:
I hate to say it, but I really didn't care for The Magician King... I've picked it up at least a dozen times, and every time I do, I get through about 10-15 pages and I put it down again.

Why? Because I got bored (sorry). The only part that was remotely interesting to me was Julia's story. She is one messed up Queen of Fillory, and The Magician King explains why. Quentin is still sometimes a brat--and a king to boot--and still a bit annoying.

As for plot--The Magician King starts out with the four kings and queens living the high life in Fillory. Then Quentin gets bored and decides to sail out to the outer edges of Fillory. It's something nobody else has done (or at least, gotten a good chart out of it), so of course he'll go do it--Julia in tow--and get some adventure to boot. Unfortunately for him, he and Julia get stranded back in the real world, and have to figure out how to get back to Fillory. I got as far as them picking up Josh and Poppy before I stopped picking up the book (again).

If I could've skipped the Quentin parts and just had the Julia parts to read, I think I would've liked it more--and maybe even finished it. Now I'm wondering if I should consider this the squishy-middle of the sandwich, and read the end of the trilogy when that comes out...

drey's rating: Meh.

Have you read this series? What did you think?

Review: 97. The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman...

Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God introduced Thomas Cale to us, and threw him for a loop. Now let's find out where Cale goes from there...

Title: The Last Four Things (Left Hand of God #2)
Author: Paul Hoffman
ISBN-13: 9780525952183
ARC: 420 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Penguin

drey's thoughts:
When we last saw Thomas Cale, he'd just gone through battle and heartbreak, then was handed over to the Redeemer who made Cale's life at the Sanctuary positively miserable. He learns that Redeemer Bosco actually has a plan for him--to mold him into the Angel of Death.  And as it happens, so far Cale has been pretty darn good at bringing chaos and ruin wherever he goes...

Now, to say that Cale is an evil mastermind is completely overstating it--he's just had a combination of (mostly) bad luck and overconfident ego.  Which doesn't change in The Last Four Things...  He's still a cocky teenager, only now he has the Redeemers behind him.  He's still furious at Arbell's betrayal--though what else was she to do?  And he's still a teenager, thumbing his nose at the Redeemers when he doesn't think they'll get it, and even sometimes when they do.

So then are we surprised that calamity and glory meet Cale in equal increments in this sequel?  Why, of course not.

I expected Cale to do a little growing up here.  Yes, I know he's had fifteen years of indoctrination by the Redeemers, but he's had time--and he's smart enough--to figure out that not everything they say is truth.  So I was a little disappointed when he mostly reverts to his former self (though he's verbal now) and nurses resentments that he might not if he'd just grow up a little...

There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor in The Last Four Things, as well as a lot of needless bloodshed.  Of course, all bloodshed is needless (in my opinion), but even more so when it's the result of mostly stupid actions.  As my little man will tell you, I do not like stupid.  Excessive stupidity even less so.  And while I enjoyed the overall plot I did wonder where all the smart people went.

drey's rating: OK

Want to know where the author got the idea for this alternative world?

Much of this trilogy was inspired by the author’s own life, which he quips is “like a realistic fairy tale or bad Hollywood film.” Born in a house with no running water or electricity, Paul Hoffman grew up as the impoverished son of a British soldier and saw his first violent death at the impressionable age of four. Later, Hoffman was enrolled at a severe Catholic boarding school. What he learned could barely be considered an education, but it would later provide him with the foundation for the theology of The Sanctuary and the ruthlessness of The Redeemers featured in THE LEFT HAND OF GOD trilogy.

Giveaway!
The publisher has very graciously offered up a copy of The Last Four Things for you, if you live in the US. To enter, fill out the form below before 6pm CST August 10th. Good luck!

96. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White...

The first thing I noticed about Kiersten White's Paranormalcy was the cover.  So I added it to my library hold list.

Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)
Author: Kiersten White
ISBN-13: 9780061985843
Hardcover: 335 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Evie is a typical sixteen-year-old.  She's sassy and snarky, carries a pink Taser around, and works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency tackling and tagging paranormals.  She's also the only one who can see past the glamour that paranormals wear.  Makes her pretty handy to have around, especially if you're ICAP...

One day, someone breaks into the ICAP facility where Evie lives.  He's captured, but won't say why he's there.  Evie's intrigued, naturally.  And then she starts dreaming of words, words from a prophecy unknown to her.  Then something starts killing the paranormals, and next thing you know Evie's on the run for her life.  Who can she turn to?  Where can she go?  What can she do?  She's not going to just roll over and die--she just met a boy for crying out loud!

Paranormalcy is cute and fun, because Evie is cute and fun.  Never mind that there's actually a plot and tension and action, everything flies quickly and flows nicely because the characters and their interactions are smooth and interesting.  You'll enjoy hanging out with Evie as she figures out that special is totally overrated, real-life boys are much more fun than TV characters, and siblings can be a total drain.

drey's rating: Excellent!  I can't believe this is a debut, but hey book #2, Supernaturally, is out soon!

Have you read Paranormalcy?  What did you think?

Review: 93. The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman...

I saw this title last year, and added it to my wish list. Luckily for me there's a sequel coming out this year, because Penguin sent me both to review! *grin*

Title: The Left Hand of God (Left Hand of God #1)
Author: Paul Hoffman
ISBN-13: 9780525951315
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Penguin

drey's thoughts:
Thomas Cale has only ever known one reality--that which the Redeemers provided in the Sanctuary, with the daily abuse and revolting food. You learn two things quickly there--keep your head down and your mouth shut. Unfortunate for Cale, who doesn't seem to possess either skill in any quantity... Then he discovers there's a whole world outside Sanctuary.

Cale reminds me a bit of Kvothe, star of Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles. They're both smart, brash, and just a wee bit too full of themselves. And they just can't seem to not do that last little thing that crosses the line. Which, as you can imagine, doesn't quite make them many friends... They're also both young, so nobody listens to anything they say, even if they could be right. Poor things... I do wish though, that Cale was just a bit more real--I don't quite understand his thoughts or actions where it regards Arbell, and I sometimes wanted to smack him on the head for his infantile behavior.

Paul Hoffman has created an intriguing world for The Left Hand of God, and interesting characters to inhabit that world. I enjoyed the story even if parts of the plot slogged and other parts raced through, and I was sometimes in the dark as to the characters' motivations. Overall, though, this is a pretty good debut effort and I will have a review of its sequel The Last Four Things up for you soon...

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Giveaway!
Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Left Hand of God for you, if you live in the US. To enter, fill out the form below before 6pm CST August 3rd. Good luck!

Review: 80. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman...

I've wanted to pick up a copy of Eon since I received the sequel in the mail. I'm glad I finally did, this one is worth the read!

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Author: Alison Goodman
ISBN-13: 9780670062270
Hardcover: 531 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2008
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Set in an Asian-inspired world, Alison Goodman's Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a story about a girl from the salt mines who's hidden her gender and suffered through humiliation to be able to stand before the dragons on this New Year's Day.  To be able to hope that the ascending dragon chooses her. 

But the trial on this New Year's Day is fraught with danger of the political and ambitious kind.  When power is available, power is sought.  And the newly-ascended Dragoneye Lord definitely seeks power.  Eon attracts both his suspicion and his scheming when she is selected, not by the ascending Rat Dragon, but by the dragon that rules them all--the long-missing Mirror Dragon.  But there's a problem--Eon didn't bind with her dragon, and therefore cannot control her dragon's powers.  What will she do when the Emperor clearly marks her as his own and involves her in court intrigue?

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is an excellent fantasy adventure that focuses on the characters and yet has action and drama galore.  I could not put it down once I started, and my 8-year-old has expressed interest in the story (more for the dragons than anything else, I'd bet).

drey's rating: Excellent! I cannot wait to find out how Eona's story continues...

Have you read Eon? What did you think?

Review: 79. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher...

I've wanted to pick up Catherine Fisher's Incarceron since I saw the cover.  Well, I know I'm slow, but I finally got to it!

Title: Incarceron (Incarceron #1)
Author: Catherine Fisher
ISBN-13: 9780803733961
Hardcover: 442 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Incarceron is a story of a boy stuck in a prison and knows he came from outside (even if nobody believes him).  It is also a story of a girl whose whole life has been for one purpose and one purpose only--to further her father's ambitions.

Finn doesn't fit in with the rest of the Comitatus.  The only reason they keep him around (i.e. alive) is because he's believed to be a seer, and he definitely has the expected fits.  Then Finn finds a key, and has flashes of life outside Incarceron--his life outside Incarceron.  So off he goes to find the way out.  Accompanying him are his oathbrother Keiro, the "medicine man" Gildas, and former slave-girl Attia.  And then Finn "meets" Claudia.

Daughter of the Warden of Incarceron and betrothed to the heir to the Realm, Claudia has lived a pampered life yet she lives it in fear of displeasing her father.  So how can she tell him she doesn't want this marriage? Then Claudia makes a few important discoveries--Finn among them--and decides to take matters into her own hands. 

Incarceron's storyline is engaging and captivating.  Finn is likable (he's the hero, after all), and his companions provide an excellent foil for his character.  Claudia I really liked.  Brought up to do as she's told, she still manages to do her own thing while playing obedient daughter.  And when push comes to shove, she stands on the side of right and is willing to prove it.  Huzzah for the girl with chutzpah!

drey's rating: Excellent!  I will be reading the sequel, Sapphique, in the not-too-distant future. I hope!

Review: 68. The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge...

I picked this out because the cover called to me. There's such a haunting look to the cover girl that I had to find out what she's all about...

Title: The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1)
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
ISBN-13: 9780385738293
Hardcover: 492 pages
Publisher: Random House, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Caitlin Kittredge's The Iron Thorn is a YA steampunk/horror/fantasy set in the city of Lovecraft, where the Engine grinds all to dust and the necrovirus is blamed for the rampant madness and fantastical creatures that roam the nights. Aoife Grayson is about to turn sixteen, and everyone's watching to see if she'll succumb to the madness as her mother and brother did. Even her best friend Cal.

Then Aoife receives a letter from her brother Conrad, telling her to go to their father's estate in Arkham. So she sets off--Cal in tow--to find her brother.

I really enjoyed this first in Kittredge's Iron Codex series. There are airships and clockworks; faeries, elves, and ghouls; hideously scary monsters; and adventure galore along with the requisite time constraint. The world is fascinating, the storytelling crisp and descriptive. And of course, the numerous references to Lovecraft and Arkham tickled my fancy. Not because I've read his works (shame on me!), but because I've played Arkham Horror so many times that the monsters that show up remind me of the game. Yes, I'm a geek...

In addition to the above, I like Aoife. She's brave (going off to find her brother) yet scared (of succumbing to the madness, or failing in her quest), honorable (stands by her friends), and honest. And when she finds out she might've made a mistake, she sets off to set things right. What's not to like?

I am looking forward to the sequel--there is a sequel, right?

drey's rating: Excellent!

Review: 25. Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott...

I picked this one up because I noticed the cover. The flames really stood out against that dark background...

Title: Daughter of the Flames
Author: Zoe Marriott
ISBN-13: 9780763637491
Hardcover: 342 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Daughter of the Flames started off roaring, literally... The scene is set at the Temple grounds, where refugees are streaming in looking for shelter from an attack by the Sedorne against the Ruan.

This is where we meet Zahira, and the start of her journey from orphaned princess to novice to warrior.

Character: I was a bit disappointed in Zahira. Yes, she's a warrior--and well-trained at that. Yes, she is humble, and smart, and all things you would want in a heroine. But I didn't connect with her. And I'm pretty sure that the cover may have something to do with that--she does not look like a fifteen-year-old trying to keep herself together while getting her friends and followers to safety. In addition to the cover's impact on my perception, I didn't quite get how she could go from a Temple novitiate to being willing to marry the "enemy" to save her people. Too large of a leap there for me to follow...

Pace & Plot: The story is pretty basic. Orphan girl grows up to find all she loves destroyed, then realizes it's not the first time that's happened. Finds out she's royalty, the last of her line. And the one responsible for all the destruction is now looking for her. To find refuge from the evil warlord, she takes her ragtag band of followers on the road to the nearby city where she is owed a favor by the local lord. The action moves along--not quite quickly, but it doesn't drag either. Some parts invite a leap of faith, but none of this is boring, which is good!

drey's rating: 2/5 OK: Not my favorite read this year, but alright enough that I did finish...

Have you read Daughter of the Flames? What did you think?

Review: 24. The Spirit Lens by Carol Berg...

I'd read Carol Berg's Bridge of D'Arnath series a while back and liked it, and so when I saw this one, I had to give it a try...

Title: The Spirit Lens (Collegia Magica #1)
Author: Carol Berg
ISBN-13: 9780451463111
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
In Carol Berg's latest fantasy, it's magic vs. science, with the latter coming into popularity in the kingdom of Sabria. When this results in magicians' attempt to assassinate Sabria's King Philippe, he enlists the help of his very-distant cousin to uncover the traitors, and to determine if his wife is somehow behind the attempt.

Portier de Savin-Duplais agrees to help the King, and hits the ground running. The stuff he uncovers places his own life at risk, and he finds himself looking for plots within plots as he tries to unravel the tangled web of treachery. But can he do it before the kingdom unravels right in front of his eyes?

Character: Portier is a typical hero in this type of story. He's not very good at what he does, and fumbles his way through the hurdles that are thrown in his path. He's just nice enough, just personable enough, just smart enough, to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. His companions are a foppish dandy and an irascible magician. Between the three of them, it's almost like watching The Three Stooges.

Pace & Plot: The Spirit Lens moves along quickly, and at times your head spins with the reveals. The plot is twisty, too, which doesn't help with the head-spin. But it does keep you turning the pages!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: I can't wait to pick up book #2, The Soul Mirror.

Have you read The Spirit Lens? What did you think?

Review: 21. The King's Bastard by Rowena Cory Daniells....

I love the cover of Rowena Cory Daniells' The King's Bastard! There's just something a bit, um, sinister about it, isn't there?

Title: The King's Bastard (Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin #1)
Author: Rowena Cory Daniells
ISBN-13: 9781907519017
Paperback: 640 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Rowena Cory Daniells

drey's thoughts:
The King's Bastard is an epic fantasy offering from Rowena Cory Daniells, the first of 3 books. In this one, we are introduced to Byren, the King's second son. His twin brother Lence is the heir, his younger brother Fyn is promised to the abbey, and his sister Piro is, well, the King's daughter.

There is magic here, dubbed Affinity, and it seems to mess with you enough that if you show any signs of it, you're shipped off to the Abbey to learn how to control it. Rogue users do so on penalty of death. So when the King's progeny start displaying signs of Affinity, what is there to do? Well, try to hide it, of course. Until you can't anymore, because the consequences are less threatening than the alternative.

Character: Byren Kingsson is a good man. He is loyal to his family, his country, and his friends. That loyalty gets him in trouble, when he tries to protect his BFF from being outed, and is himself "outed" instead. Not that he's gay, but who cares about the details? His twin, Lence, is not as likable. He's malleable, and is more glass-half-empty than glass-half-full. Being the heir, it's not difficult to get him all paranoid that Byren's up to something, especially when you have advisers who're pretty good at working the spin machine...But you'd think you'd give your own twin the benefit of the doubt, right? I mean, where's all the twin-power at?

Pace & Plot: The story takes a little while to get going, and there is so much happening--with four children, plus the King and his Queen, and some of the other characters--that I needed to go back and re-read some chapters to get my story straight. But once stuff starts, it doesn't stop, and keeps building until something has to combust. And combust it does.

I found some of the story to be very simplistic, where I was all "duh!" and some of it to be truly engrossing. But all in all, a pretty good yarn, and I'll be looking for the next book to find out what happens to Byren next.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

2011 Challenge: New Author

Have you read The King's Bastard? What did you think?

Review: 9. The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card...

I haven't read Orson Scott Card since Ender's Game a loooooooong time ago, and I'm not quite sure why, except maybe my reading tastes got distracted...

Title: The Lost Gate (Mither Mages #1)
Author: Orson Scott Card
ISBN-13: 9780765326577
ARC: 378 pages
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates LLC, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Media Masters Publicity

drey's thoughts:
Danny North reminds me of my son's favorite character: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, from Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon books. Hiccup can't do anything remotely Viking-ish, Danny can't do anything North-ish. Hiccup's dad is the leader of their Viking clan, Danny's parents are the leaders of the North clan. Hiccup overcomes it all by training a dragon and showing his clan how they can live peacefully side-by-side with dragons, Danny runs away. Hmm, I guess they're not quite exactly the same after all...

Orson Scott Card has created a version of our world where the ancient Gods are stuck on Earth with diminishing powers, forever locked away from their home world of Westil, because a gatemage locked all the gates between the two worlds. Keeping to themselves, they live in compounds where each Family stays away from the other clans and from humans (or drowthers, as we're referred to). The Norths have the dubious distinction of having produced the last Gatemage, and are therefore now banned from having another. Too bad for Danny, as that's what it looks like he's going to turn out to be. So, before he can be dragged away to Hammernip Hill, Danny runs away.

Left to fend for himself in the regular world, Danny has to survive on his wits (and his sass). Luckily for him, he finds someone to help him, though that relationship becomes increasingly lopsided as Danny's abilities are discovered. I'm honestly surprised Danny makes it as far as he does, and in one piece. He's not the most surreptitious runaway, but then again I guess that's not a word that describes thirteen-year-olds best.

The other part of The Lost Gate takes place in the world of Westil, where a man-in-a-tree works his way out of said tree, then finds himself embroiled in royal intrigue and politics. Finding out that his actions has very real consequences, he starts setting things right. But some things cannot be undone...

Character: Danny is an amusing boy who's sometimes a bit wiser than his years, and other times acts his age. He doesn't always makes the right decisions, and definitely has his bratty moments. But you know he's got a good heart, and you feel his wistfulness when he's sitting on the hill watching the high-schoolers... The foster parents he finds are just an eensy-weensy bit too perfect, and some of the sub-characters are downright boring--and it seems like they're all are six-degrees-of-separation related, which is a tad too co-incidental to me.

Pace & Plot: The Lost Gate moves along at a clip, and there are hardly any slow spots. Switching back and forth between Danny and Wad (i.e. man-who-used-to-be-in-the-tree) didn't seem to have any point, because they were such disparate stories, except for the magery. Speaking of which, I got really confused with all the different types of magic that the clans have, and how you're described by your abilities.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: I expected better, but all in all this is a pretty darn good yarn for YA fantasy  fans. I will be reading the next one to see what Danny does next.

Have you read The Lost Gate? What did you think?

Review: 4. Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha...

I asked for this one because the cover looked really neat--all dark and broody... And it's about a vampire. Who isn't all sparkly and stuff... ;)

Title: Blood Prophecy
Author: Stefan Petrucha
ISBN-13: 9780446555999
ARC: 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Stefan Petruchas' Blood Prophecy tells the story of a faithful man turned into a beast, who then spends a lifetime trying to redeem himself and save his soul.

Jeremiah Fell's journey starts in 1644 in Dedham, a Massachusetts Bay Colony, when he is infected by a nightmarish creature, and eventually heads towards the desert lands of Egypt and Syria. Why? To find a stone, a mystical stone that according to legend could cure him of this plague in his body. Or unleash a darkness that'll swallow the whole world...

Character: Jeremiah is an interesting character--a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old vampire who's lived without drinking human blood, without giving in to the beast that rides his consciousness, sustaining himself instead on rodents and mammals. He is educated (well, he did have the time), articulate, honorable, and is single-minded in achieving his goal of redemption. There are only a few other characters who remotely interested me--Amala, an Arab woman who can decipher the hieroglyphs on the stone, and Hylic, a Russian mercenary whose original purpose was in destroying the stone.

Pace & Plot: I thought the plot was interesting, and I liked the French-infused (as in language) narrative. The biblical and cultural references are all up my alley. The pace however, could have used a bit more oomph in the section between his infection and when he starts his travels.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: Blood Prophecy is a vampire story infused with a blend of history and exotic locations, but could move faster.

2011 Challenge: New Author

Review: 2. The Rebel Prince by Celine Kiernan...

I finally got around to finishing Celine Kiernan's Moorehawke trilogy. This one was satisfying, even if I felt that the ending was a bit rushed...

Title: The Rebel Prince (Moorehawke #3)
Author: Celine Kiernan
ISBN-13: 9780316077071
Paperback: 402 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
The Rebel Prince is the third and last book in Celine Kiernan's Moorehawke trilogy, where Wynter Moorehawke has gone from daughter of the King's best friend to orphan on the run with the King's bastard and his best friend, looking for the Prince who's gathering all the Kingdom's enemies in the shadow of the woods...

Wynter, Razi, and Christopher travel with the Merron and finally find Alberon's camp, where she's stunned when she finds out what he's planning to do. Good intentions aside, politics rears its ugly head and tempers are fraying. The tension rises when they realize that the King probably knows their whereabouts and an ambush or attack is forthcoming.

Character: I still like Wynter, Christopher, and Razi, but out of all three, Wynter developed the most in the series. Alberon is finally introduced in this book, and it seems like he totally got the short shrift here, because he should have more than this opportunity to share what his reasons are for what he did and why he went about it the way he did...

Pace & Plot: Celine Kiernan has you on tenterhooks as you turn the pages to find out what happens to Wynter and her friends. The scenes are pretty realistic as the situation gets more dire, and you can feel Wynter's frustration with her friends as they try to navigate their way to safety.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: This series is worth reading if you're a fan of YA fantasy.

Review: 156. Weight of Stone by Laura Anne Gilman...

I read Laura Anne Gilman's Flesh and Fire last year, and was intrigued by the combination of magic and wine. Weight of Stone is the sequel.

Title: Weight of Stone (Vineart War #2)
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
ISBN-13: 9781439101452
Hardcover: 374 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Weight of Stone picks up where Flesh and Fire left off... Jerzy's in trouble, and is on the lam with Ao--a trader, and Mahault--a noblewoman. Taking on the seas isn't one of his better ideas, but he's trying to find the source of the taint, because he believes that is what his master would want him to do. Too bad he can't ask, but the Washers are looking for him after the events at Aleppan.

Unfortunately, fate intervenes, and the trio acquires a fourth--Kainam, princeling from an island nation hidden from the world. His mission is to find out who has been interfering with Atakus--from his sister's murder to the firespouts that burned ships from the nearby nation of Caul. Something's not quite right, and he intends to find it before Atakus is devoured by the chaos and fear.

There is a lot of meandering back and forth in Weight of Stone. Jerzy does return to Master Malech, only to have to set off again. The Washers are still looking for him. The source of the taint is still tauntingly out of reach. And the foursome split up, then re-converge. I'm a bit confused at all the new bits and pieces introduced into this puzzle in this installment. Guess I'll have to read The Shattered Vine (coming October 2011) to find out how it all fits.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Review: 147. The Crowded Shadows by Celine Kiernan...

I'd picked up the first book in this trilogy, The Poison Throne and liked it enough to want to keep reading, so my next visit to the library netted me this sequel...

Title: The Crowded Shadows (Moorehawke #2)
Author: Celine Kiernan
ISBN-13: 9780316077088
Trade Paperback: 474 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Wynter Moorehawke has left to find Alberon and find out if the rumors she's hearing are true. Rumors that he's mounting a rebellion against his father's throne. Rumors that he's gathering the Kingdom's enemies to strike a blow.

The story meanders a bit in this second installment, but is worth it for the characters that are introduced. Bandits, rebel sympathizers, gypsies, and the King's own soldiers, all gather in the forests where the Rebel Prince is thought to be hiding. And loyalties are formed and strained as the ties that bind one may not be the same ties that bind another.

I will be picking up The Rebel Prince to see how this story ends.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Tour: 144. Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois...

Today, I'm participating in the blog tour for a new anthology of seventeen stories from your favorite authors. If you're a fan of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, you'll be wondering what on earth he's doing with other projects when we're impatiently waiting for A Dance with Dragons... That is, until you pick this one up and realize that hey, maybe the guy should get a break now and then. As long as he does finish the ASoiF series, of course.

About George R.R. Martin: (One of my favorite authors. S'all you need to know. *grin* Just kidding!)
George R.R. Martin has been called "the American Tolkien," and his books, including the volumes in his landmark A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, have been on bestseller lists around the world.

About Gardner Dozois:
Gardner Dozois is the author or editor of more than a hundred books. He was the editor of the leading science fiction magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, for eighteen years, and is also the editor of the annual anthology series The Year's Best Science Fiction, now in its 27th annual collection.

About the book:
Title: Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love (Anthology)
Edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
ISBN-13: 9781439150146
Hardcover: 468 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster

In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he's one of the hottest stars in literature today with "The Thing About Cassandra," a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in "A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows." Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents "Love Hurts," in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.

Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

drey's thoughts:
Ever wanted to know "what if"? Like, what if Harry Dresden and Murphy ever got together? Then you'll want to read Love Hurts. Ever wondered about Anafiel Delaunay? You, and You Alone shares his dying thoughts. Believed in true love? Destiny calls in The Marrying Maid and Blue Boots. Spent hours doodling and daydreaming away? Imagination meets Twilight Zone in The Thing About Cassandra...

I meant to read this one story at a time, to savor them individually. But each was so well-written it whetted the appetite for the next, and the next, and the next after... (No, we shall not talk about my self-control where it regards books!) Looking for a gift for the bookworm who loves fantasy or science-fiction? Pick this up. Seventeen satisfying stories from your favorite authors. Need I say more?

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub