Althalus is probably the best thief in the world. He has quite the reputation...but also the skills to back that up. So when his luck goes sour, he wonders if something is wrong. Then he meets Ghend, a seedy-looking character who wants to hire Althalus for a job. He wants Althalus to steal a book from the House at the Edge of the World.
Althalus wonders at Ghend's sanity, but when Ghend offers to pay him the Book's weight in gold, he decides he can't pass it up. He spends a few weeks traveling to the House, but once he gets there...nothing will ever be the same.
Althalus gets trapped in the House with a cat he names Emerald who can talk. He spends the next couple centuries learning how to use the Book to make things happen--all in preparation to save the world. First though, he must venture out of the House to find the people he needs. Those people all have tasks that need to be done as well, if they're to succeed.
It's pretty hard to sum up a 800-page book in a short blurb. This doesn't even scratch the surface of what happens in this book. Eddings was a masterful storyteller, and I already miss his great wit and story-telling. This is one of his few fantasy books that is told all in one book--the rest take several. He himself admitted it helped not making his characters travel by foot or horse most of the time. If you're looking for a great fantasy story, pick this book up. And, while it isn't teen, it's appropriate for them too--no swearing, nudity, or other things people find so objectionable.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
When Ethan was 7, he was kidnapped from his front yard, in front of his 4-year old brother Blake. Now at 16, he's made his way back home.
It hasn't been easy. He remembers living with a woman named Ellen, then being dropped off at a group home and running away. Now that he's home with his family, nothing seems familiar--not the house, his parents, or his brother. Not even Cami, his best friend from childhood. As Ethan settles back into his life, questions remain. Why can't he remember anything from the years before he was kidnapped? Why is nothing familiar? Blake, Ethan's little brother, is especially suspicious, and has a hard time accepting Ethan back into the family.
But is everything as it seems?
Good suspense and believable. Ethan tells this story, and while he's reliable, you wonder what he's hiding and why.
It hasn't been easy. He remembers living with a woman named Ellen, then being dropped off at a group home and running away. Now that he's home with his family, nothing seems familiar--not the house, his parents, or his brother. Not even Cami, his best friend from childhood. As Ethan settles back into his life, questions remain. Why can't he remember anything from the years before he was kidnapped? Why is nothing familiar? Blake, Ethan's little brother, is especially suspicious, and has a hard time accepting Ethan back into the family.
But is everything as it seems?
Good suspense and believable. Ethan tells this story, and while he's reliable, you wonder what he's hiding and why.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Soulbound:The Legacy of Tril by Heather Brewer
I got this book from Heather Brewer (yay) as an Advanced Reader's Copy. The book is going to be published in July.
I'm not going to say a lot about it, but I will a little. Because I enjoyed it so much.
First of all...it's the first in a new series by Brewer. I'm dying to read the 2nd book. I read the 1st one this morning. Yes, this morning. I couldn't put it down, and refused to until I had it read.
The basic story is this: The main character, Kaya, lives in a world that has Barrons, Healers, and the Unskilled. The Barrons are born with a fighting 'gene'--it makes them natural fighters. They are bonded with a Healer, someone born with the healing 'gene'--and Healers can bring Barrons back from the brink of death. The Unskilled are well, people who aren't born with one of these traits. Kaya is a Healer, but she's in hiding. Her parents broke the rules when they fell in love and got married--they're both Barrons. So when Kaya is discovered, she's threatened to either learn how to become a Healer or her parents will be imprisoned or killed. So she goes to the Shadow Academy. Healers are expected to learn some about healing, mostly about why they're suppose to follow their bonded Barrons around. Kaya wants to learn how to fight, which is forbidden.
This story has it all--action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, fantasy, and romance. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. And I still can't!
So...go preorder it now. I'll wait here.
I'm not going to say a lot about it, but I will a little. Because I enjoyed it so much.
First of all...it's the first in a new series by Brewer. I'm dying to read the 2nd book. I read the 1st one this morning. Yes, this morning. I couldn't put it down, and refused to until I had it read.
The basic story is this: The main character, Kaya, lives in a world that has Barrons, Healers, and the Unskilled. The Barrons are born with a fighting 'gene'--it makes them natural fighters. They are bonded with a Healer, someone born with the healing 'gene'--and Healers can bring Barrons back from the brink of death. The Unskilled are well, people who aren't born with one of these traits. Kaya is a Healer, but she's in hiding. Her parents broke the rules when they fell in love and got married--they're both Barrons. So when Kaya is discovered, she's threatened to either learn how to become a Healer or her parents will be imprisoned or killed. So she goes to the Shadow Academy. Healers are expected to learn some about healing, mostly about why they're suppose to follow their bonded Barrons around. Kaya wants to learn how to fight, which is forbidden.
This story has it all--action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, fantasy, and romance. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. And I still can't!
So...go preorder it now. I'll wait here.
Elenium and Tamuli series by David Eddings
So...every once in a while I branch out from YA/Teen literature and read something different. I've been an avid fan of David Eddings since I discovered his books in high school. I, like most of his fans, started off with the Belgariad series. While most fans have issues with the Elenium and Tamuli series, I really do enjoy them. Actually, I enjoy pretty much everything by David Eddings, may he rest in peace, because he was a fabulous author. And I really got his humor (which is sarcastic or dry...like mine!).
So...we'll start with the Elenium series. This series is made up of 3 books...The Diamond Throne, The Ruby Knight, and The Sapphire Rose. They feature a knight in his late thirties--a hardened warrior who fights for his church, but also serves as the Queen's champion. The Church Knight's name is Sparhawk, and he really is a disagreeable fellow. He returns from exile at the beginning of The Diamond Throne to find his queen has been poisoned and is near death. His quest is to find a cure, save the queen, and then the world.
It's hard to talk about the Tamuli series without giving some things away, but suffice to say, Sparhawk survives the battles and such in the first series. The three books in this series are called Domes of Fire, The Shining Ones, and The Hidden City. Sparhawk is once again called upon to save the world, with the help of his friends.
What I love about these books: There are good guys and bad guys and they're battling over the world. There's humor, there's adventure, and no swearing or sex (well, the swearing is there, but they aren't our swearwords). It's good wholesome fun. There's violence, but I mean, when you're fighting evil gods and have knights...of course there's going to be fighting! Whenever I have a teen looking for a good fantasy, I direct them to these books.
So...we'll start with the Elenium series. This series is made up of 3 books...The Diamond Throne, The Ruby Knight, and The Sapphire Rose. They feature a knight in his late thirties--a hardened warrior who fights for his church, but also serves as the Queen's champion. The Church Knight's name is Sparhawk, and he really is a disagreeable fellow. He returns from exile at the beginning of The Diamond Throne to find his queen has been poisoned and is near death. His quest is to find a cure, save the queen, and then the world.
It's hard to talk about the Tamuli series without giving some things away, but suffice to say, Sparhawk survives the battles and such in the first series. The three books in this series are called Domes of Fire, The Shining Ones, and The Hidden City. Sparhawk is once again called upon to save the world, with the help of his friends.
What I love about these books: There are good guys and bad guys and they're battling over the world. There's humor, there's adventure, and no swearing or sex (well, the swearing is there, but they aren't our swearwords). It's good wholesome fun. There's violence, but I mean, when you're fighting evil gods and have knights...of course there's going to be fighting! Whenever I have a teen looking for a good fantasy, I direct them to these books.
Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
Mason's mom is in a fatal car accident, so he's at the hospital when his school is blown up. Now everyone he's ever cared about is dead.
Aries is on the bus on the way back to school when the earthquake hits. Her best friend Sara doesn't survive and a stranger, Daniel, tells her to find a place to hide. He warns her things are going to get worse.
Clementine is at an emergency town meeting with her parents, worried about her brother Heath, when two men armed with guns enter the room. Clementine's mother makes her run...before everyone is shot.
Michael is on the road with his buddy Joe when they see a driver purposefully run a motorcyclist down. When the cops come, they kill the driver. Michael and Joe hitch a ride before they're next.
Something is really wrong with the world, and as these four teens try to survive in a world that has gone completely crazy, only one thing is for sure. They won't survive long.
A great dystopia! Hard to put down yet hard to keep going. The story focuses on five people (yes, I know I only mentioned 4) and switches from story to story. The things that happen to some of the characters during the story are disturbing. But the story is hard to put down.
Aries is on the bus on the way back to school when the earthquake hits. Her best friend Sara doesn't survive and a stranger, Daniel, tells her to find a place to hide. He warns her things are going to get worse.
Clementine is at an emergency town meeting with her parents, worried about her brother Heath, when two men armed with guns enter the room. Clementine's mother makes her run...before everyone is shot.
Michael is on the road with his buddy Joe when they see a driver purposefully run a motorcyclist down. When the cops come, they kill the driver. Michael and Joe hitch a ride before they're next.
Something is really wrong with the world, and as these four teens try to survive in a world that has gone completely crazy, only one thing is for sure. They won't survive long.
A great dystopia! Hard to put down yet hard to keep going. The story focuses on five people (yes, I know I only mentioned 4) and switches from story to story. The things that happen to some of the characters during the story are disturbing. But the story is hard to put down.
The Price of Loyalty by Mike Castan
Manny starts middle school, relieved he's with his best friends Hernan and Cisco. When someone mentions they look like they're a gang during lunch one day, Manny jokes they're called the Conquistadors.
He may have meant it as a joke, but the joke gets serious fast. The guys suddenly take offense at the slightest things and dress and act alike. Manny goes along, unwilling to be a part of the group but afraid to break away.
The guys start getting into drugs, pulling pranks, and other kinds of trouble. Manny likes them less and less, but when a fight breaks out and two guys end up in the hospital, he struggles to decide the right thing to do. Should he stay loyal or should he tell the authorities what he knows?
Starts off slow, but it does get more interesting. Manny is a realistic and true character. While I'd like to believe these things are happening in middle school...reality is, they are. And middle school students will definitely relate to Manny.
He may have meant it as a joke, but the joke gets serious fast. The guys suddenly take offense at the slightest things and dress and act alike. Manny goes along, unwilling to be a part of the group but afraid to break away.
The guys start getting into drugs, pulling pranks, and other kinds of trouble. Manny likes them less and less, but when a fight breaks out and two guys end up in the hospital, he struggles to decide the right thing to do. Should he stay loyal or should he tell the authorities what he knows?
Starts off slow, but it does get more interesting. Manny is a realistic and true character. While I'd like to believe these things are happening in middle school...reality is, they are. And middle school students will definitely relate to Manny.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Envy by Gregg Olson
Katelyn's body was found by her mother shortly after her death. She was electrocuted by an espresso machine in the bathtub. Everyone is shocked to hear of her death--although it wasn't unexpected.
Twins Hayley and Taylor are convinced it wasn't suicide. The twins get feelings every so often that often turn out to be true. So they decide to figure out what happened to Katelyn, and who did it. They need to be careful...they don't want someone to find out about their special talents. There is already a reporter snooping around, connecting the three girls to the bus accident that happened when the girls were 5. Every girl on that bus is now deceased...except for the twins.
As the story moves on, more and more secrets are revealed. It takes a while to really get into the story...I wasn't sure where it was going at all. The chapters are mostly short and easy to get through, although the foreshadowing at the end of most of them got old.
The author talks a lot about evil, but that doesn't really go anywhere. The story was "inspired" by the events that have surrounded the deaths of many teenagers who have been bullied or harassed on online social networks by parents of other teenagers.
Twins Hayley and Taylor are convinced it wasn't suicide. The twins get feelings every so often that often turn out to be true. So they decide to figure out what happened to Katelyn, and who did it. They need to be careful...they don't want someone to find out about their special talents. There is already a reporter snooping around, connecting the three girls to the bus accident that happened when the girls were 5. Every girl on that bus is now deceased...except for the twins.
As the story moves on, more and more secrets are revealed. It takes a while to really get into the story...I wasn't sure where it was going at all. The chapters are mostly short and easy to get through, although the foreshadowing at the end of most of them got old.
The author talks a lot about evil, but that doesn't really go anywhere. The story was "inspired" by the events that have surrounded the deaths of many teenagers who have been bullied or harassed on online social networks by parents of other teenagers.
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