The Golden Compass His Dark Materials #1

2018-09-14

I’ve read The Golden Compass before, but it’s been a few years. On top of that, this time around, I listened to it as an audiobook (the full cast reading, I’m not sure if there is another). I have fond memories of this book and for the most part, they were met on re-read, which is something you don’t always get.

The core of the book is a world where people’s spirits / souls / conscious exists as a separate being, a daemon who takes the form of an animal companion –changing and mutable at first and eventually settling into a single form for adults that represents the core of who they are. It’s an interesting idea and well done, to the point that it feels natural, to the point that I almost wish I could live in this world, just to see who my daemon might be.

A Memory of Light The Wheel of Time #14

2018-09-11

There are no endings, and never will be endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was an ending.

And oh what an ending it was.

The Ghost Brigades Old Man's War #2

2018-09-08

After I read Old Man's War, I went looking for the sequels. While on paper The Ghost Brigades is the second in the series, it’s surprisingly different.

We get a lot more of a look into the CDF and specifically Special Forces, which was something that was interesting from the first book.

Towers of Midnight The Wheel of Time #13

2018-09-04

Towers of Midnight continues the final avalanche to the Last Battle, with Lan continuing to gathering followers, the Black Tower continuing to grow more and more corrupt, Perrin confronting the Whitecloaks (it’s about time that storyline wraps up), and the newly healed Rand causing even more chaos than before.

Many people, when asked what they notice most about the change from Jordan’s writing to Sanderson’s mention that Mat is different. Honestly, I didn’t really notice it. I like Mat–Mat in all his guises. Poisoned by the dagger. Helping his friends no matter what. Son of Battle, Prince of the Ravens. He’s one of my favorite characters. If he feels different under Sanderson, it almost feels like growing up. After all:

The Gathering Storm The Wheel of Time #12

2018-08-30

“The end is near," Moridin said. “The Wheel has groaned its final rotation, the clock has lost its spring, the serpent heaves its final gasps.”

Wow.

Old Man's War Old Man's War #1

2018-08-23

I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the army.

Fascinating.

The Golem's Eye Bartimaeus #2

2018-08-23

To as large extent, The Golem's Eye continues where The Amulet of Samarkand left off. Nathaniel is a rising star, now climbing the ranks of government and Bartimaeus is just as snarky as ever. We get quite a bit more (including POV time) from Kitty and her friends, showing that it’s not all fun and games in this particular echo of London.

On one hand, it’s interesting that Nathaniel grew up so quickly and is in government now. To go with the inevitable comparisons to Harry Potter the first book raised, it’s as if we’d skipped right by books 2-7 and went straight to Harry’s training as an Auror. I actually really appreciate that; it’s something new. EVen if it does strain credulity somewhat. He’s 14 for crying out loud…

Knife of Dreams The Wheel of Time #11

2018-08-22

Lan told me once that Malkier lives so long as one man wears the hadori in pledge that he will fight the Shadow, so long as one woman wears the ki’sain in pledge that she will send her sons to fight the Shadow. I wear the ki’sain, Master Aldragoran. My husband wears the hadori. So do you. Will Lan Mandragoran ride to the Last Battle alone?

The Knife of Dreams, in which things begin moving again as the world begins the march to the Last Battle.

Crossroads of Twilight The Wheel of Time #10

2018-08-16

Life is a dream, and everyone wakes eventually.

Elayne continuing to solidify her hold in Caemlyn, all while being pregnant. Okay then.

Winter's Heart The Wheel of Time #9

2018-08-09

A man who trusts everyone is a fool and a man who trusts no one is a fool. We are all fools if we live long enough.

In my opinion, entirely too much of Winter's Heart if taken up by Perrin attempting to rescue Faile and Elayne solidifying her grip on the Lion Throne. Either is an interesting enough plot line to carry for a little while, but they just go on and on… I don’t think I’d mind if either was shortened significantly or even dropped entirely if/when the Wheel of Time goes to TV.