The Office of the Shadow

The Office of the Shadow is the second book by Matthew Sturges.  I do not know where he has been, but if these two books are a sampling of what is to come. I can not wait to see more.  Unlike a lot of sequels, the Office takes the characters from Midwinter and sets them on an entirely different course.  It is a continuation of the story started in Midwinter, but it could also be a stand alone book.  There are some twists to the plot that are unseen until they happen.  That is a great benefit to me!  I do not like books that are predictable.  There is love, war, corruption, hate, and redemption all in this one novel.

Midwinter

Midwinter was another book I found browsing at the local library.  I glad I picked it up.  Matthew Sturges paints a world that feels very real and characters that I would like to meet, and some I would like to meet only with backup!  It is set in a world where humans are there by accident or kidnapping.  Elves are the main lifeforms and there world is magic, but real "human" emotions.  It is a world where there are floating cities, flying boats and an occasional car that is misplaced.  I enjoyed the action, the character interactions with each other and the environment, and I was rooting for the good guys and hoping the bad guys got what was coming to them.  I am ready to read the next book in the series, and lucky for me it is already out in the library.

The Shadow of the Sun-Finished

For some reason this book was a long read.  It seemed to go fast, but there was no end.  I did enjoy the adventure that was the story, the writing was descriptive, maybe too descriptive at times.  I would NOT recommend this book to a younger reader.  There was very x-rated scenes, especially towards the end of the book.  When the next book comes out, I will read it without a doubt.  So on to the next, which is MIDWINTER by Matthew Sturges.  This is the opposite of the Shadow of the Sun.  It is a quick read and a lot of action.  Some intrigue and twists and turns.  I thought I knew one thing that was going to happen, but it wasn't what I thought!  These are the books I enjoy, they keep me on my toes.

A new author: Barbara Friend Ish

I was browsing through the new books at the local library and found The Shadow of the Sun by Barbara Ish.  I had never read anything by this particular author, but I was intrigued by the snippets of the story on the back cover.  It is a basic fantasy book that has some great descriptive writing.  When Barbara describes the places where the story takes you, I can almost see it.  The characters are compelling as is the story.  It is easy to lose yourself in the story and come to when the eyes start to glaze.  One thing I have found that I am not so fond of, there is gaps where there have been battles and the story starts again after the fact.  This may have been a deletion to save space or a concise decision.  It was just very noticeable and a little confusing.

Shadow Raiders--Finished

I would have to say that Shadow Raiders was one of the best books I have read in a while.  It is like riding a roller coaster.  Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen--WRONG, it takes a twist and takes the reader on a different path.   I am sure I missed a lot of little things especially when I read the last several chapters because the action just sweeps you up and takes you along for a ride.  And what a ride it is!  As with some books, I want to read the next volume and I want to read it now!  It just takes too long for the next volumes to be released. What happens to the character I have grown to like, and even the ones I could hate if they were real?  Do the dragons come back to save the day?  I would highly recommend this book for any Fantasy reader, it would be a little much for a pre-teen, but a teenager who has read a lot could find this an interesting book.  It will be a great read for anyone!  This is a KEEPER I am going to read it again just to see what I missed the first time.  For a free novella that takes place before this book check out www.margaretweis.com.

This book is being release May 3, 2011. 

What a Wild Ride-Shadow Raiders

Shadow Raiders is giving me a wild ride.  The action has gone from fast to furious pace, I don't want to put it down.  Unfortunately real life rears it's ugly head and things like work, sleep, laundry have to be done.  The descriptions of battles scenes and creatures are great.  They make you feel like you can see the action!  Just what makes the difference between an OK book and a GREAT book.  It is almost like watching a thriller, on the edge of your seat waiting for something to happen.  All I can think of, is the soundtrack from JAWS playing in my head.  It is that intense.  Sorry that is all for now, I am going back to reading Raiders!

Update on Shadow Raiders & Kings of the North

Shadow Raiders: I am truly enjoying this book.  The characters are very  likable.  During one section I actually looked ahead (which I hate doing) to make sure the outcome of a conflict before I read on.  I didn't want to get upset and then have to back to work.  The story becomes easier to keep tract of the farther you get into the book.  The action picks up and some surprising things pop up to keep up the suspense and makes the book harder to put down.  I begin to want longer trains and longer wait times for appointments. 

Kings of the North:  I finished this book a couple of nights ago.  As with all of Elizabeth Moon's books I WANT MORE AND I WANT IT NOW!!  But of course I will have to wait.  The only thing I didn't like about the book, where is Paks!  I know this wasn't about her, but I miss her.  I did enjoy getting to know more and there were some very interesting twists put into play.  I am really intrigued by some of the plot twists and what may come from them.  But I will just have to wait.  Maybe I will go back and read the series from the beginning (again) and see if I can try to guess.

Shadow Raiders

Shadow Raiders is a new book by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes.  It is the beginning of a new series "Dragon Brigade".  Mention dragons and I am in.  So far, I am less than 100 pages in, it has been a very good read.  Not a fast read, there is a  lot of action going on and it has different ways of thinking of magic, magical beings and warfare.  If you don't pay attention things can get very confusing.  Now don't let that scare anyone off.  The story is well written, there is just a lot going on and several different main plots to keep track of.  So far it almost like a fantasy, thriller and mystery novel all rolled together.  Keep checking back and I will let everyone know more about this great story.

Oop, forgot something!

I failed to mention on my last post that Mercedes Lackey book Trio of Sorcery combines mystery and fantasy/scifi in all three of the stories.  I am not a big mystery reader, but the combination of the mystery and fantasy really appealed to me.  The stories have some surprising twists in them.  Totally a Great Read.

I am still working on Elizabeth Moon's Kings of the North.  I am really enjoying it, it is not as quick of a read as some of the books in this world (Paks') because it has several parallel stories going on at once and switches back and forth between them.  It isn't hard to keep track, but it does take a little more concentration.

I just received a new book from Margaret Weis.  Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are two of the reasons I got involved with fantasy books.  Started with Piers Anthony, but took off when the Dragonlance series were published.  I have read almost all of their books and can not wait to start the new one.  As soon as I finish Kings (which should be in a couple of days) I will start on the new one.

I Know BETTER!!

I finished Age Of Odin.  It was GREAT.  I was left wanting more, the characters are such that you care for the Hero and boo the bad guys.  I want everything, and of course some things must be left as they are or the books would never end.  I totally enjoyed the read and plan on finding more books by James Lovegrove.

When I returned to the Library, I found a newer book by one of all time favorite authors Mercedes Lackey.  The book is titled Trio of Sorcery, and has three separate novellas.  And I know what happens almost every time I pick up one of her books.  I stay up until all hours of the night (or morning) to read it!  Which would be OK except my alarm goes off at 4:30 AM!  It took less than 2 days to finish the book, and I will read it again before I give it back.  If you like magic in the real world, you will enjoy the three stories included in this book.  I had to laugh at some of the intros, they were all too true and being old enough for AARP, I remember the times that it recalls. Like the time before computers, Internet and cell phones.

I just picked up another book by another of my all time favorite authors, Elizabeth Moon.  It is set in Paks' World, and is titled Kings of the North, it has just been released!  If you have never read any of Ms. Moon's books, you are missing a lot of great stories.  The very first book in this world was Sheepfarmer's Daughter.  Which I have read 15 to 20 times, along with the rest of the series.  It is about a teenage girl who runs away from home instead of staying and marrying a pig farmer (which was her father's idea).  She ends up as a mercenary plus!  Ms. Moon was in the marines and the detail about the training for war and combat really brings the story to life.  Every time I read it, I get caught up and swept away by the story.  The second book Divided Allegiance is harder to read, because of what happens to the main character.  But the last of the books of Paks Oath of Gold brings everything full circle.

Hopefully I will get a nap before I open Kings of the North, or I will be very tired in the morning.

Good Reading, let me know what you are reading, any suggestions of what to read next?

What I am reading now.

I usually have several books that are being read.  This occurs because I have one in the car (I live in a community where we have many train tracks), one in the bag I use for a purse (for breaks, lunch and waiting for appointments) and one at home on the night stand.

The Age Of Odin, by James Lovegrove was a great find at the local library.  I was killing time and just happened to pick it up.  A couple of hours later and 100+ pages in I realized that the time just flew by.  This was surprising to me because usually I go for more medieval time stories.  The book is full of twists and turns and is very hard to put down.   Contemporary warfare with Odin and the end of the world thrown in for good measure.  About a ex-soldier trying to come to grips with civilian world and finding that he "lives" for the battle.  What do you do with a soldier that the army doesn't want anymore?  Send him to save the world.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss is a follow up to The Name Of The Wind.  I have been waiting for this book since I read the first one.  Don't let the size of the books scare you.  The story carries you along like a great movies.  The main character is one that most people can relate to.  Who doesn't want to tell all the people with power and money that they are acting like two year old that have had their candy taken away.  Trying to find your place in life, love and the world in general.  And just trying to survive when the world seems against you.  And like life there are things to laugh and cry about.  There are a very few places where the story drags, but thankfully they are few and short.

I can say that both of these book are great reads.  I reread The Name of the Wind before the second book was released.  And with most books I really enjoy, it was as good or better the second time around.

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog.
I have been an avid reader of Fantasy and SCFI since the early 80's.  Ever since I picked up Piers Anthony's Blue Adept.  Since then I have been on a quest to find the greatest fantasy and science fiction books to read and pass on to friends.  Word of mouth only goes so far and now, especially with the book stores closing and having to re-organize to loss of business, I am trying to spread the word father.
We, as readers, need to keep the authors writing so our world remains entertained by them.
I will tell you what I am reading and have read.  But PLEASE share your experiences with me, so I can expand by library and experience in the written word.