Runemarks

Book Dame apologizes for the lengthy time since the last update! 2010 is obviously the year of crazy.

Title: Runemarks
Author: Joanne Harris
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2008

Review:

“Seven o’clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the End of the World, and goblins had been at the cellar again…” is the first line of Runemarks, setting the stage for a world where Order and conformity is everything. No one wants to dream for it is shameful, and to have a ruinmark (a glowing birthmark) on your person is the worst sort of disgrace that can be imagined. This is the world that Maddy Smith was born into, and she’s never fitted in. She loves hearing stories, but no one will tell her any because having an imagination is a terrible crime. So she makes up her own, branding her as an outsider even more than the ruinmark on her palm does. Maddy’s only friend, the only person who has been kind to her in her fifteen years of life, is a wanderer. He’s only ever in town for a month or so and he won’t tell her his name. He lets her call him One Eye. And he has a ruinmark, too.

Maddy, and the friends she makes along the way, proves that life is full of phenomenal surprises and that it shouldn’t be gone through like a sleepwalker. That’s what you’ll do in Death. Trust her, she’s been there. Maddy is imaginative enough to turn her mistakes to their best advantage, learning to think on her feet and daring to stay outside of the traditional role she grew up in. (Not that she has a lot of choice. She did accidentally flood the cellar and get fired.) The Nine Worlds around her are full of wonder and magic, and deserve something in between absolute order and absolute chaos. But does Maddy have the courage to save the Old Gods? And can they stop squabbling enough to save her?

Perspective:
Runemarks is told from third person omniscient, switching regularly between characters to fully flesh out an amazingly constructed world.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. It has a catchy intro that doesn’t let you down…much. I lost interest a little when One Eye was chatting with the Parson and Examiner, but it picks up again fairly quickly. Maddy is fun and engaging, an interesting take on the person who gets to (has to?) restart creation. This romp through Norse Mythology after Ragnarok is one of the most enjoyable telling of legends I’ve come across.

Favorite Scene:
I loved when Loki and Maddy are seeing what Thor’s nightmare is. So surprising, and the dialogue is great.

Who this book is best for: anyone who likes Norse myths will get a kick out of Runemarks. It is entirely suitable for children older than 10 or advanced readers.

Stars: 4

Violence: 2 of 5 for some threat of torture and an army of undead.

The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2008
Series: The Hunger Games
Next in Series: Catching Fire

Review:

Panem: a dystopia that rose from the ashes of what used to be the United States of America and Canada, formed by twelve districts which are completely subservient to their Capitol. One district reduced to ashes in a civil war 74 years ago. As retribution for that war each district is required to draw by lottery the names of one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in the Hunger Games, the ultimate in reality TV, with all citizens required to watch. There the tributes must fight to the death, for there can only be one victor in the annual Hunger Games.

Katniss: cold and calculating, yet vulnerable and scared, sacrificed herself to save her twelve year old sister. The female tribute from district 12.

Peeta: son of the local baker, unused to finding his own food or being hungry, has loved Katniss since he was five. The male tribute from district 12.

Haymitch: drunk and vicious, victim of post traumatic stress, coach to the tributes from District 12. The only surviving victor from district 12.

Gripping to the point of obsession, The Hunger Games draws a reader in like a moth to a flame. From chapter one on, it’s near impossible to put down. Don’t think that getting to the end of a chapter will help, because it each one ends in such a way that it would be easier to rip out a tooth than to stop reading. Katniss does what she has to do to survive. But it’s Peeta who really stands out as the moral character, who does what he must to save those he cares for. Unheralded, but with the potential to be the next “Harry Potter”, The Hunger Games is unlike anything I’ve read, where no one is exactly what they seem and everyone has a deadly secret.

Perspective:
The Hunger Games is told from Katniss’s point of view, in first person.

My Thoughts:
This book literally blew me away. I stayed up reading until 2 am, which is a bad thing when you have work at 7AM, and couldn’t sleep after I put it down because I was still thinking about it. The Hunger Games will work themselves into your life and into your dreams. The fascinating world developed by Ms. Collins is as captivating as it is terrifying.

It is, hands-down, dominating the top five books I have ever read, and I couldn't wait to get the second one.

Favorite Scene:
This is a toss-up between Katniss and Peeta in the cave when they’re both wounded and Katniss’s response to Rue’s death. Both had me near tears, but for very different reasons.

Who this book is best for:
Teenagers will relate immediately to both Katniss and Peeta, but people of all ages can enjoy this book.

Violence: 4 of 5. The tributes are there to kill each other, and death happens in some extremely unpleasant ways.

Stars: 5 of 5. Outstanding.

Beauty

Title: Beauty
Author: Robin McKinley
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1978

Review:
Grace, Hope and Honour - who as a child didn't understand her name and asked to be called Beauty, for all that it didn't and still doesn't suit her - are the daughters of the failed merchant, Roderick Huston. They live with Hope's fiancé, a blacksmith in the town of Blue Hill far to the north of the city they grew up in. One day, years after their relocation, word comes that one of their missing four ships has returned at last. Roderick sets out at once to meet up with his former employees, and perhaps discover the fate of the other three vessels, but before he leaves he asks his daughters what they would like from the city of their birth. Grace and Hope ask for jewels and gold. He knows they are joking, for they have no use for such things now. Beauty, always practical, asks for seeds. Rose seeds for their garden.

It is not to be. Rose bushes and rose cuttings can be found in abundance, but they would not survive the two month trip back to Blue Hill. The return journey is uneventful, and Roderick leaves the caravan he traveled with close to his home. This is when the story truly starts, for he is set upon by a blizzard. Lost and alone in the forest he stumbles into a castle where invisible servants provide everything he needs. On his way out the castle gates towards home, he snaps off a single red rose to take home to Beauty. The Beast appears, and after hearing Roderick's story demands he return in a month to die or let one of his daughters, who agrees to come of her own free will, come to spend the rest of her life at the castle.

What makes this version of Ms. McKinley's retelling so enthralling is Beauty herself and how she responds to the magic of the castle and to the Beast. She takes it all in stride, and makes it work for her as though magic were always part of her life, not something new and a little bit frightening. From books that don’t quite exist yet or convincing her placid horse that the Beast won’t eat him, Beauty wiggles her way into a stifled world, sending out ripples that change everything the Beast and we know about the classic story. Because Beauty is a strong character she creates strong situations around her. While she feels she isn’t physically beautiful, and is described as awkward and gawky, Beauty has enough intelligence that even a doctoral admissions board would have to pay attention to her, and that makes her shine.

Perspective:
Beauty is told from Beauty’s perspective, in first person.

My Thoughts:
I do prefer Rose’s Daughter of the two Beauty and the Beast retellings that Ms. McKinley has done because I love its’ ethereal quality, but if for nothing else I would adore Beauty for her brains. Young ladies need strong role models, and most of the “princess” types (Cinderella, Little Mermaid, etc) don’t usually fit into that category. Beauty has potency, passion, ideals and depth. Beauty accepts everyone for who they are, even if it means overcoming her own terror. She shines off the page as someone I wish I could be. This is a much more personal Beauty and the Beast than any other I’ve read. It draws you in. The flowers are fragrant, the people are full of personality, and even the animals show you that they’re cognizant of their world.

Favorite Scene:
I love when Beauty introduces Greatheart to the Beast. The scene is so tense and heartrending that it makes you wonder how this poor girl can ever make things work.

Who this book is best for:
Beauty is probably more of a book for girls than for boys, but it’s suitable for anyone over about 12.

Violence: 0 of 5. The worst thing that happens is a horse being spanked on the rump.

Stars: 3.5 of 5

Silent in the Sanctuary

Title: Silent in the Sanctuary
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2008
Series: Lady Julia Grey Mysteries (Book 2)
Next in Series: Silent on the Moor (forthcoming, March 1, 2009)

Review:
Julia has recovered from her shocking investigation of her husband’s murder and is now relaxing in Italy with two of her many brothers. But when Lysander gets married to an Italian lady without his father’s permission they are all summoned home to England for Christmas. Upon arrival at their ancestral home of Bellmont Abbey they realize that Earl March has planned a large house party to celebrate the season.

Among the guests are Nicolas Brisbane and (most surprisingly) his fiancée. But it isn’t long before odd things start happening. There are many reports of a ghostly apparition floating around the old Abbey. Ancient relatives disappear in the middle of snowstorms. An expensive set of pearls vanish. And worst of all, one of the houseguests ends up dead during a game of Sardines!

A fun dash back in time to hobnob with the Victorians, the historical details of this book are very well done. The tension between Julia and Brisbane is palpable and helps keep the story moving the few times it might have stalled out. But as a mystery, it takes forever to get there. The murder doesn’t happen until halfway through the book, although many other odd things take place.

While it does take forever to get to the murder, there are plenty of other things to distract and fascinate the reader. First there’s Brisbane’s odd fiancée; the widowed Mrs. King. I sincerely disliked Mrs. King’s story line, but what she detracted from the book was more than made up for by Julia’s cousins Lucy and Emma and their Aunt Dorcas. They are the most fascinating new characters to the series. I hope we see more of them later, although I rather doubt that we will.

Perspective:
Lady Julia Grey Mysteries are told in first person from Lady Julia’s perspective in past tense.

My Thoughts:
While I didn’t like this installment quite a much as the first, it was a delightful read that had me glued to the page. On my first read through I didn’t even notice how long it took to get to the actual murder. Also, I love Ms. Raybourn’s attention to historical detail. As a historian, it just makes the book that much more enjoyable.

Again, don't let the new covers throw you off. This is a mystery novel, not a sordid romance.

Favorite Scene:
Julia’s confrontation of Brisbane at the riverside is all malice, hurt and jealousy. Quite a fun read!

Who this book is best for:
An adult mystery dealing with some adult topics, I’d keep these for either very advanced High Schoolers or those who have reached their Majority.

Violence: 3 of 5 for murder and a gristly review of the corpse.

Stars: 3.5 of 5

The High Lord

Title: The High Lord
Author: Trudi Canavan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2003
Series: The Black Magician (book 3)

Review:
In the last installment of the Black Magician trilogy, all the pieces start to come together. Akkarin’s guardianship of Sonea turns into a mentorship. He gives her ancient volumes that tell a time when the Guild freely used Higher Magic as well as the terrifying reason it was banned forever on pain of death. And all the while, the murders in the city continue. This is what convinces Sonea, and changes her mind about the High Lord once and for all. For he is not the murder, but the one stopping each of the killers, these Black Magicians, infiltrating his city.

And so it seems the Guild is in far more peril than they could ever imagine. If Akkarin is correct, then the Sachakans are determined to gain revenge and destroy the Allied Lands. But when the Guild finds the books he has been giving to Sonea, they are both exiled and the Guild – and Imardin – is left defenseless.

In this stunning conclusion, prejudices are challenged, injustices halted and ways of life are threatened. Sonea grows into her powers and best of all learns to understand who she is and who she wants to be. No longer is she the fearful little street urchin that allowed others to push her around. Gone are the aggravatingly repetitive themes which held back the first two books in the series. This book moves along seamlessly, full of high emotions and fear. The history of Imardin and the Allied lands is deeply entwined with the fate of its current citizens. The High Lord leaves the reader with the wonderful concept that if old ideas are not confronted then a society becomes too hidebound to save itself from destruction.

Perspective:
The High Lord is told from third person omniscient, switching between many characters’ point of view.

My Thoughts:
This is easily the best book in the trilogy. It more than makes up for the inadequacies of the two previous and makes readers realize the complex planning that went into making this series.

Favorite Scene:
I loved the trial where Sonea finally does what she thinks is right.

Who this book is best for:
High school kids and adults will like this novel.

Violence: 3.5 of 5, for many death and battle scenes

Stars: 4 of 5

Silent in the Grave

Title: Silent in the Grave
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2007
Series: Lady Julia Grey Mysteries (Book 1)
Next in Series: Silent in the Sanctuary

Review:
The year is 1886. Lady Julia is the wife of Baronet Sir Edward Grey and daughter of the Earl of March. As far as she is concerned, they live an average life in their London townhouse. But Sir Edward has never been healthy. No one in his family is; his grandfather, father and cousin all either suffer from or have died of heart problems. Therefore, no one is really surprised when Edward collapses at one of their house parties and dies shortly thereafter. No one, that is, except one of their guests that evening: Mr. Nicolas Brisbane. Edward hired Brisbane to uncover who had been sending him threatening notes with frightening bible passages. Julia pays no attention to Brisbane’s warning and a year passes.

With her year of mourning almost complete Julia has changed. Having escaped her unknown imprisonment from under her husband’s thumb she has taken her sister Portia’s advice and changed everything from her hair cut to her wardrobe and is even considering taking a lover. But then Julia undertakes the unpleasant task of cleaning out Edward’s room. There she uncovers a note that is just as Brisbane described. “Let me be not ashamed, Oh Lord; for I have called upon Thee; let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.” With this startling evidence of her husband’s murder, Lady Julia enlists the assistance of Brisbane and the hunt ensues.

In this gripping first installment, Ms. Raybourn weaves a complex window into Victorian life, with all its restraints and formalities and disadvantages. The plot is gripping and moves along at a very smart clip. The method of death is ingenious, as is the murder weapon itself. Many times I was certain I had discovered the one piece of evidence that would damn a certain character or another, only to find I was mistaken.

Likewise, I felt a deep connection to Lady Julia. A trying time in her life is only made worse by the reopening of fresh wounds by the discoveries she makes on her investigation. What she turns up changes her life irrevocably, in ways that I myself fully relate to at times and at others are completely foreign. Lady Julia grows from a mousy woman who seeks only to please others and through her trials begins to transform a strong and confident woman.

Perspective:
Lady Julia Grey Mysteries are told in first person from Lady Julia’s perspective, and in past tense.

My Thoughts:
I first picked up this book on the recommendation of a store clerk as I browsed for Jane Austen Fan Fiction. I found myself enthralled with the story, much more enwrapped than I have ever been in any of Agatha Christie’s books. Each chapter begins with quotes from Shakespeare or other well known literary works, which once the full story is known make complete sense and until then just confuse a reader. Overall it’s a wonderful novel, and easily the best mystery I’ve read.

Oh, and don’t let the new covers, which make it look like a sordid romance novel, throw you. It really is a mystery.

Favorite Scene:
Julia’s walk with Portia in Hyde Park was great.

Who this book is best for:
An adult mystery dealing with some adult topics, I’d keep these for either very advanced High Schoolers or those who have reached their Majority.

Violence: 3 of 5, for murder, suicide and other such unpleasantness.

Stars: 4.5 of 5

The Magician's Guild

Title: The Magician’s Guild
Author: Trudi Canavan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2001
Series: The Black Magician Trilogy (Book 1)
Next in Series: The Novice

Review:
Sonea lived with her aunt and uncle in the slums for most of her life, and every year the King and his magicians purge the city of the low class. Inadvertently part of a protest, Sonea joined in and threw a rock. But nothing ever gets past the magic barriers, so the magicians were confident as they force the impoverished from the city. Their confidence lasted until Sonea’s rock hit one of them in the head.

With that one, tiny act Sonea changed her life forever. Now she is hunted by the guild, at the mercy of Thieves and cannot return to her family. And the guild is no better off; they fear a rogue magician out for their destruction, or worse, someone who cannot control her power and may destroy the city. But what do they do if they find her? No one from the lower class has ever been allowed to join the guild.

The world of the Magician’s Guild jumps off the page, and is rich in both dialog and description. Sonea is an intensely frightened girl being forced to choose between two options she detests. One can’t help but feel her regret for throwing that stone, and at the same time admire her for doing something no one thought possible. Her friend, Cery, is immediately likeable for his roguish tendencies, sheer determination and unflagging loyalty to Sonea.

But sadly, it isn’t all wonderful. There’s only so much running away and hiding that I really want to read about. The Thieves tunnels were interesting for about fifty pages, and after that I grew bored. It was the same for Sonea losing control of her powers. How many times do you think you need to tell me that things are exploding or catching on fire before I get it? Plus, the villain (who has no redeeming qualities) likes to sneer a great deal. I wonder if there are any other synonyms for “sneer”.

But aside from that, it’s an interesting book. The world is richly created. Nothing, not even mice or dogs, have names we’re used to. While confusing at first, the new names are added a few at a time and are fairly easy to digest, helping to create the illusion that is the world of Kyralia. The slums spin to life, and, given the vivid imagery, it isn’t difficult to smell them. The best part is that there are two more books in which a reader can fully immerse herself into the culture. And there are just enough loose threads hanging at the end of the book that you’ll want to read the next one, but won’t kill yourself for not having bought them at the same time.

Perspective:
The Magician’s guild is told from third person omniscient. Be ready to constantly switch between Sonea’s view point, Cery’s view point, and even a few of the magicians!

My Thoughts:
I hadn’t read this book in a long time, because I remembered it being rather dull in the beginning. And honestly, it was just how I remembered it. I found myself skipping over some of the “and then they ran down this street and hopped through this grate to hide from so-and-so”, and I didn’t really feel like I missed much there. But I really do like Sonea as a heroine. She’s not spunky, she’s not vivacious, but she catches your interest all the same. Perhaps it’s her ability to make tough choices or that she fights back when she thinks something is unfair. Maybe it's just her determination. I’m not entirely certain. Besides, the other books are good enough that this one is worth the read just to get the foundation laid for the others.

And completely random, but it's always bothered me that the covers of the books have nothing to do with what happens in the story. Not once.

Favorite Scene:
I enjoyed the scene where Lord Dannyl is being questioned by Lord Rothen (both magicians) about why he is pretending he still has a limp.

Who this book is best for:
High schoolers or adults who want a nice romp through the dirty parts of the city and then an interesting bit of politics will enjoy this book.

Violence: 1.5 out of 5 for buildings exploding and a few knifings

Stars: 3 of 5

Lirael

Title: Lirael
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2001
Series: Abhorsen Trilogy (Book 2)
Next in Series: Abhorsen

Review:
Lirael is a Daughter of the Clayr, a large family gifted with future Sight. But Lirael is different. No one has ever Seen Lirael, she doesn’t look like her cousins, she doesn’t know who her father was and she doesn’t have the Sight. So Lirael is quiet, avoids her cousins, and eventually finds work in the Great Library of the Clayr. Years pass and Lirael meets (or makes) the Disreputable Dog. Together they explore the Library, but when they find an ancient tunnel ominously called “Lirael’s Path” things change. Suddenly she has been Seen: Lirael must leave the Glacier and attempt to defeat an ancient evil that has found its way to the surface once more.

Prince Sameth is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting to his mother, the Abhorsen Queen, Sabriel (heroine of the Abhorsen Trilogy Book 1). But Sameth is terrified of Death, the Abhorsen’s priority. They are the only necromancers who put the Dead back to rest, or bind those who will not rest deep within the river of Death. Sameth leaves the palace to look for a friend who is late in arriving, but really he’s fleeing his duties as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting. But the bells, unmistakable tools of the necromancer, and Mogget, unwilling servant of the Abhorsen, refuse to be left behind.

The fate of the Old Kingdom rests on the shoulders of these two young people and their assistants.

Lirael, while silent around her family, is anything but a timid heroine. She has large internal issues to overcome, but she doesn’t let them rule her. She stands out as one of the most complex fantasy characters I have ever read. Sameth annoys me as any fifteen year old boy does. He’s self centered, fearful, thoughtless, willful and aggravating. He’s a well drawn character and ends up a respectable hero, despite his beginnings.

The odd thing about this book is that both of the main human characters are surpassed by their assistants, and it’s not just that they seem to be talking animals. (Mogget is a cat, by the way.) There is an air of mystery around both the Disreputable Dog and Mogget that leaves you constantly wondering and wanting more from them. Mogget’s dry humor and sarcasm give tantalizing hints of his hidden past, while the Disreputable Dog has more knowledge than the best Charter Mage ever born. So who are these assistants, and are they really the assistants?

The Old Kingdom is realistic to the point that it throws itself off the page at you. I can almost convince myself that it exists somewhere in Europe and if I were lucky (or perhaps unlucky) enough, perhaps I could visit there. That is how well Mr. Nix has made his world, a major triumph for any author but one he consistently puts forth.

Perspective:
"Lirael" is told from third person omniscient. You will regularly change between Lirael and the Disreputable Dog’s story line and Sameth and Mogget’s story line until the two join up.

My Thoughts:
While I love the first book in the Abhorsen series, "Lirael" is really my favorite. Since this book takes place between fourteen and nineteen years after "Sabriel", Lirael’s story can stand alone. (So if you haven’t read "Sabriel" yet and want to pick up "Lirael", you’re in luck!) However, buy this book in conjunction with the next book in the series, "Abhorsen", since it is really just the ending of everything set forth in "Lirael". I can’t say how annoyed I was late one night when I was first finishing "Lirael" to realize that nothing was going to be wrapped up and I didn’t have the next one to start immediately! That’s the only thing that’s taking the last half star from this book.

(And for those of you who are already fans of the Old Kingdom, Garth Nix has another two books coming out based in there, the first will be “Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen” due out in 2010, which takes place about 200 years before "Lirael". In 2011 there will be an as yet untitled book set after the happenings in "Abhorsen".)

Favorite Scene:
Being a huge fan of libraries, I was in love with the Great Library of the Clayr from the start. My favorite scene by far was when Lirael and the Disreputable Dog explored the dark recesses of the Library on her nineteenth birthday.

Who this book is best for:
While Garth Nix is usually known for writing young adult fiction, this book deals with some rough stuff and a lot of death and dead things (think zombies and other nasties). Therefore, unless you don’t mind a lot of death in your kid books, I’d say this is for 11th graders or up.

Violence: 3.5 of 5 for many dead beings and death scenes

Stars: 4.5 of 5

Dealing with Dragons

Title: Dealing with Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1990
Series: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Book 1)
Next in Series: Searching for Dragons

Summary:
Cimorene is not your average princess. She doesn’t like dancing, embroidery or etiquette, so she takes fencing, magic, Latin and cooking to make up for it (even though princesses don’t cook, conjugate Latin verbs or play with swords). Fed up with their daughter doing improper things, Cimorene’s parents arrange a marriage for her. Aghast at the prince they’ve chosen Cimorene runs away to be a dragon’s princess (which is sort of like being the maid). Now she must cope with a poorly provisioned kitchen, wizards, witches, stone princes, a jinn, knights and (of course) dragons. Life certainly picked up pace.

Review:
Ms. Wrede does an immaculate job of setting the stage for Dealing with Dragons. Even kingdoms where you don’t spend much time feel familiar: “Linderwall was a large kingdom just east of the Mountains of Morning where philosophers were highly respected and the number five was fashionable. The climate was unremarkable. The knights kept their armor brightly polished, mainly for show – it had been centuries since a dragon had come east…all in all, Linderwall was a prosperous and pleasant place.” It could be almost anywhere, and seems about as normal as can be. But when you move east from Linderwall, things change. Mostly because when there are dragons involved, nothing is ever easy.

Cimorene is the antithesis of most princesses in fairy tales. She’s not weak, she’s not helpless, she’s not a blond and she does NOT need to be rescued. She is incredibly witty and strong willed. Nothing seems to faze her, and ain’t nothing gonna slow her down. In one word, she is indefatigable. In a country as normal and commonplace as Linderwall, that makes her the black sheep and she never quite fits in. Besides, in a world where everything is right and proper, a person whose very personality sets others on their ears will always feel out of place.

The story, like its heroine, moves along at a smart clip where one chance encounter with a talking frog changes the fate of a numerous kingdoms. Cimorene takes the frog’s advice and flees from her arranged marriage and winds up (rather unexpectedly) in the Mountains of Morning where she is taken in by Kazul, a rather prominent dragon who likes cherries jubilee. The odd thing is, even though they are so far outside the reader’s realm of expertise, the Mountains of Morning and their inhabitants seem like they could be your neighbors. For example, Roxim may be a dragon but he sneezes a lot and is rather forgetful, sort of like the old man around the corner who’s lived there forever. It may take a lot to make a twenty foot long reptile seem loveable, yet somehow Roxim is exactly that. And maybe the Mountains of Morning grew up on their ears, because Cimorene fits right in. It’s a good thing that she does, too, once the Society of Wizards start their meddling.

But beware! Nothing small or unimportant happens in the world of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Make sure you’re paying attention, because every little detail counts (with the possible exception of the cauldron of plenty’s inability to make any dessert that isn’t burnt mint custard or sour-cream-and-onion ice cream).

The one problem with this book is that it relies so heavily on chance. Cimorene happens to run into that certain wizard in that particular herb patch. Kazul happens to know someone who has a copy of an extremely rare book. Cimorene happens to pick up a pebble in that particular cave. But really, life is based off of chance, right? So it shouldn’t be too surprising that it is used in books. And it doesn't stop the book from being amazingly funny.

Perspective:
This book is told in third person limited.

My Thoughts:
I’ve always enjoyed books that play off of other fairy tales, and this one was my first introduction to that genre. Ms. Wrede skillfully weaves in every tale from Rumpelstiltskin to the Wizard of Oz and gives us just a little twist that makes it so much more delightful. Plus, the idea of a heroine rebelling and doing something interesting for a change (ahem, not embroidery, ahem) really appealed to me when I was ten. Years later, it still does.

Favorite Scene:
I quite enjoyed Cimorene yelling at Morwen, whom she thought was another knight trying to rescue her (and thus interrupting her work).

Who this book is best for:
I recommend this book for young women in or near middle school.

Violence: 0 out of 5. The most violent thing in the whole book is when the Stone Prince gets bit by Woraug. It chips his shirt sleeve.

Stars: 4 out of 5

Emerald House Rising

Title: Emerald House Rising
Author: Peg Kerr
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1997

Summary:
Jenna never asked to be a wizard. She asked to be a gem cutter, just like her father. In fact, she’s his apprentice. But like so many things in life do, it was unexpected and sudden. Jenna finds herself whisked away to a castle far from home, amongst strangers and friendless. It is there that she learns her true strengths and uncovers the beginning of a plot which threatens the entire country.

Review:
A country with a nobility system built around the major precious stones… intriguing. But really, that doesn’t enter into the story until much later. This is mostly because while Jenna cuts gems: she’s only an apprentice and is more worried about earning her journeyman’s badge.

So at first I thought Jenna was wishy-washy and a bit of a bland character, but as the book progressed she really grew on me. Not only did she develop a backbone and a bit of sarcastic bite, but it turns out that she’s smart!

The magic system in this book is a little unspecific. Something about needing to see the different choices available to a person? But really that’s about as far as it’s developed. Makes it easy to fit the magic system into the plot, but it’s not too easy for the reader to envision. Perhaps that’s because we can’t see all the choices.

Overall, though, the plot is more than satisfying. The Diadem court and its’ leaders (most prominent to the story are the Ruby and the Diamond, despite the title) is a fascinating place of intrigue which Jenna and the reader are swept up into, and while the book revolves around a romance, it’s not really a romantic book. It’s more of a mystery, and very enjoyable!

Perspective:
Emerald House Rising is told from third person limited. You don’t ever see outside Jenna’s mind.

My Thoughts:
I really loved the description of the gemstones and gem cutting in this book. I can actually say I understand the lost wax method of casting jewelry thanks to Emerald House Rising. And it made me want to buy more bracelets and necklaces, which was bad for my bank account but great for the jewelry box.

Favorite Scene:
Jenna sneaking down the halls of Duone Keep in the dark, trying to find Lord Morgan’s room and running into Lady Kestrienne is my favorite scene. It takes the cake because of the ingenious reason for their being there that Lady Kestrienne gives Lord Duone. Absurd and reasonable at the same time.

Who this book is best for:
Anyone who likes fantasy novels will enjoy this one. It’s 325 pages, so if you’re shopping for Young Adults, make sure they have the staying power to finish it.

Violence: 2 of 5 for death by magic at the climax of the story.

Stars: 4.5 of 5

In the Hand of the Goddess

Title: In the Hand of the Goddess
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1984
Series: Song of the Lioness Quartet (Book 2)
Next in Series: The Woman Who Rides Like a Man

Summary:
Alanna has completed her years as a page, defeated the Black City and proved herself worthy of being a squire. As her years as a page ended, the crown prince choose her as his personal squire. But the future isn't going to be easy, as the Goddess warns Alanna. Wars, assassination attempts and usurpers litter the path ahead of her, and Alanna must learn to overcome her fears if she is to protect her friends and become a knight.

Review:
The world of Tortall really expands in the second book in the series. Finally we get to see more of the country than the palace and Trebond. The war with the neighbor country Tusaine to the east lets us finally meet some of the common folk other than George and his family. Plus, it teaches us so much more about the Gift and Alanna’s healing powers, which is fascinating. As if this weren’t enough, Alanna takes a trip to the City of the Gods to visit her brother Thom. It’s the city where Alanna was almost stuck – I mean sent – to learn to be a lady. If the first book is to lay the foundations of a world and the second is to flesh it out, Tamora Pierce does an outstanding job.

Perspective:
The book is told in a third person omniscient perspective, although it is a very limited omniscient, rarely leaving Alanna’s point of view. Occasionally there is a shift and the reader will follow things from another’s perspective, the most notable being Duke Roger.


My Thoughts:
To be honest, I have nothing bad to say about the Song of the Lioness Quartet. The first two books in the quartet were always my favorites because of Alanna’s age and that hasn’t really changed. The last two books have a more nostalgic, wistful feeling to them and are certainly more urgent, but this one somehow has more life to it. In the Hand of the Goddess leaps to life, the world is exciting, new and expanding

Favorite Scene:
Without a doubt, my favorite scene was Alanna being caught in girls’ clothes at Mistress Cooper’s house by George and Jon.

Who this book is best for:
I recommend this book for young women in middle school or above.

Violence: three of five for battle scenes, attempted assassinations and dueling

Stars: 4.5 of 5

A Great and Terrible Beauty

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2003
Series: Gemma Doyle Trilogy (Book 1)
Next in Series: Rebel Angels

Summary:
Right before Gemma’s mother is murdered by a strange shadow in Victorian India, she tosses her daughter a crescent eye necklace. That was her first vision. Now, Gemma is then on her way to a homeland she has never seen to be turned into a lady at a finishing school. To save face, she must say that her mother died of cholera and pretend her father isn’t addicted to opiates. And then there’s the odd young Indian man, Kartik who followed her to England, with dire warnings to end the visions she cannot control. Soon, Gemma is wading her way through the delights of finishing school politics and attempting to take charge of her strange powers. Led by the diary of a girl she believes long dead and with the fickle help of her finishing school chums, Gemma enters a world fraught with trouble.

Review:
Gemma is a typical sixteen-year-old in that she has done things she regrets, wants to fit in (even against her better judgment), falls for someone she can never have, can’t always control her temper, and looks up to a teacher who encourages her to think outside the Victorian box. She’s an abnormal teen in that she has odd powers. She’s very well developed as a character and despite her many flaws, you come out loving her.

And it’s not just Gemma who is fully fleshed out. Somehow all the characters seem like real people. Everyone has their secrets, the things they strive to fix or make up for in their lives. Gemma’s friends, her teachers and family are a product of their environment, and either struggle against it or are overwhelmed by it.

The portrayal of Victorian England is very true to what I’ve studied of it, and the finishing school Spence leaps off the page. Its goal is to turn young girls into proper Victorian Ladies, but is defined by its’ past. The fire that killed the school’s founder (and possibly others) is something that Spence is still trying to recover from, to hide the smudge the fire left on Spence’s reputation.

Perspective:
A Great and Terrible Beauty is told from first person present perspective, which is very rare for any book, fiction or non.

My Thoughts:
This is a phenomenal book. I am always overjoyed to find strong female heroines (which is probably obvious in my reviews), but most of them have so few flaws. I adore that Gemma comes across as an actual woman, flaws and all. She makes some colossal mistakes, worries consistently about how to mend them. Her realization that she must learn to accept what she can’t change is a lesson I wish I had learned earlier. Finally, a fantasy novel where the lessons can be applied to real life!

Favorite Scene:
My favorite scene would have to be where Gemma is locked into the chapel. It’s spooky with a touch of romance, Gothic in the extreme. I get happy chills just thinking about it.

Who this book is best for:
Any girl from 14 on up will benefit by reading this. My sister (code name Poppy) said this: "I finished A Great and Terrible Beauty. Woah, that was real good. I'll have to borrow the other ones from you sometime."

Violence: 2 of 5 for murder and death scenes

Adult Content: 2 of 5 for some suggestive scenes

Stars: 5 of 5 (if I could give it more, I would.)

The Blue Sword

Title: The Blue Sword
Author: Robin McKinley
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1982

Summary:
Harry’s life changes dramatically when her father dies. Her brother is stationed far from Home, in the Darian border town of Istan. He arranges for Harry to be taken in by the local Ambassador and his wife. There, in a place where her countrymen complain of the heat and are deemed “Outlanders”, Harry feels strangely at home. It’s also where she’s kidnapped. Enter Corlath, King of the Damarian hill-folk and Harry’s kidnapper. His magic told him Harry would be essential to his kingdom’s survival. But Corlath doesn’t know why. They must learn to work together to save the country they love.

Review:
Damar is a complex country with its own language. The world building is great, although it’s easy to tell that the Homelanders are based off of the English. This is the first book written about Damar, although Hero and the Crown takes place a few hundred years or so before the Blue Sword. Those familiar with the Hero and the Crown will be pleased to run into a familiar character along the way.

Harry is a very loveable character. She’s modest and quiet, but doesn’t back away from doing what she knows to be right. In fact, she doesn’t really have any faults. From learning a new language in a few days to swinging a sword with accuracy, Harry does it all.

Corlath is dark, mysterious and pensive and gifted with magic. Other than being obstinate, he has no flaws, either. His whole country loves him; people who didn’t answer for the king for centuries flock to his banner.

The only other characters the reader gets to learn about in any depth are Mathis and Jack Dedham, although a case could be made for Senay and Terim.

Perspective:
The Blue Sword is told from a third person limited perspective. The only characters whose thoughts the reader sees with any frequency are Harry and Corlath.

My Thoughts:
Again, this has been one of my favorite books for a long time. My first copy came from a library book sale, and I read it until the binding fell apart. (It’s in about seven pieces on my book shelf right now.) No matter how often I go back through it, I seem to find something that I didn’t catch before. Unfortunately, this book may be too idealistic. The characters can be a bit archetypical. It is still worth every second it takes to read, though.

Favorite Scene:
This is one of the best scenes I’ve ever read, and since I can’t do it justice, here it is: “Harry awoke in the dark…as she lay on her back in the blackness, the tears began to leak out of her eyes and roll down her cheeks and wet her hair, and she was too tired to resist them. They came ever faster, till she turned over and buried her face in the scratchy cushions to hide the sobs she could not stop. Corlath was a light sleeper. On the other side of the tent he opened his eyes and rolled up on one elbow and looked blindly towards the dark corner where his Outlander lay. Long after Harry had cried herself to sleep again, the Hill-king lay awake, facing the grief he had caused and could not comfort.”

Who this book is best for:
Women and other people obsessed with horses. My boyfriend (code name Jefferson) read it and said it was alright. I think it’s really a girl’s adventure.

Other books about Damar: The Hero and the Crown

Violence: 2 of 5 for battle scenes

Stars: 5 out of 5

Alanna: The First Adventure

So for my first Book Dame Review, I feel it is fitting that I review one of my all-time favorite books.

Title: Alanna: the First Adventure
Author: Tamora Pierce
Series: Song of the Lioness Quartet (Book 1)
Genera: Young Adult/Fantasy
Published: 1983

Summary:
Alanna of Trebond dreams of being a knight, serving her King and country, and doing great deeds. However, she has a slight problem: girls aren’t allowed to train for their shield. So she does what any determined girl would and cons her twin brother into forging letters saying they’re twin boys. She goes to the royal palace disguised as a boy and begins her training to be a knight; he goes to a far away city and studies sorcery. Once at the palace, Alanna makes friends and faces a number of challenges, from bullies and fencing to puberty.

Review:
In her debut novel, Tamora Pierce built a strong and enticing world of magic, mystery and exhilaration. Supplied with its’ own sources of history, mythology and theology the realm of Tortall leaps off the page. Tortall is full of diverse people, and even in this first book that is apparent as the reader meets people whose cultures are as dissimilar as medieval Europeans and the Bedouins.

Alanna is a smart, fiery and feisty heroine. She proves over and over that girls can do anything boys can – and be better at it if they work hard enough. There have been statements saying that she is too perfect a heroine, but I find this to be untrue. Alanna is stubborn to a fault and has a terrible temper which she cannot always control. She isn’t good at math, and has issues with self doubt. Despite all the time given to Alanna’s character, the supporting cast is surprisingly well developed, usually with artfully insightful one-liners to describe their personalities.

Perspective:
The book is told in a third person omniscient perspective, although it is a very limited omniscient, rarely leaving Alanna’s point of view. Occasionally there is a shift and the reader will follow things from another’s perspective. However, this is rare in the first book of the quartet and occurs only a handful of times.

My Thoughts:
I am one of those people who rereads books over and over, but there are very few that I’ve read as many times as Alanna: the First Adventure. I go back through it at least once a year, usually more often. When I first read this book I was 11 and wanted to be just like Alanna. (And I have to admit, I was very disappointed to realize that knighthood wasn’t an option for me outside of Vegas.) The plot was so gripping I couldn’t stop reading. I was enthralled as she hopped from one adventure, task or crisis to the next. It was comforting to know we were going through some of the same trials. Here I am, over 14 years later and I still can’t put the book down.

Favorite Scene:
Alanna’s time at Barony Olau is always a delight for me to read. I love history, and this glimpse into Tortall’s past was exciting and left me craving more.

Who this book is best for:
I recommend this book for young women in or close to middle school. I should add a caveat here, though. I have given this book to women of all ages and everyone has enjoyed it. It’s most influential for young women who are still developing and learning about themselves and provides a very positive role model.

Next book in Series: In the Hand of the Goddess

Violence: 1.5 out of 5 for death due to illness and some magical encounters with evil beings.

Stars: 5 of 5