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  Cora's Fantasy Reading Challenge List #1

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  1. High Fantasy - The Broken Kingdoms - N. K. Jemisin - read 03/10/11
  2. Comic Fantasy - Sorcery - Terry Pratchett - read 12/24/11
  3. Dark Fantasy - Something Wicked This Way Comes - Bradbury - read 02/14/10
  4. Fairytale Fantasy - The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale - read 10/10/10
  5. Urban Fantasy - Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins - read 12/03/10
  6. Sword and Sorcery - Swords and Deviltry - Fritz Leiber - read 01/18/10
  7. Heroic Fantasy - The Wandering Fire - Guy Gavriel Kay - read 06/18/11
  8. Romantic Fantasy - The Smoke Thief - Shana Abe - read 05/19/10
  9. Science Fantasy - Perdido Street Station - read 03/08/11
  10. Fantasy of Manners (aka Mannerpunk) - Shades of Milk and Honey - Mary Robinette Kowal - read 12/28/11
  11. Magic Realism - Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen - read 04/26/10
  12. Young Adult Fantasy - The Eternity Code - Eoin Colfer - read 03/28/10
  13. Time Travel Fantasy - Archer's Goon - Diana Wynne Jones - read 10/23/10
  14. Supernatural Noir - Blood Rites - Jim Butcher - read 10/31/10
  15. Paranormal - Full Moon Rising - Keri Arthur - read 08/14/11

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST CATEGORIES
  1. Protagonist older than 35 - Legend - David Gemmell - read 03/03/12
  2. Protagonist younger than 18 - Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mull - read 03/14/10
  3. Magical human protagonist - Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones - read 06/12/10
  4. Non-human protagonist - Dream Angus - Alexander McCall Smith - read 12/24/10
  5. Set in a royal court - Graceling - Kristin Cashore - read 03/05/12
  6. Set in a school of magic - The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss - read 12/13/11
  7. Set in a recognizable historical milieu - The Firebrand - Marion Zimmer Bradley - read 09/28/10
  8. Set in a recognizably non-European milieu - The Thirteenth Child - Patricia Wrede - read 05/13/10
  9. Set in a radically altered historical milieu (e.g. steampunk, alternate history)
  10. Action takes place while traveling (quest structure) - Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman - Completed 05/04/10
  11. Action takes place while traveling (non-quest structure) - Black Magic Woman - Completed 11/08/10
  12. Set in a world containing no magic - Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods - Completed 1/30/11
  13. Told from a first-person perspective - Benighted - Kit Whitfield - Completed 5/31/10
  14. Told from a third-person omniscient perspective - The Summer Tree - Guy Gavriel Kay - Completed 6/6/11
  15. Told from a third-person limited, multi-perspective viewpoint - Elantris - Brandon Sanderson - Completed 04/01/10

  AUTHOR/AWARD CATEGORIES
  1. Non-Caucasian Author - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - N. K. Jemisin - read 12/18/10
  2. Author from a country other than the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia - Zoo City - Lauren Beukes - read 03/19/11
  3. Work written pre-1950 - Lud in the Mist - Hope Mirrlees (published 1926)
  4. Work written pre-1920
  5. Work written the year you were born (1975) - Dogsbody - Diana Wynne Jones
  6. Work originally written in a language other than English - Night Watch - Sergey Lukyanenko - read 03/27/11
  7. Work written by a Gandalf Grand Master/World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement
  8. Work by an author you have never read before - Weight - Jeanette Winterson - read 01/09/10
  9. Anthology - Maiden, Matron, Crone - Kerrie Hughes and Martin H. Greenberg (editors) - read 04/01/21
  10. Hugo Award Winner - Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold - read 01/12/12
  11. Nebula Award Winner - American Gods - Neil Gaiman - read 07/23/11
  12. Locus Fantasy Award Winner - The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley
  13. Mythopoeic Award Winner - The Porcelain Dove - Delia Sherman - read 01/23/10
  14. World Fantasy Award Winner - Ombria in Shadow - Patricia McKillip - read 02/01/10
  15. James Tiptree, Jr. Award Winner - The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden - Catherynne M. Valente - read 03/14/12

  Cora R started this discussion 3 years ago (edited). ( reply | permalink )

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  PhoenixFalls 

  New Title

  

  Welcome!

  Jo and I are both reading John Crowley's Little, Big for the Magic Realism category, so we're planning on reading them at the same time and discussing them. If you have any interest in joining us, let me know!

  And in case you don't want to read it for the Magic Realism category but do still want to read it, it will also qualify for "Fairytale Fantasy," "Mythopoeic Award Winner," and "World Fantasy Award Winner." It may qualify for other categories, but as I haven't read it yet, I don't know which! :)

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

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    Thanks for the suggestion. If I can get a hold of it I just may join you.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

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  Here is the list of fantasy novels that I own on my TBR pile that I am not sure which category they would fit in, but I hope to figure it out after I read them.

  Gardens of the Moon - Steve Erikson
  Acacia - David Anthony Durham
  A Shadow in Summer - Daniel Abraham
  The Naming - Alison Croggon
  Benighted - Kit Whitfield

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  AllanaS 

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  I'm on the 8th book of the series that starts with Gardens of the Moon at the moment.
  I'd err, recommend reading that one later in the year.

  Because if you end up really liking the series like I did, you'll end up with a queue of 7 published books that balloon to over 1k pages each.
  I love them all to pieces, but it'll be a serious strain on the Challenge.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

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    Thanks so much for the warning, I will definitely wait until I have the time to get engrossed in the series.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

  New Title

  

  AUTHOR/AWARD CATEGORIES
  8. Work by an author you have never read before

  Weight - Jeanette Winterson (Completed January 9, 2010)

  4 stars

  Weight is part of the Cannongate Myth Series. It is a re-imagining of the myth of Atlas and Heracles. I have really enjoyed reading the books in this series and Weight was no exception. Winterson examines the isolation and loneliness of Atlas as he is stuck with the weight of the Kosmos on his shoulders. He is visited by Heracles and given a chance to have a break from his burden. Herecules is unlike the heroic Heracles normally presented; instead he is a womanizing drunk. Winterson expands the story into the present day and tells what happens to Atlas when, unknown to him the gods fade away replaced by other religious beliefs. The author also breaks into the story on occasion to offer some self reflection and comparison of her life with that of Atlas and his burden. There were times when I really loved the direction that Winterson took with Atlas, and there were other times when I found the book too short.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  6. Swords and Sorcery

  Swords and Deviltry - Fritz Leiber (Completed January 18, 2010)

  3 stars

  Swords and Deviltry is the first book in the Fafhrd and the Mouser series. It is a classic fantasy novel that defined the sword and sorcery sub-genre of fantasy (Leiber himeself coined the phrase "Sword and Sorcery"). The series tells of the adventures of Fafhrd, a young man from the cold northern realm who is very good with a sword, and the Gray Mouser, a former wizard apprentice who toes the line between dark and light magic and who is not bad with a sword himself. Sword and Deviltry tells the back stories of the duo and how they met and became a team. The book was light and fun with a lot of adventure. The section of the book about Fafhrd's backstory bored me a bit. I think it is because I have never enjoyed reading about sword fighting very much. I found myself doing a lot of skimming. I did really like The Gray Mouser's back story, unfortunately it was the one of the shortest sections of the book. The final section, where the two heroes meet and begin working together was fun, but like the rest of the book it was backstory setting up the series. I think I will read the next book in the series to see what Leiber does with the pair now that the need for establishing their story and partnership is taken care of.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

  New Title

  

  AUTHOR/AWARD CATEGORIES
  13. Mythopoetic Award Winner

  The Porcelain Dove - Delia Sherman (Completed January 23, 2010)

  4 stars

  The Porcelain Dove is a fantasy of manners that takes place in France in the late eighteenth century. It is told from the point of view of Berthe Duvet, a duchess' chambermaid. She is telling the story of how she came to be given immortality in a never changing castle where the inhabitants are waited upon by bodiless hands and entertained by demons. It is a story about how her master came to be cursed and how the curse was broken and how she found herself living in a version of "happily ever after." The back drop of the story is France leading up to and during the French revolution. I really enjoyed the book, it was like reading historical fiction and a fairy tale in one. There were times where the story went slow for me and I grew impatient for the magical parts, but over all it was a good read. Part of me was unsatisfied with not knowing what happened to some characters (since the story was told in first person, if Berthe did not know it neither did the reader), but another part of me was happy that it did not tie up all the lose ends too neatly. I would recommend it to anyone that appreciates the genre, especially if you liked Sorcery and Cecelia or Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

  Other Categories That This Book Would Cover:
  Fairy Tale Fantasy
  Fantasy of Manners
  Set in Recognizable Historical Milieu
  Told From First Person Perspective

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    PhoenixFalls 

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    Sounds vaguely like a Beauty and the Beast retelling. . . is it, or am I reading into that?

    Definitely something I'll have to check out. Didn't Delia Sherman write a book with Ellen Kushner, set in the Riverside universe? *Checking Wikipedia* Yes! The Fall of the Kings. If I enjoy The Privilege of the Sword I was planning on getting that one next. . .

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

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    No, it is not a retelling. Sherman uses a lot of fairy tale aspects in the story, but the characters are aware of them. For example, the narrator Berthe mentions that the two older boys are doomed to fail on the quest to break the curse because it is always the third child that is successful. The enchanted castle is not the curse, it is the "happily ever after" part of the story.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    PhoenixFalls 

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    I see. Thanks for the info, and bringing a book to my attention I wouldn't otherwise have known about! Of course, my wallet doesn't thank you for that. . . ;)

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

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    Your welcome. Actually, I would not have found the book if not for this challenge and the Mythopeotic category, so I should be thanking you :).

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Christal 

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    This sounds REALLY interesting. I am going to have to have a look at it and add it to my Wishlist.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

  New Title

  

  AUTHOR/AWARD CATEGORIES
  14. World Fantasy Award Winner

  Ombria in Shadow - Patricia McKillip (Completed February 01, 2010)

  4 stars

  Ombria in Shadow is a beautifully written book about a kingdom in turmoil. The prince has died and his heir is a five year old boy. The boy's great aunt has been plotting for years to take over and now she has a chance to be regent and control the young prince. Amidst the political menuvering are a royal bastard, the dead prince's mistress, a mysterious scorceress and her assistant trying to find their place in Ombria. But is Ombria what it seems? There is a legend of another Ombria that exists in the shadows, can it be real or is it just rumors from the past.

  I really enjoyed this book. The characters are beautifully written. Although they seem to be the overdone categories of characters often seen in fantasy, McKillip writes them much deeper and real. They grow throughout the book and are motivated by real emotions. The mystery of the truth about Ombria is compelling and I was not disappointed in the ending. I will definitely seek out more of McKillip's novels to read.

  Other Categories That This Book Would Cover:
  High Fantasy
  Set in a Royal Court
  Told from a third-person limited, multi-perspective viewpoint

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    PhoenixFalls 

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    Was this your first McKillip? She's an author I'm currently in the process of collecting, having discovered her only a couple years ago. . . this particular title is on my challenge list as well!

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

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    This is my first McKillip. I have Riddle-Master (an omnibus edition of the Riddle Master trilogy) here on my TBR, but I have not gotten to it yet. I really enjoyed her style of writing so I am looking forward to fitting it in soon.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    PhoenixFalls 

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    Riddle-Master is the one book (well, trilogy) of hers that didn't have that same feel. . . the quality was still high, but it wasn't as lyrical. It's definitely a more traditional high fantasy trilogy. . . though the final book is absolutely wondrous.

    My favorites of hers so far are Alphabet of Thorn, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, and the Cygnet duology (The Sorceress and the Cygnet; The Cygnet and the Firebird). The one I would recommend holding off on is In the Forests of Serre. . . it somehow never quite came together.

    Hope you continue to enjoy her work! There's a lot of it. . . which I am very grateful for, because it means even though she is not a book-a-year sort of author there's still plenty out there for me to read and enjoy! :)

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Cora R 

    New Title

    

    The Forgotten Beasts of Eld has been on my radar for a while, so once I whittle down my TBR of books I own it is one I want to get from the library.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  3. Dark Fantasy

  Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury (Completed February 14, 2010)

  5 stars

  Thirteen year olds, Will and Jim are intrigued when a mysterious carnival rolls into town a week before Halloween. While they are drawn to the carnival, soon they discover that everything is not as it seems. I really enjoyed this classic novel. It is truly one of the spookiest books I have read. It is refreshing reading a scary book that does not rely on graphic gore and violence. Bradbury does a great job building up suspense and atmosphere as he examines the desires of people and the consequences of them. Charles Holloway, Will's father, is an excellent character that many people can relate to. I am looking forward to reading more Bradbury.

  Other Categories:
  Protagonist younger than 18

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R (edited)

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST CATEGORIES
  2. Protagonist under 18

  Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mull (Completed March 14, 2010)

  4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 on my shelf)

  Rise of the Evening Star is the second book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. I really enjoyed this book, even more than I enjoyed the first book in the series (Fablehaven). Once again Kendra and Seth go to visit their grandparents at Fablehaven, a secret reserve for magical creatures. The reserve is threatened by the Society of the Evening Star, an organization that wants to destroy all the secret preserves and set dangerous beings loose on the world. There is a lot of adventure in this book and a lot of unexpected twists. There are some strings left over from the first book that are resolved in this one. I like how the author has the two siblings with opposing personalities, Kendra is overly cautious and Seth is overly reckless, yet neither one is "better" than the other. The two of them need each other to help temper the extremes of their nature and be successful helping save the day. The book had a lot of adventure and some new characters that I really liked. I also liked how the author ended the book. While it was not exactly a cliff hanger, it leaves the reader intrigued and wanting more. The book is written for kids, but I had fun reading it. I will definitely continue with the series.

  Other Categories:
  Young Adult Fantasy
  Third Person Omniscient Perspective

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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    cpauley929 

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    I tried listening to the first book on CD, but had to return it because I could not stand the reader. He sounded ridiculous. That put me off the series, but this makes me want to try again, reading it myself this time.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  12. Young Adult Fantasy

  The Eternity Code - Eoin Colfer (Completed March 28, 2010)

  3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4 on my shelf)

  ****SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BOOKS 1 & 2 in the Artemis Fowl Series****

  The Eternity Code is the third book in the Artemis Fowl series. Artemis Fowl Sr. is now a changed man. He has decided that the Fowl family will be giving up its criminal ways and that there are more important things in life than making money. Artemis Jr. has decided that he wants one last big caper before he goes legit. Using stolen fairy technology he develops a computer device that can do anything with a simple command. He wants to use the availability of this technology to extort money from American business man Jon Spiro. The deal goes bad, and for the first time in his young life Artemis is the one that has been bamboozled. Butler, Artemis' bodyguard, is mortally wounded in the altercation and Artemis knows that the only chance his body guard has to survive is if he can convince a fairy to heal him. Will he be able to count on the fairies for their help and can he recover the device before the knowledge of the fairy world is discovered by Spiro.

  This was another fun read in the Artemis Fowl series. Of the first three books I have read, it was probably my least favorite. All of my favorite characters are back but the challenge of the book seemed like it was a much smaller scale operation than the first two books. What I did enjoy was the character development of the book. In the second book Artemis heart started to thaw out a little bit, and in this book he develops further. A lot of the book sets up future books in the series and I am looking forward to seeing how new developments at the end of the book affect Artemis and his new found respect for others.

  Other Categories
  Protagonist under 18
  Third Person Omniscient Perspective

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST CATEGORIES

  15. Told from a third person, limited, multi-perspective viewpoint

  Elantris - Brandon Sanderson (Completed April 1, 2010)

  5 stars

  Elantris is a story about a land in turmoil. Once Elantrians were like gods in the country of Arelon. They had magic that allowed them to do miracles. No one was hungry, wounds could be healed with the wave of a hand, and the Elantrians literally glowed. One day the Elantrians gifts changed into a curse. Instead of magical godlike beings they became walking corpses that lived in perpetual pain. The political and religious structure of the country was destroyed. Ten years later, a king has become a tyrant and a foreign religious leader has decided the country must convert or be destroyed. The book is told from the point of view of three different characters: Raoden, prince of Arelon who woke up one day with the Elantrian curse; Hrathen, high priest of Fjordell who is given the task of converting Arelon, and Sarene, princess of neighboring Teod who comes to Arelon to marry Raoden but finds out she is a window instead of a bride. There is alot of political maneuvering in this book, which I really enjoyed. I also appreciated a fantasy novel with a strong female protagonist. The mystery of what happened to the Elantrian magic was interesting and different than what I have read in the past. I found myself cheering on the characters, even some of the "bad guys." I recommend this book to fans of fantasy, especially those that don't mind a lot of politics in their books.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORY
  11. Magical Realism

  Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen (Completed April 26, 2010)

  4 stars

  Garden Spells is the story of two sister in a small North Carolina town. Claire, the older sister, lives alone in her grandmother's house until her younger sister returns with her young daughter. The Waverly women are notorious for their special abilities. Claire makes food with the flowers and plants that grow in her garden that can affect those who eat it. Her honeysuckle wine can help you see in the dark and the apples from her apple tree gives anyone who takes a bite a vision of the most significant thing that will happen in their life. Both sisters have issues to deal with. Claire is so afraid of losing someone that she doesn't let anyone get close. Sydney must learn to embrace her heritage and be proud of who she is. I enjoyed reading this book. The small town southern charm was endearing and the story kept my interest. I liked the characters and wanted more from them. I wished the author had delved more deeply into some of the supporting characters. Some of the side stories seemed extraneous at the end and I kept waiting for their significance to the main story to be revealed. Overall I found the book charming and look forward to reading more from the author.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

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  SETTING/PROTAGONIST CATEGORIES
  10. Action takes place while traveling (quest structure)

  Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

  4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 on my shelf)

  Richard Mayhew lives a normal life with a normal job and a fiance until one day he helps a girl he finds bleeding in the street. Another world is opened up to him, one full of the people who fall through the cracks. He begins a quest to help the girl find out who killed her family and to try to find his way back to his old life.

  I really enjoyed Neverwhere. The world Gaiman has imagined is compelling because it is both a facinating fantasy world and a commentary on our world where the homeless often become invisible. I liked Richard's journey and how it ended, but I felt like I was only given a taste of London Below and I was left wanting to know more about its story. Gaiman has a great imagination and I can't wait to read more of his works. This book gave me an appreciation for the City of London and all of the history there. It makes American cities look like babies when you consider their comparable ages.

  Also would fit:
  Urban Fantasy

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  • 

    cpauley929 

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    This was the first Gaiman book I ever read, and I've been a fan ever since. I love this book. Glad you liked it :)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING PROTAGONIST CATEGORIES
  8. Set in a recognizably non-European milieu

  The Thirteenth Child - Patricia Wrede

  4 stars

  I really enjoyed reading the Thirteenth Child. It is a fanstasy novel set in an alternative America (called Columbia) during western expansion where magic and magical creatures are a part of everyday life, especially on the frontier. The story is about a young girl named Eff who happens to be born a thirteenth child. Many believe that a thirteenth child is bad luck and destined to turn to evil. Her twin brother, Lan, is born the seventh son of a seventh son - a child that will be an extremely strong magician. Eff struggles with the knowledge that she might someday turn bad and the prejudice of her aunts and uncles. This was a very sweet story. It was a little slow to get going, but I did enjoy the ride. It reminded me a lot of Little House on the Prairie, but with magic and dragons. I loved the discussion of the different types of magic, but I appreciated that despite the fantasy elements that the story was about a girl growing up. I suspect that this is the beginning of a series (although the story is resolved at the end so you could read it as a stand alone), and I am looking forward to seeing what Wrede will write next.

  Other Categories:
  Young Adult Fantasy
  Protagonist Younger than 18
  Magical Human Protagonist
  Set in Magic School

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  8. Romantic Fantasy

  The Smoke Thief - Shana Abe

  3 1/2 stars (rounded down to 3 on my shelf)

  Clarissa Rue Hawthorne escaped from her people years ago and has been using her special abilities to become a successful jewel thief. However she has caught the attention of Christoff, the Alpha male of the drakon. He is determined to find Clarissa and force her to return with him to Darkfrith, the home of the drakon. I enjoyed reading this novel. It was different from what I usually read, but that was a welcome change. It was part historical romance and part paranormal romance. I appreciated the new take on dragons and liked how it took place in 18th century London. I really wanted to get to know the main characters a little more though, and Clarissa's resistance to her feelings eventually got a bit old for me. I will add the next book in the series to my TBR.

  posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST
  13. Told from a first-person perspective

  Benighted - Kit Whitfield

  Lola lives in a world where she is the minority. As a bareback she was born with a birth defect that results in her not changing into a wolf during a full moon. She and others like her have no choice but to work for DORLA (Department for the Ongoing Regulation of Lycanthropic Activity), a government agency tasks with patrolling the streets during the change to make sure no one is out and about as wolves. One of her colleagues is maimed by a bad Lune and shortly after the man responsible was assigned to be advised by Lola someone kills her friend. Now Lola must find out if her client is responsible for murder.

  Benighted is unlike any book I have read before. On the surface it looks like a typical paranormal fantasy, it is about a world where werewolves are the majority. But it reads much more like a police procedural or mystery novel. Whitfield uses the fantasy set up to examine prejudice and what it does to people on both sides. By making "regular people" the minority, she puts the reader in the place of those that are discriminated against. It allows you to see similarities and insights about how other minority groups are treated without having to single out one group. Overall it is how people react when put in tough situations. The main character has plenty of flaws and does a lot of unforgivable things, but I found myself pulling for her and hoping that she finds some internal peace. I recommend this book to anyone that likes books that make you reflect on the world, even they are not necessarily a fan of fantasy and paranormal stories.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING PROTAGONIST
  3. Magical Human Protagonist

  Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones

  4 stars

  Wizard Derk has been chosen to be the Dark Lord for this year's Pilgram Tours. Every year, Mr. Chesney brings tourists from another world to have a traditional fantasy quest experience. The people of Derk's world are forced to change their world to meet the expectation of Mr. Chesney's tourists. Being Dark Lord is a tough job and Derk is not excited about his duties. He would much rather create more magical creatures, such as the Griffins he created and raised as his children (along side his human son and daughter).

  This was the first novel I have read by Diana Wynne Jones. I really appreciate her creativity and sense of humor. This book is a fun story, a parody on the typical epic fantasy formula, and a commentary on exploitation of others. The characters are fun and likeable, if a little underdeveloped. The ending seemed a bit rushed but overall it was a good read. I will definitely read the next book that Jones wrote about these characters.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING PROTAGONIST
  7. Recognizable Historic Mileau

  The Firebrand - Marion Zimmer Bradley

  4 stars

  The Firebrand is the the story of the Trojan War told from the perspective of Kassandra. Kassandra is a princess of troy who has the gift of prophecy but the curse that she is never believed. I loved the spin that Bradley put on the famous story and its characters. I like how she was able to have fantasy elements, such as the Gods being real with the ability to take over a person's body when they want to directly influence events and Kassandra's true visions, yet she made some other aspects of the mythology more grounded in reality. For example, the Kentaurs were not really half man/half horse. They were tribes of men that rode the plains on horses. Since they almost never got off their horses, their legs were bowed and the color of their skin matched that of the horses people often mistook them as being part one entity. Like many of Bradley's novels, this one had a feminist take on events. Kassandra often wishes she could live with the Amazons or in Colchis (where the city is ruled by queens) instead of a society where women are slaves to their husbands. The story did drag a little in the middle for me, knowing the story and the fate of Troy, I began to tire of reading about the siege and was ready for the horse to appear. I definitely would recommend this book to others interested in a retelling of the Fall of Troy.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORY
  4. Fairytale Fantasy

  The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale

  4 stars

  This is a retelling of the Grimm Fairy Tale The Goose Girl which is about a princess who is sent to marry a prince in another kingdom. On the way, her maid ambushes her and takes her place. The true princess becomes a goose girl and tries to find some way to tell the King the truth and have him believe her. I really enjoyed this book. I really liked the characters and I liked how Ami's character evolved. The story was not as dark as some other fairy tale retellings, but it did retain some of the darker elements of the original, such as the punishment for traitors. This is one I will save for when my daughter is old enough to read it.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORY
  13. Time Travel Fantasy

  Archer's Goon - Diana Wynne Jones

  4 stars

  When Quentin Sykes takes a suggestion to cure his writer's block by starting to write 2,000 words and send them to the nice man he met playing golf, it sounded like a good idea, and it worked. Unfortunately, when one of his essays goes missing he finds out that his words may have more power than he thought, in fact they may be the only thing stopping seven seven wizard siblings from taking over the world. I found this book very entertaining. The world that was fun,different, and full of surprises. I liked how the Sykes family dealt with the craziness of their situation and I found the characters quite likable. The mystery was fun to figure out. Although I did guess it before the big reveal, it was not obvious from the start. Diana Wynne Jones definitely always has a fresh perspective on the fantasy genre and I look forward to reading more of her books. This is a bit of a stretch for the category, most of the book does not involve time travel, but time travel turns out to be significant to the resolution of the story.

  Other Categories:

  Young Adult Fantasy
  Protagonist younger than 18
  Magical human protagonist

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORY
  14. Supernatural Noir

  Blood Rites - Jim Butcher

  4 stars

  Another fun, non-stop action book in the Dresden Files series.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST
  11. Action takes place while traveling (non-quest structure)

  Black Magic Woman - Justin Gustainis

  4 stars

  Quincey Morris is an investigator of the occult. When he his hired to help a family that is suffering from a deadly curse, he enlists the help of his friend, white witch Libby Chastain. The investigation takes them to all corners across the country where they often find themselves battling dark forces. I found this book very entertaining. Most of the characters were interesting, although I felt the author developed Quincey the least. The chase to stop the evil doers was suspenseful, but the conclusion was a little bit of a let down. Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read that fans of supernatural investigators will enjoy.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE
  5. Urban Fantasy

  Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins

  4 stars

  Gregor is watching his sister in the laundry room of their building when she disappears into a vent. He follows after her and the end up in a fantastic world far beneath NYC where Cockroaches, Rats, and Bats are as big as people. The world is on the brink of war and an ancient prophecy tells of a warrior from the Overland that will be essential to its outcome. Soon, the people of the Underland decide that Gregor is the warrior and send him on a quest that they hope will save them all. Gregor just wants to find away to get home and reunite his family.

  I read this book to my son at bedtime (he is 8). He is a fan of Percy Jackson and we were looking for other books that were about boys having an adventure with fantasy elements. Gregor is like a modern day, urban version of Alice in Wonderland. He really enjoyed it and asked me if we could buy the next in the series tomorrow. I also enjoyed the story. It has a good message about not losing hope and exhausting all other options before resorting to violence and war.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  • 

    Christal 

    New Title

    

    I think I might have to pick this up. After having read Hunger Games and knowing I like her as an author, this sounds fun

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST
  4. Non-Human Protagonist

  Dream Angus - Alexander McCall Smith

  4 stars

  This book is part of the Canongate Myth Series. Smith retells stories about Dream Angus, the Celtic god of dreams and love. The chapters alternate between stories of Dream Angus and stories of regular people that somehow relate to myths. Some of the stories mirror something that happened to Angus, such as finding out the man who had been raising him is not his father, and others involved dreams affecting lives. It was an interesting and quick read.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST
  Set in a world with no magic.

  Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods - Suzanne Collins

  5 stars

  In the third book in the Gregor the Underlander series, Gregor finds himself once again returning to the Underland to fulfill his role in a prophecy. This time there is a plague that threatens to wipe out all warmblooded creatures in the Underland. In order to save those he loves, Gregor must join together with rats, bats, cockroaches, and Regalians on a dangerous mission to find the cure. My eight year-old son really loves this series. It has humor, adventure and giant cockroaches. What could be better than that. I am impressed at how Collins tackles real world ethical issues involving war and conflict. Many of the situations that the Underland people find themselves in are echoes of conflicts throughout history and current events. There are the ethics of biological warfare, withholding humanitarian aid, when to fight and when to try to achieve peace. In this book alone I found myself discussing Israel and the Middle East and the way Native Americans were treated by European settlers and the American government with my son. The series offers us many teachable moments and offers views of both sides of tough issues involved with war.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  9. Science Fantasy

  Perdido Street Station - China Mieville

  4 stars

  Perdido Street Station is about a bunch of characters on the fringes or outcast from society that come together to correct a mistake that threatens the city. This was a dense book that was not easy to read. The world Mieville creates is so different from our world that it took a lot of brain power just to imagine it in my head (despite the copious descriptions given). The vocabulary Mieville used kept me on my toes and gave my Kindle's dictionary a good work out. The first half of the book consisted of a lot of world and character building. I kept waiting for something to happen, something to start tying all of the stories together. That something happened at around the half way point and it became a different story, a lot of the stuff from the beginning of the book went on the back burner. I am glad I read the book, Mieville created an original, imaginative world unlike any other I have read. I feel like a lot of the stuff that happened in the book went over my head and I kept thinking that I must have missed something among all the descriptions and big words.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES
  1. High Fantasy

  The Broken Kingdoms - N. K. Jemisin

  5 stars

  This sequel to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms takes place 10 years after the end of the first book. A blind artist that can see magic finds a mysterious man apparently lying in a dumpster. She helps the man and takes him back to stay with her. Meanwhile, someone has been murdering godlings and Nightlord has given the city thirty days to find the murderer or he will destroy the entire city. This book definitely lives up to the promise of the first, in fact I think it is even better than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Jemisin has created a unique world with a wonderful mythology. I loved reading about the different godlings and their relationships with their parents. Oree is a great character that is strong and easy to route for. Although the book focused on new characters, some of my favorites from the first book made appearances. The growth of the characters was impressive, I am looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  AUTHOR CATEGORIES
  2. Author from country other than USA, Canada, or UK

  Zoo City - Lauren Beukes

  3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4 on my shelf)

  Zoo City is an urban fantasy book set in Johannesburg, South Africa. In Beurkes world, anyone guilty of a serious crime automatically acquires an animal. When the animal dies, so does the person and it is physically painful to be separated from the animal. Along with the animal comes a unique ability. Zinzi December becomes animaled when she is responsible for the death of her brother. She has a sloth that will always identify her as someone undesirable to polite society. Zinzi also has the ability to locate lost things. Usually she takes jobs to find mundane objects such as lost car keys and wedding rings that fall down the drain. Zinzi doesn't usually agree to find missing people, her gift does not work that way. When she is offered a job to find a missing pop star, Zinzi can't refuse the money, but will she able to find the girl in time? It was interesting to read a book set in South Africa. I wish I was more familiar with Johannesburg because I think I would have appreciated the little details more. Zinzi is not an easy character to like, but I found her growing on me by the end of the book. The world where your sins are there for the world to see is interesting, and I found the implications of this more interesting than the mystery. The culmination of the mystery seemed rushed to me, and some parts of the end were not clear to me, but I may have just missed something the first time through. I would recommend fans of urban fantasy to give this book a try.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  AUTHOR/AWARD CATEGORIES
  6. Book originally written in language other than English

  The Night Watch - Sergey Lukyanenko

  4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 on my shelf)

  Unknown to regular people, the world if filled with supernatural beings called others. Some of the others follow Light while others follow Dark. Both sides work to maintain a balance between Good and Evil in the world, and are bound by a treaty to do so. When a mid-level agent for the Night Watch (the Light others) discovers a unknown other with extraordinary potential for great power, he finds himself caught up in a power struggle between the forces of both Light and Dark. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series. This book was originally published in Russia, and I can see how the philosophy of the book was influenced by the author's culture. There were times that I found my self struggling a little to understand the book's philosophy, but I enjoyed having my mind stretched.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING/PROTAGONIST

  14. Third-Person Omniscient Point of View

  The Summer Tree - Guy Gavriel Kay (Book one in the Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy)

  5 stars

  When The Summer Tree was chosen as a group read for the Fantasy/Science Fiction book of the Month group, I was torn. Kay's Tigana is on my very short list of favorite books, but I have never been a fan of fantasy novels where someone from our world/time gets transported into a fantasy world. I have always felt that it prevents me from becoming immersed in the fantasy world because the real world sentiments of the characters from our world always pull me out. The Summer Tree has shown me that in the right hands, this is not the case. A sorcerer from the world of Fionavar has brought five university students from our world into his world. He has told them it is for a celebration of the King's 50th year ruling and that they would return to their reality in about a week. However, once they are in Fionavar, it becomes clear that their destiny is to become major figures in a battle to overcome an evil that threatens not only Fionavar, but all the different worlds, including Earth. I loved all the characters, those from Fionavar and those from Earth. They were complex and believable. As the characters were drawn more into the society of Fionavar, it never felt awkward nor did the fact that they were from Earth become irrelevant. The story drew me right in and I am going to continue with the next book in the series right away.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE CATEGORIES

  7. Heroic Fantasy

  The Wandering Fire - Guy Gavriel Kay (Book two in the Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy)

  4 stars

  In this continuation of Kay's Fionavar Tapestry, the five friends from Earth once again find themselves in Fionavar and their place in the Tapestry becomes clearer. This was a great continuation of the trilogy. Kay really sets up all the pieces for the final confrontation that I assume is coming in the third book. The roles of all the characters become more apparent and some additional legends come in to play, most notably Arthurian. I did enjoy the first book a little bit more because I felt that the characters complexity and growth was stronger in the first book. I am really looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  AWARD CATEGORIES

  Nebula Award Winner

  American Gods - Neil Gaiman

  4 stars

  Shadow is released from jail after finding out that his wife had died in a car accident. Soon he is offered a job from a mysterious man, Mr. Wednesday. Thus begins a magical roadtrip through middle America and dying mythology. I really enjoyed reading this book. I find all the different gods and mythology very interesting and I could tell that Gaiman did a lot of research. After reading the book, I am interested in finding more information on a lot of the gods and characters that made an appearance in the book. I enjoyed the way the book ended too. It was not at all what I was expecting.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  • 

    AllanaS 

    New Title

    

    I haven't read that book since I first got it years ago, but it was so good. Glad that you enjoyed it. :)
    Anansi Boys is sort-of set in the same universe.

    posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SETTING PROTAGONIST

  Set in a School of Magic

  The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

  4 1/2 stars (rounded up to 5 on my shelf)

  The Name of the Wind is the first in a planned trilogy about Kvothe. Kvothe is a retired legend and a chronicler has come asking for his true story. This first volume we learn about Kvothe's early life. I was impressed by this debut novel. Having the story told to you by the main character was a unique style for epic fantasy. I felt like Rothfuss did a great job developing characters, which is not always the case in the genre. In fact, the book is much more about how Kvothe came to be the hero he was rather than the heroic acts themselves (which I assume will occur in subsequent books in the series). I have been in a major reading funk since August. I have started many good books but somehow lost interest without finishing. I hesitated to pick this one up at first due to its 700+ page count, but I blew through it and finished it in a few days. Hopefully that means it helped cure this reading funk I have been in, that alone deserves a high rating.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE

  Comic Fantasy

  Sorcery - Terry Pratchett

  3 1/2 stars - rounded down to 3 on my shelf

  In this Discworld novel, a sorcerer has been born on the Disc. Can Rincewind stop him from bringing about the end of the world? This was a typical Disworld novel with returning characters, such as Rincewind, the Luggage, and the Librarian, and some new ones too. I think I liked Rincewind a little more in this one than in previous novels he has been the focus of, but I still found myself skimming a lot of passages to get to the end of the book.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  GENRE

  Fantasy of Manners

  Shades of Milk and Honey - Mary Robinette Kowal

  4 stars

  Shades of Milk and Honey reads like a Jane Austen novel with magic thrown in. Jane Ellsworth is a talented woman who is especially good at creating glamour (magic illusions) and her sister Melody is beautiful. The novel follows their movements throughout society as they try to secure their future by finding love. As I was reading the novel the plot as well as the characters were very familiar. It was not only similar to Jane Austen, it seemed as if the plots of Austen's novels and the characters from them were just recycled with magic thrown in. The system of magic was very interesting and I did like the characters (although that is probably because I am a fan of Austen). The familiarity of the plot elements made the novel very predictable. I enjoyed reading it, but it seemed to be a little Austen-lite.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  Hugo Award Winner

  Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold

  5 stars + favorite

  Ista is a royal dowager who was released from madness in the previous Chalion novel, however many still treat her with kid gloves. She longs to escape from the stifling life in her castle where she is always being watched and protected. Ista devises a way to escape by announcing that she wishes to go on a pilgrimage. What starts out as a simple trip to escape the confines of her life soon turns into a adventure where Ista must once again become the tool of the gods.

  The Curse of Chalion is one of my favorite books and the second book in the series lives up to it. Bujold has created a unique fantasy world with a mythology and system of magic that is complex, yet she doesn't get the reader bogged down in description. Her characters are also complex and interesting. It is an original story not filled with the typical cliques often found in the genre. How often is the main protagonist and heroine a middle aged woman? The novels in the Chalion series all stand alone, although I think it is a richer experience if you read Curse of Chalion first, it is not necessary to understand and enjoy this book. Bujold is a talented writer and storyteller and I am looking forward to reading the third installment of the series.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  Protagonist over 35

  Legend - David Gemmell

  4 1/2 stars (rounded down to 4 on my shelf)

  The Drenai Empire is being threatened by the Nadir, a tribal people that have been united by a strong warlord. The fortress of Dros Delnoch is the only thing standing in the way. Vastly outnumbered by the Nadir, the defenders of Dros Delnoch have little faith that they have a chance of holding the fortress. In desperation the Earl calls upon a legend for help. Druss is a living legend who is known for his prowess on the battle field, but he is well past his prime. He decides to help the army stationed at Drenai stand up to the Nadir, but will he be able to live up to his legend?

  Although I am not usually a fan of military fantasy, I really enjoyed Legend. It examined what it means to be a Hero and a Legend. As the characters stand up to impossible odds, they must learn about their own flaws and strengths. What does it take to be a Hero and become a legend? Can a man live up to the stories and legend that have been told about him? Should you stand and fight when failure is assured? I would definitely recommend Legend.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  SET IN A ROYAL COURT

  Graceling - Kristin Cashore

  4 stars

  Katsa is a Graceling, a person born with an extreme skill. In Katsa case, she is a gifted killer. Since she was a young girl, her uncle, the king, has used her as a weapon against those that upset him. Katsa is not happy about her gift and sees herself as a brute. The kidnapping of an old prince in a neighboring Kingdom changes everything. Katsa learns that she is in charge of her own destiny and that she can use her gifts for her own purposes. This was a fun read. The characters were likable and the mystery of who kidnapped the old prince and why was interesting. Katsa was a strong female who could hold her own against anyone who stood against her. I would recommend this young adult fantasy/romance to anyone that enjoys the genre.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  JAMES TRIPTREE JR. AWARD WINNER

  Orphan Tales: In the Night Garden - Catherynne M. Valente

  5 stars + heart

  A homeless girl born with blackness around her eyes lives alone in the Sultan's garden. One day, the Sultan's soon gathers the nerve to talk to the girl who is feared as a demon. He soon discovers that she is a spellbinding storyteller and the black skin around her eyes is actually stories that are written on her skin. Night after night he returns to the garden, seeking out the girl and her stories.

  Valente has a vast imagination. The novel contains stories within stories within stories. She incorporates elements from fairy tales, myths, and folklore to her stories, but puts her own twist on them. For example, it is a witch that saves the maiden trapped in the tower rather than a prince. All of the stories are wonderfully descriptive and include compelling characters. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves fairy tales.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

• 

  Cora R 

  New Title

  

  ANTHOLOGY

  Maiden, Matron, Crone - Kerrie Hughes and Martin H. Greenberg (editors)

  3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4 on my shelf)

  Maiden, Matron, Crone is a fantasy short story anthology that contains stories that are inspired by the mythical goddess that manifests herself with three aspects: Maiden, Matron, and Crone. The stories contained in the anthology are very diverse. They range from urban fantasy in our world to fantasy realms purely from the author's imagination. Some stories focus on one of the goddess' aspects, while others feature all three. My favorites include "Choice of Ending" by Tanya Huff, "Bearing Life" by Devon Monk, and "The Unicorn Hunt" by Michelle West. There were some stories that I did not enjoy as much as these, but it was probably due to personal taste more than literary merit.

  posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )

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