A tense and exciting journey in another world
340329
This is the first fantasy book that I've read - I picked it out of the library having read the back and thought I'd give it a go. Not sure what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised.

The basic story is that of Mykkael, a former mercenary who is now a soldier in the peaceful kingdom of Sessalie. He is from the far south of the country and his skin is much darker in colour, thus he suffers comments from the citizens of Sessalie for his difference. He is mistrusted by many of the people and is the first on whom suspicion falls when anything goes wrong.

And it does go wrong. Princess Anja is about to receive her future husband at her betrothal ceremony when she disappears. Mykkael is tasked to find her, although he seems to spend the first half of the book doing nothing but getting involved in kingdom politics and rubbing people up the wrong way. I found the first half of the book a little hard going.

However, when he finally sets out to track Princess Anja the story comes to life. He finds the Princess with her six horses and the two of them have to cross "Hell's Chasm", a long deep valley, in order to find safety in another kingdom. The descriptions of their hardships and the battles they have to fight against evil creatures is gripping and keeps you turning the pages.

The reason they are endangered is that Anja's Bridegroom has bought demons and sorcery with him from his home country - he isn't in fact her bridegroom, he has been possessed by an evil sorcerer. Various other members of the Royal Household are endangered and there's quite a lot of bloodshed - Mykkael having his fair share in that before he leaves to track the princess.

The characterisation is good, with Mykkael as a tortured hero - tortured by the fact that although he is usually successful in his mission, there is always a heavy price to pay. Anja understands her duty as Princess and does her utmost to fulfil them, although she is somewhat hampered by tender feelings for her horses. Warning - if you can't bear the thought of horses or dogs being killed, this book isn't for you.

The kingdom of Sessalie and the other places mentioned are well drawn and I felt that I understood the society and the peoples - rather like mediaval Britain. It worked well for me and was different enough to be interesting.

I did enjoy this book although I was a little disappointed by the ending, and I also think that the first half was a bit slow - thus the four stars. Otherwise I would have given it five.
4403542
This is an awesome read.  Cusumano is a master at leading you into the story and binding you to the characters.  After only a few pages you feel like you are there traveling with Dylan as his world is turned upside down and inside out...only to find that its a much bigger world than he imagined.  This is much more than a simple scifi book, its a journey into the depths of the galaxy and the soul.

This is an epic adventure quest with a host of unique and fascinating characters both good and evil.  If you took the Lord of the Rings and Starwars threw them in a blender...you are nearing synchonicity.

I hope this is only the beginning...there is so much more to know about so many things in this wonderful new world.
Can't wait to see what's next for Dylan!
1142587
The last time I visited a new world was several years ago with the books by Anne McCaffery about the people of the planet Pern.  Today I finished exploring another new world, the world of Ahmbren.  What an interesting place, with many and varied characters.

I found this book to be a most enjoyable read.  The story is cohesive with logical progression from scene to scene.  The characters are well defined and developed.  The scenes are easy to visualize and colorful.

I definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to the further adventures of the citizens of Ahmbren.
3814478
Its the year 2162 and a Young boy named Jal is caught up in the violence that permeates his everyday life. With the guidance of an invisible protector, he is convinced to set out on a journey towards a sanctuary that will last seven days. It might not sound like a long time, but the details are ion the journey. The encounters that he has, the friendships that he builds and the experiences that he is exposed to shape this young boy like nothing before.
A fantasy tale that is very intellectual and philosophical at the same time. Faith, courage and patience are tested and the reader can easily get caught up in the tribulations of Jal. A good book for young adults and Adults alike, I think this book is a tale that will pose thoughtful questions for us in how we view our surroundings. Many allegories, but I like those so thats a plus for me.
74245
This book is written from the perspective of a person that went on a round trip to Malacandra and found that we are not alone in this world.  Ransom, the protagonist in this story, finds himself kidnapped and headed to a planet to be offered as a human sacrifice-- only things aren't as they seem.

This book is an immersive read, and I found myself finishing a chapter and wondering where the time had gone.  Lewis does a great job taking you along with Ransom as he discovers and wanders through his environment, and you'll wonder what will happen next.
4492704
Sarah is confronted with many of the social issues of our time.  Having just begun her young adult life, she has to face the evils of generations past and her own peers.  Terrorism, environmental destruction, power mongers, food insecurity, and a monolithic controlling government all push Sarah to the limit.  With such heavy issues this book could have be plodding and depressing.  Rather it's a lively, life affirming adventure that's a pleasure to read.  Written in a single voice you learn about the upside down world Sarah lives in right along with her.  What is this new world order and how it got that way is a mystery that is slowly unraveled with false starts and twists that creates a mind maze.
2142551
Just by reading the description, I knew it will be something, but what an epic journey this story is, to put it simple, this is something you cant miss. Stories like this, packed with a lot of action, are often considered to be simple, the good side vs the bad side, black and white, you know what Im talking about. But don't worry, because none of that is here, so get ready to an epic journey you will never forget.
The dense backstory of this new world is something I find unique, at the very start, I sense this vast new world and its history, and the way the author provides all kind of details about this new setting is awesome. From battle to battle, we find an unlikely hero and protagonist, who at first is not our usual type of hero that save the day and the same can I say about the villain, everything is so unexpected here, and I love every page of this book, I really cant wait for the next book to come out. A fantasy book, about war, magic, epic creatures that none could expect to be this great, is now one of my favorites books ever.
3063831
Cindy Saunders creates a world parallel to ours in which the oddities of our existence is highlighted.

Ally's world is turned upside down when she finds out she is a long long way from home where the people have never even heard of a phone! How will she get back to her mother on earth, the only family she has left when there are no such things as buses, far less for planes where she is? On her journey she has met a quaint little family and what she experiences far surpasses her expectations.

Saunders takes the reader on a thrilling emotional journey, leaving us in awe and anticipation at the last words in this first installment of her Double Star Series.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in feeling like there is still hope for good in this world.
4936879
When Naaba spots Asha in a clearing and frees her from bondage, little does he know that the two of them will join others in an epic journey of adventure. Their small group flees the chaos brought about by an overly ambitious, ruthless leader. But they soon find themselves mired in a different, but no less perilous, struggle to survive as they cross an ocean from one continent to another.

Kathleen Rollins uses wonderfully descriptive language in writing this adventure filled story full of interesting characters. The most interesting character for me was the storyteller, Dashona. In following her stories, as well as those told by others in their traveling band, one can't help but realize that storytelling has been of great importance to humanity for a very long time.

To call this book solely an adventure tale would not be accurate. This author's work takes on the complex dualities found in mankind and in nature itself  and does so within compelling, beautifully rendered settings.
3213208
The first time I read The Talisman, I had some trouble getting into it.  Being primarily a fan of Stephen King, I noticed a different voice telling about half of the story.  Plus, the exposition goes on a bit long, with many tedious details describing the setting.  But once the narrative gets rolling, which happens when Jack finally embarks on his travels, it turns into a thrilling experience.  The Talisman is a journey epic for the ages, the tale of young Jack Sawyer, an 12-year-old boy who must travel across the country on a quest to retrieve a magical object that will cure his mother's cancer.  However, he soon discovers that his mission is far more important than that.  He learns that our world has many parallels, and in those worlds many of us have Twinners who are nearly identical to us.  In a vivid creation of fantasy by King and Straub, Jack discovers how to "flip," or journey from our world to a land called the Territories, which combines a landscape similar to that of Tolkien's Middle Earth with an early, undeveloped America.  If he fails his quest, all of the worlds will fall to evil.

In the tradition of The Odyssey, Jack encounters numerous obstacles on his journey, hindered not only by the book's villain, Morgan Sloat, but by a variety of situations and adversaries.  He becomes trapped in dangerous spots in our world, such as The Oatley Tap owned by Smokey Updike and the dreadful Sunlight Home of Morgan's right-hand man, Sunlight Gardener.  He faces less ordinary dangers in the Territories, like living trees that like to eat people, as well as Morgan's Twinner, who tears through the sky itself and blasts lightning bolts at him.  Jack grows as a character through these hardships, becoming much greater than the timid boy afraid to leave his mother at the beginning.  As is so often the case in life, the cost of this growth is great personal sacrifice.

The plot is well planned, with the mystery surrounding the death of Jack's father underscoring the premise of Jack saving his mother and the Queen of the Territories.  It isn't made clear exactly what the Talisman is, but given the connections this book has to Stephen King's Dark Tower series, it may be a magic ball from the Wizard's Rainbow, a group of powerful, colored orbs that can be used for seeing, traveling, creating, or destroying.  Whatever it actually is, Jack's journey across worlds to find it is a compelling work driven by two of every boy's childhood fantasies; defeating the forces of evil and...what else?...saving your mother's life.  If you have some patience with this book, you'll discover that it's a real treasure chest of creativity and imagination from two brilliant minds.  For me, it's become one of those books I have to re-read about once a year, and it just seems to get better with age.
2617231
In the tradition of Ursula K. Le Guin, this gripping fantasy, set in an alternate world that has much in common with our own, raises many questions about how we view and understand our lives and our worlds.  Perhaps because I am not a frequent reader of fantasy, I found the beginning a bit difficult as I tried to figure out just what kind of world James had created.  But as I came to care about the two main characters, Duuni, an artist and weaver, and Raim, a blind weaver, both of whom after traumatic events in their home communities fall in with (are rescued by?) the Roadsouls, a free-wheeling, rough, group of Romani-like itinerants who travel about by wagon, stopping at fairs and carnivals.  The Roadsouls are characterized as child-stealers (although the truth is somewhat different), and they are at home everywhere and nowhere.  Inevitably, a deep and fraught relationship develops between Duuni and Raim. Their stories are told simultaneously and alternately, each in their own voices, indicated by black on white hand symbols for Duuni and white on black for Raim.  About mid-way through the book, as I grew more comfortable with the characters and their worlds, I became totally caught up in the compellingly dramatic story.  Even upon finishing the book, I continue to think about the questions raised and the trials faced by the protagonists, and I long to revisit and learn more, not only about Duuni and Raim, but also about the many fascinating and memorable characters, both children and adults (and also animals), that they meet in their trials and adventures.  There is much darkness, cruelty, and rough language, but also love and wonder in this skillfully rendered world that has more in common with our own than we may think at first.
57440
Moss draws on his travel experiences to take the reader around the world in the first of what promises to be a thoroughly thrilling series.  Telling the story of the infiltration of our world by a technologically superior alien race, Moss's gripping read keeps the pages turning.

Seamlessly interwoven into the story is a breadth of knowledge in so many areas: science, technology, geopolitics, military protocol . . .  This knowledge is reflected in the efforts of the characters as they push the bounds of what is possible on our world as they try to fight back against the force of a far more advanced one.  This is accomplished all while leaving the reader with a subtle realization that they may be among the billions blissfully unaware that an invasion has begun.  Those who fight on both sides of this invasion, Moss's characters, have an emotional and phycological depth that exceeds what most writers can accomplish.

The book will leave you fearing the sky and awaiting the sequels.
4270276
For bold readers, The Edge of Worlds would be a fascinating way to dive into Martha Wells Raksura series. Like the books that have come before it, its a rich world populated by bizarre creatures and strange landscapes. From floating islands to winged, shapeshifting humanoids, its a feast for the imagination, especially considering there are no humans whatsoever in the series. With this being the beginning of a new adventure, new readers can dive in here if they don't mind missing out on the references to previous books. For the longtime readers, however, get ready for another fun journey.

In this tale, the Indigo Cloud court shares a shared dream of a Fell attack. Then a strange flying vessel arrives in the Reaches. It leads to an adventure out into the ocean toward an ancient, impenetrable city. The Raksura must brave Fell attacks, strange groundlings, and unlock the mysteries of a forerunner/foundation builder citadel knowing their very doom could lie just around the corner. Cloud lies at the heart of the story, serving as the readers touchstone as it unfolds. Jade, Chime, Stone and several other familiar characters join him, including the groundling Delin and the sealing Rorra. They encounter new species, secrets and threats.

For those new to the Raksura series, its not an action packed story littered with violence. Rather its a slow build of colorful characters and imaginative surroundings that engulf and submerge the reader. Its more of a peaceful escapism than an action packed adventure. But there is action, there is violence, and there is turmoil. What begins as a scientific expedition eventually turns into chaos. It also leaves the book on a cliffhanger making the next book in the series a must read.

As a fan of the series, I really enjoyed The Edge of Worlds. Martha Wells laid out another exotic trip into the realm of the Three Worlds and the Raksura. Theres peaceful moments, mystery, exploration, discovery, action, pain, betrayal and adventure. The ending left me pumped for the next book and I cant wait to see what happens next. The Three Worlds is one of my favorite places to escape to, and this book delivers. I give it a five out of five.
4949349
When I picked up world traveler and pilgrim Brandon Wilson's latest book "Along the Templar Trail - Seven Million Steps for Peace", I expected adventure and a journey into the unknown. After all, seven million steps is no small feat! There was certainly plenty of adventure, but what I also got was a glimpse into the physical and emotional toll that such an undertaking exacts; from severe blistering and sunburn caused by sometimes walking up to 50 kilometers a day in torrential rains and debilitating heat; to the tension and frustration that arises when two walking companions share the same road but not always the same path; to the loneliness of walking alone.

We are treated to many cultural and gastronomic delights along the way, but what especially touched me were the human connections that they made, the many acts of kindness and compassion from complete strangers, the many "angels" who appeared just as they needed them. I experienced the sense of wonder and magic that comes along when one opens his heart to the world, and watches it respond in kind. Brandon did so, and the rewards go beyond the mere pages of a book. They touch the timeless within us all, and offer us the vision of a world in which borders and boundaries of all kinds no longer exist, and what unites us is greater than what separates us. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey and book, and know that you will too. I highly recommend it.
4024825
"Unveiling the Sorceress" is set in a land that feels rather like ancient Persia with slaves, empresses and concubines (as well as names and places that sound rather Persian). Elishiba is the daughter of the Emperor of Aleem, a country that has often been threatened by its neighbour Karseedia. Elishiba understands that to safeguard her country she needs to make some kind of an alliance with Karseedia and has agreed to a betrothal with the Emperor, Hanrah. The story follows Elishiba as she welcomes the delegation from Karseedia who are to prepare her in the courtly manners and behaviour of Karseedia before returning her to that country for her wedding to Hanrah.

Things aren't all as they seem, however. Hanrah is a rather ineffectual emperor with his mother, Mehmet, really in charge of the country, assisted by her evil sidekick mage Sibias. Hanrah has no desire for the wedding with Elishiba as he has another love, one who is under threat of death, and Elishiba finds that a member of the Karseedian delegation has attracted her attention. Amshazar is also known as 'the Nomad'; he arrived in Karseedia some time ago and worked his way up to advisor to Hanrah and yet he is clearly an unusual man.

As the story moves from Elishiba's palace in Aleem to the journey and finally to the palace in Karseedia we learn more about sorcery, the skills that both Amshazar and Sibias have and that Elishiba is beginning to discover in herself. There is intrigue amongst the slaves, the evil Mehmet has a trump card in which to have her way, and Hanrah's weakness seems likely to mean that he will have to submit to his mother's choices for him and his kingdom. Yet there are more powers involved in the struggle between Aleem and Karseedia than the individuals on the ground know, Amshazar's very presence there is part of a plan by the gods, and his and Elishiba's relationship may be a pivotal part of that plan.

The setting of this book was very engaging with the different lives of the Emperors and Empresses, with their servants, guards, warriors and concubines. The magical element wasn't overpowering in the book, much of the plot instead revolved around political machinations and Elishiba's own learning and understanding. Elishiba is a great heroine with pluck and sympathy and care for others as well as the ability to learn and grow and to trust when trust must be difficult. The relationship with Amshazar sometimes felt rather rushed with their connection being based on a few scorching looks rather than actually knowing each other, but this was a relatively short novel and perhaps didn't have the time to delve more deeply into their feelings.

There were perhaps some rather pantomime-level villains in Mehmet and Sibias who fulfilled all the traditional roles of evil characters without any different characteristics to make them seem more believable. However the overall story was enjoyable and the setting added considerably to that, the political elements were never boring and Elishiba and the other main characters usually very interesting. Amshazar's tendency not to speak directly but to offer Elishiba riddles was a bit annoying but she didn't seem to mind, perhaps that added to his allure and mystical nature. This is a good read in the fantasy genre with sensual overtones but a decent, solid plot underpinning it.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, [...]  Helen Hancox 2007
1343462
If you enjoy the type of book that has someone from our world cross over into a new fantastic one, then read this one. It's full of action and the protagonist, Bess, finds herself in a world that's well thought-out and defined. It's not a particularly nice place, this new world, but it does have its redeeming qualities and characters.

Cloaks is a well-written, pulse-pounding adventure that will leave you wanting more. Good thing there's a sequel!
3104178
The City of God is an enjoyable adventure tale enriched with spiritual philosophy. The reader lives in the mind of Nathaniel Grey, a man with a monumental dilemma: Are his spiritual beliefs a lie? Is the society he has fought to protect all that it seems to be? And are those with contrary beliefs really so wrong?

This fascinating novel amounts to a journey. Serving as an officer in a city akin to a spiritual utopia, Grey witnesses an event that begins to unravel this perfect existence. Worse, he finds himself involved by association with the unraveling, and is forced to flee the city in the company of two outsiders. This exodus spans the desert and its unusual, primitive outposts. Throughout, Grey is compelled to examine his own beliefs while in the company of witches. Binding it all together is the Aether, a spiritual force that's the heart of religion and magic.

I enjoyed this novel. An original plot and solid characterization makes for a memorable read, and the spiritual conflict is pertinent to today's world of religious disparity. The narrative suffers some imperfections of a novice author (for example, a dependence on adverbs and cliches), but most readers will enjoy this work for its powerful story. The City of God, the first book of a series to come, fashions the itinerary well for the upcoming sequels.