Steven A. Guglich
Izaic Yorks takes us to a world of intrigue, adventure, and magic where people fight for their freedom from the oppresive reign of the Lord Prime.
I'm not one for spoilers, so I won't say too much. But the magic sytem that Izaic Yorks has created is so unique and very well thought out. I found myself thinking about it often, and wondering what it would be like to be ascendant.
The author has also crafted a unique world, honing his world building skills on this first novel and immersing us in a world of varied and unique cultures, with customs, beliefs, and languages that were all beleiveable.
This book is worth the read.
Ahamad has created a new generation of fairy tales relevant to our time. In these tales of creatures and people faced with moral and personal dilemma, the author gives us more to think about and to talk with our children about. If you're looking for a fresh take on fairy tales to share with your children, this book would be a great addition to your collection.
Jack Adkins debut novel is a fun, exciting romp into a fantasy world rich with culture, intrigue, and magic. I love great world building, and Mr. Adkins did not disappoint. In a world ruled by dragons, there are those who posses magic but are forbidden to use it. Enter Anuka... a red-skinned goblin with one heck of a backstory. Add in a motley crew of unlikely companions and you have one great adventure. I don't want to spoil it, so I'm just gonna say that I highly recommend you pick up this gem of a fantasy novel.
Laura Detering has woven a timeless tale that is familiar, yet fresh and exciting. The magic system and world building are top-notched, revealing a world that is rich with wonder and immersive in its detail.
And not only that, it was a wonderful walk down memory lane as Detering artfully uses familiar elements of the 1990s to set the tone and bring us back to a time that we had long forgot.
One area that I'd like to spotlight is the tender side of romance that is all too often lost in a great story. The romance between the main characters, Will and Liddy, is palpable and realistic, yet Detering doesn't push the envelope (pun intended) when it comes to the sexual tension between several of the characters... its there, but the author masterfully weaves it into the story, holding back the “spice” and shows us that a good romance story doesn't have to lead to sex.
I'm looking forward to the next installment of what seems to be the start of a fantastic and fun series.
Imagine what it'd be like if Maya Angelou wrote an epic fantasy story! You'd get The Fifth Season! Jemisin immerses us in a world of epic fantasy with a twinge of sci-fi, and a dash of the poetic, lyrical prose that Maya Angelou is known for.
The story, written from three different character POVs, switches from 2nd person and 3rd person limited (with a leaning toward near omniscient.) I know, it sounds strange... but for some reason, through Jemison's magical way with words, this writing style works!
The writing style, the characters, and the world building are masterfully done in this heartbreaking tale of life in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world.
I would not recommend this book for young readers. There are many adult-oriented scenes that include extreme violence, profanity, and sexual situations.
He had me at “Xelnath of the Gnarled Root...”
This was a fun romp through a well-built fantasy world. This book has great characters that just get you in the feels.
Munden's D&D roots shine through with some classic tropes done well.
If you're looking for a fun, feel-good fantasy that goes from cozy to epic adventure, this is the book for you.
I really like this book... but I wanted to love it. But, to explain further, that would give away some spoilers... so here is the obligatory...
:::SPOILER ALERT:::
I started the Codex Alera series because I was curious about its origins. The legendary bet posed to Butcher by another writer... can you write a story based on two cheesy concepts, that being Pokemon and the Lost Roman Legion. And in my estimation, I think Butcher failed the bet. Now don't get me wrong. The story is great. Butcher manages to create a magic system that rivals the best in any epic fantasy. The magic is based on these creatures, called Furies... the supposed Pokemon part of the bet. But they do not resemble Pokemon in anyway, they are much cooler... they are the magic of the Codex Alera.
Now, the Lost Roman Legion aspect is pretty interesting, but I will reserve my nit-picky issues with this aspect until I've read the whole series.
My biggest disappoint with this series is the World Building. Butcher writes a great story, and builds a really cool world. But he misses a lot of potential in his world building. One of the biggest things that I feel he dropped the ball with is the technological advancement. Here we have a society based on ancient Rome. The Aleran Society has existed for several thousand years, has learned how to harness the magic of this world, yet they are still pretty much stuck back at the level of ancient Rome. I can imagine some really great advancements these lost Romans from Earth could have come up with, especially now that they have magic. But, as a friend of mine and I discussed, this seems to be a fault of many great epic fantasy books.
Overall, the story is good. It starts off a little slow, but it certainly picks up. However, Butcher does something I've not seen in other books. He tells a part of the story from one POV and then resolves it from that characters POV, and then goes back and tells the same story from a different POV. The reason why this style of storytelling really sticks out to me is because these POV scenes go on for many chapters and you almost forget about the other characters. To me it feels a bit jarring.
Hohmann's sequel to the first SunRider Saga book does not disappoint. What I really love about this series is its uniqueness. The author does a great job of building up to climatic scenes.
Although the middle of this book seemed to drag on a bit, it was totally worth reading because it builds to a few really awesome scenes in the book.
I am truly looking forward to book three.
Hohmann has created a rich an interesting world that answers the question, “What if there were superheroes in a world of sword and sorcery?” Imagine The Avengers, only in a world of fantasy. The main character, Finn SunRider, (the Peter Parker of this world, if you will) embarks on a quest to become a hero. But he starts out first learning to become a friend. And that is one of my favorite parts about this story; the theme of friendship. Ignore what other reviewers have said about the relationship between Finn and Goblin. The author does a great job of bringing these two misfits together and he does a good job of explaining why these two have such an endearing friendship. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who enjoy superheroes and fantasy.
A fabulous tale that twists the real with the surreal. The authors do a fabulous job of writing a genre piece that starts off as historical fiction during WWII and transitions into a sci-fi story with a side of romance.
The main characters are a lovable bunch; the crew of an Air Force bomber named The Fata Morgana. And this is where this book really shines. These characters, feel relatable and real, plucked straight out of the Golden Age of the 30s and 40s. As they struggle to adapt to a world with technology far beyond their own, their quirkiness stands out.
This is a story that Hollywood needs to pick up and turn into a movie. From beginning to end this a tale that takes the reader on a wild ride.
Wow! This book takes you on an epic ride! My favorite thing about this book is really Erikson's prose! This guy is a master wordsmith capable of painting pictures with the finesse of a true literary artist.
I will admit the book does take sometime to get into it. It is filled with lots of characters, more then most epic fantasy books. But halfway through you see where Erikson is taking the story and you're like, “Oh... I see what he did there.”
A fantasy spin on some western-themed tropes, Sanderson spins a fantastic tale about a bounty hunter named the White Fox. Too many spoilers to give a thorough review, but certainly worth reading.
I will say, my biggest disappointment with this story was the familial references to traditional concepts and colloquialisms that are difficult for me to see used in a world that is obviously not earth. Sanderson does this a lot in his Cosmere books and I cannot hope but wonder if this is intentional or just Sanderson's way of making connections for modern day readers.
I've read both adaptations of White Sand. Once again, Sanderson proves himself a master of magic systems and introduce another unique magic system to the Cosmere.
Although the visuals of the White Sand Graphic Novel are beautiful, what is missing here in the graphic novel is Sanderson's masterful prose as a storyteller. Now don't get me wrong, I have always been a fan of graphic novels. But I truly missed Sanderson's unique ability to paint the beauty of a story by allowing us to get into the characters minds and tell us a little more about the world we are reading. The subtle ways he describes characters and setting is missing in the graphic novel.
The excerpt of the unfinished novel, found in Arcanum Unbound is really good, and I do wish he'd finish it.
Sanderson's grasp of magic is mind boggling. The man has done it again... gone and created yet another complex and realistic magic system. Picture this, on the planet Sel, the same planet as Elantris their exists another empire on the other side of the world, far from the city of Elantris. There are people in this land called forgers... not just forgers of money, documents, or artwork. They use magic to forge... well, if I told you I would spoil the story.
Suffice it to say, this was a compelling story. It's not my favorite one of Sanderson's, but it is certainly interesting and well worth reading just to learn about the magic system featured on the other side of the Sel.
One question remains for me? How is/was/does the magic system featured in The Emperor's Soul affected by the ten years Elantris was in ruin?
Sanderson, the Great World Builder and storyteller brings us another epic story in his Cosmere Universe. Set in a world wear color is magic, powered by a force the people call breath, Warbreaker tells the tale of two sisters who are caught in a war of cultures and religions.
If Sanderson were a god of Hallendren he'd be known as World Builder the Mind Blower for only he could weave a unique magic system with complex characters, several realistic cultures and religions into an epic tale of palace intrigue and redemption.
One of the nice things about this book is that it can be read as a standalone story. You do not have to read any other Sanderson novels to enjoy this book. Fans of epic fantasy will find this book satisfying and entertaining, while fans of Sanderson's Cosmere will be amazed and intrigued. This is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy fiction.
Note: The content is for mature readers. Though there is no profanity, gratuitous violence, or gratuitous sex scenes in this novel, there are mature scenes of a sexual nature that I would not recommend for young readers under 18.
Note: Sanderson's other book, “The Way of Kings” has set the bar so high for me now, I find it hard to rate any book a 5, though this one does come close.
A great science-fantasy novel, with a superhero-like twist. This was a fun read with lots of action. Though, I was surprised at the amount of descriptive gore. So I wouldn't recommend reading this with younger kids.
Buy the book, but stand clear of the audio-book. I started listening to the audio-book and the narrator was so bad, it was ruining the story for me. But, I was intrigued by the story alone, so I had to dump the audio-book and read the kindle version. I'm glad I did.
I picked up this series for many reasons... 1) I was assured that it was family friendly 2) I'm a big fan of urban fantasy 3) I was intrigued by the overarching concept of the series. I was not disappointed. However, to describe The Tethered World as an Urban Fantasy does not do it justice. A better description would be “a delightful family-friendly epic fantasy in a modern setting.”
My son and I read The Tethered World together and we both loved it. For me it was very reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. Not that the story was like the Narnia series, but it had the same feel... the same tone, only in a more modern setting. Fitzgerald's writing style is perfect for both child and adult, keeping the interest of my son and I. There were days when my son would beg for us to read one more chapter. We certainly look forward to reading the next book in the series.