Title: Shadowfall, Book One of the Godslayer Chronicles
Author: James Clemens
Publication Year: 2005
Synopsis: The unspeakable and impossible has happened--a god has been murdered. A former Shadowknight bears her blessing, which has healed his broken body. Unfortunately for Tylar de Noche, many people interpret the blessing and healing as a sign that he slew the goddess. Tylar must prove his innocence, gathering those who believe around him while dodging the assassins of those who killed the goddess as well as those who believe he was the slayer.
This book has all of the basic fantasy principles: a (not-s0-)shining knight, an epic quest, gods and goddesses, and mulitple mysteries. However, instead of the sweetness and light all the main characters live through each battle unscathed, the tone of this book is dark. It's a refreshing change for this genre. It's a great read, if just for that alone.
The Reader's Rating: 8.75 out of 10 books
Amazon Link: Shadowfall, Book One of the Godslayer Chronicles
Related Books You may Enjoy: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordon
Beyond the Pale by Mark Anthony
Wit'ch Fire by James Clemens
And so I ask you, how would you feel to wake up one morning and find yourself the focus of a prophesy?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Shameless Promotion Day #2
Are you a writer? Are you always talking about how you have the best idea for America's Next Bestseller? Do you just want to give writing a book a try?
Well, November is the month for you!
Visit http://www.nanowrimo.org for detailed information, and keep reading for highlights!
Starting at 12:01 am on November 1st and ending at 11:59:59 on November 30th, thousands of writers across the country buckle down and write a 50,000 word novel (that works out to around 1667 words a day, for those who are counting). 50,000 words equals out to about 175 paperback book pages.
So stop talking about how you want to write a book someday, make SOMEDAY this NOVEMBER. Join myself and everyone else in the mad dash to 50,000 words. And remember the most important part: you are not alone in this, NaNoWriMo offers groups across the nation where you can meet your fellow writers and connect with them.
Check it out, it's fun, it's rewarding, and best of all, you can tell your friends that you wrote a book! How many people do you know that can say that?
Well, November is the month for you!
Visit http://www.nanowrimo.org for detailed information, and keep reading for highlights!
Starting at 12:01 am on November 1st and ending at 11:59:59 on November 30th, thousands of writers across the country buckle down and write a 50,000 word novel (that works out to around 1667 words a day, for those who are counting). 50,000 words equals out to about 175 paperback book pages.
So stop talking about how you want to write a book someday, make SOMEDAY this NOVEMBER. Join myself and everyone else in the mad dash to 50,000 words. And remember the most important part: you are not alone in this, NaNoWriMo offers groups across the nation where you can meet your fellow writers and connect with them.
Check it out, it's fun, it's rewarding, and best of all, you can tell your friends that you wrote a book! How many people do you know that can say that?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Book #4 You Slay Me
Title:: You Slay Me, an Aisling Grey, Guardian Novel
Author: Katie MacAlister
Publication Year: 2004
Synopsis: Aisling Grey is sent to Paris by her employer, who also happens to be her uncle, to deliver a 600-year old artifact to its new wealthy owner. Upon arrival, Aisling has the artifact snatched out from under her nose and from under the dead body of the woman who purchased it. With the help of a cabbie, Rene, and a cast-out demon from Abbadon in the guise of an overly enthusiastic Neufoundland dog, she has to find out how to get her artifact back from the theif. The problem? He's a dragon, she's his mate (and a Guardian and a Demon Lord) and everyone Aisling runs into ends up dead with her as the main suspect.
This was a fun and fast read! Ms. MacAlister keeps the pace going fast, and I kept trying to guess who the bad guy was, and failed every time....or so I thought. Aisling is a likable, if a bit clutzy heroine who seems to get the hottest guys in Paris falling at her feet...who cares if they're dragons? Her supporting characters made me laugh (and, I have to admit, cringe a little since one of my novels has a character very similar to Jim in it) with their antics. It's not a book that will make you think, but if you're looking for an entertaining read, I'd a copy of this up.
The Reader's Rating: 8 out of 10 books
Amazon Link: You Slay Me
Related Books you May Enjoy: One for the Money (a Stephanie Plum book) by Janet Evanovitch
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton
The Vampire Diaries Trilogy by LJ Smith
And so I ask you, would you let the fact that hot and sexy man is a dragon bother you, really?
Author: Katie MacAlister
Publication Year: 2004
Synopsis: Aisling Grey is sent to Paris by her employer, who also happens to be her uncle, to deliver a 600-year old artifact to its new wealthy owner. Upon arrival, Aisling has the artifact snatched out from under her nose and from under the dead body of the woman who purchased it. With the help of a cabbie, Rene, and a cast-out demon from Abbadon in the guise of an overly enthusiastic Neufoundland dog, she has to find out how to get her artifact back from the theif. The problem? He's a dragon, she's his mate (and a Guardian and a Demon Lord) and everyone Aisling runs into ends up dead with her as the main suspect.
This was a fun and fast read! Ms. MacAlister keeps the pace going fast, and I kept trying to guess who the bad guy was, and failed every time....or so I thought. Aisling is a likable, if a bit clutzy heroine who seems to get the hottest guys in Paris falling at her feet...who cares if they're dragons? Her supporting characters made me laugh (and, I have to admit, cringe a little since one of my novels has a character very similar to Jim in it) with their antics. It's not a book that will make you think, but if you're looking for an entertaining read, I'd a copy of this up.
The Reader's Rating: 8 out of 10 books
Amazon Link: You Slay Me
Related Books you May Enjoy: One for the Money (a Stephanie Plum book) by Janet Evanovitch
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton
The Vampire Diaries Trilogy by LJ Smith
And so I ask you, would you let the fact that hot and sexy man is a dragon bother you, really?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Book #3: Firetrap
Title: Firetrap
Author: Earl Emerson
Publication Year: 2007
Synopsis: The Z Club, and illegal club in Seattle catches fire and burns down. Lost in the fire are more than a dozen people, all of them African American. Trey Brown, a captain in the Seattle fire department, gets assigned to look into the mess with reporter Jamie Estevez. The city explodes into sides, was the Z club ignored because of the race issue or was it just a series of unfortunate events?
Earl Emerson is a firefighter in Seattle, so he is writing what he knows. And it is fantastic. He weaves areas of Seattle into the storytelling with a vividness that actually allows you to visualize where the characters are in the city, especially if you've been there. His characters are likable and life-like.
The story is a bit hard to follow, I'll admit. The story jumps back and forth between Trey and Jamie's POV, and sometimes that makes it hard to follow. It also flips into other characters POVs as well, so you might want to make a map to see how everyone is involved.
It's worth the mental involvement you have to put it, though, to read your way through the tangled storyline. Delve into Trey Brown's past and figure out how he's related to the city's top politicians.
The Reader's rating: 6.5 out of 10 books
Amazon Link: Firetrap, a novel of suspense
Related Books you may enjoy: Into the Inferno by Earl Emerson
And so I ask you, how would you react if you found yourself seemingly trapped in a burning building?
Author: Earl Emerson
Publication Year: 2007
Synopsis: The Z Club, and illegal club in Seattle catches fire and burns down. Lost in the fire are more than a dozen people, all of them African American. Trey Brown, a captain in the Seattle fire department, gets assigned to look into the mess with reporter Jamie Estevez. The city explodes into sides, was the Z club ignored because of the race issue or was it just a series of unfortunate events?
Earl Emerson is a firefighter in Seattle, so he is writing what he knows. And it is fantastic. He weaves areas of Seattle into the storytelling with a vividness that actually allows you to visualize where the characters are in the city, especially if you've been there. His characters are likable and life-like.
The story is a bit hard to follow, I'll admit. The story jumps back and forth between Trey and Jamie's POV, and sometimes that makes it hard to follow. It also flips into other characters POVs as well, so you might want to make a map to see how everyone is involved.
It's worth the mental involvement you have to put it, though, to read your way through the tangled storyline. Delve into Trey Brown's past and figure out how he's related to the city's top politicians.
The Reader's rating: 6.5 out of 10 books
Amazon Link: Firetrap, a novel of suspense
Related Books you may enjoy: Into the Inferno by Earl Emerson
And so I ask you, how would you react if you found yourself seemingly trapped in a burning building?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Shameless Promotion Day #1
It's Wednesday, which I have dubbed Shameless Promotion Day. This'll happen every other Wednesday, and it's a way for me to share some of my interests outside of reading with you.
Today's Shameless Promotion will be about music. Specifically, an alternative band called The Clarks.
The Clarks are a local Pittsburgh band with a large following in that area. I learned of them through an ex (who took me to a concert once upon a time). I fell in love with them immediately. The had some minor national recognition with some of their songs off of Another Happy Ending, including On Saturday, a song about breaking up and moving out (on Saturday).
My favorite Clarks album continues to be the first album I heard from them, 2000's Let It Go. That album has some great songs, including Flame (best Clarks' song, ever), the title track Let It Go, and Butterflies and Airplanes, which is written and sung by the guitarist.
I guess they've been around long enough and have gained enough popularity to get covered by another band, because on my last trip back to the VA area from Ohio, I managed to catch a remake of Cigarette as I was passing through the Pittsburgh area. As good as the original? No, but still a good listen and wow for someone covering a Clarks song!
The Clarks are a fantastic band with a great sound, and they put on a great live show. Check them out at Clarks Online.
Today's Shameless Promotion will be about music. Specifically, an alternative band called The Clarks.
The Clarks are a local Pittsburgh band with a large following in that area. I learned of them through an ex (who took me to a concert once upon a time). I fell in love with them immediately. The had some minor national recognition with some of their songs off of Another Happy Ending, including On Saturday, a song about breaking up and moving out (on Saturday).
My favorite Clarks album continues to be the first album I heard from them, 2000's Let It Go. That album has some great songs, including Flame (best Clarks' song, ever), the title track Let It Go, and Butterflies and Airplanes, which is written and sung by the guitarist.
I guess they've been around long enough and have gained enough popularity to get covered by another band, because on my last trip back to the VA area from Ohio, I managed to catch a remake of Cigarette as I was passing through the Pittsburgh area. As good as the original? No, but still a good listen and wow for someone covering a Clarks song!
The Clarks are a fantastic band with a great sound, and they put on a great live show. Check them out at Clarks Online.
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