Book Review: Grand Conspiracy by Janny Wurts

Grand Conspiracy by Janny Wurts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Each novel peels back layer upon layer, revealing more of the motivations between several key players and philosophies, making it nigh impossible to summarize any plot points, including the myriad conspiracies plaguing Paravia, without spoiling what was, what is and what is yet to come. The last three chapters' pace proved unrelenting, even unto the final triplet.


I'll be picking up the next novel this week (Peril's Gate) to continue this outstanding series.



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Nominations Open for the Next Series Read

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Book Review: The Towers of Midnight

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The tangled knot of plot threads weave a tapestry of convergence. The Last Hunt begins, prelude to the Last Battle.

Of the main characters, Perrin's growth and acceptance sealed him as the rising, shining star among the brilliant cluster of Two Rivers misfits out to save or damn the world. Mat's character surprised me most this novel. Normally, I skim through chapters devoted to Mat's point of view. Not so this time around. I wonder if I'm seeing Brandon's influence on Mat or if Jordan's plan included more maturity for Matriam at this point in the epic. The Aes Sedai (Nynaeve, Egwene, Cadsuane and even Elaida, briefly) had their moments, but the support staff (i.e. Warders) shined. Lan, Gawyn, Galad (by osmosis mostly as Gawyn's step brother), Brigitte - all received long overdue attention. I wanted more from Aviendha's thread. Rand and Min sporadically pounced in and out of various hot spots, spectacularly so in Maradon.

With the end so close, I fear I'll break with the strain of waiting another year (or more) for the epic conclusion to a saga I started over two decades ago.

It's darkest before the dawn ... or the end of all things. Tarmon Gai'don breaks.


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Book Review: The Magic of Recluce by Modesitt

Excellent world building and superb magic system with an annoyingly dense but affable young adult protagonist on a quest. Lerris is 'the chosen one' but for all the wrong reasons or completely mysterious hidden reasons until he's painted himself into a corner with his fumbling choices. Lerris isn't burdened with a prophecy, but he resists the status quo of Recluce. Lerris is just your typical young adult with attention deficit disorder (i.e., he's bored and finds everything boring), but Recluce doesn't prescribe Ritalin. Somewhat like extreme Amish, Recluce peacefully forces their misfits to either exile permanently or go on dangergeld (similar to rumspringa but with a quest attached), during which they must decide if they can return to Recluce and succumb to its creed and worldview (seeking perfection in Order). This novel follows Lerris on his journey as a dangergelder until he understands all that Recluce embodies and effects, and reaches his decision.

If you are looking for a story with character growth, Lerris' journey as an exile from Recluce will fit that bill. If you are looking for a new fantasy world with a detailed history, divergent societies, a logical robust magic system, with a different spin on the age-old struggle between angels and demons, good and evil, black and white, order and chaos, then you've come to the right story and series. 

For the rest of my GoodReads review of The Magic of Recluce.  

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Welcome to the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club!

SciFi Czar: Brad
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Books we're currently reading

Haze

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Start date: November 1, 2010

The Magic of Recluce

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Start date: November 1, 2010

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Reading Goal Reality Check for Q4 2010

In 2009, I read ninety-six novels, just four shy of my goal of reading one hundred books that year.  Now that I'm firmly in the final quarter of 2010, with nearly half of October history already, I find myself at nearly the same place and pace.

I track all my reading via GoodReads, which introduced a handy stats feature this year.   Since I've read sixty-two novels in the first three quarters of 2010, I project another twenty before the end of the year, which is disappointing.  And I'm not likely to get more time to read, since the last quarter is filled with family events and holidays, none of which leave me leisure time to read.  Perhaps I'll at least be able to finish a couple of audio books on the long road back and forth to Texas (twice) in the coming weeks.

Looking back at the quality of reads this year, I only awarded three five-star ratings/reviews but over thirty four-star ratings/reviews.  A couple of the best reads included:

A Civil Campaign by Bujold

Carol Berg's Lighthouse duology - Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone

Kay's Sarantine Mosaic duology - Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors

Miller's classic award winning Canticle for Leibowitz

And as if I didn't already have enough unfinished epic fantasy series to read, I started a new one by Brandon Sanderson with his recently released Way of Kings (aka the tome).

For my own peace of mind and to further advance me to my one hundred book goal for 2010, I'm swearing off books over 800 or 900 pages for the rest of the year.