Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac (2011)

The Dark Lord raised his hand, his palm glowing as if it were a burning hand. He lowered it and great gouts of lightning came pouring down from the black cloud (p 23).

Rashko and Paulek are princes in a very peaceful kingdom. Then their benevolent but slightly bemused parents disappear in the middle of the night, a herald brings an enchanted letter announcing the arrival of The Great and Honorable Baron Temny and a large, well-armed host of men arrive at the castle gates. Rashko seems the only one worried as the pixilated Paulek lowers the drawbridge.

In alternating chapters, we learn the history of the magical castle, Hladka Hvorka, and the hero of its people, Pavol.

This charming fantasy with a slew of interesting characters, smooth prose, and whimsical anicdotes was just what I needed. It is a gentle read appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Library Copy | Dial Books for Young Readers | Ages 12 up | 333 pages | ISBN 978-0803733763 | $16.99

Waiting on Wednesday: The Princess of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen (4/10/2012)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that folks are eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

The Princess of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

I read (then bought) The Dragon of Trelian (read my review) back in 2009 and have been looking for the sequel since running into Ms. Knudsen at the ALA Annual Conference where she told me she was writing it. From the publisher:

Michelle Knudsen revisits Trelian in a thrilling follow-up fantasy about a princess with an uncanny link to a dragon and a uniquely talented young mage.

Princess Meglynne of Trelian will soon be named the princess-heir, next in line to be queen. But her link to the dragon Jakl makes the kingdom’s people more than a little uneasy. Then there are the unexpected rages and the nightmares that not only trouble Meg, but are also affecting Jakl. Could the traitorous Sen Eva, who tried to have Meg’s sister killed and is still at large, somehow be causing them? Worst of all, Meg’s best friend, apprentice mage Calen, isn’t around to help. He and Mage Serek are far away at the Magistratum, where a mysterious magical attack and some ominous divinations reveal that a much more powerful enemy may soon reappear and endanger them all – and Calen could have a hand in his return! Fans of The Dragon of Trelian will rejoice at this chance to re-enter Michelle Knudsen’s enchanting fantasy world.

The Princess of Trelian | Candlewick | April 10, 2012 | ISBN: 978-0-7636-5062-9 | 448 pages | Middle Grade Novel | $16.99

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (2011)

Eragon ran his fingers through his hair. He suddenly felt exceptionally tired. Why does everything have to be so hard? he wondered.
Because, said Saphira, everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to be eaten (p 393).

Inheritance or The Vault of Souls is the fourth and final book in the Inheritance Cycle that began with Eragon. As with the Harry Potter series, it has been a long time filled with much waiting and much enjoyment. A whole world has come to a close, though Paolini infers he will return to Alagaësia sometime in the future.

The Varden, led by the resolute Nasuada, are marching toward Urû’baen to confront the powerful and evil King Galbatorix. Eragon’s half-brother Murtagh and his dragon Thorn present a unique problem for Eragon… one that is solved by the contents of the mysterious Vault of Souls. With help from dragons past, Eragon finally finds himself face to face with Galbatorix as the Varden clash with the King’s army. Eragon doesn’t stand alone. Arya - his elven companion and object of his affections, Elva – the cursed child, and Saphira – the companion of his heart and mind stand with him. Together they win the day.

And then there is a hundred page conclusion. Yikes! Reminded me of The Return of the King (albeit a lot more haphazard). Can’t say I disliked it but it was a bit long.

While I’ve heard some readers raging over Paolini’s unanswered plot lines, I chalk a lot of it up to his desire to continue writing. Some things I didn’t want to know – like Angela. She’s a mystery I can live with. And Eragon and Arya. I thought Arya gave what she could and was wise and mature in her actions (though poor Eragon never gets lovin!).

I was more frustrated with the length of the novel. I found my eyes blurring over passages. I found myself skipping ahead. Too many things going on and not enough connections. The magic unraveled a bit for me here as well and the world lost some of its cohesion.

As Richard Marcus points out, “While some people might find the battle scenes and side adventures exciting, overall they merely slow the story down and needlessly detract from the through line of the series. In fact by wasting so much time on insignificant details along the way, the final confrontation with Galbatorix when it comes feels rushed.” (Read more at SeattlePI) 

This book needed a lot more editing for focus and fluidity. I wasn’t disappointed but I wasn’t impressed either.

Library copy | Alfred A. Knopf | November 11, 2011 | ISBN 978-0375856112 | 849 pages Ages 12 + | $27.99

If you enjoyed this series, I recommend:

The Magnificent 12: The Trap by Michael Grant (2011)

She walked through the sea of stalactendrils like one of those impossibly pretty girls who are always walking through fields of flowers in TV commercials for pharmaceutical products that turn out to cause oily discharge or make your hair fall out (p 171).

Mack continues the search for the remaining Magnificent 12 in The Trap. With Lepercons, Tong Elves, Skirrit and the beautiful but deadly Risky hard on his heels, he travels to China accompanied by former bully turned bodyguard Stefan Marr and Jarrah Major, a girl with the enlightened puissance.

Grant continues to have fun with his story and while the novelty is gone, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Fans of the first book, The Call, will eagerly devour the sequel. There are a number of contemporary pop culture references that may date this book rather quickly (I’m giving Beiber another year and then… who knows what name will be shouted from the mouthes of babes).

Library copy (print) | August 23, 2011 | Katherine Tegen Books | 304 pages | ISBN: 978-0061833687 | Ages 9-12 | $16.99

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier (2011)

There were a dozen of them — no, Trei saw as they approached: fourteen. Fifteen. They flew as geese fly in the fall, in a formation like a spear point. At first the shape the winged men made was stark as a rune against the empty sky, but as they approached the ship, they broke their formation, wheeled, and circled low. The morning light caught in the feathers of their glorious wings, crimson as blood, except for one man whose wings were black as grief (p 4).

After the death of Trei’s family, he travels from his hometown of Rounn in Tolounn to the Floating Island of Milendri. Rounn is industry. Women are free to pursue their interests unconstrained. The Floating Islands are majesty and magic. Women must be chaperoned and are barred from professional work.

When Trei sees the Kajuraihi flying on magical winds, he becomes sky-mad but will his half-island blood be enough for the dragons whose magic keeps the islands afloat? As Tolounn prepares for war, suspicion turns on Trei.

Trei finds an unlikely ally in his sarcastic cousin Aranè when he discovers she has been posing as a boy to attend school at the University. She is a gifted chef with a dream society will not allow her to obtain.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There are shades of steampunk in this novel: the furnaces that power the mages who bring down the Islands and the magical feathers that bond with the bird feathers and attach to the Kajuraihi’s arms as wings.

Class and gender discrimination are ever-present.

Trei sat back in his chair and looked at her, still doubtful, as though she had changed shape under his gaze — not just from a girl to a boy, but from a known to an unknown. Araenè waited for him to say, Girls can’t be mages, but he said instead, “There might be a war coming — did you know?” (p 134)

The citizens of Milendri live in the First City, Second City, or Third City (where low-born girls are less restricted).

One aspect I wish was more developed was Araenè’s magecraft. We learn a little as the story progresses (and as Araenè must quickly learn it) but the rules are never truly defined and the possibilities explored in-depth.

I did enjoy the eventual romance. It’s subtle blooming three-fourths of the way in had me sprinting to the finish. It just felt right! I also thought the element of grief was well handled.

The story changed shape as I read and took me along unexpected paths, not all of which needed explanation. Very enjoyable.

Read more reviews:
Book Smugglers
Book Yurt
Kirkus (starred)
Tempting Persephone

Library copy | Alfred A. Knopf | February 8, 2011 | 400 pages | ISBN 978-0375847059 | $16.99

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin (2011)

“I am not blind, nor deaf. I know that you believe me weak, frightened, feeble. Your father knew me better. Oberyn was ever the viper. Deadly, dangerous, unpredictable. No man dared tread on him. I was the grass. Pleasant, complaisant, sweet-smelling, swaying with every breeze. Who fears to walk upon the grass? But it is the grass that hides the viper from his enemies and shelters him until he strikes. Your father and I worked more closely than you know… but he is gone. The question is, can I trust his daughters to serve me in his place (p 510)?”

If there is one unifying theme for this fifth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, it would appear to be a race to the dragons (both the creatures and the woman).

This post is full of spoilers… but I need some way to remind myself because it could be a long wait for The Winds of Winter.

At the conclusion A Storm of Swords, Jaime Lannister freed his brother Tyrion to spare him their sister Cersei’s wrath. In A Dance with Dragons we learn Tyrion, with aid from the spider Varys, was stowed away on a ship bound for Pentos and delivered to Illyrio, the wealthy Magister who once hosted Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. Illyrio (nicknamed the cheesemonger by Tyrion) and Varys have long-standing ties with hopes to restore the Iron Throne to the Targaryens. As Tryion makes his way to Daenerys in Meereen, he uncovers the identity of Illyrio’s men. Young Griff is the supposedly dead Aegon Targaryen, son of Prince Rhaegar, secreted away by Varys the day Robert, the Usurper, overthrew the Targaryens and slaughtered most of the family. His protector and faux-father, Griff, is actually Lord Connington. During a game of cyvasse, Tyrion baits the young Targaryen successfully:

“If I were you? I would go west instead of east. Land in Dorne and raise my banners. The Seven Kingdoms will never be more ripe for conquest than they are right now. A boy king sits the Iron Throne. The north is in chaos, the riverlands a devastation, a rebel holds Storm’s End and Dragonstone. When winter comes, the realm will starve. And who remains to deal with all of this, who rules the little king who rules the seven realms? Why, my own sweet sister. There is no one else. My brother, Jaime, thirsts for battle, not for power. He’s run from every chance he’s had to rule. My uncle Kevan will never reach for it. The gods shaped him to be a follower, not a leader.” Well, the gods and my lord father. “Mace Tyrell would grasp the sceptre gladly, but mine own kin are not like to step aside and give it to him. And everyone hates Stannis. Who does that leave? Why, only Cersei” (p 281).

While at a whore house, Tyrion is recognized and captured by Ser Jorah Mormont who means to gift the imp to Daenerys in Meereen. Their ship is wrecked, however, and the two – along with a female dwarf named Penny – are picked up by Yunkai’i slavers and sold to a Wise Master named Yezzen zo Qaggaz. Tyrion manages to keep the trio together, pretending to be a comedy show. Tyrion poisons the cruel overseer, Nurse, and his master succumbs to The Pale Mare, desease. The trio sieze the opportunity to escape. For promised wealth, they sign on with the sellswords under the leadership of Brown Ben Plumm known as the Second Sons.

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin (2005)

Each night before sleep, she murmured into her pillow. “Ser Gregor,” it went. “Dunsen, Raff the Sweeting, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, Queen Cersei.” She would have whispered the names of the Freys of the Crossing too, if she had known them. One day I’ll know them, she told herself, and then I’ll kill them all (p 312).

Martin splits his narrators in A Feast for Crows focusing on the events surrounding King’s Landing. We see little of Jon Snow and nothing of characters like Dany, Tyrion (who has fled Westeros), Bran and Osha (who have gone beyond the Wall), or Stanis and Melisandre (who are fortifying the Wall in hopes of claiming the North). Davos is mentioned in passing, as having been executed, but we have no proof. According to reports, all these characters will appear in A Dance with Dragons coming July 12.

This book expands upon many characters from Dorne. King Doran, an elderly, presumably weak man, appears to shun war with the Iron Throne. He has Oberyn’s daughters, the Sand Snakes, imprisoned after their attempts to rally the common folk. His own daughter, Arianne, plots with Ser Arys Oakheart of the Kingsguard, whom she has seduced, to crown Myrcella Baratheon Queen of Dorne. But her plotted is thrwarted. Myrcella’s face is disfigured and Ser Oakheart is killed. Arianne is also imprisoned where she learns she was once promised to Viserys Targaryen. Now, her brother Quentyn has traveled east to woe Danny and bring fire back to Westeros.

There are many deaths and one key resurrection. Gregor Clegane is killed by the Viper of Dorne, Oberyn. It is reported by the head of a monastery that Sandor Clegane is dead as well. Beric Dondarion resurrects Lady Catelyn Stark at the cost of his own life. Though dead for three days, Catelyn, now called Stoneheart, becomes the leader of the Brotherhood without Banners. Under her direction, many Freys hang. When Brienne of Tarth is captured, Stoneheart believes her to have betrayed her trust and united with Jaime Lanister. Brienne is hanged with an as-of-yet unrevealed word screamed from her lips.

Arya Stark becomes an apprentice at the House of Black and White, a temple associated with the assassins known as the Faceless Men. She is instructed by the Kindly Man to become no one. She poses as a girl known only as the Cat of the Canals who sells oysters along the docks of Bravoos. She has a chance encounter with Samwell Tarly as he travels with Gilly, Mance Tyrell’s infant son, and Maester Aemon. Seeking his brother and musician Dareon, the Cat of the Canals reveals where to find him. When Dareon defects from the Night’s Watch, Arya slits his throat and shoves him into the river. When she confesses her crime to the Kindly Man, he gives her sweet milk. The next morning Arya awakes blind.

At times, I grew impatient with the Iron Islands narrators. Their story line was dull until Crow’s Eye wins the King’s Moot and begins raiding near Old Town. Crow’s Eye also posesses a Dragon Horn with which he calims he can control dragons. What might this mean for Dany? What will the Horn of Winter mean for the Wall and the White Walkers?

It was especially pleasing to see Jaime break from Cersei and to see the wretched Queen mishandle her rule. I missed Tyrion greatly but I’m also half in love with Petyr Baelish (aka Littlefinger). They are both cunning and clever.

I eagerly await the release of A Dance with Dragons but, if the length of time between publications thus far is any indication, it will be a long wait for The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

“Dark wings, dark words, me mother used to say, but when the birds fly silent, seems to me that’s even darker.” He poked at the fire with his stick. “Ut was different when there was a Stark in Winterfell. But the old wolf’s dead and young one’s gone south to play the game of thrones, and all that’s left us is the ghosts.”
“The wolves will come again,” said Jojen solemnly.
“And how would you be knowing, boy?”
“I dreamed it” (p 334-5).

North of the Wall, the Night’s Watch is failing. The Others decimate their numbers while revolt among the men leads to more deaths. Jon’s allegiance to the Night’s Watch will be tested as he rides with Mance Rayder. The Wall may very well fall if he fails. Meanwhile Samwell Tarly, the coward, becomes Sam the Slayer when he successfully slays a White Walker with a single slash of his dragonblade.

Bran and Rickon, thought to be dead, escape the doom that befell Winterfell. Rickon is taken by Osha, the wildling, to safety while Bran and Hodor, accompanied by Jojen Reed and his younger sister Meera, head north to find the three-eyed crow beyond the wall.

Tyrion, seriously injured in the battle for King’s Landing, finds himself as despised as ever, wed to Sansa Stark, and powerless to avoid a tide of accusations that threaten to claim his head.

Daenerys becomes conqueror and mother as her khal moves north but she faces two betrayals, one from her nearest and dearest of subjects. It is yet to be seem if she can rule as well as she conquers.

Jaime Lanister, once held by Robb Stark, is freed by Catelyn. Accompanied by Brienne, a former Rainbow Knight of Renly’s and sworn sword to Catelyn, Jaime makes his way south to King’s Landing to be traded for the Stark girls. He does not make it unscathed.

Robb remains undefeated on battlefield but loses the war from his bed sheets. He is one of two kings to pass in A Storm of Swords. Tywin Lanister plays Lord Frey against the wolf king but the Tyrell’s prove equally cunning at disposing of Joffry.

Lord Davos is named Hand of the King by Stannis, a dangerous position when the King’s will is bent by a priestess of R’hllor, Melisandre. Stannis is determined to gain the Iron Throne. Melisandre claims he has been chosen by R’hllor to fight the Evil that must not be named. But he lacks an army. Will he sacrifice an innocent child – his own brother’s bastard child, Edric Storm –  to raise stone dragons?

Arya goes from the frying pan into the fire and finds herself in the hands of Sandore Cleagon, the Hound. What will become of this fiesty, angry girl whose direwolf now leads a pack of man killers now her mother and older brother are dead?

Heads roll in this third installment and none are safe from Martin’s sword. Heroes become devils and brutes turn hero. Another gripping – if long – read.

Library copy | Bantam| $8.99 | ISBN 978-1439149645

Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (1999)

A Clash of Kings is the second book in Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series. Several characters return, including Tyrion, the imp who’s sent to King’s Landing by his father, the new Hand of the King. But Tyrion has a lot of work to do if he is to act the part of the Hand while his father battles Robb, King of the North. Readers may be surprised at Tyrion’s strong sense of justice considering his family’s behavior.

Sansa befriends a court fool in hopes of finding an ally and an escape from Joffrey, the insipid and cruel King of King’s Landing.

Jon Snow and the men of the Night’s Watch embark on a large-scale ranging of the lands beyond the Wall in hopes of solving the mystery that is the undead Others. What they find are deserted Wildling villages and whispers of an army amassing under King Manse.

A new character/narrator named Davos emerges giving readers an insight into King Stanis’s plans. The deceased King Robert’s elder brother aligns himself with a woman who claims the Lord of Light will lead him to victory over all the other false kings but Davos has his suspicions. This foreign woman dabbles in magic.

Bran, though crippled, learns he can walk with his wolf, Summer, as a shape shifter. Then Theon, the Stark’s former ward, leads a small band of men and captures Winterfell while Robb is in the south fighting the Lanisters. Bran, feeling more helpless than ever, yields to Theon, while Rickon becomes angrier and more petulant than ever, as reflected by his wolf, Shaggydog.

Arya makes her way north with Yoren of the Night’s Watch and his recruits, including Gendry (King Robert’s bastard), but their small band is soon waylaid and Arya must use all her skill and cunning to stay alive and unknown.

A Clash of Kings also continues the story of Daenerys, the last remaining Targarian, as she seeks refuge for her newborn dragons. Until her dragons are grown they are easy targets for greedy men, the usurper king of the Seven Realms, and others who would see the dragon line fail.

In this hefty tome, Martin continues his bloody, bawdy series. Intriguing and suspenseful, I enjoyed every moment of it. I’m sinking my teeth into book three, A Storm of Swords already! While there was one key death in this book, I have heard there are many more to come.

Eona by Alison Goodman (2011)

I did not want power over Ido. I did not want anything to do with him. Yet his final cry still stretched between us like the anchoring thread of a spider web (p 112).

Eona has shed her masculine disguise and claimed her dragon, the female Mirror Dragon. But it may be too late. The Emperor is dead. His brother and commander of the empire’s military, Sethon, has usurped the throne from his heir, Kygo, who has fled the palace.

Ido, Rat Dragoneye, is imprisoned and tortured by Sethon. Ido’s successor and the only other dragoneye still alive, Dillon, has fled with the Black folio containing valuable dragoneye secrets and a deadly spell.

Eona is a heafty tome best suited to readers who enjoy a fullsome book and an introspective narrator. It’s strength is in Eona’s conflicting feelings for Kygo and Ido. The Emporer, struggling to balance his duty to the kingdom with his feelings for Eona, is graceful, gentle and stately. Ido, with his ambition, cunning and wit, is very masculine. Each can offer something to Eona but both want much in return. 

I also recommend: