I just started Spellweaver, Book 5 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms.
Evil
spells stolen and mysteriously called, evil brothers to contend with,
and a mage who is just plain evil, plus a rescue mission. Which means
Ruith will need to accomplish the fourth first if he wants any hope of
dealing with the first three and walking away with both his magic and
heart intact. Of course, both he and Sarah will have to come to terms
with themselves and their families if they are to prevent the very and
blessedly dead Gair of Ceangail's lifework from killing them and
everyone they love.
(While I usually never start the next book of a series mere moments after finishing the previous, the ending of A Tapestry of Spells required no less. Which, I might add, is why I enjoy Lynn Kurland's Romantasy. Because the evil spells, regular split-second twists, and the threat of all encompassing doom keeps the blood pumping. Ah, young love...)
I have finished A Tapestry of Spells, Book 4 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms.
Sarah of Doire would get along quite well with Morgan, falling for men full of magic and secrets and disliking each rather intensely. Of course, Ruithneadh of Ceangail's secrets were far worse than Miach's but, that little detail aside, the foul life of Gair, Black Mage of Ceangail, continues to haunt the Nine Kingdoms and his surviving family as obviously others beside Lothar are after his cursed works. Still, at least I got the timeline straight: A Tapestry of Spells ending roughly in the middle of Princess of the Sword, Book 3 of the original trilogy. Here's hoping Ruith and Sarah get themselves out of this little pickle, or a good deal more will end.
My father and I have for the second time finished Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones.
Diana
Wynne Jones: Mistress of the Multiverse and Lady of Endless Surprises –
whom I put second only to J.R.R. Tolkien himself. I know this sounds
absurd, but her wit, skill, and pure genius can even go beyond Tolkien
and J.K. Rowling at times. Read my Hidden Gems page to see my full-blown praise of her,
but even this time Dad was - who after so many years had forgotten the
key plot points - was raving about how Jones is "Shakespearean in her
genius!"
Do NOT let the seeming simplicity of her writing style or plots deceive you. As much as Hexwood, in Archer's Goon nothing is as it appears and Jones is ALWAYS not one but thirteen steps ahead of you, ready with surprises that will leave you flapping your jaw in astonishment as you try to wrap your head around the latest twist.
Romantic Fantasy, or Romantasy as it is called these
days, is generally not my cup of tea, so it takes an especially gripping
one to bring me aboard. Or in this case, bring me back as I have just
started A Tapestry of Spells, Book 4 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms and the beginnings of its second trilogy that seems to be a sequel/companion to the first.
Two years ago this series caught and pulled me along with its ceaseless, heartfelt action, so while I of course hope to see Morgan and Miach again, I am doubly looking forward to getting to know and journeying with Sarah of Doire and Ruithneadh of Ceangail. A soul-shattering journey no doubt, filled with ruthless revelations and dark magics capable of rending the Nine Kingdoms, as the past will always find a person even as they defend the future. Particularly if the source of the evil is one's own family.
"The
Dragonkin Legacy by Ian E.S. Adler is an epic fantasy adventure that
blends historical fiction with mythical elements. I loved the
world-building and the intense action. The narrative style was perfect
to keep the pace of the story, keep the attention of readers on the
plot, and complement the development of the characters. Adler’s vivid
descriptions bring the world of Cynnahu to life, making it easy for
readers to immerse themselves in the story. I loved how the story
explored topics like the consequences of war and how it affects
countless lives. While the plot is intricate and involves numerous
subplots, Adler ties everything together in a satisfying conclusion. The
storytelling is both rich and immersive, drawing readers into a world
that is as enchanting as it is dangerous. Each member of the Team of
Five is well-crafted, with distinct personalities and arcs that evolve
as the narrative unfolds. Sakura’s quest for vengeance adds a raw
emotional edge, while Myrriden’s struggles with fatherhood and duty
provide a clear contrast. Was there ever a moment in the story that felt
lacking? Never! The ending was perfect and made me love the story more.
Highly recommended!" - Rabia Tanveer (starred review for Readers'
Favorite)
"A
fantasy novel replete with magic, lore, and epic stakes, The Last War
by Ian E.S. Adler is a classic questing adventure in the richly imagined
world of Nim-Semalf. The Order of mages and the entire archipelago
they protect faces invasion by the naga, catapulting five unlikely
companions into the fiery crucible of destiny. Amidst ancient riddles,
embattled dragon shrines, fearless storm swords, and the mysterious
motives of Archmages, the fast-moving plot is enthralling, as is this
new realm taking shape before readers' eyes. Built on an elaborate
mythology and supported by a classic fantasy plot of ultimate victory
vs. complete annihilation, this first book in The Cynnahu Saga is a
knockout start to a new series." - Self-Publishing Review (SPR) (starred review)
"Adler has built a complex and detailed fantasy world full of adventure and excitement that keeps readers turning the pages.
The author provides explanations of what people perform in their jobs
that go along with their titles, such as Dragon Guardians, Isle Masters,
Loremasters, and Mages, to name a few. A strong and ideal cast of
characters who are dealing with grief, sacrifice, tricky interactions,
and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds populate the story. The
characters also undertake risks, whether it is being involved in battles
where magic plays a part or in trying to overcome outside forces and
internal challenges when it comes to solving the secret code in ancient
writings... The Last War is a gripping fantasy story that pulls
readers into a magical world with nonstop action and suspense that
revolves around an armed confrontation of epic proportions." - Feathered Quill Reviews
"Adler
created a rich and imaginative world populated with interesting and
well-developed characters encompassing the depth of their history and
mythology. Fans of the fantasy genre will be enthralled by the level
of detail and visual delights that bring this story to life, pulling
the reader right into the action...focus[ing] not only on war and action
but the wisdom and strategy the young characters, Emrys and Sakura,
must face when solving puzzles and challenges. The author invests much
of the narration with dialogue, creating a colorful plot and development
throughout the book. This technique gives the characters more dimension
so that we understand their motives, while the storyline never falters
and will keep you turning one page after the next. While this
action-packed, strategic tale follows what many readers may find to be a
familiar fantasy storyline, it's a rich, vibrant tale with unique
characters and a fantastic world will keep you looking forward to the
next installment." - Literary Titan (starred review and winner of the Literary Titan Book Award)
I have finished Orphan's Quest, the first of Terry Ironwood's The Great Forget Series
and, as the author requested, now give it an Official Book Review. (And
if it seems like I read it surprisingly swiftly, well, the book being
only 99 pages may have had something to do with that.)
Talk about a whirlwind! Epic Fantasy in the classic tradition is my bread and butter, as is said, yet I am used to them being epic in length as well. So while many could reasonably argue Orphan's Quest would benefit from many more words and pages, it did not waste a single one that was there: Instantly drawing one into the life and plight of the young orphan Chip in the Kingdom of Vanalon where all young men are sworn to defend humankind and which happens to be ruled by a fat idiot of a king. Thanks goodness for Queen Charlotte and Princess Eleanor! A very readable book, the pages seemed to turn of their own accord as the weapons master Garth Stone imparted his wisdom – "Everything you want is on the other side of fear" and "self-disciple is freedom" – are my favorites, while watching Grand Wizard Xander handle fools brought instant smiles. Ah yes, and the battle scenes. A reviewer of my own The Last War once said "that every battle-scarred vista becomes cinematically real in the reader’s mind", so I now take great pleasure is saying the same thing of Terry Ironwood's Orphan's Quest. Chip's journey to the Pass of Death and battles against the demons were like watching a film in my head, flowing swift and clear as the Rocky River. In short, if you are looking for Epic Fantasy of the classic tradition that is actually (instead of comparatively) short then you will likely find a home in Terry Ironwood's The Great Forget Series.
(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.)
At the author's request I have started Orphan's Quest, the first of Terry Ironwood's The Great Forget Series.
An
orphan with untold power. A wise wizard. A princess who is thankfully
far brighter than her idiot brother and father, and an ancient evil
rising. Sounds like a classic Epic Fantasy in the Tolkien tradition,
which, by the way, is exactly what Ironwood says it is (both in the
intro to the book and to me personally), which makes it hard to resist.
Yet I foresee more than a few surprises since the back cover begins with "Long ago, a mysterious event known as The Great Forget ravaged Earth. Magic was born." The Great Forget. Now if that does not invite mysteries and revelations by the dozen I do not know what does.
(Naturally the Official Book Review will come after I finish the book.)
"Fantasy can provide us with simple entertainment and escapism, but it goes deeper than that. It provides different perspectives, explores themes such as the power of friendship, love, and honour, evokes a sense of wonder, lets us partake in adventures we can only dream about, and teaches us valuable truths to apply in our own lives. More importantly, it allows us to imagine." - Terry Ironwood
"It is the duty of those with power to protect those without." - Sòng Méi
I finished Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White, the second book of the Song of the Last Kingdom Duology by Amélie Wen Zhao.
"Yin
and yang. Good and evil. Great and terrible. Two sides of the same
coin, Lián'ér, and somewhere in the center of it all lies power. The
solution is to find the balance between them," once said Dé’zì,
grandmaster of School of the White Pines. A balance Lan and Zen,
creation and ruin, found on the razor-thin, razor-sharp, path between
Demon Gods and Elantian colonizers, past and present, love and hate,
morality and necessity, truth and lies, betrayal and reunification. A
race along that devastating path to a battle where foes hereditary and
foreign clashed that returned the Four to the sky and made the Last
Kingdom what it was meant to be all along: A land of Ten Thousand
Flowers. Though the price, as I feared, was high.
All marking the end
of an absolutely stellar and original Fantasy that has all the
breathtaking elegance, beauty, heart, and cultural distinction of
Chinese calligraphy. So much so that I felt it ended too quickly, for
there was so much more of the Last Kingdom to see, to say nothing of the
lands beyond the Emaran Desert and across the Sea of Heavenly Radiance. More to learn about practitioning, metalwork magic, and the Clans and gods and other entities who populate this amazing world. I can only only hope for a sequel someday, for even as gods have endings so does that lead to new beginnings. In the meantime though, for this ending, I can only now offer the same salute as given to the legendary heroes who once walked the lakes and rivers of the Last Kingdom:
Kingdom before live, honor into death Sòng
Lián & Xan Temurezen (may the red thread of fate forever bind you), Yeshin Nora Dilaya, Shàn'jūn & Chó Tài, Master Nur,
Nameless Master, and all the Clans who fought a won a land where your
differing customs and heritages can be celebrated in peace and
freedom.
"Blood draws more blood. Power desires more power. A vicious cycle cannot be broken. Unless it is destroyed." - Xan Alatüi, First Shaman of the Eternal Sky and the Great Earth, Classic of Gods and Demons
Saturday, March 29, 2025
News gathers into a gale in the sails of the red ship. Not the four winds, but the fifth.
It is no secret that song
and poetry are close cousins; indeed, song is effectively rhyming poetry
that has been put, or was made to fit, music. That being said, poets,
novelists, playwrights, singers, and musicians have different names for a
reason. No one would call Taylor Swift a poet, for example, anymore
than they would call Sir Arthur Conon Doyle a singer.
But are the boundaries between song and literature so firm?
William
Shakespeare is called "the Bard" due to his masterful plays which are
weddings between stellar stories and sophisticated yet simultaneously
evocative wording. A union of skill so great that Early Modern English
is also called Shakespearean English. What I am getting at, however, is
his title: Bard. In ancient times Celtic bards were poets, musicians,
and storytellers whose sacred task was the preservation history,
mythology, and genealogies through oral tradition. Bards often served as
advisors to kings and chiefs, using their poetry and music to praise or
satirize rulers, ensuring their influence in society. Poets, musicians,
and storytellers. All three. Alas, the Bardic profession died long ago.
Yet some authors keep it alive by writing songs for their books while
some musicians and singers do the same by playing those songs or making
songs out of time-honored poems.
“There
was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the
Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they
were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them,
propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he
was glad. But for a long while they sang only each alone, or but few
together, while the rest hearkened; for each comprehended only that part
of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he came, and in the understanding of
their brethren they grew but slowly. Yet ever as they listened they
came to deeper understanding, and increased in unison and harmony.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion
Any who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
know that J.R.R. Tolkien designates many pages to song. Whereas other
authors typically write something along the lines of "_______ sung a
song telling the realm's founder and founding" along with maybe a few
lyrics, Tolkien actually writes and includes in full the songs his
characters sing. Better yet, he wrote songs in the Elvish language he
invented.
Remember
that Tolkien was the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon
and a Fellow of Pembroke College, both at the University of Oxford.
Which in regular English means a renowned scholar and professor. One who
poured his love, his fascination and delight with and of languages into
his legendarium - his songs and languages bringing Middle-earth to life
almost as much the story itself.
Thus it is that more modern singers have brought his songs to life, or created ones of their own: such as I See Fire - a song written by Ed Sheeran for end credits of one of The Hobbit movies and, here, performed by the internationally acclaimed Grammy-nominated all-female Irish musical ensemble Celtic Woman.
Where
music and literature meet is a harmonious place indeed, and other
authors have also created songs and verses for their works, two examples
being Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey.
Jabberwocky is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock" and is part his novel Through the Looking-Glass, sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"It
seems very pretty," she said when she had finished it, "but it's rather
hard to understand!" (You see she didn't like to confess, even to
herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) "Somehow it seems to
fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are!
However, somebody killed something: that's clear, at any rate." - Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
Jabberwocky is considered one of the greatest nonsense poems written in English, for it gave English the words "chortle" and "galumphing." That is correct, these two words did not exist until Lewis Carroll made them up for Jabberwocky. Like riddles, I consider Nonsense verse
a sadly ignored poetic form in education - which is odd seeing how
titanic, influential and beloved a literary figure Dr. Seuss is. It
fosters creativity while challenges the writers and readers alike to
make sense of the playful, whimsical language.
I just finished playing Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.
As
usual, every Fire Emblem game is an absolute joy to play. But this one,
which came out in 2017, I have been saving. Why? Because not only is it
a part of the Archanea Series – those games set on or relating to
events on the continent of Archanea – it takes place during the time in
which Marth lived, about two thousand before the events of Awakening. On that note, for the sake of those interested in the timeline, the events Shadows of Valentia occur after the War of Shadows and before the War of Heroes (i.e. between Shadow Dragon and New Mystery of the Emblem - Heroes of Light and Shadow). Read my Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon post for full context.
So, in short, Shadows of Valentia takes place across the sea on the continent of Valentia that during Awakening is called Valm and, better still, I knew it featured some old friends
in Whitewing Sisters Palla, Catria, and Est. Archanea Series means a lot
to me, so I was naturally deeply interested in seeing what happened
across the ocean and what brought the Whitewing Sisters there. Them and Camus, whose full story I finally learned.
That
is why I was looking forward to it. What I did not expect was to be
frightened near witless on starting it. Fire Emblem always pulls the
heartstrings, loves to scare its players, and can be ruthless with
characters dying. So what happens when you combine Fire Emblem with
Romantic Fantasy and a trailer that at the time had every Youtube commenter (including myself) predicting that Alm and Celica would die on each other's swords? For me, a period of sustained terror that became lethal determination not to let that happen. Tis a
point of pride on my part to get through every FE game with my whole
army alive and managing as a happy an ending as humanly possible, and Shadows of Valentia seized my heartstrings in a death-grip on day one.
Beyond that the plotline was, per usual,
exceptional. With added spice for me because I walked into the game
knowing full well what Duma and Mila were and thus that they were likely
falling victim to the madness effecting all the Dragon Tribes back in
Archanea. I did not know what tribe they were, their relation to Naga,
or why Valentia was otherwise empty of Manaketes though, so my
experience with Shadow Dragon and New Mystery of the Emblem - Heroes of Light and Shadow added a whole extra layer of mystery that I loved.
The story was made more interesting still by Shadows of Valentia's unique gameplay: controlling two separate armies, Alm and Celica's, and
advancing along their parallel routes across war-torn Valentia. And I took every pain along the way to make sure things ended well not only for Alm and Celica, but for everyone who had their hearts fighting alongside them. More I cannot say for fear of giving out spoilers, but it was a joy to get to see ancient Valentia and what made Alm the Saint-King even as Marth was the Hero King, both wielders of Falchion. Got to feel for Palla, Catria, and Est though: War of Shadows to the End of the Age of Gods to the War of Heroes. They have fought more battles, seen more history, than any other human Fire Emblem character. As to the actual battles themselves,
either I am tactical genius or Hard Mode was not up to scratch. A
fortress described as impregnable and unconquered I took with minimal
effort.
The Mila Tree, where Chrom and co. found and awoke Tiki in Awakening
Peace and prosperity to
you, Alm and Celica, Mae and Boey, Gray and Clair, Tatiana and
(cough)Zeke, Clive and Matilda, Kliff, Conrad, Mycen, Saber, Faye,
Nomah, Lukas, Tobin, Leon, Valbar, Kamui, Jesse, Python, Forsyth, Genny,
Silque, Atlas, Palla, Catria, Est, Luthier, Delthea, and Sonya. I know what Valentia will look like when the Mila Tree matures and it is very different indeed, but it does not make it any less an honor to have served with you.
"I
feel the same, Celica. This isn’t where things end for us. Even without
gods, this world has a long and prosperous future ahead of it. Now
let’s go claim that future together!" - Alm
"It is the duty of those with power to protect those without." - Sòng Méi
I started Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White, book two of the Song of the Last Kingdom Series by Amélie Wen Zhao.
The
Demon Gods are freed, two bargained with and two missing. Well named
they are, for as demons their power is Yin, destruction, yet as gods
they hold the strength to save the Hin from the Elantian colonizers.
Thus begins a race, thus continues a brutal war, with nothing less than
the freedom of the Last Kingdom and the souls of Lan and Zen on the
line. "Yin and yang. Good and evil. Great and terrible. Two sides of
the same coin, Lián'ér, and somewhere in the center of it all lies
power. The solution is to find the balance between them," once said
Dé’zì, grandmaster of School of the White Pines. A truth that may
destroy the Elantians, yes (particularly a certain Alloy), yet I fear
Lan and Zen now occupy those ancient poles. I fear the price of the two bargains and fulfilling the mission of the Order of Ten Thousand Flowers, however necessary both may be.
“Power is always borrowed, never created.” - a Hin saying
"It is the duty of those with power to protect those without." - Sòng Méi
I finished Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, book one of Song of the Last Kingdom Series by Amélie Wen Zhao.
Cultural
arrogance coupled with colonialism, dehumanization and massacre annoy
me (to put it lightly) as a matter of course, which means the Elantian
colonizers have well-deserved death coming to them. But the road is
fraught with peril and heartbreak. Two bound as though by a Red String
of Fate, yet separated by history and Demon Gods, by paths chosen and
not. For the Last Kingdom is not exactly innocent and borrowed power
kept leads only to generations of war and strife. Lan has a plan to rectify this, a good
one, but playing hide-and-seek with Demon Gods and a conqueror's regime
is hardly safe, to say nothing of the fact that Zen obviously has his
own ideas about how to win this multi-pronged war.
"Yin
and yang. Good and evil. Great and terrible. Two sides of the same
coin, Lián'ér, and somewhere in the center of it all lies power. The solution is to find the balance between them." - Dé’zì, grandmaster of School of the White Pines.
With the 20th anniversary of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender upon us, creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko announced the a brand new Avatar series!
Avatar: Seven Havens:
A 26-episode series split into two 13-episode seasons following a young
female Earthbender who is the next Avatar following Avatar Korra.
Per a
press release, Seven Havens will be set in a world“shattered by a
devastating cataclysm. A young Earthbender discovers she’s the new
Avatar after Korra - but in this dangerous era, that title marks her as
humanity’s destroyer, not its savior. Hunted by both human and spirit
enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover their mysterious
origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization’s last strongholds
collapse.”With Konietzko and DiMartino adding: “When we created
the original series, we never imagined we’d still be expanding the world
decades later. This new incarnation of the Avatarverse is full of
fantasy, mystery, and a whole new cast of amazing characters. Get ready
to take another epic and emotional adventure!”
Cannot
say I like the devastating cataclysm part, especially if it makes the
Avatar a symbol of destruction, but a new Avatar series is
cause for CELEBRATION! I at least am a huge fan of Legend
of Korra and can only hope that Korra's legacy and memory is a
strong
force for hope in the world. Although, given the post-apocalyptic
circumstances, I have a very bad feeling that that is not the case and
that the Spirit Portals are to blame. Hence my chief hope is that the
new Avatar has the same, or similar, relationship with Korra that Aang
had with Roku.
As to the question of why
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko decided to level the Four
Nations, I can only speculate that - from a storyteller's point of view -
they needed to make Seven Havens significantly different enough
to stand on its own two feet so as not to be viewed as an inferior copy
of the previous series. Which is exactly what they did with Legend of Korra and why, I think, the series is so good. I know some have problems with Legend of Korrabecause it was so different but to me its differences are what made it amazing. It was its own show, a sequel of The Last Airbender without being clone, taking the world and story forward in ways that made sense (people who complain about all the modern technology clearly forgot how advanced the Fire Nation was during the Hundred Years War and the submarines Sokka built). In fact, DiMartino spoke in a podcast extensively about trying to differentiate the two series, stating: "When we did Korra, and now we’re doing new stuff, and it’s always like, 'Is that too similar to what Aang went through, or is that too similar to what we did with Zuko?...That’s why we made Korra an older girl who wanted to fight, let’s make her as different as possible personality-wise from what Aang was."
My father and I just finished The Last Bookwanderer, the Sixth and final book of Anna James' Pages & Co. series.
When
we first began, many months ago, the unspoken acknowledgement was that
neither Dad nor I expected to read the whole thing. The first book, certainly, and maybe the second,
but we never meant to read all six. Yet like the best of stories and
with a subtle grace and tug so skillful and insistent as to be
insidious, Pages & Co. grew like a tree within out, wrapping
our souls like the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr around the world. For we
are readers, we are librarians, and this work by Anna James is a
triumphant celebration of both to the extent that it could be the mascot
of bookstores and libraries the world over. A treatise on the wonder, power, freedom, and choice that is Story and the power of imaginations; and what happens when obey the stricture “be brave, be curious, be kind.”
From Green Gables and Wonderland with Anne and Alice, Fairy Tales with Jack and Rapunzel (who does not need or want rescue). To the British and French Underlibraries to deep in Story finding a certain playwright in the Archive. To the magical train the Quip and Venice, the Emerald City and the Treehouse Library all the way to Sherwood Forest and the Jabberwock by the Tumtum tree. To Asgard, Olympus, and a London that never was. Plus many other places besides in the fight to protect their families, books and imagination from those who see power only as a means to control, as freedom as something to curtail.
May you all live happily ever after Tilly, Oskar, Alessia, Milo, Archie, Elsie, Bea, Amelia, Rosa, Artemis, and even Horatio. This is not the end, because nothing ends in Story, but Dad and I have to other books to wander into now. Until next time our brave, curious, kind and dear friends.
“Books can change minds
and change worlds, open doors and open minds, and plant seeds that can
grow into magical or even terrifying things. Stories are things to be
loved and respected at the same time; never underestimate the power of
them.”
“Some
people see a bookshop as an archive, or a shrine, or even a time
machine. But I think a bookshop is like a map of the world. There are
infinite paths you can take through it and none of them are right or
wrong. Here in a bookshop we give readers landmarks to help them find
their way, but every reader has to learn to set their own compass.”
“The
books we love when we’re growing up shape us in a special way, Tilly.
The characters in the books we read help us decide who we want to be.”
“Are
the things in your imagination less real than the things in front of
you? Is this rose more real than you? Do the books you've read mean less
to you because they haven't really happened to you? Do daydreams at
midday or nightdreams at midnight mean nothing?”
“…because
stories last much longer than we do. Our stories are how we will be
remembered – so we’ve got to make sure they are worth telling.”
“You
know when you walk into a bookshop and you see all those thousands of
books lined up in front of you? That intoxicating feeling of knowing
that behind each cover is a different world to explore, like thousands
of tiny portals? That adrenaline rush just before you open a new book?
The thrill of being surrounded by fellow book lovers? That is what fuels
bookwandering, and it comes to life in bookshops.”
I have started Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, book one of Song of the Last Kingdom by Amélie Wen Zhao.
Years
ago I often said to myself and family that Epic Fantasy could do itself
a big favor by embracing, by writing worlds built around, Asian culture
and lore. Now such book are wonderfully common but, they tend to be
Romantasy (as Romantic Fantasy is being called now) retellings of myths; or just plain Romantasy.
Not that their is anything wrong with that but, with the notable
exception of Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, such tales are not my cup of tea.
But an Epic Fantasy rich in deep lore, a conquered land, forbidden magic, and a
scar burned onto a girl's arm by her murdered mother that only she can
see? I will take two cups of that and hope more is on the way. Speaking of way, I hope Lan, or Lian'er, and Zen find theirs without to much trouble. A vain hope, no doubt, as conquers regimes are by nature difficult to conquer in turn, but I have faith in the Four Gods even if Lan does not.
I have finished The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows by R. Antoine and, as the author requested, now give it an Official Book Review.
Unexpected
parentage and parental mysteries, an enchanted city, a school of magic,
and stirring rebellion amid ethnic tensions that go back at least a
couple generations. An improvement on living with a deranged and
desperate uncle? Technically yes, but Krys and Kide could not have
chosen a messier pot to land in – not that choices have been a big part
of lives – and, better yet (or worse), it seems they are the key
ingredients for several different recipes of trouble. The real question
moving forward still being whether, and for how long, can family loyalty
can survive rebellion and prejudice. And of course what recipe for the future
Rivers Brothers themselves want to make.
(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. Do not bother now, though, as I intend to start a long series
within day, so if any reading this are thinking I am becoming a Reviewer
then you had better think again.)
Despite my vocation in life, I rarely dream about Fantasy (or dream much at all, for that matter). So dreaming of about a fleet of longships getting attacked by an undead leviathan was rather startling. Worse, my alarm clock rang just as the battle began.
My father and I just finished The Treehouse Library, Book Five of Anna James' Pages & Co. series.
It
is Milo and Alessia's story now, and when botany and bookwandering
blend in a hunt for the cure to an evil supergenius' imagination-based
alchemical poison you sure go to some interesting and odd places, both
on and off-board the Sesquipedalian (and that has got to be one the
strangest sentences I have ever written). From Rosa the Botanist's
Treehouse Library which also houses a rather amoral grandmother, tis off
to sort of rob Robin Hood, seek in the Secret Garden, pluck a strange
spoon off a swooning owl and cat, and jab the Jabberwock by the Tumtum
tree. "'And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish
boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy." Only the
joy did not last as now all of bookwandering, imagination itself, and their families lives
is at stake – for nothing and no one is safe against the Alchemist's
ambition. Which means tis time for Tilly, Oskar, Alessia, Milo, and Rosa
to find the Book that holds the key and the myth-made man, man-made
myth, who guards it in a place that feels very, very fitting.
I have at the author's request started The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows by R. Antoine.
Unique Fantasies are definitely a draw, and while orphans with magical secrets getting sent to a crazed uncle is hardly new, spit fire that turns into half moons and shadows rebelling against fae is – and I am fairly certain the crazed uncle situation is temporary as well. My chief concern is whether family loyalty can survive that rebellion.
(Naturally the Official Book Review will come after I finish the book. And I intend to start a long series after this, so if any reading this are thinking I am becoming a Reviewer then you had best think again.)
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