I have begun (once again) Star of the Morning, Book 1 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms

Back in April 2016, a mere month or so before I began this mostly humble blog, I wrote the following post on Facebook:

Due to the fact that this semester is reeking havoc with my reading schedule, I must postpone my reading of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms; simply put, the series deserves more time and energy than I have.
I am therefore switching to Oathblood by Mercedes Lackey, a book of short stories featuring the adventures of my favorite she'enedra sisters of sword and spell - mercenaries Kethry and Tarma (and Warrl!)

It was my final semester in college, so spare time was a rarity. Anyway, it has been quite a long postponement, and the tale has been sitting patiently on my bookshelf ever since. Yet the time of waiting is over for I have begun once again Star of the Morning, Book 1 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms!

A King whose lost his magic, an Archmage with plenty, and a Mercenary who is about to find herself thrust into an arcane destiny where magic, love, swords, and deadly danger are bound together around a rather sudden and alarming mage-born mystery and war. I never wanted to stop this book the first time and now, like the Swords of Neroche and Angesand, it speaks to me again, calling me to the Nine Kingdoms.

Official Book Review: The Thief and the Historian, Book One of the Runetree Chronicles by Brendan Corbett

I just finished The Thief and the Historian, Book One of the Runetree Chronicles by Brendan Corbett and, as the author requested, now give it an Official Book Review.

One thing I have learned in my vast Fantasy reading is not to let the size of a book shape my assumptions, for there are no shortage of short classics in the genre. And while I would not call The Thief and the Historian a classic, I can say with absolute surety that it packs a whole, carefully thought-out, and unique world within its slender form. From a race of merchants who forge coins yet find no value in them to magic written on the air, from gods-blessed Runetrees that record all of history per the legendary Order of Historians to a dark plot that seemly would wipe them out. Alas, given the shortness of the book I can say little without giving spoilers, but it was a pleasure watching Aeda and Gieral journey across the Known Lands facing several different varieties of danger.

 

(P.S. If you, dear reader, are an author/publisher and reading this review makes you want to ask me for a review too then PLEASE read my Contact Me? page.)

New Riddle Masters

 My newest students are certainly doing well in Riddle Mastery. They have had barely a month of training, as I call it, and four have already solved the Championmaster. They win an award for speed, to be sure.

I just started The Thief and the Historian, Book One of the Runetree Chronicles by Brendan Corbett

At the author's request I just started The Thief and the Historian, Book One of the Runetree Chronicles by Brendan Corbett.

I am always on the lookout for unique Fantasies and a book featuring an elusive society of thieves and a legendary order of Historians mandated by the gods to roam and record history definitely fits the bill. Add ancient mysteries, magical creatures, and a young thief who wants to find a better life and it should come as no surprise that I put aside my general wariness of writing book reviews to take this one up – though naturally the Official Book Review will come after I finish it.

I have finished The Trillias Gambit, Book Three of J.V. Hilliard's Warminster Series

"Crimson flags borne on horses of white, see them ride, ye children of light." – The Ballad of Eldwal

I have finished The Trillias Gambit, Book Three of J.V. Hilliard's Warminster Series.

"A path without challenge is the wrong way" goes the Erudian proverb, "and the best laid plans never survive first contact with the enemy" goes one from an entirely different book, and both are equally applicable in the best of ways here. For it was a tense pleasure watching the carefully laid plans of the fell alliance from the Dragon’s Breath Mountains come undone as Prince Montgomery arrived on time, Viscount Joferian rescued his Ember from Scarlett, a cryptid was unmasked, and a great battle won - if at great cost. Yet two thirds of the alliance thrives still, for though the Black Rose has wilted his Shadow masters live. Though Daemus recovered the book and the heart of a god, Graytorris the Mad flies with destruction not even Sir Ritter Valkeneer's Silencer and Princess Addilyn Elspeth's magic can fell. I always wondered how the Dragon’s Breath Mountains got their name, as well as the origins of the Moor Bog. Now the whole of Warminster will find out.

“The blade of betrayal, the sharpest of weapons, is wielded not by your enemies, but by your friends." – Warminster the Mage

My father and I just finished The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh

My father and I just finished The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh.

One of the nice things about being a school librarian is that you learn about the latest literary hits, and this one caught my eye the moment I saw it. A short yet delightful tale as much informed by Asian mythology as modern issues such as greed and exploitation, it was fascinating watching Jiho Park - a boy immune to magic - brave the magical and deadly Kidahara forest, a wilderness the realm's Princess Koko along with many others disappeared into without a trace. Until the forest spits them out again, pitting them and Jiho against an evil that would destroy not only the Kidahara but the entire human world. Making this a most refreshing Fantasy, the Eastern influences giving it a sparkle in a genre still largely defined by Western-based worlds.

Quote of the month

"Wishes cannot be summoned up or kept away at will. They come from deeper within us than good or bad intentions. And they spring up unannounced.” - Michael Ende