A decent addition to the combined mythology
587653
Conan and Red Sonja want to get it on but green beasts break into their love shack before they have a chance. Fortunately, Conan and Sonja have teamed up as co-generals of an army that they can use to attack the wizard who sent the monsters. Unfortunately, one of the battles does not go well, leaving Conan and Sonja to set out independently to track down the sorcerer who is using blood root to create all manner of vile creatures.

Well, thats the plot. Does the plot really matter? Conan slays and Red Sonja struts around half naked. Or more than half. Then Red Sonja slays and Conan struts around half naked. What more could you want? Well, from my standpoint, Red Sonja being more than half naked would be nice, but thats not my destiny.

Back to the plot. The more interesting part of the story comes near the end, when we learn the truth about the proud sorcerer, who gets a well-deserved humility lesson, and his blind seer. The story holds a few surprises before it gets back into the swing of slashing and slaying.

On the whole, the second Red Sonja/Conan team-up is a decent addition to the combined mythology of Red Sonja and Conan. Its better than many of the Conan stories Ive read but not up to the level of the best Red Sonja stories.

The art is too inconsistent to get excited about. Many panels are striking. Other panels look like the art was subcontracted to someone who had never seen the characters before. Not sure what thats all about.
1409781
This is not a genre I usually read, but I saw this on sale on Audible and took a chance and it was money well spent!  I enjoyed the story and the mythology the book sets up.  The humor was trying a little too hard in places and felt forced, but I'm hoping this is something that is smoothed out in subsequent books.  I enjoyed it enough to try the next book in the series.  It's a fun story, fun characters, and a nice, easy read.
3738582
I really enjoyed the Siren addition to Urban Fantasy, and the mythology that goes along with it. The addition made the vampires and werewolves read less overdone. Tension is always there throughout the book, and the hope for Demeter to be pleased and let Emma off the hook is always there. How the story played out, and who the bad guys are, was well done. I do agree with some reviewers--going into this book I almost felt like I'd missed something, as though I'd accidentally started reading the second book in the series instead of the first. But we are also in Emma's mind, so we have to decide of the protagonist is trustworthy. I was surprised not to feel the years of experience from Emma. She does read as a modern character, but I hope that things will evolve in book 2. I am also curious as to why she joined the FBI instead of saving girls alone. But I can understand having use of the FBI's resources, the cover as an agent, and the bit of publicity she gets that Demeter can see, would make sense for her working there. It's not written in the bool, but these are the things I inferred while reading. I'm definitely looking forward to what happens next. The end of this book almost broke my heart.
2637787
I almost enjoyed the book more for it's integration of different folklore than the story at first.  Things like the Mari Lwyd (which I have only seen referenced in Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series before), Hern the Hunter (Herla), Old Hob, Oberon, etc...  really cool to see those references worked in, although a bit disconcerting at first as I tried to reconcile the world he was creating with those types of references.  It probably took a good two thirds of the book before I started to really get caught up.

A previous post somehow made the connection to Jordan's WOT series which really could not be further from the truth-  in a superficial way, I suppose you could try to make the leap that the setup is similar to TEOTW, but really, trying to make that connection is sort of ridiculous at best.  The series really stands on it's own from my perspective.

Once I got going, I thought it was a great piece of Indie fiction-  I'm on to the next in the series and and looking forward to the completion of the series.
2572779
I received a free review copy of this book.
My first thought was: "silver reed pipes?" Are they made from silver, or are they made from reeds? I really liked the illustrations; they add zing to the story without distracting the reader from the text. It's sort of like Percy Jackson for a younger audience, with maybe a little more attention paid to the original myths. Overall, it's decent, although it could use a bit more "show" and less "tell" in places.
1315878
Myth-Told Tales is the thirteenth book in the Myth-Adventures series and the first of the series that is a collaboration between Robert Asprin, who created the series, and co-author Jody Lynn Nye, an established fantasy writer in her own right.

Myth-Told Tales is not a novel but a collection of three short stories:

(1)  "Myth Congeniality" - Skeeve is drawn away from his studies to help Bunny win an inter-dimensional beauty contest in order for her to get the prize, something her Uncle, Don Bruce, the Fairy Godfather of the Mob, wants very much to get his hands on.

(2)  "Myth Calculations" - Chumley, along with Guido and Tananda, investigate a pair of racketeers who are muscling in on the Mob's territory at the Bazaar on Deva

(3)  "Myth-ter Right" - Aahz and Massha travel to the dimension Brakespear to help a friend and former ward of Massha's, Princess Gloriannamarjolie, win the Wylde Hunt, where the Princess is the object of the hunt and where the prize to be awarded is something apparently everyone wants to get their hands on.

Note:  Judging by the other reviews, it seems like there may be different versions of this book out with different numbers of stories.  The three stories I listed are in everyone's list, but the others are most definitely not in the book I'm reviewing, which is the Meisha Merlin 111 page edition.

Quality-wise, Myth-Told Tales is a step up from some of Asprin's more recent Myth-Adventures books, but still a far cry from his early ones in the series. The only story of the three which seemed to bring back some of the humor that really made the series popular was "Myth Calculations". There are a couple of forwards - one written by Asprin and one by Nye - that are mildly informative but in some ways they feel like padding for what is a very short book.

Recommended as a merely okay read in its own right but a marginally necessary one for continuity's sake as it sets things up for what happens in the next book in the series, Myth-Alliances.
903181
Having done three series already, Rick Riordan is now in his fourth demigods series, after the camp-for-demigods stories of the Greek and Roman gods (with key characters Percy Jackson and Jason Grace), the spooky Egyptian magical detective series that centres around Carter and Sadie Kane. And by breaking open the tales of the Norse myths, Riordan now unifies the theory with tales of a homeless demigod teen in the halls of Valhalla.

The set-up is compelling, and Magnus Chase is an interesting enough character. And, being a first instalment, the story is relatively fresh and streamlines. Magnus Chase is a reasonably intelligent kid, and his explorations of the world of Norse mythology are fun. Some of his sidekicks are good fun too, and the enemies gruesome (but not too gruesome). There are some funny references to our other understanding of Norse gods (via Marvel comics and movies), and to Riordan's other characters, which are so far unbeknownst to Magnus Chase.

The book's downfall, though (like it's concept's...), is the distance the adults in this world put between themselves and events unfurling (with the exception of Percy's uncle), and the aloofness of the Norse gods on the eve of Ragnarok (other than Loki, of course). Somehow, it never makes sense that it's a bunch of teens who take on the forces bent on destroying the world, while the adults go about their normal lives (the Harry Potter books suffer from the same problem).

Ultimately, while this is a noble start to a new series on a theme, the Gods of Asgard isn't likely to unseat the Kane Chronicles as Riordan's best and most mature series so far.
2359396
Aphrodite has always been my least favorite of the major Greek goddesses, but this was a fun way of retelling some of her major myths. I probably will read more books in the series, but only of the deities that are particular favorites of mine. I plan on buying Athena's comic, and will likely buy Artemis's book when it comes out, but I doubt I'll read the others. Overall, I didn't love this comic but it was enjoyable because I love Greek mythology.
Received from Goodreads.
4491612
I borrowed this from the library and voluntarily reviewed it.

I love Myths and my favourites, by far are the Norse ones. They are the reason I enjoy the videogame Tomb Raider Underworld so much because the game draws inspiration from Norse Mythology. I thought this was a cracking read. Im familiar with all of the myths Gaiman explores but I loved his take on them. The stories in this book are old and have been told many times in many different versions but I liked Gaimans versions, given a contemporary tone. This reminded me a lot of Joanne Harriss amazing The Gospel of Loki. Loki is my favourite God even though he could be considered the most evil so I enjoyed stories that featured him the most. A few tales were new to me such as The Story of Gerd and Frey and Hymir and thors Fishing Expedition. I enjoyed the later myths the most, leading towards Ragnorak. The final myth is this book was actually my favourite. Norse Mythology is well worth a read.
4885731
This book contained common elements from a handful of different stories I've read in the past couple of years. But they're combined in a way that presents a whole new world.

Clara hasn't had the best life. Her mother didn't provide her with the best childhood. Since growing up very independent and not all that trusting her mother has since 'found God'. She's tried to push this belief upon her daughter (and stepdaughter). Along with some other, shall we say, twisted life views.

Clara just wants to live her life, sans any romantic entanglements, and work in business with her new degree. It would seem all of that might be too much to ask. Between numerous failed job opportunities, thanks to sexist business operators, and a new, mythological twist, Clara's life is turning out to be quite different from what she dreamed.

Fate had other ideas in mind. Fate thinks Clara would make good balance for Cupid.... Zues.... Hades..... Poseidon..... and Ra. Yup, that's 5 high level gods that are apparently in need of a "bonded one" in order to continue their existence. It's a lot to take in. Especially when battling 5 arrogant gods who think she should be grateful and acquiesce. Not to mention a secret society that wants to prevent any bonded one from completing their bond so that the few remaining gods blink out of existence.

It's a crazy world that Clara is just beginning to open her eyes to.

Clara is quite stubborn. As we're told by MANY times by just about every character. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Though, it does get to feeling pretty repetitive after a while. Additionally, the bond starts to work on Clara "behind the scenes" and begins to weaker her will against bonding with the guys. She pretty quickly shifts from not wanting anything to do with them to being grateful they're around to protect her. It felt a little quick and forced, though that is somewhat described by the "bond" itself. Either way, I'd have liked Clara's to retain some more sense of her original self for longer.

All in all, the characters are interesting, though we don't get to know too much about the personalities of the gods aside from the arrogance and obvious stereotypes. Hopefully that's expounded upon in the next installment.
4906796
I thought that this was interesting for helping the reader get the whole story of Moiraine/Suian/Lan that has been hinted at in bits and pieces.
Some of the stuff was a bit repetitious/unoriginal but it was a good read and a nice addition to the series.
1360760
A nice if a little overly formulaic series that presents interesting information/evidence about the creature in question and a decent successor to Monster Quest.
3511657
I have to admit that I'm a big fan of mythology. I've always loved the weaving interconnections between cultures and stories that exist because we, as humans, all have a shared history to some degree. Way, way back at least.

That's one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book. The author uses some basic elements of Norse mythology and creates a unique story that involves original characters who come into contact with some well-known major players from the ancient Norse tales.

And she doesn't shy away from showing both the light and dark sides to those characters and elements. I loved the way that ideas from several different types of stories were used in original ways. I loved the world she creates.

I only have two gripes, one being the relationship between the two main characters. The main characters, in my opinion, act ridiculous and silly when it comes to their relationship with one another, a fact thatwhen used sparinglycan lead to heightened suspense in the reader. However, in this case, it goes a bit overboard and becomes annoying. It didn't really ring true to me as a reader (and yes, I realize this is fantasy, but characters should still act according to some semblance of normal human behavior). But maybe that's just me.

My other issue is with the editing. Let me start by saying that it isn't terrible, and there aren't errors on every page. I've seen worse, and I've seen better. It can be distracting at times, though. I know that I can be a bit nit-picky because I am an editor (and an English teacher), but I'm pretty forgiving when written for style or effect. As an author myself, I know how successful these things can be when used properly, but that's not what I'm referring to here. When it's a small typo here and there, fine. There were quite a few blatant errors, many of which were repetitions of the same problems, something that could be fixed by an editor. I will say, though, that I've noticed more and more errors in TRADITIONALLY published books that would presumably have PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED editors looking them over (it's scary at times). In those cases, I don't really blame the author, as it isn't their job to fix the problems, and they don't usually have a lot of say-so when they are contracted through a company. However, if you don't hire an editor (or you ignore what the editor tells you to fix), you have to own those mistakes yourself. So, I don't feel that this author is much different from popular authors in her writing ability (which is strong), but I do think she should take the time to make corrections.

In the end, though, the story is engrossing enough to keep you going. The ending made up for the slower beginning segments and answered many questions, leaving you with a clear sense of a satisfying ending to the story. I would be interested in reading the next book when it comes out, and I do have another of hers on hand to start soon. The Royal Wizard was worth the time and money spent, and I look forward to more of her work (and artwork, which she certainly has a gift for). I like her writing style and her ability to weave a great story, so I do recommend this book with a solid 3.5 stars.
4239891
You know when you throw modern day gal in with Greek myths that the Gods are going to make sure you pay attention. That's exactly what happened with Arianna. Arcaeus is out to forge ahead after his loss. Surely he knows that he's also at the whim of the gods. There were a couple of instances where it seemed a little flat. However, it was a great start to a series.
1493893
This book consists of 25 biographical sketches of figures from Greek Mythology. Its one of those books that grew on me, and the reason it grew on me was a few of the chapters toward the end were engaging, such as those about Heracles, Jason, and Helen.  This also means that the number of stars I gave it is fairly meaningless. It was in no danger of getting 5 stars nor 1, but couldve been anywhere in between at various points in my reading.

The problem with the book is that the unit of interest isn't the myth, i.e. not the story, but rather the mythical figure, the various gods and heroes of ancient Greece.  Because of this organization, some of the chapters have a tight and memorable story, such as that of Heracles and his 12 labors, while others are just piles of genealogical facts mixed with odd mythical happenings (e.g.  who burst from whose forehead) and tossed with that mythical figures bit parts in larger myths.  The book is a good, solid reference book for schoolkids doing research on Greek Mythology, but much of its not very engaging to read.

The graphics are beautiful and colorful, if a bit artsy (not always instantaneously clear in subject.) There are maps, a timeline describing happenings of ancient Greece -- real and mythical, a bibliography, and a quick guide to the characters that would make more sense if the book wasn't a collection of relatively brief biographical sketches to begin with (but repetition has its merits, particularly for children.)

If you're looking for a collection of biographies of mythical Greeks (i.e. a reference for children,) then this is a good book for you. If you're looking to get your kids intrigued by the Greek myths, then you might want to shop around. Put another way, if you're looking for a version of what Neil Gaiman did with this Norse Mythology, only for the Greeks, this isn't it.
1086471
Very nice blend of history and mythology. Helen has nightmares of events she is determined to prevent. She feels she has to avoid an arranged marriage. She enlists the aid of very strong unmarried king. The plot development is very different and  events are mixed trying to satisfy gods and please the people. But all of this is in a historical context. The final chapter is a little open ended.
742118
The plot of Quicksilver glosses over four stories involving the god Hermes. His trip to retrieve the goddess Kore from Hades, his help to Perseus in killing the monster Medusa, his role in the development of the Trojan War, and his love of Calypso after saving Odysseus from her island.

My main, and really my only complaint, about this book is that it took four generally unlinked stories and tried to cram them together without much transition between them. Because it was confined into one book, most details and depth in the story had to be eliminated so everything would fit. It would have worked better if the author had split the four myths between two books to allow a plot with better flow and the expansion of these myths.

Readers should enjoy the portrayal of the gods, epically the likeable protagonist Hermes, whether they are well versed in Greek Mythology or wanting to learn about it. It was fun to read these classical myths with a more personal tone to the gods, and interesting to see how they intereacted with each other and mortals.

I recommend it!