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Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Books in 2013


I'm reading Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines and loving it.

Isaac Vainio can use his magic to pull things from books ... disruptors, swords or shrinking potions. But he's been demoted to librarian ... that is, until three vampires try to kill him.

I love the ideas, the adveture and the magic. Isaac even ends up on the moon for a short time. And it makes sense!

First book in a trilogy. Jim just finished writing the third one. I also respect Jim very much for his non-writing work, and for the fact that he has been a crisis counselor for years.

Last edited by Firlefanz, 11/20/2013, 7:51 am


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TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Books in 2013


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Dreams and Shadows by C. Robert Cargill, 2013, audiobook

I had no idea what I was getting into with this one! I briefly read the description and picked it before even finishing. So I was surprised by the setting.

It's another twist on the fae - they live in our world but most cannot be seen by humans unless the veil is thin or our consciousness is otherwise altered. Fae "feed" on human energy whether good or bad emotions. There are many many types and the story follows a changeling and the human boy he replaced.

I thought it was odd that they choose an American to narrate the book as I'm so used to these types of novels taking place in the UK or Europe. But then names started sounding familiar...and it turns out it takes place right here in Austin! That was a cool realization. It made the fae world seem all that much closer to me.

This was a rather gory and grim book. I did enjoy it but it by no means was a happy story. It appears to be the first in a series though it could just as easily be left as is. I did enjoy the unusual setting and much of the prose of the book. I just wish "guts" hadn't spilled quite so often. I'm a weenie about gore these days! emoticon

Last edited by TexasMadness, 11/19/2013, 8:20 pm
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The Inheritance Cycle: Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, 2002-2012, audiobooks

I just reread the first three and read the fourth book in this series for the first time. It's young adult fiction so nothing overly serious or mind shattering, but a good entertaining read nonetheless. The author started writing the books when he was only 15 years old and the first was self-published before being picked up by a publishing firm. Yes, it is a bit childish in the writing and plot but the author improves enormously over the course of the series.

The books follow a poor farm boy named Eragon who finds a mysterious object while hunting for this family in the treacherous mountains near the farm. He soon finds himself the first free dragon rider in over a 100 years since the rise of the mad king who killed the order in order to take control of the whole Empire. Eragon must decide how to proceed to save his life and those of his remaining family and friends after the king's evil creatures come to destroy his childhood home.

The books go on to build upon Eragon's character taking him from a young uneducated boy to a young adult with more worldly experience than he could have imagined. Along the way he meets elves, dwarves and urgals among other odd creatures.

Great read - I'm sad the series is over!
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Re: Books in 2013


Firle, Libriomancer sounds interesting - I have a hold on it at the library!
11/19/2013, 8:33 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Books in 2013


I stopped reading the Eragon series after book two. Maybe I should go back into it ...

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Libriomancer. And I can promise no spilled guts!

I'm mostly reading non-fiction these days. "Mind over Medicine" by Lissa Rankin is a really good one.

Right now making my way through "A Happy Pocketful of Money". It's a bit mystical to read.

Oh, and "Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife", by Eben Alexander. That's fascinating. He fell into a 7-day coma because of bacterial meningitis, and not only survived but regained all his faculties. And being who he is, he debunks all those myths about his experience just being the product of his dying brain.

I should go back to writing ...

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Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, 1983, audiobook

I'm running out of good book choices through my library download account so I'm venturing further off my usual path. This is a typical coming-of-age, sword and sorcery book. It's a young adult book and the target audience is much younger than the usual ones I enjoy.

Alanna is a noble girl supposed to learn to be a lady. But she is better at physical activities then her twin brother. When they are sent off for schooling, she arranges a swap and she goes to train with knights disguised as a boy.

It's the first in a series. She starts at 10 and is maybe 14 at the end of this book. At 1 she can become a knight if she hides her secret identity long enough. I'll probably read the rest of the books because they are so short and don't take too much mental energy to follow!
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Relic by Heather Terell, 2013, audiobook

Reviews of this book said it was going to be the next big thing in young adult fiction. I was sadly disappointed. The concept kept me reading but the plot and characters were not interesting. And unfortunately, the narrator was awful - flat, odd tone of voice and didn't bring any characters to life.

New North is an arctic island containing the only surviving people of a worldwide flood 250 years ago. The people live in a "golden age" type society with strict social rules and customs. Each year a competition is held amongst the 18 year olds to determine who will win the most honored roles in society. Eva's twin brother dies mere months before the competition and she takes his place much to the chagrin of the whole town. The plot pretty much follows a formulaic line from there. Nothing surprising at all.

There are going to be more in the series. I doubt I'll be checking to see when they are published...

Odd that I read two twins books back to back with the girl taking the boys role!
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Terra Incognita series: The Edge of the World (2009), The Map of All Things (2010), and The Key to Creation bu Kevin J. Anderson, audiobooks

A great fantasy trilogy set in a medieval type world with warring countries who worship the same god but different sons of that god. The two brothers settled the two different continents and each see each other has heretics. The story is an epic tale of many characters in each country, spanning 2 decades of strife. The characters are complex and well rounded - no one is "evil" or "good", every one is simply human. There is a little magic in the world (mostly sympathetic magic) and many mythical creatures.

The tale takes you through the issues with religious fervor, the class system, racism, and revenge.

I just wish it hadn't been read by Scott Brick...I've listened to others of his - Omnivore's Dilemma and HG Wells The Time Machine. He worked well for both of those. I feel his voice is flat and descriptive, not exciting and emotional. This book was very exciting and emotional but that didn't come through as well with the narrator. Don't get me wrong - Brick is a great narrator...just for a certain genre. I won't listen to an audiobook like this by him again. Ah well, can't be perfect!
12/11/2013, 10:51 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines, 2012, paper

An interesting modern fantasy story. I don't usually read fantasy set in the "real world". It's usually either an entirely different Earth, or if it is set in the real world, it mainly takes place in a fantastical setting (i.e. Hogwarts of Harry Potter). But this is smack dab in the middle of reality where most humans don't know magic is real or that vampires are out there.

The story follows a young man who can pull objects from from books by using the combined strength of belief of all the people that have read those books. I liked the concept. The story was intriguing and the setting was fun.


Ooo...I see there's a sequel already.

Last edited by TexasMadness, 12/11/2013, 10:59 pm
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Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Books in 2013


Yes, there is a sequel and a third book in the series that Jim just finished writing.

I really loved this one, but then I actually enjoy urban fantasy. I have written one novel set in my old home town ... really want to see that published.

Glad you liked Libriomancer. emoticon

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