Review of The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Master Magician

The Paper Magician: Book III

By Charlie N. Holmberg

Star Rating: 

Date/Time Started: 6/6/2015 4:52 pm
Date/Time Finished: 6/8/2015 1:15 am

Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 224

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Throughout her studies, Ceony Twill has harbored a secret, one she's kept from even her mentor, Emery Thane.  She's discovered how to practice forms of magic other than her own--an ability long thought impossible.

When all seems set of Ceony to complete her apprenticeship and pass her upcoming final magician's exam, life quickly becomes complicated.  To avoid favoritism, Emery sends her to another paper magician for testing, a Folder who despises Emery and cares even less for his apprentice.  To make matters worse, a murderous criminal from Ceony's past escapes imprisonment.  Now she must track the power-hungry convict across England before he can take his revenge.  With her life and loved ones hanging in the balance, Ceony must face a criminal who wields the one magic that she does not, and it may prove more powerful than all of her skills combined.

Review:
Like all of the books in this series, this was hard to set down.  Ceony seems to have a nice depth of character in this book, showcasing that she has fears that she isn't willing to sit back and let happen.  While most will argue that Ceony needs to plan better instead of running forward and jumping into sticky situations without a plan, most can empathize with wanting to keep their family safe.  Besides running into danger, Ceony showcases her impatience and temper on more than one occasion.  I, for one, find it refreshing to find a protagonist who isn't perfect, and who sometimes has to collect herself and apologize for being brash, as I have had to in the past as well.

WARNING: Ending spoiler ahead.

I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed with the ending.  After seeing Ceony and Emery go through so much together, we are shown their proposal, and are left with the assumption that what she saw in the fortuity box will come to pass.  I would have loved some sort of epilogue, showcasing what Ceony decided to do with her career.

Author Information:
Charlie N. Holmberg has a BA in English with a minor in editing.  She likes Star Trek and hopes to someday own a dog.  She is married and has a child.  The Paper Magician was her ninth book, but first to get published.

For more information on Charlie N. Holmberg, see her author page or go to her website.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen by Garth Nix

Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen

Old Kingdom (Prequel to Sabriel)

By Garth Nix

Star Rating: 

Date/Time Started: 5/10/2015
Date/Time Finished: 5/11/2015

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 400

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Clariel is the daughter of one of the most notable families in the Old Kingdom, with blood relations to the Abhorsen, and most important, to the King.  She dreams of living a simple life but discovers that this is hard to achieve when a dangerous Free Magic creature is loose in the city, her parents want to marry her off to a killer, and there is a plot brewing against the old and withdrawn King Orrikan.  When Clariel is drawn into the efforts to find and capture the creature, she finds hidden sorcery within herself, yet it is magic that carries great dangers.  Can she rise above the temptation of power, escape the unwanted marriage, and save the King?

Review:
I remember, when I was younger, that Garth Nix's Abhorsen series was one of my absolute favourites.  This hasn't changed.  In fact, Clariel also is on the book shelf of my favourite novels.  While Clariel may not be quite as dramatic or empathetic as Sabriel, one cannot help but feel for the girl, who wants something simple, and who is always told no.  When someone is given a good reason for their desires being squashed, it often helps sooth the ache, but what if your only available options become things you never, ever want to become?

What romance is within the novel isn't really that of the main protagonist, but the typical old view of strengthening ties through matrimony.  Clariel won't let anyone stand in her way, especially when she has nothing to lose, though she realizes that perhaps she has more allies than she originally thought.


Author Information:

Garth Nix has worked as a bookseller, book sales representative, publicist, editor, marketing consultant, and literary agent.  He spent five years in the Australian Army Reserve.  He became a full time writer in 2001, and more than five million copies of his books have been sold around the world.  His works have been translated into 40 languages.  His books have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, The Australian, and The Sunday Times.  He lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and two children.

To fine more of Garth Nix' books, please feel free to go to his amazon page.




It's hard to go from a book you love so very much, to anything else.  Which is why it took me until now, almost a full month later, to write this review.  And it took me until last week, to finally start something new.  While I did start another book soon after Clariel, which I will finish at some point, it is written for a slightly younger audience than I generally read for.  



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Review of Charlie N. Holmberg's The Glass Magician

The Glass Magician

The Paper Magician: Book 2

By Charlie N. Holmberg

Star Rating: 

Date/Time Started: 4/16/2015 at 11:19am
Date/Time Finished: 4/17/2015 at 3:09pm

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 222

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Three months after returning Magician Emery Thane's heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder.  Unfortunately, not all of Ceony's thoughts have been focused on paper magic.  Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn't broken the teacher-student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness.

When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discover it... even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world.  After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her powers... and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands.


Review:
This book showcases what so many people look for in a relationship and for their future; someone they have something in common with, and can learn from and grow with.  Relationships are a give and take, and while Emery doesn't seem to have romantic notions for Ceony, they are still growing and learning more about each other.  Like many in love, Ceony will do anything to protect Emery, and those she cares about.  Who wouldn't do whatever it took to keep their family safe?  This book is totally relatable, easy to fall into and incredibly hard to set down.  If you've already read The Paper Magician, you must to read this book.

Author Information:
Charlie N. Holmberg has a BA in English with a minor in editing.  She likes Star Trek and hopes to someday own a dog.  She is married and has a child.  The Paper Magician was her ninth book, but first to get published.

For more information on Charlie N. Holmberg, see her author page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Skin Game

Skin Game

The Dresden Files: Book 15

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 464

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him might want him to do.  Usually it's something awful.

He doesn't know the half of it...

Mab has just traded Harry's skills to pay off one of her debts.  And now he must help a group of supernatural villains--led by one of Harry's mos dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone--to break into the highest-security vault in town, so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.

It's a smash and grab job to recover the liter Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure hoard in the supernatural world--which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character.  Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about.  And he's dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience.  Especially Harry.

Dresden has always been tricky, but he's going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess--assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before his enemies get the chance...


Review:

Not only does Dresden think that something evil has infested his brain--he also has been led to believe that it will kill him.  The only person that can help is Molly, whom Mab has been keeping away.  If Harry helps Mab, she will hopefully let Molly see him in time to save him.  Meanwhile, Dresden has to find someone he trusts to watch his back in the Underworld.  After one friend gets injured before the true descent has begun, one has to wonder if Dresden will be able to get out of the Underworld alive.

For now, this is all... but there will be more!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Cold Days

Cold Days

The Dresden Files: Book 14

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 640

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
After being murdered and then brought back to life, Harry Dresden soon realizes that maybe death wasn't all that bad.  Because he is no longer Chicago's only professional wizard.

He is now Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness.  Her word is his command.  And her first command is the seemingly impossible: kill an immortal.  Worse still, there is a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could mean the deaths of millions.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent an apocalypse, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his new found infinite powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own...

His soul.


Review:

All in all, this is just another day in the life of Harry Dresden!  Harry has to try to follow his commands all while figuring out a case of his own, involving Demonreach, and trying to find more information about whether or not he should follow threw with Mab's request.  While he may technically serve Mab, Dresden works hard to keep his own morals intact.

Book 14 gives you a taste of exactly what Harry's life may be like, now that he is the Winter Knight.  Read book 15 for more amazing adventures!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Ghost Story

Ghost Story

The Dresden Files: Book 13

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 608

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
When an unknown someone shoots him and leaves him to die, Harry Dresden hopes he might be heading to a better place.  Unfortunately, being dead doesn't make Harry's life any easier.

Trapped between life and death, he learns that his friends are in serious trouble.  Only by finding his murderer can he save his friends and move on--a feat which would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers.  Worse still are the malevolent shadows that roam Chicago, controlled by a dark entity that wants Harry to suffer even in death.

Now the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic--or face an eternity as just another lost soul...

Review:

You will see this book got three stars.  This is my absolute least favourite of all the Dresden File books out to date.  It isn't that the book doesn't seem to have a solid ending, or that there isn't enough plot.  It isn't even that Harry is so removed from the action.  Everything seems to go so slowly, and it takes so long to get into the crux of the story, while Harry is not too overly involved.  While I know that some same "kill your darlings" and that others state that people/characters change, I was quite glad that there was another book to start right after this one.

While this book isn't my favourite, definitely go read book 14 because it gets so much more interesting!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Changes

Changes

The Dresden Files: Book 12

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Number of Pages: 560

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Long ago, Susan Rodriquez was Harry Dresden's lover- until she was attacked and left struggling with the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court.  Now, she needs Harry's help.  Harry's enemies have found the secret she has hidden for so long, and he will have to unleash the full fury of his untapped power.

Review:

I've omitted the last line of the Amazon review, as I don't want to spoil Susan's secret the way a certain individual had for me while I was still on book 7.

Not only does Dresden have a sudden reconciliation with Susan, but he is immediately thrust into a rescue mission, while simultaneously trying to figure out what the kidnappers intended to use the kidnapped for.  Emotions will run high as you get involved in this thriller, with stakes for most of the participants, even those he otherwise would have left home.

Book 12 is great, and really makes you wonder what could possibly happen in book 13.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Turn Coat

Turn Coat

The Dresden Files: Book 11

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 576

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council- and there's only one final punishment for that crime.  He's on the run, he wants his name cleared, and he needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.  Like Harry Dresden.  Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself.  And a single mistake could cost Harry his head...

Review:

The Minority Report- met the Wizards of the White Council.  Sometimes, even if what you found isn't what the truth is, it's easier to push than to find and deal with reality- which is, you can't always trust the first result you find.  For those of you who have come to hate Morgan, this book sheds a lot of light on the Warden, and may even result in a few tears.

Book 11... continue on!

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.