A high action plot with lots of interesting twists and turns, good characters, and an okay romance. I didn't need the prevalent f-bombs (though they mA high action plot with lots of interesting twists and turns, good characters, and an okay romance. I didn't need the prevalent f-bombs (though they might be common in militaristic culture), and the sex scenes were pretty graphic (also unnecessary IMHO), but it IS adult romantasy, so more of that can be expected. Barring those two personal quibbles, this is well-written and a very engaging story, and the dragons are great!...more
I think the 4-5th-grade fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy this book, with its caring, rebellious family, and its competitive world of social rankiI think the 4-5th-grade fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy this book, with its caring, rebellious family, and its competitive world of social rankings. I found it a bit disjointed, with many questions unanswered, the main theme rather superficially treated, and the main character sidelined toward the end; it's an "ensemble" novel, certainly, but I feel it tried to make everyone into a protagonist, and lost something in the process....more
It's an interesting premise, navigating dreams and fighting battles in a DreamScape, but the problem is that anything can happen in dreams...and it doIt's an interesting premise, navigating dreams and fighting battles in a DreamScape, but the problem is that anything can happen in dreams...and it does in this story, often quite conveniently. Also, just as dreams can feel disjointed, this plot sometimes feels that way, too. While that may be appropriate to create a "dreamlike" quality to the narrative, it is also disappointing when Deus ex machina takes over, and the characters and actions don't feel fully motivated. For me, this story needed several more revisions to tighten up the worldbuilding and the DreamScape functionality to be more believable....more
A strong horror novel with a twist of romance and fantasy. I found it dragged a bit in the middle, but otherwise it's a page-turner.A strong horror novel with a twist of romance and fantasy. I found it dragged a bit in the middle, but otherwise it's a page-turner....more
This is the kind of book that keeps you uneasy through the whole story, and once it's done, you're STILL uneasy with the world. A changeling story thaThis is the kind of book that keeps you uneasy through the whole story, and once it's done, you're STILL uneasy with the world. A changeling story that left me with the same disturbed feeling as Neil Gaiman's Coraline....more
A war of epic proportions (man against the Wild: daemons, boglins, irks, etc.) dominates this narrative, told in vignettes from the perspectives of itA war of epic proportions (man against the Wild: daemons, boglins, irks, etc.) dominates this narrative, told in vignettes from the perspectives of its myriad characters. I found it hard to remember who was who throughout the novel (there were so many people involved in the war), but it holds together and by 500 pages in, I had a pretty good sense of who the characters were (that may be more an issue of the reader than the story). If you love battles and strategy with your magic and fantastic creatures, this is the book for you....more
Certainly a well-researched tome, the emphasis is on merging culture, history, and myth. While stories do make up a significant portion of the text, ICertainly a well-researched tome, the emphasis is on merging culture, history, and myth. While stories do make up a significant portion of the text, I felt they tended to be subsidiary to the culture and history exploration and presented more as artefacts than as engaging tales. So for those interested in an academic book on how stories provide windows and mirrors for culture and history, this book is on super. For storytellers looking for tales to share...not so much....more
This tome contains snippets from a variety of Spanish romances (Poema del Cid, Amadis de Gaul, ballads, and Don Quixote) as well as one chapter of talThis tome contains snippets from a variety of Spanish romances (Poema del Cid, Amadis de Gaul, ballads, and Don Quixote) as well as one chapter of tales of magic and sorcery. As the introduction claims, "I have made an earnest endeavour to provide English readers with a conspectus of Spanish romantic literature as expressed in its cantares de gesta, its chivalric novels, its romanceros or ballads, and some of its lighter aspects." This is an accurate description of the work, a "taste" of the genre, accompanied by the author's historical narration to provide context and a deeper understanding of the form and function of these stories. Told in an archaic and academic style that is likely an accurate English rendering of the originals, the stories have the same chivalric style as Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, and I struggled to read them and relate to them. Wikipedia describes Spence as "a Scottish journalist, poet, author, folklorist and occult scholar," and the book reads as such. Part of my disappointment (and hence lower star ranking) was that I was reading this as a storyteller looking for great stories to share, and I found these renditions unsatisfying from that stylistic perspective. The color plate illustrations also gave it the feel of a children's book, which this definitely is not! For the reader who wants an "academic sampler," however, the book fits the bill....more
A short collection of legends great for storytellers to build upon. The stories tend to have little elaboration, but the collection includes such commA short collection of legends great for storytellers to build upon. The stories tend to have little elaboration, but the collection includes such common legends as "The Vanishing Hitchhiker" (set near Jamestown, NC), Blackbeard's death at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard, and the well-known Jack tale "Sop Doll," along with more local legends, such as "How Nags Head Got Its Name" and the origin stories surrounding "Tar Heels." A fun little treasury for those interested in NC places, people, ghosts, and legendary events....more
An interesting collection of essays on life, politics, nature, and Being that left me thoughtful, laughing, bored, and all the wonderful emotions a noAn interesting collection of essays on life, politics, nature, and Being that left me thoughtful, laughing, bored, and all the wonderful emotions a novelist and poet should be able to evoke in a reader. I'm not sure why she ended it with the Notes; they were poetic and descriptive, but several other essays would have closed the book with more power, IMHO...a descriptive whimper didn't seem to do justice to the rest of the writing. Still, an enjoyable collection to pass some "spare time."...more
A haunting story of a young woman's connection to the land and the dogs that save her in so many ways. Two parallel stories of women - one in Siberia,A haunting story of a young woman's connection to the land and the dogs that save her in so many ways. Two parallel stories of women - one in Siberia, one in Wisconsin - run like spring rivers until they join the larger story of the Arctic and the people - and dogs - who make it home. All who love animals or the Arctic - or both - will find this a painful and delicious read....more
A short story? An episode culled from a larger work? This really doesn't stand on its own, but it might be enjoyable for those who know her Mitford YeA short story? An episode culled from a larger work? This really doesn't stand on its own, but it might be enjoyable for those who know her Mitford Years series (Doubleday).......more
I found this book hard to get through, despite my enjoyment of Tolkien and Lewis's books. The frame story of the lion and wizard is something that migI found this book hard to get through, despite my enjoyment of Tolkien and Lewis's books. The frame story of the lion and wizard is something that might appeal to younger kids, but the biographies are more geared toward YAs or adults. I don't really see a clear audience for this book. That said, I did enjoy the twist at the end of the frame story, though perhaps it moves the work away from biography and back into the realm of fantasy....more
Guess I'm not much of a cozy mystery fan, as I just couldn't get into the descriptions that should make this "cozy," though it certainly has a distincGuess I'm not much of a cozy mystery fan, as I just couldn't get into the descriptions that should make this "cozy," though it certainly has a distinctly "southern" feel, and it was an intimate community...I just didn't care about any of them. For those who enjoy a slow-paced, gentle mystery full of eccentric characters, I'm sure this will be a pleaser, just not my personal taste. I DID enjoy the local North Carolina setting......more
While it does contain some stories, this is much more non-fiction than some of the other books in this Time Life series. Still, it's a fascinating oveWhile it does contain some stories, this is much more non-fiction than some of the other books in this Time Life series. Still, it's a fascinating overview of Indian culture and belief....more
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