Garth Nix - Lirael

In the second book of the Abhorsen series we meet the next generation of the Old Kingdom. The two main characters are Lirael who is a daughter of the Clayr, and Sameth the son of Sabriel and Touchstone.

 I love how in very different ways you see how each of them struggles with feeling like they don't belong in the role which they are assigned. Lirael desperately wants to be a full member of the Clayr like her mother. Sameth struggles to fill his mothers role as Abhorsen while secretly detesting the very thought. In this book you watch them each grow into their future rolls as their paths converge on their quests.

I loved this series and wholeheartedly recommend it to others looking for a good fantasy read. 4/5

Sookie Stackhouse - Deadlocked

Ah the delightful world of Ms Sookie Stackhouse. While I am a fan of the True Blood tv series there is no comparison to the in depth lively plots of Charlaine Harris' books. True to form Deadlocked is fast pace fun with plenty of mayhem to go around. If you haven't already, I heartily recommend picking up this series.

In the latest installment poor Sookie is dealing with major vampire politics, as well as a mystery someone out to get her. I have to admit I was surprized by this one and I won't ruin the ending by saying any more. My vote 4/5 stars

While I have always been a reader the first Author I truly started following was Mercedes Lackey. It was Jr High and my boyfriend at the time introduced me to the world of Valdemar with the Last Herald Mage trilogy. Little did I know that was a hint about him but that is a story for another time. I was deeply in love with the world, the characters, and being a teenage girl... talking white horses. Lackey has gone on to write over three dozen books in this universe and countless books in other worlds as well. She took a good long break from Valdemar but her latest series reminded me how much I missed it and I can't wait for the next book.

The Collegium Chronicles fit into a gap in the timeline of Valdemar and follow the life of an orphan named Mags as he gets chosen as a Herald and is one of the first students to attend the Collegium in Haven. By book three Changes he is a well developed character with a great supporting cast. This book continues plot from the series so I wont go into much detail except to say that I really enjoyed it and would recommend the series to both old and new fans of Valdemar.

5/5 stars

I love the feeling when a new author works out. It is like being introduced to a new friend. I have a good feeling that Garth Nix is going to be a lifelong friend and he has already earned a place on my bookshelf. Unfortunately since this was a loaner from a friend I will have to buy it... and the other two books in the trilogy.

The book is set in two countries Ancelstierre which has technology and no magic and the Old Kingdom, where magic works and technology beyond the middle ages doesn't. Near the border technology and magic both work erratically and it is in this gray area that Sabriel grows up, placed in an Ancelstierre boarding school by her father.

Part of the magic of the old kingdom is necromancy and it is this type of magic that weaves an engrossing and rich tapestry throughout the story. As she is called away from school to rescue her father and both kingdoms from the looming dangers of a rogue necromancer.

I heartily recommend this author and have already begun (and almost finished the second) book in the trilogy. I promise I will review that one soon but I will try and throw a different author in between.


My Rating 4/5