Blackveil, by Kristen Britain

Karigan G'ladheon is a Green Rider—a seasoned member of the elite messenger corps of King Zachary of Sacoridia. But Karigan is no ordinary Rider, for she was able to transport the evil spirit of Mornhavon into the future, though no one knows how far he has been sent. During this window of relative safety, King Zachary decides to send Karigan and a small contingent of scouts, accompanied by a small group of Eletians—a magical race who once lived in the lands now tainted by Mornhavon's magic—into Blackveil Forest.

Though Mornhavon is gone, the forest is still a treacherous place filled with monstrous creatures and deadly traps. And unbeknownst to the band of Eletians and Sacoridians, another small group has entered the forest—Arcosian descendants who have kept Mornhavon's dark magic alive in secret for centuries, and who now plan to avenge their long ago defeat by bringing Sacoridia to its knees. Blackveil is the fourth novel of the acclaimed Green Rider series.

Reviewed by Emily, First Regional Library

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The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

How could I encapsulate The Princess Bride better than S. Morgenstern himself:

"Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

If you loved the movie, then you will giggle, snicker, and laugh out loud at the book.  (Even if the snobby, selfish, teenage Buttercup gets on your nerves, like she did mine in the beginning of the book.)  :-)

Read it. Watch it. It's "Tr...oooo...luv..."

Laughing,
Amy

Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson

So you think you have had a bad day?

Crown Prince Raoden woke this morning in his comfortable bed and stretched luxuriously before getting up.  He rang the bell for the servants and as he was rather hungry this morning, he waited impatiently for breakfast to arrive.

However, when breakfast did arrive, it came with a servant who screamed and fled at the sight of him. Hours later, his family had pronounced him dead and he had been imprisoned in the crumbling city of Elantris.

His crime?

He had gone through the transforming power of the Shaod.  Ten years ago, before the magic failed, this would have made him akin to a god.  Now, he's an undying wretch who can feel pain but not heal, whose only future is madness.

Can he make life better for a city of hopeless scavengers and brutal predators? If so, will it make a difference in a country on the brink of war?

--

Elantris is that rare one volume fantasy book that doesn't recycle the old cliches of quest, sword fighting, etc.  And while above I only mentioned Raoden, there are several more characters such as the feisty Sarene, and dedicated Hrathen that have their own struggles and stories to tell in this fascinating tale.

Cheers,
Amy

Dragonsong, by Anne McCaffrey

This book is set in a Fantasy world with fire lizards and dragons as a young girl (Menolly of Half Circle Hold) comes of age and recognizes her goals in life. She then becomes the first female Harper and follows her dreams.

Menolly tries to keep an upbeat attitude in a menacing atmosphere from the dreaded Thread attacking her people and from desiring a position as a Harper which previously has only been held by males.

An enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Randie, First Regional Library

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***

The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett

This is the first novel of the Discworld series. The novel is more of a an introduction to this make believe world and its many inhabitants rather than a plot driven story. Because the novel describes an entire planet and its very diverse population, there is a list of characters and terms included with this initial book.

That said, as I read on, I came to the conclusion that every character and situation could exist in my world and the only difference was the terminology. Discworld produces the new language of Suess like English. The book even has a crossword puzzle covering this first entry.

Discworld is a flat planet that sits on top of 4 elephants situated on a giant turtle that swims thru space. There is no measure of time or distance. Rincewind, a cowardly wizard and college dropout, is selected to act as guide and guard to the four-eyed tourist Twoflower, who has come to the high spirited metropolis of Ankh-Morpork to see the sights. The problem, the city is on fire and burning to the ground and Rincewind and Twoflower must flee for their own safety. They experience one crazy situation after another.....robbers, magic spells, games, dragons and a shipwreck at the edge of Discworld.

This first book has no solid ending, but readers can enjoy over a dozen more trips into this world.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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***

Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called is fast paced, suspenseful, adult fantasy fiction set in the Pacific Northwest. The main character, Mercy is tough and capable but smart enough to know her own limitations. Mercy is Native American and a skinwalker. She can transform into a coyote, and was raised by a pack of wolves. In this book, werewolves, vampires, witches and other supernaturals live secretly among the humans.

Mercy is an owner of an auto repair shop. She hires a young man, who shows up on her doorstep, knowing that he was a wolf but not from the local clan. The young man is a new wolf and he has been experimented on. The local alpha wolf is attacked and his daughter kidnapped. Mercy takes the local alpha to the wolf clan that raised her. They set out to find the kidnapped girl, the people behind the attack on the alpha, and the ones who are experimenting on the new wolves.

To me, there were too many characters and I would have to reread sections to understand what was happening and to keep the characters straight. Also , there was too much dialogue on the clan policies.

Reviewed by Stephanie, First Regional Library

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***

Book Trailer: Sea Change, by S.M. Wheeler

A powerfully written debut from a young fantasy author, Sea Change is an exhilarating tale of adventure, resilience, and selflessness in the name of friendship. In this dark fairy tale, Lilly must quest, change, and sacrifice to rescue her friend, the kraken Octavius.

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***

The Hunchback Assignments, by Arthur Slade

Very engrossing book with with a main character that tugs on your heartstrings. While designed for juvenile readers, the story is deep and thrilling enough for adults to enjoy.

Modo and Octavia were both characters you could empathize with and want to know better. However, I really wanted to dropkick Modo's guardian for his absolute lack of anything resembling parenting skills. He raised an operative at the expense of Modo's self-esteem.

Steampunk, secret societies, spies, a mad scientist, the royal family, and a disaster that could wreck England's government. What more could you ask for in a book?

Reviewed by Amy Poe, First Regional Library

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A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, by George R R Martin

The Stark family of Winterfell faces the challenges of generations of year long winters.  In this wintery land, there are seven regions.  Each region has its own self proclaimed King, who wants to become the King of all and sit on the Iron Throne.  The Stark family faces plots from their rivals, the Lannisters, along with challenges of the Neverborn demons and the arrival of barbarian hordes.

This is the first volume of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy saga and combines romance, action, fantasy and mystery.

Reading the thick book this graphic novel was based on, would have intimated me.  By reading this book in this format, it helped me to understand the storyline and I just loved all the graphic pictures. 

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Beastly, by Alex Flinn

Modern Fairy Tale

 "Beastly" is a modern day version of the classic fairy tale "Beauty and The Beast". It is a very fast paced story told by the beast Kyle Kingsbury. He was a very popular student at his high school, the kind that drew a crowd.. On the outside Kyle was handsome, but on the inside he was cruel, so cruel in fact that he publicly humiliated Kendra, a girl completely opposite of himself.

 That night his fate was sealed.

Kyle was transformed into a hideous beast, hidden away by his father from everything he valued because of his looks. Kyle has two years to find true love or he will remain a beast forever. It is a witty book, the chat rooms Kyle goes to are funny, they are run by Chris Anderson and the characters Kyle meets there are very memorable.

The book is listed as a young adult and could be enjoyed by both girls (of course) and boys, because it is being told from Kyle's point of view. I enjoyed this book and have recommend it to several people.

 Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library.

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Wicked, by Gregory Maguire

The Wicked Witch

This story is based on the L. Frank Baum stories about the Wizard of Oz, Land of Oz, and all the various characters therein. It is a sort of prequel, that being how the Wicked Witch of the West got to be so "wicked," and what some of the other characters, most notably Glinda, the Witch of the North, were really like. 

As a stand-alone work, this book is well written and very detailed and complex. It is not, however, meant for children. It has graphic references to both substance abuse and bestiality, as well as a lot of pettiness, politics, and other human failings perpetrated on the citizens of Oz, similar to those found in our own culture.

 The characters, over and above those from the more familiar stories, areas well developed as they are shocking. I would not recommend this book to anyone who had enjoyed the original stories as children, nor to anyone who loved the movie starring Judy Garland. It is not a pleasant book. It is, however, an interesting concept, for anyone with a "Dark Shadows" (long-running vampire soap-opera) frame of mind.

 Reviewed by Miriam, First Regional Library

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Dead is a State of Mind, by Marlene Perez

Book 2 of Nightshade

Return to Nightshade, CA where the supernatural is daily life and the Giordano sisters solve the mystery of the death of a teacher. There is also a new guy in school, Duke Sherrad (a fortune-telling gypsy), who is causing problems between Daisy and and her boyfriend, Ryan. Read the book to find out who is dating a ghost and who is a werewolf.

This is a breezy, light read and fun for a summer afternoon.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Legacies, by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Journey of Self-Discovery and Magic

Go on a journey of self-discovery and magic with Spirit White. After the death of her family, Spirit is sent to Oakhurst Academy (school/orphange). Once at Oakhurst, Spirit discovers she has a legacy of magic, and one day she will be a magician. Spirit makes friends with Burke, Lachlan, Muirin, and Adelaide at Oakhurst.

When students start disappearing from Oakhurst, Spirit and her friends start to investigate because they believe the administration is trying to cover it up.

This is the first Young Adult book by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill. If you ejoyed P.C. Cast series House of Night, you will also enjoy this first book in the Shadow Grail series. This book was a gripping and riveting read.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Guilty Pleasures, by Laurell K. Hamilton (Graphic Novel)

Anita Blake Series

This urban fantasy/horror series has been adapted into graphic novels, beginning with the first book in the series Guilty Pleasures. Volume One features Anita Blake, vampire huntress and animator of the dead. Anita has been called on by the Master Vampire of St. Louis to find out who or what has been killing vampires in the city. Anita does not want to take this job, but the Master makes her an offer Anita cannot refuse without her best friend being killed.

The art work and storyline are easy to follow for someone who has not read the novels, and it may convert new fans for the Anita Blake series. The adaptation for issues 1-5 is Stacie Ritchie and issue 6 is Jess Ruffner-Booth, and the artwork is by Brett Booth.

Reviewed by Dena Sanford, Senatobia Public Library

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The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

Pirates and Princesses

How can you get a better story about true love than this? A farm boy, Wesley, leaves his beloved Buttercup to make his way into the world. It has been 5 years and Buttercup has heard he was killed by pirates. She agrees to marry Prince Humperdinck and is kidnapped shortly after thereafter. She is rescued by a pirate and what Buttercup and the pirate go thru to survive being attacked and hunted by the Prince’s men is hilarious.

They meet some unlikely characters who help them along the way. A giant who hates violence, and a swordsman who has a story of his own about revenging the death of his father.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Dark Tower Series

The Gunslinger is an entertaining journey into a world based in an old time western setting of gunslingers and saloons, and develops in a fantasy world far different than our own. Roland of Gilead - the Gunslinger becomes friends with a young boy named Jake who travels with him on his quest to find the Man in Black. Roland’s chase winds through the parallel universe of magic, demons and oracles. In this book, Stephen King blends Clint Eastwood Western films with The Lord of the Rings. This remarkable story is the introduction into the Dark Tower Series.

1. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982)
2. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
3. The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
4. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
5. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
6. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
7. The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004)

Reviewed by Jacqueline K. McMahon, M.R. Davis Public Library

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The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

A mouse, a princess, some soup…

This is a very sweet tale of a little mouse with big ears and a big heart. Life has been hard in the city since the King’s wife died and the cooks are not allowed to make soup. The story tells how Despereaux saves Princess Pea, brings together Miggery Sow and her father, and teaches his family to overcome fear.


Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

Greek Mythology Live

Want to hear about Percy's exciting summer? It starts out with an attack by monsters out of Greek mythology, leads into him finding out he's only half human, and unfortunately for Percy, that's only the beginning.

Soon he's given a QUEST, just like the heroes of old, to retrieve an artifact. Easy, right? Think again. The artifact is in the underworld, he's lucky enough to have more than one Greek god angry with him, and, joy of joys, the Oracle has prophesied dire things about the outcome of his quest. So, what's a boy to do but... go charging in head first?

A fun rollicking read with an upbeat voice and enough twists and turns to keep everyone happy. Recently made into a motion picture and also only the first in a great series. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Amy Poe, First Regional Library

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Dead is the New Black, by Marlene Perez

Book 1: Nightshade Series

Daisy is the only one in the Giordano family who has no psychic powers. Daisy is feeling left out of her family, because she is the only normal in the family. Mrs. Giordano works with the Police Chief to solve murders. Teenage girls are being attacked in Nightshade. Daisy decides to help her mother solve the murders by investigating with the police chef’s son, whom she has a crush on.

Daisy decides to investigate Samantha Devereaux, a cheerleader. Samantha comes back from vacation with pale skin and a new wardrobe in black. Follow Daisy as she joins the cheerleaders to keep an eye on Samantha. Read the book to find out who is killing all the girls.

Reviewed by Emily Oliver, Hernando Public Library

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Enemies and Allies, by Kevin J. Anderson

Dark Knight meets Man of Steel

Enemies and Allies, by Kevin J. Anderson

Have you ever wondered how Batman and Superman met? I rather imagined a rocky beginning since Batman is the quintessential brooding hero who lurks in the darkness and sees the gray areas of life, while Superman is the happy farmboy with noble intentions and a tendency to see everything as either good or evil.

Enemies & Allies shows our heroes meeting on what they perceive to be opposite sides. Superman believes our Dark Knight is a criminal and Batman believes the Man of Steel is a genetics project cooked up by Lex Luthor.

Throw in a threat of nuclear war, invading aliens, and corporate take-overs and you get a day in the life of our heroes who are destined to end up either enemies or allies.

Reviewed by Amy Poe, First Regional Library

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