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

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