Hi y'all!
I'll be with family and travelling a lot in the next two weeks. I'll post again as soon as all of that is done.
I hope you all have safe and fun holiday celebrations coming up!
Happy Holidays!!
- Mini-Geek Girl
Friday, December 20, 2013
Saturday, December 14, 2013
The Deed of Paksenarrion
Genre: Fantasy
Subgenre: soldiers, kings, battles, elves
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Recommended for my sister: Yes
"Do I have to say?...Yes, for good." - Paksenarrion
The Deed of Paksennarrion is a Tolkien-esque adventure, complete with quests, elder races and evil plots. Paksenarrion leaves home to avoid marrying a farmer who had been promised her hand by her father. After a fight with her father, she leaves home and heads to the nearest town, hoping to catch up with a mercenary recruiting company. After hearing about her cousin's journeys, she decides that she wants to follow her dreams of being a famous warrior and starts her journey with Duke Phelan's company. The story starts the real plot development with the trials that come with being a new recruit within the company, including her disappointments with having to do camp chores.
The story that follows shows Paks growing into herself, and learning about the things that are most important to her. Along the way, she learns of the different races within the realm, becomes friends with some elves, and stumbles upon a small village that will become a strange home-like focal point for her life. While Paks is distinguishing herself among others in the land, she slows becomes aware of long-laid plots that are aimed to dooming another country, and battling internally about her own responsibilities in the matter. The Deed of Paksenarrion is a combination of three novels in one, each a high adventure with both triumph and pain alike.
-----
For all that the Anita Blake books are my favorite series, The Deed of Paksenarrion is probably my favorite book. It was actually my sister who provided it. I read the copy she gave me enough that I had to buy a second one, as the pages were falling out. I now, thankfully, have the e-version and I can read it without care.
I never finished Lord of the Rings. When I tried to read it when I was younger, I couldn't get past how long it was. Honestly, I don't know that I could read it now. I don't need Lord of the Rings, though, when I have The Deed of Paksenarrion with me. There aren't really any direct parallels between the two stories, with the exception of the presence of dwarves, elves, orcs and other creatures. The important lessons probably have some similarities - but that's true of most epic novels. My mother frequently complains about my reading fantasy novels, but maybe I should sit her down with this one. The morals of the story are hugely affecting. Watching the hardships that Paks has to face, and her responses to them (good and bad), really develop a sense of compassion. Of course, there is a part of me cheering her on every time she prevails. If this were The Neverending Story, I would be Bastien and Paks would be my Atreyu.
-----
Coming Soon: Mercy Thompson
Special Note: With the holiday season coming up, I can't guarantee how often the posts will come up. It's entirely possible that there won't be any until I'm done with the holidays! Happy Holidays!
Subgenre: soldiers, kings, battles, elves
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Recommended for my sister: Yes
"Do I have to say?...Yes, for good." - Paksenarrion
The Deed of Paksennarrion is a Tolkien-esque adventure, complete with quests, elder races and evil plots. Paksenarrion leaves home to avoid marrying a farmer who had been promised her hand by her father. After a fight with her father, she leaves home and heads to the nearest town, hoping to catch up with a mercenary recruiting company. After hearing about her cousin's journeys, she decides that she wants to follow her dreams of being a famous warrior and starts her journey with Duke Phelan's company. The story starts the real plot development with the trials that come with being a new recruit within the company, including her disappointments with having to do camp chores.
The story that follows shows Paks growing into herself, and learning about the things that are most important to her. Along the way, she learns of the different races within the realm, becomes friends with some elves, and stumbles upon a small village that will become a strange home-like focal point for her life. While Paks is distinguishing herself among others in the land, she slows becomes aware of long-laid plots that are aimed to dooming another country, and battling internally about her own responsibilities in the matter. The Deed of Paksenarrion is a combination of three novels in one, each a high adventure with both triumph and pain alike.
-----
For all that the Anita Blake books are my favorite series, The Deed of Paksenarrion is probably my favorite book. It was actually my sister who provided it. I read the copy she gave me enough that I had to buy a second one, as the pages were falling out. I now, thankfully, have the e-version and I can read it without care.
I never finished Lord of the Rings. When I tried to read it when I was younger, I couldn't get past how long it was. Honestly, I don't know that I could read it now. I don't need Lord of the Rings, though, when I have The Deed of Paksenarrion with me. There aren't really any direct parallels between the two stories, with the exception of the presence of dwarves, elves, orcs and other creatures. The important lessons probably have some similarities - but that's true of most epic novels. My mother frequently complains about my reading fantasy novels, but maybe I should sit her down with this one. The morals of the story are hugely affecting. Watching the hardships that Paks has to face, and her responses to them (good and bad), really develop a sense of compassion. Of course, there is a part of me cheering her on every time she prevails. If this were The Neverending Story, I would be Bastien and Paks would be my Atreyu.
-----
Coming Soon: Mercy Thompson
Special Note: With the holiday season coming up, I can't guarantee how often the posts will come up. It's entirely possible that there won't be any until I'm done with the holidays! Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Black Jewels Trilogy - Anne Bishop
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Subgenre: demons, witches, otherworlds
Age Appropriate: Adult (or possible mature younger adult - R?)
Recommended for my sister: Yes
"The difference is that he recognized it." - Jaenelle
In the realms of the Blood, there are different ranks of Jewels. Each member of the blood has two jewels - one Birthright and one post-Ceremony. The higher ranker jewels mean higher power. Added to that, women are the major powers. No matter what level two people might share, if one is female than she has more power and more control. The society is based on Blood power, and worshipping Queens. As centuries have passed, the number of higher ranked jewels is starting to dwindle and those in power have become highly corrupted. In the human living realm, the Queens are all but slave drivers using dark entertainments to pass the time, and treating powerful Warlord Princes as toys in their evil schemes.
The Black Jewels Trilogy follows a very dark coming-of-age tale of a young lady named Jaenelle. The story begins when she's 12, and hiding some scary secrets. The tale is told from three different perspectives: Lucivar Yaslana, Saeten and Daemon. Each of these men are related to each other, but their relationships to Jaenelle are very different. Jaenelle's frightening tale spans the three realms, and within those realms and the relationships she develops. It is up to the people in her life to help Jaenelle find her path between pain and happiness. The path she chooses will change the world.
-----
Dark is the best description that I can come up with this series. It's heartbreaking almost the whole way through. It is a powerful story, though. The twist on the realms versus the traditional understanding of humans vs. demons, and earth vs. hell, is creative. Even the plan on character names add a little something to the story. The little twists here and there remove the series from some of the more blatant traditions for this sort of storyline, and it succeeds. There are other novels that come after the story. They are all somewhat stand-alone, but the series foundation is fairly necessary. I'm struggling to give too much information in this review because so much of the beginning story development is in the first book alone. Either way, I believe it is completely worth it, if you can handle it. Heh.
-----
Forward: The Deed of Paksenarrion
Subgenre: demons, witches, otherworlds
Age Appropriate: Adult (or possible mature younger adult - R?)
Recommended for my sister: Yes
"The difference is that he recognized it." - Jaenelle
In the realms of the Blood, there are different ranks of Jewels. Each member of the blood has two jewels - one Birthright and one post-Ceremony. The higher ranker jewels mean higher power. Added to that, women are the major powers. No matter what level two people might share, if one is female than she has more power and more control. The society is based on Blood power, and worshipping Queens. As centuries have passed, the number of higher ranked jewels is starting to dwindle and those in power have become highly corrupted. In the human living realm, the Queens are all but slave drivers using dark entertainments to pass the time, and treating powerful Warlord Princes as toys in their evil schemes.
The Black Jewels Trilogy follows a very dark coming-of-age tale of a young lady named Jaenelle. The story begins when she's 12, and hiding some scary secrets. The tale is told from three different perspectives: Lucivar Yaslana, Saeten and Daemon. Each of these men are related to each other, but their relationships to Jaenelle are very different. Jaenelle's frightening tale spans the three realms, and within those realms and the relationships she develops. It is up to the people in her life to help Jaenelle find her path between pain and happiness. The path she chooses will change the world.
-----
Dark is the best description that I can come up with this series. It's heartbreaking almost the whole way through. It is a powerful story, though. The twist on the realms versus the traditional understanding of humans vs. demons, and earth vs. hell, is creative. Even the plan on character names add a little something to the story. The little twists here and there remove the series from some of the more blatant traditions for this sort of storyline, and it succeeds. There are other novels that come after the story. They are all somewhat stand-alone, but the series foundation is fairly necessary. I'm struggling to give too much information in this review because so much of the beginning story development is in the first book alone. Either way, I believe it is completely worth it, if you can handle it. Heh.
-----
Forward: The Deed of Paksenarrion
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Thanksgiving Holiday
Happy Sunday!
I was actually with family celebrating this week, so I'm going to give myself a once-in-a-lifetime break from posting. Actually, I'd expect something similar to happen at Christmas. For now, another post will be up next week.
I'm not sure what the exact schedule will be. Not so easy to read a lot during the week. I'll figure something out eventually.
-MGG
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Anita Blake - Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance?
Subgenre: Vampire, werewolves, zombies
Age Appropriate: Adults, especially as the series progresses
Recommended for my sister: YES
"I proved what I needed to prove to myself a long time ago. I don't care what you think." - Anita
It all begins with a lonely, young hardheaded woman with a special affinity for the dead. Anita Blake is an animator, a person who can raise zombies from the grave. Part of her "day job" is literally to raise zombies from the grace, for a variety a reasons. She works for a firm - Animators, Inc. - with a business manager and other animators. It's her "day job" because she can only raise zombies at night, but it is still her main working position. At least, it is in the beginning.
Anita has a secondary job, one that is much more intense, and calls more for the hardheaded stubbornness she becomes known for. She's a vampire executioner. With lots of training and skill, she's become one of the most notorious vampire hunters in the United States, at least among the vampires. Her kill count eventually breaches the numbers of all of the others in her field, and earns her the disdainful nickname The Executioner.
The series, now at 23 books, follows the beginning of Anita's illustrious career, a mix of zombies, preternatural police assistance, and vampire hunting. In the first few books, she adds romance to her daily struggles, switching between a closeted werewolf and a disturbingly (but sexy) master vampire. Each book adds, or removes, some layer of new and old relationships while exploring Anita's reluctance to fit any type of defined love in her life - both because of her personal convictions about supernaturals and her own personal values.
------
I won't lie. I decided to review this book first because its my favorite series of all time. I also want to be upfront with the high level of smut that has found its way into a number of books. In the first few books of the series, there was a high level of focus on the actual storyline, and character development for everyone involved. It definitely sucked me in, and I became such a fan that I spent most of my life from that one day in the used bookstore, until last month, waiting patiently for each book to be released. However, somewhere in the middle the books turned into some softcore bowchicawowow that leads me to make sure this series was titled "Adult." It really wasn't that way for the first part of the series, which was good since I was a pre-teen. It wasn't until later that it was a little over the top. Luck for me (and you?) I don't mind over the top. Ha.
I love the Anita books. They are a great escape for me, and almost every character is some level of sexy, but no lacking major issues. It's not that I want everyone to have major issues, but those issues make her hot male leads seems a little more human (or whatever part of them is human). I enjoyed watching her rail against her love life, but I have to say that I most enjoyed the actual storylines. My favorite character is, by far, Edward - Anita's obvious best friend and vampire bounty hunter guru. Anita's character development includes the changes in her attitudes to more align with Edward's and her interal struggles into turning into a sociopath. If anyone is more dangerous than Anita, it's Edward - nicknamed Death. My favorite books are the ones where Edward shows up. As soon as he's on the scene, you know you're in for some good action scenes and funny banter.
Recommendation: Obviously, yes. I sucked my sister into these a long time ago. I think she may have stopped when LKH took her break from "real" writing and fell into the pit of softcore dispair, but I totally dug it. Read it again, sister!
-----
Next Up: Black Jewels Trilogy
Subgenre: Vampire, werewolves, zombies
Age Appropriate: Adults, especially as the series progresses
Recommended for my sister: YES
"I proved what I needed to prove to myself a long time ago. I don't care what you think." - Anita
It all begins with a lonely, young hardheaded woman with a special affinity for the dead. Anita Blake is an animator, a person who can raise zombies from the grave. Part of her "day job" is literally to raise zombies from the grace, for a variety a reasons. She works for a firm - Animators, Inc. - with a business manager and other animators. It's her "day job" because she can only raise zombies at night, but it is still her main working position. At least, it is in the beginning.
Anita has a secondary job, one that is much more intense, and calls more for the hardheaded stubbornness she becomes known for. She's a vampire executioner. With lots of training and skill, she's become one of the most notorious vampire hunters in the United States, at least among the vampires. Her kill count eventually breaches the numbers of all of the others in her field, and earns her the disdainful nickname The Executioner.
The series, now at 23 books, follows the beginning of Anita's illustrious career, a mix of zombies, preternatural police assistance, and vampire hunting. In the first few books, she adds romance to her daily struggles, switching between a closeted werewolf and a disturbingly (but sexy) master vampire. Each book adds, or removes, some layer of new and old relationships while exploring Anita's reluctance to fit any type of defined love in her life - both because of her personal convictions about supernaturals and her own personal values.
------
I won't lie. I decided to review this book first because its my favorite series of all time. I also want to be upfront with the high level of smut that has found its way into a number of books. In the first few books of the series, there was a high level of focus on the actual storyline, and character development for everyone involved. It definitely sucked me in, and I became such a fan that I spent most of my life from that one day in the used bookstore, until last month, waiting patiently for each book to be released. However, somewhere in the middle the books turned into some softcore bowchicawowow that leads me to make sure this series was titled "Adult." It really wasn't that way for the first part of the series, which was good since I was a pre-teen. It wasn't until later that it was a little over the top. Luck for me (and you?) I don't mind over the top. Ha.
I love the Anita books. They are a great escape for me, and almost every character is some level of sexy, but no lacking major issues. It's not that I want everyone to have major issues, but those issues make her hot male leads seems a little more human (or whatever part of them is human). I enjoyed watching her rail against her love life, but I have to say that I most enjoyed the actual storylines. My favorite character is, by far, Edward - Anita's obvious best friend and vampire bounty hunter guru. Anita's character development includes the changes in her attitudes to more align with Edward's and her interal struggles into turning into a sociopath. If anyone is more dangerous than Anita, it's Edward - nicknamed Death. My favorite books are the ones where Edward shows up. As soon as he's on the scene, you know you're in for some good action scenes and funny banter.
Recommendation: Obviously, yes. I sucked my sister into these a long time ago. I think she may have stopped when LKH took her break from "real" writing and fell into the pit of softcore dispair, but I totally dug it. Read it again, sister!
-----
Next Up: Black Jewels Trilogy
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Since the beginning…..
A long long time ago, when I was younger, I picked up my first urban fantasy novel. I was with my father and my sister on a father-daughter camping trip, when we stopped in some unknown town for a break. While I knew that I was always some sort of wierdo when it came to those types of interests, it is my strongest literary memory.
I remember picking up the book, reading the synopsis and wanting to read it right away. I also knew that I wasn't about to ask my father to buy it for his 12-year-old daughter. So, I ran to my sister and asked her to buy it for me. Of course, she did. I am incredibly spoiled, and I admit it. The funny part was that she didn't understand what the book was, and I'm fairly certain she had some reservations buying me a book titled "Guilty Pleasures."
It was my first Laurell K. Hamilton book, and the beginning of the end. I read it at least three times on that trip and I've read it at least 50 times since - along with every other book that I've been able to get my hands on.
Needless to say, my sister was relieved when she realized it was vampires. She often indulged my obsessions with vampires, were animals, witches…etc. In my adventures of elves to angels, my sister has also been my favorite person to trade books back and forth. I frequently send her emails now whenever I finish something good. Since the beginning of the e-book trend, we no longer trade real books (and spend more money!) but the fun hasn't stopped.
So, I decided the other day to start this blog with my sister in mind. It's not that I believe she'll become an avid reader of my blog, but I wanted to share my thoughts on those books that might be fun for the both of us. I mean, if we both think they might be good, then someone else will, right?
(Maybe I can convince her to help me write some reviews!)
We shall see.
I remember picking up the book, reading the synopsis and wanting to read it right away. I also knew that I wasn't about to ask my father to buy it for his 12-year-old daughter. So, I ran to my sister and asked her to buy it for me. Of course, she did. I am incredibly spoiled, and I admit it. The funny part was that she didn't understand what the book was, and I'm fairly certain she had some reservations buying me a book titled "Guilty Pleasures."
It was my first Laurell K. Hamilton book, and the beginning of the end. I read it at least three times on that trip and I've read it at least 50 times since - along with every other book that I've been able to get my hands on.
Needless to say, my sister was relieved when she realized it was vampires. She often indulged my obsessions with vampires, were animals, witches…etc. In my adventures of elves to angels, my sister has also been my favorite person to trade books back and forth. I frequently send her emails now whenever I finish something good. Since the beginning of the e-book trend, we no longer trade real books (and spend more money!) but the fun hasn't stopped.
So, I decided the other day to start this blog with my sister in mind. It's not that I believe she'll become an avid reader of my blog, but I wanted to share my thoughts on those books that might be fun for the both of us. I mean, if we both think they might be good, then someone else will, right?
(Maybe I can convince her to help me write some reviews!)
We shall see.
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