The Return of the King (Book Three, Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

The Battle for Middle-Earth has begun . . . almost. First, Gandalf and Pippin must journey to the grand city of Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor, a realm of men. They must warn the Steward of Gondor, Denethor, that Sauron's army has left Mordor and is now approaching the city. However, still bitter after his son Boromir's death, Denethor commands Pippin to become a tower guard to pay his debt for 'what he did'. As his other son is nearly slain defending  the surrounding lands, and a force of some 200,000 Orcs gather around the city, slowly Denethor descends into madness. When the full forces of darkness finally converge, with the Ringwraiths (also known as Nazgul), the lieutenants of Sauron, in the lead, all seems lost. However, Aragorn, rightful ruler of Gondor, has a plan. There were once a nation of men that pledged allegiance to Isildur, the First King of Men. When he called on them for battle they refused and were cursed to spend an eternity waiting for their rightful ruler to call on them once more. Aragorn hopes to enlist these men in battle against Sauron and the Orcs. If he fails, the world falls. Meanwhile, in Mordor, Frodo has been taken prisoner by the Orcs and is being held in the tower of Crith Ungol. Sam rescues him, but Frodo, weak after his imprisonment, is unable to carry the One Ring of Sauron. So, in his stead, Sam loyally carries the Ring. As the seconds creep by, they come closer and closer to Mt. Doom, the one place where the ring can be destroyed. However, every second they waste is another second that Sauron gains power and another second that the Ring slowly corrupts their souls. Will they reach Mordor in time and blot evil from the land at last, or will the darkness overwhelm all good and all that it stands for?

The Return of the King is the final installment in the Lord of the Rings epic. The prequel to the prequel, The Silmarillion, was published after Tolkien's death. So the order, chronologically at least, is The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.

The Two Towers (Book Two, Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

The Battle against the Uruk-hai is over. Boromir is dead, slain by the Orcs. Merry and Pippin have been captured by the enemy and are taken to Isengard. Sam and Frodo have moved, fled rather, to the east so they may enter Mordor unnoticed and destroy the Ring of Sauron once and for all. All that seems to remain of the Fellowship are Legolas (the Elf), Gimli (the Dwarf) and Aragorn (the Human). However, while escorting their prisoners to Isengard, the surviving Uruk-Hai are attacked by the Rohirrim, the people of Rohan, and Pippin and Merry flee into the surrounding forest. There, they meet the Ents, tree-like creatures that are the 'Shepherds of the Forest'. They tell Treebeard, the Ent leader, of the destruction Saruman has caused. Enraged, the Ents march on Isengard and lay siege to the main tower, leaving Saruman trapped. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and a surprise character who has been resurrected, arrive on the scene and reunite with the two Hobbits. Sam and Frodo are all alone, save Gollum, the twisted, monstrous, corrupted former owner of the One Ring. The two friends have almost reached Mount Doom, but with Gollum constantly conspiring against them, will they make it there alive?

The Two Towers is my personal favorite of the Trilogy. Between the Ents and Shelob (the giant spider that inhabits the caves of Mordor), the Battle of Helm's Deep and Gollum, this book is jam-packed with content and characters that will keep you up into all hours of the night, craving for more.

The Fellowship of the Ring (Book One, Lord of the Rings Trilogy)

It has been many years since the events of The Hobbit. Bilbo is now celebrating his 111th birthday. The strangest part, he hasn't aged since his marvelous adventure. At the celebration, he gives his home, land, wealth and possessions, including a strange golden ring to his relative, Frodo Baggins, and leaves to live with the Elves in Rivendell. Gandalf the Grey, whom all of the inhabitants of The Shire now know as a friend, is at the event and afterwards instructs Frodo to keep the strange ring 'secret and safe'. Frodo does so for seventeen years (contrary to the movie in which he does so only for about a week), after which Gandalf finally returns, but with grave news. The ring that Bilbo gave to Frodo is actually the One Ring of Sauron, the ultimate evil. Sauron was banished from this world generations ago, his ring lost. If Sauron manages to retain his ring once more, he will have enough power to conquer the world. Along with his three friends, Sam, Merry and Pippin, Frodo accompanies Gandalf on his quest to destroy Sauron's Ring. As they continue their trek, they encounter powerful allies and dangerous enemies, risking their lives every step of the way. As the days speed on, the races of the world realize that they need to band together if they want to stop Sauron once and for all. They will need to form a Fellowship, three Hobbit, two Human, one Elf, one Dwarf, and one Wizard, The Fellowship of the Ring. The one problem, the Ring can only be destroyed by the fires from which it came. To be precise, the volcano Mt. Doom in Mordor. The only OTHER problem, Mordor is the seat of Sauron's power.

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy and was made into a movie in 2001 by Peter Jackson. I loved both and highly recommend the book and Peter Jackson's visionary interpretation. The Hobbit, the prequel, will be made into a two-part movie in the upcoming years, also by Peter Jackson.

The Hobbit (Prequel to The Lord of the Rings)

Bilbo Baggins of Bag End is a Hobbit, a race of creatures like humans, but not quite half as tall, that live in The Shire in Middle-Earth. One fateful day, Bilbo meets Gandalf the Grey, a mysterious Wizard who has a proposition for Bilbo to  join him on a 'little adventure'. At first, Bilbo refuses. After all, Baggins' always stay at Bag End, always. However, Gandalf devises a plan to trick Bilbo into hosting a dinner party for a band of Dwarves. The group spins a tale of a vast treasure hoarded by a Dragon in the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf tells the group that Bilbo is to be their Burglar of the Dragon's gold, that is, if he accepts. Bilbo, awed by their tale, ultimately agrees. Little does he know, however, that this will be the journey of a lifetime that will test his honor, moral fiber and the very caliber of his soul. A complex story filled with memorable characters including: Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, Elves, and of course, Rings of Power. The Hobbit is the stunning prequel to the greatest fantasy epic of all time.

The Hobbit is a truly great book and the first part of a truly amazing series. I personally love the Game of Thrones. However, nothing, not even Game of Thrones, can compare to the action, magic, suspense, and power struggles of this, Tolkien's Masterpiece. 

Ironhand (Book Two, Stoneheart Trilogy)

In the second installment of the Stoneheart Trilogy, author Charlie Fletcher has raised the stakes. George has discovered that he is a Maker, a person who can alter or truly destroy a statue, and create anything out of stone and metal. Through his journey, he has met Edie, a young girl and one of the supposedly extinct Glints, a person who can see the past, and all of un-London. However, in the first book, the Gunner who protected George was captured by the Walker, a human servant of the Stone who is now hunting George and Edie. As the two friends set out to find their captured companion, George is snatched by a Taint, a statue that has no soul, that George names Spout. George is saved from Spout by an 'Agent of Fate' called Ariel who has come to ensure that George takes 'the Hard Way.' Brought by Ariel to a statue known only as The Last Knight, George is challenged to a duel and escapes certain death at the Knight's hand by Spout, who brakes his wing in the process. George uses his maker powers to heal the Taint's wing and the two, George and Spout, form a friendship. George's escape comes with a price, however. Three veins of marble, bronze, and an unknown stone are slowly making their way up George's arm. If they reach George's heart, he will die. Each represents a duel he must fight on land, on water, and in air. For each time George wins a duel, one vein will disappear. Will George and Edie save the Gunner from the mysterious Walker? What will George do with the Last Knight pursuing him? Will he survive to right his wrong and save the world? Find out in Ironhand!

Ironhand is my favorite of the Stoneheart Trilogy because we meet my favorite character of the entire series, The Last Knight. He is the cover character of this book, a villain with noble intentions that you will never forget. I highly recommend you read the series and this book.

Stoneheart (Book One, Stoneheart Trilogy)

During a trip to the Natural History Museum in London, twelve-year-old George Chapman breaks off the head of a dragon statue in an act of rebellion. This tiny act will have massive consequences, as George will soon find out. Almost immediately after desecrating the statue, a large stone pterodactyl peels itself off of the museum and launches himself at George. George does the one thing he can, he runs. As he runs for his life, more statues animate and chase him. At the Royal Artillery Memorial, as George attempts to hide from his pursuers, yet another statue animates. This one destroys the others, saving George's life. This statue, known only as The Gunner, explains that George has been transported to an alternate version of London that no one can see, called un-London. In un-London the inhabitants are all statues of two very different types. First, there are the Spits who were created with a piece of their sculptor's essence (the spitting image). The other, more dangerous, type are known as Taints, statues without essence, without a soul. Flung into a warring world of stone and metal, George must right his wrong before an ancient evil is released and the world itself is crushed.

I loved Stoneheart, the first of Charlie Fletcher's Stoneheart Trilogy. In truth, I loved the whole series. Fletcher has created wonderfully crafted characters who are turned from inanimate sculptures into living believable breathing people, and an amazingly complex world I still remember vividly.

Nightfall

    Based on one of the most popular short stories of all time written by Isaac Asimov, Asimov teams up with Robert Silverberg to write one of the most influential novels of the 20th Century. 

On Planet Kalgash, some combination of it's six suns, Onos, Dovim, Patru, Trey, Sitha, and Tano, have always lit up this utopian world with their brilliant light. Darkness is unknown. However, that is all about to change. In an astounding phenomenon, the suns will set and the planet will be eclipsed from their light. It shall signal a darkness, and a madness that will destroy civilization as the people of Kalgash know it, forever. Nevertheless, humanity desperately clings to the ashes, as some wish to simply survive, and others conquer. Will the last seeds of civilization carry on, and rebuild after this devastating cataclysm or will the human instinct itself wipe out mankind?

The most intense and exciting novel that I have read in years, Nightfall is written almost fifty years after the short story's publication (1941-1990). Nightfall is an astounding novel. Sure to keep the nightlight on for a night or two, Asimov and Silverberg spin a tale of deceit, lies, hope, love and most importantly . . . Daybreak.  

ArchEnemy (Book Three, The Looking Glass Wars)

King Arch, the King of the Borderlands, has detonated the W.I.L.M.A (Weapon of Inconceivable Loss and Mass Annihilation) over Wonderland. As a result, everyone in Wonderland, including Redd and Alyss, have lost their Imagination. Redd has retreated and Arch has declared himself King of Wonderland.  Meanwhile, Redd is plotting her return, the takeover of the throne, and the final destruction of Queen Alyss and White Imagination. Meanwhile, the scheming House of Clubs are rallying the people of Wonderland to rise up and fight the last vestiges of Imagination that are beginning to return. When Alyss' adopted family in the human world is attacked, she must once again journey through the Pool of Tears to the human world. However, once her family is saved, all of the puddles that could take her back to Wonderland evaporate and disappear! Trapped in reality with her bodyguard, Homburg Molly, Alyss must find a way to return to Wonderland before Arch crushes all resistance and Redd turns all of Wonderland to dust.

Frank Beddor's ArchEnemy is the third and final installment to the Looking Glass Wars and my favorite in the series. Filled with action, suspense, romance and Imagination, ArchEnemy is sure to enthrall new readers and fans of the series alike.

Seeing Redd (Book Two, The Looking Glass Wars)

The battle for Wonderland is over. Redd's forces lie defeated while Redd herself and the Cat, her loyal assassin, have fled to the human world. With her nemesis defeated, Alyss Heart, now Queen of Wonderland, must learn to cope with the everyday life of ruling a nation. Accompanied everywhere by the new Royal Bodyguard, Homburg Molly, Alyss must balance fleeting private moments with constant public demands and rumors. To worsen matters, someone is sending hundreds of Glass Eyes, Redd's super-soldiers, to terrorize Wonderland. With threat after threat piling upon Alyss' shoulders, what will the young queen do? Meanwhile, Redd and the Cat, having reemerged in the human world through a painting, now plot to retake Wonderland and crush White Imagination once and for all. However, another threat has reared its head. In the Borderlands, a device is being created, one that, if detonated, could destroy Imagination forever.

Seeing Redd is the second of Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars. While not my favorite, the third book is worth the perseverance. Seeing Redd is still a must read for all fantasy fans. 

The Looking Glass Wars (Book One, The Looking Glass Wars)

Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass are both  timeless masterpieces of literature. However, what if they were true? This is the premise of The Looking Glass Wars series. Alyss Heart is the daughter of Queen Genevieve Heart, Queen of Wonderland, where Imagination rules and those with the power of creativity are granted unimaginable abilities -- those without, aren't. Wonderland is the source of all Imagination in our own world, and if Imagination dies there, it also dies everywhere. Twelve years before, the forces of "White" Imagination, led by Queen Genevieve, fought and defeated the forces of "Black" Imagination, led by Genevieve's sister, Redd. In The Looking Glass Wars, "White" Imagination represents the positive side of creativity and "Black" Imagination represents the negative. The two are incompatible and are destined to clash again, as it is the way of things in Wonderland. For twelve years, the land has been at peace, until now. Without warning, King Nolan, Alyss' father, is murdered by Redd who stages a coup d'état against the Queen. Forced to flee, Alyss, and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, retreat to the human world through a portal known as the Pool of Tears. However, the two are separated and Alyss is forced to fend for herself amid Victorian London. Will Alyss make it back to Wonderland alive and will she manage to defeat Redd, or will Wonderland be doomed forever?

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is a magical book, with compelling characters and enemies we love to hate. Beddor's first of the three novels in the series is sure to delight fantasy veterans and newcomers alike!

The Maelstrom (Book Four, Tapestry Series)

Elias Bram, the greatest sorcerer ever to live, has been freed from his prison, Astaroth has been gravely wounded and has left this world to lick his wounds. Rowan Academy is on the brink of war with the Demon Kingdoms while the Demon Kings are at each other's throats, vying for the position of power that Astaroth left behind. It may seem like a boon for Rowan, with the Kings concentrating on defeating one another, however, the King of Blys, Prusias, has delivered an ultimatum: give us Bram and the Gae Bolga, Max's legendary and magical sword, and we will let you live. Given a looming deadline, Rowan must comply or be destroyed. Sent to the Kingdoms to recover valuable information pivotal to the war effort, Max McDaniels and his roommate David Menlo must traverse great distances and defeat even greater enemies, while managing to keep their lives, and humanity, intact.  Along the way, powerful allies will be discovered, and terrifying evil shall be uncovered. With war looming, will Max and David manage to survive their dangerous journey and will Rowan be able to survive the coming battle, or will humanity be crushed once and for all leaving the world to crumble?

The Maelstrom, the fourth and penultimate book in Neff's Tapestry Series is by far my favorite. Aside from the fact that maelstrom is my favorite word, Neff's most recent work is by far the best. 

The Fiend and the Forge (Book Three, Tapestry Series)

Astaroth has obtained the Book of Thoth, defeated Rowan in battle and reshaped the world, destroying all technology and plunging the world into another Dark Age. The men and women of Rowan Academy desperately hold onto the ashes of civilization. However, as long as they don't oppose the now Demon-ruled kingdoms, and the rules Astaroth has set in place, they shall not be harmed or destroyed. Rowan, amidst the death and destruction, has become a beacon of hope for all humanity. Runaways and refugees stream in, filling Rowan to it's capacity. To some, the fragile peace with Astaroth is a beacon of hope. To others, like Max McDaniels, this peace is a prison in disguise. Not content to stand by and let everything he fought for turn to waste, he sets out to the Demon Kingdoms, modern day Europe, to discover what lays ahead for the human race. The journey is long and difficult, however, the rewards are great. Through his trek, Max discovers the truth behind the Demons, and the truth behind one that is more frightening than anything Max could have ever imagined.

The Fiend and the Forge by Neff is my favorite in the series thus far. I am in the middle of The Maelstrom, the 4th book, so my vote might change. Either way, The Fiend and the Forge is a wondrous creation with scenes that will make you laugh and scenes that will make you cry. Towards the end, Neff adds a story line that I never expected, and about which I am still grieving.

The Second Siege (Book Two, Tapestry Series)

It has been weeks since Max first enrolled at Rowan Academy. Now, finally, Max is beginning to accept his not-so-normal life as fairly normal. He has a wizard, David Menlo, as his roommate and an observatory for a room. To make matters even better, Max is being trained in battle skills by Rowan's top Agent, Cooper. Life at Rowan couldn't get any better. However, while Max has made great friends, he has also made powerful enemies. The Enemy has managed to free Astaroth, the greatest of all Demons. Now released, Astaroth will stop at nothing to bend the world to its will. To do this, however, it needs the Book of Thoth. The Book of Thoth is a strange artifact that has the power to create or unravel life as we know it. If the Demon obtains the book, it will be the end of civilization. Max and David, accompanied by Cooper, set out to protect this fabled tome. If Astaroth manages to obtain the Book, all will be lost. Will Max manage to keep it safe, or will Astaroth crush the world? Find out in The Second Siege!

The Second Siege, Neff's second book, is one of my favorites in the Tapestry Series, my favorite being the third, The Fiend and the Forge. Henry H. Neff continues to craft an ever more complex world, one that I and other Tapestry fans adore. I hope everyone who reads this blog will read the series. The final book, The Red Winter, will be released in 2013. I can't wait!

The Hound of Rowan (Book One, Tapestry Series)

Max McDaniels lives with his father in the suburbs of Chicago. He lives a normal life, aside from the fact that his mother disappeared when he was young. One day, while visiting the Chicago Museum of Art, Max stumbles into a restricted section of the museum. In the section is a lone faded tapestry hanging on the wall. However, when Max moves closer to inspect it, it blooms into full color and begins to spark and move. Scared yet transfixed, he flees the room, only to discover that, although it only felt like minutes, he had been missing for hours. After this strange incident, Max receives a letter from a mysterious  school, Rowan Academy, and is invited to attend. In his dreams that night, he is visited by a hag who attacks him when he tries to run from her. The next day, shaken, he is given a series of tests, by a 'Recruiter"from Rowan, that are required to attend the school. Max passes with flying colors. When he arrives at Rowan, Max is thrown into a world he could never have imagined. Filled with magic, warfare, allies, and an Enemy far greater than anything a mere mortal could comprehend, Rowan tests Max to his limit. Does he have the will to survive, or will the Enemy get to him first?

The Hound of Rowan by Henry H. Neff is a magical and complex book, filled to the brim with intricate characters and wonderful creatures. I loved it as soon as I began reading its first pages.

The Mark of Athena (Book Three, The Heroes of Olympus)

Having defeated the giant, Polybotes, freed Thanatos, recovered the lost Eagle Standard, and saved Camp Jupiter, Percy doesn't think things could get any better. That is, until Annabeth, Jason, Leo and Piper arrive on a flying airship. However, Percy's reunion is cut short as the airship strangely attacks Camp Jupiter. Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, and Frank manage to escape on the magical machine. However, while all of this carnage erupts around her, Annabeth is troubled by another, far more sinister, warning. A prophesy given by her mother, Athena. "Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me." However, the group have a greater problem. In five days, Gaea, the embodiment of the Earth,  will destroy Rome and kill Hazel's brother, Nico. Thrust into a journey to the Ancient Lands that spans the globe, the seven Demigods must fend off the frequent attacks by the Romans, while managing to circumvent Gaea's ever strengthening assaults. Will the seven manage to find Nico and stop Gaea before her evil plot becomes a reality? Find out in The Mark of Athena!!

The Mark of Athena is my favorite in the Heroes of Olympus series so far. All seven of the Heroes of Prophesy have come together to form a truly unstoppable powerhouse! I loved this book and hope that you all enjoy this blog!

P.S. There is one scene at the end that is truly jaw-dropping . . . in a truly intense way. Brace yourselves!

The Son of Neptune (Book Two, The Heroes of Olympus)

Percy Jackson is currently very confused. He has been chased by three very angry monsters with snakes for hair for days now, and he has a pen that can turn into a sword. The weirdest part, Percy can't remember ANYTHING. Anything except one name, Annabeth. Found and taken to a strange camp for the children of the Roman Gods, Camp Jupiter, Percy is revealed to be the son of Poseidon, the Greek version of the god of the seas, Neptune. Percy is sent to the 12th cohort, of the 12 cohorts of the camp, and meets Frank Zhang, the son of Mars, the God of War, and Hazel, the daughter of Pluto, the God of the Underworld and the three become fast friends. After a game of capture the flag, one of the campers is slain, but comes back to life. The campers realize that the Doors of Death, the doors to the Underworld, have been opened and Thanatos, the God of Death (who is totally awesome and definitely my favorite God), has been captured by unknown powers. Sent to free Thanatos and retrieve the 12th cohort's lost eagle standard, a magical object of great power, the trio embark on a mission, and are plunged into a battle that has lasted for eons, one that has begun anew, one that could destroy the gods. That is, unless Percy can stop it.

The Son of Neptune is a fantastic book. As soon as I saw the cover, I practically jumped for joy. Rick Riordan has brought back our favorite Demigod, Percy! The Son of Neptune is filled with action, suspense, demigod powers, and, thankfully, lots and lots of Percy.

The Lost Hero (Book One, The Heroes of Olympus)

In the first installment to the Heroes of Olympus series, or the Camp Half Blood saga, as I call it, we meet Jason Grace, a fifteen-year-old boy, who presumably lives a fairly normal life, except that he attends the Wilderness School, a school for troubled kids. We also meet Jason's best friend, Leo, and girlfriend, Piper. The only problem, he can't remember anything, or anyone. According to Jason, he just "woke up" holding hands with some girl he didn't know. However, during the school's field trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the students transforms into a strange storm monster and blows both Piper and Jason into the Canyon. Jason controls the wind and stops their plummet, saving both himself and Piper. Annabeth, the daughter of Athena and one of the main protagonists of the previous series, collects him, Piper and Leo, informing them that they are Demigods, the children of a god and a mortal. Jason, Piper, and Leo, are taken to Camp Half Blood by Annabeth, a camp where young Demigods learn to control their powers. Piper is claimed by Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Leo on the other hand, is a son of Hephaestus, god of the forge, and has a special, but secret, talent. Jason is the son of Jupiter, the Roman version of Zeus, king of the gods. However, when Annabeth, reveals that Percy has been missing for months, a new sense of urgency arises. And when the camp learns that Hera, queen of the gods, has been captured, Jason, Piper, and Leo embark on a desperate rescue mission that could decide the fate of the mortal world and the world of the Gods.

When I first found out about The Lost Hero, I was very, very, excited. I had been waiting and hoping for another series with Percy for a couple of years, since The Last Olympian. Rick Riordan continues the arc of the Percy Jackson Series, with some of the same original characters driving the plot. My patience payed off, this fast paced novel will keep the midnight oil burning, right down to the last page.

The Dragon Reborn (Book Three, The Wheel of Time)

The battle against the Seanchan has ended. Ba'alzamon, once again, has been defeated, and Rand has finally declared himself the Dragon Reborn. When his small army of Shienarians and Dragonsworn come under attack from Trollocs, Rand slips away into the night, leaving many to wonder to where he disappeared. Not wasting a second, Moirane, along with Lan, Perrin, and Loial, Rand's mentor and friends, leave in search of the missing Lord Dragon. However, Moirane has a hunch as to where Rand has gone, The Stone of Tear, the resting place of the Sa'angreal Callandor. It is written in prophesy that the Dragon shall prove him/herself reborn when the Stone is felled by Callandor. The only problem, Callandor is being held inside the heart of the Stone. Pursued by Darkhounds and Darkfriends, tricks and traps, will the group manage to reach Rand in time, before he gets himself killed, dooming the world to an eternity of misery and suffering. In Tar Valon, seat of Aes Sedai power, Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne are given the task of rooting the dreaded Black Ajah, the supporters of the Dark One in the White Tower, out of Tar Valon. Meanwhile, Mat lies deathly ill, poisoned by the cursed Ruby Dagger. Will the Aes Sedai manage to save him, or will Mat die, leaving Rand with one less ally and one less friend? Find out in The Dragon Reborn.

The Dragon Reborn is one of my favorite novels in the Wheel of Time series (that I have read so far). It is an ensnaring read, filled with plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your chair and up all night.

The Great Hunt (Book Two, The Wheel of Time)

The battle at the Eye of the World is over. Ba'alzamon, Balthamel, and Aginor have been defeated. All, for the moment, seems to be at peace. When the Amyrlin Seat, the leader of the Aes Sedai, comes to the city of Fal Dara, the fragile serenity is broken. The Amyrlin believes that Rand is the Dragon Reborn, the legendary hero destined to destroy the Dark One forever. Rand, however, is skeptical. In his eyes, he is still a farm boy that was whisked away on a strange and miraculous adventure. The situation changes when Trollocs attack Fal Dara, rescuing Padan Fain, a Darkfriend, stealing the Horn of Valere, a mysterious artifact that can raise the dead, and Mat's cursed ruby dagger. After the Trolloc's slaughter of the Shienarians at Fal Dara, Rand, with a group of Shienarian soldiers, Perrin, and Loial, set out to recover the missing artifacts before they are utilized by the Shadow. As time carries on, the situation worsens, the desperate recovery mission soon becomes a matter of the life of a friend, and the fate of the world. Will Rand manage to recover the precious items, or will they arrive too late?

The Great Hunt is an epic of epic proportions! Filled with magic, Trollocs, mystery and suspense, The Great Hunt is sure to ensnare readers of all levels and of all ages (due to its nearly 1,000 pages and  complex language level, this is not necessarily true). To read my review of book one, The Eye of the World, CLICK HERE.

The Way of the Dragon (Book Three, Young Samurai Trilogy)

Japan is in chaos. The Daimyo (Lord) Kamakura, Kazuki's father, has declared war against the Emperor and Christians. Samurai are forced to take sides, including the students of Niten Ichi Ryu. Flung into a bloody conflict, Jack must use all of the skills he knows and has learned to simply stay alive. Now that Dragon Eye has the Rutter, it is imperative that Jack do everything in his power to retrieve it and to stop it from falling further into the wrong hands. With death waiting at every corner, enemies skulking in the streets and Dragon Eye on his tail to eliminate loose ends, Jack must turn to his friends and teachers to defeat Dragon Eye, and Kamakura in this final battle. Amidst the chaos, Jack needs to learn, and perfect, the Two Heavens technique, a deadly form using two swords created by his teacher Masamoto, to slay Dragon Eye once and for all, and to bring peace and justice to all who have broken their vows. Will Kamakura and his soldiers kill them all first, or will Jack finally make it back to England, alive and well?

The Way of the Dragon is filled with action, ninjas, samurai, betrayal, friendship, and hope. This fast paced book is sure to hook fans of the series instantly and ensnare newcomers with it's likable characters and believable environments. I highly recommend this book and this series.

The Way of the Sword (Book Two, Young Samurai Trilogy)

It has been many weeks since his father's murder at the hands of the ninja Dragon Eye. Jack's samurai training is going well, almost well. Jack is still bullied relentlessly by Kazuki, a student at Niten Ichi Ryu, for being a gaijin, an outsider. His Taijitsu teacher, Sensei Kyuzo, obviously hates him and Jack is uncertain when, and where, Dragon Eye will strike next. To add to the pressure, Jack must prepare for the Circle of Three, an ancient contest that tests every skill one might possess, especially the mind. The reward is to train in the Two Heavens technique, the supposedly unstoppable sword style. Jack realizes that he must win the Circle of Three to learn the Two Heavens, and that he must master the Two Heavens if he is to confront, and finally defeat, Dragon Eye. However, Jack must compete against his friends and fellow students, and Kazuki of course. Few will reach the finals, and even fewer will succeed. Does Jack have what it takes to win against his peers, against Kazuki, and against Dragon Eye, or will the infamous ninja obtain the Rutter? Find out in The Way of the Sword!!!

The Way of the Sword is the second book in this trilogy. It is one of my favorites because the characters are beginning to truly take form and come to life. I just found out that Chris Bradford is writing another series based on the Young Samurai Trilogy. I am really exited and can't wait to read it!

The Way of the Warrior (Book One, Young Samurai Trilogy)

The year is 1611. Jack Fletcher is the son of the first mate of the Alexandria. One day, along the Japanese coast, the ship shipwrecks and the crew, along with Jack's Father, are murdered. Jack is the lone survivor. Found by the legendary swordsman, Masamoto Takeshi, Jack is taken in and adopted. When Masamoto's home is attacked by the same assailants that attacked Jack's ship, Masamoto enrolls Jack, along with his son and niece, in the Niten Ichi Ryu, Masamoto's famous school. However, this isn't any kind of school Jack has ever known. The Niten Ichi Ryu is a samurai school where young men, and women, with talent learn the Way of the Warrior. Jack must endure rigorous training with bow, sword, and mind that push him to the limit and test every fiber of his being. Does Jack have what it takes to become a Samurai, or will the lifestyle prove to be too much? When Jack fled the Alexandria, he took with him a very special package, the Rutter. A collection of maps and diagrams of the world's seas so accurate that whomever holds it in their possession can rule the ocean. Jack believes that his father was murdered for this small booklet, but can he prove his assumptions and who will come for it next?

The Way of the Warrior is a fantastic book. It describes 17th century Japanese customs and appearance in great detail. Chris Bradford also included a small glossary of Japanese to English translations which is very helpful when reading this book.

The Eye of the World (Book One, The Wheel of Time)

Rand al'Thor, the son of a farmer, lives in Emond's Field, a town in the Two Rivers region of Andor. The Two Rivers is a peaceful place, filled with people living out their lives mindful of each other, mostly, and no one really ever wants to go off adventuring. His mother died when he was very young and has been raised by his father, Tam, living an otherwise perfectly normal life. That all changes when he sees the black rider. On the evening of Bel Tine, the spring festival, Rand spots a lone black horseman following him. Afraid, Rand compels Tam to turn around to look. Nothing! The rider had disappeared into thin air. Later that night, three visitors arrive in their town. The first is a Gleeman, a traveling performer, of whom word travels fast. The other two are far more mysterious -- a beautiful woman in blue and a burly man in armor, seemingly escorting her. When Emond's Field suddenly comes under attack, the two almost singlehandedly defeat the force. The duo reveal themselves to be Moirane and Lan, an Aes Sedai (basically a mage) and her Warder (protector). Most Two Rivers folk believe that Aes Sedai are servants of the Dark One, the eternal evil, and soon distrust the newcommers. However, Moirane reveals that now is not the time for prejudice. The assailants were creatures known as Trollocs, half man half animal, servants of the Dark One. She believes that the Trollocs, for unknown reasons, were sent to capture Rand and his two friends, Mat and Perrin. She seeks to take them to the city of Tar Valon, seat of Aes Sedai Power, to discover what the Dark One could want with the three. Rand accompanies her with his friends Mat and Perrin.  They are joined by Egwene, Rand's lifelong friend, who demands to come along and the Gleeman, Thom. They set out on a journey that will change Rand's life, and the lives of all around him, forever.

I haven't been this exited about a series for months, maybe even a year. It is everything I search for in a book, action, an ultimate evil, an ancient prophesy, love, magic, and glowing eyes. The Eye of the world was made in 1990 and has been a classic ever since. There are fourteen books in the series. The author, Robert Jordan, died after 11 and Brandon Sanderson wrote the last three. The fourteenth is scheduled to be released in January, 2013.

Eona (Book Two, Eon Duet)

War has broken out. The High Lord Sethon has betrayed the Emperor, his brother, and has risen up in rebellion to claim his throne. Lord Ido has been captured by the usurper, High Lord Sethon, and is being used as a tool for Sethon's ambitions. Eona has revealed her true identity to the nation and is now in flight with two of her companions, the Lady Dela and Ryko, Dela's bodyguard. Together they hope to find Kygo, the Emperor's only remaining son, and assist him in his defeat of Sethon and the reunification of the land. First, however, they must gather more allies, allies found in the most unexpected of places. They need to enlist a former enemy to succeed. Eona, through her travels to find Kygo, has discovered a dangerous secret. She can no longer control her powers. Whenever she attempts to channel her energy, the spirits of the Dragons whose Dragoneyes were slain by Ido flow through her, pummeling her, nearly killing her with their grief. As the group moves closer to Kygo, something moves closer to them. Something so destructive that, if left unchecked and unstopped, could destroy all traces of civilization. A madman. A madman who has in his possession the black folio of the Mirror Dragon.

Eona is my favorite of the two books. It is filled with action, romance, war, peace, dragons, and Dillon. This is the book where Eona lets loose and her true powers bloom.