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Oct 16, 2009

Book Review - To Light A Candle

As I said I would do, I'm x-posting some of my old Book Reviews from Myspace to here.  This was originally written in February of 2007.

To Light A Candle by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

The second book in the Obsidian Trilogy, I'm currently rereading it and enjoying it as much as I did the first time. It has Mercedes Lackey's usual well developed characters, a story that draws you in quite quickly and takes traditional Fantasy faves like Elves and Dragons and gives them their own small spin. It also looks at magic in different ways while keeping everything nice and cohesive.

This book contains your usual main Fantasy ingredient, the battle between good and evil, coupled with a young man's journey to adulthood while dealing with the relationships of the people around him and the effect war has on them. Like so much that Mercedes writes, though, she manages to take what may seem familiar and make it new and interesting for the reader.

I'm normally quite a Mercedes fan but even putting aside that slight bias, I have to say that this is a good book and an enjoyable series. I'm looking forward to the next book, When Darkness Falls as soon as I can hunt it down. The books themselves are thicker than her normal size so the story lasts longer and gives you a longer read to enjoy. The first book of the series is called The Outstretched Shadow for those thinking to read this series. I recommend it.

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Having completed this entire series since writing this review, I can happily say that the whole trilogy is worth a read.  The climatic end battle between Good and Evil has some beautiful visuals, great use of the traditional creature characters such as Elves, Dragons, Unicorns and Wizards and some unexpected moments that keep you on your toes.  It is a thoroughly enjoyable read that should fit well with lovers of traditional and epic fantasy elements.  Where the book I previously reviewed, The Shadow Queen, has a darker, more complicated and more centralized story, this series has a much grander scope and softer writing style that makes it an easier read while still being a very enjoyable story.

Oct 13, 2009

Book Review - The Shadow Queen

At one time, I used Myspace on a somewhat regular basis and posted blogs and comments as the whim took me. Along with these were review on books I read, since I tend to read a great deal. I've decided to start doing those again, here instead of on Myspace since it sits unused these days, and I will probably look at transferring some of those previous writings here.

I guess that, besides just wanting to share the enjoyment of a book, I hope sometimes that the reviews will help others find new stories and authors and their own enjoyment of them.

Now, that being said, I just completed a new book from one of my favorite authors.

In her initial series, known as The Black Jewels trilogy, Anne Bishop created a deeply fascinating world where power, good or bad, is classified by darkness instead of light, where those with Power are wrapped in a heavily detail dance of caste and Protocol and they are meant to be care takers of the land and all those that live in it. Of course, sometimes things go wrong and what was once good is corrupted and tainted by those wishing to warp it for their own pleasure.

That series details the hope for things to be cleansed and put right. The book I just finished, The Shadow Queen, takes place two years after the events of the first series and shows the effects and how people react. Left to pick up the pieces of their world, the people of a Territory called Dena Nehele have to rebuild their lives and make choices they haven't been given in many, many generations. And they need a leader, a Queen who is strong and just and cares about the land and its people, who can help lead them back to a better time.

As beautifully written as her others books, The Shadow Queen was difficult to put down. While many of the favorite characters from the trilogy were very present, they were not the main focus but the story was just as captivating. Also, this book works incredibly well because it ties in with another book written as a prequel to the trilogy, The Invisible Ring, and shows what has become of the land and the descendants of those depicted in THAT book.

Everything ties together so beautifully and the whole series is very much worth a read. This book just adds another beautifully written piece to an already amazing story puzzle.

As a final word, I would say have a look at the other books that this author has written as well. Her House of Gaian trilogy and Landscapes of Ephemera duology are just as amazing. I really can't say enough good about her and I look forward to more books from Anne Bishop; she can't put them out fast enough for my liking!


Oct 9, 2009

Updates & Reviews - How To Be Hero!

Wow, just realized it's been nearly a month since I have updated this. It's been a weird but busy month, I have to say. There's been a few things of note but not sure what all I'm going to mention here...think I might keep this short or just move onto some reviews I need to do. Yah, reviews sound pretty good!

A couple weeks back, I had some friends over for a movie night and we watched a selection of fun and somewhat quirky films. Among the selection were the independent film Ten Inch Hero and an odd family flick from the early 90's known as Airborne.

Now, I watched Airborne when I was just a kid in school and I loved it. It was funny, it was light hearted and it's heavily based around hockey and rollerblading...two things I love. The last 15 - 20 minutes of the film is taken up with a hardcore downhill rollerblade race between two rival teams and is probably the most entertaining part of the film to watch.

The star of the film is Shane McDermott as the teen Californian surfie, Mitchell Goosen, forced to spend 6 months in Cincinnati, Ohio with his aunt, uncle and cousin Wiley...a very dorky cousin played by a very young Seth Green. Going from sunny California to snow-locked Cincinnati is hard to begin with but he also ends up on the wrong side of the local jocks (including one named Augie, played by Jack Black) who decide to make Mitchell's life a living hell. The only thing that ends up making life a little easier for him is meeting a girl from school, Nikki. That is, until he finds out she's the sister of the head jock/meat head making his life hell.

Mitchell has to win back the girl after some stupid things said, survive his new high school, help out his dorky cousin and try to get on the good side of the jocks who hate him. Antics ensue but it all turns out in the end when the two teams go head to head on 'The Devil's Backbone' race and the jocks ask Mitchell to skate with them.

It's pretty schlocky and coated with a thick layer of 'cheese' but it's cute and fun at the same time. VERY 90's teen film. As I said, best part of the film is the race at the end, especially since all the stunts and blading effects were done by Team Rollerblade. Good film to get if you need a filler rental with some cheesy laughs and the chance to see now famous actors looking painfully young.

AIRBORNE


And then there's Ten Inch Hero.

Originally created as an independent film and never given a cinema release, this quiet little flick has a huge cult-like following and has now made it's way onto dvd release. Something well deserved because this is a well written, interesting film that seems to appeal to just about everybody.

Taking place in Santa Cruz, CA and centering around a quirky little sandwich shop, the story brings together a diverse group of interesting characters who, you eventually realize, all have a some sort of problem regarding image and perception of people. It has a lot of elements that one would find in a 'chick-flick' but the humor laced through the whole plot, and the way the different characters interact, make it a much more interesting and well rounded film.

The main plot is driven from the POV of Piper, a young woman who moves to Santa Cruz to be closer to a young girl she thinks might be the daughter she gave away for adoption. She gets a job at the sandwich shop where she meets quiet and unassuming Jen (Clea Duvall), sexy and vivacious Tish (Danneel Harris), mohawked and unorthodox Priestly (Jensen Ackles) and the mellow hippie Trucker (John Doe) who owns the shop and is secretly in love with Zo (Alice Krige). The young girl's father, Noah is played by Sean Patrick Flanery.

Friendships are made, secrets are revealed and, through it all, Priestly's mohawk color changes as often as the wacky shirts he wears. I really do recommend this as a must watch, though it may not be a film for a younger audience as there are some sexual scenes and rough language.

As a last note, I'll point out that those I have shown this film to...all with a rather wide range of movie tastes...have all said that it is one that would watch again and most likely add to their personal collections. :)

P.S. I am still VERY much in love with my new cell phone! Just FYI. :)

Ten Inch Hero (Unrated)