A tethered, Yet Non-Spoiler Brief Review
933027
There are some fantastic reviews on here about this film- many clearly written by some self-dubbed critics and bloggers.

When I look for a review, I look for the one that speaks to me personally, not discusses the directors former work,  latitude and longitude of PI~ etc.

So if I may-  I watched this latest Clooney offering ON A FLIGHT while rumors of the missing Malaysian 777 were brewing.

The flight experienced a fair amount of turbulence and without question the soundtrack itself is a palpable "extra" in the film. I found myself gasping at times.

I rarely gasp,  and connect recollect a flick that has made me done so in recent memory.

The cinematography and direction in the movie are positively genious.

Clooney is Clooney- and if you are a Clooney fan you may be a bigger one when it is over.

Sandy Bullock is flawless.

When I return from my trip,  I think I may watch it from the bathtub with my ears immersed - it is truly that captivating.

Watch this.  Watch it twice.

Bravo.
4387464
This one is tough to review, as I've been a long time fan who loves the series. I want to give them all 5 stars. That said, the overall story arc of the curse from the previous book moves along, but the couple's story isn't what I'd hoped for. A few things bothered me, foremost was the very basic storyline for the MC. It was quite similar in a number of aspects to Exiled, which was not a favorite of mine. The main characters really left me a bit cold, even with the tons of sexy time. She was more than a tiny bit annoying, he was quite the alpha, but just didn't do anything for me. I found myself skimming some of the sex scenes to get to the story because I just couldn't get into either of them.
THE scene, the one spoken about by readers, where he is ready to make a huge personal sacrifice for her, really bothers me. Not in what makes it a sacrifice (more on that in a minute) , but that there wasn't a real fight about it being made. Not enough, "I'll do it.", "No, I will." Just what seems a token protest and she agrees to let him make the sacrifice. Only discovery of his past stops her, even though it was clearly a very painful idea to him before she knew.  It seemed to me that the willingness to sacrifice for another they care about wasn't equal. Through out, the emotional components of the relationship came across as uneven.

**TRIGGER WARNING**
Now, the sacrifice. I won't give exact details, but I will say that it  involved past, long term sexual abuse and rape. Parts are described in some detail, which, obviously, could be disturbing to some readers. While it doesn't occur in the time frame current to the book, it's there with enough detail to know just what happened. I understand not having such a detail in the blurb, both as a spoiler of sorts and to not turn off readers, however, I'm sure some form of a heads up to those who may find that aspect of the story to be a trigger could be given. And would be appreciated.

All together, as my title says: I didn't love it. Didn't hate it, either. I'll say that it won't be one I re-read , as I do with most of the other books in the BotK series.
1644258
AFFC has been derided by some for being the weakest of the series. I happen to agree with that statement, but it's still quite a good book, particularly compared to the vast majority of what is out there. No, it won't provide as many visceral thrills as the first three books in the series did (particularly ASOS), but the quiet tension both above and below the surface still provide a good deal of interesting interplay between the characters.

Criticisms; because of the focus on only certain characters, the feeling of missing out on the story of Jon, Stannis and the like is exaggerated ( especially as the delay in getting the next book has lengthened), I also am not as interested in the Ironborn as I probably needed to be, and there's a general feeling that the book is more of a set-up for the rest of the series than a standalone.

That's not to say the book isn't good - I think it's *very* good (a 3.5 star book if I could rate it as such, I bumped it to 4 out of affection for the series), but high expectations and the previous three books probably make it seem like less than it really is.

*2012 edit*: After reading this a few more times and including ADWD into the greater context, I bumped this down from 4 to 3 stars (it's probably more of a flat 3 star book to me now, give or take). The problems in AFFC were largely repeated in ADWD.
3808757
Review:

By now there should be no surprise that I anticipate and welcome any YA set in Japan, be it in a modern or historical settings, everything goes. Ive read the previous two books in this engaging, imaginative and action-packed series and thoroughly enjoyed them, and Im quite sad it took me so long to finally pick up the final book. What I discovered is that everything I found awesome previously is still there, but so are heaps of other aspects that just make the last book cramped and full of various plot devices, unnecessary additions, stalling, and despite including all these new things, the story somewhat dragged and felt really slow.

Zombies and vampires and dragons, oh my! That was the source of why I felt this final book lacking. Vampire ninjas as unique twist to the story was ingenious to me and when I heard about the dragon, it was still quite exciting, but when the zombies come around and then the god of death and why oh why cant that creepily annoying villain Kenji Kira already hit the bucket, then it started to become a bother. There was for sure lots of action, close calls, incredibly tense and oh-my-god-whats-going-to-happen moments, but all these heaps of bad guys against our poor trio of heroes, who had internal relationship issues as well, wasn't really encouraging and pleasant to follow. Also, poor Taro, I genuinely felt sorry for him in this book, how much torture, physical pain, emotional pain, betrayal can one person bear.

Despite my whining, I still more or less liked the book, it had a really satisfying conclusion and I was left leaving the series with a smile on my face. I was really happy on how everything was pulled together and all the fates were more than earned. I also absolutely loved the confrontation between Lord Tokugawa and Taro, it was a long time coming and I was on the edge of my seat when they finally met for real, face to face. What a wonderful final showdown they had. Also, Nobunaga was a great villain in the two previous books and Kenji Kira was only disgusting, but the one with more momentum and the main adversary was without a doubt Tokugawa.

While the main gang of three were already from the start somewhat of a clich: a boy with a destiny, his tough friend and a beautiful strong-willed lady love - I thought they made a decent team and I quite liked all three of them. Im happy that everything wasn't smooth sailing for them in this book and various issues came up that were in the long run unavoidable and the separations they went through were good for character development and strengthening bonds, especially for the two sidekicks. Im glad that the both of them also were able to see each other and survive without Taro by their side all the time.

Overall:

I can say that this was an excellent series with imagination, fights, adventure, Japanese mythology and, most of all, my favourite setting, especially since feudal settings for Japan-themed YA books are incredibly rare. The final book was based on some aspects a slight let down, because there was just too much of everything in it, but it still worked and the previous two were so good that they compensated slightly for the spots lacking. Im quite sad that this series doesnt have as many readers as it deserves though, because I guess, it is somewhat of a niche mix of setting and genre. Still, give the series a try, especially if you enjoy historical adventure, action and manga.
4782777
Scott Lynch, through his several year long hiatus, has crafted the perfect introduction to a character I've been interested in since her name was first toasted... some eighty pages into The Lies of Locke Lamora. If you're interested in learning about Locke's other half then you'll love the novel, save a marginally interesting play. If you were in it for another daring heist by Locke and Jean then, well, this may not be the book for you.

This installment in The Gentleman Bastards line is entirely focused on Locke and Sabetha. While doing this does weaken the other aspects of the book, when Locke and Sabetha are together everything really comes together. Their dialogue is some of the most riveting I have experienced in a while, and the contrasting similarities between their personalities are masterfully drawn by Lynch. However, as I mentioned, this strong focus does cause the rest of the novel to suffer.

Jean simply exists. He doesn't do much, doesn't add much. He's just the guy friend there to give Locke the pep talk. Which is fine. No demeaning of the character, at least.

The overarching conflict is mildly interesting. It's politics. Slightly reminiscent of the House of Cards series, just with less Kevin Spacey and less murder. It works, but, then again, the focus isn't on that.

Bondsmagi are cleverly expanded upon and detailed, along with a history of their world. It provides some of the nice world-building that the series has been needing. But, again, not the focus.

The focus is on Locke. Which is why the last reveal the book makes is... frustrating.

***********MAJOR SPOILERS***********

Throughout the novel the fact that Sabetha is a red-head is made out to be the fundamental problem in their relationship. See, apparently, if you bleed and screw a red-head, you are healed, or something like that. So the major underlying factor is that Sabetha is terrified that is why Locke is chasing her. This is resolved in the flashbacks, BUT... comes back during the reveal.

So, Locke was a Bondsmagi in a past life, and supposedly only love Sabetha because he wants to be healed by urban legend.

Gods above... Lynch?!? Why was this necessary? It cheapens Locke's character so much. Look, now he isn't just some talented orphan who was taken in by a kind priest and become the thieving badass he is. No, now he has to be some famous magician. That's why he was so talented, so good at everything he did.

Look at it this way. When you read, you're always making inferences, or predictions, about what will happen based on the available information. It's unconscious for most any reader. If everything goes exactly as you predict, then the appeal of the story is in the writing and familiarity of the tale. Most books, however, have to switch things up. Thus the entertainment comes from the unexpected within text. So then why don't authors just do the unexpected? Have George Washington wrestle a Martian while riding dinosaurs?

They don't because, for a reader to be entertained, they have to follow the progression of logic. If you start saying 2+2=5, people will get hung up on that, ignoring the story line, until you explain away that equation. Magic serves as a tool to do this within a story. It can be a wonderful tool for tying plots up in neat little bows, or explaining away any and all problems, but, if it is overused, then it becomes a detriment to the progression of logic.

Had this reveal been hinted at earlier in the series, I might have given Lynch a bit more credit. But given its abrupt timing and poor logical progression, I must say I despise the fact that Lynch made Lamora a Bondsmagi, more or less. Maybe enough to stop reading the series. Maybe,

Let's hope the Thorn of Emberlain reveals this was all one big trick, eh?
198902
*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

GRAPHICS- At first glance, the new art style seems very un Mega Man-like; more specifically, everyone's legs have become much thinner than usual. As much as I prefer that art style, I don't see too many problems with this one. I especially like Alia's new hairdo, which is longer than it has been.

VOICES- Compared to the voices of X4 through X7, these are certainly the best English VAs I've heard. (The Japanese voices of X6 and X7 were the best, in my opinion)

CONTROLS- Mega Man X is back in 2D, and it's a nice thing. The 3D parts of X7 were nice, but let's face it; Mega Man in 3D... isn't all Mega Man. X and his friends run, shoot, dash, jump, climb and all sorts of other neat verbs. Some of the new skills are tricky to get the hang of at first, but when you master then, you'll clobber the Mavericks just that much faster!

MUSIC- It's been a while since the X games have had more than one awesome music track per game. The tunes in X8 are toe-tappin' treasures, from Lumine's eerie church organ theme to the adrenaline-stirring climb up the Jakob Project elevator.

STORY- Ever since the X series was transferred to a different writer since X6, I have worried about various plotholes, such as the rift between the X series and the Zero series; I'm still waiting for Zero to explain exactly how he came back in X6 from his demise in X5, and where exactly Axl comes into play. The romantic aspect is interesting, too; I'm also waiting for Alia and X to officially hook up. Layer, the new navigator, has a thing for Zero, but Zero is still heartbroken by the demise of Iris in X4 and is pretty cold to everyone but X and sometimes Axl. Whether or not these two get together can't be determined yet (though this reviewer personally hopes they don't, since it would totally mess up his "Mega Man Iris" fanfiction stories). Hee hee.

So, there's my review of Mega Man X8. It can be summed up in three words: "pretty dang good." Five stars.
4662882
As a fellow writer, I tend to look at the nuts and bolts when I'm reading.  I've found if the writing really fails or shines in the areas of world building, character development, or overall pacing for me, how well I enjoyed the book is strongly affected.  As such, I focus my reviews on these areas.

*World Building

I'll start this off with a question:  Where's the tourist pamphlet for this world?!?  E.M.'s careful attention to unusual details, despite a few unfamiliar words (easily comprehended from context) made me want to go visit.  The story doesn't play out against a tapestry, it plays out in full 3-D visual for me, which is highly unusual.  Most of the time stories are played out in front of a rich tapestry, or like a well-done film.  In this story, the world itself almost becomes a character that interacts with, molds, and shapes the underlying story.

Every time you think you've gained a good understanding, a new layer is added which continues to add a living vibrancy to the world - both the physical elements, and the political elements.  Though this installment, I thoroughly looked forward to discovering what was "just around the bend", and I usually despise stories with a heavy political element.

*Character Development

While not quite on par with the world building, the character development was also very well done.  There are a few shallow characters, some that have depths I hope are explored, and everywhere in between, just as in real life.  The reason I say this isn't quite the same quality as the world building is because the characters are still developing, which leaves a lot of questions unanswered about motivation, and who the characters are at their core.

The main cast had some decided unexpected changes, a few of which I'm still struggling to wrap my head around.  I've seen such sudden about faces in other tales with characters who weren't quite as dedicated to their ways as E.M. describes her own, so these don't quite ring true for me.

*Pacing

With as strong as the other areas of the writing are, I found the pacing a bit out of kilter.  The first 3/4 of the book were spot on - a nice organic development of excitement, and expectation.  The last 1/4 felt like it was falling apart.  There are several threads left open for the next books to pick up and carry on with, yet these same threads made the excitement of the tale begin to unravel for me.  Perhaps, when I get a chance to read all the books in a single run it won't be as visible.  And, I AM going to get the rest of the series!
199267
The book was a nice (almost predictable) wrap up to the series.  I like Card's story telling so I'm not disappointed but, it may seem a bit overpriced to those folks new to his work.  Also, to really enjoy the book you may need to skim over all the speculative descriptions of time shifting, the paradoxes it can seemingly cause, and the results.  Time shifting by a human being was a neat idea, an enjoyable plot device and the characters (teenage kids) in the adventure were well crafted (not unusual for Mr. Card)  That said, I think the last book is okay, I enjoyed it overall.

I'm not going to spoil the plot for you, the reader, rather, just don't expect a lot.  Just read and enjoy a master story teller at work.
3298201
I don't know what my expectations were for The Unlucky Man  I was looking for something dystopian, dark, and that I hadnt read before  and believe it or not thats what I got! Id classify it as an urban dystopian fantasy with supernatural and thriller elements. Ultimately, its about ordinary man John Hesker who is talking with best friend Corg when a body smashes on top of their car. Theyre questioned by an investigator called Whimsy, who is a man only half-interested in what they are saying and seems to ask his questions on a whim, so he was well-named. However, its not long before the dark elusive organisation called Control will send its most accomplished assassin Wychelo (like a witch with dark unnerving pools for eyes) to kill Jon and therefore hide its secrets. When a disturbing supernatural force is injected into Jon, he goes on the run, over Old Links bridge where there is no law and only savagery awaits.

Well, HTG Hedges has an eye for atmosphere and setting, which places the reader into a three-dimensional world that brought clarity and richness to every description of setting, and was applied consistently throughout. Id say this was the best feature of his writing, and made me feel as if I was reading something new or rare. The writing from 76% captured me fully, immersing me into complete disorientation, which was the intention, into a graphic hell that was also somewhat pleasant on the senses to witness.

Criticism: it took me a while to remember who the villains were, especially their names and what distinguished them, because they had small parts and mainly from the point-of-view of Jon. Closer to the end there was a touch too much background information on the villains, which though missing before to add mystery, was inserted a little late in this relatively short novel. Third-person omniscient was used to re-shine a light on the villains at 67%, which though I worried the plot was crumbling at this point it did actually put things back into perspective where they had been missing in the car-chases and well-directed action scenes. Third-person and first-person point-of-view was mingled, which lent the story inconsistency and did become more noticeable as it progressed. On that same note, the author was adept at using first-person to add depth, colour, and contrast that I haven't seen before when reading from first-person POV, but his use of third-person omniscient from 76% was a display of incredible writing. It seems the author needs to decide on where his strengths lie and how to use point-of-view with consistency to deliver maximum impact. I would have enjoyed this more if it was better balanced as well: two-thirds action and one-third background/conclusion didn't move events forward in a way that I had hoped.

Overall, I don't think HTG Hedges readers will be disappointed by his writing. The atmospheric descriptions, combined with metaphor, worked consistently well throughout. I was often curious where the plot was going, and when things turned chaotic I was utterly absorbed, with mouth agape. Piecing together the sub-elements of the plot didn't come immediately to me, but when parts did they made sense and piqued my interest. Theres some terrific writing in this.
1820542
I wrestled with whether to bump this one up to 4 stars from the solid 3-1/2 I felt it deserved. Readers of my reviews are probably rolling their eyes at my inability to just grade on whole stars, but on the bell curve in my mind, the 3-star category is vast in breadth, while the 4 and 5 star categories are reserved for top of the shelf titles that really touch me in some way. Usually there is an element that will cause me to decide one way or the other. So I don't know whether the 4-star rating is warranted, but based on the strong emotional ending (though I agree with other reviewers that it was too short by far), and the delightful conversations (reminiscent of the best of the "talky" British films that delight and enchant through clever and rapid turns of phrase) I'm fairly comfortable with bumping my 3-1/2 star up to 4. I'm glad that I read this book before I read "Broken Wings" by the same author, however, as I felt that the first book was superior, and my expectations for this author may have dampened my opinion of "Lady Knight."

L-J Baker has a grip on writing fantasy that is a relief. I grew up on sci-fi (or speculative fiction, if you will) and fantasy novels, and since scouring the realms of lesbian fiction in later years, I've often been disappointed by a variety of things. Too much time spent on setting, and not enough on character, pretending men don't even exist and forming some society of only females who yet somehow procreate (though this isn't a deal-breaker as there are offerings with elements of this I have enjoyed; it just gets tiresome in its departure from situations the modern-day reader can relate to), uneven pacing, amateur editing, clearly creating a different world or society with an agenda in mind, versus a story to tell. I could go on, but my point is that "Lady Knight" manages to avoid these pitfalls. Baker has a keen eye and ear for detail, and the society she creates seems real. This is another world she has created that is somehow vivid despite the sparse lines the author uses to sketch it.

For all of the big political and social themes this book tackles, this is a surprisingly intimate story. For the most part the pacing is superb (though I agree looking back that I'd have preferred a bit more time spent on the ending versus the middle). Big events and actions are often moved along quickly in order to spend more time delving into their effects on the characters. Well-written and well-edited. Sometimes the misogyny got a bit annoying or heavy-handed for me, but it also helped create an interesting and not wholly unrealistic setting and character motivations.

The characters were consistent in their thoughts and actions, and well-constructed. They made tough decisions honorably, and stuck to them despite the temptation not to. This was also something that was a great relief: reading a story about mature individuals. For certain I don't know about how I feel about all of their motivations. Much of the book centers on the beginning of a Holy War, and fanatical devotion to any one religion over another as a cause for war worries me, but there's no denying it's a powerful motivation.

So all in all, a very fine read. I know some people thought the characters spoke too much, but for me that elevated the book to something more. I just love a good turn of phrase, though the very end could have been worded stronger. A surprisingly touching story, where good people are trying to live as they are, to embody the chivalry and honor that can be the best of us. I agree that it begs for a sequel. I await more offerings from this author.
2230309
Review:

I read the first book of the series and it had a somewhat ambiguous ending, and since it wasn't a frustrating kind of end (as cliff-hangers and unresolved relationships usually are), then I obviously had to know how everything wraps up. And I wasn't disappointed, despite the heavy load of angst and self-pitying.

It wasn't a surprise that there would be a lot of drama and I-want-you-but-I-cant-have-you kind of sentiment, but I didn't find it as annoying as I usually would have, because this whining and angsty ping pong came across as logical reactions and emotions in regards to the situation. I also liked that when the obvious doom was clear, they didn't agree to suffer, but decided to take as much as possible from an unfortunate situation and enable each other the six months to be happy together instead of sparing the heartache early and not have that brief time of closeness at all. Even the final petty and pointless fight didn't manage to bother me, because nerves were on end and it isn't unusual that people start to lash out because of that. So, overall, I thought the emotional rollercoaster and all the crying and complaining was authentic and believable.

For some reason Im always hesitant when dual viewpoint is used. Of course Im curious to know what the guy is thinking and to get the whole picture, yet it also makes me iffy, because sometimes it takes away the mystery and makes the reader all-wise and I would have just liked to take the journey in the shoes of the heroine and be as confused and blind to the inner workings of the hero as her. In this book, I did like that both sides were represented and each got to show us whats going on in their heads.

I really wasn't expecting to be as intrigued and excited to read about Fleurs story in the third book of the series to come out by the end of the year. The snippets and beginning of that romance in the current book was a nice tease and prelude to what is to come. Cant wait!

Where I felt the book slightly lacking and what I personally always look forward to, to make the story juicier and provide colour to the characters, is the dialogue. There was some nice banter here and there, but overall, the dialogue came across somewhat generic and simplistic. Fortunately, it was compensated by all the angst and great descriptions of the inner workings of the couple.

I also notices that almost all family relationships in the book were on the rocks or already fallen off the cliff and there were no real conclusions, even Maggie and her father were left hanging despite improvements. Also, you couldn't even call most of them proper parents, even in the loose sense of the word and I get really irritated by neglecting or bullying parents.

Characters:

Maggie  She was quite likable if somewhat bland. Nevertheless, she had spine, was a good friend, dealt with a difficult situation within her love-life quite admirably, although, she had her low moments and, overall, was easy to root for.

Samir  Being able to see his side of the story made his first book overconfident and strong persona seem quite vulnerable and he was a huge mess inside, because of his family, because of Maggie and because of the restraints on his life and his set future. There was an interesting contrast to him in this book compared to the first.

Overall:

A satisfying conclusion to Maggie and Samirs relationship and I hope to catch up with them again in Fleurs book.
2332277
I am not going to give a synopsis of the book, other reviewers do that.  I will say that this reads exactly like you are watching the show.  I love it.
438860
Overall a great read. London does a nice job of providing a brief introduction to the main characters and enriching it with quick action and little apology. For those looking for detailed exposition, this is not the comic for youthe story gives a brief set-up and immediately dives right in to the humor, the action, and the drama. It is evident in the writing that there exists a universe rich for the reader to explore and learn about as the plot progresses, but it is subtle and not easily identifiable.

London has made the smart move of moving the large chunk of universe lore off of the comic book and into the digital and multimedia space of their website. Rather than spending countless potentially boring pages detailing out the lengthy backstories, character introductions, and explanations of the setting, the authors open quick into the action. Just about everything is introduced in context, from names to missions to enemies and locations, thus allowing the reader take the story in stride without having to pull up a map or a timeline. More importantly if the reader actually wanted to do so, it appears that much of that extra information lives readily accessible online.

Unfortunately not much of this "expanded online universe" is referenced to other than in fine print at the beginning of the comic, and perhaps readers don't want to go through the trouble of having to go to a second source of information. Personally I believe that for now, the reader can make due without it and let the story evolve on its own.
4064698
As there was no comment on this I thought it deserved a mention as it is a good watch, though better as a continuation.

Though this is a standalone I'd firmly say it's better as a final visit to the world portrayed in the series of the same name. There is a quick summary of the series at the beginning to get you "up to speed" so you understand this as a standalone.

I refer you to the review I've just written for the series as there are marked similarities between the two.

I'm not going to go into great detail here having written a detailed review for the series.

It is a pleasant watch on its own but I'd rate it only as 2-3 starts if seen on its own. For me you don't build the same rapport with the principals that you get having watched the 11 episode series.

FWIW I considered the series well worth watching and 4 star.
1663393
Annamaria is barely an afterthought in this volume. While I thought that was attributable to the interlude nature of the installment, she doesnt have much of a role in later books either. While her place in those books seems limited to that of a plot device, however, shes just sort of irrelevant here. Joliethe girl who helps Oddis a great new character, and I enjoyed getting to experience part of the narrative from her perspective. Given that narrative change, however, I would have expected her to become an ongoing member of the cast of characters, which she does not. There aren't as many great side characters as in the first three books, but definitely more than in book four.

Odd Interlude isn't as beautifully quotable as the first two books in the series, but it pulled me in much quicker than books three and four. (It didn't tug on my emotions enough to have the teary tidbits from the first two books, but it was still quite good.) The tension and pacing were enjoyable, and the details of the plot had enough complexity and interest to them to drag me along quite readily. The genre change was executed skillfully, such that I didn't feel wrenched out of the immersion.

While Odd Interlude isn't the hilarious, whimsical, beautiful thrill ride of the earliest books (Odd Thomas and Forever Odd), its absolutely a return to better plotting from Odd Hours. Its about equal to Brother Odd in plot depth, but better in terms of pacing and tension.
3317297
First of all, it took me about three hours to get through this book.  That's short even by my standards.

The good:  Continues where Firestorm left off, lots of action, and an overall well-paced read.  There was little lag time, and Ms. Caine makes her characters very interesting.  I actually care about them.  We got some cute backstories, more info on Venna (Alice, the Djinn), and the final reunion of Joanne with the Wardens (the constant on the run from everyone including her former employers was getting a bit old).  The idea was fresh, at least to me, in that chunks of the story were told from the point of view of memories; it was a creative idea.  The Sarah storyline was handled in an interesting manner, I'm curious how it plays out later on.  It kind of came from nowhere, but provided an intriguing twist.

The mediocre:  There are times where I scratch my head and go "huh?" at some of the events in this book (and others in the series).  The "evil twin" concept didn't work too well for me, it just feels cliche.  The storytelling keeps this from being too much of a negative, though.

The bad:  There is always a bad, and in this case it's that Ms. Caine is falling into the LK Hamilton mode of deus ex machina.  How convenient that the now-deceased Imara is the new Earth Oracle.  How convenient that this results in Joanne getting Earth Warden powers at just the right time.  How convenient that she is now the second most powerful person in the world.  And how convenient that the Djinn who like her break away from the Djinn who mostly do not.  It's things like this which bug me.  Does Joanne need more powers?  She is a take-no-grief character who started out as a Weather Warden, died, became a Djinn, was reborn, gained Fire Warden abilities, has several Djinn actively assisting her at every turn, and is now an Earth Warden, making her only the second triple-threat to exist.  I hope Joanne doesn't go the way of Anita Blake and find new powers in every book.  She doesn't need them, she is an amazing character all on her own.
1251834
I would have given this game five stars, but there was one big problem that seems to plague the xbox version  - an awful lag during which everything slows down. But, if I'm going to be fair and judge the game in general and not just one version, I'll say it's a pretty sweet fantasy adventure. 3 different characters with different attributes (melee, magic, balanced) a variety of baddies to take down, plenty of weapons and equipment. It will only take a hardcore gamer a few days to complete, and a casual gamer could probably finish it in about a week, maybe a little longer. For those of you looking for a huge epic adventure to span weeks or even a month or more, this game may disappoint. But if you're okay with this game's length, it's a great way to kill time. I felt a sense of accomplishment after beating it, and the cliffhanger makes me want to check out the sequel.