I read books, and I'd like to keep track of them and share some opinions. Not that they have to be read by someone, but hey, here you go! For each book I provide a some details, the official summary, my short opinion (with spoilers hidden until clicked), and whether I recommend it. When I find the right sites, the title of the book will be clickable to navigate to a page about it, same with the author.
The details section is always laid out under the title like this:
<author>, <genre>, <page-count>p., <languages> [ISBN <ISBN>], [<series>], <date finished>
I'm reading most of my books in Dutch, only some in English. When the
book is available in English I'll use the English title, otherwise I'll
use the Dutch title. I'll do my best to mention if there are translations
available, which will be shown in a list like NL - EN - ....
In a spectacular feat of daring and magic, Elena and her army of outlaws and rebels have defeated evil's minions and released the mystic secrets of the Blood Diary. But the malevolent Dark Lord has unleashed the Weirgates—black wells of ferocious energy that are his greatest source of power. Now Elena's bravest allies are sent to find and destroy the Gates, as windships carry the fight north to the frigid woodlands, south to the burning desert sands, and east to the blasted regions of dread Gul'gotha. Along the way, they will face their own personal demons as well. The twin brothers Mogweed and Fardale race against time to break the curse that has stolen their shape-changing birthright, and Elena's brother Joach must evade the desert sandsharks if he is to master his own elemental power. The trail will lead them even to the fabulous el'vin homeland of Stormhaven. None of the rebels will come back unscathed, some never returning at all... And Elena herself must journey to Gul'gotha. Daring the enemy's own lair, she must emerge victorious if she is to reveal the secret of the Dark Lord's frightening identity—and the shocking nature of his vast powers.
Finally they actively start working against the Dark Lord, instead of only fighting against things that came to them. Following the action between the 3 expeditions was exciting to read.
Would I recommend this? If you read the previous books, you have to
read this one too.
Do keep in mind
my concern from the previous
book first.
In her hands, the young wit'ch Elena holds the awesome energies of blood magick-and more. For the fate of all, Alasea hinges on her recovery of the Blood Diary, a potent talisman forged five hundred years ago, then locked away behind wards too strong for any mage to break. But only with the secrets recorded in its pages can Elena defeat the evil magicks of the Dark Lord. The challenge? The Diary lies hidden in A'loa Glen, the fabled city that belongs to Shorkan, chief lieutenant of the Dark Lord, and his fearsom army. Now, with the aid of the ocean-dwelling Sy-wen and her great dragon, Elena prepares a desperate invasion of A'loa Glen. At her side stands the one-armed warrior Er'ril, her faithful protector and the only man who knows how to unlock the wards surrounding the Blood Diary— a man who also happens to be the brother of the dreaded Shorkan. Meanwhile, Elena's brother, whose magick brings him prophetic dreams, has glimpsed a future in which Elena falls by the deadly sword of...Er'ril. But his visions do not always come true. How can he act against his sister's trusted guardian on the basis of a future betrayal that may never happend? For Elena's sake, and for the sake of all Alasea, how can he afford not to?
I think that the story is going on full steam now. It's the third book in the five-part-series. I've not got much opinion to share, it's just a good book.
I do have a concern though. There is a tiny bit of romance, two forming couples, but eh, Mr. Clemens, why did you make them between an adult man and a girl? Two times? It's a bit off-putting. I understand that it otherwise would be harder for the story, but this book was released in the year 2000, not the year 1500.
Would I recommend this? If you read the second book, you have to read this third one, but I will put this on the 'not-again' list due to above reason. There is enough other literature that aligns better with my values. (I will also update the 'recommend' of the other parts of the series.)
Elena bears the mark of the wit'ch upon her palm, the crimson stain that testifies to the awesome power of unimaginable potency: wild seductive, and difficult to control. Only a mistress of blood magick can stand against the foul minions and all-corrupting evil of the Dark Lord. But Elena is not yet the mistress of her magick. Protected by an ageless warrior and a band of renegades, she quests for a lost city where prophecies speak of a mystic tome that holds the key to the Dark Lord's defeat. But if the Dark Lord finds her first, Elena will become his most fearsome weapon. A different form of power touches Sy-wen, girl-child of an ocean-dwelling clan that bonds-mates to the terrible and majestic sea dragons. But bonds more ancient still tie Sy-wen to the land she does not know, to a man she has never seen... and to a legend asleep in stone deep beneath A'loa Glen-a legend beginning to wake. Now, as Elena and Sy-wen converge on A'loa Glen from land and sea, will the forces they unleash lead to a future of freedom-or an eternity under the Dark Lord's yoke?
This continuation on Wit'ch Fire was a slight improvement I think. The story was more engaging, and the worldbuilding was broader. Anyway, good fantasy book, I'm looking forward to reading the next part in the series.
Would I recommend this? If you read the first book, you have to
read this second one.
Update after having read book 3, read
my concern first.
On a fateful night five centuries ago, three made a desperate last stand, sacrificing everything to preserve the only hope of goodness in the beautiful, doomed land of Alasea. Now, on the anniversary of that ominous night, a girl-child ripens into the heritage of lost power. But before she can even comprehend her terrible new gift, the Dark Lord dispatches his winged monsters to capture her and bring him the embryonic magic she embodies. Fleeing the minions of darkness, Elena is swept toward certain doom-and into the company of unexpected allies. Aided by a one-armed warrior and a strange seer, she forms a band of the hunted and the cursed, the outcasts and the outlaws, to battle the unstoppable forces of evil and rescue a once-glorious empire...
I feel like I've read this before, but I don't remember at all how the plot goes. Anyways, this fantasy story is not that special, it feels like what you'd expect from fantasy story. Maybe I've just been spoiled by 'Malazan Book of the Fallen', which went quite a bit deeper and greater. On the other side, there is nothing wrong with this story, it reads swiftly and there is some magic.
Would I recommend this? Probably. It's an easy read, and it's fantasy.
It's not great, but definitly not bad. I'll be reading the next books
in the series.
Update after having read book 3, read
my concern first.
The day after his wedding, Tomas wakes up alone. His wife is nowhere to be seen. When he walks the dog, the streets are frighteningly empty. Strangely enough, people are crowding at the community center. There, it turns out that a change of unprecedented proportions has taken place on earth. A change that everyone had seen coming, except Tomas.
This is one of the first dystopian novels I read in a while (maybe ever?), and some of the mechanics reminded me of 'To sleep in a see of stars'. The writing style however did not match it at all, with shorter and more simplistic sentences. These do match the character of protagonist Tomas, but I find them lightly annoying.
The plot itself really did surprise me. I - maybe naïvely - expected a good ending. It was however very sudden, and not a satisfying ending. It leaves an incomplete and eerie feeling, fitting the dystopian nature.
Would I recommend this? Maybe, maybe not. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad, would not read again, but if I'd turn back time I would not avoid it.
A uniquely advanced space station inhabited by both humans and Jellies, Unity stands as a beacon of life and hope. But when a crew member is found dead, it’s up to you to find the killer. Choose your own path as you investigate this Fractalverse murder mystery.
This little story published on the Fractalverse website was a fun treat after having read To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. It is written in the same style, in the new space station 'Unity' that got constructed at the end of the "real" book. I don't think I have any other remarks.
Would I recommend this? If you have read the Sea of Stars book, then yes, do read it! It's a little sweet aftertaste.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a story of enormous intergalactic weight and consequence, but also of deeply personal human strength, compassion, and awe. During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, xenobiologist Kira Navárez finds an alien relic that thrusts her into the wonders and nightmares of first contact. Epic space battles for the fate of humanity take her to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and, in the process, transform not only her—but the entire course of history.
I started reading this after a year-or-more hiatus from reading (due to little time with uni + hobby-programming), and it usurped me completely. All 870 pages were read in only three days; I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Only the end of the book left me a little bit disappointed. Kira became this almost godly form, and then just gives some gifts to the people she likes? This felt a bit underwhelming and out of character for the rest of the book, so that could have been improved in my opinion.
Would I recommend this? Yes. 100%. There is literally no reason to not read this, unless you hate science-fiction for some reason.