Book Review: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

My first introduction to Brandon Sanderson was with Mistborn. I loved Mistborn an awful lot, and enjoyed the concepts. When Words of Radiance came out, I decided it was time to discover his other series, so I picked up The Way of Kings. It has taken me a while to get through The Way of Kings. It is over 1,250 pages of awesomeness and my own life has been busy. I would have rather have devoted a week and read it non-stop!

Everything about The Way of Kings is awesome. Brandon Sanderson sets up the kingdom of Roshar, and the war the Alethi are waging against the Parshendi. In this world those born with lighteyes are above those born with darkeyes. Kaladin is a darkeyed, that has ended up a slave, and sees a life ahead of him carrying a bridge, and what will likely be a early death for him and his fellow bridgemen. Dalinar is the Uncle of King Elokhar and is trying to unite them and end the war against the Parshendi. Shallon is trying to steal a soulcaster and save her family, while she becomes an apprentice to the scholar, Jasnah. It is a world where only women read and write, and men fight the war of their lives. And there is also the lost radiants…

I don’t have a lot of experience with epic fantasy. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings and a few others, but I’m mostly a newbie to fantasy books. The Way of Kings blew my mind and if this is an example of what I can expect in other fantasy series, I can’t wait to discover them.

Each book in this series will mostly concentrate on one character and this was Kaladin’s story. While he wasn’t my favourite character (I really enjoyed the Shallon/Jasnah storylines), it was interesting to see his past and how he went from the son of a surgeon to a slave and a bridgemen in the war.

There is a lot of hints of other storylines to follow and questions that haven’t been answered. I absolutely can’t wait to read Words of Radiance, which has already been released. The Way of Kings is definitely my favourite book of 2014 and I can’t wait to read more from Brandon Sanderson

Audiobook Review: The New World by Patrick Ness

I enjoy science fiction, and in the last few years I've been reading more than my fair share of YA science fiction. Beth Revis' series starting with Across the Universe was one of my favourites. I picked up The New World a couple of years ago on Audible and didn't think to listen. That was until this week, when I was waiting for a new book to come out and thought I'd listen to The New World while I wait. Well The New World blew me away and I can't believe I haven't listened before now.

The New World is a prequel and tells the story of Viola and her family, who are the landing party sent out to settle on a new world and report back. The new world isn't what Viola or her family expects.

This story was a great teaser. It made me want to race out and grab the first book in this series. I plan to listen to the rest of the series right away!! It was narrated by Angela Dawe and I liked her narration of Viola, and how she portrayed Viola's doubts about the new world.

About this Audiobook:

Written by: Patrick Ness
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
Length: 47 mins
 Series: Chaos Walking, Book 0
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-13-11
Publisher: Candlewick on Brilliance Audio

Audiobook Review: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Bermudez Triangle is a stand-alone story by Maureen Johnson, telling the story of three best friends, whose life changes when two of them fall in love.

I've been a fan of Maureen Johnson since I first discovered her YA contemporaries many years ago. I've since been reading/listening to 1-2 books a year and find them just as enjoyable as the first ones I've discovered.

I don't read a lot of YA contemporary fiction, just a handful a year. I liked this one because it is a different twist on boy-meets-girl. In this case it is Mel and Avery, who have known each other forever, that fall in love, leaving their third best friend feelilng on the out. Maureen Johnson wrote the story well and it kept me interested right to the end.

This is only the second Maureen Johnson audiobook I've listened to and I enjoyed the narration as well. I'm planning to listen to a few more of her YA contemporaries on audio in 2015.

About this Audiobook:
Written by: Maureen Johnson
Narrated by: Ellen Archer
Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
 Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-04-08
Publisher: Penguin Group USA and Audible

Audiobook Review: Tarnished & Torn by Xe Sands

Lily Ivory is a witch and owner of a vintage store called Aunt Cora’s Closet. In her time in San Francisco she’s gotten into plenty of trouble. However trouble is heading her way like never before. This time in the form of her father and what could likely be a fire demon!! It all starts innocently enough when she goes to a fair and meets a German lady selling antique jewelry. She’s interested in what she has to offer and suspects that she might also be a witch. Her suspicions are confirmed when the lady turns up dead, pressed between wood with cinder blocks on top. The “pressing” is a old form of torture against witches, which Lily has only heard of. Due to the nature of her death, Detective Carlos calls on Lily to help out and this starts one adventure that Lily nor her friends will forget in a hurry.

I fell in love with this series when I first read Secondhand Spirits. I love Lily as she not just tries to solve mysteries, but also learns what it is like to live in San Francisco and have friends nearby. She was shunned from her own mother and her hometown for being a witch. However her life in San Francisco is pretty great… well except for the murders and the fact that her one-time lover, Sailor, has disappeared.

What I love the most about Tarnished and Torn and this series as a whole, is it is never dull and boring. There is always a lot happening but Juliet Blackwell doesn’t leave readers lost and unable to connect the dots. It is more than just a cozy mystery, with the paranormal elements and more-than-meets-the-eye characters. In Tarnished and Torn we finally meet Lily’s father, who abandoned her as a baby. We discover more about their relationship (or lack there of) and perhaps more about how Aidan feels about Lily. Fans of this series will definitely enjoy some of the sub-plots that have continued on from the previous books.

For me, Xe Sands is the voice of this series. Her portrayal of the characters is beyond amazing. I particularly love the depth she gives to Lily’s familiar, Oscar. Oscar is part gargoyle, part goblin and appears a pot-bellied pig. His suggestion on how to solve the case was to hire Miss Marple, and is aghast to find out that she doesn’t exist and is made up! This scene alone had my laughing until I cried!! After having experienced the previous books as audiobooks I know I will definitely be continuing on with the series in audiobook format only. I wouldn’t hesitate recommend this series to mystery fans and also paranormal fans. It’s not one to be missed!

About this Audiobook:
Written by: Juliet Blackwell
Narrated by: Xe Sands
Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins 
Series: Witchcraft Mysteries, Book 5
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-02-13
Publisher: Tantor Audio

Audiobook Review: Dead Air by James Goss

Dead Air by James Goss is a story featuring the tenth Doctor, as portrayed by David Tennant. It seems the Doctor going back to the 60s to track down a creature that could take over (and destroy) the world through the radios. The Doctor lands on a ship, where a radio station is broadcasting from, and tries to find a way to defeat the creature.

I'm a huge Doctor Who fan and since the show is on a break I've been listening to a lot of the stories on audiobook. Of the new Doctors my favourite was David Tennant and I love seeing how many of these stories he's narrated. It's great to hear his voice and go on a new adventure. As I'm also a mystery I love trying to figure out parts of the story and see if I can clue in to how the Doctor will defeat the monster. This story threw me a big curveball at the end that I didn't see coming - thankfully for humanity the Doctor did!!

I really enjoyed this one and I loved David Tennant's narration. Since he played the part of the Doctor he was perfect to narrate. He also provided really good voices to the other characters. I definitely plan to listen to more Doctor Who stories on audiobook format.

About this Audiobook:
Written by: James Goss
Narrated by: David Tennant
Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
 Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:04-01-10
Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Audiobook Review: In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell

Witch and vintage clothing store owner, Lily, has a knack for getting herself into "interesting situations". For what starts out as a lovely evening out with fellow witch, Aidan Rhodes, ends up in a mystery when a lady at the Art Deco Ball collpases and Lily thinks foul witchy play is involved!! When Detective Carlos asks for Lily's help with the death of a witch, Tarregan Dark Moon "Tara", Lily thinks the two may be connected. As she delves further into another coven she discovers some very evil magic at play.

I like the Witchcraft mysteries because they are always unexpected!! Lily's life is never boring. Besides the main mystery there is always a lot going on and I never finish reading one of these and think it was dull. For all the things that Lily is, she certainly isn't dull. In this one Lily gets to go to a fancy ball, try to untangle a murder case and help Miriam, who collapsed at the ball and is in a coma!! If that isn't enough there is also her love life. Definitely not dull.

Lily is a interesting character. She was chased out of her hometown by witch hunters and hasn't gotten close to anyone. Even her own mother doesn't like that she's a witch. But she's settling into a good life now, with her vintage clothing store and making friends with fellow witches. I like watching her life evolve, as she becomes happier with herself and her place in San Francisco.

The Witchcraft Mysteries are truly magical. They are everything I love about magical cozy mysteries are more than just a murder mystery! I'm excited to start the next one.

I listened to In a Witch's Wardrobe with the narration by Xe Sands and I can only use one word to describe her narration... flawless. She is the voice of Oscar, Lily's familiar, to me and her narration is part of the reason I love this series so much. If you like audiobooks I suggest trying this series on audio.

About this Audiobook:
Written by: Juliet Blackwell
Narrated by: Xe Sands
Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins 
Series: Witchcraft Mysteries, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-10-12
Publisher: Tantor Audio

Audiobook Review: The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

I'm a huge fan of Terry Pratchett's writing, in particular his Discworld series. I've re-read many of the books multiple times and I've decided to listen to them as audiobooks for the first time. The first one up is The Light Fantastic, which follows the adventures of Rincewind, the Wizard, and Twoflower, the tourist, in Ankh-Morpork. Part of this adventure starts in The Color Magic and continues on in The Light Fantastic. It's high adventure for Rincewind, as he has a history of running away from trouble, but it seems trouble is chasing him!

There is so much to love about the Discworld, and especially the first two books in this series. I love Twoflower for many reasons. One is that my career is the same as his - he sells insurance (or in-sewer-ants as he describes it to Rincewind). He's definitely a glass-is-half-full kind of guy and a perfect match for Rincewind, who is sure the glass is pretty empty. It's fun when these two get together, especially with their invincible Luggage along for the ride, and Conan the Barbarian, who is almost reaching 90!

I really enjoyed this on audio. I have only listened to one other Discworld on audio (Raising Steam) and I'm glad that Nigel Planer's narration lived up to my expectation. His voice for Death is just perfect, as was the scene where Twoflower teaches Death and several gods to play cards! After imagining all these voices in my head for the last two decades of reading these novels, I'm glad to discover that the audiobooks are just as fantastic. I plan to listen to more on audio.

About this Audiobook:
Written by: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Nigel Planer
Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
 Series: Discworld, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-16-99
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books