Tag Archives: fantasy
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I spent some time debating whether to give The Name of the Wind 3 stars or 4. I finally settled on 4, in large part because of Patrick Rothfuss‘s incredible language and the phenomenal job Nick Podehl did as narrator. That being said, the book had several pacing issues, a female love interest I find impressively boring and off-putting, and a protagonist I hated for the first third of the book. Despite this rocky going, however, when I finished the book my impression was largely positive. I think this is an excellent book to illustrate the concept that sometimes the whole is greater than the parts. I am definitely looking forward to listening to The Wise Man’s Fear, but will most likely give my ears a week or so sans headphones before doing so.
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Leave a comment | tags: 4 stars, bloody spiders, book review, books, boozy, denizens of hell, fantasy, fiction, kingkiller chronicles, kvothe, magical creatures, name of the wind, patrick rothfuss, precocious kiddos, recommended by a friend, review, this way there be dragons, witches & wizards | posted in Words
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire proved to be an excellent choice for a non-horror Halloween read. In it, J.K. Rowling sharply continues her addition of darkness to the series. We see Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the gang returning to Hogwart’s for yet another year. As usual, there are also dark deeds going on, but the focus this year is on the Triwizard Tournament. Despite rules requiring contestants to be 17, Harry naturally ends up in the mix. Adventures ensue. Naturally, there is a giant spider. Why is there always a giant bloody spider? *grumbles* In spite of that, the book is excellent. Also, there is a merciful lack of Quidditch game play by plays.
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Leave a comment | tags: 4 stars, bloody spiders, book review, books, children, fantasy, fiction, fooooood, Harry Potter, impending doom, magical creatures, precocious kiddos, re-read potential, recommended by a friend, review, witches & wizards, young adult | posted in Words
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Locke Lamora is what Oliver Twist could have been, had he not been so impossibly perfectly naive to the point of stupidity and dull innocent. Actually, I suppose one would have to say Locke has more in common with The Artful Dodger. An orphan who becomes a skilled thief, but with far more intelligence and skill. And burning down of large inns. In The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch creates a cast of characters who you’ll love and who will make you laugh. An equisite work of fantasy that overlaps heavily with the action genre, I highly recommend this work to anyone who likes their characters to be badass and have questionable motives.
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Leave a comment | tags: 4 stars, action or adventure, badassery, bloody spiders, book review, books, everybody dies, fantasy, fiction, questionable motives, review, up to no good, xposted to OSgA reviews | posted in Words
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is more of the same delightful fun with which J.K. Rowling filled the first two books of the series, but with a darker bent and twice the pages. In it we again see Harry, Ron, and Hermione embarking on a new school year. The have yet another new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher. They learn why having Hagrid as a Care of Magical Creatures teacher is not an entirely good idea. Malfoy continues being a jerk. The main difference is the combined subtlety and darkness of the villains. The danger felt more real and the suspense was artfully built. I’m looking forward to the next one!
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Leave a comment | tags: 4 stars, book review, books, fantasy, Harry Potter, review, young adult | posted in Words
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Recommended as “steamalicious.” A very accurate description. Surprisingly fun.
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Leave a comment | tags: 3 stars, book review, books, fantasy, review | posted in Words
The Skystone by Jack Whyte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really did not care for the beginning section of the book. It was boring. Once it got past the initial stage, I really enjoyed it. The story is told as the memories of Publius Varrus, a former Roman soldier of noble blood who is also a blacksmith. Much of it concerns his relationship with Caius Brittanicus, an even higher noble who is his military commander for years and becomes a very close friend. The title comes from a rock which fell to earth thirty years prior from which Varrus’ grandfather made him a dagger of an unknown, extremely hard metal. Both Britannicus and Varrus become obsessed with the hunt for more of these stones. Their search takes place against the backdrop of a Britain preparing for the Fall of the Empire. Overall, an excellent story. I look forward to continuing the series.
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Leave a comment | tags: Arthurian legend, Britain, fantasy, fiction, Roman Empire | posted in Words