Science Fiction Fantasy Books

It's one of his best - and Abnett is a great one. Might not be the best place to jump into the 40K universe (or fluff if you are a gamer). But wow what a solid book, Abnett's action sequences are second to none and his skill with characters continues to grow. Great stuff...

I BECAME A FAN THROUGH THE TV SERIES, WHICH I GUESS IS CANCELLED, BIG BUMMER! I HAVE ALMOST ALL THE DRESDEN FILE BOOKS AND AM READING THEM IN ORDER, I LOVE THEM, I LOVE BUTCHER'S WRITING, HE WRITES LIKE I THINK AND IT IS A BLAST! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK

I've read all the Dresden series but I had missed this one. This series is my favorite to fall asleep reading... of course sometimes I can't go to sleep for another hour until I've found out how he escapes the impossible foe. This book is as good as all the rest, but it does have zombies. I hate zombies. But the book was really good.

"Dead Beat" was great, I mean all the Dresden novels are great but "Dead Beat" is the best novel in the series since "Summer Knight." As usual for a Dresden novel, I couldn't put it down and finished it within a week. But I don't think I have to sell this novel, If you like Harry Dresden you have probably already read it.

Fast-paced, action-packed and witty, a T-Rex of a ride!

First, it starts off with an uncomfortable moment between Harry and Murphy. She's asked him to water her house plants during the weekend ~ while she's in Hawaii with none other than Kincaid. While Karrin deserves a vacation, Harry wishes it wasn't with Kincaid.

To make matters worse, he receives a note from Mavra, a vampire from the Black Court, the vampire that previously tried to kill him. She has pictures of Murphy doing things a cop isn't supposed to be doing while helping Harry and Kincaid, and if Harry refuses to do Mavra's bidding, she'll send the pictures to the police. Harry can't let that happen, and he has only three days to find what Mavra's looking for - all without help.

However, Mavra isn't the only one looking for the Word of Kemmler, a book written by Kemmler himself, a powerful necromancer, that had been taken out ages ago by the White Council. For necromancy is the worst kind of magic, and to use such magic is to break the laws binding all wizards.

Between saving Butters's butt and and fighting off zombies, Harry has to find a way to stop the other six necromancers all wanting what Mavra wants - all of Kemmler's powers. But Harry can't do that job alone and finally calls in the White Council to help, only to find out what three-quarters of all the Wardens have been eliminated by the Red Court. How did the Red Court know where to hit? Is there a traitor among the Senior Council? And why are the necromancers looking for the Word of Kemmler now, of all times? Captain Luccio, the head of Wardens, desperately needs the help, and Harry becomes a Warden, something he never thought he'd accept. But will Harry find the answer and the power to stop what's about to happen? One can only hope.

And true to his word, Harry does.

Action-packed and fast-paced, this novel is a joyride. For three days, there is fight after fight, question after question, all with very little results until closer to the final battle. And just when you think it's hopeless, Harry uses the necromancer's magic against them, with a T-Rex of all things (and I swear, it was the best part of the book!) to fight the good fight.

And just to make matters more difficult, Harry has his own inner battles to fight as well, along with wanting to tell Lasciel (a Denarian from a previous novel) to take a hike and not being able to. Yes, he needs her help, but the cost would be astronomical, and it's a cost he doesn't want to pay. But without any kind of help from her, he knows, deep down, that he won't be able to get the job done.

Along with his witty comebacks and remarks making this reader bark out with laughter, it's darn near impossible to put down any of the Dresden Files novels and not think about them. An excellent read for sure, it has everything that I crave in a good book: mystery, action, suspense, magic, feelings, wit and inner turmoil, all wrapped up together. This is definitely a series for the paranormal/supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy lovers out there who love a good book. High recommendation!

This seventh volume in Jim Butcher's excellent series serves up the hot magical action and cool wise-cracking wit that fans of Harry Dresden have come to expect.

DEAD BEAT is a notable landmark in this series for several reasons. For the first time, the magical world that Harry inhabits is given grounding and gravity; it seems to have become one of the notable landmarks of Chicago like the Field Museum (which provides a memorable setting and prop for the final battle). It is the first book to weave a plot that links strongly to previous books. As such, the characterizations and actions begin to separate from formula outlines and to cut a little closer to the bone. Harry has always been a vivid character, but now he's getting deep. And the supporting cast is also getting more three-dimensional. We are allowed a startling glimpse into the torment that Harry's half-brother Thomas is suffering. We see a transformation of the pathologist Dr. Waldo Butters from cowardly to courageous.

This book is chock full of delights for the reader: the drawbacks of rooming with a vampire, zombie polkas, a really big dog and the difficulty of cornering on a dinosaur...Read the book. I can't say any more.

There are so many times whilst reading this book that I just wanted to roll my eyes like no other... but then again, that's part of the charm of this nearly surreal, satirical fairy tale that still manages a heart of gold.

The set-up is that this is an abridged version of a much longer, much more serious novel (not true, but it makes it a lot of fun). We get the "good parts", a wonderfully melodramatic story of piracy, princesses, murder, and the like.

The humor is off-beat, hilarious, and surprisingly sweet. The characters are quirky, vibrant, and always endearing. Even the tongue-in-cheek notes-of-the-"editor" are a must-read.

It's a conspiracy with a great story, and is definitely a modern classic.

I'm a fan of Rob Reiner's work, but his reading of this classic leaves quite a bit to be desired, in my opinion. He reads too fast and with little differing inflection, making it difficult at times to tell when he ends one character's line and starts another. This fantasy would have benefitted from a voice that could handle multiple characters and perhaps someday we'll even get a version with a full cast and music.

Still, it's clearly a story that means a lot to him and to its listeners and readers, so his pace and reading style don't entirely distract from the experience...a very worthwhile purchase.

This story is so charming and delightful. There is definitely something for everyone - humor, true love, fencing, kidnapping, the fire swamp, and the zoo of death. There is so much more detail and humor that was left out of the movie, that it was a real treat to read. Definitely a classic adventure story!

I was afraid to read this book and avoided it for many years. I so dearly love the movie and I just didn't want to be disappointed either way. If the book was better, as is usually the case, then my movie experience would be tarnished. If the movie was better then I'd be wasting my time with the book.

Well nevermind to all of that, because I LOVE this book and now the two separate entities will forever positively reinforce each other in my mind. There are some significant changes from the movie which should help separate them.

I love the inclusion of the character, "William Goldman". Oh, he's not a character you say? He's the author? Well he's one of my favorite parts of this book. I love the interaction between the characters, especially Fezzik and Inigo who throughout the book had me in all kinds of tears: of laughter, of joy, of sadness.

I read every word of "The Princess Bride" and I'm usually a big skimmer and skipper.

The first time I read this book, I loved it, fullstop. The second time I read it, I was pretty angry about being tricked, but it was still awesome. Reading it all these years later as an adult, I noticed how sexist, racist, and lazy this book is. Don't get me wrong- enough of it is still entertaining that I didn't try to set my copy on fire, but it's not nearly as good as I remember it being.

One of the main things I dislike about fiction is that it is fiction! In the sense that authors tend to shy away from the grim reality of life and tend to find easy solutions to problems in their works of imagination. Not so with Brandon Sanderson who is one of the few authors I have ever read to have both his feet on the ground and totally aware of the reality of the world around him. Happy will eventually turn not-so-happy. That which we consider as failure and misforture might provide beneficial assistance somewhere later in life. People are neither wholly good nor wholly bad - most are somewhere in the middle, their goodness or badness surfacing dependent on the circumstance and situation - and their own inevitable human weaknesses.

Not to ramble too much about the relativity of the world we live in - yes Sanderson is fully aware of these paradoxes and it is well reflected in his books. So the stories are much more complex, evolved and truer to life (though they be fantasy) than most works of fiction - but still very accessible.

Elantris was not too bad. The final kingdom was much better. And the Wells ... is even better. Great storytelling. Sanderson does a twist on the prophecy-hero formula which is quite in line with his realistc worldview.

I can't wait to get my hands on "Hero of the ages" now!

The second book in the Final Empire series starts up a while after Vin defeats the Lord Ruler. Elend Venture has taken over as king of Luthadel, trying to establish a modern, more enlightened type of government, including a Congress-like Assembly made up of merchants, skaa and noblemen. Vin acts as Elend's bodyguard, protecting him from several assassination attempts by kings who have taken over other sections of the Final Empire after the Lord Ruler's demise.

But all is not good. Two armies have set up camp outside of Luthadel, Elend's father leading one and an influential politician from the West leading the other, and a siege has begun. Everyone is hoping to get their hands on The Lord Ruler's secret stash of alium; unfortunately, Elend and the remaining members of Kelsier's crew have not located it.

To make matters worse, Sazed, who has been traveling to spread his knowledge now that The Keepers no longer have to live in hiding, has heard accounts of the mist killing people. The mist also seems to be staying around longer and longer into the day. Prophesy comes back into play, and a strange mist-creature and a faraway pulsing beat begins to haunt Vin. It seems that the Lord Ruler's dying words--that he was preventing some great evil from taking over the world--might have been true after all.

Again, one main problem with this novel--the characters are again a bit clichéd, but in this book it gets slightly worse with a drawn-out "drama" between Vin and Elend where they can't seem to communicate to each other and misunderstandings take place and love is thwarted and blah blah blah. That is not a plot line I ever enjoy in books, I just find it old-hat, annoying and laaaaame. I thought it was completely distracting in this book and unnecessary and I wish Sanderson had left it out. I feel like one fault of his is his inability to make engaging love stories. I can't even put my finger on why exactly, I just don't really find myself caring about Vin getting with Elend or Sazed and his interest or Ham and his macguffin wife. Like, with Vin and Elend I can get why they would love each other, I just don't "feel" it--you know? I don't know, they're no FitzChivalry and Molly, I'll say that much.

That said, the Vin/Elend drama is an extremely minor aspect to the overall book, which is just as fast-moving and otherwise creative as the first. The plot twists, for me, were also equally surprising as they were in the first book, and the mysteries remained mysterious until the book wanted them revealed. I am unbelievably excited for the third book. Like the first, this book has a quasi-satisfying ending , but the overarching story line is still up in the air. Cannot wait for October!

i really loved this book.
good second installment to the trilogy.
the characters are expanded on, and as always, there are plenty of really great twists and brutal moments.
the ending was a serious cliff hanger.
i need the third volume now. i cant wait.
i really wish they didnt change the cover when they switched to paperback. the hardcover's painting was so much better.

I stayed up far too late finishing this one. Adventure, spectacle, suspense, twists, humor, mystery, gruesome monsters, and something else which makes it more than just another epic fantasy--there's love and there are real characters struggling to do good despite themselves.

I really enjoyed this book.

The Well of Ascension has lots of the great action scenes that I loved from Mistborn, but suffers from the slow plot development that plagues many mid-series books.

Vin is back and tougher than ever, and finds a way to make her allomancy even more powerful. We also get to see some Terrisman action, and momentous events shake the world. Despite all this action, however, the plot and character development are on the slow side, with lots of pages wasted on characters moping around and pining. I did enjoy the sections told from Breeze's point of view, however. I'm hoping the author manages to wrap things up nicely in the third novel.

I was probably 12 when I first read Lord Fouls Bane. I remember the emotional impact of the series. Foamfollower and Mhoram are possibly my two favorite characters ever (sorry Bilbo). The beauty of the Land and the emotional depth of its inhabitants was captivating and inspiring. When Covenant threatened to "bring Fouls Creche down around his ears," I cheered. I stayed awake nights to read those books.

That is truly lost here. I bought the book when it first came out and have just now finished. I believe that I moved a Terry Brooks trilogy and a WWII book ahead of it -- after I had started to read it. It is just too slow. Everyone is too enigmatic. Towards the end, it takes like 50 pages to go through the woods to Andelain. I have to ask myself if I would read this if it weren't for the earlier books.

Please don't get me wrong, It is worth reading - I'll certainly buy the remaining books in the series. I guess that's the puissance of the series over me. Sorry, I meant POWER. I understand using alternate words occasionally, but he must have used find and replace to change every use of the word power to puissance. Anyway, I hope that this picks up now that we've added, hopefully, the last character.

The book leaves you wondering what is going to happen next to Linden after finding out that Covenant and her son Jeremiah have appeared to her through a twist in Time. I am looking forward to the ongoing saga and the next book in a four part series.

When I found out that Stephen Donaldson was writing another Thomas Covenant chronicle, I felt like I had been given an unexpected gift. Something I really wanted but never thought would be given. The second book of the last chronicle is a wonder.

Donaldson unfolds his tale with all the loving care of a Giant. And this latest installment is another shining example of his craft. Sometimes heart wrenching, sometimes uplifting but always lyrical.

Anyone who has read Donaldson before should have already read this book; anyone who hasn't read Donaldson, but enjoys fantasy should buy a copy of Lord Foul's Bane, today. And pick up a good dictionary at the same time. The wordsmithing in these novels adds another dimension to the tale for those who take the time to understand.

This book is a winner and guides us deeper into the mystery that is the Land and the human heart.

I thought I had seen the best of Donaldson and now he's gone and elevated his game!!!! Can't wait for the next book!!!!

When I received the book, it came in perfect condition and faster than I expected. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

I think that this novel is as good as any of the earlier books in the series. Crossroads of Twilight moved very slowly and this book was the opposite. You can really see things coming together as the last battle approaches. Several long standing plot lines were resolved. Included among them were the Faile rescue arc, the Mat escape arc, and the Andoran succession arc. A long standing prophecy was fulfilled and the events that will surely lead to Moraine's rescue have been put into motion. The last battle is clearly just around the corner. Moreover if you read books 9, 10, and 11 in succession, they flow seamlessly and Crossroads of Twilight works well as a much need transition between the action in books 9 and 11. Personally I can't wait for the next book, A Memory of Light to come out and hope that Brandon Sanderson can meet the lofty expectations that Jordan has instilled in me.

Of the 11 books so far in the series (not counting the prequels) this one was the best. It even had a section told from Tuon's point of view which I enjoyed more than I thought I would! I don't see how the guy who is going to finish the series since Robert Jordan died can wrap everything up in one book, but having 13 books (for the 13 Aes Sedai needed to gentle a man who can channel) in the series might work out best. One thing is certain: this book has definitely picked up the pace! 5 stars!

There were a few glimmers of the old Robert Jordan straining to shine through the midden heap that was book 11. But why doesn't Rand know/care that his friends don't seem to be accomplishing the tasks he set them? Why does he keep hiding out when he doesn't have enough time before the last battle? Why does Perrin throw over all responsibility to the Dragon Reborn and the World to rescue his wife - where even if he succeeds, the Last Battle will make his efforts moot. But, hey - nothing else matters, right?

There is progress in the book. And it seems that the world may wake up in time to fight the last battle. But once again there is too much extraneous detail into what people are wearing, how a room is decorated and what motivates minor characters.

I also have to say that reading the books straight through (as I just did) rather than as they are released every two years or so, adds to the enjoyment. Several of the books that made me want to throw up every meal I had ever eaten - actually weren't that bad when read one after another.

Let's hope Brandon Sanderson can wrap this series up without resurrecting any more characters (with or without sex change) and definitely without new abilities.

I though Knife of Daggers was on of the better ones in the Series. Jordan got back to the basics of what made all of his readers Love the Wheel of Time. I DO HAVE VERY BAD NEWS, BUT ALSO GREAT NEW FOR WHEEL OF TIME READERS, AT LEAST WITH REGARDS TO HIS FINAL BOOK #12. Please read the following passage all readers need to know both bits of information.

Robert Jordan (this is his publishing name, not his real)....his real name is JAMES OLIVER RIGNEY, JR. Here is a link so you can read it all([...]). James Rigney (aka Robert Jordan) passed away in September of 2007 (last fall)....however there is still good news for all the readers. The whole staff and editors have the notes and spoken ideas Jordan left while in the hospital the last few days before he passed on. The Book will be named A Memory of Light! The family and editors have hired a Fantasy writer to finish the Series and last book. This Writer (Brandon Sanderson) was a personal friend, and was mentored by Jordan too over the years. He will also have Robert Jordan's wife... Harriet.. helping (she edited and helped on all the books with him). They say on their web-site that they are shooting for Late Fall or Early winter (Sept-Nov) in 2009 to have the last book in the Wheel of Time Series on the shelf. This will be called as I said Memory of Light and will be book 12 and will finish the Wheel of Time. This is what they our saying at least, and they know the book might be BIG, and very hard to get all plots and everything in place...... so the Last Battle can be fought....but they will do it, so they say. I really enjoyed all the books, and I know with all the help from his wife (who knows a man better then his wife) this will be worthy of Robert Jordan's Memory and Life.

Ross Hill (who is just a simple man that RJ helped change with getting me to read a lot and that helped me Graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Management)

After reading the 10th book, Crossroads of Twilight, I was really looking forward to the next book, Knife of Dreams. It's nearing the conclusion of the series, and although the previous book was slow-moving, I felt it was necessary to set up for this book (and the one after it, the final book..woohoo!).

There are a lot of things going on in this book. The plot does move forward, not as quickly, or with as much action, as earlier books, but a vast improvement over the last book. This book was very good. I think what makes this book better is the fact the conclusion is imminent. The Last Battle is coming, all the key players are being lined up, and so I have a feeling the final book, A Memory of Light, is going to be fantastic. It's all building up for a great finale.

A quick re-cap of Crossroads of Twilight: Egwene was getting ready to lay siege against Tar Valon, and was turning the iron chains that surround the harbor into cuendillar when she was caught by the White Tower Aes Sedai, betrayed by one of her own (although she doesn't know who betrayed her...), Rand is in hiding in a remote manor house in Tear, Perrin was contemplating how to rescue Faile having found the Shaido camp where she is being held, Mat was still on the run with Tuon from the Seanchan (not to mention agents of the Shadow), and Elayne was grappling with another claimant for the Lion Throne who had surrounded Camelyn and was laying siege.

Knife of Dreams picks up where all these plot lines left off in Crossroads of Twilight. There are more Rand chapters in this book, and he is now contemplating an alliance with the Seanchan as he doesn't have time to fight them into submission as the Last Battle is nearing. There are several signs (besides his appearance, The Dragon Reborn) that show this: the dead walking the earth again (i.e, ghosts), food and drink that spoil after a few days, the distortion of reality, and the abundance of rats, crows, and ravens (the "eyes and ears" of the Dark One, he uses them as spies).

There are several action-packed scenes in his chapters, one in which the voice inside his head (Lews Therin) actually gained control of the One Power. Basically, Rand was helpless and had no control over saidin and watched as this "voice" wielded the One Power during an attack on the manor. Btw, that scene was great to read, Jordan was able to describe the destruction created very well and my only complaint was that it was too short! LOL.

The voice in Rand's head gaining control raises questions on whether this voice *is* separate from Rand, or only a side effect of the taint on the male half of the Source. While Rand did cleanse the taint back in book 9, Winter's Heart, whatever effect the taint had on him up to that point remains. One theory on this voice I've heard is that Lews Therin never fully integrated into the current reincarnation of Rand in the Third Age. Rand is the reborn soul of Lews Therin, just as Lews Therin was the reborn soul of a previous one. (Note: in WOT world, everything is circular). Perhaps something got mixed up, although if Rand is the creation of the Creator (born to combat the Shadow, the Dark One), then you'd think it wasn't a mistake on the Creator's part. However, I still hold to the theory that the voice of Lews Therin in Rand's mind is only a side effect of the insanity all male channelers were threatened with prior to the cleansing of saidin.

Anyways, I could go on about that, but I'll also mention another new development between Rand, Mat, and Perrin (all three are ta'veren that can shape the Pattern and those around them). It was always obvious reading the series that the three were connected. They were all raised in the same village, Edmond's Field in Andor, and all within the same age range (months apart). Starting from Crossroads of Twilight each of the three "see" the other, they truly *are* connected. For instance, whenever Rand has thoughts of Perrin or Mat, or if someone else mentions their name, he can see in his mind's eye exactly what Perrin or Mat is doing at that moment miles away (and the same goes for Perrin and Mat). I speculate this is only now happening between the three of them because the Last Battle is very close, and this connection has somehow strengthened the ties between them. Rand needs Perrin and Mat in order to win against the Dark One.

Besides Rand, most of the book is told from the perspectives of Mat, Egwene, Elayne, and Perrin (with a few from other characters such as Faile). I had a lot of favorite scenes in this book and to name a few: the opening prologue had a very good scene with a minor character, Elayne's half-brother Galad, the battle scene at the manor house near Tear, Mat learning about Moiraine from Thom, Egwene's defiance and determination in the White Tower, and perhaps my most favorite scene with Nynaeve and her rousing speech of asking men in the Borderlands to ride to Tarwin's Gap with her husband when the Last Battle comes.

In Perrin's chapter, Perrin has decided to make a temporary alliance with a Seanchan general to get rid of the Shaido, as the Seanchan have also faced trouble from the Shaido Aiel. I have to admit, Perrin has never been a favorite character of mine, more so once he married his wife, Faile. While Faile's character could get frustrating, she isn't the worst, and she was always firm in her decisions once they're made so that was admirable. Perrin seems too self-effacing and reluctant to do anything! Of course, except when it comes to Faile and then he's willing to do anything for her. I understand Jordan wrote Perrin's personality that way for a reason, but he never was my favorite character. I even like Rand's character at the present time more than Perrin. Rand's continual self-condemnation over women that died because of him is better than Perrin and his awkwardness. He is always self-conscious and never changes throughout the series from the first book personality-wise. The times he did display some grit and backbone only occurred when he let his temper fly and I'd think, "Finally!".

My favorite character perspectives in this book were Egwene and Mat. I enjoyed reading about Egwene here. In the beginning of the series, she came across as a petulant girl most times, and trying too hard to be Aes Sedai when she wasn't. I didn't find her very likable in the beginning. IMO, Egwene really shines in the later books and I like her character better. Starting in Lord of Chaos, but more so in Crossroads of Twilight and in this one, Knife of Dreams. Egwene is brought back to the White Tower after her capture. Instead of facing execution as an imposter Amyrlin Seat, the Tower Amyrlin, Elaida, puts her in novice white again as Egwene is too talented to waste, with her knowledge of new weaves of saidar being a benefit to the White Tower. Egwene is punished quite frequently for refusing to bend and acknowledge to the Aes Sedai she's only a novice and not Amyrlin.

I loved reading about Egwene's different ways of defiance, all subtle and some outright, and her determination to win the battle to become the leader of all the Aes Sedai. From within the White Tower itself, her machinations may cause Elaida to be deposed and stripped of the Amyrlin's stole, with Egwene and her rebel Aes Sedai winning without having to resort to a more traditional means of fighting. I can't wait to see what happens when she takes Elaida down, not to mention when she faces Rand (in a prophecy noted in a prior book, it was said the Dragon Reborn, that's Rand, would face the anger of the Amyrlin Seat, that's Egwene). That will be interesting to read about!

Another character I really enjoyed reading about was Mat, although I will say I didn't enjoy reading about Tuon as much in those chapters. It was amusing to watch Mat play his little game with Tuon, trying to "woo" her and failing was very funny. Mat even gave a pet name to Tuon, calling her "Precious" in retaliation for her refusing to call him by his name and naming him, "Toy". My favorite part of Mat's chapters was Mat learning from Thom about Moiraine. I won't go further and spoil, but I *really* look forward to how Mat and Thom will go about doing this "thing" for Moriaine in the final book, A Memory of Light.

Before this gets too long, I will say in conclusion that the next book is expected to be the longest in the series. Anywhere from 400,000 words to 600,000 words, which means the final book will probably be split into 2 volumes (similar to Tad William's To Green Angel Tower was split), with one volume published one month and the second volume the next. As of the date of this review, it's too early to tell but Brandon Sanderson has said on his blog that it could be longer than he estimated (which would have been 400,000 words at the most). For those worried the book will not be the book Jordan would have written, it will end the way Jordan wanted. Jordan was able to write the prologue *and* the conclusion of this book and he left behind a tremendous amount of notes and detailed outline to assist Sanderson in exactly what could be written (Jordan didn't want to answer every plot thread, some will be left unanswered on purpose).

I will definitely wait in eager anticipation for this long-awaited conclusion to my favorite epic fantasy series. In the mean time, if you're like me, you can always re-read until the last book comes out next fall!LOL.

I learned of this book after hearing that the critically acclaimed The Witcher was based off this book.

Others have said it better but I'd like to also echo their words: While other tales may use the tried & true formulas, this author gives a very gritty story humor and wit. You'll come to like Geralt, even if you might not want to meet him in person.

One thing I really got a kick out of were the references to classic children's tales - albeit it not in the manner you'd expect. ;)

In summary visit the publisher's site and read the excerpt they provided there. It will help give you an idea of what to expect.

I was really impressed with this book. I wasn't sure what to expect of it, and I was a bit nervous that some of its charm would be lost in translation. My fears were groundless and the book was outstanding!

This is not an epic fantasy series. Geralt isn't on a quest to save the world or find some special magic item. Instead it's a series of short stories focusing on Geralt's various adventures as a Witcher, as he fights monsters and the occasional human in order to pay the bills and get by in the dark world he occupies.

Geralt is a very endearing and surprisingly complex character. In fact, this entire series is surprisingly deep. Not all monsters are evil, and not all the humans Geralt should be working for are good.

The book is mostly somber, but with some good doses of humor. The world Sapkowski has constructed here is interesting and unique, and he's given some thought to the social structures there and how they operate.

I read the entire book in a couple of days - even though I was on vacation at the time, I couldn't put it down! I'll be looking forward to reading the second book when it's released.

While The Blood of Elves won't be released for another month, Sapkowski's fantasy series can be begun thanks to the previous release of The Last Wish. The Last Wish is a collection of short stories featuring Geralt the Witcher.

Geralt is a trained monster-hunter, and the book takes him from one adventure to another. As the Witcher fights ghouls, vampires and djinni, the reader quickly learns that nothing is what it seems. The beasties are often the good guys and the humans the predators. Geralt is operating in a world in a state of change - the old ways are dying out, and the classical races like Dwarves and Elves are being pressed to extinction. As a Witcher, Geralt has adapted to the new world, by helping humans kill the monsters that prey on the outskirts of towns - but he doesn't do this without a twinge of guilt. More often than not, Geralt looks to cure, not kill - often to the disappointment of his bloodthirsty employers.

Set against this slightly angsty background, the short stories blatantly explore the familiar tropes of monster and fairy tales. Throughout the course of the book, Sapkowski retells the story of Snow White and Beauty and the Beast, and there are several other hauntingly familiar encounters.

Unlike The Blood of Elves, Geralt is actually front-and-center in all these stories. He holds up well under the added scrutiny. He's wise, but not annoyingly so, and competent, but not invincible. Although his distinguishing white hair and skill with the blade are slightly on the side of fanboy nonsense, Geralt is a well-considered and well-developed character.

A few of the characters from The Blood of Elves do make appearances, including Dandilion (still my favorite), Ciri's parents and, finally, the long-anticipated Yennefer. Unfortunately, the enchantress and love-interest of Geralt falters a bit. Although Sapkowski tries to imbue her with a bit of emotional depth with a melodramatic backstory, she's a overpowering brat, and Geralt's attraction to her is inexplicable. The idea that she just needed to be 'tamed' by Geralt's understanding is frustrating, offensive and surprisingly unoriginal.

Still, the Yennefer story (the title story of the collection) is the only place where this book falters. Geralt's adventures are exciting and unusual - an unexpectedly enjoyable combination of The Blade Itself and The Fairy Tales of Hermann Hesse.


-- PORNOKITSCH

I wasn't expecting much from this book because I don't read much fantasy anymore, so it came as a good surprise. The best thing about it is that, though it's basically about a guy who runs around, killing monsters, the plots are a bit deeper and more tantalizing than most books of its ilk--a notch or two above standard fare. And I say "plots" because this is not a novel; it's a series of short stories, loosely tied together. Which you can't really tell from the cover alone--so heads-up.

This book has a gritty, dark atmosphere, which I like, having read heavily in the horror genre. And it's a world and a character I'd love to visit with again. It really grew on me and the stories seemed to get better and better. Hopefully we'll see more translations from this author soon.

Recommended for those who like their fantasy dark.

I read this book with no knowledge whatsoever of the game called the Witcher, so for better or worse I approached this work with literary expectations.

It's great to type that I wasn't disappointed! The translation is well done (in terms of just good writing), and I greatly appreciated the obvious effort that the translator and editor(s) put in to make this such a great read.

The structure of the plot - framing vignettes within an over-arching "Voice of Reason" story line - was initially disorienting, but that was only because I didn't know the protagonist's situation and characteristics yet. As with the beginning of most books, it's best to have patience for a while to see how things develop. By the time I reached "Voice of Reason" the second time, I was totally hooked. In the end, I can strongly assure you that the way this story is framed is a fantastic way to present this character and his adventures.

There is a lot of romance presented in this book, incidentally, and of the variety that actually pulls at the heart and makes one care for the characters - whether they are mostly fairy tale re-visionings or not. I personally like to see new twists on fairy tales, so much of Geralt's adventures suited me just fine.

There is some sexual content, but that is mainly off-page (as it were) and described in tame language for the most part. But, make no mistake, this a book for adults - or older teens, at least.

All in all, I was very pleased with this book. I could hardly set it aside, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes the horror-fantasy genre; but expect a little more romance and a little less gore to go with the steady and excellent action and the often deep philosophizing... and understand that sometimes it's fun not to know the answers to all the questions a story can raise!

I really enjoyed this book. I tried to read slowly but finished it in a few days. I liked the first book in the series but this was much better, more plot twists. Highly recommend it.

Can I just say how much I love this Author's work? Hunter's Prayer is another kick butt mystery that keeps you glued to your seat. I finished this book in a day and a half because I could not put it down. This series is shaping up to be just as great as the Danny Valentine series.
If you're wondering who I'd compare this author to, she's like Laurell K Hamilton when Anita Blake focused on plot and not sex scenes.
There's great action and character development.
I can't get enough of Lilith Saintcrow

This book really falls into the super hero sub genre of the urban fantasy genre. The heroine is a typical super hero from the darker type of graphic novel plot (I use graphic novel as this is not one but, the plot stile is very much in tune with that overall genre). Very much into violence with linear plot but there is a nice twist at the end and the heroine's ambiguous relationship with Perry adds some spice.

Very limited character development although the over all world building is pretty good both are limited. A good read but not what I was expecting.

Jill Kismet is a hunter; a human who kills the creatures of the nightside; evil beings who wish to destroy mankind. The local police are not equipped to deal with such beasts so they hire her when it looks like the supernatural committed a heinous crime.

She is called in to examine a body of a prostitute in which all the internal organs are gone and it looks like someone took out chunks of the victim to eat. Jill learns that others were found in the same condition. In between looking at dead bodies and trying to figure who or what killed them, Father Guillermo calls her to do an exorcism on seminary student Oscar. She is successful in pulling the demon of his body, but she later learns he is a Sorrow; a human who worships the Chaldean Elder Gods. If Sorrows are in Kismet's city, she is prepared to deal with them because she uses a hellbreed's mark, which gives her powers that originate in Hell. Jill discovers an old enemy is in town; the Sorrow who killed her mentor and she learns that a rebel Sorrow is performing a ritual that will allow the Nameless, Destroyer of Babies and Eaters of Worlds God to cross into our real unless she can locate and stop the evocation.

As usual, Lilith Saintcrow writes an entertaining, action-packed urban fantasy loaded with strange dark and evil monsters. Her Hunter world is grim yet hopeful as creatures of myths, legend and the night roam the earth. The heroine uses evil powers to fight for the better good and protect the innocent in a sort of fight fire with fire manner. Jill's romantic feelings for a were-cougar embellish an enjoyable paranormal thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoy Lilith Saintcrow's writing, and this book is no exception. The story in the second book of the Jill Kismet series has more twists and turns than Night Shift (the first of the series). More is revealed about Jill, and her relationship with Pericles becomes slightly more blurred. I look forward to the next one, hoping to learn more about Saul.

I enjoyed Wicked Lovely, but it wasn't the best book I have ever read.
While I loved Seth and Aislynn, I had a hard time liking Keenan. He was kind of flat as was the story in my opinion. However, I chose to give Ink Exchange a chance, and I am so glad that I did.
I loved this story and the ending was absolutely perfect. My heart went out to all of the characters. Somehow, not only does Marr allow you to feel sympathy towards Irial, she also allows you to fall in love with him. Who knew? I found myself torn between two men, or should I say faeries.
So, if you enjoyed Wicked Lovely, you should definitely read Ink Exchange and even if you didn't, give it a try. It's delicious.

This author is a very good writer, her ideas are wonderful, and the book is very developed. However, if you are looking for a happy love story, this is not the book for you.

I read this title in less than a day, I wouldn't move from my bed until I finished! The characters are different and more believable than anything you'd find in Twilight. Melissa Marr has a fresh and appetizing way to introducing and keeping us in the world she has created. It's dark and forbidden and keeps me thinking about the book long after I've finished.

Okay, I really loved Wicked Lovely, so I was looking forward to Ink Exchange. The writing was fine, and I loved the ideas behind the story, but I just didn't love the story. It's just a matter of personal taste, but I just didn't like it much.

Warning: SPOILERS This book was a big WASTE OF TIME. The "heroine" was drugged by her brother & raped by his drug dealers, which of course, makes you sympathize with her and hope that she can overcome her problems and take charge of her life. She does none of this. She is getting a tattoo which is causing her to see a fairy realm, which is cool, but she doesn't even know what's going on until the last 5 chpts of the book (I'm thinking, finally!) but all that happens is that she willingly becomes some sexy fairy guy's sex slave. O_o I am not kidding. Through the whole book something will happen when her tattoo is finished and that's what happens. In the last chapter, she decides to leave him (but he could have easily made her stay -_-) & goes to college. The end. She didn't deserve what happened to her, but clearly she is a stupid girl who lets men run her life. She certainly didn't do anything to prove otherwise.

The best parts of Scent of Darkness (besides the shifter parts, I'm a nut for those) was the the wolfshifting lead Jasha Wilder's family. I loved Jasha's family. Having a Russian grandmother, I could totally relate to momma Zorana plying her family and leading lady Ann with fabulous food. I also loved the way the pappa Konstantine took Jasha to task for his initial 'beastly' treatment of Ann. And the brief glimpses of the story of Zorana and Konstantine's romance - leading Konstantine to change his ways and be the first of his line since 'the deal' to take a wife and to mend his evil ways - in some ways out shone Jasha and Ann's romance here.

I liked Jasha as a character, he was sufficiently wolfish to be a good shapeshifter, but the wolfishness made his pursuit of Ann more of a series of ravishments than a romance - she seemed to be more of a target of opportunity than a love interest. Ann to me was frustrating. Her whole secret and the associated angst "the bad people always come" seemed a bit childish, this immaturity was also reflected in the whole story of 'the ring' too. I am not sure why later Ann suddenly gets snitty when Jasha asks her to marry him, but it certainly takes any romantic development away for pretty much the rest of the story and leaves only the eventual lust attack when she gives into her hots for Jasha.

I really liked the backstory, an ancient deal with the devil gave Varinski males the ability to shapeshift in exchange for their service to evil. But now a phophecy promises the Wilder family, who have broken from their evil kin, four women to retrieve the religious icons used to seal the evil pact, so that the deal can be broken and the damned souls of patriarch Konstantine and his three sons Jasha, Rurik, the disinherited Adrik, and a fourth unknown 'son' can be saved. I already have all the rest of the books in this series, so I am off to find out how the rest of Jasha's 'brothers' and their mates break the curse.

I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters of Jasha and Ann. Fell head over heels in love with Jasha. What a MAN/WOLF!! I found parts highly erotic to the point where I had to put the book aside to just take a breath.

My heart raced throughout the novel. I loved the repartee between Jasha and Ann and enjoyed the squabbling between the siblings. Especially between Jasha and Rarik.

Dodd outdid herself with these books. I've read other books of hers and so far this one (along with the second in the series) are her best. I've just started reading the third one and I'm looking forward to reading about Arik.

Great book, love the story, although a little slow in places, this is a great read. recommend.

Ooogh! I thought the plot of this book sounded really good, so I gave it a try. Unfortunately the heroine was running on a mix of 95% hormones and maybe 5% brainpower (if that isn't being too kind to her!).

Sorry, but stupid female main characters do not make me want to read further, they just make me want to scream "You Idiot!" I couldn't finish the book.

I have read all three of the series and am secretly waiting for the last one but I would have to say this was my favorite. The wolf was sooo intriguing that it had my hair standing up. The fact that he could smell her mood swings or sense her LOVE for him was beautiful! Ann was just right in my view point. A little withdrawn but came out of her shell when necessary. The story line was good and yes facts did not explode out at you, if you remember their are three more books so your not going to get all the facts in this one. The love scenes in this were crazy and it actually makes you drool over a wolf. Have to say I find wolves majorly attractive after this one...lol. Read and you shall understand the connection. This one is top for me and hoping the last one is just as great