First book of an epic tale!
351864
I don't know what to say other than GET THIS BOOK if you love anything zombie. Ive read dozens of zombie novels and this is one of the best Ive read. There is edge of your seat action and heart breaking tragedy and a little bit of humor! I cant wait to grab the other books in the series!
4191857
I read A World Without Heroes about a year ago and have eagerly been awaiting Seeds of Rebellion.  I had it pre-ordered to my Kindle Touch and started reading it the same afternoon it came out and stayed up till midnight finishing it!  It starts off were the first book left off and picks up pace all the way until the (what I could call, a finally in a movie!) epic fight against hordes of undead humans infested with tiny beetles that digest your blood and eat you alive.  I'm 15 so that whole part of the book was awesome :P.  There are no flaws with the plot.  Mull keeps you guessing about Ferrin's real intention the whole way through but never really tells you if he is totally trustworthy, not even after the Oracle says that he is needed for the rebellion to succeed.  A bit of a cliff hanger ending but not as unbearable as the last book.  Let me highlight some of the good points of this book:

1. Fast paced, some slow parts but just enough to ensure that the reader understands some stuff about Lyrian and some of the main characters

2. Brandon introduced new characters!  In some other books I have read the authors have kept the exact same characters from book to book.  Not so with this series!  Mull introduces more wizard-born such as the drinlings and the tree-people that inhabit the jungles around Morianon, and Aram the half-giant.

3. Instead of the characters remaining the same as in the last book, they seem more mature and have gained expertise in many ways, such as the way that Rachel can now use Edomic.

4. New places are put into the story so that the characters are not going to the same places over and over again throughout the book.

5. Several unexpected twists to the plot, not as many as I would have liked but just enough.  Such as when Galloran gets his eyesight back and the fact that he has also killed two (three by the end of the book) torivors or lurkers.

6. While a good bit of the book is a bit gritty, Brandon Mull threw in a few parts that were quite humorous!  I won't mention these parts because I want them all to be funny when the reader gets to them!

All in all this book was great and I can't wait for the sequel!  Way to go Brandon Mull!

P.S. Read the Fablehaven series also by Brandon Mull, very good!
P.P.S. Read the Candy Shop War!  Even though I'm fifteen I enjoyed that book and am looking forward to the sequel later this year!
3156780
Absolutely great read! Inspirational and EPIC! Can't wait to read more in the second book!

Thank you for writing from your heart, wether it be truth or tale....it was well worth the read!
4614686
I loved this book, and it's only the beginning of Lirak's journey! This story has myth, magic and strong well written characters. I don't want to put any spoilers on here, since the book just came out, but I can't wait to read the next book and learn the answers to Lirak's questions about the world, the gods and his destiny. I love the mythology of this world, and the strong characters of Lirak, Mayrie, Dedrick and Patrick. Looking forward to book 2 ^_^
2534703
From the very first chapter, this epic fantasy enchanted me, intrigued me, and pulled me into the world. The rest of the book didn't disappoint - I loved it! It was the author's first written book, and that is noticeable at times, but I always cut debuts a little bit of extra slack. If you like The Princess Bride story feel, quirky characters, and crazy adventures, then A Tale of Light and Shadow is the book for you! I loved it and I bet you will, too.
3155606
What a PHENOMENAL intro to this series!  From the moment I cracked the spine of this book, I was hooked.  I honestly picked it up because I thought the cover was incredibly interesting and, having read other books by Bruce Blake, I knew I was in for a ride of epic proportions.  As usual, Mr. Blake did NOT disappoint!

Khirro's journey is a staggering one, and from his first breath, I knew that I'd be in for some major crazy.  There are so many awesome details about this world woven into the characters that I can guarantee I could read this book a second time and find a ton of stuff that I missed.  That's the great thing about epic fantasy - these books really stand up to multiple readings.

The characters in this story are well developed - they all have flaws that make them realistic which definitely kept me reading.  This book isn't an 'easy' read like some of the others that have been featured on my blog but, as an avid gamer, this is definitely one of the best I've featured.

I'm super excited for the next book in this series.  If it's anything like book 1, it's going to be...well....EPIC.
1651326
I won this book in a giveaway - I was glad I did then and having read it I am doubly so.

Paternus is the first of a series that weaves the tales of several characters together.  Fi, a teenage girl who works at a nursing home and lives with her uncle Edgar, has no idea of the turn her life is about to take, thanks to one of her patients. Peter is an old man with dementia, but little does she and her crush Zeke know the secrets this "old man" is hiding.

The story is action packed, well told, and exciting, with enough clues to keep the reader guessing, and enough twists to keep them surprised. The descriptions are rich, the characters are fun - and the villains are vile. The Firstborn are truly imaginative, with well rounded personalities, backstories, and origins. Though the main star, in my opinion, is the way Ashton has woven together so many mythologies to create a solid fabric. I've done a little of this myself for a project - though I only attempted three cultures - and it was very complicated. I can't imagine sorting mythologies the world over and tying them together into a neat package the way he has. Beautifully done!  The book does end on a bit of a cliff hanger, as most series books do, though the major questions have been answered.

I'm looking forward to book two!
3175554
Top notch Fantasy-Fiction!

The author pulls you into this fantasy by painting vivid details of her world with captivating detail. You can picture the scenes in your mind's eye.
I really enjoyed the use of first person narration.
The protagonist, Olina,wears a veil which limits her gaze and definitely creates intrigue. Her strong character is developed nicely and the writing is superb and stirring; the author can definitely evoke emotion. I was drawn in by realistic imagery, action and character interaction. As the tale unwound the book became harder and harder to put down.

This epic and treacherous journey is gripping and worth the price of admission.
Highly recommended--I really did enjoy it.
4800590
Awesome story! Get started if you haven't already!
795013
The book is advertised as an Epic and after reading it, I agree. A must read!
4630340
This is an amazing story that many can easily identify with.  In a nutshell the book is about the main character Angst, who could be described as a middle-age reluctant hero that not only battles nightmarish creatures, but also with himself.

Pedersen does a brilliant job of capturing the internal struggles; dreams and discontent clashing against the pressure of fate and sacrifice. Angst is compelled by his internal drive for adventure and having something different in life.  Almost to the point that he is somewhat blinded to the schemes of those in power who are trying to improve their tenuous grip on control.  As the story unfolds, and more richly described characters are added, you find that what is happening is the result of an imbalance that has happened as a result of that control.

The creatures are both fantastical, and horrifying, and I loved the descriptions of scenes and characters. Many of the characters, and awkward moments made me chuckle.  A lot of the writing reminds me of a David Eddings, or R.A. Salvatore. I loved the author's choice of words, and how the period speech is so different than many other fantasy novels.  The feelings of pressure, fear, sacrifice, and self-doubt are so palpable; the reader will easy sympathize with one of the characters.

The reader will also realize that there is a larger battle happening, and understand that the story is much larger in scope and history. Without giving the surprises away, I just wanted to share how much I enjoyed the book.  I hope that there will be more books to follow, making this the first book of an epic series.
2284636
Procurement
eARC via NetGalley.

My Grade
Plot: 5
Setting: 5
Writing: 5
Originality: 5
Characters: 5
Romance: 5
Overall: 30/30! AMAZING!
Title/Cover Bonus: 5

Overall
An amazing epic journey of one girl and several young men, all with the intent to save one King's life, by Kerrick's forceful hand at least.

First Line
The little girl wouldn't stop crying.

Most Memorable Scene
There are so many! I'd probably go with the first time Kerrick and Avry were running through the forest.

Plot
I was engrossed with this story from start to finish. Avry and Kerrick are on an epic journey to help heal a King. The many obstacles that they face and overcome are plentiful and exciting. I couldn't stop reading to find out just how they were going to end their journey.

Setting
What a beautiful setting Maria made with her exquiste words! I was throw into this time period and didn't want to leave. With the elemental and supernatural skills being used alongside the scenery it was a world that engulfs you completely.

Writing
Brilliantly written! I loved seeing the story from Avery's first person, present point of view. You know I'm a sucker for the dual points of view but I actually liked not knowing what was going on in Kerrick's head. It left another mystery to be solved right along side their journey.

Originality
I loved this book so much I can't seem to think of any other book I've read quite like it. It is chock full of epic fantasy but not in the sense that you're feeling the journey stretched to the max. I actually didn't want it to ever end! It's very much a mix of historic romance meets epic fantasy meets dystopia. I was thoroughly engrossed into all elements the story had to offer.

Characters
Avery is my kind of character. She's a super strong lead character. She uses her special skill with care and you just know she's a great person. She's had a rough life but she is strong willed. The journey with Kerrick makes her a much stronger person it's enlightening to see her change.

Kerrick is an amazing male lead character. At first I didn't know if I should hate him or love him. In the end he was one of my favorite characters ever.

Kerrick's men are a great pack of boys and men. I thoroughly enjoyed their presence in the book and was very attached to them.

Romance
It blossoms very slowly but it's such a sweet, strong bond. The relationship between Kerrick and his men is one of the best bromances I've read.

Title/Cover Bonus
I LOVE the title and the cover is a-okay in my book!

Ending
Brilliant. It was so touching and I can't wait to read the next book!

Series
Scent of Magic (Healer, #2) sometime in 2012
1649430
So excited for the rest of this series! Such a great start to what I'm sure will be an epic saga by the end! What a great way to keep young readers engaged, by giving them more to look forward to. Excellent character development, amazing imagery, and such a unique theme for this age group. The author shows his true passion for writing in this first installment of The Balderdash Saga!
933087
Pure, old storytelling of the best kind. I do believe Tolkien, Rowling, Collins, and Lewis may have found their match...
This first Storytellers book exceeded my expectations by far. The main character, Hannah, is an enigmatic, intelligent and relate-able heroine, not soon forgotten; her travels as well are far from rote. I found myself gripped as the story rapidly progressed in intricacy, complexity and speed as time went on...so much so, that I only noticed later, when I put it down at 2 am, that I had read the book non-stop from start to finish!

 I was pleased to discover that although the book nods to various influences (Dr. Who, Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Homes stories, etc.) it was by no means a "copy novel"; this is a story ALL of it's own right. I am eagerly anticipating the second book!
Great debut, do give it chance!
2839093
This is Book One of the Scourge of Saventia Trilogy and is an exciting story about two brothers going on an epic quest together to save their lands from an ancient evil spreading in the North. It is nicely done and the two main characters, Shai and Nathan, are well realised and, a personal favourite of mine, consistent in their thoughts and actions. The story is little familiar and cannot help but compared to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy for its use of elves, orcs and travelling immense distances and The Song of Fire and Ice series for its world that has dragons as a source of the worlds magic and some well done battle scenes.  Whilst the story is comparable the skill with which it is told is not quite up to those very lofty standards and this should not be seen as the Author not meeting expectations just a testament to some of the amazing work out there at the moment.

Quite frankly there is a hell of a lot going on in this book and I find myself sitting on the fence as to whether I really liked it. I think I need another read just to get it all digested but don't know if I want to spend the time. There are so many beasts like dragons, orcs, goblins, dwarves, elves, gnomes, and one or two less traditional ones that its like Spielbergs Willow. I am waiting for the smartass brownies to jump out and shout, Your mother was a rat!

Some of the dialogue is a little clunky with some exchanges being pretty cringe worthy like a Goblin saying Weese sorry! Weese so scared boss master! He killed dem with fire, boss! Mes afraid of fire! I had a few issues with this. Firstly they are speaking like Jar Jar Binks in terms of sentence structure and hasn't Jar Jar pissed everyone off enough. Then we have the boss master phrase, which in my mind gives them the station and voice of slaves on a cotton farm and I was uncomfortable with the lowest ranked beastie in the book being given this voice. It reminded me of Star Wars Phantom menace when all the bad guys from the tax federation came out with distinctly Asian accents and was just as unnecessary.

Sometimes less is more and while the level of detail is fantastic, at times, it can be repetitive and interrupt the flow and emotion of the scene. The brothers relationship holds this book together and it is the best-written and most engrossing part of it. The journey was interesting and entertaining but if you are a big reader of Fantasy and Sci Fi you may find it a bit familiar. Its a fairly easy read and suitable for younger adults and older kids and may be a great starting point to get someone in the genre.
3275496
Melissa's debut in the realm of fantasy could not have been better. A well crafted story coupled with dynamic and complex characters yields a truly impressive first book. I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre and read this book after seeing an advertisement on Amazon recommending it. I am glad that the advertisement caught my eye, otherwise it may have been years before I encountered this book. There are a handful of series that once I began reading them, I felt compelled to finish, and this work definitely fits in with those. The fact that there are five elae strands and two opposing magics (deyjiin and elae) reminds me of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, however the use of the elements as one single elae strand and the use of four other strands that are powers unto themselves provides a new perspective on what I call magic theory. I also very much like the idea of a story that spans more than just a solitary world. In this story you have two opposing worlds, that are like parallel universes, as well as a Cityworld that serves as a capital.

Simply put, if you like fantasy of any kind especially: Tolkien, Jordan, Weeks, Brett, Martin, etc. you will without a doubt enjoy this.

Looking forward to the next book in the series!
1852432
Buy this book now! Your view of fantasy will never be the same. This epic story will go above your standards. Coming from a eight-year-old,you`ll not be able to put this book down.