The Time of Madness by Thomas K. Martin

Title:  The Time of Madness
Author:  Thomas K. Martin
Pages:  244
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  ACE, 1998
Series:  MageLord, Book 2

Synopsis:  The Magelord is defeated; the dragon is dead. But a new evil is alive in the land. The king is crippled by his fear of the Power, and his First Knight, Mathen, delights in hunting down and destroying all those who possess that which is forbidden. All fall victim to Mathen's unreasoning wrath. But a young noble named Ian risks all to forge a route of escape for those in danger--and on his perilous journey, discovers the Power within himself.

Review:  This book was even better than the last one!  I had more reading time this week and finished it in just two days.  I'm going to start the third (and last) book in this series tomorrow.  I hope it's going to be as exciting as this one was.

Most of the same characters from the last book make a reappearance in this one.  Two of the new ones are worth mentioning.  Ian is a young man with courage and honor and a kind heart.  Mathen, the priest, is exactly his opposite - full of hatred and violence.  They are both great characters.

The ending and epilogue promised more fun and excitement.  I just hope good wins in the end!

Rating:  8.5 / 10

The Awakening by Thomas K. Martin

Title:  The Awakening
Author:  Thomas K. Martin
Pages:  282
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  ACE, 1997
Series:  MageLord, Book 1

Synopsis:  Around the fires, in the cold of winter, the old tales of the Time of Madness are still told...

Tales of the MageLords, sorcerers near godlike in their power, who looked upon ordinary men with contempt.  Who fought great battles among themselves, violent conflicts that nearly destroyed the world.  Who have not been seen in the land of Reykvid for thousands of years, but who are still feared and hated.

But now, it is time for a new tale...

A tale of a prince named Gavin, who fears he has set a horror loose upon the kingdom he loves.  A tale of a hunter named Bjorn, who carries within himself a part of the forbidden power.  A tale of one who calls himself Valerian, who may be a nightmare come to life.

Listen:  it begins...

Review:  I didn't have a great deal of time for reading last week.  This book is really quite good and a fast read.  I've already started book two and am hopeful the series continues to be entertaining.

The very end of this story picked me up and drug me along.  I couldn't put this book down for the last 20 or 30 pages.  It was an original tale, told in the sword and sorcery style I love so much.  Hopefully, this week, I'll have more time to devote to reading.

Rating:  7.5 / 10

The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer

Title:  The Tenth Justice
Author:  Brad Meltzer
Pages:  543
Genre:  Thriller / Mystery
Publisher:  Harper, 2009
Series:  Stand Alone

Synopsis:  Landing a prestigious position as a Supreme Court clerk fresh out of Yale Law, Ben Addison is on the ultra-fast track to success—until he inadvertently shares a classified secret with the wrong listener. And now the anonymous blackmailer who made a killing with Ben's information is demanding more. Guilty of a criminal act, his golden future suddenly in jeopardy, Ben turns for help to his roommates—three close friends from childhood, each strategically placed near the seats of Washington power—and to his beautiful, whip-smart fellow clerk, Lisa Schulman. But trust is a dangerous commodity in the nation's capital. And when lives, careers, and power are at stake, loyalties can shatter like glass . . . and betrayals can be lethal.

Review:  This book was exciting.  It was also laugh-out-loud funny in places.  The characters are really wonderful.  I've been wanting to read this book, but I didn't have a copy.  Thankfully, I was lent this copy right after Christmas and I knew it'd be my first read of 2017.  It's been on my 'I Really Want To Read This Book' list for far too long!

It was a great first choice!  It was fast paced, impossible to put down, and just plain good.  Best of all?  I had no idea whodunit until the bitter end.  I completely loved it.

Rating:  10 / 10

2016 Wrap-Up

Yes, I know, there are still a few days left in 2016, but I'm taking a reading break until the first of the year.  I've had a string of books that just weren't easy to read (or easy to enjoy in some cases) and I'm ready for a little vacation.

I've already got my first book for 2017 picked out and I'm ready to begin fresh.

My favorite book of the year was nearly impossible to pick.  So, I picked two....for two completely different reasons.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen opened my eyes to the fact that the world and our country are not safe.  As I said in my original review, this book should be required reading.  It's just that important.

The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke was probably the most enchanting and wonderful book I've ever read of any genre.  The fact that it was science fiction just made it that much better.  Mr. Clarke taught me what science fiction is supposed to be like.

I had a fabulous year.  I read more books than I've read since 2011.  I finished 22 reading challenges.  I *almost* finished the remaining two.  I've broken through my 'readers block' into a new love and passion for reading.  I'm so grateful and will mark this year as the year I made it out of the dark times and back into really living again.

The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker

Title:  The Great and Secret Show
Author:  Clive Barker
Pages:  550
Genre:  Horror / Fantasy
Publisher:  Harper & Row, 1989
Series:  Book of the Art, Book 1

Synopsis: Clive Barker's bestseller Weaveworld astonished worldwide readers with his visionary range, firmly establishing him as the reigning master of fabulist literature. Now, with The Great and Secret Show he rises to awesome new heights.  Fantasy, horror story, love fable -- in this one unforgettable epic, Clive Barker wields the full power and sweep of his extraordinary talents. "Succinctly put," says Barker, "it's about Hollywood, sex, and Armageddon."

Memory, prophecy and fantasy, the past, the future, and the dreaming moment between are all one country living one immortal day To know that is Wisdom. To use it is the Art.

Armageddon begins with a murder in the Dead Letter Office in Omaha, Nebraska.

A lake that has never existed falls from the clouds over Palomo Grove, California.

Young passion blossoms, as the world withers with war.

The Great and Secret Show has begun on the stage of the world.

And soon, the final curtain must fall.

Review:  This was the longest 550 pages of my life.  The story was good and sometimes even great.  It had scares and thrills and dark fantasy.  It should have breezed by.  However, I've sadly discovered that very little by Clive Barker breezes by.  His writing is so convoluted and goes into so much description, that I find myself reading and re-reading (and re-reading) passages over and over to make sure I understand what I just read.  It's frustrating and exhausting.

I have another book from this series, but the second one isn't a sequel to the first from what I understand.  It's just another story about The Art.  I can't take another story like this one, so I'm removing that book from my shelf.

I've also got two other very long novels by this same author.  I'm afraid they are coming off my shelf, too.  I just can't bear another two-week-long book that seems more like a work-out than enjoyment.

I love long books.  I'm an avid reader and I hate when books end.  But, somehow, this author always leaves me relieved that the book is done and the hard work over.  The only exception to this rule was Weaveworld, which I adored.  So, I'm finally giving up on his novels.  They just aren't for me.


Rating:  4.5 / 10

War of the Black Curtain by James Dashner

Title:  War of the Black Curtain
Author:  James Dashner
Pages:  285
Genre:  Juvenile Fantasy Fiction
Publisher:  Sweetwater Books, 2012
Series:  Jimmy Fincher Saga, Book 4

Synopsis:  The Black Curtain has ripped open, massive and dark.

The Stompers swarm all through it, elusive and frightening.  The Black Coma consumes the people of the Earth.  The Shadow Ka rule the lands with a mighty vengeance.

Jimmy Fincher is the only one who can save it.

To accomplish the impossible, he must solve the Riddle of the Red Disk.  He must find the Dream Warden and receive the Fourth Gift.  He must go to a place where nightmares live - and face them alone.

But most important of all, Jimmy must face the shocking and terrible truth of what lies beneath his enemy's true nature.

The war has just begun.

Review:  Well, this ending surprised me.  It was happy in one way, but so sad in another.  I didn't expect it at all.  I probably should have seen it coming, but I just didn't.  It's a really great story with plenty of scares and excitement.  I just wish the ending wasn't quite so sad.

This book was just as good as the last one and I'm sorry the series is over.  I'd like to know what happened next.

Rating:  9 / 10

The Tower of Air by James Dashner

Title:  The Tower of Air
Author:  James Dashner
Pages:  280
Genre:  Juvenile Fantasy Fiction
Publisher:  Sweetwater Books, 2012
Series:  Jimmy Fincher Saga, Book 3

Synopsis:  Jimmy Fincher has been given two powerful gifts and with them a responsibility he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.  Time is running out and Jimmy, along with his family and the Alliance, finds himself in a desperate search for the Third Gift.  Their journey will take them from the depths of the ocean to the scorching sands of the desert.

The entire world is on the edge of chaos.  The Shadow Ka are evolving.  The skies are growning dark with the mysterious taint of the Stompers.  The Black Curtain is ripping once again.  And the most terrifying secret of all is about to be revealed at last -- the identity of the Stompers.

They are no longer coming.  They are here.

Review:  Well, this was a really great book!  It was exciting and funny and full of plain good storytelling.  I believe I liked this one even better than the first.  I'm so glad I continued this series.  I'm ready to start the final book tomorrow and I can't wait to find out what happens!

Jimmy Fincher, his family and his friends are wonderful characters, each completely original and believable.  And, I admit, this one was a little scary.  It was, even to me, and I do love a good scary story.

Rating:  9 / 10

Challenge Additions, Part 1.5

Monthly Keyword Reading Challenge
I just finished this one for 2016 and it kept me on my toes!  I'm back in, even though I'm pretty sure it'll mean doing some of the months out of order.....or getting some new books....or both!

Start of December Wrap-Up

This wrap-up runs from November 4 until today.  Well, I visited one new state and one new country this time around!  I'm still not reading like I was earlier in the year, but I'm doing fine.  I've finished three new challenges this month:  The Monthly Keyword Challenge, The Title Fight Challenge, and What's In A Name Challenge.  The rest should be finished when the year is done, with the exception of Mount TBR Challenge which I mistakenly upgraded back in June.  And, really, I finished my original goal.....so I'm not being too hard on myself about it.

My favorite book this month was a non-fiction.  I read so few of this genre that I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book!  Haunted Heart was really, really good!