The world is crumbling. Fissures crack the shaking ground, babes are born with twisted limbs and the taste of apples is just a memory.
Rostigan and the Priestess Yalenna must face those Wardens who remain bent on steeping the land in ruin and, somehow, close the growing Wound in the Great Spell. Standing in their way is a pitiless army commanded by a madman, a sky full of silkjaws and, worst of all, an old friend, once betrayed, whom they must now convince to join them again.
There is only one thing for it – Rostigan must break an ancient oath and use powers he has dared not touch, powers that could tip the balance in favour of the spreading corruption. Caught in a web of his own deceit, he struggles to live the lies he has spun, for if he cannot, Aorn itself may well be doomed. - taken from Amazon.com
Ths is the second (and final) book of this duology, and unfortunately, I could not bring myself to finish it. After the reading of the first book, I was just put off too much by the comparison between this story and the HIGHLANDER movie franchise. Even though I did try to read it, to find out the final ending. The story for me just dragged on a bit more. I made it through about a third of the book, and decided it was just worth the time it would take to finish. So, I give it some bonus since it was I that just couldn't continue, not the author's fault. A whopping 2 stars.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Book Review: "The Legacy of Lord Regret" by Sam Bowring
Book One of the STRANGE THREADS duology. Centuries have passed since the Wardens slew the tyrant Lord Regret, but while the Wound that he ripped in the sky remains open, the earth trembles and the sun vanishes without warning.
The great warrior Rostigan wanders Aorn, weary of battle and unwanted renown. With him travels his lover, the minstrel Tarzi, who hopes she may soon witness further deeds from him worthy of song and tale. Despite Rostigan s reluctance to re-enter the world, she may get what she wishes for . . .
When they travel to the once magnificent city of Silverstone they discover it has been wrenched out of existence. Journeying onwards, they come to learn the disturbing truth. The land has descended into chaos for the Wardens, now craving destruction, have returned from their ancient graves and Lord Regret s malicious legacy grows ever stronger, corrupting the very nature of reality. - from Goodreads.com
Not a bad story, if you liked the movie 'Highlander'. I felt like I was reading a similar type script, with a set number of characters, risen among the mundane, who could absorb another "power" if they were in close proximity when one of them were killed. Oh, and it seems only another with the "power" can kill them. Yeah, HIGHLANDER overkill. Overall though, the book wasn't terribly bad, and decently written. I started the next book (two-book series, as far as I know) just to find out how it all ends.
The great warrior Rostigan wanders Aorn, weary of battle and unwanted renown. With him travels his lover, the minstrel Tarzi, who hopes she may soon witness further deeds from him worthy of song and tale. Despite Rostigan s reluctance to re-enter the world, she may get what she wishes for . . .
When they travel to the once magnificent city of Silverstone they discover it has been wrenched out of existence. Journeying onwards, they come to learn the disturbing truth. The land has descended into chaos for the Wardens, now craving destruction, have returned from their ancient graves and Lord Regret s malicious legacy grows ever stronger, corrupting the very nature of reality. - from Goodreads.com
Not a bad story, if you liked the movie 'Highlander'. I felt like I was reading a similar type script, with a set number of characters, risen among the mundane, who could absorb another "power" if they were in close proximity when one of them were killed. Oh, and it seems only another with the "power" can kill them. Yeah, HIGHLANDER overkill. Overall though, the book wasn't terribly bad, and decently written. I started the next book (two-book series, as far as I know) just to find out how it all ends.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Book Review: "The Library of Shadows" by Mikkel Kirkegaard
Imagine that some people have the power to affect your thoughts and feelings through reading. They can seduce you with amazing stories, conjure up vividly imagined worlds, but also manipulate you into thinking exactly what they want you to.
When Luca Campelli dies a sudden and violent death, his son Jon inherits his second-hand bookshop, Libri di Luca, in Copenhagen. Jon has not seen his father for twenty years, since the mysterious death of his mother.
After Luca’s death is followed by an arson attempt on the shop, Jon is forced to explore his family’s past. Unbeknown to Jon, the bookshop has for years been hiding a remarkable secret. It is the meeting place of a society of booklovers and readers, who have maintained a tradition of immense power passed down from the days of the great library of ancient Alexandria. Now someone is trying to destroy them, and Jon finds he must fight to save himself and his new friends.
The Library of Shadows is an engrossing literary thriller of intrigue, conspiracy and the extraordinary power of reading. - taken from Goodreads.com
When I came across this story, and read the basic description, I was a bit excited to start it. The first half of the book kept my attention, and the story seemed to be going well. Then about half way through, I felt it stalled. All the things going on just slammed on the brakes, even though things were still be developed leading to the conclusion. Once I got about 3/4 way through, things picked back up. I wasn't overly impressed with the ending, and thought it dragged just a bit (after the climatic finale). Overall, I loved the idea of the story, of how books and reading books create 'energy'.
When Luca Campelli dies a sudden and violent death, his son Jon inherits his second-hand bookshop, Libri di Luca, in Copenhagen. Jon has not seen his father for twenty years, since the mysterious death of his mother.
After Luca’s death is followed by an arson attempt on the shop, Jon is forced to explore his family’s past. Unbeknown to Jon, the bookshop has for years been hiding a remarkable secret. It is the meeting place of a society of booklovers and readers, who have maintained a tradition of immense power passed down from the days of the great library of ancient Alexandria. Now someone is trying to destroy them, and Jon finds he must fight to save himself and his new friends.
The Library of Shadows is an engrossing literary thriller of intrigue, conspiracy and the extraordinary power of reading. - taken from Goodreads.com
When I came across this story, and read the basic description, I was a bit excited to start it. The first half of the book kept my attention, and the story seemed to be going well. Then about half way through, I felt it stalled. All the things going on just slammed on the brakes, even though things were still be developed leading to the conclusion. Once I got about 3/4 way through, things picked back up. I wasn't overly impressed with the ending, and thought it dragged just a bit (after the climatic finale). Overall, I loved the idea of the story, of how books and reading books create 'energy'.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Book Review: "Death Match" by Lincoln Child
Lewis and Lindsay Thorpe were the perfect couple: young, attractive, and ideally matched. But the veil of perfection can mask many blemishes. When the Thorpes are found dead in their tasteful Flagstaff living room (having committed double suicide), alarms go off in the towering Manhattan offices of Eden Incorporated, the high-tech matchmaking company whose spectacular success, and legendary secrecy, has inspired awe around the world. The Thorpes, few people knew, were more than the quintessential happy couple – they were Eden’s first perfect match.
A short time later, Christopher Lash, a gifted former FBI forensic psychologist, receives an urgent plea from Eden to perform a quick – and quiet – investigation into the deaths. Lash’s psychological autopsy reveals nothing suspicious, but inadvertently dredges up the memories of a searing personal tragedy he has kept at bay for years.
At first I was intrigued by the start of the book. Trying to figure out why this big company brought in a "broken down" FBI ex-profiler, and how did the company work matchmaking? As a typical Child novel, the depth of the research for the novel is outstanding. I felt way 'over my head' as the book progressed and the machinations of AI work. In all honesty, I did not even read all of the book. Just short of halfway, I began to lose interest. I couldn't get a feel for how it was going to continue, and by then, felt way out of my depth on the whole computer/AI information, though he sort of 'dumbed down' most of it. I skipped ahead to about the last 10-15% of the book, read a few pages, and skipped to the near end. At that point, I had missed the finale, but through the last chapter and the epilogue, figured out most of what happened, even if it wasn't in exact detail. Then I put it down.
Not one of Child's better novels, but I do give him credit for a decent story line, and definitely a thumbs up for the research. Overall, I think 2.5 stars is good, as I didn't hate it, but it was okay, and the half for his writing style/research.
Movie Review: "The In-Touchables"
Based on a true story, a quadriplegic aristocrat's world is turned upside down when he hires a young, good-humored ex-con as his caretaker. This unlikely duo overcomes adversity of every flavor as they shatter preconceptions of love, life and each other. - taken from Netflix.com
Being a film from a non-'Universal' sized company, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this one last night. I vaguely remember putting it in the queue as an interesting sounding movie, base don the above synopsis. I had very little disappointment about the film.
Being based on a true story, I was leery. I evidently had not remembered this is a French film, thus for my US viewing pleasure, there were sub-titles. My middle son (about 10 years old) sat down with me, as the start of the movie showed some action scenes, and I found myself drawn more to the movie, as his reading was not quite good enough for the dialogue that was quickly shown and replaced at the bottom of the screen, detracting away from what was actually happening. I would pause every 10 minutes to be sure he knew what was going on.
Storyline- Phillipe is a quadriplegic, who also happens to be very filthy rich. Driss is a black man, who originally shows in a line of interviewees for a position as caretaker for Phillipe. Driss is basically looking for a signature so he can get France's version of unemployment (in my thinking). Due to the lack of pity, or of other things which I won't speculate on, Driss is hired and through the several months that pass, he and Phillipe grow into friends.
I found myself liking the movie, even if it was somewhat predictable. The lower-class Driss, working for an upper-class Phillipe, in a very personal nature (caretaker- think body baths, using the bathroom, etc). But I think in human nature, everyone loves this kind of story. There is even a bit of romance/matchmaking going on, which I won't share, so you still need to watch it.
Overall, I gave the movie a good 4.5 stars, as my only downside to it was the sub-titles. The Son, well, he went about halfway, and decided it wasn't his thing. But he is only 10.
Being a film from a non-'Universal' sized company, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this one last night. I vaguely remember putting it in the queue as an interesting sounding movie, base don the above synopsis. I had very little disappointment about the film.
Being based on a true story, I was leery. I evidently had not remembered this is a French film, thus for my US viewing pleasure, there were sub-titles. My middle son (about 10 years old) sat down with me, as the start of the movie showed some action scenes, and I found myself drawn more to the movie, as his reading was not quite good enough for the dialogue that was quickly shown and replaced at the bottom of the screen, detracting away from what was actually happening. I would pause every 10 minutes to be sure he knew what was going on.
Storyline- Phillipe is a quadriplegic, who also happens to be very filthy rich. Driss is a black man, who originally shows in a line of interviewees for a position as caretaker for Phillipe. Driss is basically looking for a signature so he can get France's version of unemployment (in my thinking). Due to the lack of pity, or of other things which I won't speculate on, Driss is hired and through the several months that pass, he and Phillipe grow into friends.
I found myself liking the movie, even if it was somewhat predictable. The lower-class Driss, working for an upper-class Phillipe, in a very personal nature (caretaker- think body baths, using the bathroom, etc). But I think in human nature, everyone loves this kind of story. There is even a bit of romance/matchmaking going on, which I won't share, so you still need to watch it.
Overall, I gave the movie a good 4.5 stars, as my only downside to it was the sub-titles. The Son, well, he went about halfway, and decided it wasn't his thing. But he is only 10.
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