Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Ok, I admit it. I’m a huge Sookie fan. The books, the show on HBO-everything. It is a wee bit embarrassing as I don’t usually hop on the pop culture band wagon but there you go.

Sookie is still struggling with the blood bond with the vampire Eric and the discovery that she is part fey. Excited to learn that she has a great-grandfather in the world, she soon realizes that all is not well in the fairy world and once again Sookie finds herself fighting for her life and for those around her.

There are a few twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting in this book! I enjoy the quick pace, light mystery and the southern humor. Sookie is flawed and is always berating herself for her low moral character-this makes her very relateable to readers. There is a real sense of doom with this book almost from the get-go. The Fellowship of the Sun is growing in its hatred speech and old friends have fallen hard for their message.

Dead and Gone is #9 in the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris.  I think it is important to note that the series needs to be read in order to be able to keep up with what is happening.  There are also several short stories that Charlaine Harris says should be read in specific order with the books. If you read a title and you don’t remember reading about what they are talking about-most likely it is in a short story. 2009, 312 pages.

 

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

I picked this book for the fantasy readers’ advisory class this year.  I was looking for a classic fantasy title that was considered one of the best and also didn’t have 700+ pages. Imagine my excitement when a 183 page book fit perfectly. I expect chocolates of thanks from the staff any moment now…

Sparrowhawk or Ged (his true, secret name) is already an archmage and dragonlord when the story opens but the reader is quickly turned to a story of when he was a young boy. Discovering his magical abilities by mistake he is soon on the path to becoming one of the best wizards known. But, Ged’s pride often gets in the way. He feels constantly slighted by his fellow apprentices and is quick to anger.  When he can no longer control his rage a terrible shadow is unleashed into the world that threatens to kill Ged. Full of shame Ged sets out on a journey of discovery on who he is truly meant to be.

Almost always, when I read a science fiction or fantasy book by an exceptional author I am humbled by the experience. With Le Guin the reader is gently schooled on such minor topics as family, self-sacrifice, dignity and being honorable. The journey Ged takes is one that is all at once unknown and familiar. The pace is gentle but the action moves you quickly through the book. Characters are well-developed enough to provide assimilation into the culture and to take great life lessons. The tone of balance versus unbalance will keep readers on edge without realizing it is even happening. Truly exceptional. 1968, 183 pages.

 

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly is on the Gateway Award nominee list for 2009-2010. As I was slapping the proper sticker on all 20 copies and making sure the location code was correct, I thought I’d take a look at this one first. I like Alex Flinn’s stuff so there you go.

Beastly is a modern take on the Beauty and the Beast myth. Kyle is a jerk-every high school has him-uber rich, popular and can do anything he wants…well, except for get his dad to love him. During one particularly heinous adventure a curse is placed on Kyle by a witch turning him into a hairy shadow of his former self. 

Quickly shuffled off to his own house so no one knows who he is, he believes that the cure for the curse-to be kissed by someone whom he truly loves and loves him back-is impossible. With the help of a few trusted people he just might find his way back.

I dunno, I’ve always had a problem with the Beauty and the Beast myth. Sure, sure, the beast isn’t always a complete jerk but in this case he was and it was really hard to like him for at least half of the book.  I ached for his lonliness tho and eventually enjoyed watching his transformation. I just had a hard time disengaging and just letting things go. It is a quick read and is supplemented with an online support chat group with fairy tale characters we will all recognize. I guess I’m going to have to stick with being on the fence with this one. And really, why isn’t the beast ever a girl? Why isn’t there ever a man that falls in love with a woman, despite her appearance? 2007, 304 pages.

 

Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett

I like to laugh. I like to laugh a lot, so it is surprising to me that I have never picked up a Terry Pratchett book. In fact, my father reprimanded me-his personal librarian-for not tuning him into Pratchett earlier in his reading career. What can I say?

So, I chose Pratchett on purpose as required reading for the Fantasy RA class I teach to the staff. I thought it would be a different read for all of us. I was right.

Carpe Jugulum is the twenty-third title in the Discworld series and revolves around a friendly king who just wants everyone to get along. Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm to be accepting he invites a few vampyres (the new hip spelling) to his kingdom. Major chaos ensues and the famed witches of Discworld are left to save the day.

Pratchett is best with humor that packs a punch. Nothing is sacred as he weaves myth, religion, political correctness into his web of ponderables. In fact, one of the folks attending the class brought a  thirty page list of different references he used in this one book alone.  The books are fast paced and full of memorable characters. The book easily stands alone, but you cannot help but wonder what background you might be missing.  1998, 378 pages.                                                                                                                                                                                

 

The Shape-Changer’s Wife by Sharon Shinn

Aubrey was a student of the fine art of wizardry who traveled in serach of the greatest master of all, the gifted shape-changer Glyrenden. But there was one discovery he never expected, a mystery he risked everything to solve. Her name was Lilith. Who was this woman with startling eyes and no emotions?

A fairly quick pace unlike a typical fantasy. There is not a lot of detail of setting to slow the pace down. Characters are key to the book-the plot is secondary. The focus of the storyline is on the people in the story and what happens in their lives. Interior and psychological.

Author lives in St. Louis. Book won the William Crawford Award for achievement in Fantasy and the Best first novel of the year award by Locus. 1995, 215 pages.

 

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

First in the Sevenwaters Trilogy, this novel is a re-telling of the six swans fairy tale.  Sorcha is the seventh daughter after six brothers.  Their mother is dead and their father distant.  When their father marries an evil woman who has bewitched him, the brothers are turned into swans and it is up to Sorcha to set them free.

A great quest, and lyrical writing, wonderful character development, and a contemplative look at the struggle between old ways and new ways makes this book a rich read.   2000. 400 pages