8 posts tagged “fantasy”
If there's one thing that I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, how matter how tempting they make it. It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inventing the Internet--
Obtained: Queens Library
Finished: 27-June 2008
Story Synopsis:
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse -- Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon, a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
Commentary:
Okay, let's get this out of the way now -- yes, this book will remind you a lot of Harry Potter. Even the author, Rick Riordan, is perfectly aware of the comparisons between Percy Jackson and J.K. Rowling's boy wizard.
But barring that, The Lightning Thief is a good book and a fun read nonetheless. I think most people enjoy Greek mythology, and Riordan's riff on the Olympians living in the modern world is just plain inspired. Anybody who's even remotely familiar with the mythology will pick up on the references right away; it's even more fun to try to the guess on the character before he/she/it is fully introduced.
Riordan's writing is also faster, snappier than your average YA writer's. He doesn't waste time explaining all of the intricacies of his universe -- that'll come along eventually -- but takes you head-first into the action. Percy's not a bad protagonist either. He's somewhat reckless and impulsive, but hey, he is a 12-year old boy. I had a teensy bit of whiff of some Gary Stu traits (e.g. how awesome he is with the sword, etc.) but I guess it's easily explained by the fact that he is a demigod.
Liked this a whole lot, and it may be worth checking out the rest of the series.
Finished: 27-June 2008
Story Synopsis:
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse -- Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon, a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
Commentary:
Okay, let's get this out of the way now -- yes, this book will remind you a lot of Harry Potter. Even the author, Rick Riordan, is perfectly aware of the comparisons between Percy Jackson and J.K. Rowling's boy wizard.
But barring that, The Lightning Thief is a good book and a fun read nonetheless. I think most people enjoy Greek mythology, and Riordan's riff on the Olympians living in the modern world is just plain inspired. Anybody who's even remotely familiar with the mythology will pick up on the references right away; it's even more fun to try to the guess on the character before he/she/it is fully introduced.
Riordan's writing is also faster, snappier than your average YA writer's. He doesn't waste time explaining all of the intricacies of his universe -- that'll come along eventually -- but takes you head-first into the action. Percy's not a bad protagonist either. He's somewhat reckless and impulsive, but hey, he is a 12-year old boy. I had a teensy bit of whiff of some Gary Stu traits (e.g. how awesome he is with the sword, etc.) but I guess it's easily explained by the fact that he is a demigod.
Liked this a whole lot, and it may be worth checking out the rest of the series.
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 by Diana Wynne Jones
Obtained: New York Public Library
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: Diana Wynne Jones is possibly one of the more well-known fantasy writers of her generation, and this reputation is well-deserved from reading the two books that comprise this first volume of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. Her characters are deftly written, and are quite lovable despite many wacky quirks (see: Christopher Chant). I'm personally not fond of her usual retreat into a deux en machina ending, but after reading a few of her books, I'm thinking that this is probably a common occurrence and I should start getting used to it by now.
Ballad of a Shinigami, Volume 1 by K-Ske Hasegawa
Obtained: New York Comic-Con
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: For such a small and short title, this book took me forever to finish. I think pulling out my wisdom teeth was a shorter and more pleasant experience. Momo is a shinigami, aka the Japanese version of the Grim Reaper. Except she's not very grim at all. She shows up, the bell on her scythe tinkling, to let people know that it's time. The book is composed of several stories of people who are going to die, or who have somebody close to them dying, all of their tales linked by Momo's appearance in their lives. The idea could have been so incredible and poignant, but my enjoyment of this book was marred by the not-so great writing. I hate the book's omniscient narrator. I hate omniscient narrators, period. This is a rare case where the translation is probably perfect, but the problem really lies in the original source material, which isn't that awesome to begin with.
Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi
Obtained: Queens Public Library
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: I think Marjane Satrapi is one of those people who are blessed with many moments of genius. I enjoyed Persepolis, but there were some parts of the books that dragged. So that's why I approached Embroideries with a bit of caution, not really wanting a repeat of my previous experience with her work.
For the record, I don't think I've laughed harder at any comic that I've read in these so many months. Satrapi is great when she's naughty and chatty, like the same ladies that she depicts in this book. When she gets too serious and political, it feels to me that she's doing that merely for the sake of being serious and political. I think she gets the point across either way, so if humor is the way to get it done, then she should stick to that. I wish she would have a follow-up for this book too.
Obtained: New York Public Library
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: Diana Wynne Jones is possibly one of the more well-known fantasy writers of her generation, and this reputation is well-deserved from reading the two books that comprise this first volume of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. Her characters are deftly written, and are quite lovable despite many wacky quirks (see: Christopher Chant). I'm personally not fond of her usual retreat into a deux en machina ending, but after reading a few of her books, I'm thinking that this is probably a common occurrence and I should start getting used to it by now.
Obtained: New York Comic-Con
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: For such a small and short title, this book took me forever to finish. I think pulling out my wisdom teeth was a shorter and more pleasant experience. Momo is a shinigami, aka the Japanese version of the Grim Reaper. Except she's not very grim at all. She shows up, the bell on her scythe tinkling, to let people know that it's time. The book is composed of several stories of people who are going to die, or who have somebody close to them dying, all of their tales linked by Momo's appearance in their lives. The idea could have been so incredible and poignant, but my enjoyment of this book was marred by the not-so great writing. I hate the book's omniscient narrator. I hate omniscient narrators, period. This is a rare case where the translation is probably perfect, but the problem really lies in the original source material, which isn't that awesome to begin with.
Obtained: Queens Public Library
Finished: sometime in May
Quickie review: I think Marjane Satrapi is one of those people who are blessed with many moments of genius. I enjoyed Persepolis, but there were some parts of the books that dragged. So that's why I approached Embroideries with a bit of caution, not really wanting a repeat of my previous experience with her work.
For the record, I don't think I've laughed harder at any comic that I've read in these so many months. Satrapi is great when she's naughty and chatty, like the same ladies that she depicts in this book. When she gets too serious and political, it feels to me that she's doing that merely for the sake of being serious and political. I think she gets the point across either way, so if humor is the way to get it done, then she should stick to that. I wish she would have a follow-up for this book too.
The Night Dance by Susanne Weyn
Obtained: Bookmooch
Finished: 19-Sept 2007
Story synopsis:
Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters' slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they've been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses.
Seriously, I don't know why I've only found out about this series just now.
The "Once Upon a Time" series (published by Simon Pulse) features fairly-well known young adult authors as they reinterpret many of the more popular "fairy tales" that we all read as children. This particular volume focuses on the story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," with an Arthurian twist.
And, if you didn't know already, I'm a sucker for an Arthurian reinterpretation of any story. Especially if it involves either Galahad or (in this case) Bedivere.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed a romance novel. It's too cute how Rowena and Bedivere are so infatuated with each other, even though they've never met each other before -- but hey, it is a fairy tale so true love at first sight and all that.
Yes, the characterizations are shallow. But think about it, since the author is drawing on the tradition of the Arthurian characters, so it's almost unnecessary for her to flesh out these same characters yet again when even a novice to Arthurian literature could easily identify who's who. Like, really, do we have to go into how manipulative and ambitious Morgan Le Fay is? Or how noble and chivalrous Bedivere is? Not really.
A short and sweet novel, guaranteed to appeal to the sap in all of us.
Obtained: Bookmooch
Finished: 19-Sept 2007
Story synopsis:
Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters' slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they've been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses.
Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan's challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation...one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.
Commentary:Seriously, I don't know why I've only found out about this series just now.
The "Once Upon a Time" series (published by Simon Pulse) features fairly-well known young adult authors as they reinterpret many of the more popular "fairy tales" that we all read as children. This particular volume focuses on the story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," with an Arthurian twist.
And, if you didn't know already, I'm a sucker for an Arthurian reinterpretation of any story. Especially if it involves either Galahad or (in this case) Bedivere.
It's been a while since I've enjoyed a romance novel. It's too cute how Rowena and Bedivere are so infatuated with each other, even though they've never met each other before -- but hey, it is a fairy tale so true love at first sight and all that.
Yes, the characterizations are shallow. But think about it, since the author is drawing on the tradition of the Arthurian characters, so it's almost unnecessary for her to flesh out these same characters yet again when even a novice to Arthurian literature could easily identify who's who. Like, really, do we have to go into how manipulative and ambitious Morgan Le Fay is? Or how noble and chivalrous Bedivere is? Not really.
A short and sweet novel, guaranteed to appeal to the sap in all of us.
I'm finishing up the last of the books of this series. I knew about the movie, but it didn't occur to me to look up the trailer till last night. The monsters and the effects of this movie look like they're going to do the work justice -- and Freddie Highmore will be great to watch as Simon and Jared Grace.
What they say:
In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.
Commentary:
Would you believe this was my first Neil Gaiman book? Yup. Again, it's the upcoming movie that prompted me to pick it up and see what all the hoopla's all about. I just read the regular text version of this title -- there were no cheap copies of the graphic novel available at the usual sites, and I wasn't about to shell out $40 for a new hardcover version... just in case it sucked.
Gaiman's writing is lovely. There were many instances where I thought his phrasing and descriptions were so dead-on perfect that I had to re-read the line in order to cherish and appreciate it fully. I s'pose that's his gift; to be able to weave words into pretty, shiny ideas that he then plants right in our heads.
The story itself, however, was a bundle of cliches. Young man vows to retrieve a star for his one true love. Young man ventures into the land of Faerie where he meets various and sundry folk, some who help him, some who want to kill him. Star ends up not being a star, but a beautiful (if bitchy ) girl.
Add a trio of witches, an unclaimed throne, missing heirs, transformations, unicorns, and flying ships. I mean, seriously, how many fantasy archetypes can you squeeze into a novel?
I also felt that the ending was quite anticlimactic. Highlight for spoilers.[When Lilim wasn't able to kill Yvaine because she was already such a gnarly old crone, the last thing that I would have wanted to see was for the witch to just end up there. I think I would have personally preferred being burned to death in my shack of sticks.
And really, who could not have seen Tristan falling in love with Yvaine? It just proves the age-old premise that boys naturally fall in love with the girls who hate and insult them]
In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.
Commentary:
Would you believe this was my first Neil Gaiman book? Yup. Again, it's the upcoming movie that prompted me to pick it up and see what all the hoopla's all about. I just read the regular text version of this title -- there were no cheap copies of the graphic novel available at the usual sites, and I wasn't about to shell out $40 for a new hardcover version... just in case it sucked.
Gaiman's writing is lovely. There were many instances where I thought his phrasing and descriptions were so dead-on perfect that I had to re-read the line in order to cherish and appreciate it fully. I s'pose that's his gift; to be able to weave words into pretty, shiny ideas that he then plants right in our heads.
The story itself, however, was a bundle of cliches. Young man vows to retrieve a star for his one true love. Young man ventures into the land of Faerie where he meets various and sundry folk, some who help him, some who want to kill him. Star ends up not being a star, but a beautiful (if bitchy ) girl.
Add a trio of witches, an unclaimed throne, missing heirs, transformations, unicorns, and flying ships. I mean, seriously, how many fantasy archetypes can you squeeze into a novel?
I also felt that the ending was quite anticlimactic. Highlight for spoilers.[When Lilim wasn't able to kill Yvaine because she was already such a gnarly old crone, the last thing that I would have wanted to see was for the witch to just end up there. I think I would have personally preferred being burned to death in my shack of sticks.
And really, who could not have seen Tristan falling in love with Yvaine? It just proves the age-old premise that boys naturally fall in love with the girls who hate and insult them]
What they say:
Three enchanting stories set during the magical winter solstice.
"Moontide" by Mercedes Lackey: In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected...at a price that might be too high.
"The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith Lee: Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, struggles under the curse of a dead comrade until "The Heart of the Moon" reveals what has been hidden.
"Banshee Cries" by C.E. Murphy: Ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she can't ignore--the next life she has to save might be her own...
Commentary:
I really just borrowed this book from the library because of Ms. Lackey's inclusion in the anthology. I've heard of Tanith Lee but never really bothered looking up any of her works. These stories are centered on events that happen to three different women during the winter solstice.
Luckily for me, Lackey's contribution to this anthology was quite well written. The main character, Moira, is the daughter of a sea-keep lord. She was fostered to the Countess Vrenable as one of her Grey Ladies, trained in the arts of battle and assasination. When her father suspiciously sends for her, she realizes that there may be something evil afoot. She eventually discovers her father's plan to cause havoc to the kingdom, and it's only with the help of Kendric, her father's Fool, that she can stop that from happening.
This story was actually the precursor to all of the Five Hundred Kingdoms stories, and truth be told, it's one of the better stories in the group.
Tanith Lee's story -- to be honest, I just read the first half, and then gave up and skipped all the way to the end to figure out what happened. The premise was actually quite interesting. Clirando's a warrior priestess (think something in the lines of Xena?) who catches her (male) lover and her childhood friend in a compromising position. As befits the law of their land, she challenges them both to a duel; she obviously wins so both cheaters are exiled. Unfortunately for Clirando, her friend curses her just before leaving -- saying that she'll never again sleep for the rest of her life. When she and her band of warriors are sent to a mission on the Moon Isle, Clirando realizes that the moon has certain ways of enforcing curses.
Like I said, interesting start, but Tanith Lee just has far too much -angst- for my liking. Clirando's supposed to be a tough warrior, yet she spends a good chunk of the introductory chapters dwelling in guilt and self-pity. The ending was equally predictable too, so I'm glad that I didn't waste too much time reading it.
Skipped the C.E. Murphy story since urban fantasy just isn't my thing.
Three enchanting stories set during the magical winter solstice.
"Moontide" by Mercedes Lackey: In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected...at a price that might be too high.
"The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith Lee: Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, struggles under the curse of a dead comrade until "The Heart of the Moon" reveals what has been hidden.
"Banshee Cries" by C.E. Murphy: Ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she can't ignore--the next life she has to save might be her own...
Commentary:
I really just borrowed this book from the library because of Ms. Lackey's inclusion in the anthology. I've heard of Tanith Lee but never really bothered looking up any of her works. These stories are centered on events that happen to three different women during the winter solstice.
Luckily for me, Lackey's contribution to this anthology was quite well written. The main character, Moira, is the daughter of a sea-keep lord. She was fostered to the Countess Vrenable as one of her Grey Ladies, trained in the arts of battle and assasination. When her father suspiciously sends for her, she realizes that there may be something evil afoot. She eventually discovers her father's plan to cause havoc to the kingdom, and it's only with the help of Kendric, her father's Fool, that she can stop that from happening.
This story was actually the precursor to all of the Five Hundred Kingdoms stories, and truth be told, it's one of the better stories in the group.
Tanith Lee's story -- to be honest, I just read the first half, and then gave up and skipped all the way to the end to figure out what happened. The premise was actually quite interesting. Clirando's a warrior priestess (think something in the lines of Xena?) who catches her (male) lover and her childhood friend in a compromising position. As befits the law of their land, she challenges them both to a duel; she obviously wins so both cheaters are exiled. Unfortunately for Clirando, her friend curses her just before leaving -- saying that she'll never again sleep for the rest of her life. When she and her band of warriors are sent to a mission on the Moon Isle, Clirando realizes that the moon has certain ways of enforcing curses.
Like I said, interesting start, but Tanith Lee just has far too much -angst- for my liking. Clirando's supposed to be a tough warrior, yet she spends a good chunk of the introductory chapters dwelling in guilt and self-pity. The ending was equally predictable too, so I'm glad that I didn't waste too much time reading it.
Skipped the C.E. Murphy story since urban fantasy just isn't my thing.
What they say:
As part of Harlequin's Luna imprint, I'm always expecting these books to have more romance (alright, who am I kidding? I mean more sex) than the usual fantasy novel. It partially delivers on that end -- Lackey can write a convincing love scene as any in the biz -- but the buildup of the relationship between Katya and Sasha was too pat and easy. Once she figures out that he was the source of the peace of Led Belarus as its Storyweaver, she figures "hey, he's also aware of the Tradition -- and he's kinda hot too! Maybe I should fall in love with him!" And Sasha, as any warm-blooded male would be wont to do, is not going to resist the lures of the equally beautiful daughter of the King of the Sea.
I think my other problem with installment in the series is its lack of action. Katya and her love interest Sasha are pretty capable and quick thinking leads -- so it's too bad that their villain is more flash than substance. Their 'villain' didn't really want to be a bad guy, but because of the Tradition, he had to do those things. What's the fun in that?
For a romance/fantasy, it's a little unfortunate that there's not much of the romance or fantasy to make this a strong recommendation to anybody but the most ardent Mercedes Lackey fan.
As the seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina had a wonderful life—but also a lot of responsibility. Her special gift for moving around on land made her the perfect emissary from her father to check out interesting happenings on the surface. In short, she became the family spy.
On one such reconnaissance mission, she encounters Sasha—the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Though everyone sees his talent at music, they also consider him a fool. Ekaterina suspects something more powerful lies behind his facade. But before she can find out what, Ekaterina is kidnapped!
Carried off by a whirlwind and trapped in a castle with other kidnapped princesses at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Which means that fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on. Oh, and of course her own clever mind and manipulative abilities…
Commentary:
Katya is the Sea King's daughter, entrusted by her father to be his informant on the various goings-on above the sea. Though she is a creature of the sea, she is gifted with the ability to breathe both on land and sea, thus making her an effective 'spy' of sorts. In addition, she is well versed in the Tradition, the force that governs the way of life in the Five Hundred Kingdoms, knowing how to use it as needed and as necessary.
As part of Harlequin's Luna imprint, I'm always expecting these books to have more romance (alright, who am I kidding? I mean more sex) than the usual fantasy novel. It partially delivers on that end -- Lackey can write a convincing love scene as any in the biz -- but the buildup of the relationship between Katya and Sasha was too pat and easy. Once she figures out that he was the source of the peace of Led Belarus as its Storyweaver, she figures "hey, he's also aware of the Tradition -- and he's kinda hot too! Maybe I should fall in love with him!" And Sasha, as any warm-blooded male would be wont to do, is not going to resist the lures of the equally beautiful daughter of the King of the Sea.
I think my other problem with installment in the series is its lack of action. Katya and her love interest Sasha are pretty capable and quick thinking leads -- so it's too bad that their villain is more flash than substance. Their 'villain' didn't really want to be a bad guy, but because of the Tradition, he had to do those things. What's the fun in that?
For a romance/fantasy, it's a little unfortunate that there's not much of the romance or fantasy to make this a strong recommendation to anybody but the most ardent Mercedes Lackey fan.
