The Peco Incident
Des Hunt
Genre: adventure
Audience: boys 10+
Rating: 3.5/5
I always enjoy the works of Des Hunt, and this is his latest offering. This slim novel is set on the Otago Peninsula, near the tiny township of Portobello. It is the story of Danny, a young boy, who lives on the peninsula and takes an avid interest in its wildlife. When his cousin comes to stay, things turn topsy-turvy for a while. Nick is hyperactive and impulsive, everything the more sensible and sensitive Danny is not. And then there's the dead birds that are turning up everywhere. Is someone poisoning them? Or is it something more sinister? Then death and disease strike the Peco Chicken Factory, could Danny's beloved albatross and penguins be the next victims?
Like all his books, this deals with a range of elements all relevant to the pre-teen boys of today. With a fast-paced plot, exciting climax, elements of science and a charming parakeet called Harriet, this is another one-sit-reading.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Fae in England
61 Nails
Mike Shevdon
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Rating: 4/5
Compared favourably to"Neverwhere", I picked up this novel some time ago, and have finally gotten around to reading it. It is an appealing urban fantasy, with similar characterisation to Gaiman's work - the rather befuddled man whose life is turned upside down when he realises that the world is rather different, and less safe, than he had imagined. In this case, after a rather rough day, Niall has a heart attack and is saved by a mysterious elderly lady. Calling herself "Blackbird" she then reveals to him that an ancient darkness is about to rise and engulf the world and he is the unlikely saviour. Fast paced, quite entertaining and a little bit different, this makes for an enjoyable read.
Will be followed by a sequel.
Mike Shevdon
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Rating: 4/5
Compared favourably to"Neverwhere", I picked up this novel some time ago, and have finally gotten around to reading it. It is an appealing urban fantasy, with similar characterisation to Gaiman's work - the rather befuddled man whose life is turned upside down when he realises that the world is rather different, and less safe, than he had imagined. In this case, after a rather rough day, Niall has a heart attack and is saved by a mysterious elderly lady. Calling herself "Blackbird" she then reveals to him that an ancient darkness is about to rise and engulf the world and he is the unlikely saviour. Fast paced, quite entertaining and a little bit different, this makes for an enjoyable read.
Will be followed by a sequel.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Dragons are not romantic
Dragonkeeper
Robin Hobb
Rain Wild volume 1
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Rating 4/5
This is the fourth trilogy set in the Farseer World and acts as a follow-up to "Liveship Traders" although with references to the events of the "Tawny Man" trilogy. However, we are introduced to an entirely new cast of characters. These range from Thymara, a somewhat disfigured Rainwilds' girl, to Alise, a scholarly woman devoted to the study of dragons. As before, Hobb's paints her characters in a colourful manner, giving them traits that makes you both love and hate some of them. She sets up a compelling storyline, with an interesting setting and then leaves you anxious for the next instalment.
The serpents that cocooned at the end of the Liveship Traders have hatched, but the dragon hatchlings are not as expected. Stunted and deficient, it falls upon the Rainwilds Council to provide for them. As the dragons grow, so too does their disatisfaction - intelligent beings trapped in bodies that they know are not as they should be. A more suitable home is needed for them, and in their collective memory is the name of such a place - Kelsingra. With a misfit band of Rainwild adolescents as their keepers, the dragons set out to discover this ancient city - which may be little more than a myth.
Robin Hobb
Rain Wild volume 1
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adults
Rating 4/5
This is the fourth trilogy set in the Farseer World and acts as a follow-up to "Liveship Traders" although with references to the events of the "Tawny Man" trilogy. However, we are introduced to an entirely new cast of characters. These range from Thymara, a somewhat disfigured Rainwilds' girl, to Alise, a scholarly woman devoted to the study of dragons. As before, Hobb's paints her characters in a colourful manner, giving them traits that makes you both love and hate some of them. She sets up a compelling storyline, with an interesting setting and then leaves you anxious for the next instalment.
The serpents that cocooned at the end of the Liveship Traders have hatched, but the dragon hatchlings are not as expected. Stunted and deficient, it falls upon the Rainwilds Council to provide for them. As the dragons grow, so too does their disatisfaction - intelligent beings trapped in bodies that they know are not as they should be. A more suitable home is needed for them, and in their collective memory is the name of such a place - Kelsingra. With a misfit band of Rainwild adolescents as their keepers, the dragons set out to discover this ancient city - which may be little more than a myth.
Romance through a Druid's Eyes
Seer of Sevenwaters
Juliet Marillier
Sevenwaters series, bk 5
Genre: Historic/Fantasy/Romance
Audience: Women
Rating: 4/5
Another beautifully written, engrossing historical dark romance. Marillier weaves a fine historic tale with a strong folklore theme to it. She creates strong characters that you can relate to and an intriguing plot.
This novel continues with the daughters of Sean and Aisling, but this time the heroine is Sibeal - the quiet, sensible, spiritual one. She has been sent to Inis Eala to spend time with her older sisters, Muirrin and Clodagh before committing fully to the Druidhood. For those who have read "Heir...", it is good to find out how Clodagh and Cathal have fared. But at the same time as Sibeal arrives, a ship wrecks itself off the shore. Only two survivors are found - a Nordic warrior and his mute, mysterious wife. That is until Sibeal discovers the third survivor. A young, storm-battered, half-drowned man with no memory of his past. Together they uncover a mysterious that could harm them all.
Juliet Marillier
Sevenwaters series, bk 5
Genre: Historic/Fantasy/Romance
Audience: Women
Rating: 4/5
Another beautifully written, engrossing historical dark romance. Marillier weaves a fine historic tale with a strong folklore theme to it. She creates strong characters that you can relate to and an intriguing plot.
This novel continues with the daughters of Sean and Aisling, but this time the heroine is Sibeal - the quiet, sensible, spiritual one. She has been sent to Inis Eala to spend time with her older sisters, Muirrin and Clodagh before committing fully to the Druidhood. For those who have read "Heir...", it is good to find out how Clodagh and Cathal have fared. But at the same time as Sibeal arrives, a ship wrecks itself off the shore. Only two survivors are found - a Nordic warrior and his mute, mysterious wife. That is until Sibeal discovers the third survivor. A young, storm-battered, half-drowned man with no memory of his past. Together they uncover a mysterious that could harm them all.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A culinary novel from a demented mind
The Alchemaster's Apprentice
Walter Moers
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Cross-over-suitable teens and adults
Rating: 5/5
One cannot help but love the demented imagination of German author, Walter Moers. This book is a delicious delight. It is the story of Echo - the last Crat in Malaisea (the city where everyone is ill). What is a Crat? Well, it's a lot like a cat except that he can talk and has two livers. Echo's kind mistress has died and he is now alone in the world - and slowly starving and freezing to death. When the fearful Alchemaster, Ghoolian, discovers him, he has not the strength to run away but instead the two make a deal. Ghoolian requires the Crat's fat for his dastardly plans of immortality - and as an extra month of life and a hearty diet is favourable to the slow, cold death he is currently experiencing, Echo agrees. Now as a guest for the Alchemaster, Echo is treated lavishly and fed man delectable treats - all described in mouth-watering (and occasionally eye-watering) detail. But never fear: at no time does this book drag on or get boring! Some of the meals cause surprising insights and slowly Echo hatches a plan for his ongoing survival. Meanwhile, he has much to learn from the Alchemaster, for the more learned the creature, the more improved its fat will be. He makes some surprising allies and meets some strange beasties and all in all, this is a whimsical, fantastical tale of the highest order.
If you enjoy books that are quirky and weird, with random passages of philosophy and science, crazy characters and demented plots - Moers might well be the author for you.
Walter Moers
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Cross-over-suitable teens and adults
Rating: 5/5
One cannot help but love the demented imagination of German author, Walter Moers. This book is a delicious delight. It is the story of Echo - the last Crat in Malaisea (the city where everyone is ill). What is a Crat? Well, it's a lot like a cat except that he can talk and has two livers. Echo's kind mistress has died and he is now alone in the world - and slowly starving and freezing to death. When the fearful Alchemaster, Ghoolian, discovers him, he has not the strength to run away but instead the two make a deal. Ghoolian requires the Crat's fat for his dastardly plans of immortality - and as an extra month of life and a hearty diet is favourable to the slow, cold death he is currently experiencing, Echo agrees. Now as a guest for the Alchemaster, Echo is treated lavishly and fed man delectable treats - all described in mouth-watering (and occasionally eye-watering) detail. But never fear: at no time does this book drag on or get boring! Some of the meals cause surprising insights and slowly Echo hatches a plan for his ongoing survival. Meanwhile, he has much to learn from the Alchemaster, for the more learned the creature, the more improved its fat will be. He makes some surprising allies and meets some strange beasties and all in all, this is a whimsical, fantastical tale of the highest order.
If you enjoy books that are quirky and weird, with random passages of philosophy and science, crazy characters and demented plots - Moers might well be the author for you.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The next big thing? Not likely.
The Emerald Atlas
John Stevens
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Childrens 10+
Rating: 3/5
This book, the first in a trilogy, gained a lot of exposure at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. And understandably, there are high hopes for it. In truth, the novel is not exceptional. Described as having a fantastical, Narnia-like setting, I felt it rather lacked the enchantment of Narnia. Indeed, the whole plot plodded along at a reasonable pace, with few surprises. Possibly it is the inclusion of a Prophecy which made me balk from the start. Prophecy, evil "queen", kidnapped children. Nothing particularly amazing.
Kate, Michael and Emma have grown up in a succession of Orphanages, after being abandoned by their parents - parents only Kate - the eldest, can remember. Considered difficult to foster, they finally find themselves in an old, mysterious mansion in a small town. A town with a secret. After they discover a strange book, hidden in a secret room, they are catapulted into the past and into a struggle for their life - and the survival of the town's children is at stake.
There is humour, and the characters are well developed, but overall it failed to live up to expectations.
John Stevens
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Childrens 10+
Rating: 3/5
This book, the first in a trilogy, gained a lot of exposure at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. And understandably, there are high hopes for it. In truth, the novel is not exceptional. Described as having a fantastical, Narnia-like setting, I felt it rather lacked the enchantment of Narnia. Indeed, the whole plot plodded along at a reasonable pace, with few surprises. Possibly it is the inclusion of a Prophecy which made me balk from the start. Prophecy, evil "queen", kidnapped children. Nothing particularly amazing.
Kate, Michael and Emma have grown up in a succession of Orphanages, after being abandoned by their parents - parents only Kate - the eldest, can remember. Considered difficult to foster, they finally find themselves in an old, mysterious mansion in a small town. A town with a secret. After they discover a strange book, hidden in a secret room, they are catapulted into the past and into a struggle for their life - and the survival of the town's children is at stake.
There is humour, and the characters are well developed, but overall it failed to live up to expectations.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Lost Gate
Orson Scott Card
Mithermages series, book 1
Genre: fantasy
Audience: teens + adults
Rating: 4/5
Orson Scott Card weaves an involved and intriguing fantasy world into our own. Our hero is Daniel North, a young man living in what is more or less a commune - but a community where all the inhabitants have magical abilities and are descended from the Nordic Gods. Alas, poor Daniel has not displayed any talents of his own and it is feared that he is a Dreeka - one without magic and little bit than the non-magical humans (called Drowder). However, when Danny's talent actually DOES reveal itself, it puts him in even more danger. For Danny is a Gate Mage - the most despited and rarest of the mages. Loki, the trickster, doomed all with Gate Mage abilities when he destroyed all the gates. Forced to flee from his home, Danny must live on his wits and abilities. Entwined with this is the story of Wad, a young man freed after years of capture and flung into the complicated world of court politics. How do these two rather different stories weave together? You'll have to read it and see.
Card writes well-developed, and distinct characters - and that combined with the interesting world will engulf you in its pages until the very end.
Orson Scott Card
Mithermages series, book 1
Genre: fantasy
Audience: teens + adults
Rating: 4/5
Orson Scott Card weaves an involved and intriguing fantasy world into our own. Our hero is Daniel North, a young man living in what is more or less a commune - but a community where all the inhabitants have magical abilities and are descended from the Nordic Gods. Alas, poor Daniel has not displayed any talents of his own and it is feared that he is a Dreeka - one without magic and little bit than the non-magical humans (called Drowder). However, when Danny's talent actually DOES reveal itself, it puts him in even more danger. For Danny is a Gate Mage - the most despited and rarest of the mages. Loki, the trickster, doomed all with Gate Mage abilities when he destroyed all the gates. Forced to flee from his home, Danny must live on his wits and abilities. Entwined with this is the story of Wad, a young man freed after years of capture and flung into the complicated world of court politics. How do these two rather different stories weave together? You'll have to read it and see.
Card writes well-developed, and distinct characters - and that combined with the interesting world will engulf you in its pages until the very end.
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