THE SIX SACRED STONES

The Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly
Book 2 of the Jack West Jr. series

About This Book:

The End Of The World Is Here
Unlocking the secret of the 'Seven Ancient Wonders' was only the beginning. The world is in mortal danger.

SIX FABLED STONES
For Jack West Jr and his loyal team of heroes, the challenge now is to set six legendary diamonds known as 'the Pillars' in place at six ancient sites around the world before the deadline for global destruction arrives. The locations of these sites, however, can only be releaved by the fabled Six Sacred Stones.

AN EPIC MISSION
With only the riddles of ancient writers to guide them, and time rapidly running out, Jack and his team must fight their way past traps, labyrinths and a host of deadly enemies - knowing that this time they cannont, will not, must not fail.

Genre: fantasy modern action adventure

My Take On This Book:
My favourite "part" in the story is the depiction of Lao's "duality" theory and the notion of "balance". In everything good there is darkness. And in all evil, there is light. The duality of all things. Whether that is true or not, I would like to think that it is.

The story itself? 4.5 out of 5. It is obviously a fantasy by the mere fact that the story talks of a Tartarus power. Fantasy. But the way Reilly weaves fantasy with known archeological facts, makes the borderline between fiction and fact blur. Such that the fantasy Reilly weaves seems so real. "Suspension of disbelief"? 5 out of 5.

Openning salvo has the protagonist and team running for their very lives from a military invasion complete with assault helicopters, tanks and jet fighters! And then it's non-stop action from there. First chapter and the book had me feeling like I'm short of breath trying to catch-up with events. And that pace keep up until the very end. Story-telling quality? 4.5 out of 5. Cover art? I don't know which to consider really, since different countries have their own different cover arts... The copy I've read is a US cover. The symbolism is quite appropriate to the story but not very attractive to my fantasy buff eyes. 3 out of 5.

The story has a cliffhanger ending. Normally I hate cliffhanger endings with a passion. And this is the only reason this book is not a 5 cherries. But still the ending manages to close the dilemma presented in the story and thus climaxed the book well.

Overall, I would say that this book has an entertainment value of 4.5 out of 5. Definitely a recommended read! Though being Book 2 in the Jack West Jr. series, it is highly recommended that you read book 1 first for a reader to understand what is going on. My review of book 1, Seven Ancient Wonders, is here.

Cherry’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


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Acknowledgements:
This book was given to me for free by the publisher for review purposes.

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BOOK PROMOTION: BROUGHT TO LIFE

Brought To Life by Dara England

Genre: paranormal romance

About This Book:

Megan Hurst's life has taken some unexpected turns: First she loses her heart to the dashing hero of a novel. And then she meets an amnesia victim who seems just like him.

The mysterious stranger needs her help to piece his past together, and the closer the two become, the more questions arise about his resemblance to a "fictional" character.

Megan's romantic feelings and her bizarre suspicions bring her to an impossible question... Has she dreamed the Duke to life?

Source: Info in the About This Book was taken from the author's website at http://daraenglandauthor.com/books.html on 09/03/10.

Buy Link:
Buy this book from Lyrical Press.

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STORM BORN

Storm Born by Richelle Mead

Genre: urban fantasy, chicklit

Caption At The Back Cover:

Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every horny creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants.

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl’s got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy – one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie’s first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldly ne’er-do-well, and the ones who don’t want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her…

My Take On This Book:
This book was recommended to me by a fellow shelf browser at Waterstones bookstore when I went on a retail therapy a few weeks back. It came very highly recommended so I bought it. Talk about gullible!

The story itself is not very original. If I have to give it a score, it’ll be a 1 out of 5. It smacks too much like a female Harry Dresden by Jim Butcher. Or, the same tattooed protagonist in Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs. Or Kate Daniels in the Magic series by Ilona Andrews, ring any bells? Cassandra Palmer? I could go on and on. So… originality? Hardly. But what makes me buy Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews again and again even if they are not very original either? It’s the masterpiece story-telling quality! However this book’s story-telling quality is only about a 2 out of 5. Not very compelling at all. Plus the protagonist is just a shade this side of stupid.

About one third into the book and I just know who our protagonist’s father is. And guess what, I was right. It sort of deflates the suspense effect when one finds out one is right about the story.

The cover art is not bad. I would give it a 4 out of 5. The lightning and the wand appeals to the fantasy buff in me.

So, what have we got? A not very compelling story-telling quality, a story which is not very original at all and predictable to boot but good cover. Overall, I would give this book an entertainment value of 2 out of 5. Would I read another Richelle Mead? I would like to say no, but I already have a few of her books. But if ever I would read a Richelle Mead which I don't already own at this point in time, I’d borrow from the library than buy it.
Cherry’s Rating: 2 out of 5 cherries


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PURPLE LOVE

Do you think we are having a bit of a purple love lately with the book cover art department?

Is it becoming a 2010 thing? Is this an emerging trend?
What do you think?

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THE FRIDAY 56 : CHARMED ANTHOLOGY

Closest book: Charmed Anthology by Jayne Ann Krentz, et al.
P56, 5th sentence: (The fifth sentence is only the one in bold letters. But it is too skimpy to post only four letters so I decided to post the entire paragraph.)

He picked up his shirt and got to his feet. Anger washed through him. He was furious with himself. The loss of control had been inexcusable. He could only pray that he had not hurt her.

I have to admit it is quite tantalizing, those lines. Keeping in mind that this is a paranormal romance by Jayne Ann Krentz. Where our protagonists got married and no one died :)

Happy Friday!!!

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
*Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

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THE GIFT

The Gift by Alison Croggon
Book 1 of the Pellinor series

Genre: epic fantasy

About This Book:
The Gift, otherwise published as The Naming:

In the classic spirit of epic fantasy comes this glittering saga of a young girl who learns she possesses an uncanny gift—and is destined to use it to save her world from a terrifying evil.

Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She doesn’t yet know she has inherited a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the noble School of Pellinor and enables her to see the world as no other can. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true identity and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now, she and her mysterious teacher must embark on a treacherous, uncertain journey through a time and place where the forces of darkness wield an otherworldly terror.

The first book in a projected quartet, Alison Croggon’s epic about Maerad and her remarkable yet dangerous gift is a beautiful, unforgettable tale. Presented as a new translation of an ancient text, The Naming evokes the rich and complex landscape of Annar, a legendary world just waiting to be discovered.

Source: Info in the About This Book was taken from the series's website at http://booksofpellinor.com/pellinor/index.html on 04/03/2010.

My Take On This Book:
The Pelinor series was originally published as a trilogy. Then by the end of the third book, titled The Crow, the story has no ending! I was fit to be tied!! I was so mad!! What kind of story gets published without an ending?!! Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time obviously (that's not a compliment). It was a few years after The Crow was released, before the last book, titled The Singing, that the end the story was published. The fourth book in a trilogy! By then I have forgotten what went on in the first three books. And that took a lot of the pleasure in my journey with Maerad and Cadvan... which is a pitty! Because the story-telling quality is one of those rarely compelling ones where the author totally takes you away to another world! I could feel the wind on my face, the tiredness in Maerad's bones, the joy in the bards' song... simply, a 5 out of 5.

Cherry's Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


If you have a review of this book and/or series, you can link your review with us by entering it in the MrLinky below and enable readers to have access to different point of views.

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MAGYK

Magyk by Angie Sage
Book 1 of the Septimus Heap series

Caption At The Back Cover:

Evil necromancer DomDaniel is plotting his comeback. Having 'executed' the most daringly ruthless part of his plan, one obstacle remains. But this obstacle, although small, is proving to be a challenge, and DomDaniel is not fond of challenges he hasn't created personally. They tend not to live for long... unless, that is, they happen to be a member of the Heap family.

Let the Magyk, Mayhem and incredible chase begin in this spellbinding adventure filled with cunning, deception and wonderful characters.

Genre: Children's Fantasy.

My Take On This Book:
'Kiddie book' which is a reading pleasure for adults as well.

If you are looking for something "academically correct masterpiece", this is probably not your book. But if you are looking for a good read just for the heck of enjoying one, you might just want to pick this one up.

This is the first book of the Septimus Heap series. Tells about the story of the poor but magical Heap family in a kingdom beside a forest. Septimus was stolen at birth by the midwife but the midwife's baby boy was mistakenly taken by the evil sorcerer instead of Septimus. 11 years later Septimus found his family again but its not a happy ever after but a struggle against evil. Of course the story was not as straightforward as that. It has twists and turns that makes this book an enjoyable read on a lazy Sunday morning.

Cherry's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


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