Jul 26 2013

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Dragon Obsession: The Visual Files

Meet Toothless

(Or perhaps you’ve already met?)

Toothless is quite possibly my favorite dragon in cinema – and it all started with some excellent storytelling. In the movie, dragons are hated for the amount of destruction they wreak upon this tiny Viking village. We find out fairly early on how many different ways Vikings have supposedly been killed by dragons. And there are all sorts of different types they’ve battled over the years – and they’re pretty well documented… all except for one: the night fury. No one has ever really seen one, but they are regarded as the single most dangerous breed of dragon in existence.

When we finally do meet the dragon, he is injured and angry, but not malicious like we had come to expect. His act of mercy gives a young boy the courage he needs to seek the dragon out and befriend it. Although certainly dangerous, the night fury is anything but evil. With an initial standoffish yet curious nature, Toothless essentially has the mannerisms of a giant house cat (much to my delight – what’s not to love?). This major perspective switch leads the young boy to consider that maybe not all dragons are as evil as they seem.

I love the mystery and the buildup surrounding the night fury breed, but the contrast between those theories and the actual creature was my favorite part of this plot. Setting up expectations right away gives you the opportunity to shatter them later on and really surprise people. It’s called a “reveal,” and it’s one of my favorite writing tools. I’m sure it’s part of the reason why How to Train Your Dragon is one of my favorite movies (it also has a great plot, loads of wonder and excitement, relatable characters, humor, and plenty of adventure). If the book I’m writing does any of these half as well, I will be in good shape.

At this point, I’ve seen the movie but have not had a chance to read the books (apparently there’s also a television series). I hear they’re all quite different from one another, but worthwhile all the same. Here’s a link to one of my favorite reviewers who’s looked into all three: The Unlikely Librarian.

by Niki Hawkes

Jul 25 2013

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Book Review: Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

Title: Ship of Magic

Author: Robin Hobb

Series: Liveship Traders #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships–rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. The fortunes of one of Bingtown’s oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia. For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy unjustly denied her–a legacy she will risk anything to reclaim. For Althea’s young nephew Wintrow, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard ship, Vivacia is a life sentence. But the fate of the Vestrit family–and the ship–may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider. The ruthless pirate Kennit seeks a way to seize power over all the denizens of the Pirate Isles…and the first step of his plan requires him to capture his own liveship and bend it to his will…

The Review:

Robin Hobb has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors. In my eyes, she can do no wrong, and here’s why: she has mastered every aspect that I consider when evaluating fantasy novel. Her world building, writing, characters, story, magic, and pacing are all phenomenal – and then she adds… something extra. An X-factor of sorts that tips her novels from enjoyable to profound. I am still reeling from her Tawny Man trilogy almost a year later (Fool’s Fate), and have said before that it’s part of the reason why I wanted to start a book blog – it rocked my world and I had to share.

Hobb actually has some of the most slow pacing of any novel that I’ve read – but it works because she makes everything relatable and writes it beautifully. The magic and the remarkable characters within these books make them worth reading in their own right. But it’s the little things – the daily acts done by average people just trying to make their way in the world – that makes them so special and absorbing.

These characters are real – I’m convinced of it. Their behaviors and personalities are so lifelike that they have to be going through these struggles in some distant universe that Hobb just happens to have access to. They are just so human, and so vibrant in that humanity that you can’t help but love them. They are flawed, they make mistakes, and they don’t always say the right thing, but they are real. This trilogy in particular features several different viewpoint characters, and while that can sometimes take momentum away from the story, in this case it only adds to it. You know Hobb chose to tell their perspective for a reason, so it’s only a matter of sitting back and enjoying their journey until their true purpose is revealed.

Overall, if you are interested in the ultimate high-seas adventure in a rich and vibrant world accompanied by excellent characters faced with endless possibilities, this may be the trilogy for you!

Recommendations: I hand this author to anyone looking for a great fantasy series – especially if they mention dragons. When an author has multiple series, you don’t usually need to read them in any particular order. In Hobb’s case, one of the reasons she is so profound is that each series builds off of one another. I would recommend reading them in the following order from left to right (depicted below are the covers for the first books in each series):

: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

: Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

: Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb

: The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Other books you might like:

: Sorcery Rising by Jude Fisher

: Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe

: Sea of Swords by R.A. Salvatore

: Pearls of Lutra by Brian Jacques

: The Aware by Glenda Larke

by Niki Hawkes

Jul 24 2013

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Coming Soon: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

I’ve been doing these “Coming Soon” posts since I started the blog last September, but it only recently occurred to me that I could convert them into the Waiting on Wednesday feature hosted by Breaking the Spine and Should be Reading. I already do the Top Ten Tuesday feature, and it’s one of my favorites – partly because it gives me the opportunity to connect with other book bloggers, but mostly because it gives you guys a solid feature to look forward to every week. Here’s one of the books that has me excited:

Title: Steelheart

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Reckoners #1

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: September 24, 2013

The Overview: Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics… nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father. For years, like the Reckoners, David’s been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. He’s seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

Nik’s Notes:

Brandon Sanderson amazes me with how many quality fantasy novels he puts out every year. He has so many projects going that we’re left guessing what he’s going to work on next. I love his originality when it comes to magic systems – especially those found in Warbreaker and Mistborn. As this is the start of a new series, I can only imagine what he’s going to come up with next – whatever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be exciting! If any of you fantasy buffs haven’t picked up a Sanderson book yet, you are sorely missing out. :-)

I will probably nominate Steelheart as one of our possible book club options in my Your Pick for Nik! feature. December’s pick was Warbreaker, and it was an excellent book. (click the cover below for the full review).

Jul 23 2013

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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Words/Subjects that Almost Kept Me from Reading These Great Books (7/23/2013)

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) was supposed to be centered around words/subjects that deter me from picking up books. As I started compiling my list, it took on almost a negative aspect as I considered subjects outside of my wheelhouse. It felt like book-bashing, in a way, and didn’t leave me with any means to recommend titles. With that in mind, I decided to tweak this week’s topic a bit to make it more positive. Ahem:

Top Ten Words/Subjects that Almost Kept Me from Reading These Great Books!

Keep in mind as you explore my list that most of these were not on my reading list because of their subjects but ended up being an experiment gone very, very well when I finally did read them.

#1 Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The impression I’ve always held of circuses is that they are dirty, freaky, secretive institutions where animals are abused and people go missing… I may be watching too much TV. In any case, I’d never have the desire to read about a circus before, but something about the intrigue and romance of this book compelled me to open it. It’s still one of my favorites. :-)

#2 Werewolves/Vampires

Now, I’ll admit that I’ve pretty much devoured as many things on this subject as I could once I got hooked, but before this book, I was a supernatural hater. These creatures were gross and I really didn’t want anything to do with them… until a love story was introduced. All I can say is, I’m grateful to Handeland for opening up such a wide range of entertainment for me.

#3 Historical

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

I read to escape reality, so the idea of reliving stories that I wanted to sleep through in grade school was a definite turnoff. I still can’t read totally historic novels, but have come to appreciate and even love those with a fantasy twist.

#4 Elves in Space

What an odd concept. This was an ultimate mix of fantasy, romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction. And you know what? It worked. I’m reading it for the second time and it’s still good.

#5 S&M

I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable with this subject, per se, but I’m definitely glad I didn’t let it deter me from reading these novels. They are some of the most epic, rich fantasies I’ve ever read with outstanding characters. They also have an element of history, too, but I didn’t know that before picking them up.

#6 Arthurian Lore

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

The tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table has been beaten to death in my brain. I avoid anything on the subject like the plague because I am just plain tired of the story. Wings was such a new take on the subject that it was actually my favorite part of these books.

#7 Mythology

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

I don’t know if it’s my aversion to history or my undeniable need to escape reality when I read, but before this book, I had shunned everything so blatantly mythological. I viewed it as almost a copout – using creatures that already exists in history so you don’t have to create your own… Since, I’ve become much less of a snob and realize that some of the best tales come from putting your own spin on classic creations.

#8 Talking Deer

You heard me. Much like Watership Down, this is a book about the life struggles of a deer. It appealed to my love of nature and animals as well as the classic “good overcomes evil” storyline. I don’t think there’s anything I can say that a makes this book not sound lame – ha ha. Take my word for it, it was a good read.

#9 Candy Magic

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

I never had any intention of reading this book, thinking it couldn’t possibly be anything other than juvenile and cheesy… then Mull rocked my world with Fablehaven, so I gave it a try. Although the subject matter is geared towards a younger audience, the writing is surprisingly sophisticated and creative. It made me feel like a kid again, but in a smart way.

#10 True Story

I don’t know if I could’ve read nonfiction unless it was animal-related. I actually have quite a collection of nature books, but they are so off subject that I don’t feature them on my blog. Instead of facts, Grogan recounts the events as if he were telling a story – filled with loads of creative embellishments that made me forget I was reading a nonfiction book. It was beautiful, and I will definitely be reading it again someday.

Well, there’s my list – I hope you enjoyed it! :-)

Jul 22 2013

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Your Pick for Nik! – August’s Selection!

Thank you all for your votes!

The Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold

This month’s winner is… The Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold!

A thorough review and discussion for this book will take place on Monday, September 2nd, so there’s plenty of time to pick it up if you want to participate. For more information on the Your Pick for Nik! book club, click here.

Here’s A look at what the book is about:

Troubled young Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond her family’s farm. Enroute to the city, she encounters a patrol of Lakewalkers. The necromancers armed with human bone knives fight “malices”, immortal entities that draw out life, enslaving humans and animals. Dag saves Fawn from a malice – at a devastating cost. Their fates are now bound in a remarkable journey.

Jul 19 2013

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Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Title: School Spirits

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: School Spirits #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break. Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush. Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

The Review:

Arguably, my favorite thing in the final Hex Hall novel was the introduction of the Brannick family. I thought it added a great new dynamic to the story, and if I could’ve chosen a character to do a side story on, it would’ve been Izzy (lucky me). She and her sister grew up in their own little world and had mastered the art of monster slaying while most girls held tea parties. Overall, they are strong personalities with a fascinating background, and I am excited Hawkins chose to tell their story.

I hold this author in high regard for creating relatable, yet cheeky main characters. Sophie was delightfully awkward, yet strong spirited, and I love the fact that she could laugh at herself. Izzy, on the other hand, is more reserved… but I actually find her more relatable as she struggled to make it in a rather non-magical high school. This author definitely writes great protagonists, but I also love that she surrounds them with friends that are just as well-rounded and interesting. The sidekicks in School Spirits were especially quirky – I don’t know that I’ve seen their like in any other series, and I found that refreshing.

Another thing I praised in the first trilogy was Hawkins’ ability to turn the setting into almost a character within itself. As this story takes place at a normal high school in a small town, it pales in comparison to the mystery and wonder of Hectate Hall. Because of this, I thought the story lost a little bit of the magic it maintained throughout the first three books. It did, however, make up for it a bit through cool bits of supernatural (anybody remember the man trapped in the mirror in the third Hex Hall book? I really want to know even more about him).

This book also had a couple layers of mystery working for it, but I did’t find them as complex or compelling as the first series… But it’s only the first book, so I’ll definitely give it more time to develop. I have a feeling there is a lot more in store for Izzy then Hawkins is letting on at this point.

Recommendations: overall, this was a delightful spinoff series that would work pretty well as a stand-alone, though I would strongly recommend reading the first trilogy to experience this author at her finest. I would suggest this author to people who like their high school romance books with just a hint of supernatural (and a lot of fun).

Other books you might like: