Monday Musings: Books and more books

In the order in which I read them:

Warlord by Jennifer Fallon
Warlord is the third book in Jennifer Fallon's Wolfblade Trilogy.  Set mainly in the country of Hythria, the story follows the lives of Marla Wolfblade and her family as they navigate the intricacies of politics and war.

Having read other books by this author, I had tentatively high hopes for this series when I began it - though I knew by experience that the journey was going to hurt.  Fallon is an expert story-weaver, never quite giving away what is going to happen next while dropping enough hints to keep you guessing.  She isn't afraid to kill off characters, or cause them to suffer - and her reader to empathize and suffer with them.  Yet she places the balance between despair and hope just barely on the right side to keep the this reader engaged.

If you enjoy strong and intelligent characters (both male and female), and are willing to suffer with them through an unflinching view of both human heroism and very human cruelty and weakness; if you enjoy a richly plotted fantasy world and epic battles; if you can read political intrigue and war strategy with interest; and if you can handle the possibility that your favorite character may die, or do something you consider to be despicable - then I highly recommend these books.

The Hidden City by Michelle West
You may recognize the name Michelle West.  Or you may know this author better as Michelle Sagara, author of the Chronicles of Elantra series.

Knowing that - it's easy to tell that the author has a soft spot for orphaned female main characters with a lot of spirit and a strong mothering instinct.   In The Hidden City, she tells the story of a young orphan who calls herself Jay and who, of course, has a great deal of spirit and a tendency to want to protect and care for others.

Another main character - and the first viewpoint you are given in the story, Rath is the worldly-wise older character who becomes Jay's reluctant guardian.  Although the story focuses mainly on Jay, I can sum my reaction to the book up in three words: "Rath is awesome."   754 pages and I want to read more.  Luckily for me - it's the first book in the series!  :)

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
Having discovered the excellent storytelling of Orson Scott Card, I returned to the library in search of more. Pathfinder did not disappoint.  The story follows the main character - Rigg - as he discovers, as most young fantasy heroes do - that his past isn't what he'd been told, and neither is he. When tragedy strikes his life, not just once, but twice in the same day, young Rigg is given an unexpected inheritance and an equally unexpected name.  With these and his gift of finding paths, he sets out on an adventure.

Though the premise may seem done to death - there's a reason it has been and that is: it works.  And in the hands of a master like Card, it works more than just well.  Part fantasy, part science fiction - but more than that, a beautiful blending of the two - I found Pathfinder to be an extremely engaging read.


Various views:

1. I understand why Thanksgiving is a family undertaking.  Quite apart from taking the time to be thankful for each other - no one person should try to cook all the food for a Thanksgiving meal.  (Fun to do once though, I admit.) 
2. Yay for rearranging my bookshelves so that I have more space!  I don't believe it's possible to have too many books.  
3. After hanging out with 2 friends, one of whom I simply haven't crossed paths with in some time, and one from out of town; and talking to my parents on the phone twice; and chatting with two friends from out of the country - I feel thoroughly socialized.  I also realize how very bad I am at balancing socialization with alone time.  Having talked to people, I crave more talking - but I also realize that more talking would irritate and exhaust me, and eventually lead me to my antisocial place.  Hm.