Type: Novella
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Fantasy
Price: $0.99
Grade: B+
What would happen if teenagers had secret super powers, and the government started to find out about them? The Talent Chronicles would happen!
This is a really interesting story, and a quite different take on the "teenagers with special powers" theme. It is fantastic yet believable enough to never have you doubting. The story is strongly character driven, but the characters are unique and interesting and you find yourself caring about them. They are also multi-dimensional and not defined only by their super powers, although there are a lot of tertiary characters with powers which can get a tad confusing when trying to remember who can do what. The main characters make the story, and they kept me reading it. Though they are supernatural teenagers trying to hide their abilities, they are still young and still have all the same issues that any normal teenager has, which makes a nice balance between the two aspects of their lives. And their issues are realistic without being too teen-angsty.
At first I thought it was just a cute story, but before long I got engrossed and couldn't put it down. I will admit that the moment I finished this story, I immediately purchased the second book. So it is worth a read, and a great value for the price.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Conspiracy by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Novel
Genre: Action/Adventure/Steampunk
Price: $4.95
Grade: A++
This is the fourth installment of the Emperor's Edge series, of which there will be 6 novels total (plus short stories). This story picks up after where book 3 ended, when the Emperor manged to sneak a message to Amaranthe and her crew.
Though the first book will always be special, I feel that each book in this series gets better, and more exciting. This adventure is non-stop action from page one. The gang finds themselves in some new scenarios that not only add more danger to their already dangerous antics, but will also tickle any steampunk fans out there as they find they need to battle on top of trains, and even in a dirigible! Each book has a secondary point of view character, and this book was Akstyr's turn. I admit that before this book he was not my favorite character. In fact I found him as insufferable as he was supposed to be, but other than that I couldn't ever really feel a connection to him, which seems easy to do with the other characters (even Maldynado). However, in this book not only do we get to get inside his head a bit and understand how his mind is working, but we also get to know him better as an individual, not just as a practitioner who comes in handy to the crew. It helps that at this point he is starting to grow up, and grow as a person, which he is able to do in large part because of the familial bond Amaranthe's crew has provided for him, something which he was severely lacking while living on the streets.
We also get to know our dear Emperor much better in this book, as he gets to be an active character, as well as a no-longer-drugged-out-of-his-mind individual. And you'll find that Sespian is as completely developed and insanely likable as any of Lindsay's other characters.
And, anyone who is rooting for Amaranthe and Sicarius, Or rooting for Amaranthe and Sespian will want to munch on through this story. That is all I am going to say on that part. Although if you have gotten far enough to be rooting for anyone you no doubt have been as anxiously awaiting this book's release. But be warned, it ends with a quite infuriating cliff hanger that makes the wait until book 5 is written, and published, nearly unbearable!
Genre: Action/Adventure/Steampunk
Price: $4.95
Grade: A++
This is the fourth installment of the Emperor's Edge series, of which there will be 6 novels total (plus short stories). This story picks up after where book 3 ended, when the Emperor manged to sneak a message to Amaranthe and her crew.
Though the first book will always be special, I feel that each book in this series gets better, and more exciting. This adventure is non-stop action from page one. The gang finds themselves in some new scenarios that not only add more danger to their already dangerous antics, but will also tickle any steampunk fans out there as they find they need to battle on top of trains, and even in a dirigible! Each book has a secondary point of view character, and this book was Akstyr's turn. I admit that before this book he was not my favorite character. In fact I found him as insufferable as he was supposed to be, but other than that I couldn't ever really feel a connection to him, which seems easy to do with the other characters (even Maldynado). However, in this book not only do we get to get inside his head a bit and understand how his mind is working, but we also get to know him better as an individual, not just as a practitioner who comes in handy to the crew. It helps that at this point he is starting to grow up, and grow as a person, which he is able to do in large part because of the familial bond Amaranthe's crew has provided for him, something which he was severely lacking while living on the streets.
We also get to know our dear Emperor much better in this book, as he gets to be an active character, as well as a no-longer-drugged-out-of-his-mind individual. And you'll find that Sespian is as completely developed and insanely likable as any of Lindsay's other characters.
And, anyone who is rooting for Amaranthe and Sicarius, Or rooting for Amaranthe and Sespian will want to munch on through this story. That is all I am going to say on that part. Although if you have gotten far enough to be rooting for anyone you no doubt have been as anxiously awaiting this book's release. But be warned, it ends with a quite infuriating cliff hanger that makes the wait until book 5 is written, and published, nearly unbearable!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Goblin Brothers Adventures by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Short story collection
Genre: Fantasy, Children's
Price: $0.99
Grade: A
This adorable collection of adventures is not just for children, the goblin brothers will steal the hearts of all ages. It is not only endearing and entertaining, but also has some excellent themes like being true to yourself, being brave, and dealing with bullies to name a few. Two young goblin brothers grow up in a traditional goblin town, learning to fish and forrage, the only problem is that they would rather spend their time making fantastic machines or reading dusty old books than doing "traditional" goblin things. This eaarns them a lot of ridicule from their brethren; however, it also leads them to become unlikely heros many times over, and their eccentricities are what helps them to save the day.
Genre: Fantasy, Children's
Price: $0.99
Grade: A
This adorable collection of adventures is not just for children, the goblin brothers will steal the hearts of all ages. It is not only endearing and entertaining, but also has some excellent themes like being true to yourself, being brave, and dealing with bullies to name a few. Two young goblin brothers grow up in a traditional goblin town, learning to fish and forrage, the only problem is that they would rather spend their time making fantastic machines or reading dusty old books than doing "traditional" goblin things. This eaarns them a lot of ridicule from their brethren; however, it also leads them to become unlikely heros many times over, and their eccentricities are what helps them to save the day.
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