Malice is a True Epic!
342209
Wow, having just finished this, we just had to write a quick review.

For such a long book, we were never bored - and that is saying something!

Malice has everything an epic truly is. Fantastic world-building. A great and vast cast of characters, of both Good and Evil. A sentimental main character, who is surrounded by numerous interesting and varied characters. Loads of action and adventure that never lets up. Great fantasy creatures such as giants and wyrms and wolven.

We just received our new copy of Book 2 the other day. Can't wait to read it. Of all the thousands of fantasy books we have read in the past 40 years, Malice is easily one of the top best. Aye, it is that good.
1704379
Excellent Season of epic proportions! So much is continually happening that it keeps the viewer on his/her toes and on the edge of your seat! I simply can't say enough about the perfectly performed roles by all the actors/actresses! It's absolutely amazing how the characters come alive and will have you ultimately choosing which family should obtain the ultimate power and reign over the remaining kingdoms that they desperately try to defend or conquer. It's very easy to get caught up in the politics and decisions made by those already in power and the viewer is able to see how making the right choices can lead to their inevitable rise to great power or making the wrong choices can lead to their ultimate defeat and demise. This is the type of show that  I can watch over and over!
34031
This is an epic book! I cant wait for the sequel. The best part is the whole entire series (i.e. Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus)
4607117
4.5 stars
 "Ember in the Ashes" is a first-class epic adventure with fascinating world, well-written characters and drama galore.
 Sabaa Tahir in her debut did a wonderful job of creating the universe of Scholars conquered and controlled by Martials with the help of the ruthless army and deadly Black Masks at the helm of it. The world that carries a Middle Eastern feel to it has a strong system of classes and is run by a tyrant. Reader joins a Scholar girl Laia whose family has been murdered and whose brother imprisoned, as she infiltrates the military academy siding with rebels in hopes to rescue her sibling.

Drama and epic would be exactly the best words to describe what happens after. Brutality, slavery, repression, terror are just few of the things Laia will encounter on her quest. Everything that happens in "Ember" happens BIG. Nail-biting moments of true horror intertwine with that of unspeakable tragedy and sadness, followed by commendable courage and determination. Action in this "read in-one-sitting book never stops and takes many unexpected twists and turns. The jacket should seriously carry Book That Will Eat All of Your Time warning!

 I absolutely loved the complex characters that Sabaa created. There aren't any cookie cutter types - everyone is very defined and ever-changing. It is hard to pick someone in particular as a favorite as all of them have qualities to admire right along with the questionable ones. I do want to give bonus points for Helene - she is very strong, unique and carefully crafted, and definitely adds depth to a story as oppose to being just a filler. Her unquestionable loyalty to Empire despite many horrors it brought on Scholars makes for a very tension-filled relationship with Elias (and the reader as well). I also really appreciated that romantic line was being threaded very carefully. - just right to make a reader invested, but not shallow, trite or irritating enough to make one roll its eyes. Every relationship in a book - be it romantic, family, or friendship kind - is well-thought out and evolves all through the story - a rare pleasure in modern YA!

 The only reason that made me give this novel less than 5 stars is the folklore/fantasy element. I still don't know how I feel about all these wraiths and genies (and unresolved Nightbringer, of course) that inhibit the world of "Ember". From one side, this plot line adds another dimension to it, but at times it just feels like it was a bit too much, since the book is already so multi-layered and explores many complex problems as is. One of the trials, for example, made me feel like all the explanations (or rather ways that heroes employed) were teetering on the edge of falling apart if the reader would start asking questions; however, if I took those ways/explanations for what they are - beautiful fantasy tales, then it felt more organic and smooth. I did suspend my belief for this one, but it kept slightly bothering me in the back of my head.

Overall, "Ember in the Ashes" is a fantastic book that is definitely worth exploring. Extraordinary adventure and interesting, complicated characters along with a skillful world-building make for a wild reading ride. This one is definitely the title not to miss!!
4429719
Wow. Imagine superpowers. Evil people with superpowers. That is a really bad combination, concerning abuse and control issues. In the story of Steelheart, most people without superpowers live under the control of these inhuman beings. These evil super-beings are called Epics. People die easily - they're fragile and helpless when facing an epic. This breeds fear, and there begins the process of indoctrination by the terrible epics. The story follows David, an 18 year old teenager that is on a quest for vengeance (specifically the titular epic Steelheart). Thus, the tale for bringing Steelheart down begins.

Yep. I like this book. The dialogue between characters is superb - it is very entertaining and has made me literally laugh out loud at times. The metaphors/similes used by David is worth mentioning. The action is strong within this book - it is spectacular. Some of the powers that the epics have are truly overpowering and incredulous, but visualizing it in action, that makes it more intriguing. The plot is well-thought out and had kept me engrossed. I was on the edge of my seat while finishing this book.

Brandon Sanderson does it again. As of now, he is becoming my favorite author. His style of telling stories is so damn good. Whenever I peruse any of his books, I get glued to the book like how a food addict would want to eat with passion with his or her food. Darn, David's wonderful use of similes and metaphors has rubbed off on me. Anyway, read this book. It's worth every minute of your time!

PS: I can't wait for the next book Firefight. Must read other Sanderson books in the meantime!
2051545
The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata Massey is a wonderfully epic tale. The book pulls the reader in from the very beginning with the sudden loss of the main character's entire family to a cyclone. I found it hard to put down as we learn about both Kamala's fate and the history of India during the British occupation. Please read this book. You will not be disappointed!
2059850
Stephen's Epic of 'The Dawn of Destiny' was written very well, but the al consuming fervor of 'Outlaw Trigger' will "blow you away"! Lee Stephen opens a new demeanor to his amazing writing talent in this Epic sequel. Had it not been so much time since I read 'The Dawn of Destiny', I would have been captivated from the first page.  I feel this is a series one must have the next book readily available.

The all encompassing subject matter of this story stirs intense, various emotions. There is camaraderie, humor, endearment, mystery, violence, horror, agony, self-destruction. The reactions to grief many of us can relate to or have witnessed. Keep a box of kleenix near by! This is an epic tale of how good vs evil is possible within each of us given the right circumstances.

The reader will feel he/she is a part of the group and in the scenes. The Book Cover and Title are done very well. There is some slight profanity and "bad" words but the intensity of the writing causes one to (sadly) overlook any negative aspect.

*This book was sent to me in exchange for an HONEST review, of which I have given.
1660827
This is an awesome read! I completely fell in love with everything about this book. You won't regret reading "Relative Malice".
3661495
What a thrilling, epic adventure! Immediately, I was drawn into this mythical tale of love, loyalty and endurance of a dog faithfully awaiting his master to return .Masterfully written, the emotions are strong and palpable, leaving me thinking about this book for days after I've finished it. The trials and pain that this poor dog has had to go through have left me having feelings for him that I've never quite felt for an animal in a book. With plenty of adventure and twists, some light-hearted parts and parts that made me almost cry, this book was wonderfully emotional- but in a good way! This was a stunning, epic adventure that I'd recommend to anybody and everybody!
*I received a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
2824720
In THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD, we got to see the young, headstrong Celaena take on a entire port of pirates to defend what she believed in. It was swashbuckling adventure followed by edge-of-the-seat thrills, all wrapped up in clever dialogue and typical Celaena finesse.

And now, in THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT, we get to enter into a new type of story. This novella has more mystery, more friendships (and enmities), and more character growth. But don't worry--there's still a whole lot of epic fighting. And super epic world-building. We get to see the dunes of the desert, the ranks of the Silent Assassins, the bustling city of Xandria, and so much more. There are scenes from this novella that gave me chills--and also gave me serious cases of writer's envy.

Even if you don't care about lovely prose or topnotch plotting, you'll probably be interested to know this: the stories contained within these novellas add so much depth to the THRONE OF GLASS series. Everyone who's ever read THRONE OF GLASS adores it. Truly, there's a reason Sarah still has a bajillion loyal fans ten years after first staring the Fictionpress version of that novel, and that reason is that the story is sweeping and amazing...And I honestly believe that these novellas manage to make the novel even more sweeping and more amazing.

So, if you like epic fantasy, sweeping desert worlds, or thrilling action, then you'll definitely want to pick up THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT.
1863485
From the first chapter till the last I was hooked! This book takes place about a year later, and it's full of twists and turns. With a well of so much character development as well as an epic storyline!! I'm so looking forward to the next one!!!
989620
Let me start this review by plugging Ms. Summerfields previous tome, Among Us. Among Us introduces us to the characters in this series and is, in my opinion, essential to read prior to reading Awakenings. Get it, youll love it!

I get precious little time for pleasure reading as I am a self-employed artist and a single dad with 9-year old twin boys. I devoured Awakenings (500+ pages) in a week reading in my spare time. I couldn't put it down!. Every chapter ended in a way that made me curious about the next. (Take it seriously when the author says to go slow through chapter 12. Revelations abound.)

As to the actual review. Awakenings picks up 20 years after the ending of Among Us. Much has changed in Elaine and Travis lives. They have a beautiful, gifted daughter whose gifts are more far reaching than they could have ever imagined. She, also, has a twin brother. A fact unknown to her and her parents..intrigued yet?

Right up front, this series is adult epic fantasy, not for kids. The author didn't lie about that! It isn't graphic or gory, but you are left with no doubt as to its intensity.

There is so much going on in this complex story that a brief synopsis is impossible. I so understand the title of the first book now that I know they are among us. Colony, a peaceful, utopian society, created elsewhere and maintained here by the Priory, is a group dedicated to the truth and beyond the reach of the governments manipulative manifesto. Max, as the head of the Priory, has his hands full with monumental changes, rebirth, unforeseen challenges and the Priorys nemesis, Fourteenth Tribe. Their leader, Mason, who has a secret you will never predict, is a murderous authoritarian hell bent on destroying the Colony for past slights. Elaine, Travis and their daughter, Alycin, are connected to the Priory on an intimate level. Though they are not initially aware of their roles, they are integral to Colonys survival.

The characters on both sides of this epic battle are possessed with extraordinary powers. Elaine is hostess to multiple spirits fighting for dominance within her. While her battle rages within, she is outwardly in conflict with and attempting to undermine the malicious Fourteenth Tribe and its plot of annihilation. There is wanton, indiscriminate murder and unbridled, often violent, sexual encounters as Masons desire for dominance and revenge takes no prisoners.

Yeah, thats it, in a nutshell, this story takes no prisoners..get it, read it. ENJOY!
2912885
If you are a fan of epic novels, then be prepared to gorge yourself on this novel by LR. Olson. I know I spent a few sleepless nights absorbed within the saga between shy innocent Julianna and handsome domineering James. In A Dangerous Temptation: Volume 1-3, Ms. Olson weaves a tale of obsessive desire, heartless betrayal, sprinkled with a bit of utter madness. Anything can change in a minute  thats what Julianna realized after her chance encounter with James. It was simply the beginning of this riveting narrative.
What was unique about A Dangerous Temptation was that each chapter was written from the perspective of James or Julianne. The first-person point-of-view allowed the reader an intimate understanding of the motivating factors driving each characters actions. Ms. Olson did take some liberties with this novel by not following a rigid historical timeline. However, it worked. It was a perfectly blended delectable feast.

I cant wait to read it again. I love, love, loved it!!!! Happy reading!
228167
Absolutely brilliant!  A story about the fight against evil but done with flair and imagination.  The heroine is powerful but unsure, the hero is full of  bravery and feeling. The supporting characters are as varied as any group can be. An absolute must for all lovers of Fantasy or those who like epic sagas.
I got this copy free for a honest review.
3873331
Love the epicness of it all, the depth the characters are developed to, and the attention to detail. Not just another story of good versus evil - there are lots of shades of grey which makes it very interesting. And there are dragons! :)
1773886
I found this big epic, over 700 pages, a real page turner. I read this in just a week because I found it hard to put the book down! Great characters that you learn to care for especially Jason, Nick and his family. They run from one potential deathtrap to end up in another.

I like how Williams ties all different stories together to where all the main people are tied together by the end of the novel. I appreciated the detail Williams gives to make the story come alive in my imagination.

I think this would be a great mini-series on television.

Excellent!
3825412
Noumenon by Marina J. Lostetter

What a truly classic epic! This became way more involved than I thought it would. There were so many issues to be explored, one story, or chapter, at a time. And the collective whole was spun together very well indeed.
The characters were developed and well nuanced. And they certainly did drive the plot along. And so many issues along the way that this quickly became one of my all time favorite reads. The people felt oh so real, and at the same time you could identify with their struggles. Mix in a true sense of awe and wonder, and cycle through a few many) generations, and let simmer. Then when it all boils over, what will they do?! You, dear reader, will keep turning the pages to find out.