Riddles

I've been reading The Riddle by Alison Croggon, second in the Pellinor series. (the first one is called The Naming). It's good! It's about a 16 year old girl called Mearad. (pronounced MY-rad).

When the first book starts, Mearad is a slave for a "petty tyrant". (I think that's what they called him, anyway). Then she meets a man called Cadvan who helps her escape and shows her a world that she hasn't really seen before: a world where people help one-another and where things are fair and beautiful. He also reviles a to her that she's a Bard: a mage who wields the power of the Light. The Bards have acted as leaders and guiders for the people for centuries. But the Dark is rising again, and this rising will be the most terrible yet. It will boil down to a few mumbled pieces of lore, some randoms guesses and a few very odd and confusing riddles to help defeat the Dark once and for all.

That's basically what the books are about. Mearad is amazingly real and complex: I think she is the most believable character I have ever "met" in a book. There will be four books in all.

~Holly.

Pendragon

I have gotten hooked onto a new series: Pendragon, by D. J. MacHale. The first one is "The Merchant of Death". I finished reading it a little while ago. It's about a 14 year old boy named Bobby Pendragon. When it starts, he's just a normal boy: goes to a public school, he's good at basket-ball, he's cool, bla bla bla, you get the point. But the thing is, he isn't at all normal: he is, and his Uncle Press tells him, a Traveler: someone who travels between the universes and helps the people of different worlds through difficult times.

When it starts, Uncle Press comes to him and tells him that there is a group of people that need his help. They are teetering on the brink of a deadly civil war, one that will destroy their world if it happens. What Uncle Press fails to tell Bobby is that these people are in an entirely different universe! Before Bobby knows what's happening, he's drawn into the center of it all. It's up to him, Uncle Press, and a few other people to stop the civil war before it destroys that universe.

This book was quite funny at times. Bobby has rather pessimistic view of things, and will often pick out the worst thing is a situation, or imagine the worst thing that could happen. Although this doesn't sound very funny, it is. It was a good story: well written with some awesome characters. It would probably fall into the "fantasy" category, but it does have some Si-Fi thrown in to. I would definitely recommend this book!

:D :)

Happy New Year to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

Child of the Dark Prophecy, by T.A. Barron

(First in The Great Tree of Avalon series).

Avalon. Stories of that world has been floating around our own for time out of mind. Now, Barron has brought it to life again as a great tree, a tree so big that it's branches hold the stars and it's seven roots are realms that are home to countless numbers of beings, both mortal and immortal. But now, the Great Tree is in terrible danger, and it's up to 3 very unlikely heroes to save it. Elli, a priestess, Tamwyn, a wilderness guide, and Scree, an eagleman, must test their strength to the limits if the have any chance at saving the world they love.

This is the kind of book that makes you want to rush out and get the next one as soon as you finish! Barron's writing makes Avalon come alive: I could almost see the great trees of Woodroot, the hot, flaming landscape of Fireroot, and the impossibly muddy plains of Mudroot. The characters are all so unique and different: many times I wished I could actually meet them in person! But I guess I will have to be content with reading about their adventures.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I think I'd give it 10. It's a book that I think adults would enjoy as well.
Sequle: Shadow on the Stars.

new author & more books!

Hey, all! I just discovered a new author: T.A. Barron. He is an amazing storyteller. I am reading his book Child of the Dark Prophecy, first in The Great Tree of Avalon series. It's so good, I'm almost glued to it! I'll write a review when I'm done. He's also written The Lost Years of Merlin series which also looks good. You can view his website here.

Peace to all.

Messiah

Hey, people!! I know this is supossed to be a book blog, but I HAVE to write about this. I saw Hanel's Messiah for the first time-- LIVE. It was amazing. There was a huge choir (just under 100, I think), a full orchstra, 4 soloists... the whole thing. (and my sister was singing is the choir!!) I'm very glad I went. If you haven't heard it yet, I'd strongly suggest finding a recording of the Messiah, of even better, see it live. If you see it live, don't forget to stand up when they do the "hallelujah" chores at the end of the second part.

Respectfully, out of the depths of insainity,
May peace live in your heart.
~Holly~

Fall of a Kingdom, by Hilari Bell.

Sorry about the wait. This one was harder to write then the first.

The country of Farsala has never been conquered. Its nobles have beaten all who cared to try. But now, a new army has come calling: the Hrum. And they have conquered half the known world...
Soraya, a young noble lady, is sure the Hrum will be beaten. Jiaan, a half noble, is not so sure. Kavi, a commoner, just wants to stay alive. Their stories are linked with the fate of Farsala.

When I first started reading this book, I thought that something was missing. Now I think it’s the way it’s written. But then I saw that the story is truly amazing.
The story is told alternately by Soraya, Jiaan, and Kavi. This gave three unique perspectives on the same story, which was really neat. I also liked how it deals with their feelings: it explained why they did things, and how they felt doing those things. These descriptions made them feel like real people to me.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it!
Sequel: Rise of a Hero.