Paper Mage --by Leah R. Cutter

Fiction / Historical / Fantasy

329 pages / 827 KB

5 Stars

Back in 2003 or so, I attended a Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and had the privilege of meeting Leah Cutter and talking with her for a few minutes. We both had an interest in Ancient China, and she told me about her new book, Paper Mage. I bought it. I read it. I loved it. I kept it.

The other day, I was in the mood to read something different, saw her book on my shelf, and remembered how much I enjoyed it years ago, and then realized I couldn't remember how it ended. So I picked it up to read again. Fortunately, I live alone, and if I spend time reading instead of cleaning, cooking, sewing, or any of the other mundane things one must do, no one cares! Had I picked it up earlier in the day, it would have been a one-sit read. Again.

Xiao Yen is the protégé of her aunt, Wang Tie-Tie, whether she wants to be or not. Wang Tie-Tie is a bit unusual in that when she became a widow and had no men to look after her, she became head of the house and ran the business. She made all decisions regarding the family, and when a Paper Mage came to town to start a school, she sent her youngest niece to learn. It isn't that Auntie was being generous, it was that Auntie had an ulterior motive.

Xian Yen must learn to fit in, or at least accept, her world as different from what girls are brought up to believe and is traditional. She must work in the male world of magery. She is, more or less accepted at school, but when she graduates and goes out on her first assignment, she truly comes of age. And begins to understand that luck is not something that is given or taken away, but is something that is made.

If you are not familiar with the culture of the time, you might not realize just how difficult it was for Xiao Yen to be filial and honor her family—Auntie, Mother, Elder Sister—and to also learn she had her own life and was capable of living it.

I had remembered enough of the story to know I loved it once and had forgotten enough of the story to fall in love with it all over again. In fact, the ending was a total surprise to me! 

If you like history, fantasy, and well-told stories, buy this book, read this book, and review this book. It's truly a marvelous read.

Dragon Blood --by Patricia Briggs

Fiction / fantasy

275 pages

5 Stars

The story of Ward continues (from Dragon Bones). Hurog Keep lies in a heap, destroyed by powerful magic, and Ward must rebuild it. He takes his duties as Lord Hurog seriously, and wishes only to protect his people from wars, starvation, and evil.

Unfortunately, rebellion is brewing against the evil usurper High King Jakoven, and Ward is sucked into joining the rebels. But the High King has a secret weapon, and nothing will stop him from using what he has to gain what he wants, and he wants Ward, the "simple" Lord of Hurog.

I love it when I find a 'one-sit' read, and Patricia Briggs write those kinds of books for me. I have no choice to sit and read until the end, and then I'm usually sorry I did because it is The End and I must leave a great read about a fantastical universe populated by people I'd like to know in real life. Well, some of them. Briggs has the right balance of humor (I laughed out loud more than once) and adrenaline.

Please, Ms. Briggs, bring us more of this universe. Do not let this be a two-book series.

Dragon Bones --by Patricia Briggs

Fiction / fantasy

304 pages

5 stars

Yes, it's another book about dragons. But, oh what dragons! These are dragons like you've not met before, and they are wonderfully, marvelously created by a master storyteller.

Ward Hurog is smart enough to survive, and protect his younger siblings, from a father who wants to see them dead. Ward is, to all outward appearances, a simpleton, due to the beatings by his father. And he is the heir to the old Hurog keep, and the curse that goes along with it.

When his father dies in a hunting accident, and Ward becomes Lord Hurog, he is yet too young (and simple, don't forget that) to take over the duties, so his uncle steps in to act as regent. Only the old ghost who only shows himself to Ward, Wards mute sister who is an easy target for the ruffians because she cannot speak in her defense, and Ward knows about the dragon bones in the dungeon. For that matter, only they know about the dungeon. But there are old stories out there about the bones, and when a war is fought to gain Hurog Keep, and the bones, Ward must do the unthinkable to save not only the Keep, but the Kingdom. For whoever has the bones, has a great and terrible power.

Briggs is a master at weaving stories with both bright and dark threads, perfectly balanced, into a tapestry one does not soon forget. When I finish a book, I want to feel better for having read it, for having lived in a different time and place, than when I picked the book up and began reading. Patricia Briggs meets that criterion for me, every single time, and this book is no exception.

The Invisible Ring (Black Jewels, Book 4) --by Anne Bishop

Fantasy 

416 pages

5 Stars

This book is set in the same universe as the Black Jewels trilogy, only considerably earlier. This is a stand alone book, not part of a set (but is part of the series), so we only have one book to meet the characters, and read the story.

I read the trilogy first, so knew a bit of the background; however, I think one can read it without knowing everything the trilogy has to offer. Knowing some of the characters helped, though.

Jared, a young warlord, is tricked into becoming a pleasure slave, and eventually reaches his breaking point, and kills the queen who abuses him. Slated for the mines, he is bought by a young queen, and freed, only to be held by the invisible ring, which is stronger, and more powerful than the crippling pain-inducing ring of a pleasure slave.

Anne Bishop not only develops unique characters, but unique universes. Seldom have I enjoyed playing in such diverse and well developed places with such marvelous people. I really do hate to reach those final two words, The End, or her novels, because I want more. I don't want to come home to dishes and unmade beds, I want to stay outside and chase the fireflies, or whatever. When the books end, I hate to say "Goodbye" to my new and best friends.

Crown of Renewal (Legend of Paksenarrion Book 5) --by Elizabeth Moon

Fiction / Fantasy

529 pages / 5040 KB

5 Stars

WARNING! If you haven't read the previous books, do not start here!

I found this book a satisfying conclusion to the series – and, yes, I noticed a few open ends by the ending. (Those open ends are not major plot points.) Perhaps another book? Another series? Dare I hope?

Truly, I was sad to leave the world of Paks. Moon does such a marvelous job of creating worlds, and their populations, I felt as if most of the good guys and gals were long lost friends I had just met again, and now they are gone again. But those open ends give me hope they have only left a while, and soon we'll be reunited.

I have consistently given Moon 5 stars for this series. One reason is I read them all in one fell swoop, and couldn't remember certain details from one to the next. Yes, some books were better than others, and parts of some books were better or worser (that's a word, trust me) than other parts. But over all, I could not put the series down until finished at some un-Girdish hour of the morning.

And I really, truly, hope Moon is going to give us another romp through the world of Paksenarrion. But if she doesn't, I am grateful for the romp I just completed. Thank you, Elizabeth Moon, for many hours of enjoyment and escape from the mundane features of my life.

Limits of Power (Legend of Paksenarrion Book 4) --by Elizabeth Moon

Fiction / Fantasy

505 pages / 4655 KB

5 Stars

If you're looking for a good read, and haven't already read Books 1, 2, and 3, do not, repeat, DO NOT start here. There is too much history between the characters, and you'll be lost, frustrated, and possibly angry. Start with #1 and read in order.

I faced this book with a wee bit of trepidation. I love the series, the people, the stories, and I knew before I picked the book up that the next book would be the end of the series. Although the stories would have to end, I wasn't all that positive I wanted them to. Yes, I wanted to know how they ended, but....

A subtitle for this book might have been: The Book of Change. There are many changes the characters go through as we turn the pages. And turn the pages you will.  After years of absence, magic is reappearing in families without warning or explanation. Fanatics go on a killing rampage, hell bent for leather to stamp out all magic and magery—killing men, women, and the children who possess it. Dark Elves kill The Lady of the Forest, leaving her grandson, the king, in the lurch. The world is not a pleasant place at the moment. Turn the page.

Knowing this is a five-book series, don't expect a neat, pat ending. Moon sets us up for the big conclusion in Book Five.

Moon draws on her time of active duty in the USMC to give us a realistic picture of what it's like to be a ground pounder, and what they must know in order to stay alive. (Can you cook? Can you darn your socks? Can you follow orders without question?)

Moon has been compared to George RR Martin and Robin Hobb. Frankly, I like Moon better. She doesn't kill everyone off and her series has an ending. And for me, it isn't quite as dark. I think Martin and Hobb should be compared to Moon.