Stonehenge

The following story is a fictional representation of what may have transpired,

 based on found artifacts at Stonehenge . . .

It is the year 2000 B.C. and the people of Ratharryn are at peace. For years they have been ruled justly and wisely by their Chieftain, Hengall, the father of three very different sons. One day, Hengall's youngest, Saban, is begrudgingly shown where and how to hunt by his older brother, Lengar. While out on the plains, the brothers encounter a lone stranger, an Outfolk. After killing the man, Lengar discovered that he had been carrying dozens of small gold pieces. Lengar, craving power, tries to hide the gold, but Saban informs their father of the treasure who promptly confiscates the gold. Enraged, Lengar flees Ratharryn and plots his return. Meanwhile, the people of Ratharryn, believing that the gold must be offered to Slaol, the Sun God, decide to sacrifice Camaban, Hengall's middle and illegitimate son, to the Moon Goddess, Lahanna. He will be an offering so Lahanna is not jealous of Slaol, and the  deities are balanced, but Lahanna the Moon Goddess 'rejects' the offering. Meanwhile, Lengar returns with an army, killing his father and turning his younger brother Saban into a slave, while Camaban disappears into the night. To make things right, Saban must somehow stop his brother Lengar and return his tribe to its former glory. However, Camaban has a different plan. He is determined to create a temple  to end winter and suffering. It will be the greatest the world has even known, Stonehenge. All will be Camaban's tools in the creation of this monument. Saban truly believes that winter shall be ended with the construction of the temple, but what Saban does not realize is that his most dangerous enemy isn't Lengar, but the brother right before his eyes, the madman no one suspects. Will Saban be able to make things right for Ratharryn and those he loves, or will Camaban's plot succeed? Find out in Stonehenge!

Stonehenge is one of my all-time favorite books. Filled with temple suspense and plots of patricide, Bernard Cornwell weaves a tale of deceit and cunning, but of hope as well. I loved this book as soon as I began reading it and I recommend it for anyone who loves fiction based on ancient history, or who is just fascinated with Stonehenge.

The Crimson Crown (Book Four, The Seven Realms)

A thousand years ago, Alger Waterlow, the Demon King, the most powerful wizard ever born, kidnapped the first Grey Wolf Queen, Hanalea, to make her his queen. When his plans were thwarted by the wizards of the realm, he nearly destroyed the world in a fit of rage. That is how the story is told, but is it how it truly happened? Raisa ana'Mariana, heir to the Grey Wolf Throne, has been crowned queen of the Fells with the aid of Han Alister, Waterlow's only living descendant, and the Mountain Clans who are the other inhabitants of the Fells. Despite opposition from the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family, Raisa has cemented her claim as the one true heir. However, with this small beacon of hope for the the people of the Queendom comes a torrent of shadow. Gerard Montaigne, now King of the neighboring nation of Arden, has delivered an ultimatum to Raisa, marry me and join our two kingdoms together, or be crushed by the might of Arden's armies. Forced to choose between life and love, Raisa must make a decision that will not only decide her fate, but the fate of her people and the people she loves. Han Alister has an agenda, and a problem. He loves Raisa, and she loves him, yet, at every corner, fate tears them apart. With the upcoming battle against Arden looming, Han must prepare himself and settle the score. With Alger Waterlow on his side, Han will finally take revenge against those who killed his family, the enemy right before his eyes, the Bayars.

The Crimson Crown is the fourth and final installment to the Seven Realms Series. Cinda Williams Chima weaves such a moving tale that, when it was over, I didn't want to put it down. The Crimson Crown is, by far, my favorite in the series, a fantastic end to a spellbinding series.

The Grey Wolf Throne (Book Three, The Seven Realms)

After being abducted, and lost, by Micah Bayar, Raisa ana'Mariana has made her way to the Queendom of the Fells, lost and alone. She knows that if she doesn't return to Fellsmarch soon and reclaim her position as Heir, the Bayars will crown her sister the new Heir. Han Alister, thief-turned-wizard has left Oden's Forge and is now in search of his friend, Rebecca Morley. However,  the Rebecca Morley Han knew never existed, as this was the false name of Raisa during her time with Han at Oden's Forge. Simultaneously, dark clouds are gathering. Queen Mariana is killed, plunging the land of the Fells into further turmoil. When Han finds Raisa near death in the Spirit Mountains of the Fells, he knows that he must do whatever he can to help her. When 'Rebecca' reveals her true status, Han knows that he must do whatever he can to see her crowned.

tGWT is an exhilarating read, filled with action, mystery, and magic. This book will keep you on the edge of your chairs until the very last word.

The Exiled Queen (Book Two, The Seven Realms)

Still tormented by his family's death at the hands of the Bayars, Han enrolls in the wizard school, Mystwerk Academy at Oden's Forge, in an attempt to become stronger so that he may confront the Bayars. However, this education comes with a price. In order for the Clans to fund his education, Han must agree to aid them against the Wizards. The journey south, through the nation of Arden, is long and not without sacrifices. However, the rewards are worth the effort. At Mystwerk, Han meets a Sorcerer named Crow, who offers to further Han's training if Han will help him destroy the Bayars. Fleeing from a forced marriage to Micah Bayar, Raisa ana'Mariana, Heir the the Grey Wolf Throne, has departed from Fellsmarch with Amon Byrne. Her destination, Wien House at Oden's Forge, the one place where she can escape the Bayars . . . and maybe find an ally in a most unexpected place.

The Exiled Queen is a joyride. Almost immediately, readers are flung into the action of the book and are held until the end. Chima brilliantly weaves suspense and mystery into the plotline and crafts amazingly detailed and complex characters. 

The Demon King (Book One, The Seven Realms)

In the city of Fellsmarch, there are some that will do whatever it takes to survive. Han Alister is one of those people. One day, while hunting in the Spirit Mountains with his friend, Fire Dancer, Han comes across the Bayars, a powerful wizard family, from whom he steals an amulet. However, this is no ordinary amulet, it once belonged to the Demon King, the legendary wizard that nearly destroyed the world a thousand years ago. The Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back. At the same time, in the Royal Palace of Fellsmarch, the Princess Heir, Raisa ana'Mariana, will become eligible for marriage on her Sixteenth Name Day. However, she refuses to be a mere pawn in the game of chess that is life. She wishes to be like the first Grey Wolf Queen of the Fells, Hanalea, who saved the world from the Demon King a millennia ago. As Raisa and Han's lives collide, the Seven Realms shall never be the same.

The Demon King is filled with mystery, intrigue, and magic that will leave you craving for more. The Demon King is the first of a quartet. The fourth installment is coming out in the fall. Cinda Williams Chima also wrote the Heir Series, of which the fourth and fifth books are in the writing process.

Winter of the World (Book Two, Century Trilogy)

It has been nearly a decade since the events of Fall of Giants unfolded, and since he the First World War ravaged the earth. It is now 1933. Hitler is beginning his rise to power and the world has fallen into economic depression. Germany's relations with other nations is strained, the setting is ripe for another conflict, one even greater than it's predecessor. Once again we join five families, one German, one British, one Welsh, one Russian, and one American, on the journey, and the fight, of a lifetime. Carla Von Ulrich, the daughter of Walter and Maud, lives in Berlin. However, when war erupts she finds that her life, and the lives of those around her, is changed forever. Lloyd Williams, the illegitimate son of Ethel and Fitz, never knew his true father. However, when Lloyd is flung into battle, both in England, his home, and abroad, he comes closer to the realization of his true heritage, the son of a nobleman. Volodya (Vladimir) Peshkov, the son of Lev, but fathered by his uncle, Grigori, is a member of the Russian Intelligence Agency. He is a spy. When the war begins and Volodya is sent to the lion's den, Berlin,  every turn could mean certain death, or worse. These five interconnected families managed to survive the Great War, but, will they manage to escape this war with their lives, and their humanity?

Ken Follet takes his series to a whole new level of awesomeness in this truly fantastic novel. Like its predecessor, Fall of Giants, it captures the horrors of strife and conflict, while, at the same time, crafts characters with unimaginable depth. I loved this book, and hope you do too. To read the previous blog about Fall of Giants CLICK HERE.

Fall of Giants (Book One, Century Trilogy)

It is the year 1914, dark clouds are gathering and tensions are rising across borders and across the world. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria has just been assassinated; the world is at war. Lev and Grigori Peshkov have always dreamed of journeying to America, but their plans go amiss as Russia is flung into a revolution. Gus Dewar, an American law student, finds himself in Wilson's White House when he is needed most. Billy Williams is a worker in the Welsh coal mines, but his life changes as he is drafted into the British Army. Walter Von Ulrich is a German spy in the German embassy in London, however, when he falls in love the Lady Maud Fitzherbert both their lives, and their destinies will never be the same. Join these people and their families as they make their way across a blood soaked planet and change the world around them.

Ken Folett spins a masterful tale of war, peace, lust, spite, and betrayal. Amidst a backdrop of famous historical figures, like Vladimir Lenin, King Charles V and Woodrow Wilson, Follet's characters range from Earls to railway workers, all united by the single goal: to end the war. The first of Follet's Century Trilogy, Fall of Giants is the perfect story for people who are fascinated with history and the 20th Century, particularly WWI, and who love intricate plot lines, and complex characters. Stay tuned for the second in the series coming in late 2012.

(Recommended for ages 14 and older)

Bitterblue (Book Two, Graceling Trilogy)

It has been eight long years since King Leck's death at the hands of Katsa. His daughter, Bitterblue, is now the Queen of Monsea. However, remnants of Leck's horrific thirty-five year reign still endure. Through his grace of mental manipulation, the mad King put the entire nation under his spell, allowing him to commit heinous crimes. Bitterblue embarks on a journey to piece together the puzzle of her father's reign, and piece together a nation shattered by a madman, her father. Her quest for the truth takes her across the capital she once knew and forces her to unearth secrets that would, if revealed, shatter Monsea in it's entirety. Through her crusade, she discovers two thieves that may hold the answers she seeks. One of them, a Graceling with an unknown Grace, or an extraordinary gift, may hold her heart in the palm of his hand. As questions are answered and more arise, the stakes change. Bitterblue traces Leck's corruption and atrocities to a place where she least expects, and where she most fears.

Bitterblue is the second book in the Graceling series, third if you put the books in the order they were written by Kristin Cashore. Of the two that I have read to date, Graceling and Bitterblue, I haven't read Fire yet, I would probably say that Graceling is my favorite. However, Cashore's Bitterblue is still a truly amazing book, with likable characters and plots twists that leave you gaping, like me. One unexpected facet of this book is the development of the character Leck, and the reader's gradual realization of how twisted Leck truly was.

Graceling (Book One, Graceling Trilogy)

Katsa has been able to kill a man since she was eight years old. She is a Graceling, one of the people in the land blessed with great skills, called Graces. Graces can be different. However, one thing remains the same, Gracelings always have two colored eyes. Katsa's Grace is killing. Realizing this, Katsa's uncle, the evil King Randa, King of the nation of Middluns, uses Katsa as his thug, forcing her to torture and kill any who displease him. Now, after many years, all of the Seven Kingdoms of the realm believe her to be a bloodthirsty killer. Disgusted over what she has become, Katsa creates the Council, a group of people dedicated to help and protect those in trouble and oppression. On a mission for the Council, rescuing the father of the King of Lienid, one the Seven  Kingdoms, she meets another Graeling. Amazingly, the newcomer can match her in combat. However, she knocks him out and escapes, along with the King's father. When the Graceling she once fought before shows up at Randa's court and introduces himself as the King of Lienid's seventh son, known as Prince Po, her life changes forever. The two become friends and Po convinces her to stop working for Randa. Then, her life altered, Katsa sets out with Po to discover who would kidnap his Grandfather. The journey is long and hard, but the trail leads to something far more sinister than either could even imagined.

I love Graceling! It is filled with the perfect balance of action, evil plots, evil kings, a fight for justice, and romance. Kristin Cashore has crafted characters that are compellingly complex and a world that is brilliantly envisioned.

The Enchantress (Book Six, The Secrets of the Immortal Flamel)

The final battle for our world, and for all worlds, has begun. The Time: Ten thousand years ago. The Place: Danu Talis, Atlantis, original home of the Elders. Machivelli and Billy the Kid have betrayed Dee, refusing to release the monsters of Alcatraz, and are now being attacked by the creatures they helped to collect and harbor. Separately, Dee, Dare, Josh and Sophie have all arrived on Danu Talis. Almost immediately, however, they are met by a strange welcoming party, the Elders  Isis and Osiris. Dee's Masters and . . . Sophie and Josh's parents. Not far away, Marethyu, the Hook-handed man, has led Scatty, Joan of Arc, Saint-Germain, Palamedes, and William Shakespeare to the island kingdom as well, to assist in the upcoming battle, the sinking of Danu Talis. The current ruler, Aten, has been deposed by his brother Anubis and mother Bastet who plan to take the kingdom for themselves. However, Isis and Osiris have a different agenda, they will use Sophie and Josh, the supposed rightful rulers of Danu Talis, to take power. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel ends with this stunning conclusion. All will be revealed and it's anyone's guess who will make it home alive.

The Enchantress is an absolute joy of a book. It is filled to the brim with gods, historical figures, battles, suspense, and a jaw dropping finale. In The Enchantress, we finally learn the identity of my favorite character: Marethyu, the Hook-handed man. (Hint: He is someone we have already met.)

The Warlock (Book Five, The Secrets of the Immortal Flamel)

After the battle in Enoch Enterprises, John Dee is once again on the run. His plan to destroy the Elder Race using the Archon, Coatlque, failed, having been vanquished by Flamel and the Twins of Legend. However, Josh, in the aftermath of the battle, has joined Dee and turned against his sister, Flamel and the Prophesy. Flamel, shocked and astonished by Josh's betrayal, has lapsed into a coma, doubtful ever to regain consciousness. As Nicholas lies on his deathbed, Perenelle reveals a last ray of hope. With the help of Sophie's aura, she can give Nicholas an extra day of life, in exchange for one of her own. On Alcatraz, Machiavelli, Billy the Kid, Dee, Dare, and Josh have reunited, determined to bring about the end of the Elders. Dee has come up with with one final, not to mention insane, plan. He will use the four elemental swords, Excalibur, Clarent, Durendal, and Joyesue (Ice, Fire, Air and Earth) to open a portal to Danu Talis, Atlantis, original home of the Elders. He plans to travel back ten thousand years and murder the Elders, all of them, before the series even began.

The Warlock is the penultimate book in the series. The next, and last, book is The Enchantress. Michael Scott has also written numerous other short stories relating to the series such as the Vampires of Vegas featuring Billy the Kid.

The Necromancer (Book Four, The Secrets of the Immortal Flamel)

After failing once again to capture Nicholas Flamel and the Twins, Dee has been proclamed Utlaga, an outlaw, by his Elder masters. Dee is now is being chased by his former 'comrades' for failing one too many times. Perenelle, with the help of the Elder Areop-Enap, my favorite of he Elder race--a fifty foot arachnid with a human head--has managed to defeat the Sphinx and escape Alcatraz, leaving Machiavelli and Billy the Kid stranded upon the island. Sophie, Josh and Nicholas have finally returned to San Francisco to teach Sophie Earth Magic and Josh Fire Magic. However, their homecoming is cut short as two strangers, one who claims to be the sister of Scathatch 'the Shadow' (Scatty), appear at the Newman's doorstep and kidnap Sophie. Dee, along with his new ally, the Immortal Virginia Dare, have also arrived in San Francisco, but for an entirely different reason. They plan to resurrect the Mother of the Gods from the dead and use her to destroy the Elders once and for all. But, in order for Dee to bend it to his will, he needs blood. He needs a sacrifice. He needs a pure gold aura.

You must all be thinking, "The Necromancer." The Author Michael Scott must be talking about Dee as the Titular Character.  Right? . . .  WRONG! When I first discovered who was the Title Character, I was surprised. As it turns out, The Necromancer is actually . . . 

The Sorceress (Book Three, The Secrets of the Immortal Flamel)

France is in chaos. On Dee and Machiavelli''s bidding, the Nidhogg leveled most of Paris in it's rampaging attempt to destroy the Twins of Legend, Sophie and Josh Newman. Failing to capture Sophie and Josh or Nicholas Flamel, Dee  and Machiavelli are now in disfavor with their Dark Elder masters. Sophie, Josh and Nicholas have fled to London, seeking asylum from Dee and hoping to gain new allies as well. Flamel knows that he must teach the twins the next elemental magic, Water Magic, if they are to fulfill their destiny as the Twins of Legend, the only ones who can save the world from the Dark Elders. However, the one person who can teach them this Magic is Gilgamesh the King. The only setback, the last time he saw Nicholas Flamel, Gilgamesh thought the Alchemist was trying to kill him. Meanwhile, half way across the world, on Alcatraz, Perenelle Flamel, Nicholas' wife, is still being held on the Island at the mercy of the Sphinx. To survive, she will need to find allies in the most unexpected of places. Luckily, she may have found one, on Alcatraz itself.

The Sorceress is the third book in the series, and the first book in which we meet the Archons, the race that ruled the world before the Elders and Great Elders. Recently, Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed that he will be producing a movie version of the series. I can't wait to see it!!!

The Magician (Book Two, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

Barely escaping Dee's undead army in Ojai, Sophie and Josh Newman, by way of Leygate, the secret pathways that span the Earth, have arrived in Paris, the city of Flamel's birth. However, their arrival didn't go unnoticed. Niccolo Machiavelli -- Immortal, art collector, master manipulator, head of the French Secret Service, and servant of the Dark Elders -- is on their trail. After their near capture at Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, Nicholas realizes that they have few places to turn for asylum. As Machiavelli draws closer to capturing them with each attempt, Flamel realizes that he needs an ally. The Comte de Saint Germain -- one of Flamel's original students, Immortal, adventurer, charlatan, alchemyst, and rock star -- is just the man for the job. After Dee's destruction of the Yggdrasil, The World Tree, something was awakened, so powerful that it could destroy the world, The Nidhogg. Flamel describes this monstrosity from Norse legend as a cross between a giant snake and a dragon. John Dee is willing to take this risk to capture Flamel and the twins, perfectly willing.

The Magician is filled to the brim with historical references and characters from mythology. The titular character is Dee, court magician for Queen Elizabeth and the character on which James Bond, 007, is based. An exciting blend of magic, history an modern technology, The Magician is a joyride for all ages. 

The Alchemyst (Book One, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

Sophie and Josh Newman are ordinary Fifteen-year-old siblings living in San Francisco. They consider themselves lucky to be working in stores just across the street from each other, under the watchful eyes of Nick and Perry Fleming, the owners of the stores. However, one sunny summer day, a strange man enters Nick's bookshop, smelling of sulfur. The man claims to be Dr. John Dee, a Magician and Alchemyst that lived hundreds of years ago. Dee destroys the bookstore where Josh works, kidnaps Perry, and steals a single book. Stunned and horrified, Sophie and Josh make a series of startling discoveries. First and foremost, they learn that Nick and Perry Fleming are actually Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, famed Alchemysts who lived hundreds of years ago. The Flamels tell them that the myths and legends of gods and heroes actually weren't legends, but fact. They also learn that gods walked the Earth thousands of years ago. Known as Elders, some were good, others evil. Some wished to work with humans, others, known as Dark Elders, wished to destroy humanity. These Elders had the ability to grant humans, known as humani, immortality and that many major historical figures were granted immortality. However, with explanations and time limited, Sophie and Josh now need to act fast. The book Dee stole was known as the Codex, a book containing all of the secrets of the world. With it, Dee plans to release the Dark Elders upon the Earth, turning civilization as we know it to dust. The most shocking revelation is that within the Codex lies a prophecy, thousands of years old, that has to do with them, Sophie and Josh Newman, the Twins of Legend.

The Alchemyst is a thrilling book, filled with an excellent mix of fantasy, myth and action. One of the most interesting aspects of the series is that every character, aside from Sophie and Josh, are either from myth or history. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is one of the few fantasy series the doesn't include a love story. If you're looking for love, you will be disappointed. Aside from that small point, The Alchemyst is a truly great book!

Forward the Foundation (Book 7, Foundation Series)

In the epic final installment of the Foundation Series, we turn back the pendulum 500 years, back to the time of Hari Seldon. Taking place ten years after Prelude to Foundation, Seldon is finally beginning to perfect his science of Psychohistory, the science of predicting the future. For once, he feels that there will be peace in his life. However, there are those who would use Psychohistory as a weapon, a weapon to control the Galatic Empire. Slowly, as his life crumbles around him, Seldon starts to doubt himself and wonders if there is hope for Psychohistory, and the fate of humanity, after all. Amidst the bleackness of life in a receding Empire, a light appears, a hope. A hope that begins with Psychohistory, his own granddaughter, the Foundation, and the will to begin anew.

Forward the foundation was one of Asimov's last novels, published after his death. It is the "crowning jewel of a great author's life." Aside from Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation is the only Foundation Novel that focuses on Hari Seldon as a main character, not some mythical figure as he is depicted in all of the other books.  

Foundation and Earth (Book Six, Foundation Series)

Golan Trevize, former Councilman of the Foundation, has dodged danger at every turn, evaded the Second and First Foundation's spies, discovered the strange living planet Gaia and decided the fate of the Seldon Plan (and the Galaxy). As a result,  he has chosen the mental massmind of Galaxia, over the path of the First or Second Foundations, as the only alternative for unending chaos.  Now, you would think that Trev would call it a day. Of course not! In truth, Trevize was never quite certain why he chose Galaxia as the only alternative for unending chaos. Now, he believes he has found a way to reassure himself of his choice. Recalling his friend's tales about humankind's legendary home, Earth, Trevize, accompanied by a young Gaian named Bliss and his partner Janov Pelorat, sets out to find the planet of origin, where all life began. However, there is but one complication: Earth has been lost for almost 20,000 years, and, if it still exists, no one alive knows where it is. Determined to discover the truth behind his decision to choose Galaxia, Trevize  faces the challenge boldly. But, is this task too great, even for Trevize?

Foundation and Earth is a great masterpiece woven by the master of Science-Fiction Isaac Asimov, filled with action, suspense, plot twists, and much more. This book is a good read for those people who love a novel that can, and will, keep them riveted until the very last word.

A Wizard of Earthsea (Book One, Earthsea Series)

In the land of Earthsea, on the island of Gont, an island famed for its wizards, a child lives unaware of his future or of his great potential. His name is Sparrowhawk (His first name is Duny, but it's simpler to summarize the story with only two names instead of three) and he will become the greatest wizard Earthsea has ever seen. For most of his life, Sparrowhawk has lived under the tutelage of his aunt, the village witch, overhearing and learning the True Speech she uses for her spells. However, when Kargish raiders come and attack Gont, his life changes forever. Using the True Speech to repel the invaders, Sparrowhawk becomes famed throughout the island but falls into a trance after expending too much power. Later, the village is visited by the wizard of Re Albi, Ogion the Silent, who releases Sparrowhawk from his trance and gives him his True Name, Ged. Now, Ogion's apprentice, Ged must train to master the True Speech and learn to control his powers. But as time goes on, Ged becomes, for lack of a better word, bored. He yearns for power and adventure, unaware of the careful balance of the world. Sent to the Wizard school of Roke, Ged learns more than he ever could have imagined. However, this knowledge comes at a price. Goaded by his rival the Roke, Jasper, Ged opens a gateway to another realm and releases a shadow upon the world. This shadow, unhindered, could envelop and world. In order to do this, it needs Ged. Flung into a journey across Earthsea, Ged must stop the shadow and right the wrong he committed or else the world will be consumed.

Earthsea was written in 1968. Yep, 1968. Despite being written 45 years ago, Ursula K. LeGuin's first book in the Earthsea Series is a fantastic edition to anyone's bookshelf and joins my list of favorites. I hope you all will find the time to read this mezmerizing tale of magic and redemption!

Foundation's Edge (Book Five, Foundation Series)

It has been hundreds of years since Second Foundation. Now, 498 years since its founding, the Foundation seems to be following the Seldon Plan 'perfectly'. However, Golan Trevize, Councilman of the First Foundation, was certain the new galactic powerhouse was following the plan, too perfectly. Trevize believed that the supposedly destroyed Second Foundation was actually controlling the First Foundation's every action. Exiled into space with charges of treason, Trevize is sent to find this supposed 'threat' or to die trying. Paired with an aging historian, Janov Pelorat, Trevize leaves Terminus and his home. However, after visiting numerous planets, yet finding nothing, the duo's plan take a drastic change. Whether it is for better or for worse is unknown. Pelorat decides that they are meant to find something else, something greater, Earth.

The last book in the 'actual' Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, Foundation's Edge is full of action, suspense, and mystery. It is, in my opinion, an optional read and not intrinsic to appreciating the series. Similarly, Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation are prequels.

Second Foundation (Book Four, Foundation Series)

The Mule has expanded the twisting tendrils of his power to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Having turned the First Foundation to rubble, the ruling despot now sets his sights on a far greater opponent, the Second Foundation! The one problem is, no one actually knows where to find this elusive enemy. Being the ''mighty conqueror'' that he is, The Mule, guided by one phrase, The Second Foundation is at ''Star's End'', sets out to find the remaining superpower. He realizes that this other Foundation will be his greatest challenge and threat. He orders his men to destroy the Second Foundation before it destroys them.  However, rising from the rubble of the First Foundation are the remnants and survivors who have only one  thought on their mind: If The Mule fails to stop the Second Foundation, who will?

Second Foundation is full of adventure and suspense. This book, the fourth in the series by Isaac Asimov, is the first in the series to mention, as well as show, the hidden Second Foundation.

Foundation and Empire (Book Three, Foundation Series)

Many years after the Empire began to crumble, the Foundation has managed to defeat and conquer the numerous barbarian nations that sprang up in the Empire's wake. But, the Empire has not yet fallen. Soon, an ambitious general will set his sights on the fledgling Foundation, with only one thing on his mind, domination. However, at a different place at a different time, rising from the ashes of the Empire is a new force, one man with a special power and a special vision. One man with the power to destroy the Foundation forever, The Mule.

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov is a great read for those of you who have ideas of what the world could, and might, look like in thousands of years and for people that live book that take place over large expanses of time.

Foundation (Book Two, Foundation Series)

When the Galactic Empire began to fall in Prelude, the Psychohistorian Hari Seldon gathered all the the brightest minds in the Empire. Now, he has brought them to a small planet at the edge of the galaxy. He has created the Foundation. Its goal, using the Seldon Plan, is to reduce the projected 30,000 years of barbarism to  come into a mere millennium and to bring about a Second Empire. At first the Foundation seems to be following the Seldon Plan perfectly. That is, until powerful warlords begin to rise in the wake of the Empire's slow fall. Faced with threats from all directions, the Foundation seems doomed after all.

Foundation is filled with action, adventure, suspense, and a projection of what the world might be like in 10,000 years. Asimov perfectly envisions  long sweeps of future history, and crafts the idea that no matter how bleak the situation, human ingenuity can, and will, prevail. 

Prelude to Foundation (Book One, Foundation Series)

It is the year 12,020. The mathematician Hari Seldon has just arrived on the overflowing Galactic Capital, Trantor, the seat of the Galactic Empire, to give the Emperor Cleon I his report on what he calls Psychohistory, the science of predicting the future. When Cleon declares Seldon and his Psychohistory 'dangerous,' Hari, along with his newfound friend, Chetter Hummin, must escape the Emperor's grasp while, at the same time, staying alive. Having second thoughts that Psychohistory could be a failure, Hari rejects his convictions. That is, until Hummin shared with him a bleak, yet actual, dilemma that the Galactic Empire is falling. After 12,000 years, according to Hummin, the Empire has grown too large and too neglectful to continue on its current path. Realizing his destiny, Hari sets out to perfect and implement Psychohistory before it is too late. But, will Seldon escape Trantor with his life or leave lifeless?

Prelude to Foundation is filled with action, adventure, suspence, romance, and, of course, future technology. Prelude is a great read for anyone who likes Sci-Fi and the great master Isaac Asimov. For any of the Asimov fanatics out there, like me, I encourage you to share your thoughts and favorite parts of Prelude.

Winter's Heart (Book Nine, The Wheel of Time)

Having defeated the Seanchan after using the Sa'angreal, an object that amplifies the use of the One Power, Callandor, Rand must now deal with more personal matters. At the end of The Path of Daggers, the rogue Asha'man Corlan Dashiva, Charl Gedwyn, and Manel Rochaid tried, and failed, to assassinate him in his chambers and are now on the run. With revenge thick in his mind, Rand has tracked the traitors to the city-state of Far Madding with the intent of ending their lives. However, an evil force has followed the three as well, with hopes of killing a different target. Far away, in the city of Caemlyn, Elayne Trakand, heir to the Lion Throne, has begun to solidify her rule of Andor. However, as enemies appear on all sides and Houses begin to rebel, how long will her rule last? Having survived a building falling on him, Mat Cauthon (YES!) is not in the best of moods. The Seanchan are in control of Ebou Dar and he has no way out. The Seanchan High Lady Tuon seemingly has a special interest in him and he is known throughout the city as the "toy" of the Queen. To Mat, thing can't seem to get any worse. That is, until the Gholam, the Dark One's invincible assassin that Mat fought in book 7, returns for revenge. Half a world away, in the tainted city of Shadar Logoth (after the Far Madding incident), Rand al'Thor, The Dragon Reborn has a plan. It is a near suicidal plan that will require massive amounts of the One Power and the Choedan Kal, the most powerful Sa'angreal ever made. He plans to rid the Dark One's taint of Saidin, the male half of the One Power. However, standing in his way are the remaining Forsaken who will do anything in their power to stop him.

Winter's Heart, the seventh in Robert Jordan's WoT series, is a good book. While not as spectacular as book 7, I still enjoyed reading it. I would compare Winter's Heart to Lord of Chaos: good, with some hard-to-get-through passages and a Dumai's Wells-style clash at the end.

The Path of Daggers (Book Eight, The Wheel of Time)

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has taken the city of Illian and has slain the Forsaken Sammael in single combat in the ruins of Shadar Logoth (actually, it was the evil "spirit" Mashadar who killed him . . . it's a long story). Now, a new threat has arisen to the west. The Seanchan, who Rand defeated at Falme in book two, have returned and have taken Ebou Dar, leaving Mat's fate uncertain. Faced with this old enemy, Rand must defeat the Seanchan before they overrun the Westlands in its entirety. Having fled Ebou Dar, Elayne, Aviendha, Birgitte, Nynaeve, and the Kin (a group of female channelers living in Ebou Dar who were rejected from the White Tower) now have the Bowl of the Winds in their possession. However, with the Seanchan in pursuit they must figure out a way to escape with their lives, or end up as damane (the Seanchan leash female channelers and call them damane). At the rebel Tower in Salidar, Egwene al'Vere, the Amyrlin Seat, must make a dangerous decision. Will she stay in Altara, never to seize the White Tower from the hands of the usurper Elaida, or will she march on the false Amyrlin, and risk death, to take what is rightfully hers?

I found The Path of Daggers to be a fitting eighth installment in the Wheel of Time series. Although the shortest WoT book at 685 pages, it is filled to the brim with action and the Seanchan. My only reaction to their sudden appearance was, "They're @*$^%&# everywhere!". The only disappointing part of this novel was the absolute lack of Mat. After a building fell on him in book seven (yes, a building) he is only mentioned in The Path of Daggers.

A Crown of Swords (Book Seven, The Wheel of Time)

After Rand's capture at the hands of the Aes Sedai loyal to Elaida, and the Shaido Aiel, and his rescue by the Asha'man, Mazrim Taim, and Perrin, Rand must prepare for his showdown with the powerful Forsaken Sammael and for his assault on the city of Illian. Halfway across the continent, Mat Cauthon (Go Mat!), Elayne, her Warder Birgitte, Aviendha and Nynaeve have been sent by the rebel Tower to the city of Ebou Dar, the capital of the nation of Altara. Their mission, find a legendary ter'angreal, a magical object with a specific purpose, called the Bowl of the Winds that has the power to end the eternal heat wave caused by the Dark One. Mat's mission, however, is slightly different. He has been instructed by Rand to bring Elayne and Egwene, who has been named Amyrlin Seat by the rebel Tower, to Caemlyn so that Elayne may be crowned Queen of Andor. Yet, darkness is brewing. A channeler of unimaginable power has begun to unite the forces of Shadow under his control and has brought the other Forsaken to kneel. His name is Moridin. Death.

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan is my favorite book in the series. Most importantly, it's mostly Mat's POV. In fact, I think Mat Cauthon is my favorite character of all time. His scenes are funny, his fight scenes are intense and his character is well formed. Another reason why I love this book is because my favorite antagonist of all time, Moridin, is introduced.

Lord of Chaos (Book Six, The Wheel of Time)

Lanfear is dead. During her attack on Cairhien, Rand's Aes Sedai advisor and mentor, Moirane Damodred, sacrificed herself to defeat the powerful Forsaken. Now ruling Tear, Cairhien, and Andor, Rand must balance the needs of three nations while trying to fulfill his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. When an unexpected visitor arrives on his doorstep, Rand enlists him to begin the "Black Tower," a sanctuary where men who can channel can be transformed into perfect weapons known as Asha'man. Meanwhile, as Egwene is summoned to the Rebel Tower in Salidar, Rand sends Mat, Aviendha, and Mat's army, known as the Band of the Red Hand, to bring her back. When Elaida, the Amyrlin usurper, sends an emissary to Rand to convince him to come to the White Tower to begin a "partnership" between Rand and Elaida, he realizes that every move he makes could be fatal. When a heinous treachery is unveiled, it will take all of Rand's allies to right the wrong committed.

I enjoyed Lord of Chaos greatly. However, there were swaths of pages that I just found to be slow and difficult to get through. Aside from those troublesome sections, I the was book full of intrigue and a compelling read. For all of those WoT enthusiasts like me, and for those who are just starting the series, Lord of Chaos is a fantastic installment in Robert Jordan's fantasy epic. And by the way . . . Dumai's Wells!

(If you haven't read the book DO NOT look those last two words up. It will ruin the novel)

The Fires of Heaven (Book Five, The Wheel of Time)

The White Tower has split and the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, has been stilled and deposed. Elaida, an Aes Sedai, a female channeler of the One Power, and the leader of the uprising, has become the new Amyrlin and those who think her a usurper have escaped to form their own Tower. After their battle in Tanchico against the Forsaken Moghedien and the Black Ajah, Aes Sedai who serve the Dark One, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elyane Trakand, both also Aes Sedai, search for those same rebels while, at the same time, flee from Moghedien's wrath. With the help of the Forsaken Lanfear, Rand al'Thor has defeated the Forsaken Asmodean, has ventured into the ruined city of Rhuidean and has been proclaimed the Car'a'carn, the Chief of Chiefs and the chosen one of the Aiel people. However, there are those who would rather die than serve. The Shaido Clan, led by their leader and self-proclaimed Car'a'Carn, Couladin, have fled the Aiel Waste in search of richer lands to pillage. With the help of Mat, Egwene, and the Aiel that follow him, Rand must pursue the Shaido across the Waste and into the Westlands, where the final showdown between Car'a'carns will take place on the doorstep of the great city of Cairhien.

Personally, The Fires of Heaven is one of my favorite in this series by Robert Jordan. My all-time favorite is Book 7. Full of twists, The Fires of Heaven has at least a dozen moments where I threw the book on the floor in fury and then immediately picked it up again to continue reading. It is full of action, Rand and his continuous Forsaken-balefiring, tons and tons of Aiel, and, most importantly, it finally gives Mat a time to shine. Go Mat!

The Shadow Rising (Book Four, The Wheel of Time)

The siege of the Stone of Tear has ended. Rand, along with Moirane's help, has erased the Forsaken Be'lal from the Pattern, killing him. Using the Sa'angreal Callandor to finally kill Ba'alzamon, who was actually the Forsaken Ishamael in another form, Rand has proven himself to be the Dragon Reborn. However, in the wake of the victory, strange things begin to occur. Perrin's axe flies across his room and tries to kill anyone around him, Mat's playing cards come to life and try to slay him as well. As for Rand, all of his reflections from mirrors or other objects emerge and try to assume his place, by killing him. All three overcome their obstacles, but are bewildered by the sudden ominous occurrences. What had just happened, and why not to anyone else? Moirane, however, understands what has occurred. She explains that, as the seals on the Dark One's prison weaken, small "bubbles' of evil will escape. These bubbles are attracted to Ta'veren and, Moirane believes, more will soon appear. When the Stone of Tear comes under attack from Trollocs, and Rand's former traveling partner, Selene, reveals herself to be Lanfear, one of the Forsaken, Rand must do everything in his power to stop the destruction of the Stone. Using Callandor, Rand repels the invaders, but at a heavy cost.  Now, Rand must travel to the Aiel Waste, to discover the truth behind his heritage to to realize his destiny as being far more than the Dragon Reborn.

The Shadow Rising is, so far, my favorite book in the series (I am up to book 5). First and foremost, it is filled to the brim with Aiel, the hearty, ninja-like people who remind me of the Freeman from Dune, but with spears! Previously, there were only a few Aiel characters. Now, the author  finally shows us what the Waste is like. I highly recommend this book for fans of the series, and for fans of the Aiel.

Darkwing (Prequel to the Silverwing trilogy)

Dusk is a young Chiropter, a prehistoric bat, son of the leader of his colony. However, Dusk is regarded as a mutant and a freak for one simple reason, while most Chiropters have simple gliding sails to move between trees, Dusk has wings. He can fly. Even though he tries to suppress his urges to fly, for fear of being tormented by others even more, sometimes the impulses become too great. One fateful day, Dusk's colony is attacked by Felids, a prehistoric feline, and many, including his mother, are killed. Shade, the only Chiropter in the clan who can echolocate, must use his skills to find his colony a new home. Along the way there are many trials, desertions, death and loss that push Shade and his vigilant followers to the limit. However, while the costs are great, the rewards are greater. The fate of Shade's colony hangs in the balance. Will Shade be able to find a home for the rag-tag group of survivors, or will the creatures and the barren landscape of the wilds beyonds destroy them all? 

Darkwing is the Prequel to the Silverwing Trilogy. Full of actual prehistoric creatures, Darkwing is sure to entice prehistory lovers and Oppel fans as well. Kenneth Oppel is also the author of the Airborn Trilogy. I loved this book for its realistic portrayal of the prehistoric world and what prehistoric life could have been like, cruel but hopeful. 

Firewing (Book Three, Silverwing Trilogy)

It has been years since Shade's adventures in Sunwing. Goth is dead, slain in the explosion that stopped Cama Zotz, the bat god of death (actually from Mayan myth and spelled Camazotz), from returning to this world. Shade has taken Marina as a mate and they have one son, Griffin. All seems to be at peace. However, Griffin is shunned for being a Silverwing-brightwing hybrid. To make matters worse, Griffin is a coward, and believes that, because of his cowardice, his father hates him. In an attempt to 'gain' Shade's favor, Griffin attempts to steal fire from humans and sets his only friend, Luna, ablaze, killing her. Griffin seeks solace at the base of Tree Haven, but is sucked into the ground by a massive fissure. Shade, sensing the disturbance, hurtles after him. Little do either realize that the fissure leads to a world neither could have imagined, a world where vampire bats, like Goth, rule. This is a world where the only way out is through a glowing white tree and every vestige of life gives you power, but even the slightest wrong movement could end in certain death. This is the world ruled by Cama Zotz, the Underworld. Cast into this bleak and desolate land, Griffin must stay alive, and escape, but with the spirit of Goth chasing him, will he manage to free himself, and Shade, before the beast of a bat, a shadow of his former self, slays him and banishes him to an eternity of misery?

At the end of Firewing, I cried. There is no use in denying it, I did! However, I cried with good reason. If I tell you why, however, it will ruin the book. Enjoy the novel, I know I did. 

P.S. If a book can make you cry, in a good way, you know that it is a great book.

Sunwing (Book Two, Silverwing Trilogy)

It has been weeks since the events in the book Silverwing and Shade, now a respected member of the colony, still has some questions he needs to have answered. The first and foremost is the truth about his father. Shade, along with Marina and other bats from the colony, set out in search of Shade's long missing, possibly dead, parent. When the group find themselves inside a strange man-made forest, Shade fears the worst. When bats in the group begin to mysteriously disappear, he realizes that his nightmare has become a reality. The journey will be long and hard, filled with treachery and betrayal, death and hope. Flung into a plot that involves the gods themselves, and the fate of all bats, including Shade's father, Shade must make a decision, one that will decide the fate of all, and the possible return of darkness. Will Shade find his lost lineage, or will his past be lost to him, forever? 

Sunwing is my personal favorite in the series. It is filled with suspense, action, drama, and bat romance. Throughout the novel, Shade does some incredible things with his echo-location, like opening doors, and deflecting projectiles. Fans of the series will love this book, just as I did.

Silverwing (Book One, Silverwing Trilogy)

Millions of years ago, there was a war between birds and beasts. Bats, who didn't take a side, were condemned by the other animals to an eternity of night, to never be able to go in the sunlight again. Shade is a young Silverwing bat, the runt of his colony. One day, when he dares another bat to go into the sunlight, Shade is caught by an owl and is brought to the Silverwing Elders for punishment. When the Elders decide not to reprimand shade, the owls burn down the Silverwing's home, Tree Haven, and its inhabitants are forced to migrate to their winter roost, Hibernaculum. On the way, however, the Silverwings are caught in the middle of a storm and Shade is separated from the rest of the colony. He is found by Marina, a Brightwing bat. When Shade tells her of his story, she agrees to help him find his family. Along the journey they meet new allies and dark enemies, an albino bat with the ability to see the future, a cannibalistic vampire bat who has an agenda of his own, and a strange bat colony that wishes  to become human. Despite these challenges, will Shade and Marina make it to the Hibernaculum, and will the journey change them both, forever?

Silverwing is the first book in the series, creation-wise that is. Chronologically, Darkwing takes place first, set in prehistoric times. This book is filled with mystery and suspense. I loved the series as a whole and cried at the end of the last book, long story.