Book Blogger Hop - May 7, 2010

This is a great party hosted by Crazy-For-Books!  Stop by and join in on the fun.

I joined in on Book Blogger Hop two weeks ago and really enjoyed visiting all the blogs.  I found many new blogs to follow who share the same interests as I do, so I figured I would join in again. :)  I wasn't able to last week, ran out of time.  But, I figured I will start today and work my way through the weekend with all the amazing blogs to visit.

I enjoy reading Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, just about anything in these areas, and I will read YA books in these areas as well (I just have been a little short on reading YA lately.)  I hope you take a look around and enjoy the reviews and meme's I do; Monday's Beginnings, Teaser Tuesday, Favorite Fictional Character, and Balderdash.  Please leave a comment on any posts.  I always enjoy getting comments and I respond to them all.  Thank you for stopping by!

Favorite Fictional Character (23)

Thanks to the creative mind of Ryan at Wordsmithonia.


My favorite fictional character this week is from a series currently still being released.  We are currently waiting for book three, Antiphon, to come out.  The the author is Ken Scholes and the publishing company is Tor.  The series as actually named for this character as well, The Psalms of Isaak.

Isaak is a Mechoservitor or metal man, whos source of power is the steam powered engines in his chest.  And he is made of a special unworldly metal which prevents him from damage of fire.  But, aside from the magnificant creation of Isaak is the mystery behind him.  Isaak is the first Metal man to be given a name, by Rudolfo.  Isaak can't remember anything from the horrible distruction of the distruction of Windwir.  Has someone used him as a weapon?

Metal men are created to record information and to NOT lie.  The amazing thing about Isaak is he seems to adapt from this over time.  Was it from the distruction, tampering of his memory scrolls, or is he learning adapting and becoming more independent?  I have my suspecions as to what the story is.  You should go read the series to make your own. 

Isaak seems to feel loyalty to certain people and tries to restore what was lost in the destruction of his home city.  I like how the Metal man with no feelings, rights, or worries becomes one to have all these in the way the books are written, yet the story is told from the view point of all but Isaak.

Teaser Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event.

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading.

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests.

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

This week:

The coppery griffin's voice was not at all like the king's:  It rang all around Kes's mind as though a brazen gong had been struck, singing with vivid joy.  Kes understood that Escaile Sehaikiu had expected the king to die and was passionately glad Kes had saved him - but she thought the copper-and-gold griffin was also by nature expansively joyful.

Lord of the Changing Winds

The Griffin Mage: Book One

By Rachel Neumeier

Monday's Beginnings (36)

Here we are again... another Monday.

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

I am currently working on Lord of the Changing Winds By Rachel Neumeier.  I'm not far into the book, but really liking the image of the Griffins being drawn with words.  I did get done with The Last Stormlord By Glenda Larke over the weekend and the review is up.  If you have not read it and would like to click here.

As for my Wish List... is increasing as usual.  I have added 6 books over at Goodreads as want to read.

I want to thank everyone for entering in my giveaway.  Not even a full twenty-four hours and I already have 24 entries.  Amazing!  I am really enjoying reading the comments and having everyone enter.  If you haven't entered yet, click here.

Books I have purchased:
I have to admit, I do need to join BA - Bookoholics Anonymous.

I got a 40% off coupon and just had to use it. So I got Unknown, as I have been wanting it after reading book 1.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Living among mortals, the djinn Cassiel has developed a reluctant affection for them-especially for Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate both the human and djinn realms. But the trail will lead them to a traitor who may be more powerful than they can handle...


 
 
 
 
 

While at the store I was looking through the discounted book table, and came across this one.  I think it is a young readers book, but sounds interesting.
 
Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
When his brother is exiled from the Nomana without any explanation, sixteen-year-old Seeker sets off on a journey to rescue him--and to find out what really happened. Along the way, he meets two other young people who are on quests of their own, and in a shocking turn of events, the three are soon caught up in a harrowing and bloody race to save the Nomana--and themselves--from destruction.
 
 

After reading the Anthology, Strange Brew, I felt I needed to pick up the first book in this series.  I really liked the world and characters I read in the short story.
 
Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind-a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps...
 
 
 
 

I found this book by browsing through blogs leading to another to another and so on.  I really liked the sounds of this book after reading a few excerpts, so being the BA I am I had to purchase it.
 
Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
A tale of murder, betrayal and comeuppance.


King Theodicar of Borgund needed an heir. When his wife, Queen Piacenza, became pregnant, he’d hoped for a boy. His wife, along with her nurse, Salvagia, had other plans. With each cast of the runes, Salvagia’s trusted divination tools yielded the same message: “A girl child must rule or the kingdom will fall to ruin.” As such, the women were convinced that the child would be a girl.

When the queen finally gives birth, the nurse and the king are equally surprised. The king is faced with a terrible choice, and his decision will determine the fate of his kingdom. Will he choose wisely, or will he doom Borgund to ruin?

So, I didn't get as much reading done yet today - like I had hoped.  But I do plan to read more this evening.

I am also trying out the game Tiger's Eye: Curse of the Riddle Game created by and based on the Paranormal Romance series by Marjorie M. Liu.  I am really enjoying the puzzles in the game.  And they are starting to get harder now.  I will do a review for the pc game when I am done with it.

So, now to you... How are you faring this week so far?  Does it look like a good reading week for you?

Here is to hoping you have a great week in words and pages.

100 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!

****Contest Closed****

Winners to be announces

There are NOT very many times I would throw a party for hitting 3 digits... age, weight... nope not many.

BUT, 100 FOLLOWERS is a big thing!  I feel that what I have to say is important and others want to hear (well read) it.

THANK YOU ALL for following me!


I have been thinking for a few weeks on what to do for the 100 Followers contest.

So, to celebrate I want to give away something.  There are so many of us out here with large Want or Wish List, so large may not be a big enough word for it... ENORMOUS Wish List.  So, I would like to give one lucky follower a $15.00 Amazon gift card toward getting something from this list.

Rules:

1.)  You must be a follower with Google Friend Connect.

2.)  I like things simple.  So, only one entry is needed.  No extra entries, as I just get confused with all that figuring. ;)  But, if you would like to share with others by anyway possible it would be appreciated. :)

3.)  Leave a comment in the comment section.  Anything will do, let me know what you like here, any advice to improve on any aspect here, or even any new ideas for me.  I am always curious of new ideas; they may work, they may not - but I would still like to hear them.

4.)  Please leave an email address so I can contact the winner.

5.)  Giveaway will end May 15, 2010 and winner will be picked May 16, 2010.  You will then have 48 hours to respond for your prize.

EDIT:  Sorry, I didn't mention on whether this was international or not.  But, IF AMAZON delivers to you, you can win the ECard. :)

Contest for: Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between

Do you remember this book?

Yes, I did a review of it, HERE, and an interview with the author J.A. Saare, HERE.

Well J.A. Saare is doing a giveaway at her blog, for a signed copy!

The catch, just a small one... she is working on 100 followers!

Can you help her get there for a chance to win a signed copy of this book?

Here is the link to get there.

Good Luck!!!

Book Review: The Last Stormlord

The Last Stormlord

By:  Glenda Larke

Publisher:  Orbit

Publish Date:  March 1, 2010 (first published 2009)

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Paperback, 608 pages

Series:  First book of the Watergivers series

Recommendation:  Yes.  There is a unique take of water in a "magic" view and a great world that draws you in to see what the characters will be driven to do to survive.

Book Synopsis:
SHALE is the lowest of the low - an outcast from a poor village in the heart of the desert.  In the desert, water is life and currency, and Shale has none.  But he has a secret.  It's the one thing that keeps him alive and may save all the cities of the Quartern in the days to come.  If it doesn't get him killed first...

TERELLE is a slave fleeing a life as a courtesan.  She finds shelter in the home of an elderly painter, but as she learns the strange and powerful secrets of his art she fears she may have traded a life of servitude for something far more perilous...

THE STORMLORD is dying in his tower and there is no one, by accident or design, to take his place.  He brings the rain from the distant seas to his people.  Without a Stormlord, the cities of the Quartern will wither and die.

Their civilization is at the brink of disaster.  If Shale and Terelle can find a way to save themselves, they may just save them all.  Water is life and the wells are running dry...

First Sentence:
It was the last night of her childhood.

My Review and Summary:
This book is set in a world where rain doesn't come regularly and water is a very precious item.  Rains are scheduled by the Cloudmaster, or Stormlords.  Water has to be separated from the sea, as a pure water vapor, then the cloud is moved up toward the moutain ranges so the water runs down toward all the cities again or to the regions to get the water.  The water is released as rain and stored in cisterns to be rationed out.  However, you learn there are many people who don't have water rights and have to buy the water, one way or another.  We start with Terelle in a snuggery with her sister, where their fathers sold them to.  Terelle is twelve and has no desire to be paid to sleep with different men every night.  Then we meet Shale a Gibber who's father named him Shale because he felt he was as useless as a heap of shale.  We take a journey through the lives of these two characters, along with others, as they grow up and learn who they are.

In the first 100 pages I felt I meet all the important characters through the writing of different view points; Terelle, Shale, and from some of the rainlords too.  I enjoyed reading these different views because I got to see the world and learn about the world from different happenings and sides.  I also got to see what the characters where thinking when they meet, then when they separated again.

The world ended up being a great attraction for me in this book.  There are different cultures and beliefs of religion.  Along with these different cultures you see there is a "magic" here, that centers around water - water sensitives.  These are people who can sense and even manipulate water.  There are different levels of ability and there are different types of manipulation.  One is to make the storms or sense water, another is to manipulate paint through water - which can also affect the future.  I think my favorite at the moment is the waterpainters.   Although, how Shale learns to use his water sense is amazing too.

In those first 100 pages not only did I get to see the world at different views and the separation created between all the people, but also the problems that exist in the world now.  The shortness in Stormlords and available pure water.  I did have one question which kept nagging at me as I read with the characters mentioning there use to be random rains and now they had to have a Stormlord to keep water coming for the people, and the land being rather dry.  What was so wrong with random rains, if it had supplied plenty of water and to have lots more vegetation growing? You do find out later in the book some history about the random rains and why the stormlords are needed.

Glenda Larke has created a great world here with different cultures and characters, from Reduners, Albasters, Gibbers, and Scarpens - and we can't forget the Watergivers.  Glenda has supplied us with a map and she makes great use of her whole world.

I felt as if I watched these characters grow up over the span of about six or seven years in this world and even adjust to the world for who they are.  I got to know them and the world together.

After reading this book, I started to think on how careful the charcters where with their water and how sparingly they used it.  Made me think about how we take advantage of always having it.

I am really looking forward to book 2, Stormlord Rising.  I am attached to these characters and this world and just have to know how it all works out for them.

If you would like to stop by Glenda Larkes blog, click here, there is also tabs for to look into other books and such.




I won this book on Twitter from Orbit Books.

This book qualifies for Speculated Fiction Challenge at Book Chick City.