Incredibly unique and imaginative!
354096
Susan Dennard has created an incredibly unique book that I will fondly look back on time and time again.  With its paranormal aspects and lovely steampunk imagery, this story grabbed my attention from the start and held it until the very end.

Though the dead rising is becoming a little more common at this time and place, there's no way that our heroine, Eleanor, can ever get used to the sight and smells of a rotting being shuffling among the living.  For some reason, her brother hasn't been able to make it home again, and she has reason to believe that he's being held hostage by the necromancer that started it all.  Eleanor seeks help from a motley crew of Spirit-Hunters in order to get to the bottom of it and slowly uncovers the truth, maybe even before it's too late.

This entire story is packed with important events and information, which will keep you turning the pages.  Eleanor is one tough cookie, and the determination within her is beyond belief.  It's easy to say that she truly cares for her family, and she'll go to great lengths to make sure that they're taken care of.  Another strong and oddly charming character is Daniel, one of the Spirit-Hunters that arrive in town just days after the dead have risen.  The relationship that develops between the two is enough to satisfy my need for romance, but not enough to overpower the actual plot.

Something Strange and Deadly is full of excitement, pleasing visuals, imaginative inventions and characters that stand out from the rest.  It's even turned me onto a new genre that I was a little hesitant to jump into.  The author did an amazing job with describing the Eleanor's world.  It's so packed full of action, which makes the entire story move at the perfect pace.  Though the end of the story doesn't leave the reader hanging, I'm anticipating the release of its sequel, just because I loved these characters and the stories each of them had to tell.

Review from The Hollow Cupboards- (thehollowcupboards.blogspot.com)
4472053
I'd not ever seen the movie for this book - although I will now - and although I'd heard much good about it, I'd never read it. I finally picked it up when Neil Gaiman tweeted that it was on sale as an e-book for .99. I'm so glad I did!

The fantastical world Jones created is incredible! Although I knew early on who would end up with whom, it never once detracted from the magical story. Jones' universes - for there are four in this story, five if you count the castle - are imaginative and complex. She artfully weaves several storylines into one all-encompassing plot, and in doing so, makes you eager to turn the next page to see what happens. I read this in one setting, because it was that good!

I love the lessons it teaches, too. Even as adult, they're ones worth remembering.

If you like fantasty and haven't read this book, go pick it up right now! There are two more in the series, and I plan on getting them soon.
4898047
Stormwinter is a truly unique and imaginative novel. I've been reading it with my 14 year old and we both absolutely love it. It is well written and blends fantasy, mythology and drama into a gripping narrative with a varied cast of deep and interesting characters. The plot is sophisticated and still accessible for readers of all ages, with many unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended to any fan of fantasy and adventure!
3978052
The story has such an immense level of detail to it that leaves me in total amazement as I imagine the scenes. The story well-crafted and the creative imagination that the author has for the adventures are unique and memorable. The story is full of adventure and discovery, the descriptions are so detailed that I feel like I am living the story as I vividly imagine all the world around me. Recommended!
1033562
Can't wait for the next one! One of the most interesting and unique sci-fi worlds I've ever come across.
3651648
This was one of the most unique books I have read in a while. Well written and so creative! Definitely going to be reading the rest of the series!
3342792
What a great idea for a bedtime book by Peter Collier! It's not just a great story; it's also amazingly innovative. There's plenty of happening, even though it's a foggy, dark, dull grey town. The imagination of this author is astounding. Start with nothing and end up with a creative and imaginative book that's well worth reading.
4044915
I really warmed to Phantist and the odd collection of misfit friends he gains in his travels. Things begin to take on an ominous tone after a while and, what starts out seeming like a boy's quest to master his abilities tale takes on a much larger scale! To say that this book gives a fully-defined and strikingly original fantasy world would not do justice to how vivid and wonderful McMillan's creations are! I've read a number of fantasy novels and, while I normally gravitate toward things like Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire," I'm so glad that I gave this one a try!

The world setting is as unique as I've come across and truly feels like its own land rather than another Tolkein-esque world or Dungeons and Dragons type Europe: it's a strange blending of an almost fairytale land with steampunk incursions from the technologically-based country to the north. The same is true of the characters: all distinct and clearly drawn with no stock fantasy figures to be found. McMillan's mastery of voice and naturalistic dialogue make this a pleasurable read that has no profanity or strong sexual content, making it appealing to all ages!
2034763
My Thoughts:

I have read every single book Ms. Lyons has ever written, and have observed an author with the amazing talent of creating stories unique and different from anything I've ever read, beautifully crafted characters that walk off of the pages, and addictive plots that not only engage the reader, but keep them on their toes as well!  Each book of hers is a unique gift to here readers, and stands out among the repetitive masses.

In The Collectors' Society, we get a story unlike any other.  It is full of fantasy, whimsy, imagination, and takes you on an adventure.  We get the story of Alice.  She is presently in an asylum in England, put their by her father after her incessant talk about Wonderland.  One day she is visited by an interesting stranger; Mr. Van Brunt.  He tells her that Wonderland is in danger, and that The Collectors' Society needs her assistance in saving it.  She then travels through a magic door, where her life will change forever.  At the Collectors' Society she meets many colorful characters, my favorites being the handsome and noble-hearted, Finn, the nosey and well-meaning, Mary, and the Intelligent Doctor, Victor.  They quickly ingratiate her to the team, and become her family and closest friends.  She is on a mission to help them save characters from famous stories that reside in their own timelines.  Enemies are afoot and are destroying timelines and the innocent people that reside within each.  As Alice helps to capture these villains, she becomes desperate to save the innocent.  When Wonderland's timeline is endangered, the team goes in to battle mode, and the adventure of a lifetime ensues.

If you love fairytales, fantasy, adventure, and imagination, The Collectors' Society is a must read!  I loved how Ms. Lyons took her spin on some of these classics, and made them her own.  The characters were so beautifully constructed and three-dimensional, that I could have easily seen them living in this world.  They piqued my curiosity of the classics in which they resided, and had me wanting to go back and read each of their stories.  The romance between Alice and Finn was so sweet.  I loved Finn's character so much.  He was a true gentleman, but also had that quiet, sexy, and intense vibe about him.  Alice was such a strong lead character, and I enjoyed getting to know her.  She is what I imagine the little girl from Alice in Wonderland would have grown up to become.

My Rating:

I loved the fact that while an entertaining story, The Collector's Society had me think on a deeper lever.  There were many philosophical questions posed, and bits of pearly wisdom throughout.  The story was a little slow at the beginning as Ms. Lyons really took the time to build the foundation.  The world building was flawless, the characters fully developed, and the plot blossomed as all of the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together seamlessly.  I give,The Collectors' Society, by Heather Lyons, 4.5 Unique, Colorful, Imaginative, Adventurous, and Romantic Stars!  Take a chance and fall in to the rabbit hole, and you will find a colorful world with unforgettable characters!
2003011
This is one of the most engaging, modern fantasies I have ever read. It pulls you in with magic, yet satisfies on an adult intellectual level with the passion and sheer depth of its characters. This is how you write vampires, druids, even werewolves. Charity Parkerson has brought to life an incredible, original world that is like nothing you have seen before.
2645360
For some reason that I've never been able to put my finger on, the fantasy genre has just never captured my attention the way sci fi does, but I can say that E.D.E. Bell has created an incredible universe for her Shkode series. The structure of the story is probably what I found most interesting; there are two different halves taking place in what you might call parallel universes, and while the environments are virtually the same, the characters in each are so different and unique that you feel like you're in two entirely different worlds. This is partially thanks to the way the story is written, and partially because -- frankly -- one realm is inhabited by humans and the other by...dragons!

We're introduced to a lot of characters in a lot of settings, some of which are certainly more prominent than others. Events in the story are such that these leading characters are unwittingly drawn closer and closer together, leading to an interesting finale that sets things up nicely for the sequels.

If you're looking for a unique blend of modern and classic fantasy with strong-willed characters and a masterful story structure, check out this book.
2266692
From a single premise (and an exciting challenge taken up by the authors) -- comes a great collection of original tales, all initially centered on the concept of purple unicorns, but it's the range and the delivery of such ideas that makes this collection so endearing. There are so many different flavors here spanning multiple genres, different voices, tones and themes. The authors' creativity matches their skill, and every tale is a unique spin through a magical world. Impressive and enjoyable!
1460156
Odes is one of the most unusual books I have ever read. An absolutely unique fantasy world with the author's completely unexpected take on the fantasy genre! Don't expect the expected! The story starts off in simple language, describing the fantastically envisioned concept of the kingdom of Odes. It is slightly reminiscent of The Little Prince even, as a young boy embarks on the journey to knowledge. You may think it will be one of those books which can be read at any age, because the main action plot seems simple enough to read as a child, yet it is filled with metaphors you will be able to interpret as you grow up and reread it. But never be fooled by beginnings - look further and deeper. As you follow the main character on his truth and knowledge quest, the language becomes intricate, and you find yourself reading conversations filled with philosophy, logic, psychology, sociology, which definitely require dedication and a critical mind. Benjamin learns about life and universe from meetings with sorcerers, genies, ghosts, animals, and these conversations seem like philosophical essays, all thickly woven into the plot and deliciously packed with quotes on life. If you are looking for a common garden-variety action-packed fantasy, this is not your kind of book. If you are an adult fantasy fan who likes to question human existence and the logic of being, you will get a kick out of it. I was fascinated to see the intensity of dedication with which the author develops the conversations and plot. A good teacher could probably use one of those talks to teach a philosophy lesson for hours. It is a challenge to read and very thought provoking; the author treats you the same way he treats his main character. He will provide you with advice and universal wisdom, but also let you know you will only be able to understand it once you yourself are ready. The illustrations of the settings and characters are beautiful, a combination of traditional fairytale pictures and a modern comic-book approach, yet they also serve another purpose; apart from helping you visualize, they are just different enough to make you wonder and look beyond them. Odes may not be to anyone's taste, but you have to respect and admire the author's unique approach, not yielding to popular opinion, and it is definitely worth stepping out of your reading niche and giving this challenge a try. The author's style is consistent, and, to use everyday TV terms, the Big Bang fans will probably recognize its somewhat Sheldonesque twisted logical genius woven into fantasy (no comedy implied here). The language of philosophy, logic and physics, including the historical implications during time-travelling, will be a difficult challenge to younger readers, giving this story a kind of science-fantasy genre quality, if you allow me this SF pun. All the archetypes are present in the story - king, witch, mother, fairies, dragons, sorcerers, wisemen, ghosts, yet the author plays with them telling his story. Even the time-travelling is a mixture of history and legend. The main villain is a Witch who is beautiful, teaching us, yet again, to look beyond what the eyes see. All the knowledge Benjamin gathers proves just how much power it provides, and how much responsibility it imposes. I especially like the fact that the author always includes emotions in the knowledge too, not limiting things only to logic and science. The plot develops with many expected twists of war, love and the perpetuation of life, and if you disregard the philosophical elements, then yes, you could actually use the illustrations to retell it to a child. But the uniqueness of the story lies in its whole approach. The story begins and ends in a nicely rounded fairytale-like way, providing a content cover and back cover for Odes, concealing the fact that the storytelling within is quite a challenge. The author risks, but to use a quote by the main character Benjamin, meeting the Witch, 'One should never fear risk. If your life is at risk, so be it.'
180899
This author's imagination is incredible and she is extremely talented. So vivid and creative! I couldn't even imagine what I would do if I was put in the heroine's situations. Well done!
1478945
I started reading this book the day it came out and finished it the day after, because I just couldn't put it down. The story is captivating and unique, and it kept me eager to know what happens next. The actual supernatural aspect is very original - while you may feel like you know where the story is going, the ending will still surprise you. The characters and environment are developed in such a way that I am still thinking about them and wishing there was more to read about in the Breach Point world. Also, there is some awesome bonus content at the end of the book about the writing process and where the idea came from that is a fun read, too!

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes young adult stories or supernatural stories!
4754994
Wow! What an imagination! Kyrathaba Rising is a superb sci fi fantasy, set in the far future. It starts simply enough as another take on how humans survive a nuclear holocaust and how they adapt to the after math. But it soon evolves into an intricate story that moves between different worlds and environments. Some of the clever plot twists completely blindside you, and soon you simply can't stop turning the pages. You just have to know what happens next.

Bryan Miller has a Tolkein like concept, albeit set in the future where there are different stories happening side by side, and you know that at the end all the many threads will entwine to form the final knot. The breadth and variety of characters is simply mind boggling. An absolutely fascinating read, vivid and detailed from character development and settings to the plot itself. Waiting to read the sequel!!!
3760943
This story is beyond extraordinary. It's a remarkable, unique and fascinating fantasy that displays an unbelievable imagination on the part of the author. The detail is stunning and the beliefs of the characters are unusual and inconceivable. The religious doctrine and regulation in the world that was created by the author is strikingly thought out and immensely intriguing. The story has appealing characters and a gripping story. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment. I highly recommend  The Given Garden. This is an excellent book.