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The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Posted on August 12, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • Like The Magicians, this is sure to be a popular book and I figured I’d give it a try.

I recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Quentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of Fillory, but the days and nights of royal luxury are starting to pall. After a morning hunt takes a sinister turn, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a magical sailing ship and set out on an errand to the wild outer reaches of their kingdom. Their pleasure cruise becomes an adventure when the two are unceremoniously dumped back into the last place Quentin ever wants to see: his parent’s house in Chesterton, Massachusetts. And only the black, twisted magic that Julia learned on the streets can save them.

My Review:

I don’t get it.

I don’t understand how this book is praised, and Lev Grossman named the “modern heir to C.S. Lewis”.  Are there similarities to Narnia? Very much so – almost bordering on outright ripoff.  But instead of the underlying message given through Narnia, it almost feels as if Lev Grossman is out to poke holes through the story and mock it.

First, I want to talk about one of my biggest pet peeves.  I don’t care if your book is fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi or paranormal (or even just regular literature), I don’t like seeing the names of things, popular things or pop-culture, in the text of the book.  It makes me feel disjointed and reminds me that I am, indeed, reading a book and still very much living in the real world. When I read, fantasy and science fiction most of all, I read to lose myself in the world and to explore the fantastic places the authors words are creating in my own mind.  So when I see reference after reference to everything from Harry Potter to the Smurfs, I get a bit peeved and, for the first time, I actually got angry at a book.

I finished The Magician King, but only just.  I’d hoped the story would move more quickly, as this one dealt with a Quentin on a quest, but instead, I was just irritated by him.

I will say, however, in the effort to give some type of positive feedback, that I did enjoy Julia’s story (well, enjoy as in it interested me).  She is not nearly the same type of character that Quentin is, but unfortunately her story was not enough to save the rest of the book for me.

If you liked The Magicians, chances are you will still enjoy this book.  Don’t let me put you off of reading it if you want to (in fact, I’ll be posting some links to positive reviews here at the end of this review), but if you were left kind of “meh” after reading The Magicians, then I’d steer clear of this one.

 

Check these reviews!

A Million Words

The Picky Girl

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The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

Posted on August 9, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • I don’t read enough books with male protagonists (well, YA books) so this one caught my eye.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he’s never met, he had no idea what.
When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents’ farm, he knows he’s seen her before…in his dreams. He’s felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.
Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he’s completely insane or he’s about to have the adventure of his life, because where they’re going is full of creatures he’s only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death…

My Review:

The Marked Son is an action-packed story focused around 17 year old Dylan and the “ghost”, Kera, who inhabits his dreams.  Dylan struggles, coping with a mother who will not stay in the same place long and goes through men like crazy and, eventually, ends up dumped into the lap of relatives he never knew existed.

Then things get crazy.

What I loved about this book was how much fun it was to finally be seeing things through the eyes of a male – and not just any male, a strong, decisive male who wasn’t wanting to shy away from things and was out to figure things out.  I enjoyed the humor contained in the brief interactions he had with friends and I loved the passion Dylan exhibited when faced with some insurmountable odds.

The Marked Son is fast-paced and filled with all sorts of fights and a nicely-paced story, however there were some things that seemed to be a bit glossed over and made for a bit of clunky going, especially as the end drew near.  I had a hard time accepting that Dylan was so capable right off the bad of channeling his powers, that he and Kera developed an “all-or-nothing” relationship that fast, and I was really confused as to what exactly went on in Kera’s world.   So I guess mostly my issues were on the world and magic building in the book.

There didn’t seem to be any clear-cut explanation of the powers Dylan (and the others in Kera’s world) possessed.  Nor was there really an explanation of how the world worked, what people used their powers for, etc.  Just that there was a big, bad guy and he was going to take over.  I understood that he was bad, but I didn’t really understand why.  That’s what made me struggle with this story.

I’m sure I’ll check out the next one when it’s released, because it was interesting – just had issues with what I’ve mentioned.  I did appreciate that the book was given a solid ending without a major cliffhanger as trilogy books are wont to have these days.

Check out these reviews!

YA Book Haven

Reading Lark

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Con & Conjure by Lisa Shearin

Posted on August 5, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • This series is my “go-to guilty pleasure” series.  I love Raine.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. Ever since the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that’s given her unlimited power, has bonded to her, the goblin king and the elves have wanted to possess its magic themselves. Which means a goblin thief and her ex-fiancé-an elven assassin-are after her. To survive, she’ll need the help of her notorious criminal family.

My Review:

Over the last few years I’ve kind of overdosed on paranormal romances and stories, but in spite of my distinct feeling of apathy toward the majority of them now, I still have my favorites.  The Raine Benares books are high on that list.

Raine is a Seeker.  Throw away your Harry Potter pre-conceived notion of seekers for a moment and bear with me.  She is able to touch an object and view that object from the point of view of the person who has handled it or touched it.  Person, or persons, I should say.  Now, she isn’t particularly magical, like other elves out there, but she has a mediocre level of talent  - that is until she absorbs a mean, nasty orb called the Saghred.

All this happens in the previous four books in the series – but this one has an added level of fun: the appearance of an old boyfriend of Raine’s.  Con & Conjure contains everything I’ve come to expert from Lisa Shearin; filled with lots of action, lots of sneaky movements, hot, hot moments between Raine and Mychael – however no moments with Tam which makes me sad (this is the only book I not only tolerate the love triangle, but encourage it – don’t make me choose!) and plenty of intrigue.  I thoroughly enjoyed Con & Conjure but please, Lisa, for the love of all that’s good, we know at this point that Raine is a Benares… you don’t always have to remind us!  There, that’s my only real complaint.

This is a fun series and I highly recommend it!

Check out these reviews!

YA Book Haven

Reading Lark

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The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Posted on August 2, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • Pam at Bookalicious raving over this in her review (and on Twitter) was enough to make me bump this up my TBR.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

My Review:

Elisa is not your typical heroine.  She likes to eat, and her figure shows it.  She’s the second born girl, with an older sister who has been trained to be a Queen.  Elisa loves to read and is incredibly smart, but rarely gets to show that off due to a low self-esteem.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns begins with a wedding. Elisa’s wedding.  She is being married to a King and sent away from her family on her 16th birthday, and so begins her adventures.

What I really appreciated about this book was, although Rae Carson went just a little overboard with Elisa’s “fat” figure (references to eating, to calling herself a ‘pig’, etc), she also made sure to give a fairly accurate picture of what it feels like to be large.  The whispers and glances, even a wedding night – all made sense, especially during later events.  I was worried that this would be one of those stories where the fat girl loses weight and all of the sudden everyone likes her, but Carson manages to skirt around that cliche and still maintain the integrity of the story.

There is a lot of religion on this book, it’s a world based around the premise of religion and of Elisa being the first “chosen-one” in about 100 years.  It’s fascinating stuff, but also very, very religious so it was interesting to me to read a fantasy based so heavily on prayer.

I really enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns.  I loved that, although there is love, it is not the central focus of the story, but rather Elisa’s growth and confidence is.  The fantasy world was interesting, but could have been a little more fleshed out (with less prayer next time, please!) and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to see where Carson takes us next.

Check out these reviews!

Bookalicious

The Midnight Readers

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Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

Posted on August 1, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • It just looked.. fantastic.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

“Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves. As you can well imagine, blind children have incredible senses of smell, and they can tell what lies behind a locked door- be it fine cloth, gold, or peanut brittle- at fifty paces. Moreover, their fingers are so small and nimble that they can slip right through keyholes, and their ears so keen that they can hear the faint clicks and clacks of every moving part inside even the most complicated lock. Of course, the age of great thievery has long since passed;today there are few child-thieves left, blind or otherwise. At one time, however, the world was simply thick with them. This is the story of the greatest thief who ever lived. His name, as you’ve probably guessed, is Peter Nimble.”

My Review:

Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes is a stunning, stunning debut novel. Brilliantly conceived, filled with masterful descriptions that provoke not only the imagination with sights, but also with sounds, smells and touch.  From the first few paragraphs I was spiraled into a story, much like Alice falling down her rabbit hole, and caught up in a tale of the completely fantastic and I loved every single second of it.  Every one.

Now and then I’ll pick up a middle grade book and, more often than not, I’ll put it down feeling an overwhelming urge to pet a kitten or cuddle a puppy, but sometimes, those rare, few, precious times, I put the book down and feel as if I’ve been transported back in time and I’m 11 years old again and surrounded by a word of magic and mystery; a world where a boy without eyes can overcome impossible odds, where a knight without bravery can overcome his cowardice, and where a lost fantasyland can be found again.  Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes is one of those stories.

One of the most brilliant, fantastic things about this book is way Auxier describes not only the people Peter comes in contact with, but also the places he visits and the things he does.  Peter is blind, he has no eyes, and since the book (even though it’s in third person) is from Peter’s main point of view, we’re treated to smells, touches and sounds.  If a man is tall, we know because of the sound of his tread, if two people are related it’s due to their smell.  All this is done in such an exquisite way that it slipped by, unnoticed, until a moment came and I felt as if I’d just woken up and the world around me began to sparkle.

Bravo, Jonathan, bravo.

I cannot rave about this book enough.  If you loved Gregor and the fantastic world Suzanne Collins made in her books, if you loved Plain Kate by Erin Bow, then you will adore this story of Peter Nimble, the blind thief.  There are books I love, books I tolerate, books I cannot stand – but every now and then I come across a book like this one where I feel privileged to be allowed to read and experience the story.

Thank you, Jonathan Auxier, for giving us this story.

Check out these reviews!

Karissa’s Reading Review


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Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

Posted on July 30, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • It’s about Mermaids.  I like mermaids.

I also recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

When fourteen-year-old Luce is assaulted on the cliffs near an Alaskan village, she expects to die when she tumbles into the icy water below. Instead, she transforms into a mermaid. Luce is thrilled with her new life—until she discovers the catch.

My Review:

With all the stories of vampires, werewolves, angels, demons and witches/warlocks out there – of course the time of the mermaid was bound to come.

I’ve read a few mermaid novels in the past year or so, and Lost Voices has to be the best of the bunch, but that said, it still lacks that extra umph I was hoping for.

Sarah Porter does a beautiful job with crafting a thought-out version of mermaid lore. Gone are the beautiful mermaids in The Little Mermaid a la Disney and, instead, here are mermaids that are more like the ones in the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

How do they get that way?

Through intense pain and struggle. Each of the mermaids in this tribe has been abused and now they have formed a band of beautiful girls living under the ocean waters. But for Luce, there’s an issue. She cannot bring herself to hate mankind because of the love she had for her father.

Oh, and there is a lot of singing.

The singing is actually what made the book for me. Sarah Porter did a beautiful job describing the sounds, the practice and the results of the songs. The scenes in which the mermaids sing are exquisitely written and I loved them so very much – but they made the dialogue and the juvenile descriptions of the girls interaction that much more painful.

Overall, the book seemed to be a jumbled bit of a mess, background stories tossed in here and there when absolutely necessary, an entire group of girls brought into the story for.. what purpose, I’m not sure. A Queen Bitch added in and a struggle between Luce and her “best” friend that switched around so often I felt like I was getting whiplash just from reading it.

I don’t know if I’ll pick up the book to follow this one (and it’s plainly obvious there will be another). If I do, it’d just be to see if the writing has improved on the character interaction level. I know Porter is capable of doing it – those musical passages in the book really did leave me breathless.

Check out these reviews!

The Garden of Books

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A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Posted on July 28, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • I’ve been waiting for this book for years!

I also recommend:

  • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary from GoodReads:

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again–beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone–a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all. . . .

My Review:

It really is impossible to write a review of A Dance with Dragons without reflecting on the wait any fan of GRRM had to endure to get this book into his or her hands. For years we’ve been waiting on this book, the other half to A Feast for Crows, and, while it certainly gave more of what we’ve come to expect of Martin, it also failed to answer many questions that we’ve had years to dream up.

I’ve never read a book quite so thick before and come away as dissatisfied as I am right now. Most of that dissatisfaction stems from a fear of having to wait another 5-6 years before given more of the story – and that’s a really long time and many, many books between. There were deaths in A Dance with Dragons, rebirths, kings seated and unseated, villains punished (or were they?), factions changed and many other things that occur, yet the ramifications will not be known for quite some time. So, rather than providing us with answers after several years of wait, we’re merely left with more questions.

That said, there was one scene in the book that finally provided me with something, a mere scene, that I’d been waiting for. It involves Queen Dany and… it was worth the wait. I was also pleased to note that a few others that played such a large part in A Feast for Crows were included in A Dance with Dragons (as I’d begun it thinking that they would have little to no part at all), and I was happy to finally see what happened to some of my favorites (Jon Snow and Tyrion).

I am still processing this book and, upon re-reading it next year, will probably write a whole different review, but as of right now I can say this – I’m fully satisfied with the story contained within A Dance with Dragons – provided the book following it does not make me wait another several years.

Check out these reviews!

Fantasy Book Critic

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A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Posted on July 26, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • With the release of A Dance with Dragons, I felt the urge to re-visit these stories.

I also recommend:

  • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary from GoodReads:

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world….

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others–a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . .

My Review:

A Storm of Swords is a game-changer. This pivotal book takes everything that the first two books in the series has built up and it dashes it to pieces on the ground – yet leaves enough for the true story to shine through.

Kings are dying, have died and will die throughout the progress of A Storm of Swords making it very aptly named. Cherished characters die, others are redeemed and most of all, Martin gives us a picture of one of the most hated characters and brings his back story into the picture through a mannish woman and a journey taken. That back story had me reeling and feeling pity – the Lannisters, once a family I detested (and I still do with Cercei and Tyrwin) now have two somewhat noble family members. Putting aside the incest, which I admit is hard to do, Jaime is a character worthy of pity and one that, oddly enough, brings hope back into the story.

My heart breaks most in this book for Sansa Stark. Used over and over as a tool, for money, for power, for lust, this 13 year old child has seen more in her lifetime then any of us could possibly imagine. She believes she is the last of her line, she has been beaten, threatened with rape, abused mentally, kicked and betrayed by her own family – yet she still manages a strength of character that makes even Ayra seem the weaker sister.

A Storm of Swords up the game and sets up the remaining story in a masterful, incredible way. pAnd the most incredible part? I still don’t know which faction I lean to. Do I look to Queen Daenerys and her dragons? Do I look to the Lannisters, with all of their betrayals and faults? What about King Stannis who, technically, has the right of the crown being King Roberts lawful heir? And the Starks.. where will they fall in all of this?

These questions plague me as I continue to go through this saga. I have to say, no books can hold my attention quite like a fantasy saga – and even more so the king that George R.R. Martin has written. For all of it’s baseness, its crude language and behavior, it is a masterful story and one that holds me in its grip.

Check out these reviews!

Beth Fish Reads

Book Hooked Blog

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A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Posted on July 24, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • With the release of A Dance with Dragons, I felt the urge to re-visit these stories.

I also recommend:

  • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary from GoodReads:

A Clash of Kings is the follow-up to A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin’s fabulous introduction to a multilayered epic fantasy adventure that marked one of the most auspicious kickoffs in years. For those who enjoy their fantasy big, thick, and complex — Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series is for you. Fans of Jordan, Brooks, Goodkind, Feist, and high fantasy escapism in general are recommended — no, commanded — to flock to this breathtaking series. You’ll be doing yourself an immense favor.

My Review:

A Clash of Kings is just that – it’s the story of King after King, each taking the title for himself and going to battle to defend his own crown and capture the others. There’s death, there’s gore, there’s rape, there’s plunder, there’s magic and there’s just some creepy stuff that had me wrinkling my nose and thinking about puppies and kittens to get away from the imagery.

While A Game of Thrones was more about politics and introducing the “game”, the end prize being a crown, A Clash of Kings is it’s bloody younger brother. Gone are the pages upon pages of talk and introduction, these characters have now been solidly introduced and are biting at the bit for action – with the slight exception of one.

Tyrion Lannister, the “Imp”, shines in this book. Honestly, I cannot decide whether to love or hate the dwarf. His cunning makes me admire him, his wit makes me want him to win (he’s the only REALLY likeable character in the series aside from Renly – It’s impossible not to like Renly) and he’s the underdog, and I always cheer for the underdog.

But that means I’d have to forsake the noble Starks and how it kills me that the Starks and the Lannisters have done to each other the actions in this book. There is no going back there, no forgiveness.

And then, most of all, there is betrayal of the most magnificent sort. There is deaths, deaths that taught me, once again because I’d forgotten it from the first time I read these books, that you cannot become attached to any character because Martin does not hesitate to sacrifice them for the good of the story.

The only thing that really disturbs me about A Clash of Kings is the stories of Jon Snow and have Queen Daenerys. Dany’s story is disturbing to the point of making me severely uncomfortable in reading it, and Jon’s story seemed one gigantic setup to something even bigger and more amazing – but the set up was so long and drawn out I really struggled to keep my interest in it.

There’s no doubt about it – Martin knows how to tell a story and how to make a person really get caught up in the lives of these fantasy characters.

Check out these reviews!

Beth Fish Reads

Book Hooked Blog

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A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Posted on July 22, 2011
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Reason for Reading:
  • With the release of A Dance with Dragons, I felt the urge to re-visit these stories.

I also recommend:

  • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary from GoodReads:

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective wall. To the south, the King’s powers are failing, and his enemies are emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the King’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but also the kingdom itself. A heroic fantasy of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and evildoers who come together in a time of grim omens. The first volume in George Martin’s series.

My Review:

George R.R. Martin is one of the giants in the fantasy world today, and rightly so. He is a master of storytelling, world building and his characters command so much attention it’s difficult to put them aside in favor of doing things like, you know, eating, sleeping and working.

There’s been a lot of talk lately (most recently in a NYT review of GRRM’s latest book) of George “replacing” Tolkien, which is complete hogwash. While both are fantasy authors (and one a recognized forefather of the genre), their styles are completely different.

George R.R. Martin focuses on such a big picture with A Game of Thrones. There’s no necessary “good” or “evil”, there’s politics, wars, slights, rights and wrongs – which each character can be guilty of. Rather than focusing on a particular quest, which is something Tolkien loved to do, instead George R.R. Martin writes the saga of a land and the movement of power between huge factions of families.

There are characters I love in A Game of Thrones – little Anya and Bran, Ned Stark for his quiet strength, Catelyn Stark for her backbone, Jon Snow, the bastard, and the Imp for his sheer comedic value. There are characters that are evil, but even some of those have a side that is revealed at times hinting at more then isn’t there.

The writing in A Game of Thrones is gritty, tough, engrossing and engaging. Tolkien never used some of the drama that Martin does, be it in the private of the bedroom/tent between man and woman or on the battlefield, because it wouldn’t fit the story. Martin does it because it fits his story, and that is why I find any sort of comparison to be ridiculous.

I’m glad I’m finding the time to reacquaint myself with this series, because it is a powerful story and they are books worth reading if you are a fantasy lover – but it is powerful enough on its own and is weakened by the need to compare it with other authors.

Check out these reviews!

Beth Fish Reads

The Bookish Owl

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