Science Fiction Fantasy Books

This is wonderful. A real escape! This is my book and I don't allow my grandchildren to play with it.

Fairyopolis: A Flower Fairie's Journal is magic! I started to browse through the book on a rainy, Sunday afternoon as I sat on my girlfriend's over-stuffed chair, in front of her fireplace, which wasn't lit, because the nip in the air wasn't nippy enough yet. I just turned 60... a time in life when everything makes sense, and nothing makes sense. Why should it? The more I read, the more I was entranced and swallowed up in the story. There were fairies dancing around me everywhere! I became a child with wide-opened eyes and an imagination that I couldn't control. I didn't want to control..... I was having too much fun reading tiny messages, and even feeling the sample of a delicate fairy wing that was tucked into an envelope. Fortunately, my girlfriend left me in quiet illusion to finish the book before she brought me to her garden. We sat quietly and waited. It wasn't long before a twinkle under a leaf, a rustle behind a tree, and soft, lilty giggles let us know that we were not alone. You see, fairies are joyously inquisitive, and if they know that you can see them, they will frollick about and even brush your cheek as they fly by. I also, have gardens with lots of flowers at my house, and a day doesn't pass where I don't primp, keeping the fairy enticement flowing. Yes, I'm 60, and I do believe in fairies! Don't you?

I think this format with all of the extras, pull-outs, gizmos, and what's-its is here now for good in children's books. The first one my daughter really got into was the Dragonology book. It didn't even read the storyline when I picked this one out, but I figured that she would like it well enough because of all of the do-dads and gee-gaws inside. As it turned out, the storyline is the same as a DVD we had picked up recently that she watches over and over again, so the book was a major hit with her.

I completely agree that the cursive handwritten is difficult to decipher, but that was something my daughter actually liked about the book. She's been teaching herself calligraphy, so she liked the handwritten text. This is not a storybook to be quickly skimmed through. The author/artists clearly intended for this to be a book that girls would spend time coming back to.

I keep this book at my house for ongoing story telling. A little too adult for my 7 yr. old grand daughter. So my hope is that over the years we both will appriciate this book. I have a fairy garden/door to go with the book. We have lots of fun with the both of them.

The book is beautiful, full of details, it's an invitation for dreaming.
My child was astonished about the book and all the litttle things that has inside. Good recomendation for girls.

I heard great reviews about the Anita Blake series and happened to find the audio version of this one at my local library. I probably should have started with the first book, but this one was available and I really wanted to check out this series.

For the Audio version, the reader does do a nice job of reading the story, but that is the only nice thing that I can say. I got about 1/2 through the book and couldn't continue.

Nothing deep here. Lots of talk about herms, orgy sized beds, and Anita's 7 (YES 7) lovers that she has all at once. There was a story here, but hard to muddle your way through with all the other stuff going on, so I chose to put it down.

I certainly don't mind a book that's a little sexy, but this to me was just plain sick. I hate to be harsh, but this was just plain bad. Her writing style isn't bad but the story is too much to bear.

LKH had the potential of doing for dark fantasy what Mercedes Lackey did for high fantasy... but alas it was not meant to be. A series that started out with hoards of promise has spiraled from outstanding to airport pulp to personal therapy for the writer down to nothing more than a formula for laugh ability.

Curious what will happen in upcoming books? Standard bad guy will come in upset balance. Anita will call in "backup" she never really uses and we never really get to know. She will get one or two "bodyguards" she obviously does not need killed... and then agonize over it like they were babies and not bodyguards. Things will come to a head but Anita will magically get some new massive awesome mystical power and save everyone most likely through having sex with a brand new character who will also never be developed. Nobody really relates to her anymore. She should just slaughter them all and sit happily atop the pile of corpses... keeping only two alive for her... pleasure?

I really really had high hopes for this series. Rather than carbon copying the characters over to Meredith Gentry she could have further explored this alternate earth. Given up stunning yet separate stories of Richard, Edward, London, Cherry, Claudia or even Jason. So many likable characters she could have developed and kept us all coming back for more. Instead her eye has become so narrow she has forsaken the other massive personalities the lived within her own mind. She has allowed Anita to.. indeed... slaughter all she loved and become a universe within her own mind. The Anita Blake series is dead and I don't see it rising again anytime soon.

I enjoy all the Anita Blake books including this one. I buy them and will read them over and over again. This is one of my go to series when I need something to read and have nothing new.

The author is not the best writer, but these action filled books have me addicted. If the writer could improve upon her skills, cheesiness, and repetitive use of the same descriptions. The dialog can drag on and become nagging making you wonder how you can like characters in a book that seem so ignorant and lacking in sense.

Its my own fault for purchasing her books, I know. I am continuously appalled at how such a strong willed female heroine has become nothing more then a mediocre concubine.
I realized I was 183 pages into this book and there was still really no plot other then Anita's ever-growing "love" triangle. There was supposed to be a plot. There's something like a bad guy lurking around, but it is so over shadowed by trite dialog and sexual activity that there really is no point in having the bad guy threat at all. I put the book down then and have not finished it.
I once again realize that it is my fault for purchasing Hamiltons book. No matter how many bad reviews she gets, as long as people are still buying the smut it doesn't matter. I, for one, will no longer be spending any money on these books.

UTTER TRIPE!!!

terribly written and the sex was awful.

i get it...Jean-Claude is french...does he need to call her 'ma petite' every damn line? or is it just that NONE of the male characters or their speech patterns are distinguishable enough from each other that character tags are necessary on every line?

sweetheart...get a new series...read some hardcore erotica, then try sex with beast-men.

If you're familiar with Terry Pratchett's work, this is every bit as good as the best. For those who don't yet know the joys of Discworld, this is a great book to start with. It does take place in the Pratchett universe, but it's much more stand-alone than many of his books. Thoughtful, exciting, and -- above all -- hilarious!

While this is technically a Discworld novel (even Death makes a cameo appearance), it's really an independent story intended for young adult readers. However, Pratchett (like Heinlein) writes books for younger readers that actually appeal to all readers. The thing is, the wizards of Unseen University have a toxic spell-dump behind their institution that often has unpredictable effects on living (and previously nonliving) things. In this case, the rats that live and take their meals there find themselves with suddenly advanced intelligence. They learn to think, to act in concert, to read, to wear selected clothing and use weapons, and to dream of a utopian future. However, Maurice, who has also become intelligent, is a cat with imagination and the soul of a con man, and he organizes a Pied Piper scam with the aid of the rats and a stupid-looking young musician named Keith. And they're making good money, until they choose as their next target the town of Bad Blintz, where a mysterious and very dangerous force is at work among the rats and rat-catchers. As his fans know, Pratchett understands the feline psychology, and Maurice is a hoot: "Cats are good at steering people. A miaow here, a purr there, a little gentle pressure with a claw . . . and Maurice had never had to think about it before. Cats didn't have to think. They just had to know what they wanted. Humans had to do the thinking. That's what they were for." But it turns out he also knows a lot about the social life of rats. (He read "more about rats than is good for me," he says in the Afterword.) Among the rats, there's the practical engineer with a military bent, the old-fashioned boss who distrusts change, the nearly blind intellectual mystic, the politically astute lieutenant (and tap dancer), the loyal young female -- all the characters you would expect in an epic. The dialogue is believable (and not nearly as off the wall as in the "mainstream" Discworld novels), the characterization is spot on (especially Malicia, the mayor's daughter, who considers life just one long fairy tale and packs accordingly), and Pratchett never hesitates to bring in a bit of shocking truth. An excellent book.

I posted a reply to a comment made a while back by a concerned mother, and wanted to repost it in the larger comments section because I feel it's important to get out there. The reviewer noted that the book discusses cruelty, starvation, cannibalism and animal fighting. For the record, Terry Pratchett is NOT OK with any of these terrible things, as is made abundantly clear in the book! He describes these scenes with tangible disgust. And they are there because there are important moral lessons about courage, bravery, altruism and friendship to be learned.

I'm an adult fan of Terry Pratchett's with no children, and while it is a rather dark book, I know that I would have been able to handle it back when I was in 5th grade or so. Then again I was an only child and very mature as my parents treated me as an equal who found out her own capabilities rather than was kept from the darker elements of the world "for her own good." A running theme in Pratchett's work is that children are far more intelligent and able to discern right from wrong than adults give them credit for. I would have loved to have read this book as a child! Don't dismiss it out of hand. It is challenging, but far more rewarding than reading, say, "Mr. Bunnsy".

Finally, although I'm sure I don't have to spell it out after my rants above, I absolutely loved this book. And I do understand why a parent might be concerned about a child getting scared by some of the more sinister elements of T.A.M.A.H.E.R. But the overall messages of tolerance and friendship are so positive that I think every kid should read this as soon as they are mentally and emotionally able. Let your children decide; I bet they'll surprise you.

I found this book to be immensely entertaining. Despite relatively clean jokes, this doesn't really seem all that different from the rest of the Discworld series, in terms of reading difficulty. However, I imagine I might say otherwise, were I still in elementary school.

What can I say, it is Terry Pratchett. As with all things written or produced by this strange man: It is outstanding.

If you love fantasy, this book is great. It exists in a world filled with vampires, faeries, etc...and is greatly written. Its laugh out loud funny, and the end will surprise you. (Unless you have read all of these reviews...because a lot of them give away the ending.) I highly recommend it...its one of my favorites.

After reading a few of the first reviews I'm thinking to myself did I read the same book. I enjoyed this book from the start. Clary is a bit childish at first (for lack of a better description). I liked Jace immediatley and I love Simon. Isabelle grows on you. I too am aware that this book has things that have been done before in other books/movies. However, that's not a bad thing. I feel this is a page turner and I never found it boring. I enjoyed the mystery of who is Clary's father, who exactly is Luke and what is going to happen between Simon and Jace and Clary. I agree it does offer more sexual intentions that most of the "children's books" I've read but I also was not shocked by it nor do I think this should not be labeled a young adult novel. This book isn't half as explict as what shows are on main stream television everyday. As for Alec being gay, so what. This is written in today's world and I felt it just put a intersting twist on this book. All in all, I enjoyed this book, it's suggestions, the warlock, the werewolves, the vampires, the characters, the magic, the adventures, and mostly the fantasy mixed with modern day. Honestly, if you are a teenager, this is G rated compared to your daily life in highschool, I know for me it sure was. If you want to read a good book, read this book.

The perfect balance between action, romance, and fantasy. The plot was original and intriguing. The dynamics between the characters were entertaining and intricate. I couldn't put it down.

city of bones is a fabulous book along with the rest of the series i can not wait until the third book comes out. you must read this series!

I have to admit, I had my doubts about this book prior to reading it.
There have been numerous bad reviews so I was prepared for the worst.
Oddly enough, I loved this story. I devoured it in a night, and rushed out to book store the very next day to purchase City of Ashes.
There were a few typos within this volume and the story tickles you memory of works previously done, but I truly felt that this story was unique.
Clare certainly provided a twist to old legends such as the Nephilim, always thought to be doomed and evil.
Also, I loved Clary and Jace. I found myself laughing, on numerous occasions, at their witty, sarcastic banter and quickly fell in love with them both.
In fact, I enjoyed every character in this book. I found them to be very well developed.
There have been several concerns about the romantic twist at the end of COB, but it has yet to bother me. But I've always been able to separate fact from fiction and I have a feeling everything will come together in the end. However, if you are an individual who has difficulty with not incorporating realism into the books you read, you may want to pass on this particular book.
All in all, I most certainly recommend to everyone to at least try reading the book. You will either love it or you will hate it, just keep an open mind, and hopefully you will enjoy it.

The first book had the small benefit of leaving hope that a plot would eventually start to evolve or at least characters would become interesting to the reader. After the first 100 pages of the second book in the series it's obvious that this is going nowhere. Beware the 5 star reviews who admit "its slow, but..."

Its tedious...period.

I like Robin Hobb's work quite a bit. This is no mean feat if only because the kind of epic fantasy that she writes is a genre that I am very fussy about reading. I am easily disappointed and annoyed with swords and sorcery works. They have to be really good to keep my attention.

Let me make a long story short-- I wasn't disappointed in Forest Mage. It is not a perfect book. But, in part I enjoy Hobb as a writer particularly because she does not write perfect books. Her characters are imperfect, often irritating. She resists the obvious happy endings just enough to be really interesting. I like that her characters can be important figures without being the Sekrit Heir to the Throne or whatever other stereotyped fantasy goal there is to achieve.

Forest Mage is strongly flavored with melancholy and dismay. I actually liked Nevare much better in Shaman's Crossing than here. There are some obvious uncomfortable points about his character development (can't say much without revealing a spoiler) but those aside, I also got frustrated with his stubborn refusal to face change. I will grant you that many of his reactions are perfectly realistic, but it got a little bit guilt-ridden and whiny-- particularly towards the end.

I stayed up way too late reading this book when I should have been sleeping. That, by itself, says something about how compelling the story is. I'll be looking forward with interest to Renegade's Magic.

This is the second volume is the Soldier Son trilogy (after Shaman's Crossing and before Renegade's Magic).

Recovering from the plague, many surviving cadets can now only hope for a fragile health. Nevare convalesces remarkably well though, but as time goes by, he realizes the Specks' magic is taking a much crueller toll on his imbued body.

Looking forward to travelling back home to Widevale for his brother's wedding, his joy will be short lived. Nevare is far from welcome. Indeed, his father blames him for his condition, and will do everything to set things as they should be. To no avail. When the plague comes again and decimates the region, Nevare has no choice but to leave.

Cast out, he makes his way eastwards, and spends some time in Dead Town. There he meets Amzil and her children, who'll become as close to friends as he's ever had in the last months. But as he helps her, her neighbours' jealousies start to threaten her life. He'll leave when his duty commands him to take the wounded scout Buel Hitch to Gettys.

Gettys is a fortified town at the base of the Barrier Mountains, the last one on the King's Road which is being built to reach the sea beyond the mountains. But upon arrival, Nevare rapidly notices that the city is a pale shadow of what he expected, that the command is a shambles, and that roadworks has all but stopped at the edge of the forest. Not only are felled giant trees blocking the way, but a strange spell of fear and despair has fallen over the inhabitants, preventing any progression of the construction.

Despite his crippling condition, Nevare manages to gets a post at the graveyard. In the nearby forest, he'll meet a Specks woman named Olikea, and will start to learn about her People.

True to her tradition, Robin Hobb deals her main character unjust fate after unfair hand. And as poor Nevare is really at a lost about what he should do about the Magic, his social situation only gets worse, he becomes the victim of wrongful decisions, biased reactions and finally, false accusations. All this is interwoven with lavish forest scenes betraying the author's love of trees and Nature, and exquisite descriptions of food that you can savour with Nevare. The ending is beautiful and very moving and I'm very impatient to read the third and final book.

I liked the first book in this series, but this one didn't pull through. It is a very melancholy tale and it was really hard to like the protagonist. I won't purchase the next book in the series.

This book mostly deals with something Nevare suffers from after getting the plague. As the synopsis on the back of the book states, it has something to do with Speck magic that's possessed him. It's caused his family and friends to shun him. For a large part of the book Nevare is learning to deal with this condition and what to do about it, and how to return to a normal life. But the magic won't let him. It's a constant battle between what he wants and what the magic wants. In the end, he has to choose.

I first impression of this book as I read it was the same that I had of Shaman's Crossing -- it drags major plot points through hundreds of pages, when I thought it could've been tightened up. But that's probably just how Robin Hobb writes. Then I thought that some of what was happening was bizarre. His condition and the description of it (I don't want to give any spoilers) and what happens as a result of it is definitely very bizarre. Then Robin Hobb, as usual, goes through and makes sure she can both physically and mentally torture her protagonists. Again, I'm sure that's just how she writes.

Some of that was a bit annoying, but the story was so compelling that I was always interested in what would happen on the next page. I found myself ocassionally reading ahead just to see what other character Nevare would be talking to on the next page. I always had to know what was going to happen to him. There's also a lot of drama and I can't say that I was disappointed in what happened in the end of the book. Overall it's a great read, and worth every penny. If you want to read more realistic fantasy that is very engaging and can keep you interested, then this book, or any other by Robin Hobb, is a good place to start.

I bought hard cover version to be more resilient to get worn out and to look nicer on the shelf. Unfortunately fore edge is not cut off and it looks really horrible.
This doest mean that is not possible to leaf through, it is only looks ugly.

Given Card's recent radical comments about government and personal rights, I don't think I could ever enjoy another of his books

I wasn't really sure what to think of this book before I purchased it. I'm a huge fan of all of the Ender's Game books, and actually I'm currently reading Shadow Puppets.

Despite being very non-religious, personally, I found it to be a great story of tradition and beliefs with that childhood touch. It brings back a lot of characters in Battle School, but mainly focuses on Zeck, the child who refuses to participate in Battle School and Ender's power to "heal".

Anywho, I'm not much into writing book reports but I can say for a quick read of about 128 pages from my one of my favorite authors, it was absolutely great in my opinion.

I also quite enjoyed the signed first edition, with the rough edges on the paper and all =P

A War of Gifts: An Ender Story, by Orson Scott Card is a snippet from Ender's Game. It involves two kids from Battle School: Zeck the religious zealot, and Dutch-loving Dink.

Here's what we know:

1. This book will make little sense without having read Ender's Game.

2. You'll blow through this book and its 126 pages in about an hour or two.

3. Ender Wiggins, as he always does, saves the day.

4. Card really goes into the indoctrination of youth into a religious movement, as well as the hypocrisies, inconsistencies, cherry picking, and logical leaps of faith/fanaticism in many religious doctrines.

5. This book is shelved in "young adult sci-fi" in our local library. Whether YA or A, you still have to have read Ender's Game.

While not of Ender's Game quality, it still was interesting. Zeck was too much of a pest, however, and the students in Battle School would not have put up with his shenanigans.

I've read a lot of Orson Scott Card's books, and have always found myself coming away from them a little frustrated. The ideas always seem to be interesting, but end up getting lost in mediocre storytelling. Card dwells on the same unique ideas so persistently, going back to the same well so often, that by the end of the book what I had originally found unique now just seems hackneyed. And now that I've found out Card is so outspoken politically with such (literally) fascist and discriminatory views, I don't even want his books in my house. I've sold them online and donated the money to a worthy charity.

If you find Card's story ideas at all interesting, I'd suggest the following authors for a more satisfying storytelling experience:

Neil Gaiman. Gaiman has the same unique flavor to his ideas, but he also has the execution to deliver an incredible story as well. His work is more on the fantasy side, like Card's Alvin Maker series. The only problem is that Gaiman writes so few books that I find myself becoming incredibly impatient waiting for his next story to come out.

Stephen Baxter and Isaac Asimov. Asimov's works can sometimes be a little less accessible then Card's, but Baxter's are not; they are just as easy a read. Both men are visionaries scientifically, and tell gripping, page turning stories. Both are sci-fi based, like Card's Ender Series.

Stephen King. Most people groan when I say how much I love King's writing, but universally I come to find out that those people have never read his Dark Tower series, just his horror. The seven books that comprise the Dark Tower story, widely considered King's Magnum Opus, are a truly unique blend of equal parts fantasy, sci-fi, and western. Note these are not in any way like King's horror writings, though once you've read the Dark Tower you'll see characters from it turn up in ancillary roles in many of his other books. The Dark Tower, like the Alvin series, is set is a world that is kind of our world, kind of not. The Dark Tower series is hands-down the best series I've ever read. Period.

I hope this helps some readers find some great stories they may have otherwise not found. Happy reading!

What can I say? Good for any Halo fan who likes a good comic.

I read through this book while on a short visit to the library. I had been looking forward to it and was amazed that it was even on the shelf. Once I "read" it I understood why it was there. WAY too short and WAY too hyped. I expected a lot more from the game that redifined the FPS, and has set THE STANDARD for online gaming. I am a huge fan of HALO, but I would be doing everyone a disservice if I recommended that anyone actually BUY this book. Maybe a second edition will prove a better tome.

From an outsider's standpoint looking in, they say one should never judge a book by it's cover but I will do as such nonpussed because the dynamics of the combative format is such that of such exclusite artful review that need I say more??

Wow was this a hard book to get. This was PLEASE mom and dad this is what I want for Christmas my son said. So to my dismay this is no longer in print. The first order I order through here but it was someone from the UK that ended up Cancelling my order 1 week before Christmas. Got back on and did another search for a new one it ranged from $45-$260 so we went with a slightly used book. You cannot even tell.. for $30...
The book so you all know is VERY COOL BUT it is a comic book not like the other halo books you are probably use too.

As a hardcore Halo fan, this is just downright disappointing. None of the stories follow Master Cheif, or Captain Keyes, or anyone remotely recognizable from the Halo universe except Sergeant Avery Johnson. The story with Sergeant Johnson is the only one worth viewing. This is an ok gift idea for someone you know who enjoys all things Halo, but if you really wanna get them something of value, go with one of the real novels instead.

My 9 yr old son loves the Magic Tree House series. I've purchased every book and have also pre-ordered books that will be released in Sept. When he's finished with each story, he gives my husband and I an oral book report. He has also learned various interesting historical facts concerning the book's theme. According to my son, there are clues throughout the stories and always a moral/lesson at the end of each story. The thing that I find funny is that he has learned that boys AND girls can actually be buddies and it's not creepy!

My four year old son is in love with this chapter series! A friend suggested it to us since he seemed ready for a more advanced reading material at bedtime. My husband reads him a chapter every night...sometimes more because they don't want to stop. It's become a great tradition for them, and something they both look forward to. We love that there are so many in the collection! Start with number 1 and just continue. :)

My daughter could not put this book down once she started reading it. She loves the MAGIC TREE HOUSE series so much!

We paired this with the Discovery Kids Magazine on Pompeii and found out that this book is a great way to find out about Pompeii and what happened, not just as a tourist attraction. It really puts kids in the moment of the time period. Every detail, down to the arrangement of the city was accurate. You can actually find a map replicating Pompeii and show your child where Jack and Annie went. Wow. Talk about subject integration! You know it is a great book when you can go down the list of Bloom's Taxonomy and use the book to create activities for every level.

We are leaving today to buy every book in the series.
Perfect for homeschooling.

My 1st grader hates to put them down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. When he was in kindergarten, the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not given her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!