The Defenders of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks

The High Druid's Blade (The Defenders of Shannara #1)

Legend has it that Paxon Leah is descended from the royals and warriors who once ruled the Highlands and waged war with magical weapons. But those kings, queens, and heroes are long gone, and there is nothing enchanted about the antique sword that hangs above Paxon’s fireplace. Running his family’s modest shipping business, Paxon leads a quiet life—until extraordinary circumstances overturn his simple world . . . and rewrite his destiny.

When his brash young sister is abducted by a menacing stranger, Paxon races to her rescue with the only weapon he can find. And in a harrowing duel, he is stunned to discover powerful magic unleashed within him—and within his ancestors’ ancient blade. But his formidable new ability is dangerous in untrained hands, and Paxon must master it quickly because his nearly fatal clash with the dark sorcerer Arcannen won’t be his last. Leaving behind home and hearth, he journeys to the keep of the fabled Druid order to learn the secrets of magic and earn the right to become their sworn protector.

But treachery is afoot deep in the Druids’ ranks. And the blackest of sorcery is twisting a helpless innocent into a murderous agent of evil. To halt an insidious plot that threatens not only the Druid order but all the Four Lands, Paxon Leah must summon the profound magic in his blood and the legendary mettle of his elders in the battle fate has chosen him to fight.




The Darkling Child (The Defenders of Shannara #2)

After taking up his enchanted sword against the dark sorcerer Arcannen, Paxon Leah has become the sworn protector of the Druid order. Now a critical hour is at hand, as a beloved High Druid nears the end of her reign and prepares to pass from the mortal world to the one beyond. There is little time for Paxon to mourn his friend and benefactor before duty summons him. For in a distant corner of the Four Lands, the magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon must accompany a Druid emissary to find its source—and ensure the formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands.

But danger is already afoot in the village of Portlow. Gentle traveling minstrel Reyn Frosch possesses the uncanny gift, and curse, of the wishsong. And now his coveted abilities have captured the malevolent interest of none other than Arcannen—whose quest for power is exceeded only by his thirst for vengeance. The lone survivor of a brutal assault on a notorious pirate city, the sorcerer is determined to retaliate against the Federation’s elite military guard—and use the devastating power of the wishsong as his ultimate weapon.






The Sorcerer's Daughter (The Defenders of Shannara #3)

The daughter of a reviled sorcerer, Leofur is nothing like her dreaded father. When her life-partner, Paxon Leah, leaves on a dangerous mission, Leofur protects Paxon’s sister. When she is abducted Leofur is forced to choose between saving Paxon from a mission gone badly awry, or hiring the services of the best tracker in the world to go after her life-partner’s sister.

My Review:

As you will notice, this book review is a little different than my usual. I've decided to rate this trilogy by master-storyteller, Terry Brooks, in one review (with special emphasis placed on The Sorcerer's Daughter). Each book in this series, which is set in the world of Shannara, has its' own weaknesses and strengths. I will also be looking at the trilogy as a whole as well. For those who are new to the world of Shannara and are looking for a good place to start, this is definitely not it!! I recommend 'The Sword of Shannara' (Book 1) for newbies who wish to jump into this epic and utterly amazing series.

'The High Druid's Blade' (5 stars):

Bold, thrilling, chilling and just Terry Brooks at his best!!
This book received the full five stars from me, due to Terry Brooks' easy to read style, his attention to detail and for weaving a suspenseful tale. The characters are constructed very well and are three dimensional. When Paxon's younger sister is abducted by an evil sorcerer named Arcannen, we feel for the brother-sister duo. High action and wonderful magic with great suspense make for a fantastic read. In my eyes, the trilogy doesn't get any better than this book.

As far as the abduction of Paxon's sister: Fool me once, shame on you.

'The Darkling Child' (3 stars):

Unfortunately, I don't have much praise for the second book in this trilogy. In most parts this book felt drawn out and repetitive. It did have great action, suspense and good magic, but it felt a bit like a repeat of the first book and felt redundant on a few levels. I felt mislead by the title of this book. For those of you who have read 'The Dark Legacy of Shannara' trilogy, we came across a child referred to as a darkling (who was later locked away in the forbidding). I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes we had a bit more knowledge on what happened to this misunderstood individual. I felt the title awakened a false sense of hope in me.

As far as the second kidnapping of Paxon's sister: Fool me twice, shame on me.

'The Sorcerer's Daughter' (3 stars):

The third book in Mr. Brooks trilogy, was a lot more fun for me to read. We are introduced to a variety of new characters in this book. A Shapeshifter plays a large part in this book which was nice to see. Again, the book had good action and suspense, but I figured out certain things about what was happening behind the scenes maybe a bit before I was supposed to. At a point, it was only suspenseful because I was wanting to see if I was right and not actually because I wanted to know what would happen next. The growing relationship between two particular characters felt quite awkward to me, and I had trouble justifying the actions of those two to myself.
The part I enjoyed the most was the trek (rescue mission) into the Murk Sink (swamp). The description that went into this part was very enjoyable and made me feel like I was right in the middle of this humid, foggy, lightless and dangerous place. Unfortunately though, I felt this was a rewriting of many ideas and scenarios that have happened in the previous two books. Besides the Murk Sink, I didn't really feel that anything amazing happened in this book. Lastly, I was very troubled and unsatisfied by the ending. I believe the interaction of the two individuals at the end of the book was forced and very one-sided. I started to feel for these characters through the previous books and felt betrayed by their actions at the end. This might have been the intention of the author.

As far as the THIRD ABDUCTION of Paxon's sister: (I'm utterly speechless for it having happened a third time...)

Even though I feel the second and third books have some issues with them, taken as a whole this trilogy is very satisfying. Terry Brooks is a master story-teller that is already a part of fantasy history and I've been enjoying his work since the early 90's. 5 stars, 3 stars and another 3 stars should give an average that would normally be rounded up to a 4 star rating. I feel that the trilogy as a whole would be better left with a three star rating however.

As mentioned above, please check out 'The Sword of Shannara' as a good starting point if you are new to this author's Shannara books.
I'm excited and looking forward to the next (and last) trilogy by Mr. Brooks, 'The Fall of Shannara'.
Happy reading!

Abomination (The Pathfinders #1) by Jane Dougherty

Abomination (The Pathfinders #1)

As the end of the world begins, Carla and Tully hurtle through a wormhole five years forward in time, only to find they haven’t missed the Apocalypse after all.

Carla and Tully are picnicking in the quad of their international high school in central Paris when the end of the world begins. They are sucked into a wormhole that spits them out five years later to find that the world is a freezing desolation but still hanging on, waiting for something even worse to finish it off. The something worse turns out to be the Burnt Man and his horsemen. Taken prisoner by the Flay Tribe to their lair in the ruins of a shopping mall, Tully is forced to become a warrior, while Carla joins the other girls as a kitchen slave and comfort woman.
Tully might like the idea of playing soldiers, but Carla knows what is waiting for the girls when the food runs out, and it isn’t pleasant. The supermarket holy man’s vision of the return of the Burnt Man and his demon friends drags Tully back to reality. When the four fiends are reunited, the Apocalypse will really begin. Carla and Tully don’t plan on being there when that happens.
But in this post-Abomination world where only the young and brutal have survived, where food and fuel are running out and the climate is plunging into another final ice age, there is nowhere to run—except down another wormhole, with no idea of what might be waiting for them at the other end.

 

 

My Review:

'Abomination' is the first book in 'The Pathfinders' series by Jane Dougherty. I will start off by saying that I immensely enjoyed this apocalyptic novel. It was dark, gritty, and raw and had me completely pulled into the story. 'Abomination' is a fantastic read which is very well written and the story (even though apocalyptic /post-apocalyptic has been done before), is very original and engrossing.
One of the first things I noticed, was seeing parallel elements from 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding, and I feel has elements in common with 'The Walking Dead' also. As I've mentioned above, it's simply a very dark and brutal book. I would not hesitate to recommend it to young adults, as that is that is also the intended audience. There is strong language throughout the book, so those who are very sensitive, should be forewarned.

The story starts off quite harmlessly, but things go down the drain very quickly for Carla and Tully, as they are hurtled through a wormhole five years into the future just as the end of the world is beginning. Unfortunately, this just takes them out of the frying pan and into the fire. There they must battle against blood-thirsty youngsters, gangs, mutated animals and against other characters which I will only describe here as supernatural or demonic (i.e. the Burnt Man).
It is a story of adapting oneself to a new environment and dire situations while still trying to hold onto one's values and to rise above the despondency and cut-throat ways of the gangs who have had to live through five years of hell and destruction. Just as in 'Lord of the Flies', any semblance of society has fallen apart and the youngsters are not concerned with growing food or following rules (except their own twisted law), but are only interested in fighting and with attaining/holding onto power.

'Abomination', isn't just about the struggle of humans against nature and other humans, but is a struggle against mutated animals and supernatural forces which wish to destroy the world. These elements, due to spoilers, will not be talked about in this review, but needless to say, 'Abomination' is an action-packed supernatural thriller which borders on horror.

What makes this story believable, are the actions of the characters in the book. The characters act in a very believable and natural way, which pulls us in as the reader and makes us feel for these characters. Furthermore, the author's writing style is easy to read and her descriptions pull the reader in and fully immerse them in this experience.

The book ends with a very good cliffhanger which just makes me want to pick up the second book, 'Devastation', in order to continue the journey with Carla and Tully.
'Abomination' is an action-packed apocalyptic novel which borders on horror. Due to its original take on the end of times, and for the superb writing style of Jane Dougherty, I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy supernatural thrillers. I would absolutely love to see this book get a movie deal or even better, a Netflix series, as I believe the story would find a huge fan-base across wide audiences.

At this point, I also wish to take the time to thank the author for having written this book and for all the hours of great entertainment it has given me. I'm sure future readers of 'Abomination' will not regret picking up this gem! Happy reading!


 

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently #1)

 

What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common? Apparently not much; until Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza – not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge). To find out more, read this book (better still, buy it, then read it) – or contact Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. ‘A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy epic.’

My Review:

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams was a fun read that definitely was written in Mr. Adam's well-known and well-loved writing style. Elements of this book are reminiscent of his other acclaimed Hitchhiker books.

The Story was being weaved together very slowly and might be confusing for some Readers, as the author doesn't really explain certain ideas or their Connections until later in the book. There is certainly a lot of pseudo-science and physics included for those who like this type of jargon. All of this was the intent of the author.

At times very funny, amusing and confusing.

It was a decent and short, fun read.

For those who are familiar with the Netflix title by the same name, the television show is just loosely based on the books. While also entertaining, nothing beats the original work!

I recommend this title to readers, that either have enjoyed the hitchhiker books by Douglas Adams, or for those who like reading quirky and fun sci-fi stories. There was a sprinkling of suspense in this book as well, so something to possibly add to your summer reading list.

The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley

The Bedlam Stacks


In 1859, ex-East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall after sustaining an injury that almost cost him his leg and something is wrong; a statue moves, his grandfather’s pines explode, and his brother accuses him of madness.

When the India Office recruits Merrick for an expedition to fetch quinine—essential for the treatment of malaria—from deep within Peru, he knows it’s a terrible idea. Nearly every able-bodied expeditionary who’s made the attempt has died, and he can barely walk. But Merrick is desperate to escape everything at home, so he sets off, against his better judgment, for a tiny mission colony on the edge of the Amazon where a salt line on the ground separates town from forest. Anyone who crosses is killed by something that watches from the trees, but somewhere beyond the salt are the quinine woods, and the way around is blocked.

Surrounded by local stories of lost time, cursed woods, and living rock, Merrick must separate truth from fairytale and find out what befell the last expeditions; why the villagers are forbidden to go into the forest; and what is happening to Raphael, the young priest who seems to have known Merrick’s grandfather, who visited Peru many decades before. The Bedlam Stacks is the story of a profound friendship that grows in a place that seems just this side of magical.

My Review:

Brilliant. Fantastical. Moving. All three words sum up 'The Bedlam Stacks' by the international bestselling author of 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street', Natasha Pulley.
This new book, which I am sure will also become an international bestseller, is an absolute tour de force. A beautiful book about a friendship that spans across the years and generations, which not only exposes the soul of the characters, but also leaves the reader feeling like magic could still exist in the unknown and unexplored corners of this world (and science/medicine).

The author spent three months at a language school in Lima, which was funded by the Society of Authors. Not only did this school open up conversations with native Quechua speakers, but opened up a slew of historical resources and allowed the author a special insight into the religion, customs and traditions of the Incan people. A solid research builds the foundation of this book, upon which Ms. Pulley built her story.

The characters in this book are very mysterious at times, and it isn't always clear to discern their motives. This lends the story a greater feeling of mystery and suspense. The characters are extremely three dimensional, and the dialogue seems so authentic, that I felt like I was looking in through a window.

From the beginning pages in England, where a statue seemed to move when nobody was watching, to the final words in the book, I was utterly hooked and absolutely engrossed in this story. The author weaved historical facts and places with the absolute magical in such a way, that every word seemed utterly credible. The pacing of the story was never too slow or too fast. It never felt like there was dialogue or situations that did not contribute to this masterpiece.

A character from the author's previous book 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street', made a few appearances to my great pleasure. It seems this character was also pivotal in how events turn out in this new book.

Natasha Pulley, in 'The Bedlam Stacks' has shown what an amazing author she truly is. The Bedlam Stacks is a wonderful story of friendship, ancient religion meeting modern times, magic, and the struggles that occur within us. Only absolutely outstanding books receive 5 stars from me, and 'The Bedlam Stacks' counts among one of the best and original stories I have ever read. I am quite certain that this book will reach international bestselling status shortly after being released, as I believe the majority of readers will see what an absolute treasure this book is.

A copy of this digital book was made available to me by the author/publisher and Netgalley. I wish to thank the author at this time for allowing me to read her book ahead of publication, and to thank her for all the hours of entertainment her story has given me.

Nyphron Rising (The Riyria Revelations #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Nyphron Rising (The Riyria Revelations #3)

Librarian note: alternative cover (omnibus edition).

A PUPPET IS CROWNED. THE TRUE HEIR REMAINS HIDDEN. A ROGUE'S SECRET COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

War has come to Melengar and Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian for a dangerous mission. As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce's suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own game. To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian's past. 

My Review:

The third installment of the Riyria Revelations, 'Nyphron Rising', is another well-written story in this series. As those of you who have read my reviews of the first two books in this series know, I'm very pleased at the originality that the author has brought to the fantasy genre. True, elves and dwarfs aren't original, but the world the author created is new, and I don't feel that I've seen it or read it all before. The world and political flavor the author created is also unique in many ways.
In this story, we concentrate more on Hadrian's past and the beginning of the Imperial Empire.
There isn't as much fantasy action in this book as there was in the previous book, 'Avempartha'. Unfortunately, magic and wizardry are kept at a minimum in this book, in favor of exploring Hadrian's past, hunting down the true heir, and the political maneuverings of the regents in the new Imperial Empire.
Characters once again, are well thought out, believable and entertaining.
The story begins slower than I would have wished, with the book picking up a bit more speed around page 200.
The book would have received 3 stars from me, but the ending (last 50 pages including cliffhanger) was very well done, and that's why I rate this book a solid 4 stars out of 5.
Again, an intriguing tale from author, Michael J. Sullivan. I recommend this book to those who have read the previous two books in the series, and I look forward to reading and reviewing book four in the series soon.
Happy Reading!!

A Lenten Journey with Jesus Christ and St. Paul of the Cross by Victor Hoagland

A Lenten Journey with Jesus Christ and St. Paul of the Cross

If St. Paul of the Cross, Paul Danei, founder of the Passionists, were to accompany you through Lent Im sure he would come to you as you are and the world you live in as it is. He was never afraid of darkness or dark places, so you may find him a helpful spiritual guide. He trusted in Jesus Christ and his cross, the wisdom and power of God. I'm sure he may bring some of that wisdom to you.

Accept the invitation to journey through Lent with Jesus Christ and one of the great spiritual writers of the Catholic Church, St. Paul of the Cross. Inside you will find an Invitation from St. Paul of the Cross, a short biography of St. Paul of the Cross, a description of the Writings and Spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross, and more. Each day of Lent, weekdays and Sundays, begins with: a Gospel Reading, a Reflection, a selection from the Writings of St. Paul of the Cross, and a Prayer.

May Jesus Christ and the wisdom of St. Paul of the Cross enrich your Lenten Journey, and lead you to God's Holy Easter of Peace, Love and Joy.

My Review:

Father Victor Hoagland C.P., has written a great Lenten companion that is meaningful and helps individuals to find stillness and reflection during Lent.

This book is set up with a short introduction and brief biography of the Passionist's founder, Saint Paul of the Cross. It will helps readers who aren't familiar with this particular saint, to gain a bit of insight into his life and also to experience a bit of the Passionist Order's charism. Following the introduction the book begins with the daily Gospel reading. The Gospel reading for the weekdays during Lent are same readings for each of the Liturgical Years and the only difference comes for the Sunday Gospel readings (A, B, C), in which the reader may choose the Gospel, meditation and prayer for the day.
The daily meditations include the above mentioned Gospel readings for each day, a brief meditation or excerpt from the writings or life of St. Paul of the Cross, and a concluding prayer. The meditations and prayers are also concise and leave a bit of room for pondering the message and to enter into dialogue with God.

This book is a great companion for those wishing to enter into a deeper prayer life and deeper spirituality during the Lenten period.

Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber #1) by Roger Zelazny

Nine Princes in Amber  (The Chronicles of Amber #1)






Amber, the one real world, wherein all others, including our own Earth, are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin's blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne. From Arden to the blood-slippery Stairway into the Sea, the air is electrified with the powers of Eric, Random, Bleys, Caine, and all the princes of Amber whom Corwin must overcome. Yet, his savage path is blocked and guarded by eerie structures beyond imagining; impossible realities forged by demonic assassins and staggering horrors to challenge the might of Corwin's superhuman fury.' to 'Awakening in an Earth hospital unable to remember who he is or where he came from, Corwin is amazed to learn that he is one of the sons of Oberon, King of Amber, and is the rightful successor to the crown in a parallel world.

 

 

 

My Review:

At the time of writing my review, Roger Zelazny's weird and trippy Fantasy/Sci-Fi book, titled 'Nine Princes in Amber' has a Goodreads review of 4.11 (out of 5) from almost 39,000 reviews. Can all these people be so wrong about a book? It turns out that I don't believe they are. I've rated this book with 4 stars, bringing down the Goodreads rating by a fraction of a fraction. I apologize to Mr. Zelazny's ghost. But, unfortunately, I wasn't able to give it the full 5 stars. Why not? Read on.

Roger Zelazny certainly created one of the most memorable and unique Fantasy/Science Fiction books I have ever read. It differs from other books, by 1.) not being quite sure whether its more fantasy or sci-fi (but seeing as most folks put them into the same genre anyway, it won't bother me), 2.) the author most likely came up with this weird, trippy story while extremely high on some sort of drug, plant, or while at a VERY high altitude, 3.) The author must have dictated this to a six year old who didn't quite grasp the concepts of grammar or punctuation (please no mean comments, as I know, my grammar and punctuation are currently at a 3 year old level), and 4.) The story was so darn unique and original, and interesting!

The story is one of an exiled, amnesiac prince (from another world - or dimension if you please), who goes on a journey to rightfully claim what is his again. Along the way he must find out which of his siblings can be trusted, how to get back to the world he was thrown out of. He also needs to find out why he was exiled, all the while trying no to get killed in a very trippy landscape, where just using one's thoughts can influence events and make one travel long distances. As you'll find out, all roads lead to Amber. 

Elements of this story were confusing to me at times, as unlike the author, I was not drugging myself, smoking plants or reading this book at a VERY high altitude. This however, must be my own fault. I hate taking meds, most drugs are illegal and alas, no mountains in my area.
As I mentioned above, the grammar and punctuation caused me internal distress, as I'd have to read some sentences 5 times before I could decipher the meaning, or in order to place my imaginary punctuation in it, so that it would make some sort of sense. Or, as my punctuation is at the aforementioned 3yr old level, and seeing as the author must have had a 6yr old write this, perhaps it was just too advanced for me. That's the reason I gave this book 4 instead of the full 5 stars. Either way, rereading the sentences just made the book longer for me, and I was somewhat sad to end the book. Luckily for me/us, the author has written many more books in this series.

If you enjoy the genre, enjoy strange and trippy fiction, have no problems placing your own punctuation in books, and wish to read this while at a VERY high altitude, this book will definitely be for you. Happy reading!