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.
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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.
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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
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