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Symphony of Ages Series continued

Previously I reviewed Rhapsody, which is the first book in this series. The biggest problem I had with it was that the beginning was a bit slow going, but it was great once the characters arrive at their destination (about halfway through the book).

The next two books in the series were EXCELLENT from start to finish.

Prophecy pulls you along with much of the same love story that you started in Rhapsody. The thing I was most amazed and frustrated with is that in Prophecy you have the scene you are dying for with the main characters... while still keeping you hoping for the romance until the end of Destiny. There are also many side stories in this book, but instead of being distracting, they keep you interested, and make you wonder when the author is going to return to a certain character or story you were curious about. I had a tough time putting Prophecy down, and the only thing that allowed me to tear myself away was the fact that the character I was following changed, and then I could take that as a break. Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I started the next one immediately after finishing it.

Destiny was my favorite of the three I have read in the series to date. I became completely entrenched in the story to the point that I was still reading it when my husband came home. (Usually I break from my books to spend time with him in the evenings... but I couldn't stop with this one.) The most surprising thing about this story is how the main conflict in the book actually gets resolved a good hundred or more pages before the end, and yet there are new conflicts that keep you reading, continually shocked by the new developments. I believe that I know books pretty well, and so many times I have seen certain plot developments coming, but I was completely surprised by some of the twists and turns in this book. I recommend Destiny so highly that even if you don't love the first two books, you will love this one.

I am excited to read the next books in the series, and if they are worthy, I will post them here.

Out of 5* possible-
***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world

Orson Scott Card: Ender and Bean's stories

My book review site would not do justice to my favorite books without devoting at least one post to one of my all time favorite authors.

I included just a few of his books (yes 9 is a few) for a couple reasons. One being that he is a prolific writer and I have a lot of books that I enjoy reading and I still have books he has written that I haven't read yet. Another reason is because his books, although always excellent, are very different from each other, and need to be included in different posts, and I am sure that throughout the course of this website, I will bring up his books more than once, and so I cannot include them all in my first post about him.

His books, particularly this series, are the definition for books that take me away. As soon as I start one of his novels, I am completely lost and absorbed into the story of the book until it is finished. I have reread this series more than once, and will probably read it again in the near future. Actually, my husband was asking me a question about one of the books, I didn't remember what had happened, so I was flipping through it to find out the answer.... and I just started reading it again!!! I had to tear myself away.

What I have linked above are technically two series and an additional book. In all honesty, they are all part of the same story. Being the excellent writer that he is, he presents all sides of the story, and thus the reason for the two sets. They are all classified as science fiction, and although I normally don't like "space adventures" I loved these. They are unique, and special.

Ender's Game should be read first, because it is where all the other stories come from. Once you have read through the series (which I almost guarantee you will if you start it), you can reread it beginning with Ender's Shadow, which comes first chronologically, and then follows much of the same storyline as Ender's Game, but from the perspective of a side character, Bean.

Ender in Exile, the one that isn't in a box set above, is very new (published late in 2008). I recently finished it, and enjoyed it as much as the others. It was written as a midquel, and comes after Ender's Game and before Speaker for the Dead in that series. I recommend, now that it exists, to read it in that order.

I started typing out a brief description of each book, but I decided to delete it. If you want to know a basic synopsis of the books, you can look on any book cover, or amazon description.

What I believe is more valuable is my reasons for loving all these books.

The Ender series, which takes place out in space, or on different planets, I love because it is so unlike Earth, so unlike the present, that I get swept away into the world of the books, and yet it is written so convincingly that it doesn't seem made up when you are reading it. You start to believe in these other worlds, and the characters and the new species that are found there. You accept as reality that you could travel at a relativistic place, and that all of the things that take place in the books really could happen, even while realizing that they are impossible.

I love that his characters are so real. They are not "good guys" and "bad guys," in fact, part of the message of the novels is that perspectives can shadow the truth, and that many times the people that we think are bad, are just looking at the world a different way than we are. Every character has faults, and worries and concerns. The only characters that are perfect are the ones that aren't real, and again, shows the same message that none of us truly are perfect.

The Bean series, the one that starts with Ender's shadow is different. His stories mainly take place on earth, with a few exceptions. In these books I am astounded at Card's ability to take true places, true cultures, and twist them slightly into the fabric of the novel. For example, part of one of the books follows countries such as India and China that are trying to conquer other countries. Of course India and China are real countries, and their cultures are portrayed very accurately as they take on the fictional invasions lead by fictional leaders. There is enough mystery and suspense to take you through these stories very quickly. They also have the very common themes of coming of age, and love while still following the main storylines.

I encourage you, no, implore you to pick up all 9 books and read them. It sounds like a lot, but you will pour through these books so quickly, it won't seem so bad. Once you finish those, and are left begging for more, go pick up more of his books. I can honestly say that I have never once picked up an Orson Scott Card book and not become absorbed into the story of the book.

Scores are for all 9 books.

***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world

Green Rider (3 book series)

I found this series through a listamania search on amazon. I type in the name of an author I love, and then I see what books people recommend in addition the author I know I enjoy, and then I get those books.

I was not disappointed. I think I read the whole 3 book series in 3 days or less. Once I started the first book, pages in, I was hooked and I kept reading until I got to the end of book three. Then I went and searched for a 4th book on the series (she is planning on it, working on it, but the publishing date is too far away to even give a general timing yet... and you will want to know this information after book 3).

The heroine is Karigan, who got kicked out of school for fighting, and is on her way home when she is asked to carry a message to the king. Oh, and then the previous messenger dies, and she is being chased by the people who killed him. This is all within a few pages of starting the book! For the majority of the first book, you follow her journey as she tries to take the message to the king. Along the way she makes friends, she discovers who it was that gave her the message, she has to fight the people chasing her, and through all this she is discovering her own identity as well.

The sequels are equally exciting and unpredictable. There is a good deal of magic, and fantasy elements (ghosts, swordfights) which you would expect in any fantasy book, but there is also romance, humor and political problems interwoven as well.

It is a rare and wonderful thing to find a series in which you don't feel a moment of boredom from the time you pick up the first book until the end of the third. I am honestly disappointed that these three are the only books that this author has written because they are so well written. I will definitely read the fourth one whenever it is written as well.

Although most of the story is following Karigan, I appreciate it when the author shifts views and follows the villians or other characters in the story as well, for a more well rounded perspective of what is taking place in this world.

I highly recommend that you read these books, you won't be disappointed.

Out of 5* possible-
***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world

Rhapsody

This book I picked up because a good friend of mine with similar taste in books recommended it highly to me. I had heard her and another friend of mine talk about it multiple times, so I was sure that it would be one that I could dive right in and be absorbed in the story.

It was not a "dive right in" kind of book. It wasn't even a "cannonball" kind of start where it was not pretty, but you are still completely in the water in a few seconds.

I would say this book was more like a kid who doesn't like how cold the water is, so he starts taking steps in, slowly, surely, then when he is standing on the bottom of the pool, he gets up the courage and actually goes under the water. Once completely submerged, the water is great, and he doesn't want to get out.

That is my best analogy for how I felt about this book. For a good many chapters in the beginning I was confused, I didn't know how all the characters connected, I was frustrated with the location of the story and how long the characters were there, but... less than halfway through... it picked up, and I was completely hooked.

All of the pieces of the beginning that didn't make sense before started falling into place. The setting of the story improved vastly so I could really picture it and enjoy the ride. By the time I got to the last page, I was so ready to start the sequel (there are at least 2 more in the series, maybe more, but I haven't read them yet, so their reviews will follow later).

This is a fantasy story, set in another world with its own unique history. It has time travel elements in it. It starts with a lot of loose ends, and as the story continues it starts to come together, and I was surprised when some of these connections were revealed.

Rhapsody is the name of the strong female main character, who you grow to like with all of her faults. She has two unlikely companions, neither of which are fully human (not Disney movie cutesy companions, but races that are dark and scary and misunderstood). The three of them undertake a journey that takes them somewhere that I don't think any of them expected.

I apologize if this review seems to be very vague. I do always try in these reviews to not give too much away, but this book requires me to be more vague than normal. As I said before, I really enjoyed how the loose ends got tied up in a surprising way, and I am concerned that if I give too many details about the story of the book, I will take away some of those surprises and thus some of the fun of the book. You will have to read it and experience it yourself.

My biggest recommendation with this book is don't quit when the characters are on their journey, because once they get to their journey's end, the book becomes much more interesting, and everything will make sense.

In my ratings, I had to take stars off for how long it took to get hooked, and that is reflected in the overall score too. But keep in mind, that I still recommend it because I only post books I really enjoy.

Out of 5* possible-
**** Overall
*** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world

Shanghai Girls

I happened upon Lisa See's books when I was searching for historical fiction that was well liked. She had very good reviews, and I was not at all disappointed by her books. The more interesting thing is that she drew me into her books when I hadn't read much Chinese historical fiction at all, and didn't know much about it. I completely recommend all of her books, but this review is on her newest novel, Shanghai Girls.

It starts in Shanghai, thus the name, and it follows the lives of two sisters. Like so many stories, it begins tranquil enough, with a snapshot view of how their lives currently are. Then conflict arises when they discover that their father is now broke, and they have been sold as wives, and must travel to California.

At the same time, war breaks out in Shanghai, and even though they were planning on avoiding it, they end up fleeing to California after all. See draws you into the story with vivid without excessive gore of these war scenes.

Once they make to California, they have to wait on Angel Island for an extended period of time. I found this part of the book fascinating. I, like so many others, have heard extensively about Ellis Island on the East coast, and everything that the immigrants had to go through to get there, but I had never before heard of Angel Island, which was apparently the equivalent on the West Coast. You experience with these sisters how much immigrants had to go through before they were allowed into the United States, and it helped me appreciate my immigrant ancestors who went through it as well.

Without ever getting boring or dull, you watch as they become part of the Chinatown community, and the relationships that they have with each other, and with their arranged marriage husbands. One of the sisters becomes involved in the movies, while the other focuses on running businesses in the city.

The hours literally flew by as I read this book (on an airplane), I was so wrapped up in the story. There are twists and turns, and unexpected surprises throughout the book that I don't want to ruin for you, but I know you will enjoy. My biggest disappointment in the book is where it ended the story, but I can hope that Lisa See decides to write a sequel, continuing the story.

Out of 5* possible-
***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
*** How far removed from this world- historical fiction always seems to suffer here.

Inheritance series (Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr)

I recently finished the three available books in the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini. I was impressed!

I have to say that I put off reading this series for quite a while. Part of it was my doubts about how a teenager (sorry Paolini) would be able to do at writing such an epic fantasy series. Part of it was all the hype. But, eventually, I decided I needed to see what all the fuss was about.

Well... I was wrong, way wrong. I thoroughly and completely loved the series, and my biggest complaint is that the fourth one is not written yet. All of the characters were alive and real and complex, and not without faults. There were prophecies interwoven neatly that foreshadow future events without spelling out the rest of the story.

There is a love story, but it is (like so many "super hero" romances) not safe to pursue, and thus must not exist. It is not the main storyline, but a side story that is strong enough that you long for more details on how the romance fairs, and a desperate desire to see the characters throw reason aside and end up together anyways.

I was also really pleased with the side story of Roran, Eragon's cousin, and his own journey through Alagaesia with all of its trials and tribulations.

I couldn't decide which story I most wanted to follow, and suffice it to say, I couldn't stop reading the series once I started it.

I must add my slight critique that I thought some elements of the story reminded me of Star Wars and Harry Potter and a few other stories I have read before, but it was not overwhelmingly similar, it was just moments here or there that I thought the story line followed those paths. And if you are going to take elements of another story, it is good to model off of those other very popular franchises.

Out of 5* possible-
***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world

I give this series the best rating I can give on all of my categories, and I truly hope you will pick it up and read it yourself.

Check out Christopher Paolini's website http://www.alagaesia.com/index.php