Shadows Edge

Shadows Edge is the second book in the Night Angle Trilogy by Brent Weeks, following The Way of Shadows. In this edition Kyler Stern takes his beloved Elene away from Cenaria so that they can live their lives in peace, away from his former life as a Wetboy. However not all is well as The Khalidorian God King has personally taken command of the conquered Cenaria and is moving to destroy all opposition. Once done he would then march south to concur all of Midcyru. Kyler soon finds that he has no other choice but to fight as the battle is brought to him no matter where he goes.

This is another fowl language book with content not suited for children. This said I did very much enjoy this story that brought lots of action and mystery. I loved the writing style and idea of an assassin hero who uses ancient magic and calls himself "The Night Angel". He is an authority unto himself and is not restricted to any particular law. Events continue to unfold as many different characters follow their own plans to change the world forever.

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The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Once again we join Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie as they enter the wonderous world or Narnia. This time they are joined by their miserable cousin Eustace. In this adventure they join King Caspin as he sails to the end of the world looking for the seven lost lords that were sent away from Narnia by the late King Miraz for being loyal to Caspins father. In this book many different adventures unfold as the Pevencies, King Caspin, and Eustace all experience many different wonders and nightmares on the many islands that cover the great Eastern Seas. 

This chapter in the Narnia series is unlike the previous two; The Lion, The, Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Prince Caspin. This book that is actually the fourt book that makes up the Chronicles of Narnia (the first being the Magicians Nephew) if all books are put in order of story line, is in my opinion made up of many different mini adventures in which the children encounter on different islands and some encounters on the high seas. It is a very imaginitive story that combines creativity with magic and wonder. Once again we also see that this story has some biblical references and focuses on moral principals such as not lying and doing the right thing. Also such things such as bravery and determination are highlighted in this book. Overall I really enjoyed this book, much like the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia. 

The Titans Curse

The Titans Curse is the third book of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series, following The Sea of Monsters. In this book Percy Jackson is faced with the quest of saving his best friend Annabeth from the evil titans. To do this he ventures west with Thalia, the daughter of Zeus and two huntresses of Artemis, Zoe Nightshade and Bianca Di Angelo. In addition to his mission to save Annabeth the party is trying to find a monster that is able to bring down Olympus, before the evil Titans can find it first.

This is another great book that I read in less than two days. It displays a great story line and great originality. I really enjoyed this book as it gives readers something different from the usual magic adventure stories. It makes great use of all the old Roman God myths and lets the reader have fun. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story.

For more information about the book see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Titan's_Curse

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

The third book of the Harry Potter Series following Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter once again finds him self traveling to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The only problem is that a know killer, Sirius Black has escaped from a maximum security prison and is on the move. He was imprisoned because he was involved in the murder of Harry’s parents. It is assumed that Sirius is going to finish what Voldemort finish as it seems that he is heading towards Hogwarts.

This was another great story about Harry and his friends. I believe it gives readers a more in depth view of what it is like to attend Hogwarts as this book is in my opinion less mysterious than the first two. This book is a lot of fun and very enjoyable to read as we follow Harry on different adventures throughout this book. It is reader safe for any child but it also not too childish that an older reader won’t enjoy it.

For a more in depth look at the book see;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Prisoner_of_Azkaban

The Golden Compus

The Golden Compass is one of those books that I may like to read one day. I have read a few reviews on this book and have mixed feelings. If anyone has any thoughts please feel free to share them.

Here are the reviews that I have read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Lights_(novel)

http://www.sfreviews.net/goldencompass.html

I have seen the movie, which I did enjoy. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTqvePWxrYA 

Great Gift Ideas This Christmas

Looking for a good fantasy book to give this christmas? Any book on this blog is a great idea.

Or you can check out these links.

Kids http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/best-children's-fantasy-books.html

http://fantasyguide.stormthecastle.com/fantasyguide_essays/child-fantasy-books.htm

Older Audiance

http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/top25-fantasy-books.php

The Way of Shadows

The Way of Shadows is a more recent book (released in 2008) by Brent Weeks, and is the first of his Night Angle Trilogy. This book is about the development of a young "Guild Rat" named Azoth, into a deadly killer or "Wetboy". The difference between a wetboy and an assassin is that assassins have targets, wetboys have deaders, as in that person is the walking dead the moment a wetboy takes on his contract. Azoth lives in the Warrens (almost like a ghetto) of the city of Cenaria, a city plagued by corruption and poverty where the majority of the book takes place. Magical forces are getting ready to make their move and by the end of this book Azoth will have begun to change the world forever.

This is one of the most violent, fowl language, cruel book I have ever read and it is full of atrocities committed against everything imaginable; and yet I have never read such a large book so fast, meaning I loved it. This is truly a book for a much older audience, which combines the dark underworld of crime and corruption to magic, adventure, and even some romance. I have never read anything like this before and it was like a breath of fresh air. The Way of Shadows leaves all of those conventional magic and adventure books behind and takes the reader into the darkness of an underworld crime syndicate who controls everything behind the scenes. This was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to change things up.

Interested? Check out this like http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/494.html

Stone of Tears

The Stone of Tears is the second book of The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind, the first book being Wizards First Rule. In this book Richard Cypher finds out that he is in fact Richard Rahl the son of Darken Rahl the villain from the first book. He also finds out that his own magic will kill him unless he receives help form another wizard which happens in an unseen was as Richard is taken away by sorceries who calls herself a Sister of the Light. However not all is as it seems as dark forces move to destroy the world. Richard is faced with many new puzzles all revolving around himself. Can he master his own magic, will he figure out why he has been taken away, and can Richard save the world once again?

Stone of Tears can be a little slower as Richard is forced to figure out what is really going on in the world. The language, content, and subject matter are in my opinion more suited for an older user audience (15 or older). This said it is an original idea and very interesting novel that combines a lot of mystery, action, romance, and surprisingly logical thinking which really makes for a good read. This is a story about finding out the truth as Richard uses logic and follows his sense of right to lead him down his path.

For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_of_Tears

The Elfstones of Shannara

The Elfstones of Shannara is the second book by Terry Brooks of the Original Shannara Trilogy. In this book the mysterious Allanon returns in search of Wil Ohmsford, the son of Shea Ohmsford form the first book The Sword of Shannara . Allanon's informs Wil that he is needed to protect the world from a horde of demons that threaten to break loose into this world. Alone side Amberle Elessedil, Wil is sent to look for the bloodfire fountain in hopes of reviving the Ellcrys tree which can banish the demons back into their own world.

The Elfstones of Shannara is a great adventure book that once again delivers original content involving battles, adventure, magic, mysteries, and romance. It constantly took new twists and turns as mew challenges constantly change the course of the book such as a demon called the reaper constantly hunting the two main characters throughout the book. This is a good read for any true fantasy fan and is more suited for teens as it is a longer book and the writing style is more advanced.

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elfstones_of_Shannara

Brisingr

Fire. The title of this third book of the Inheritance Cycle is called Brisingr which in the ancient language is the true name for fire. Eragon finds himself caught up in many different situations including the war with the empire, acting as a political tool for the choosing of a new dwarf king, trying to complete his training, and finding a new sword that is worthy of a dragon rider. In addition he is still trying to sort out his feelings about the elf that he loves Arya, without pushing her away and Murtagh his brother. Firstly though, Eragon has set out with his cousin Roran to confront and defeat the murderers of his uncle Garrow, the Ra'Zac. New secrets are revealed and new plot twists unfold as Eragon continues towards his destiny, what that is however is still a mystery.

This is another amazing book written by Christopher Paolini about the land of Alagaesia  and the legacy of the dragon riders. The first two books are Eragon and Eldest both excellent books revealing in my opinion, Eragons training towards becoming a dragon rider. This third book is more about Eragon taking a more front seat approach to becoming a leader and hero who can defeat Galbatorix and save the lands. It was a frilling book full of breath taking action, mystery, new plot turns/ developments, and imagination. This series has become my personal favourite and I would recommend this book and the fiirst books to anyone.

The Voyage of The Dawn Treader Movie

The Voyage of The Dawn Trader is going to be a movie released this coming December. I have read the book and am excited about this new development. Check it out at this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvksmVuS4vQ&feature=related

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspin

In this book the four Pevensie children are called back to Narnia to find that things have changed for the worse. The lands have been conquered by the Telmarines spread across the land destroying the magical creatures and talking animals. The only hope for peace once again is Prince Caspian, a Telmarine who has a love for magic and those creatures who he believes are only stories. Prince Caspian soon finds that the stories of old are very much real and that Old Narnia still exists, waiting to be liberated. The battle over Narnia is about to begin and with the aid of Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund, Prince Caspian confronts his Uncle; the king for the future of Narnia. The only question; where is Aslan?   

This is the third book in the series which makes up The Chronicles of Narnia, following The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Although this book has been made into a very good movie, I still have to say that the book is more enjoyable and that the movie takes a few different plot twists which do not happen in the book. It is a great read for anyone of any age and once again delivers imagination, adventure, and mystery that anyone will enjoy.

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters is the second book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The Sea of Monsters is about the quest of Percy, Annabeth, Clarisse, and Tyson as they search for the Golden Fleece from an evil Cyclops to help revive Thalias tree which guards Camp Half Blood with its magic. Percy also finds out that his friend Grover has been kidnapped by the same Cyclops and that he lives on an island in The Sea of Monsters. In addition to the quest to save Grover and find the Golden Fleece, Percy discovers that a plot to revive the evil Titan Lord Kronos, overthrow Olympus, and destroy Camp Half Blood.

The Sea of Monsters is the sequel to the Lightning Thief and displays the same creative and original themes/ideas which made the Lightning Thief a great book. It is also a short read well suited for children or anyone who loves fantasy or adventure novels. I personally loved the new plot twists and character developments as Percy Jackson continues his development into a hero and to fulfill the prophecy about his 16th birthday.

Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets

This is the second book in the Harry Potter series following Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone. In this book Harry returns to Hogwarts to find that students have been coming under attack by a mysterious monster that can petrify people, animals, and even ghosts. They soon find out that the chamber of secrets has been opened and that it is not the first time in history that it has happened. The last time the chamber was opened a student actually died. The race is on as Harry, Ron and Hermione try to figure out this mystery before the school is shut down permanently.

This book is another storey about Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger as they try to unravel another mystery. When I first read this book as in public school I could actually here the voice of the monster as it s voice traveled down the hallway. I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. It is a quick read, very easy to understand, and delivers action, adventure, mystery, and imaginative ideas.

For more information check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Secrets

The Sword of Shannara

The Sword of Shannara is the first of many books in the Shannara series by Terry Brooks. Thos first book is about Shea Ohmsford, a half human/half elf who is the last decendent of the great elf warrior Jerle Shannara. Shea soon finds himself the only one who can save the 4 lands as the druid Allanon suddenly appears one day telling Shea that the evil warlock lord has returned and has built an army to conquer the world. The only thing that can stop the Warlock Lord is The Sword of Shannara the legendary blade given to Shea's ancestor, Jerl Shannara. Thus the adventure begins to find the sword and defeat the Warlock Lord.

This is the first book of a truly great series. Many people claim that this book too closely mirrors the Lord of The Rings, but I still enjoyed this story as it was more advanced for an older audience (teenagers and older) as the font is smaller, the books are longer, and the language is more advanced. This book delivers magic, adventure, battles, riddles, and even a small romance.

For more information please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Shannara

Eldest: Eargons Adventure Continues

Eldest is the second book of the Inheritance Series following Book 1; Eragon. In this book Eragon continues his training to become a true dragon rider while trying to overcome an injury received by the evil shade Durza. Time is running short for Eragon as the Empire has assembled its army to crush the resistance once and for all, with Eragon being the only person capable of stopping them.

Eldest continues the great adventure started in book 1: Eragon, which continues to captivate readers with a new take on magic and adventure. Any fantasy reader will enjoy this book which is easy to read but lasts more than a few days. Eldest is not as action packed as book 1 because most of this book is about Eragon's training and the events leading to the upcoming war between the Empire and the rebel group; The Varden. Overall this book wont disappoint any fantasy reader as it incorporates magic, adventure, mystery, and an epic romance.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

For those of you who have seen the movie and havenot read The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I have to insist that you read the book as it is 10 times better (though the movie was very well done).

I personally was captivated by this tale of good vs. evil, as Peter, Lucy, Susan and Edmund Pevensie are thrown into a world of magic and wonder. This paradise however has been cursed for 100 years by an everlasting winter by the white witch who the four children must overcome.

This book is very imaginative and easy to read making it more suited for children. This said I believe that imaginative books like this are great for people of all ages as any true fantasy fan would love this book.

New Release: The Last Olympian

The final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olypians  series; The Last Olympian has been released. This should prove to be an exciting end to an enjoyable series. 

Here are some reviews!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4502507-the-last-olympian 

Harry Potter: The worlds greatest hit!

Here he is, Harry Potter the most famous wizard in the world. I know that many people hate Harry Potter because he is so famous or represents a children’s book but I have to say that as everybody knows it is a great story. I read this book almost 10 years ago when I was still in public school. This adventure book really took me away to another world of magic which captivated me and entertained me for hours at a time. The first book was really written in my opinion for older children as it is a very easy read and there are no complicated words (except for the spells....lol). The storyline is unique, very creative and just a lot of fun as we follow Harry on his journey to become a wizard. There is also a bit of humor as we follow Harry through his classes of inexperienced wizards trying to learn magic.

Now if you have never read Harry Potter or seen any of the movies, here is a quick description of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Harry Potter is an unhappy kid who lives with his Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin in a small cupboard room. He is not really liked by anyone at school or at home; he just does not really fit in. Eventually he finds out that he is really an under aged wizard and that he can attend the wizards school, Hogwarts School for Which Craft and Wizardry. While at school Harry has many different adventures and quickly makes the best friends he will ever have named Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger. There is one thing however; everything at Hogwarts is not all right as Harry soon finds a mystery with which he is involved with. This is the first book of Harries adventures at Hogwarts which are filled with mystery, excitement, and adventure.

The Lightning Thief: Great Entertainment

Now I know that there is a movie based on this book already and in fact it was actually really good. But the book and movie are NOT the same and there are some BIG variations between them. If you have watched the movie already then read the book as it is still really good. If you have not seen the movie then DONT. Not until you have read the book first. It will ruin the books full effects.

The Lightning Thief is a tale about Percy Jackson who is a boy whose life is about to change forever. This is the first of five books which makes up the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. When I first found his book I was hesitant to read it as it is considered a child’s book. Good thing I decided to read it anyways as it was really exciting and just a breath of fresh air. Some of the language read is meant for children and the main character does talk in first person, but overall it is entertaining and even funny at times. The new ideas of Olympus and the Greek gods are really creative and make a whole new adventure the like I have never read before. There is also some mystery involved through prophecies of doom and I constantly found myself reading for long periods of time in order to find out what happens in the end. This book captured my attention so greatly that I read this book in two days! Ok so the book is not really that long compared to what I am used to reading but still, I was captivated and hungry for the next book.

For those of you who are interested in having a quick preview of the book then here it is. As stated the book is about Percy Jackson, a not so normal kid as he is soon to find out. Soon into the book Percy finds out the he is a Demi-God, which means that his Mother is human and his Father is a god. He eventually arrives at a camp for demy-gods or half bloods as they refer to themselves as they are half human and half god. Percy also finds out that he has been accused of stealing the lightning bolt of Zeus and has until the summer solstice to return it or there will be a war that will shake the world. The only problem, Percy really did not steal the bolt and has no idea where it is. On top of it all, his mother has been kidnapped as a bargaining chip to obtain the bolt which Percy does not have. This is the adventure to not only save Percy’s Mother, but the world itself.

Wizard's First Rule: The Story of Truth

Wizards First Rule is the first of twelve books written by Terry Goodkind, which makes up the Sword of Truth series. In my opinion this is a book more suited for a grown up audience as the villains in this book commit horrible acts, including child abuse. This said I would still recommend this book for anyone at/ over the age of 15. Wizards First Rule was a very interesting and at times very exciting adventure book that combines mysteries, magic, adventure, and love together, which for me meant many hours of nonstop reading. The only downside to this book is that it can get boring with too much discussion about magic and other dealings as the main character tries to understand the world of magic and find the truth to the problems he faces. Some of the events that are taking place during the book can also take a long time to unfold, which can get annoying as you just want to know what will happen next.

For those of you who don't know about this book here is a quick description of what its about:

Wizards First Rule is about a man named Richard Cypher who has grown up as a woods guide in a peaceful land with his brother Michael and good friends Zedd and Chase. There are three main lands in this book all divided by what is called "The Boundary" which prevents anyone from traveling between them. One day Richard finds a woman wandering the forest named Kahlan who is being followed by assassins. Kahlan is looking for a powerful wizard to help her people face a dangerous sorcerer named Darken Rahl who has broken through the boundary to attack her people. Richard soon finds himself named as the Seeker of Truth and is charged with stopping Darken Rahl from obtaining the power over life and death itself. As Richard seeks to find the truth of how to save the world he encounters magic, monsters, witch women, spirits, and Darken Rahl himself.

Eragon- One of My All Time Favourites

So for all of you who have watched and enjoyed the Eragon movie let me tell you that I was sorely disappointed. After reading the Eragon book, for me the movie was just a big let down so don't feel like you know the true story.

Eragon is the first of four books which make up the Inheritance Cycle. The second book is titled Eldest, the third is titled Brisingr, and the fourth has yet to be released.

In my opinion Eragon is one of the greatest books that I have ever read. Any person that likes adventure, magic, sword fights, battles, or magical creatures will enjoy this novel. It has a great story line and yet it does not really incorporate the vast amount of descriptive text that is seen in the Lord of the Rings series. What makes the story even better is that there is always a new element or mystery being developed that really keeps a reader interested. I would recommend Eragon to anyone who enjoys sword and sorcery stories. Eragon is also good for younger children as there is no foul language and it is really just a lot of fun.

For those of you who don't know the story here is a quick introduction to the book:

Eragon is about a young boy named well.. Eragon. He has grown up living in a peaceful valley living off the land, hunting in the mountains, and farming with his family. He has been raiser by his Grandfather and his cousin Roran is like his brother. Then one day while in the mountains he discovers a magic stone which turns out to be a dragon egg. After the dragon hatches Eragon becomes linked with the dragon which starts him down the path of a dragon rider. He soon leaves his home to protect his family and take revenge for the loved one he loses. Eragon soon takes on a teacher who shows him how to fight, use magic, and helps protect him. Eragon's also soon finds himself caught in a war with no escape as it mainly revolves around him. Battles, adventures, friends, enemies, mysteries, an epic romance, death, and bad fortune are all in store for Eragon and the people around him as his destiny begins to unfold.