RATING: FIVE STARS
Rumours still circulate that Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, has died, killed in his madness in the palace of Cairhien. Yet the man destined to stand against the Dark One in Tai'mon Gardon is no coward and his plans are in motion. Rand is beginning to realise that the Last Battle is coming and he doesn't have the time to unite the banners of the land behind him as one, yet he understands that he doesn't need to. The Seanchan are rolling through those lands he still needs, conquoring and bringing their lonesome lords to heel. If Rand can find the Daughter of the Nine Moons, he can forge an army of the likes the world hasn't seen since the legendary Artur Hawkwing.
Meanwhile, Matt is still on the run, desperate to get his prophised bride to safetly through lands that are crawling with the Seanchan, Egewene al'Vere remains captured by Elaida and the White Tower and Perrin . . . Perrin's plans to finally free Faile and rescue his wife are set. He means to free her from the Aiel or die trying . . .
The Good
The good news is that something actually happens in this book! As many of you know, I've been a little disappointed with the last few books in The Wheel of Time. Despite the fact that they're fairly heavy tomes, they did very little to carry the story forward and largely consisted of people walking around talking. Knife of Dreams finally remedies this and the various story arcs of its PoV characters are finally start to see some action and are developed in a meaningful way. This made the novel far more interesting than the others and I found some of the old WoT excitement that I felt at the start of the series rekindling! It's definitely an exciting book and hopefully, is setting a good premise for the series ending in the exciting, dramatic and epic fashion I once expected from Robert Jordan's writing!
The Bad
There are only a few minor things about this book that I didn't like, but none of them were major problems. The story was still a little slow in places, but that's usually something to be expected from a book of such length. Once again, Rand only has a few, fleeting appearances that left me a little disappointed, although the other characters in the series did get a lot more of a mention which was good.
Final Thoughts
Knife of Dreams is an excellent instalment of The Wheel of Time and does a lot to make up for the slow pace of the previous books by really advancing the plot. It reminded me of how the books used to be and provides promise for Jordan to follow this precedent for the conclusion of his epic saga!
Showing posts with label Shelf Of Fame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shelf Of Fame. Show all posts
Friday, 16 December 2016
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb
RATING: FIVE STARS
The Six Duchies are crumbling beneath Regal as he seeks to ascertain more and more power. He has plundered Buck Keep, opting to move all of its resources and wealth to the Inland Duchies which he naively believes to be safe from the Raiders, far beyond their reach. Yet not all are as lucky and, as the Coastal Duchies begin to fall, one by one, all of the death and Forging begins to take its toll. The Coastal Duchies become ruled by fear in the absence of their so-called 'King' and there are those that begin to resist. None are more fervent in their efforts than Chade Farstrider, the aged assassin who has finally flung away the garb of secrecy to openly defy Regal with the help of the Mountain Kingdom.
Anarchy rules and it is in this chaos that FitzChivalry finds himself, finally a free man who is able to control his own destiny. There is nothing but vengeance in his heart after the torture he endured to entertain Regal, nothing but anger and fear. For Regal broke Fitz, and he is not the proud warrior he once was. Fitz is alone, accompanied only his Nighteyes his faithful wolf, set on the path to kill Regal and bring him into account for what he has done. Yet Fitz soon finds himself conflicted, if he decides to pursue Regal now, now, when the true king Verity is in such grave need, who will aid him? Who will ensure that the Elderlings do indeed return to save the Coastal Duchies as they long ago promised to do?
The Good
Once again, Robin Hobb is superb and demonstrates her mastery of the fantasy genre. She has created interesting and relatable characters to populate her story and, just as no two people are exactly the same in real life, each person is unique, with their own personality, issues, drives and fears. This adds a real sense of depth to the book that many others lack and the story becomes stronger because of it.
The story itself is also fantastic and Hobb rounds the trilogy off nicely, following a plot that is as exciting, unpredictable and full of intrigue as ever! Assassin's Quest is the perfect ending to the series and all of its threads are woven off nicely, being fully explained and leaving nothing hanging.
The Bad
Once again, there is nothing that I didn't like about Hobb's work and Assassin's Quest is as flawless as its predecessors.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Assassin's Quest is an exciting and dramatic end to the Farseer Trilogy, being a shining example of what fantasy can be at its best. It entertains, tugs at your emotions, has your heart in your mouth when the characters' are in danger and, best of all, is addictive in the wonderful vibrant way Hobb formulates her prose. This is a must read book for any epic fantasy fan and I thoroughly recommend the series to anyone who hasn't yet read it - each book in the series are among the best I've read in a long time!
The Six Duchies are crumbling beneath Regal as he seeks to ascertain more and more power. He has plundered Buck Keep, opting to move all of its resources and wealth to the Inland Duchies which he naively believes to be safe from the Raiders, far beyond their reach. Yet not all are as lucky and, as the Coastal Duchies begin to fall, one by one, all of the death and Forging begins to take its toll. The Coastal Duchies become ruled by fear in the absence of their so-called 'King' and there are those that begin to resist. None are more fervent in their efforts than Chade Farstrider, the aged assassin who has finally flung away the garb of secrecy to openly defy Regal with the help of the Mountain Kingdom.
Anarchy rules and it is in this chaos that FitzChivalry finds himself, finally a free man who is able to control his own destiny. There is nothing but vengeance in his heart after the torture he endured to entertain Regal, nothing but anger and fear. For Regal broke Fitz, and he is not the proud warrior he once was. Fitz is alone, accompanied only his Nighteyes his faithful wolf, set on the path to kill Regal and bring him into account for what he has done. Yet Fitz soon finds himself conflicted, if he decides to pursue Regal now, now, when the true king Verity is in such grave need, who will aid him? Who will ensure that the Elderlings do indeed return to save the Coastal Duchies as they long ago promised to do?
The Good
Once again, Robin Hobb is superb and demonstrates her mastery of the fantasy genre. She has created interesting and relatable characters to populate her story and, just as no two people are exactly the same in real life, each person is unique, with their own personality, issues, drives and fears. This adds a real sense of depth to the book that many others lack and the story becomes stronger because of it.
The story itself is also fantastic and Hobb rounds the trilogy off nicely, following a plot that is as exciting, unpredictable and full of intrigue as ever! Assassin's Quest is the perfect ending to the series and all of its threads are woven off nicely, being fully explained and leaving nothing hanging.
The Bad
Once again, there is nothing that I didn't like about Hobb's work and Assassin's Quest is as flawless as its predecessors.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Assassin's Quest is an exciting and dramatic end to the Farseer Trilogy, being a shining example of what fantasy can be at its best. It entertains, tugs at your emotions, has your heart in your mouth when the characters' are in danger and, best of all, is addictive in the wonderful vibrant way Hobb formulates her prose. This is a must read book for any epic fantasy fan and I thoroughly recommend the series to anyone who hasn't yet read it - each book in the series are among the best I've read in a long time!
Saturday, 8 October 2016
The Return of the King - J. R. R. Tolkien
RATING: FIVE STARS
Frodo Baggins is the Ring Bearer, the one charged with carrying the One Ring of Sauron the Deceiver to Mount Doom. Only here can it be destroyed to end the life and dominion of the Enemy forever. His quest has been long and arduous, filled with peril and pain. Of the nine companions he set out with, only Samwise Gamgee still stands at his side and they are both weak, close to death as they search a way through the arid plains of Mordor. It is the last leg of their quest, but Sauron's orcs are everywhere as His army masses behind his Black Gates, worse still are the Nazgul, the sleepless Ringwraiths that seek their master's prize as devotedly as He. For Sauron is seeking the Ring and means to have it, to the ruin of all . . .
Yet Frodo and Sam are not the only members of the Fellowship that are in danger. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimili, Meriadoc and Pippin . . . All ride to war against Sauron, desperate to protect the World of Men which is the focus of the Dark Lord's wrath. Sauron has not forgotten that it was Elendil who cut the ring from His finger three thousand years ago and He knows that the heir of Gondor yet lives: Aragorn, son of Arathorn, high blood of Numinor who is Westernesse. All of Gandalf's plans seek to return Aragorn to the throne of Minus Tirith, for only Aragorn has the strength to lead his people and buy Frodo the time he needs to reach Mount Doom.
The Good
The Return of the King is a superb ending to The Lord of Rings and resolves J. R. R. Tolkien's story perfectly. I'm sure that you're already familiar with its plot and events, so I won't really go into them. Needless to say, the novel (and series) tells one of the greatest stories ever to grace fantasy and birthed the genre as we know it. It's filled with mythology and culture, possessing a backstory that is truly remarkable in scope and fascinating to delve into. Furthermore, the novel is the most action-packed of the series and contains the pinnacle Battle of Pelennor Fields (the Siege of Gondor) and the Battle of Morannon outside the Black Gates of Mordor.
The Bad
Once again criticising Tolkien's work feels wrong, almost like blasphemy, but you should be reminded that this will not be the easiest book to read due to the sheer amount of description in Tolkien's prose. The story does read quite slowly, but I have to say that's it's well worth perseviring with!
Final Thoughts
The Return of the King concludes one of the greatest stories ever told in the epic fashion only Tolkien can manage. It is filled with danger, peril and the unflinching commitment of those who stand against evil. If you're only familiar with Peter Jackson's cinematic adaptations, it's time to add The Lord of the Rings to your reading list and experience the story in the scope and depth that the father of fantasy intended!
Frodo Baggins is the Ring Bearer, the one charged with carrying the One Ring of Sauron the Deceiver to Mount Doom. Only here can it be destroyed to end the life and dominion of the Enemy forever. His quest has been long and arduous, filled with peril and pain. Of the nine companions he set out with, only Samwise Gamgee still stands at his side and they are both weak, close to death as they search a way through the arid plains of Mordor. It is the last leg of their quest, but Sauron's orcs are everywhere as His army masses behind his Black Gates, worse still are the Nazgul, the sleepless Ringwraiths that seek their master's prize as devotedly as He. For Sauron is seeking the Ring and means to have it, to the ruin of all . . .
Yet Frodo and Sam are not the only members of the Fellowship that are in danger. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimili, Meriadoc and Pippin . . . All ride to war against Sauron, desperate to protect the World of Men which is the focus of the Dark Lord's wrath. Sauron has not forgotten that it was Elendil who cut the ring from His finger three thousand years ago and He knows that the heir of Gondor yet lives: Aragorn, son of Arathorn, high blood of Numinor who is Westernesse. All of Gandalf's plans seek to return Aragorn to the throne of Minus Tirith, for only Aragorn has the strength to lead his people and buy Frodo the time he needs to reach Mount Doom.
The Good
The Return of the King is a superb ending to The Lord of Rings and resolves J. R. R. Tolkien's story perfectly. I'm sure that you're already familiar with its plot and events, so I won't really go into them. Needless to say, the novel (and series) tells one of the greatest stories ever to grace fantasy and birthed the genre as we know it. It's filled with mythology and culture, possessing a backstory that is truly remarkable in scope and fascinating to delve into. Furthermore, the novel is the most action-packed of the series and contains the pinnacle Battle of Pelennor Fields (the Siege of Gondor) and the Battle of Morannon outside the Black Gates of Mordor.
The Bad
Once again criticising Tolkien's work feels wrong, almost like blasphemy, but you should be reminded that this will not be the easiest book to read due to the sheer amount of description in Tolkien's prose. The story does read quite slowly, but I have to say that's it's well worth perseviring with!
Final Thoughts
The Return of the King concludes one of the greatest stories ever told in the epic fashion only Tolkien can manage. It is filled with danger, peril and the unflinching commitment of those who stand against evil. If you're only familiar with Peter Jackson's cinematic adaptations, it's time to add The Lord of the Rings to your reading list and experience the story in the scope and depth that the father of fantasy intended!
Friday, 2 September 2016
Royal Assassin - Robin Hobb
RATING: FIVE STARS
The treachery of Prince Regal in the Mountain Kingdom nearly cost FitzChivalry Farseer his life. Still weak and terrorised by the savage seizures that grip his body, the royal bastard and assassin struggles with the poison that has crippled him. For it is not just his body that his broken, but his mind and Fitz must learn to live with the poor health he is left with if he is ever to return to Buckkeep Castle. That is where his king dwells, it is where the Fool and his old mentor, Chade, await him. He must return, despite his misgivings. He must return and face Regal. He must return and aid his strength to Verity's war against the Red Ships because Outislander raids are now more frequent that ever before. They attack the coasts of the Six Duchies with impunity, pillaging and burning as they go. The lucky ones are killed outright in the raids and the unlucky . . . well, those hapless souls are Forged to become a ruined and terrible form of life, something lower than an animal that is stripped of all morality, emotion and thought.
Terror is rife in the Duchies and the people are quickly losing patience in a crown that seems to be doing little to help them. So Verity finally orders the construction of his warships. He draws Galen's coterie to him, using their Skill to aid his own. But the last thing Regal desires is for the Prince-In-Waiting to attain more power than he already has. Regal is insidious and far from as beaten as he leads his family to believe. It is only Fitz who fears him, only Fitz who suspects and knows that all must be given to stop Regal from tearing the Farseer's domain apart.
The Good
Royal Assassin is another masterpiece of the fantasy genre and Robin Hobb has outdone herself once again. If anything, the novel is even better than Assassin's Apprentice, it's predecessor, and continues the Farseer Trilogy in epic fashion. There is the peril and danger of the Raiders, the intrigue of forces that move unseen in the shadows . . . It truly is a time of war in the Six Duchies and that fact has not been lost in Hobb's writing. She has built and maintained tension well throughout the whole book and all of her characters are are on the verge of breaking. This adds a great sense of credibility to the story since the tension doesn't just appear for an attack and then dissipate like in some books, which I found very immersing.
Hobb's characterisation is as superb as ever and she doesn't hesitate in creating complex characters that are all very different to each other, with their own thoughts, ambitions and beliefs. This is as true to real life as is possible and the fact that her characters react realistically to the fights and challenges they face only makes the book better!
I also particularly enjoyed Fitz's views on the different magics he practices and the sinking realisation that he must finally learn to master the Skill if he is to help King-In-Waiting Verity. As you may remember from Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz has a number of issues regarding his Skill after the tortuous ordeal of Galen's training. I really 'enjoyed' (for lack of a better word) Fitz's frustration and efforts to master his Skill, which added a nice sub-layer to the story.
The Bad
Once again, I find myself having no fault with Hobb's writing and Royal Assassin sits proudly among the best novels of the fantasy genre!
Final Thoughts
Royal Assassin is even better than its predecessor and continues the Farseer Trilogy forward with the same immersive, emotional fashion that I have come to expect from Robin Hobb. It's a gripping, action-packed and sensitive book, which really stirred me as a reader and continues the stories of the Red Ships and Regal's treachery well, while rotating around the complex relationship between Fitz and Molly. In the end, the book is basically a love story and that's part of what makes it so special within the fantasy genre. Hobb has bared men's honour to the barest bones in a way no other author could and there is something deeply profound about how she describes the love and unwavering loyalty in Fitz's Wit bound with hounds. The book is definitely one for your reading list and deserves the highest praise!
The treachery of Prince Regal in the Mountain Kingdom nearly cost FitzChivalry Farseer his life. Still weak and terrorised by the savage seizures that grip his body, the royal bastard and assassin struggles with the poison that has crippled him. For it is not just his body that his broken, but his mind and Fitz must learn to live with the poor health he is left with if he is ever to return to Buckkeep Castle. That is where his king dwells, it is where the Fool and his old mentor, Chade, await him. He must return, despite his misgivings. He must return and face Regal. He must return and aid his strength to Verity's war against the Red Ships because Outislander raids are now more frequent that ever before. They attack the coasts of the Six Duchies with impunity, pillaging and burning as they go. The lucky ones are killed outright in the raids and the unlucky . . . well, those hapless souls are Forged to become a ruined and terrible form of life, something lower than an animal that is stripped of all morality, emotion and thought.
Terror is rife in the Duchies and the people are quickly losing patience in a crown that seems to be doing little to help them. So Verity finally orders the construction of his warships. He draws Galen's coterie to him, using their Skill to aid his own. But the last thing Regal desires is for the Prince-In-Waiting to attain more power than he already has. Regal is insidious and far from as beaten as he leads his family to believe. It is only Fitz who fears him, only Fitz who suspects and knows that all must be given to stop Regal from tearing the Farseer's domain apart.
The Good
Royal Assassin is another masterpiece of the fantasy genre and Robin Hobb has outdone herself once again. If anything, the novel is even better than Assassin's Apprentice, it's predecessor, and continues the Farseer Trilogy in epic fashion. There is the peril and danger of the Raiders, the intrigue of forces that move unseen in the shadows . . . It truly is a time of war in the Six Duchies and that fact has not been lost in Hobb's writing. She has built and maintained tension well throughout the whole book and all of her characters are are on the verge of breaking. This adds a great sense of credibility to the story since the tension doesn't just appear for an attack and then dissipate like in some books, which I found very immersing.
Hobb's characterisation is as superb as ever and she doesn't hesitate in creating complex characters that are all very different to each other, with their own thoughts, ambitions and beliefs. This is as true to real life as is possible and the fact that her characters react realistically to the fights and challenges they face only makes the book better!
I also particularly enjoyed Fitz's views on the different magics he practices and the sinking realisation that he must finally learn to master the Skill if he is to help King-In-Waiting Verity. As you may remember from Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz has a number of issues regarding his Skill after the tortuous ordeal of Galen's training. I really 'enjoyed' (for lack of a better word) Fitz's frustration and efforts to master his Skill, which added a nice sub-layer to the story.
The Bad
Once again, I find myself having no fault with Hobb's writing and Royal Assassin sits proudly among the best novels of the fantasy genre!
Final Thoughts
Royal Assassin is even better than its predecessor and continues the Farseer Trilogy forward with the same immersive, emotional fashion that I have come to expect from Robin Hobb. It's a gripping, action-packed and sensitive book, which really stirred me as a reader and continues the stories of the Red Ships and Regal's treachery well, while rotating around the complex relationship between Fitz and Molly. In the end, the book is basically a love story and that's part of what makes it so special within the fantasy genre. Hobb has bared men's honour to the barest bones in a way no other author could and there is something deeply profound about how she describes the love and unwavering loyalty in Fitz's Wit bound with hounds. The book is definitely one for your reading list and deserves the highest praise!
Friday, 22 July 2016
Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan
RATING: THREE STARS
Elaine Trakand has yet to secure the Lion Throne and her rivals are moving about her, gathering allies and swaying major houses to support their claim. She is desperate to attain the throne that was her mother's, the throne that his hers by right. She is determined to win the Kingdom of Andor for herself and is still angry at Rand al'Thor for offering the throne to her. Elaine means to have it without his help, both from a sting of pride and from a desire not to be known as a queen who's in the pocket of the Lord of the Morning, the Dragon Reborn. The fact that she carries Rand's child is still a closely guarded secret and any that knew would find ways to use it against her. All of them, including her competitors, the agents of the Black Ajar she has sworn to hunt down and the Darkfriends that move in the deepest shades of secrets about her.
Meanwhile, Egwene al'Vere has problems of her own. She is still one of two who have declared for the Amrylin Seat and remains labelled as a rebel to the Aes Sedai. The White Tower is still broken, but Eqwene's war for her seat is coming to a head. With the help of her general, Lord Gareth Bryne, she has amassed a sizeable army. With the use of Travelling, a Skill still forgotten by Elaida's loyalists, Eqwene's army has laid siege to Tar Valon. Yet Egwene is loath to spill Aes Sedai blood and still hasn't moved. Her reluctance is beginning to be seen as weakness and, even within her own camp, there are those who are beginning to see her as a stooge-Amrylin once again . . . Time is short and Egwene knows she will lose all if she doesn't move soon.
The Good and the Bad
Once again Robert Jordan tells a story of epic proportions, one that is filled with magic and darkness. He was woven the threads of his story arcs together masterfully and simultaneously tells the tales of a number of his main protagonists. These stories are interesting, but once again their slow pace fails to carry the story forward much (which is why I have combined my customary 'good' and 'bad' headings into one for better discussion). Despite Crossroads of Twilight being another mammoth tome, very little actually happens in the book aside from talking and I was a bit disappointed when all of the characters and their storylines were in pretty much the same place at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. I can't help but think back to the epic climaxes I fell in love with in the earlier books in the series and I think that Jordan slowing the series pace down is largely responsible for my disappointment. For, despite my criticism, the book wasn't actually boring and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I just think it's time for him to pick up the pace a bit and get the story moving again.
The book barely mentioned Rand, who is arguably the centrepiece of the saga, who got one or two insignificant chapters at most towards the end. Matt and Perrin probably accomplished the most in the novel, yet their positions have still barely changed from when it begun. Likewise, little has happened to carry Elaine's and Egwene's struggle to secure their power and the Forsaken have dropped into the background, doing little at the moment that's worth mentioning . . .
I hope that the pace of the series picks up in the next instalment, which it logically should since the end is drawing ever closer! Because don't get me wrong, I'm still adamant that The Wheel of Time is a masterpiece of fantasy and Jordan has created something that's truly special. His characterisation remains as fantastic as ever, his world is still deeply populated with danger and mythology and he has created an iconic version of magic that works well for his story. It's just a shame that his pacing is letting him down and it's something he can very easily remedy . . .
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Crossroads of Twilight is a great read and, although I've only given it three stars, it should be born in mind that I'm comparing the novel to the previous books in The Wheel Time saga and it's still much better read than many other works of fantasy, especially with the wealth of world building Jordan has already sunk into the ten books I've read so far. The only thing that has let it down it the fact that pretty much nothing of consequence happens in almost a thousand pages, but his writing, character development and ability to describe impending doom are still as brilliant as ever.
Elaine Trakand has yet to secure the Lion Throne and her rivals are moving about her, gathering allies and swaying major houses to support their claim. She is desperate to attain the throne that was her mother's, the throne that his hers by right. She is determined to win the Kingdom of Andor for herself and is still angry at Rand al'Thor for offering the throne to her. Elaine means to have it without his help, both from a sting of pride and from a desire not to be known as a queen who's in the pocket of the Lord of the Morning, the Dragon Reborn. The fact that she carries Rand's child is still a closely guarded secret and any that knew would find ways to use it against her. All of them, including her competitors, the agents of the Black Ajar she has sworn to hunt down and the Darkfriends that move in the deepest shades of secrets about her.
Meanwhile, Egwene al'Vere has problems of her own. She is still one of two who have declared for the Amrylin Seat and remains labelled as a rebel to the Aes Sedai. The White Tower is still broken, but Eqwene's war for her seat is coming to a head. With the help of her general, Lord Gareth Bryne, she has amassed a sizeable army. With the use of Travelling, a Skill still forgotten by Elaida's loyalists, Eqwene's army has laid siege to Tar Valon. Yet Egwene is loath to spill Aes Sedai blood and still hasn't moved. Her reluctance is beginning to be seen as weakness and, even within her own camp, there are those who are beginning to see her as a stooge-Amrylin once again . . . Time is short and Egwene knows she will lose all if she doesn't move soon.
The Good and the Bad
Once again Robert Jordan tells a story of epic proportions, one that is filled with magic and darkness. He was woven the threads of his story arcs together masterfully and simultaneously tells the tales of a number of his main protagonists. These stories are interesting, but once again their slow pace fails to carry the story forward much (which is why I have combined my customary 'good' and 'bad' headings into one for better discussion). Despite Crossroads of Twilight being another mammoth tome, very little actually happens in the book aside from talking and I was a bit disappointed when all of the characters and their storylines were in pretty much the same place at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. I can't help but think back to the epic climaxes I fell in love with in the earlier books in the series and I think that Jordan slowing the series pace down is largely responsible for my disappointment. For, despite my criticism, the book wasn't actually boring and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I just think it's time for him to pick up the pace a bit and get the story moving again.
The book barely mentioned Rand, who is arguably the centrepiece of the saga, who got one or two insignificant chapters at most towards the end. Matt and Perrin probably accomplished the most in the novel, yet their positions have still barely changed from when it begun. Likewise, little has happened to carry Elaine's and Egwene's struggle to secure their power and the Forsaken have dropped into the background, doing little at the moment that's worth mentioning . . .
I hope that the pace of the series picks up in the next instalment, which it logically should since the end is drawing ever closer! Because don't get me wrong, I'm still adamant that The Wheel of Time is a masterpiece of fantasy and Jordan has created something that's truly special. His characterisation remains as fantastic as ever, his world is still deeply populated with danger and mythology and he has created an iconic version of magic that works well for his story. It's just a shame that his pacing is letting him down and it's something he can very easily remedy . . .
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Crossroads of Twilight is a great read and, although I've only given it three stars, it should be born in mind that I'm comparing the novel to the previous books in The Wheel Time saga and it's still much better read than many other works of fantasy, especially with the wealth of world building Jordan has already sunk into the ten books I've read so far. The only thing that has let it down it the fact that pretty much nothing of consequence happens in almost a thousand pages, but his writing, character development and ability to describe impending doom are still as brilliant as ever.
Friday, 1 July 2016
Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb
RATING: FIVE STARS
Fitz is a bastard and had no great plans for adventure and service for his life. Yet he is no mere boy born outside of wedlock and is the son of Chivalry Farseer, the King-In-Waiting and heir to the throne of the Six Duchies. He has royal blood in his veins and it shouldn't have come as much as a surprise when he was taken to Buckkeep Castle and left there, for his rich family to raise him. Yet none could have expected the scandal that his existence caused. Chivalry abdicated his claim to the throne, the honour of which went to Prince Verity, his younger brother. None wanted anything to do with Fitz save a cantankerous old man, Burrich, the castle's Master of Stables.
It was Burrich that raised Fitz, teaching him the care of animals and how to remedy them, all the while aware that the boy possessed the Wit - a forbidden magic that allows Fitz to know the minds of animals, to commune with them and live a life outside of the rules of man. Burrich did his best to quash the Wit in Fitz, to keep him busy and his mind occupied. The weapons training from Hod, scribing tuition from Fedwren, chores and duties around the castle . . . All helped Burrich's goals. But Fitz is a King's Man, sworn to Shrewd who seeks to use him for his own ends and it is in secret when Fitz meets Chade. It is out of mind and knowledge of the court that he trains to be an assassin, learns to use poisons and powders to kill a man innocuously. He learns the Skill, a magic highly coveted by the Farseer dynasty, and not a life for himself. He exists only to serve, and he is needed now more than ever for the Red Ships have come. They raid the Duchies coastlines with impunity at will, killing that they want and Forging the rest, which the people quickly learn is a fate worse than death itself . . . And in the shadows behind it all, plots are formed and a game is played. There are those that are not happy with Shrewd's rule and Verity's succession . . .
The Good
I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much when I started reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'd heard it was good, but had read The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb and, while I enjoyed it, I wasn't overly impressed by it. I expected more of the same from this book, but I was wrong. The quality of Assassin's Apprentice was evident, right from page one and I had become addicted to Hobb's story, her characters and world within just a few chapters.
I hadn't even finished the novel before I knew it was becoming one of my favourites and it truly is "a diamond in a sea of zircons' as the quote from GRRM on its back cover suggests. I think there are many reasons for this, the first of which is due to the story itself. It's exciting, being full of action and political intrigue which I greatly enjoyed. What's nice and different about this story though, is due to Fitz and his position in the royal court. Obviously, as a bastard, he has no power and although he is aware of the political schemes, manoeuvrings and conspiracies, he has no way of preventing or directly combating them. He merely tries to survive them, all the while doing what's best for King Shrewd, even when he knows he's being used as an expendable piece on the game board. This adds a real sense of helplessness and tension to the book, which is very different to the intrigue of one powerful lord fighting another.
I also really liked Hobb's concept of magic in the book and she has managed to write in a form that's unarguably terrifying in its power and has great potential to be abused. Yet she has kept the abilities and uses it provides subtle and the book isn't filled with people flinging fireballs from their hands or calling lightning down from the sky. It's simply a tool that can only be used in certain circumstances and I thought this added an immersing and captivating layer to the story, especially when I stopped to consider its implications.
Hobb's characterisation is also fantastic and I quickly fell in love with them all, where each character is like a real person who is struggling with their own issues in life: love, loneliness, ambition, anger . . . Her characters run on emotions that we all have and drive everything we do. I also loved her portrayal of animals and how dearly Fitz holds them as friends. They add another layer to a story that is as captivating and exciting as it is heartbreaking at times.
The Bad
The bad . . . The bad . . . I have to say that this is another of those books that I cannot fault and Hobb has done a superb job in writing it. I was quickly addicted to her work and there was nothing about the novel that I did not enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Assassin's Apprentice truly is a masterpiece of the fantasy genre and I can see just why it's so renown and acclaimed. I couldn't put the book down once I began it and I not ashamed to say that the novel brought a few tears to my eyes at times, clear evidence of the power of Hobb's writing. No author aside for Alice Sebold in The Lovely Bones has managed this feat and I strongly urge you to give this masterpiece a go if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed if you do.
Fitz is a bastard and had no great plans for adventure and service for his life. Yet he is no mere boy born outside of wedlock and is the son of Chivalry Farseer, the King-In-Waiting and heir to the throne of the Six Duchies. He has royal blood in his veins and it shouldn't have come as much as a surprise when he was taken to Buckkeep Castle and left there, for his rich family to raise him. Yet none could have expected the scandal that his existence caused. Chivalry abdicated his claim to the throne, the honour of which went to Prince Verity, his younger brother. None wanted anything to do with Fitz save a cantankerous old man, Burrich, the castle's Master of Stables.
It was Burrich that raised Fitz, teaching him the care of animals and how to remedy them, all the while aware that the boy possessed the Wit - a forbidden magic that allows Fitz to know the minds of animals, to commune with them and live a life outside of the rules of man. Burrich did his best to quash the Wit in Fitz, to keep him busy and his mind occupied. The weapons training from Hod, scribing tuition from Fedwren, chores and duties around the castle . . . All helped Burrich's goals. But Fitz is a King's Man, sworn to Shrewd who seeks to use him for his own ends and it is in secret when Fitz meets Chade. It is out of mind and knowledge of the court that he trains to be an assassin, learns to use poisons and powders to kill a man innocuously. He learns the Skill, a magic highly coveted by the Farseer dynasty, and not a life for himself. He exists only to serve, and he is needed now more than ever for the Red Ships have come. They raid the Duchies coastlines with impunity at will, killing that they want and Forging the rest, which the people quickly learn is a fate worse than death itself . . . And in the shadows behind it all, plots are formed and a game is played. There are those that are not happy with Shrewd's rule and Verity's succession . . .
The Good
I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much when I started reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'd heard it was good, but had read The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb and, while I enjoyed it, I wasn't overly impressed by it. I expected more of the same from this book, but I was wrong. The quality of Assassin's Apprentice was evident, right from page one and I had become addicted to Hobb's story, her characters and world within just a few chapters.
I hadn't even finished the novel before I knew it was becoming one of my favourites and it truly is "a diamond in a sea of zircons' as the quote from GRRM on its back cover suggests. I think there are many reasons for this, the first of which is due to the story itself. It's exciting, being full of action and political intrigue which I greatly enjoyed. What's nice and different about this story though, is due to Fitz and his position in the royal court. Obviously, as a bastard, he has no power and although he is aware of the political schemes, manoeuvrings and conspiracies, he has no way of preventing or directly combating them. He merely tries to survive them, all the while doing what's best for King Shrewd, even when he knows he's being used as an expendable piece on the game board. This adds a real sense of helplessness and tension to the book, which is very different to the intrigue of one powerful lord fighting another.
I also really liked Hobb's concept of magic in the book and she has managed to write in a form that's unarguably terrifying in its power and has great potential to be abused. Yet she has kept the abilities and uses it provides subtle and the book isn't filled with people flinging fireballs from their hands or calling lightning down from the sky. It's simply a tool that can only be used in certain circumstances and I thought this added an immersing and captivating layer to the story, especially when I stopped to consider its implications.
Hobb's characterisation is also fantastic and I quickly fell in love with them all, where each character is like a real person who is struggling with their own issues in life: love, loneliness, ambition, anger . . . Her characters run on emotions that we all have and drive everything we do. I also loved her portrayal of animals and how dearly Fitz holds them as friends. They add another layer to a story that is as captivating and exciting as it is heartbreaking at times.
The Bad
The bad . . . The bad . . . I have to say that this is another of those books that I cannot fault and Hobb has done a superb job in writing it. I was quickly addicted to her work and there was nothing about the novel that I did not enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Assassin's Apprentice truly is a masterpiece of the fantasy genre and I can see just why it's so renown and acclaimed. I couldn't put the book down once I began it and I not ashamed to say that the novel brought a few tears to my eyes at times, clear evidence of the power of Hobb's writing. No author aside for Alice Sebold in The Lovely Bones has managed this feat and I strongly urge you to give this masterpiece a go if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed if you do.
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
The Two Towers - J. R. R. Tolkien
RATING; FOUR STARS
The Fellowship of the Ring has broken. Fearing for the safety of his friends and the corrupting nature of the One Ring, Frodo Baggins fled Amon Hen with his faithful gardener, Samwise Gamgee, at his heels. But Frodo had not considered his lack of geography and Gandalf the Grey, as wise as he was, did not divulge his plans for entering Mordor before he fell in Khazad-dûm. The two hobbits quickly become lost in Emyn Muil's tumbling crags and must accept the help of an unlikely and dangerous ally if they ever hope to reach the Black Gates and achieve their goal of destroying the Ring in the fiery chasms of Mount Doom.
Meanwhile Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are not about to abandon Merry and Pippin to Saruman's torture. They set off in pursuit of the Uruk-hai that captured them, chasing the new breed of orc through the rolling pastures of Rohan. But they quickly discover that all is not well in the Westfold and the mind of the land's once great king has fallen prey to Saruman's treacherous enchantments. Aragorn knows that the fight for Rohan is no less important than that for Gondar and it is in Helm's Deep, the ancient fortress of Helm Hammerhand, where the first blow against the world of men is struck in one of the greatest battles of the Age . . .
The Good
Once again, the depth and scale of Tolkien's beloved story is amazing. Tolkien continues to delve into the history and culture of Middle Earth, while outlying the struggles of the free peoples in two distinct parts, which feature Frodo and Sam in one, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in the other. Both parts are as captivating and full of peril and each other and I was quickly reminded of why The Two Towers was always my favourite instalment of The Lord of the Rings when I was younger!
The Bad
I have very few issues with The Two Towers and it is undeniably a masterful work of fantasy, but, once again, I did find it a bit dry in places and the level of Tolkien's description did slow the story down a bit. As I said in my review of The Fellowship of the Ring, however, this was the style of the era in which Tolkien wrote and is easy to forgive for such a captivating and well-loved story.
My Thoughts
The Two Towers is a deep and exciting sequel to The Fellowship of the Ring and continues The Lord of the Rings saga on in an epic manner. It's the best instalment of the trilogy in my opinion and many of the events it contains, such as that of Helm's Deep, are probably better known than many battles that actually happened in real life! It's certainly worthy of its place on my Shelf of Fame and I strongly suggest you try and give the series a go if you haven't already read it!
The Fellowship of the Ring has broken. Fearing for the safety of his friends and the corrupting nature of the One Ring, Frodo Baggins fled Amon Hen with his faithful gardener, Samwise Gamgee, at his heels. But Frodo had not considered his lack of geography and Gandalf the Grey, as wise as he was, did not divulge his plans for entering Mordor before he fell in Khazad-dûm. The two hobbits quickly become lost in Emyn Muil's tumbling crags and must accept the help of an unlikely and dangerous ally if they ever hope to reach the Black Gates and achieve their goal of destroying the Ring in the fiery chasms of Mount Doom.
Meanwhile Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are not about to abandon Merry and Pippin to Saruman's torture. They set off in pursuit of the Uruk-hai that captured them, chasing the new breed of orc through the rolling pastures of Rohan. But they quickly discover that all is not well in the Westfold and the mind of the land's once great king has fallen prey to Saruman's treacherous enchantments. Aragorn knows that the fight for Rohan is no less important than that for Gondar and it is in Helm's Deep, the ancient fortress of Helm Hammerhand, where the first blow against the world of men is struck in one of the greatest battles of the Age . . .
The Good
Once again, the depth and scale of Tolkien's beloved story is amazing. Tolkien continues to delve into the history and culture of Middle Earth, while outlying the struggles of the free peoples in two distinct parts, which feature Frodo and Sam in one, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in the other. Both parts are as captivating and full of peril and each other and I was quickly reminded of why The Two Towers was always my favourite instalment of The Lord of the Rings when I was younger!
The Bad
I have very few issues with The Two Towers and it is undeniably a masterful work of fantasy, but, once again, I did find it a bit dry in places and the level of Tolkien's description did slow the story down a bit. As I said in my review of The Fellowship of the Ring, however, this was the style of the era in which Tolkien wrote and is easy to forgive for such a captivating and well-loved story.
My Thoughts
The Two Towers is a deep and exciting sequel to The Fellowship of the Ring and continues The Lord of the Rings saga on in an epic manner. It's the best instalment of the trilogy in my opinion and many of the events it contains, such as that of Helm's Deep, are probably better known than many battles that actually happened in real life! It's certainly worthy of its place on my Shelf of Fame and I strongly suggest you try and give the series a go if you haven't already read it!
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Winter's Heart - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Still reeling from the failed assassination attempt on his life, Rand al'Thor is forced to flee his cities. He has broken off all contact with the lords, armies and peoples that serve him, but he is the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, and does not run blindly. Rand is determined to destroy those that thought to destroy him in Cairhien and lures them into a city where one cannot channel. Many have forgotten that al'Thor carries the mark of heron on his sword--the sign of a blademaster--but Rand still remembers the weight of steel in his hand. What's more, he still remembers what it's like to use saidin without feeling the Dark One's taint through the eidolon of Lews Therin Telamon. Rand intends to purify the One Power once he has dealt with the would-be assassins, although he knows he will not be able to accomplish such a feat without finally learning to trust the Aes Sedai that follow him . . .
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga with the superb prose and incredible detail I have come to expect from his books. Winter's Heart introduces several new cities to the story and uses their unique characteristics to deepen the mythology of his world. I particularly liked his concept of a city that was warded against the One Power, meaning that magic could not be wielded there in the conventional manner. The growth in the abilities of the main protagonists has been immense over the series thus far and many of them are now far more powerful that the prominent villains. This has taken some of the 'danger' from the books and enemies that were once feared have been struck down with relative ease in the recent instalments. By negating magic for much of Rand's storyline, Jordan has managed to recreate the sense of danger in the story and Rand becomes as vulnerable as he was in the early books!
The pace of this book is also much faster than the last few in the series, which is a refreshing change to the slower (although still addictively immersing) plotlines. I really get the feeling the a lot is going to happen over the next few books from the way Winter's Heart ended and I doubt I'll be disappointed!
The Bad
There was nothing I didn't like about Winter's Heart and Jordan seems to have finally got back on top of the pacing of his stories!
My Thoughts
Overall, Winter's Heart is an excellent book and reinforced, as have the previous eight novels in the series, why The Wheel of Time is such a well-known and acclaimed saga. It contains everything a fantasy addict needs to fall in love with it and is a shining example of the epic fantasy genre as its very best. The book is well worth a read if it's just sat on your bookshelf and if you haven't begun reading The Wheel of Time yet, it's high time you get The Eye of the World and begin one of the most epic adventure's you'll ever read!
Still reeling from the failed assassination attempt on his life, Rand al'Thor is forced to flee his cities. He has broken off all contact with the lords, armies and peoples that serve him, but he is the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, and does not run blindly. Rand is determined to destroy those that thought to destroy him in Cairhien and lures them into a city where one cannot channel. Many have forgotten that al'Thor carries the mark of heron on his sword--the sign of a blademaster--but Rand still remembers the weight of steel in his hand. What's more, he still remembers what it's like to use saidin without feeling the Dark One's taint through the eidolon of Lews Therin Telamon. Rand intends to purify the One Power once he has dealt with the would-be assassins, although he knows he will not be able to accomplish such a feat without finally learning to trust the Aes Sedai that follow him . . .
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga with the superb prose and incredible detail I have come to expect from his books. Winter's Heart introduces several new cities to the story and uses their unique characteristics to deepen the mythology of his world. I particularly liked his concept of a city that was warded against the One Power, meaning that magic could not be wielded there in the conventional manner. The growth in the abilities of the main protagonists has been immense over the series thus far and many of them are now far more powerful that the prominent villains. This has taken some of the 'danger' from the books and enemies that were once feared have been struck down with relative ease in the recent instalments. By negating magic for much of Rand's storyline, Jordan has managed to recreate the sense of danger in the story and Rand becomes as vulnerable as he was in the early books!
The pace of this book is also much faster than the last few in the series, which is a refreshing change to the slower (although still addictively immersing) plotlines. I really get the feeling the a lot is going to happen over the next few books from the way Winter's Heart ended and I doubt I'll be disappointed!
The Bad
There was nothing I didn't like about Winter's Heart and Jordan seems to have finally got back on top of the pacing of his stories!
My Thoughts
Overall, Winter's Heart is an excellent book and reinforced, as have the previous eight novels in the series, why The Wheel of Time is such a well-known and acclaimed saga. It contains everything a fantasy addict needs to fall in love with it and is a shining example of the epic fantasy genre as its very best. The book is well worth a read if it's just sat on your bookshelf and if you haven't begun reading The Wheel of Time yet, it's high time you get The Eye of the World and begin one of the most epic adventure's you'll ever read!
Sunday, 3 January 2016
Series Review: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
OVERALL RATING: FIVE STARS
AWARD: SHELF OF FAME
Harry Potter is just an ordinary boy, albeit a rather downtrodden one. After his parents were killed in a car accident while he was just a baby, he was sent to live with the Dursleys.' His uncle likes to think Harry doesn't exist, his aunty ignores him and the only attention his cousin, Dudley, gives him is to criticise or bully. Harry can't foresee his life getting better any time soon and was as surprised as any of his family when a letter arrives, addressed to Harry's cupboard under the stairs. It was a letter that changes everything and Harry learns that he is not an ordinary boy afterall. He is a wizard--just like his parents before him--and has been offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry!
Harry's life takes a dramatic change and he finds himself in a world where the magical and fantastic are mundane. He takes classes for transfiguration and potions, defence against the Dark Arts and charms. He learns how to fly on a broomstick and has the freedom of living in a boarding school. But, best of all, he has friends. It is not long before Harry meets Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, two fellow students that would fight at his side. For not all is at it seems at Hogwarts and Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived. Lord Voldemort is neither gone nor defeated and many of his old supporters escaped the wizard prison of Azkaban after the first war against He Who Must Not Be Named. Voldemort is determined to return to his full power and knows that Harry is the key to his success.
Plots circle Hogwarts like the tightening of a noose and every year sees Harry face perils that even a fully trained wizard or witch should not face. He learns courage and defiance in the face of evil as the gruesome truth of his parents murders come to light. But most of all, he learns that there is power in love and strength in the true, unwavering friendship of loyalty . . .
Book 1: Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone
Book 2: Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
Book 3: Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Book 4: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Book 5: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
Book 6: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
Book 7: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
The Good
The Harry Potter series needs little introduction and the fact that the franchise is one of the most successful children's series in history speaks for the quality of J. K. Rowling's work. Rowling writes each book with a vivid, fast-paced style that makes their reading effortless. She has managed to perfect the balance of events, dialogue and description, allowing her to produce a detailed, vibrant world to back-set her stories. I fell in love with the Harry Potter books ever since I began reading The Philosopher's Stone as a child, but I don't think this has biased my opinion of them in any way. They are unbelievably enjoyable to read and I did not become bored a single time! In fact, I read The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban within three days when I re-read the series last year!
One of the reasons the books are so good has to be due to Rowling's flair for characterisation. She has an uncanny ability to make her character's come alive and each one is completely unique. Furthermore, each character reads like a real person, where they have their own thoughts, personality, personal issues and motivation for their beliefs and actions. This helps the whole story seem more real somehow and really makes it easy to engage with the characters. I found I was invested in them and genuinely worried about them at that time when the books were still being released and nobody had any idea what would happen!
Rowling's whole concept of a secret magical world living alongside us 'Muggles' is also extremely well thought-out and she has invested a lot of time in developing their own culture, ways of doing things (including keeping the existence of magic and fantastic beasts secret) and how their society works. The locations of her story, such as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, have all been beautifully described which forms a solid foundation for the story. As well as this, Rowling has also constructed a very plausible ethos of magic that involves spells and potions. Many authors get carried away with magic and the power a person can have in their books, which isn't always a bad thing in all fairness, but Rowling's limitations on magic and the way it's performed makes it much more believable than it usually is. This basically forms the keystone of the story, one which helped me become truly immersed in the story. It's also clever how most of the spells that are used have their roots in Latin, which provides a very old and very real link back to our rather mundane world.
The last thing that makes the Harry Potter books truly great is the story itself. Each of the books has been beautiful written and is exciting and fast-paced. They are very difficult to put down and are an easy way to kill hours of time. The overall story arc is also fantastic and I really liked how it's simply a battle between good and evil. Obviously, Voldemort and his followers are agents of control and order, believing in the purity of the magic in very old families. Harry and those like him, believe in freedom and the right for anyone to live freely and without fear of persecution. This means that the books carry very powerful messages, such as the power of love and the value of loyalty and friendship. This concept is nothing new, but I think it adds weight to the story and Rowling has written the story extremely well to make sure the books contain powerful messages for children.
The Bad
To be honest, this heading is only here because of my format for reviews. There was nothing I didn't like about the Harry Potter books and they truly are masterpieces of the fantasy genre, being enjoyable for children and adults alike. They're exciting, well executed and show us a world that we've all secretly wished we were part of at one time or another.
My Thoughts
Overall then, the Harry Potter series is a stunning example of what fantasy can be when it's done well. J. K. Rowling has created a rich, detailed world that is in dire trouble. Her protagonists are relatable and plausible, helping to produce an exciting story that's difficult to put down. If you haven't read the Harry Potter books and are only familiar with the films, you really need to. These are books that have captured the imaginations of an entire generation and will probably be moulding minds for generations to come. Each one of these seven books is truly worthy of their place on my Shelf of Fame and I expect I'll re-read them again and again throughout my life.
AWARD: SHELF OF FAME
Harry Potter is just an ordinary boy, albeit a rather downtrodden one. After his parents were killed in a car accident while he was just a baby, he was sent to live with the Dursleys.' His uncle likes to think Harry doesn't exist, his aunty ignores him and the only attention his cousin, Dudley, gives him is to criticise or bully. Harry can't foresee his life getting better any time soon and was as surprised as any of his family when a letter arrives, addressed to Harry's cupboard under the stairs. It was a letter that changes everything and Harry learns that he is not an ordinary boy afterall. He is a wizard--just like his parents before him--and has been offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry!
Harry's life takes a dramatic change and he finds himself in a world where the magical and fantastic are mundane. He takes classes for transfiguration and potions, defence against the Dark Arts and charms. He learns how to fly on a broomstick and has the freedom of living in a boarding school. But, best of all, he has friends. It is not long before Harry meets Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, two fellow students that would fight at his side. For not all is at it seems at Hogwarts and Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived. Lord Voldemort is neither gone nor defeated and many of his old supporters escaped the wizard prison of Azkaban after the first war against He Who Must Not Be Named. Voldemort is determined to return to his full power and knows that Harry is the key to his success.
Plots circle Hogwarts like the tightening of a noose and every year sees Harry face perils that even a fully trained wizard or witch should not face. He learns courage and defiance in the face of evil as the gruesome truth of his parents murders come to light. But most of all, he learns that there is power in love and strength in the true, unwavering friendship of loyalty . . .
Book 1: Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone
Book 2: Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
Book 3: Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Book 4: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Book 5: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
Book 6: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
Book 7: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
The Good
The Harry Potter series needs little introduction and the fact that the franchise is one of the most successful children's series in history speaks for the quality of J. K. Rowling's work. Rowling writes each book with a vivid, fast-paced style that makes their reading effortless. She has managed to perfect the balance of events, dialogue and description, allowing her to produce a detailed, vibrant world to back-set her stories. I fell in love with the Harry Potter books ever since I began reading The Philosopher's Stone as a child, but I don't think this has biased my opinion of them in any way. They are unbelievably enjoyable to read and I did not become bored a single time! In fact, I read The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban within three days when I re-read the series last year!
One of the reasons the books are so good has to be due to Rowling's flair for characterisation. She has an uncanny ability to make her character's come alive and each one is completely unique. Furthermore, each character reads like a real person, where they have their own thoughts, personality, personal issues and motivation for their beliefs and actions. This helps the whole story seem more real somehow and really makes it easy to engage with the characters. I found I was invested in them and genuinely worried about them at that time when the books were still being released and nobody had any idea what would happen!
Rowling's whole concept of a secret magical world living alongside us 'Muggles' is also extremely well thought-out and she has invested a lot of time in developing their own culture, ways of doing things (including keeping the existence of magic and fantastic beasts secret) and how their society works. The locations of her story, such as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, have all been beautifully described which forms a solid foundation for the story. As well as this, Rowling has also constructed a very plausible ethos of magic that involves spells and potions. Many authors get carried away with magic and the power a person can have in their books, which isn't always a bad thing in all fairness, but Rowling's limitations on magic and the way it's performed makes it much more believable than it usually is. This basically forms the keystone of the story, one which helped me become truly immersed in the story. It's also clever how most of the spells that are used have their roots in Latin, which provides a very old and very real link back to our rather mundane world.
The last thing that makes the Harry Potter books truly great is the story itself. Each of the books has been beautiful written and is exciting and fast-paced. They are very difficult to put down and are an easy way to kill hours of time. The overall story arc is also fantastic and I really liked how it's simply a battle between good and evil. Obviously, Voldemort and his followers are agents of control and order, believing in the purity of the magic in very old families. Harry and those like him, believe in freedom and the right for anyone to live freely and without fear of persecution. This means that the books carry very powerful messages, such as the power of love and the value of loyalty and friendship. This concept is nothing new, but I think it adds weight to the story and Rowling has written the story extremely well to make sure the books contain powerful messages for children.
The Bad
To be honest, this heading is only here because of my format for reviews. There was nothing I didn't like about the Harry Potter books and they truly are masterpieces of the fantasy genre, being enjoyable for children and adults alike. They're exciting, well executed and show us a world that we've all secretly wished we were part of at one time or another.
My Thoughts
Overall then, the Harry Potter series is a stunning example of what fantasy can be when it's done well. J. K. Rowling has created a rich, detailed world that is in dire trouble. Her protagonists are relatable and plausible, helping to produce an exciting story that's difficult to put down. If you haven't read the Harry Potter books and are only familiar with the films, you really need to. These are books that have captured the imaginations of an entire generation and will probably be moulding minds for generations to come. Each one of these seven books is truly worthy of their place on my Shelf of Fame and I expect I'll re-read them again and again throughout my life.
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
The Fellowship of the Ring - J. R. R. Tolkien
RATING: FOUR STARS
When young Frodo Baggins inherits Bag End and a strange ring of invisibility from Bilbo, his eccentric uncle, he pays no mind to it and settles down for the quiet life of a respectable hobbit. Little does he know the significance of the ring and that his possession of it will lead to a dark and arduous adventure. For the ring is none other than the Ring of Power itself and the dark lord Sauron has returned to Middle Earth. His thought is bent on finding the Ring and his only lead as to its whereabouts comes from the creature Gollum. Searching for 'Baggins' in the 'Shire,' Sauron's Ringwraiths speed from Minas Morgal to seize it for their master.
Frodo is forced to flee his home in the Shire and is determined to bring the Ruling Ring before Elrond in Rivendell as Gandalf the Grey instructed. Yet even delivering the Ring to a sanctuary deemed safe is not enough and Frodo is the only one the quarrelling Free Races trust to carry it forth and forever destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Frodo becomes one of the Nine Walkers to oppose the Nine Riders and, with the help of Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Legolas, Gimili, Merry, Pippin and Sam, means to end Sauron forever.
The Good
So where do I start here?! The Lord of the Rings is still one of the finest works of fantasy ever written and it has a depth to it that has inspired an entire genre. J. R. R. Tolkien is the grandfather of fantasy and The Fellowship of the Ring is a reflection of that. The mythology behind it, the cultures of the races, the history of Middle Earth... The scope of all of these things is staggering and no other author has come close to it as of yet. This book has inspired every generation since it was published, which speaks for the story's enduring quality! It is superbly written and is filled with detail and back-stories that an avid fan can literally lose months of their life reading about.
Furthermore, it's exciting and full of peril. The quest to destroy the Ring truly "stands upon the edge of a knife" and the Fellowship has to give everything of itself for the quest to succeed. I'm sure most people have seen Peter Jackson's stunning film, so I don't really need to go into the plot and characters too much - you all know what it's about!
The Bad
Criticising The Fellowship of the Ring feels like blasphemy, but, to be brutally honest, it was written in a time where authors emphasised description over dialogue and events. The book is quite dry in places and doesn't make for the easiest, page-turning read. In fact, Tolkien spends the first part of the book constructing a very detailed backstory which can get a little stale at times.
My Thoughts
The Fellowship of the Ring is a little dry and over-descriptive at times, but don't let that put you off reading it. It's worth every dry page and the scope of Tolkien's story is simply mind blowing. It really is like you're reading a story from a real world, with a long established history, and the fact that it has birthed the entire genre is evidence enough of its mastery. It's more than worthy of its place on my Shelf of Fame and is a must read for anyone who has only seen the film.
When young Frodo Baggins inherits Bag End and a strange ring of invisibility from Bilbo, his eccentric uncle, he pays no mind to it and settles down for the quiet life of a respectable hobbit. Little does he know the significance of the ring and that his possession of it will lead to a dark and arduous adventure. For the ring is none other than the Ring of Power itself and the dark lord Sauron has returned to Middle Earth. His thought is bent on finding the Ring and his only lead as to its whereabouts comes from the creature Gollum. Searching for 'Baggins' in the 'Shire,' Sauron's Ringwraiths speed from Minas Morgal to seize it for their master.
Frodo is forced to flee his home in the Shire and is determined to bring the Ruling Ring before Elrond in Rivendell as Gandalf the Grey instructed. Yet even delivering the Ring to a sanctuary deemed safe is not enough and Frodo is the only one the quarrelling Free Races trust to carry it forth and forever destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Frodo becomes one of the Nine Walkers to oppose the Nine Riders and, with the help of Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Legolas, Gimili, Merry, Pippin and Sam, means to end Sauron forever.
The Good
So where do I start here?! The Lord of the Rings is still one of the finest works of fantasy ever written and it has a depth to it that has inspired an entire genre. J. R. R. Tolkien is the grandfather of fantasy and The Fellowship of the Ring is a reflection of that. The mythology behind it, the cultures of the races, the history of Middle Earth... The scope of all of these things is staggering and no other author has come close to it as of yet. This book has inspired every generation since it was published, which speaks for the story's enduring quality! It is superbly written and is filled with detail and back-stories that an avid fan can literally lose months of their life reading about.
Furthermore, it's exciting and full of peril. The quest to destroy the Ring truly "stands upon the edge of a knife" and the Fellowship has to give everything of itself for the quest to succeed. I'm sure most people have seen Peter Jackson's stunning film, so I don't really need to go into the plot and characters too much - you all know what it's about!
The Bad
Criticising The Fellowship of the Ring feels like blasphemy, but, to be brutally honest, it was written in a time where authors emphasised description over dialogue and events. The book is quite dry in places and doesn't make for the easiest, page-turning read. In fact, Tolkien spends the first part of the book constructing a very detailed backstory which can get a little stale at times.
My Thoughts
The Fellowship of the Ring is a little dry and over-descriptive at times, but don't let that put you off reading it. It's worth every dry page and the scope of Tolkien's story is simply mind blowing. It really is like you're reading a story from a real world, with a long established history, and the fact that it has birthed the entire genre is evidence enough of its mastery. It's more than worthy of its place on my Shelf of Fame and is a must read for anyone who has only seen the film.
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FIVE STARS
Dumbledore has fallen and the Order of the Phoenix has all but broken. None other than the treacherous Death Eater, Severus Snape, is now the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and Harry Potter knows that his life will be forfeit if he should return to study there. Even if that was not the case, he knows that he has something much more important to do than continue with his magical education: Dumbledore entrusted him with what is perhaps the most important task of the age and, along with his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must find and destroy each of Voldemort's Horcruxes. Harry is the Boy Who Lived and fate has prophesied that he must face Voldemort, for neither can live while the other survives.
Harry's task borders on the impossible and he's forced to become a fugitive on the run from Voldemort's Death Eaters and the Ministry of Magic, which the Dark Lord now controls. His life becomes challenging and full of danger, but Harry knows that he must face the adversity before him with a stout heart if he is to defeat Voldemort and finally put an end to his subjugation and terror campaign.
The Good
The Deathly Hallows is an interesting, exciting book that is certainly unique among the Harry Potter series. This is largely because Harry doesn't actually return to Hogwarts this year and most of the book involves his roaming of the British countryside. That being said, the book isn't boring in the slightest and it's as exciting as any of its predecessors, maybe even more so!
J. K. Rowling has proven her unparalleled ability to bring her characters to life once again and they are as real and engaging as ever. As well as adding to the scope and enjoyment of the story, this makes the inevitable deaths in the war against Voldemort all that more tragic and it's extremely difficult to read about the passing of characters that I kind of regard as actual friends!
I also particularly liked Rowling's epilogue, where she describes Harry and his wife, Ginny Weasley, dropping their children off at Platform Nine and Three Quarters so they can board the Hogwarts Express. This provides a nice little tease for what happens after the story and it's nice to know that even after all of the pain and death in the series as a whole, there is a happy ending at the end of it. I also like the way this scene continues the story forward via the new generation of students at Hogwarts and leaves room for the imagination to delve into what is happening at the school and what it would be like to study there yourself (which I think is one thing we've all secretly done and probably has a role in the series enormous success). It's also nice how Rowling doesn't actually say what Harry did after he defeated Lord Voldemort, leaving this open to the reader's interpretation. I like to think that Harry's seventh year at Hogwarts was so disrupted that he--along with his friends and the other students that were forced to flee the school for their lives--were allowed back to complete their education (where Professor Mcgonagall is the new headmistress), finally having a year of peace where evil doesn't rear its dark head. Once Harry graduated Hogwarts with his N.E.W.T.s, I've always liked the idea that he's so sick of fighting and war he sets aside his ambitions to be an auror in favour of the coveted life of a professional Quidditch player. Once his sporting career invariably wound down, I like to imagine Harry becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, working in Hogwarts alongside his friend Neville Longbottom. Obviously, this is just how I like to imagine 'what comes after' and everyone will have their own ideas!
The Bad
Once again, Rowling's storytelling is excellent and The Deathly Hallows is the perfect ending to an outstanding series of fantasy and adventure that highlights the importance of friendship and love! I have just one fault with the book and that is it being the final instalment of the series! Don't get me wrong and Rowling concludes it perfectly, but I'm always disappointed that my great Harry Potter adventure is over and I have to find something else to read . . .
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the perfect ending to Rowling's world renown series and I can't stress how good a job she has done with it. It's a real page turner, just like the other Harry Potter books and is a must read for anyone - Harry Potter is a definite must for anyone's education and should be added to your reading list immediately if you are only familiar with the series through the films.
Dumbledore has fallen and the Order of the Phoenix has all but broken. None other than the treacherous Death Eater, Severus Snape, is now the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and Harry Potter knows that his life will be forfeit if he should return to study there. Even if that was not the case, he knows that he has something much more important to do than continue with his magical education: Dumbledore entrusted him with what is perhaps the most important task of the age and, along with his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must find and destroy each of Voldemort's Horcruxes. Harry is the Boy Who Lived and fate has prophesied that he must face Voldemort, for neither can live while the other survives.
Harry's task borders on the impossible and he's forced to become a fugitive on the run from Voldemort's Death Eaters and the Ministry of Magic, which the Dark Lord now controls. His life becomes challenging and full of danger, but Harry knows that he must face the adversity before him with a stout heart if he is to defeat Voldemort and finally put an end to his subjugation and terror campaign.
The Good
The Deathly Hallows is an interesting, exciting book that is certainly unique among the Harry Potter series. This is largely because Harry doesn't actually return to Hogwarts this year and most of the book involves his roaming of the British countryside. That being said, the book isn't boring in the slightest and it's as exciting as any of its predecessors, maybe even more so!
J. K. Rowling has proven her unparalleled ability to bring her characters to life once again and they are as real and engaging as ever. As well as adding to the scope and enjoyment of the story, this makes the inevitable deaths in the war against Voldemort all that more tragic and it's extremely difficult to read about the passing of characters that I kind of regard as actual friends!
I also particularly liked Rowling's epilogue, where she describes Harry and his wife, Ginny Weasley, dropping their children off at Platform Nine and Three Quarters so they can board the Hogwarts Express. This provides a nice little tease for what happens after the story and it's nice to know that even after all of the pain and death in the series as a whole, there is a happy ending at the end of it. I also like the way this scene continues the story forward via the new generation of students at Hogwarts and leaves room for the imagination to delve into what is happening at the school and what it would be like to study there yourself (which I think is one thing we've all secretly done and probably has a role in the series enormous success). It's also nice how Rowling doesn't actually say what Harry did after he defeated Lord Voldemort, leaving this open to the reader's interpretation. I like to think that Harry's seventh year at Hogwarts was so disrupted that he--along with his friends and the other students that were forced to flee the school for their lives--were allowed back to complete their education (where Professor Mcgonagall is the new headmistress), finally having a year of peace where evil doesn't rear its dark head. Once Harry graduated Hogwarts with his N.E.W.T.s, I've always liked the idea that he's so sick of fighting and war he sets aside his ambitions to be an auror in favour of the coveted life of a professional Quidditch player. Once his sporting career invariably wound down, I like to imagine Harry becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, working in Hogwarts alongside his friend Neville Longbottom. Obviously, this is just how I like to imagine 'what comes after' and everyone will have their own ideas!
The Bad
Once again, Rowling's storytelling is excellent and The Deathly Hallows is the perfect ending to an outstanding series of fantasy and adventure that highlights the importance of friendship and love! I have just one fault with the book and that is it being the final instalment of the series! Don't get me wrong and Rowling concludes it perfectly, but I'm always disappointed that my great Harry Potter adventure is over and I have to find something else to read . . .
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the perfect ending to Rowling's world renown series and I can't stress how good a job she has done with it. It's a real page turner, just like the other Harry Potter books and is a must read for anyone - Harry Potter is a definite must for anyone's education and should be added to your reading list immediately if you are only familiar with the series through the films.
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FIVE STARS
After Harry Potter's epic mishap at the Ministry of Magic at the end of his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witcraft & Wizardry, the wizarding world is now aware of Lord Voldemort's return. The erstwhile Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has been dismissed for trying to ignore and cover the problem up instead of dealing with it and Harry is once again considered a hero. Yet it is too little, too late and Voldemort has not been idle in his secrecy. He has seized more power than many dare to realise and is as dangerous as ever.
So it is with a heavy heart that Harry returns to school for his sixth year of study. Aside from his worries concerning the Dark Lord and his advancement to N.E.W.T. studies, he has learnt that Professor Severus Snape has finally managed to procure the position of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and will he will be taking over Harry's favourite classes! Yet Professor Dumbledore has finally taken more of interest in Harry's studies and has invited him to special lessons in which he reveals just why Lord Voldemort is such a dangerous adversary. Before he took on the mantle of the Dark Lord and changed his name, Tom Riddle did something unspeakable and split his soul into a number of Horcruxes that effectively make him immortal and immune to physical death. Dumbledore reveals that each of these Horcruxes must be found and destroyed before the Dark Lord can fall in a task that will prove to be less than easy . . .
The Good
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince continues J. K. Rowling's precedent of darker writing and delves deeper into Voldemort's ever tightening control of the wizarding world. Murder, torture and mysterious disappearances are now common place and have even begun to affect the Muggle world, in what proves to be an interesting development where Rowling reveals, without doubt, that the Muggle Prime Minister of Britain is aware of the existence of magic and its secretive communities! This adds as nice depth to the story and it's really beginning to sink home just how dangerous Voldemort is and how dark the times are becoming.
Rowling also uses this book to reveal more about Snape's mysterious background and why, or why not, he may actually be helping Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix to resist Voldemort's new regime. This is a great insight into one of the more complicated characters in her world and it's fun, especially if you're new to the story, applying this to Snape in an effort to work out whether he is actually good or evil!
The Bad
Yet again, there is nothing to criticise with Rowling's story and she has done as fantastic a job as ever!
My Thoughts
J. K. Rowling writes the penultimate instalment of the great Harry Potter adventure with her typical talent of vivid storytelling, engaging characters that seem like real people and page-turning events. The book, as is the series as a whole, is a true testament to the fantasy genre and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike - there's really no reason not to read it!
After Harry Potter's epic mishap at the Ministry of Magic at the end of his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witcraft & Wizardry, the wizarding world is now aware of Lord Voldemort's return. The erstwhile Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has been dismissed for trying to ignore and cover the problem up instead of dealing with it and Harry is once again considered a hero. Yet it is too little, too late and Voldemort has not been idle in his secrecy. He has seized more power than many dare to realise and is as dangerous as ever.
So it is with a heavy heart that Harry returns to school for his sixth year of study. Aside from his worries concerning the Dark Lord and his advancement to N.E.W.T. studies, he has learnt that Professor Severus Snape has finally managed to procure the position of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and will he will be taking over Harry's favourite classes! Yet Professor Dumbledore has finally taken more of interest in Harry's studies and has invited him to special lessons in which he reveals just why Lord Voldemort is such a dangerous adversary. Before he took on the mantle of the Dark Lord and changed his name, Tom Riddle did something unspeakable and split his soul into a number of Horcruxes that effectively make him immortal and immune to physical death. Dumbledore reveals that each of these Horcruxes must be found and destroyed before the Dark Lord can fall in a task that will prove to be less than easy . . .
The Good
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince continues J. K. Rowling's precedent of darker writing and delves deeper into Voldemort's ever tightening control of the wizarding world. Murder, torture and mysterious disappearances are now common place and have even begun to affect the Muggle world, in what proves to be an interesting development where Rowling reveals, without doubt, that the Muggle Prime Minister of Britain is aware of the existence of magic and its secretive communities! This adds as nice depth to the story and it's really beginning to sink home just how dangerous Voldemort is and how dark the times are becoming.
Rowling also uses this book to reveal more about Snape's mysterious background and why, or why not, he may actually be helping Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix to resist Voldemort's new regime. This is a great insight into one of the more complicated characters in her world and it's fun, especially if you're new to the story, applying this to Snape in an effort to work out whether he is actually good or evil!
The Bad
Yet again, there is nothing to criticise with Rowling's story and she has done as fantastic a job as ever!
My Thoughts
J. K. Rowling writes the penultimate instalment of the great Harry Potter adventure with her typical talent of vivid storytelling, engaging characters that seem like real people and page-turning events. The book, as is the series as a whole, is a true testament to the fantasy genre and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike - there's really no reason not to read it!
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FOUR STARS
After the fiasco of the Triwizard Tournament at the end of his forth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Harry Potter was involved in a terrible incident that saw the death of fellow champion Cedric Diggory and the Lord Voldemort's rebirth! Yet none but Professor Dumbledore are keen to believe Harry's tale and, worse still, Cornelius Fudge (the Minister of Magic) believes Voldemort's apparent rise is a plot of Dumbledore's to seize power. Fudge is desperate to cover the whole thing up and has begun a vicious slander campaign at Harry and Dumbledore's expense. Fudge has even gone as far as appointing Dolores Umbridge as the Hogwarts 'High Inquisitor,' a position he has invented to control the spread of rumours at Hogwarts itself!
Yet Fudge's closed-minded fear does not deter Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster is busy at work and re-establishes the Order of the Phoenix - a secretive group that is dedicated to defeating Voldemort and his campaign of terror whatever the cost. Harry is quickly drawn into the group and must use all of his wits if he is to survive his fifth year of study and ready himself, friends and peers for the war to come . . .
The Good
The Order of the Phoenix is the point where the Harry Potter story begins to grow darker and J. K. Rowling's writing becomes more gritty as she delves into the atrocities Lord Voldemort is committing as he gathers new and old Death Eaters alike to his cause. Rowling has put a lot of thought into the story and it is more a tale of intrigue like the early novels in the story were. I found the twists and turns of this book very exciting to read and she's really beginning to set the precedent for later instalments of the series.
Rowling has also done a brilliant job with Umbridge's 'love to hate' character. Umbridge is truly a despicable woman and her actions frequently left me seething to rage, even though Umbridge cannot be called 'evil' in the same way as Voldemort and his followers are. Yet there are different shades of darkness and Umbridge is certainly not good or innocent!
The Bad
Once again there is nothing to fault with this book per se and the only issue I have with it is a bit of upset involving one of my favourite characters and a certain, mysterious archway . . .
My Thoughts
The Order of the Phoenix continues the Harry Potter series in a darkening instalment that finally sees Lord Voldemort return to power and begin preparations for a new war to purify wizard-kind. It's exciting, superbly written and is almost impossible to put down!
After the fiasco of the Triwizard Tournament at the end of his forth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Harry Potter was involved in a terrible incident that saw the death of fellow champion Cedric Diggory and the Lord Voldemort's rebirth! Yet none but Professor Dumbledore are keen to believe Harry's tale and, worse still, Cornelius Fudge (the Minister of Magic) believes Voldemort's apparent rise is a plot of Dumbledore's to seize power. Fudge is desperate to cover the whole thing up and has begun a vicious slander campaign at Harry and Dumbledore's expense. Fudge has even gone as far as appointing Dolores Umbridge as the Hogwarts 'High Inquisitor,' a position he has invented to control the spread of rumours at Hogwarts itself!
Yet Fudge's closed-minded fear does not deter Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster is busy at work and re-establishes the Order of the Phoenix - a secretive group that is dedicated to defeating Voldemort and his campaign of terror whatever the cost. Harry is quickly drawn into the group and must use all of his wits if he is to survive his fifth year of study and ready himself, friends and peers for the war to come . . .
The Good
The Order of the Phoenix is the point where the Harry Potter story begins to grow darker and J. K. Rowling's writing becomes more gritty as she delves into the atrocities Lord Voldemort is committing as he gathers new and old Death Eaters alike to his cause. Rowling has put a lot of thought into the story and it is more a tale of intrigue like the early novels in the story were. I found the twists and turns of this book very exciting to read and she's really beginning to set the precedent for later instalments of the series.
Rowling has also done a brilliant job with Umbridge's 'love to hate' character. Umbridge is truly a despicable woman and her actions frequently left me seething to rage, even though Umbridge cannot be called 'evil' in the same way as Voldemort and his followers are. Yet there are different shades of darkness and Umbridge is certainly not good or innocent!
The Bad
Once again there is nothing to fault with this book per se and the only issue I have with it is a bit of upset involving one of my favourite characters and a certain, mysterious archway . . .
My Thoughts
The Order of the Phoenix continues the Harry Potter series in a darkening instalment that finally sees Lord Voldemort return to power and begin preparations for a new war to purify wizard-kind. It's exciting, superbly written and is almost impossible to put down!
Monday, 2 November 2015
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FOUR STARS
Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardry promises to be his most exciting one yet. True, the inter-house Quidditch league has been cancelled this year, but this is due to the fact that Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament - a competition that hasn't been seen for a terribly long count of years! The representatives of Durmstrang Institute are arriving for the competition from Scandanavia, along with those from the French, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
Each of the the three world renown magical schools will have a champion chosen by the Goblet of Fire, who will compete against each other throughout a series of dangerous and possibly fatal challenges for the glory of their school. Yet there are those who seek to ruin harmless fun and twist it to their own purposes. Even as Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum are chosen as champions, so is Harry Potter in a mysterious and unprecedented violation of the tournament's rules! Yet Harry is bound by magical contract to compete, despite his fears and those of Albus Dumbledore that something sinister is afoot . . .
The Good
The Goblet of Fire is one of the most exciting instalments of the series so far and has several interesting aspects to its story. The first is the feature of the Quidditch World Cup (which was sadly left out of the adapted movie), which sees Harry and the Weasley family travel via portkey to see Ireland play Bulgaria somewhere in the English countryside. As well as being fun and novel to read about, it gives a nice introduction to Krum, the early activities of Voldemort's Death Eater's and builds an essential backstory to the 'Triwizard Conspiracy' as a whole.
As well as the beginning, the Triwizard challenges are also great fun to read about and J. K. Rowling has detailed Harry's anxiety and misgivings about competing well. I admit that although I am a fan of Quidditch of the matches Rowling describes, Gryffindor winning almost every match can get a bit repetitive. The absence of the school's league in this book helps give a nice break from it and means it's even better in the next book when it all kicks off again!
The Bad
Once again, I have nothing to fault with the book and Rowling has done a fantastic job bringing her world and characters to life!
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire is one of the most exciting and unique books in the series and continues Rowling's story in the same manner of literacy excellence as its forebearers. The characters are lively and realistic, it's exciting and Rowling writes with a vivid, flowing style that makes the book almost impossible to put down!
Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardry promises to be his most exciting one yet. True, the inter-house Quidditch league has been cancelled this year, but this is due to the fact that Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament - a competition that hasn't been seen for a terribly long count of years! The representatives of Durmstrang Institute are arriving for the competition from Scandanavia, along with those from the French, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
Each of the the three world renown magical schools will have a champion chosen by the Goblet of Fire, who will compete against each other throughout a series of dangerous and possibly fatal challenges for the glory of their school. Yet there are those who seek to ruin harmless fun and twist it to their own purposes. Even as Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum are chosen as champions, so is Harry Potter in a mysterious and unprecedented violation of the tournament's rules! Yet Harry is bound by magical contract to compete, despite his fears and those of Albus Dumbledore that something sinister is afoot . . .
The Good
The Goblet of Fire is one of the most exciting instalments of the series so far and has several interesting aspects to its story. The first is the feature of the Quidditch World Cup (which was sadly left out of the adapted movie), which sees Harry and the Weasley family travel via portkey to see Ireland play Bulgaria somewhere in the English countryside. As well as being fun and novel to read about, it gives a nice introduction to Krum, the early activities of Voldemort's Death Eater's and builds an essential backstory to the 'Triwizard Conspiracy' as a whole.
As well as the beginning, the Triwizard challenges are also great fun to read about and J. K. Rowling has detailed Harry's anxiety and misgivings about competing well. I admit that although I am a fan of Quidditch of the matches Rowling describes, Gryffindor winning almost every match can get a bit repetitive. The absence of the school's league in this book helps give a nice break from it and means it's even better in the next book when it all kicks off again!
The Bad
Once again, I have nothing to fault with the book and Rowling has done a fantastic job bringing her world and characters to life!
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire is one of the most exciting and unique books in the series and continues Rowling's story in the same manner of literacy excellence as its forebearers. The characters are lively and realistic, it's exciting and Rowling writes with a vivid, flowing style that makes the book almost impossible to put down!
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FIVE STARS
Harry Potter has just finished his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That year was a dangerous time and saw several attacks on muggle-born students when an eidolon of Lord Voldemort opened the fabled Chamber of Secrets. Harry played a large role in saving the school and, as the summer holidays draw to a close, he's hoping for a quieter year.
Yet fate seems to have its own ideas and the notorious murderer Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban. Harry doesn't know why, but the Ministry of Magic has suddenly taken an unprecedented interest in his personal safety and he soon comes to suspect that the murderer may be connected with his past and the first war against Lord Voldemort. Harry and the staff of Hogwarts are on high alert, but Black has his own ideas and was a master trouble-maker when he studied there, knowing several ways into the school's grounds that even Dumbledore doesn't know exist . . .
The Good
The Prisoner of Azkaban was always my favourite Harry Potter book when I was growing up and that certainly hasn't changed now. Re-reading the story was very nostalgic and I quickly lost myself in Rowling's wonderful world of magic and imagination. Once again, Rowling's story is excellent, being well-paced and properly developed. Her characters are as dynamic and realistic as ever and the book doesn't lack for excitement.
One of the other things I really liked about this book is how it goes into Harry Potter's past and Rowling has begun to build a backstory for Harry's origins, of his parents and the first war against Lord Voldemort that is critical to the overall series, but is also fun and interesting to read about.
The Bad
Once again, there is nothing I didn't like about this book and even the hardest critic would struggle for negative points. Despite being a children's book, it still stands up to an adult's mind and is a real gem for all ages of reader alike.
My Thoughts
The Prisoner of Azkaban is a superb instalment of the Harry Potter series and did not disappoint me. The book is exciting and full of all the magic and characterisation that first made me fall in love the series all those years ago . . .
Harry Potter has just finished his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That year was a dangerous time and saw several attacks on muggle-born students when an eidolon of Lord Voldemort opened the fabled Chamber of Secrets. Harry played a large role in saving the school and, as the summer holidays draw to a close, he's hoping for a quieter year.
Yet fate seems to have its own ideas and the notorious murderer Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban. Harry doesn't know why, but the Ministry of Magic has suddenly taken an unprecedented interest in his personal safety and he soon comes to suspect that the murderer may be connected with his past and the first war against Lord Voldemort. Harry and the staff of Hogwarts are on high alert, but Black has his own ideas and was a master trouble-maker when he studied there, knowing several ways into the school's grounds that even Dumbledore doesn't know exist . . .
The Good
The Prisoner of Azkaban was always my favourite Harry Potter book when I was growing up and that certainly hasn't changed now. Re-reading the story was very nostalgic and I quickly lost myself in Rowling's wonderful world of magic and imagination. Once again, Rowling's story is excellent, being well-paced and properly developed. Her characters are as dynamic and realistic as ever and the book doesn't lack for excitement.
One of the other things I really liked about this book is how it goes into Harry Potter's past and Rowling has begun to build a backstory for Harry's origins, of his parents and the first war against Lord Voldemort that is critical to the overall series, but is also fun and interesting to read about.
The Bad
Once again, there is nothing I didn't like about this book and even the hardest critic would struggle for negative points. Despite being a children's book, it still stands up to an adult's mind and is a real gem for all ages of reader alike.
My Thoughts
The Prisoner of Azkaban is a superb instalment of the Harry Potter series and did not disappoint me. The book is exciting and full of all the magic and characterisation that first made me fall in love the series all those years ago . . .
Friday, 9 October 2015
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FOUR STARS
Harry Potter is very different from other teenagers, mainly because the summer holidays are his least favourite time of the year and he dreads having to spend those hot months with the Dursley's in Private Drive. For Harry Potter is not like normal boys. He is a wizard and spends most of his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the fantastic has common place,
And so he waits patiently in the muggle world for his second year at Hogwarts to begin, excited and full of anticipation. But Harry soon finds that not all is what it seems this year at Hogwarts and old forces that are full of chicanery are at play. The Chamber of Secret's has been opened for the first time in 50 years. The deadly monster that lives there has been unleashed and it is set on but course: to continue the iniquity of Salazar Slytherin and purify Hogwarts of all muggle-born students . . .
The Good
J. K. Rowling continues her Harry Potter series with a fantastic book that's full of suspense and intrigue as she unravels the mystery of a sinister plot. She has established the events well and even leaves clues throughout the book as to what exactly is going on, which are fairly obvious if you already know the story beforehand and is yet another example of how clever her writing is. Rowling has stayed true to the dogma she established in The Philosopher's Stone and the book is bursting with magic and imagination in every page!
Rowling's characterisation is simply superb and she had an uncanny way of bringing her world and characters to life. Her prose style is very light and flows easily meaning that I read chapter after chapter without stopping for a break as I do in some 'heavier' works that require more concentration. I think this is largely due to the fact that the series is aimed for children and young adults, but, her colourful writing and characters make the book just as enjoyable for adults!
The Bad
Like I said before, this is Harry Potter . . . What could be bad about it?!
My Thoughts
The Chamber of Secrets continues Harry Potter's great Hogwart's adventure in a vivid, page-turning style and makes a great instalment to the acclaimed series. Rowling has shown once again why her books have been so successfully and I had a lot of nostalgic fun reading this book!
Harry Potter is very different from other teenagers, mainly because the summer holidays are his least favourite time of the year and he dreads having to spend those hot months with the Dursley's in Private Drive. For Harry Potter is not like normal boys. He is a wizard and spends most of his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the fantastic has common place,
And so he waits patiently in the muggle world for his second year at Hogwarts to begin, excited and full of anticipation. But Harry soon finds that not all is what it seems this year at Hogwarts and old forces that are full of chicanery are at play. The Chamber of Secret's has been opened for the first time in 50 years. The deadly monster that lives there has been unleashed and it is set on but course: to continue the iniquity of Salazar Slytherin and purify Hogwarts of all muggle-born students . . .
The Good
J. K. Rowling continues her Harry Potter series with a fantastic book that's full of suspense and intrigue as she unravels the mystery of a sinister plot. She has established the events well and even leaves clues throughout the book as to what exactly is going on, which are fairly obvious if you already know the story beforehand and is yet another example of how clever her writing is. Rowling has stayed true to the dogma she established in The Philosopher's Stone and the book is bursting with magic and imagination in every page!
Rowling's characterisation is simply superb and she had an uncanny way of bringing her world and characters to life. Her prose style is very light and flows easily meaning that I read chapter after chapter without stopping for a break as I do in some 'heavier' works that require more concentration. I think this is largely due to the fact that the series is aimed for children and young adults, but, her colourful writing and characters make the book just as enjoyable for adults!
The Bad
Like I said before, this is Harry Potter . . . What could be bad about it?!
My Thoughts
The Chamber of Secrets continues Harry Potter's great Hogwart's adventure in a vivid, page-turning style and makes a great instalment to the acclaimed series. Rowling has shown once again why her books have been so successfully and I had a lot of nostalgic fun reading this book!
Monday, 28 September 2015
Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone - J. K. Rowling
RATING: FIVE STARS
Harry Potter is a normal boy, even if he is a bit downtrodden by the aunt and uncle he lives with. Harry's life at 10 Private Drive leaves much to be wanted: he is bullied by his family, forced to live in the cupboard under the stairs and has very few possessions, let alone friends! You can imagine Harry's surprise when he is visited by a giant of a man, a man who claims he is the grounds keeper for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
For Harry is a wizard and his mundane life becomes one of spectacular imagination in an instant. Not only does he have magical powers which he can hone in one of the best wizarding schools in the world, but he quickly finds out that he's a celebrity. Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived, surviving not a car crash as the Dursley's had told him, but being murdered by Lord Voldemort himself--the most powerful and evil sorcerer who has ever lived!
Yet not all of the attention Harry receives is for the best and, aside from new friends, he draws the eye of an evil that has been in hiding for the past 11 years. This evil, which should not be named, has its attention fixed on Harry, Hogwarts and a rare artificial of unimaginable power that is being hidden there--the philosopher's stone . . .
The Good
I grew up on Harry Potter as a child, being lucky enough to be at that perfect age when J. K. Rowling was actually writing them for my age! I remember falling in love with her characters and world from the first few pages of The Philosopher's Stone and reading this again (after about 10 years) was very nostalgic. What really impressed me though, was the sheer number of things I had missed or taken for granted as a child and I had forgotten what a talented writer Rowling actually is. Her characterisation and dialogue is simply stunning and she created a whole host of unique, believable characters that can easily be related to in a staggeringly short amount of time.
What's more, is now I know what's going to happen in the series (as I imagine you do), I was amazed at how ever clever Rowling's writing is. The book is filled with hints and clues to not only what's going to happen at the end of the first, but hints at what is going to happen in later books! Rowling clearly knew exactly where the series was going right from the start, which only adds to the depth of the world and proves the ability of her writing!
I don't really need to talk about the quality of the story here, since you'll be more than familiar with it, but why not? The Philosopher's Stone is an exciting book that's full of magic and imagination. It quickly drew me into the hidden world of wizards and witches and has left me with many day dreams of being a wizard at Hogwarts myself! This book is as good a reads for adults as it is for children and leaves the reader wanting for very little!
The Bad
It's a Harry Potter book . . . What more needs to be said?!
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone starts what is undoubtedly one of the greatest modern series in fantasy. The fact that it's so loved speaks as a testament to its quality and, if you're more familiar with the films than the books, it's high time you read them. Rowling writes with a fun, enjoyable style that you just breeze through and you can have read a dozen chapters before realising it. The book (and series as a whole) has a prized place on my Shelf of Fame and is truly deserving of that status!
Harry Potter is a normal boy, even if he is a bit downtrodden by the aunt and uncle he lives with. Harry's life at 10 Private Drive leaves much to be wanted: he is bullied by his family, forced to live in the cupboard under the stairs and has very few possessions, let alone friends! You can imagine Harry's surprise when he is visited by a giant of a man, a man who claims he is the grounds keeper for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
For Harry is a wizard and his mundane life becomes one of spectacular imagination in an instant. Not only does he have magical powers which he can hone in one of the best wizarding schools in the world, but he quickly finds out that he's a celebrity. Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived, surviving not a car crash as the Dursley's had told him, but being murdered by Lord Voldemort himself--the most powerful and evil sorcerer who has ever lived!
Yet not all of the attention Harry receives is for the best and, aside from new friends, he draws the eye of an evil that has been in hiding for the past 11 years. This evil, which should not be named, has its attention fixed on Harry, Hogwarts and a rare artificial of unimaginable power that is being hidden there--the philosopher's stone . . .
The Good
I grew up on Harry Potter as a child, being lucky enough to be at that perfect age when J. K. Rowling was actually writing them for my age! I remember falling in love with her characters and world from the first few pages of The Philosopher's Stone and reading this again (after about 10 years) was very nostalgic. What really impressed me though, was the sheer number of things I had missed or taken for granted as a child and I had forgotten what a talented writer Rowling actually is. Her characterisation and dialogue is simply stunning and she created a whole host of unique, believable characters that can easily be related to in a staggeringly short amount of time.
What's more, is now I know what's going to happen in the series (as I imagine you do), I was amazed at how ever clever Rowling's writing is. The book is filled with hints and clues to not only what's going to happen at the end of the first, but hints at what is going to happen in later books! Rowling clearly knew exactly where the series was going right from the start, which only adds to the depth of the world and proves the ability of her writing!
I don't really need to talk about the quality of the story here, since you'll be more than familiar with it, but why not? The Philosopher's Stone is an exciting book that's full of magic and imagination. It quickly drew me into the hidden world of wizards and witches and has left me with many day dreams of being a wizard at Hogwarts myself! This book is as good a reads for adults as it is for children and leaves the reader wanting for very little!
The Bad
It's a Harry Potter book . . . What more needs to be said?!
My Thoughts
Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone starts what is undoubtedly one of the greatest modern series in fantasy. The fact that it's so loved speaks as a testament to its quality and, if you're more familiar with the films than the books, it's high time you read them. Rowling writes with a fun, enjoyable style that you just breeze through and you can have read a dozen chapters before realising it. The book (and series as a whole) has a prized place on my Shelf of Fame and is truly deserving of that status!
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells
RATING: FIVE STARS
Earth is a planet rich in resources. Its pristine oceans and verdant lands glitter upon it like facets on a spinning jewel. It has air to breath, water that falls as rain and heat from the nearby Sun. Humanity is blessed, unlike another race whose world died eons ago. The Martians covet Earth and have been studying it for countless generations, analysing our strengths and weaknesses. Planning and plotting to take what humanity has and make it theirs.
It is in the Nineteenth Century that the Martians finally commence their attack and launch their war machines upon mankind, a race who has never seen anything like them nor has anything to match them. The countryside of Southern England is soon over-run, its denizens blasted from their quiet lives by Martian heat rays and instruments of death.
One man is stuck in the midst of this carnage, lost from his wife and all those he has ever called friend. The man must take risks and use every thread of intelligence he has if he is survive the day and tell his tale of the Martian invaders and how he evaded them . . .
The Good
The War of the Worlds is certainly deserving of its fame and I found the book nearly impossible to put down. H. G. Wells has excelled once again and has produced a story of terrifying ambition and scope. Wells has really thought about the technology of the Martians and the weapons they bring to bear, thoroughly explaining how they use such weapons tactically throughout the book.
The main protagonist (who, as ever with Wells, isn't named in the story) is easy to like and I really got the sense that he has no idea what to do and is merely surviving through the common sense and intelligence we all have. The characters the protagonist meets through his journey are as interesting as him and really come across as individuals, coping with the carnage around them is different ways as people would in real life.
The Bad
Nothing. There's nothing I didn't like about The War of the Worlds.
My Thoughts
The War of the Worlds is undoubtedly a timeless classic of science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and H. G. Wells has proved himself a master of the genre yet again, producing a truly masterful novel. It has a proud place on my Shelf of Fame and is a must read for all of you readers out there! Especially now it can be bought from Amazon as an ebook for virtually nothing!
Earth is a planet rich in resources. Its pristine oceans and verdant lands glitter upon it like facets on a spinning jewel. It has air to breath, water that falls as rain and heat from the nearby Sun. Humanity is blessed, unlike another race whose world died eons ago. The Martians covet Earth and have been studying it for countless generations, analysing our strengths and weaknesses. Planning and plotting to take what humanity has and make it theirs.
It is in the Nineteenth Century that the Martians finally commence their attack and launch their war machines upon mankind, a race who has never seen anything like them nor has anything to match them. The countryside of Southern England is soon over-run, its denizens blasted from their quiet lives by Martian heat rays and instruments of death.
One man is stuck in the midst of this carnage, lost from his wife and all those he has ever called friend. The man must take risks and use every thread of intelligence he has if he is survive the day and tell his tale of the Martian invaders and how he evaded them . . .
The Good
The War of the Worlds is certainly deserving of its fame and I found the book nearly impossible to put down. H. G. Wells has excelled once again and has produced a story of terrifying ambition and scope. Wells has really thought about the technology of the Martians and the weapons they bring to bear, thoroughly explaining how they use such weapons tactically throughout the book.
The main protagonist (who, as ever with Wells, isn't named in the story) is easy to like and I really got the sense that he has no idea what to do and is merely surviving through the common sense and intelligence we all have. The characters the protagonist meets through his journey are as interesting as him and really come across as individuals, coping with the carnage around them is different ways as people would in real life.
The Bad
Nothing. There's nothing I didn't like about The War of the Worlds.
My Thoughts
The War of the Worlds is undoubtedly a timeless classic of science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and H. G. Wells has proved himself a master of the genre yet again, producing a truly masterful novel. It has a proud place on my Shelf of Fame and is a must read for all of you readers out there! Especially now it can be bought from Amazon as an ebook for virtually nothing!
Sunday, 9 August 2015
The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Release Date of Ridley Scott's 'The Martian' Is Announced!
The Martian by Andy Weir is one of my favourite books ever and is firmly placed on my Shelf of Fame. It's not just me who has recognised its quality and the book was actually voted the best science fiction novel of 2014 in the Goodreads Choice Awards! Without going into too much detail, which can be read in my review, the story outlines the struggles of Mark Watney when he is stranded alone on Mars. Presumed dead by his ship-mates, NASA and the peoples of Earth, Watney must use the scant resources available to him to produce food, water, oxygen and, ultimately, find a way to send a message back home . . .
You can understand then why I was excited to learn that Ridley Scott had taken an interest in the book when he announced that he would be adapting The Martian into a feature-length movie staring Matt Damon as Mark Watney. The book will undoubtedly adapt well to a film and it's original release date of March 2016 has recently been moved forward to 25th Novemeber 2015! This is a huge announcement for science fiction fans and Scott's The Martian will probably be one of the biggest sci fi films of the year! If you don't believe me, there's plenty of time to grab a copy of the book and see for yourself before the film is released!
Scott has now released the official trailer for the movie, along with two teaser trailers to wet our appetites:
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