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.