Tag: Fantasy

Cannot be explained.

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The Forever Man by Eoin Colfer

The Forever Man is book #3 in the middle grade fantasy Warp Trilogy written by well-known Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series.

 

Riley, a fifteen-year-old, lives in Victorian London as a magician. In book #1, he defeated his murderous master Albert Garrick, with the help of Chevie Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent who travelled back in a time pod.

Garrick, who had been banished in a wormhole for two hundred years, vowed to return and seek revenge on Riley. Garrick returns in book #3 with wormhole caused mutations that enable him to seem immortal.

Garrick lures Riley (and Chevie) to a prison under false pretences to see Riley’s long-lost brother. After the three are swept inadvertently into another wormhole, they end up in a puritan village in 1649. Due to the wormhole spitting out many horrific mutations to the village in the past, the villagers are fearful and Garrick is known by previous visits, as the witch hunter and protector.

Chevie is caught and is to be burned at the stake for being a witch, but Riley breaks free from his entrapment. With the help of a few new characters, Pointer (an FBI mutant who is a dog), Fairbrother Isles (another FBI agent), and the ghost of Professor Smart (the scientist who created the wormhole), Riley devises a plan to save Chevie. But they also must save humanity before Garrick destroys the wormhole.

 

 

Pros

 

  • As in the previous two books in the trilogy, Eoin Colfer’s incomparable style pulls the reader in with his wit and the lure of fast-paced action.
  • Garrick is a well-developed antagonist, and I found myself fascinated/horrified at his actions, as I would have been watching a black widow catching a bug in slow motion. He reminded me of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the joker in Batman, The Dark Knight.
  • The romantic attachment between the Riley and Chevie is at the core of the story, so the reader is more invested in the outcome.
  • Each character he introduces is unique and identifiable.

 

Cons

 

  • By this time, I was more or less used to the omniscient POV, although at times I still found it irritating to be jumping back and forth so quickly between the heads.
  • This story is classified as MG, however I feel that there was too much violence and the style was slightly confusing for most readers of that age group.
  • The scientific details on the wormhole and how humanity was going to be obliterated by the destruction of the wormhole was not clearly explained. I never did quite understand that.
  • Chevie in this story seemed to lack her zeal and powerful persona that she possessed in the previous books. She was more or less just a maiden in distress that needed to be saved. I was disappointed in her role.

 

 

Final Word

 

I quite enjoyed this final book, and I feel of the three, it was the best.  I still enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series better, but this was a close second. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Eoin Colfer, but I would caution that it is a bit more dark and technical to be regarded as MG.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is categorized as a Young Adult fantasy by its publisher.  However, it should be classified as New Adult based on the age of its protagonist (19), sexual content, and graphic violence. 

I was on the fence about giving this book a two-star review or a three-star review; however, in our star rating description (on the Home page), a three-star review must be “a decent read.” Based on the content, I do not think it meets that criterion.  In good conscience, I cannot recommend this book. 

Synopsis​

Feyre is a young, human woman who kills a wolf while attempting to find food for her starving family. She soon discovers that she killed (and skinned) a faerie in disguise, and the cost of her unwitting crime is her life—life in the faerie world of Prythian as the property of Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court. And it goes downhill from there.

It’s not that the world-building isn’t superb. The writing is far above par. But what’s billed as being a “. . . blend of action, romance, and witty banter as well as a sexier, edgier tone” by the School Library Journal is, in retrospect, a pandering slosh through unbelievable attraction and unexciting action.

Maas, the beloved author of The Throne of Glass series, seems to be laboring to make it work in this uninspiring book. This is Twilight meets Beauty and the Beast, set in the cruel and sadistic world of the legend of Tamlin. All the elements are there: the (much) older supernatural male and the (crazily attractive) young female who spark off one another the moment they meet; the curse only the female can break; the cruel faerie queen; Lumiere—Lucien—the witty matchmaker; Alis, the helpful housekeeper; and finally, there is Rhysand, the Jacob wannabe.

Pros:

Maas is a master world-builder.  Wow. As a writer and editor, I appreciate the luxurious prose.

The cover is pretty. Love the map.

The main character is loyal to a fault for the first half of the book. I could al-most like Feyre at the beginning of the tale, but then she loses her way.

Cons:

Feyre establishes her street cred as a sexually-active young woman by acknowledging her casual rolls in the hay with a local man when she needs to escape reality. This relationship is entirely meaningless in the scope of the story and trite, like an item that must be marked off a characterization checklist: “Main character must not be a virgin.” Check.

Her first “sexual” encounter with Tamlin is after he has taken part in a rite of spring (um, I’m trying to keep it PG) and comes back to the mansion all crazy. He bites her on the neck, and the reader is supposed to think it’s hot. Smashing a woman against the wall and biting her is assault. This is very disappointing in any book, but especially so in a book marketed to teen girls. Bloomsbury USA Children cannot claim otherwise; as of this writing, the novel is #19 on Amazon in Books>Teens>Romance> Fantasy.

Yes, Tamlin and Feyre eventually get together in bed. He’s so five-hundred-plus-years-old, and she’s so nineteen. To be absolutely fair, she (spoiler) is no longer a human when this takes place, though they’ve been diggin’ each beforehand.

Tamlin and Feyre are not as likable as the sidekick, Lucien, or even the ruffian, Rhysand. About that checklist: “Make main characters likable.” If you are going to write a kick-butt heroine, she cannot also be too stupid to live. If you are going to write a swoon-worthy hero, he cannot be abusive or controlling. Not ever.

The High Lords, including Tamlin, are practically gods (little g) with powers beyond imagination. They are immortal (mostly). As is common in faerie tales, the faeries in this story are amoral creatures, doing whatever seems best at the time. Tamlin is considered a Goody Two-Shoes by his peers.

The crisis of curse and cruelty takes place in Queen Amarantha’s court, and it goes on forever. Maas holds nothing back, churning out one hundred pages of torture and sexual innuendo. Again, the frail human is somehow the key to defeating the evil queen. The girl is also seemingly irresistible to male faeries. Why? I kept thinking of Bella in Twilight and her effect on an entire school of boys. Talk about fantasy!

Later, to save her life, Feyre strikes a deal with another High Lord, Rhysand, to stay with him one week every month for the rest of her life. His expectations are obvious. I suppose she has to “pay up” in Book 2, but that doesn’t matter to me since I won’t be reading it.

Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Sexy and romantic.” Sexy? Too much so. Romantic? Nah.  And that’s too bad because I’m a sucker for romance.

This book contains so much violence that I cannot list it here.

Also, there is language in the book that is not appropriate for its intended audience.

Finally, at the last showdown, Feyre has an ah-ha moment that is outrageously contrived.  The resolution relies entirely on deus ex machina, a suddenly revealed fact about Tamlin (the god, in this case) that saves the day.

Personal Thoughts

Sadly, this book does not live up to the author’s reputation.  I wanted to like it. I was predisposed to love it. But I had to force myself to finish it so I could write this review. Not recommended.

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Court of Fives by Kate Elliot

The Court of Fives is the first in a YA fantasy trilogy. The worldbuilding is reminiscent of Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire.
 

Synopsis

On the Fives court, everyone is equal.

And everyone is dangerous.

Jessamy’s life is a balance between acting like an upper-class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But away from her family, she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for the Fives, an intricate, multilevel athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom’s best competitors.

Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an improbable friendship between the two Fives competitors—one of mixed race and the other a Patron boy—causes heads to turn. When Kal’s powerful, scheming uncle tears Jes’s family apart, she’ll have to test her new friend’s loyalty and risk the vengeance of a royal clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.

In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott’s first young adult novel weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Pros:

 
  • The premise is unusual. I didn’t know about the Egyptian and Roman influence when I read the first book, but I saw the influence in the cultures.
  • The multiculturalism of the world allows the author to explore identity, both personal and racial. This is at the heart of the novel, both for the main character and the country in which she lives.
  • Unexpected and twisty plot.

Cons:

  • The story didn’t go where I thought it was going to go. I expected most of the conflict to be about Jessamy and her competing in the trials. It’s not that the story was bad, just that on some level, I didn’t get the story I was hoping for. In that way, it was both more and less than I expected. Not really a con, per se, but worth noting.
  • The bad guy is really bad. He epitomizes the evil to which man will stoop for his own ambitions. Again, not necessarily a con, but worth noting. For younger YA readers, some of the events may be disturbing.

     

Final Word

 
I enjoyed the series. In fact, two of the three books I bought in hardback which is unusual for me. ($$$) The political intrigue and the fact I couldn’t necessarily predict what would happen next made me devour the stories.
 

Discussion Questions

 
  1. From what you know of Ancient Egypt, how is Efea culture similar different? 
  2. How do the Saroese resemble the Romans? What is different?
  3. If you had to choose a society to be part of, which would you choose? The Efean society ruled by women, or the Saroese society ruled by men? Why?
  4. Which culture should rule a country? The original one, or the stronger one? (Keep in mind the American Indians when you answer the question.)
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Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

Hunter is the first in a YA fantasy trilogy set in post-apocalyptic America.
 

Synopsis

They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.

Monsters.

Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.

Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.

When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them…

Pros:

 
  • The premise is unusual. Unlike most post-apocalyptic fiction, this one has fairies, dragons, red caps, goblins–all your basic fantasy creatures, and they’re all evil. Coupled with cool technology, all the aspects meld together to make a fresh sort of dystopian fiction.
  • The story is rich in conflict – personal, familial, political. All of these work together to create a rich mystery that a reader will keep turning the pages to uncover. 
  • The characters are likable, especially Joy. You root for her and her menagerie of magical dogs (which are really cool).

Cons:

 
  • The writing is clunky in places. But story is king, and this is a great story. Despite my inner editor wanting to reword things, I pushed through to the end, but this and the following are the reason I’m rating the series as 4-star instead of 5-star.
  • My chief complaint is the anti-Christian overtones. “Christers” are responsible for the nuclear war that toasted humanity. Apparently some went rogue and thought the advent of the Rapture needed some help. (OK, that could be plausible with some deranged fanatics, BUT…) Christians are depicted as ignorant, misogynistic, and misguided. Worst of all is the implication and their end-times beliefs were both wrong and misguided. While the main character makes friends with a Christer, she is seen as the tolerant one. He’s portrayed as a good, moral guy with misguided belief. You really like his character despite these “flaws,” but all three books in the series take potshots at Christianity.

Final Word

 
I enjoyed the series, despite its anti-Christian barbs. The third book, advertised as the thrilling conclusion, left a few unanswered questions so I could see another book being added at some point. If it were, I would read it.
 

Discussion Questions

 
  1. Do you think books that are anti-Christian should be avoided? 
  2. Have you ever been confronted by friends or strangers who have made jokes or insulted your faith? What did you do?
  3. Do you prefer fantasies where creatures such as dragons, vampire, and fairies are good or bad? Why?
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The Hangman’s Revolution

The Hangman’s Revolution is a YA novel aimed at grade seven readers and up, and is the second book in the Warp Series written by the incomparable Eoin Colfer.

At the beginning of the story, seventeen-year-old Chevie lives in the present, a strange world where she is a cadet in the vast army of the Boxite Empire. The dictator of this strange new order is Colonel Box, who has achieved his position by manipulating an FBI program called Warp (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). The intended use of this program was to relocate witnesses by the FBI to a different historical era using a time tunnel perfected by the genius, Charles Smart. Colonel Box, however, used it to his own advantage by smuggling technology and weapons into the past to dominate the Government, executing millions in the process.

So, returning to Chevie, we see that her position as a cadet is being hampered by voices in her head that tell her something is amiss. Her unpredictable actions and outbursts have been noted and she is brought before the authorities. To prove her devotion to the empire, she is instructed to assassinate the suspected spy, Charles Smart. (He is just getting in the way of Box’s plans) Accompanied by two Thundercats, high-ranking soldiers in the Boxite army, Chevie pays Smart a visit. Things get complicated when Smart suspects something and establishes a time tunnel in his home to escape. But in the process, Smart is shot and the Thundercats and Chevie get sucked into the time tunnel and wind up in 1899 England on Emergence Day.

The above-mentioned present world was started on Emergence Day when Box and his troops, who were armed with future weapons, emerged from their headquarters in the sewer. They executed Queen Victoria and her government, and the rest of the world soon succumbed to Box’s army.

Chevie seeks out her old buddy, a fourteen-year-old magician named Riley, and with their new ally, Otto Malarkey, (a gang leader) they set out against the Thundercats, Colonel Box and their allies to halt the events that lead to Emergence Day and the altering of history.

 

Pros:

 

  • Eoin Colfer’s witty style of writing pulls the reader happily into his yarns. No matter what happens, there is an element of humour to the action.
  • Eoin Colfer has a marvellous imagination that keeps you guessing and most often catches you off guard.
  • The main characters have identifiable flaws and endearing qualities that keep you looking for the next book.
  • There is not one character that isn’t well thought out, and his constant backgrounds on each of them, make them believable.

 

Cons:

 

  • Eoin Colfer’s Warp books are in the omniscient POV. This is a bit distracting to me, as there is a lot of head hopping and background info on each character. I would rather have gotten to know the main characters a bit more.
  • There is a lot of violence (shooting, stabbing) so younger YA readers should be warned.
  • The lingo of the era was likely done well, but I stumbled a lot on the terms, and often didn’t know what was meant by many words. I would suspect younger kids would stumble even more.

My General Opinion

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I still think that his previous Artemis Fowl Series is more appealing. Perhaps it is because he concentrated more on the reader getting to know Artemis. But all in all, and rollicking fantasy that will be enjoyed by young and old readers!

 

 

 

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The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer is a fun science fiction novel with historical elements, and is aimed at young teens and up.

Synopsis:

Riley, a teen who is living in Victorian London, is an apprentice to Albert Garrick, a malicious and evil assassin, who misuses his illusionist conjuring skills to gain access to victim’s dwellings. During an assassination attempt, Garrick brings the reluctant and nervous Riley to commit his first murder. Their intended victim however turns out to be a scientist from the future, sent back in time as part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Plan (WARP).

Riley shrinks from his task so Garrick takes over. However, a protective pendant comes to life and transports not only their fatally stabbed victim but also Riley to a time capsule in modern day London via a wormhole. Chevron Savano, a nineteen-year-old FBI agent, who’d had some disastrous operations to her name as well, guards the capsule.

Riley and Chevie must now escape an infuriated Garrick after he also finds his way through the wormhole to modern London. Garrick is not only evil, but also possesses new skills and intelligence as a result of mutations from being transported. He is determined to track Riley and Chevie down to ‘silence them forever’ and gain their timekey so he can return to Victorian London and change the world to his benefit.

Pros:

  • I found the book engaging from the start to finish. The action was well paced, and the scenes’ descriptions pulled you in.
  • The characters were well developed and believable. Even the bad guy was not two dimensional, and he had a past that showed character development.
  • Colfer’s details of Victorian London seemed well researched and fascinating.
  • There are a few steam punk elements that will broaden the appeal for teens.
  • Colfer uses a sharp wit to keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

Cons:

  • I’m not a fan of the omniscient point of view and the head-hopping broke up the smooth story for me. I really wanted to get to know one character a bit better rather than all of them.
  • The beginning of the story is a bit grisly, but not overly. There were no horribly graphic murder scenes, and the rest of the story was just about the MC’s Riley and Chevie fleeing Garrick.

Overall comments:

I have read many Eoin Colfer books, but most enjoyed his Artemis Fowl series. He has a wicked sense of humour and a gift for engaging action in his stories. This book is the first in the WARP series. Personally, I enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series more than this first book, but am definitely going to carry on, as Colfer is an amazing writer who never disappoints me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

Scriblerians

The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede is a Young Adult fantasy suitable for sixth grade and up. This engaging story is set in a re-imagined wild west.

Synopsis​

Eff is the older twin sister of Lan, the superpowerful seventh son of a seventh son in a family of magicians. That makes her the unlucky thirteenth child. Everyone, even her extended family, is on the watch for the day she “turns bad” and her magic brings disgrace on their name.

Eff’s parents move their family to the Far West, just this side of the Great Barrier, a magical wall intended to keep the dangerous wild creatures on the far side of the river away from the settlers.

Pros:

Patricia C. Wrede has created an alternate history of a new world where magic systems collide and melt together. 

The main character, Eff, learns the difference between superstition and knowledge. With help from her brother, a good friend, and a superlative teacher, she gradually grows in power and understanding.

This novel will appeal to young adults, regardless of gender. This is the first book in a trilogy that will give readers many hours of entertainment.

The complex magical system will satisfy the most demanding fantasy readers. The situations the settlers face makes the wild west as tantalizing as ever.

The story is told by Eff, from the time she is five until she is eighteen. Her voice reminds me of Scout’s from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; that is high praise indeed. The heroine is thoroughly endearing and unexpectedly funny.

Cons:

Before her family moves west, she is mistreated and teased unmercifully by her cousins. She constantly hears the predictions of failure from her extended family. One uncle in particular is set against her; he urges her parents to do something about her before it’s too late. The superstitious gossip and constant low expectations create Eff’s struggle to accept herself and to rise above the curse of being the thirteenth child.

This book will challenge struggling readers, but on the other hand, it would make a great read-aloud book for bedtime rituals.

Personal Thoughts

I highly recommend this series. 

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The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper Book 2 of 5

 Synopsis:

Will Stanton, seventh son of a seventh son is turning eleven and this birthday marks the beginning  of his awakening as the last of the Old Ones. The Dark is Rising tells how Will, met by Merriman Lyon, comes to power in the modern world and must accumulate the six “signs” to help fight the rising Dark.

Pros:

  • This is a basic story about Good versus Evil and how everyone must at some point make a stand for one or the others.
  • The pros in this book is stunning example where art and popular stories merge into one well done novel. Susan Cooper is hitting her stride after book one and doesn’t seem to look back.
  • This was one of the first fantasy novels to break into the Newbery Awards, which was no small feat back when it was originally written.
  • The story is well paced and full of suspense and creepy backdrops, but that might fall under the Con category.

Cons:

  • I really can’t think of any, but if you have a problem Arthur tales and the legends of Cornwall England, this may not be the book for your reader.
  • Like in the review for Book One of the series, I don’t find this story antithetical to anyone’s beliefs unless you’re an atheist. Since this is only fiction, I can’t imagine anyone taking a story so literally that it would cause them problems.

Final Word:

I cannot say enough good about this novel. This was one of two novels responsible for turning me into a reader.If you have any qualms as an adult, I recommend you read it first before you turn it over to your young reader.

 

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Published in 1943, The Little Prince is still in print today. Why? Because its characters are ageless.Synopsis

 

The Little Prince leaves his tiny planet and explores several other planets, including Earth, and it is on Earth where most of the story takes place. Told from the point-of-view of a pilot stranded in the desert, he relates his tale of meeting this strange little prince who becomes his companion as he struggles to fix his plane and return to civilization.

Doesn’t sound like much, but listen to what the Little Prince has to say. “Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” His statement reminds me of the words from the author of Hebrews: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In natural conversations, the Little Prince is full of deep wisdom, which reminds me of Jesus’s words, “Let the little children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Thus, it is far more than a cute little story about a cute little prince.

Pros

Saint-Exupéry zeroes in on what is important in life, and children have no problems getting to the heart of a matter (see my Pinocchio post from a while back).

The author also pokes fun at adults’ eccentricities, always returning to the premise that the soul of an innocent child sees Truth.

Cons

I had a hard time getting connected to the story. By the end, I was fascinated, bit it took time, and time is what most readers in today’s world refuse to give. Not only does the story lack shoot-‘em-up action (which isn’t quite true at the climax), it’s difficult to gauge the author’s intent among the seeming disparate stories of the minor characters as each is introduced. Maybe I’ve lost my child’s sense of wonder—I’ll see what my grandchildren think and report back.

Discussion Questions

NONE.

Because of my own reactions to this story, I don’t believe it’s a book meant for the classroom. It seems “sacredly family.” A parent can ask a dozen questions per page—there are so many possible avenues to follow, which is why it’s a classic and still available almost seventy-five years later.

Let Mom and Dad direct any discussions as they see fit.

Final Thoughts

The Little Prince was published in the middle of World War II. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a pilot for the French resistance. His plane went down during a reconnaissance mission in 1944. I wonder what other jewels he might have created that this world will never read.