Category Fantasy Books

Oct 5 2012

Book Review: Sword-Dancer/Sword-Singer by Jennifer Roberson (4/5 stars)

Title: Sword-Dancer/Sword-Singer

Author: Jennifer Roberson

Series: Tiger and Del #1 & 2

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: He was Tiger, born of the desert winds, raised as a slave and winning his freedom by weaving a special kind of magic with a warrior’s skill. She was Del, born of ice and storm, trained by the greatest of Northern sword masters. Together, they discover a kinship and friendship that grows to love while facing dangers of both sword and sorcery.

The  Review:

It’s been several years since I first read Tiger and Del, and I still remember them with fondness. Roberson has a strong first-person narrative not often seen in fantasy novels. It’s a unique blend of characterization and culture-building that really helps get you into the story. The character-development was really successful, and arguably the best element of the series. The protagonists are incredibly engaging and I think a lot of the appeal comes from stereotypical manners expressed in constant opposition to one another; a sort of man vs woman relationship that was surprisingly charming and oftentimes downright hilarious. It wasn’t just the main characters that were great, as Roberson even manages to give the horse a memorable personality.

As much as I enjoyed it, there was a weakness. Apparently, the author wrote the manuscript for the first book in about a week… and you can sort of tell. That’s just simply not enough time to develop a complex plot, so the storyline is fairly straight-forward. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, because I found some of her other works to be a bit long-winded. A shortened writing schedule means she really had to play to her strengths and jump right into the main plot. As the series progresses, it gets a little more dynamic, but not by much.

Overall, all six books have their own appeal, and I found my excitement for the story as a whole grew with each one. While it’s not the best from a craft standpoint, it was definitely one of the most fun to read. I laughed, I cried, I loved every minute!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Sep 27 2012

Book Review: The Legend of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron

Title: The Legend of Eli Monpress

Author: Rachel Aaron

Series: Eli Monpress #1-3

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The Overview: Eli Monpress is talented. He’s charming. And he’s a thief. But not just any thief. He’s the greatest thief of the age – and he’s also a wizard. And with the help of his partners – a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls – he’s going to put his plan into effect. The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he’ll need to steal some big things. But he’ll start small for now. He’ll just steal something that no one will miss – at least for a while.
Like a king.

The Review:

Picking this one up on a whim, I was sold on it before I even cracked a page. As the greatest thief in the land, Eli Monpress is trying to increase the bounty on his head (for his own amusement, of course) so he decides to steal the king. He’s also a wizard, introducing the reader to an awesome new magic system that involves manipulating the spirits of inanimate objects. But this story’s not just about Eli. There are several other characters with equally fascinating plot-lines throughout, and I’d be hard-pressed to say which one I enjoyed reading about more.

Highly original concept, great characters, and page-turning plot – an excellent read! I don’t usually go for the ridiculous, but it really worked in the parameters of this book and still felt like a serious (okay, mostly serious) fantasy. I was so entertained, I will definitely be picking up anything this author puts out in the future.

Overall assessment: Cheeky, clever, and highly entertaining! This book is a hoot!

Recommendations: Aaron has a novella called “Spirit’s Oath” which gives a bit of back-story on one of the most excellent sidekicks I’ve come across in a while. If you like the series, it’s definitely worth your time to read. Also, “The Spirit War” (Book 4) is available now, and “Spirit’s End” (Book 5) will be out November 20, 2012!

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 25 2012
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Book Review: The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke

Title: The Last Stormlord

Author: Glenda Larke

Series: Stormlord #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Shale is the lowest of the low-an outcast from a poor village in the heart of the desert. In the desert water is life, and currency, and Shale has none. But he has a secret. It’s the one thing that keeps him alive and may save all the cities of the Quartern in the days to come. If it doesn’t get him killed first…

Terelle is a slave fleeing a life as a courtesan. She finds shelter in the home of an elderly painter but as she learns the strange and powerful secrets of his art she fears she may have traded a life of servitude for something far more perilous…

The Stormlord is dying in his tower and there is no one, by accident or design, to take his place. He brings the rain from the distant seas to his people. Without a Stormlord, the cities of the Quartern will wither and die. 

Their civilization is at the brink of disaster. If Shale and Terelle can find a way to save themselves, they may just save them all. Water is life and the wells are running dry..

 The Review:

I’ve read everything Glenda Larke has published (even the stuff I had to get overseas), and I love her. This particular series is probably the best so far. Her strength has always been world-building, and in the “Stormlord” books, she really takes it to the next level. Between the vivid landscape, unique creatures, and the cultures of the people, she really succeeds in bringing the story to life!

I also thought the plot was excellent: The people who live in the desert cities of Quartern are completely dependent on the stormlords to fill their wells with precious water. The trouble comes when the last stormlord powerful enough to bring rain falls ill. As if the story and cool magic system wasn’t good enough, there is also a character who’s heritage allows her to turn her paintings into reality. I found the whole thing enthralling – it was definitely an “up ‘til 3 a.m. to finish it” novel. What’s more, the story bounces around between different characters, and while sometimes that can bore a reader, I thought each character was well-developed and interesting, with every perspective enriching the overall plot. There wasn’t a single character that I wasn’t eager to read more about.

Overall, I think Larke is a seriously under-appreciated author, between the excellent, unique world, the interesting magic systems, a great plot, and amazing characters, her stories easily rival some of the best fantasy books out there. A well-rounded book, I think it’s a must-read for fantasy fans looking for something new!

Recommendations: If you liked Larke, give “The Isles of Glory” and “Mirage Makers” a try! You’ll be blown away by this woman’s creative range.

Other books you might like:

  • “The Way of Shadows” by Brent Weeks
  • “A Shadow in Summer” by Daniel Abraham
  • “The Thief’s Gamble” by Juliet E. Mckenna
  • “Heart of Myrial” by Maggie Furey   <– arguably my favorite book of all-time!
  • “Mistborn” by Brandon Sanderson

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 17 2012

Book Review: Dragon Champion by E.E. Knight

Title: Dragon Champion

Author: E. E. Knight

Series: Age of Fire #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Knight’s fantasy debut concerns a rare, scaleless gray dragon named Auron. Born high in a mountain cave, he witnesses the slaughter of his parents at the hands of a band of dwarves and eventually matures into the last hope for the survival of his kind. Once above ground, Auron learns quickly just how dangerous it is to be a dragon. With dwarves, elves, and humans relentlessly hunting him, Auron finds friendship in the most unlikely of places — but the young dragon’s quest to find others of his kind may not lead him to the answers he hopes to find. 

The Review:

Even though there are many other excellent dragon books out there, I have never before read one quite like this. Most authors use dragons as important companions to their main human characters, but E.E. Knight takes it one step further by allowing his readers to become a dragon.

Told from the dragon’s perspective, the story follows him from the struggles of hatching all the way to the adventures of adulthood. As if that wasn’t cool enough, this dragon, Auron, is grey-scaled, an anomaly in the dragonworld who lacks the rock-hard scales that protect others of his kind.

Because most of the main characters are dragons, it makes for an interesting dynamic, as they have all sorts of traits and motives that are quite different from a human’s. Everything from their basic regard of other species to the complex inner-workings of their societies was simply fascinating. Not only, that, but it also has a highly interesting story, an engaging plot, and a decent writing style.

Overall, with such a unique concept, this is a must-read for any dragon-lover!

Recommendations: Although “Dragon Champion” is geared towards adults, I sometimes feel comfortable recommending it to young adults who are ready to up their reading level, provided they can handle some “scary” moments.

Other books you might like:

  • “Joust” by Mercedes Lackey
  • “Dragon’s Blood” by Jane Yolen
  • “The Last Dragonlord” by Joanne Bertin
  • “Dragonriders of Pern” by Anne McCaffrey
  • “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 15 2012
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Book Review: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Title: Assassin’s Apprentice

Author: Robin Hobb

Series: The Farseer Trilogy #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma. Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals – the old art known as the Wit – gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility. So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.

The Review:

Some stories fade from my memory the minute I finish the book. This story not only remained vividly in my mind months later, but I find I can recall tiniest details with minimal effort. That, to me, is the mark of a great book. Hobb has a unique writing style in the fantasy world, using a beautiful descriptive voice that effectively draws you into the story without being overwhelming. You can read two pages or fifty and come away feeling invested and satisfied. Her books are so evoking that she has become my go-to author whenever I need a guaranteed good read.

The characters are well-developed, relatable, dynamic, and quite simiply: brilliant. I often forget that I’m reading fantasy characters, as they sometimes seem like real people. Because of this, some of them are among my all-time favorites. Apart from being so well-developed, what I love most is they have flaws like everyone else, which make you cheer for them all the more.

Overall, “Assassin’s Apprentice” contains a highly memorable plot, exceptional characters, and the beautiful writing style that combines in a story that will take your breath away.

Recommendations: The Farseer trilogy is chronologically the first of four separate trilogies (Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, and Rain Wilds – in that order) Each book is as good as the last, and what you take away from each novel just lends to an incredible momentum as the story progresses. Within each trilogy, there is an overall arch to the story that is highly satisfying enough to make them stand-alones, but the overall arch between all the books is so fantastic that it’s well worth your time to read them all.

Other books you might like:

by Niki Hawkes

Sep 11 2012

Book Review: Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

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Title: Magician: Apprentice

Author: Raymond E. Feist

Series: Riftwar Saga #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, he was ill at ease with the normal ways of wizardry. Yet Pug’s strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of spacetime to being again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos.

The Review:

When customers approach me for a fantasy recommend, I always ask: have you read Feist? As the long-time favorite of my family, “Magician: Apprentice” is the book that first inspired my love of the genre. I’ve gone through hundreds of books since then, and it is still one of the best novels I’ve ever read. It’s got all of the elements I loved about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it is written in a much more vibrant and story-driven manner. I’m a stickler for good characters, and all of the characters in this series are incredibly well-developed and memorable. Elves, dwarves, dragons, and magic are all woven together in an adventure that will leave you eager for the next book.

This is the first book in the Riftwar Saga, and each book in the series is as good as the last.  If you would like an introduction to the fantasy genre, this is the novel for you. As for the hardcore fantasy fans, this book should definitely be on your list of “must-reads.”

Recommendations: As much as I loved this book, it’s hard to believe that I loved a trilogy by Feist and Wurts even more. Read the “Magician: Apprentice” and “Magician: Master” first, then take some time to read the “Daughter of the Empire” trilogy before moving on to the third Riftwar book (Silverthorn).

Other books you might like:

  • “Wizard’s First Rule” by Terry Goodkind
  • “Sword of Shannara” by Terry Brooks
  • “Wayfarer Redemption” by Sara Douglass
  • “Homeland” by R.A. Salvatore
  • “Dragons of Autumn Twilight” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

by Niki Hawkes