Book Review: And Blue Skies From Pain by Stina Leicht

And Blue Skies From Pain by Stina Leicht

Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 2

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“And Blue Skies from Pain,” is the second book in the The Fey and the Fallen, series. This book started off right where book 1 left off, though it includes an intriguing prologue featuring Father Murray ( Making me wish she would write a prequel with Father Murray as the main character).

Stina Leicht continues to excel with her well researched history and attention to details of the time period. Immersing the reader in the troubled times of 1977 Ireland. Leicht's use of an Irish brogue is seamlessly interwoven with the book's prose, giving a lilt of rhythm to the dialogue that flows effortlessly. 

This sequel pushes more into the fantasy as the first book, though unexpectedly the author has focused more on spirits than the Fae. For me this was the one downside to the book.
Still a fascinating read and well worth the time.

I highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism and dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. If you have interest in the turbulent era of the 70's and want a glimpse into the life of that time in Ireland this book really good at pulling the reader into the struggles of that time and place.

Warnings, this is dark, and the brutality is real, most of the brutality is of the historical human kind.

Awards:
Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2013 

Details:
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 2
Published March 1st 2012 by Night Shade Book

Links:
Stina Leicht

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Book Review: Of Blood and Honey

Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht

Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story, it is a full of realism and a wonderful blend of historical fiction, and urban fantasy. The fantastical is a backdrop to the story, more in the vein of magical realism than typical paranormal or Urban fantasy's, but still essential to the story. But the main strength of the book is the characters. 


Of Blood and Honey, is a phenomenal debut novel by author Stina Leicht with real characters, fantastic pacing and a great story. The book has an early urban fantasy feel, yet it is edgy, dark and brutal. Where this book differs from many newer gritty and dark fantasies, is the well researched historical aspects of the book, Ireland in the 1970's is what sets the brutality if the book. Like its own antagonist the story of the clash between the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the British Army (BA) is the backdrop of the story, weaving the atrocities, struggles and battles that took place in the streets and lives of the people throughout the book.  

This is a book of struggles. The typical fantasy trope of good vs evil, is brilliantly entwined by Leicht with the struggles of a young man as he tries to find out who and what he is, the horrific and brutal struggles in Ireland of the 1970's, mixed in with the age old battle of priests vs Fallen Angels and demons, along with the struggle between christianity and the pagan religions and the Fae.

Leicht continues to create a real feel to this story with the typical struggles of the characters as they struggle to stay alive in turbulent times. The main protagonist Liam and all of the side characters are wonderfully written. The people in this story are dark, complex, and feel very real. They are all well defined and actualized as they deal with the everyday troubles we all deal with family, love, marriage and tragedy. The protagonist Liam's struggle with life and his own darker impulses is tragic and heart-rending, there are moments in his life that are difficult to read.

The Troubles (1968-1994) is a fascinating and utterly tragic time period in Irish history. (Although, there isn't much in Irish history that can't be described as tragic.) . . . I guess you can say it's my way of finding a real situation that fits extreme good versus extreme evil. 

Stina Leicht, May 9, 2012

I highly recommend this book to fans of magical realism and dark, gritty Urban Fantasy. If you have interest in the turbulent era of the 70's and want a glimpse into the life of that time in Ireland this book really good at pulling the reader into the struggles of that time and place.

If you prefer the less realistic paranormal fantasy this may not be something you will enjoy.

Warnings, this is dark, and the brutality is real, most of the brutality is of the historical human kind and includes rape and torture. ( though written well without any glamorization or belittlement of the victims)

Awards:
Nominee: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2013 

Details:
Series: The Fey and the Fallen, book 1
Published February 1st 2011 by Night Shade Books

Links:
Stina Leicht

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Book Review: Working for Bigfoot

Working for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher

Series: The Dresden Files, Book 15.5

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great little collection of three Dresden Novellas with a themed timeline. I really enjoyed reading this without all the Fae politics and mess, of the later books. This is back to classic snarky Harry Dresden Wizard for hire!


Includes the Following Novellas

• B is for Bigfoot: 
• The Dresden Files, 2.5
• Takes place between Fool Moon and Grave Peril.
• Originally Published in the Anthology  Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron.

• I Was a Teenage Bigfoot: 
• The Dresden Files, 6.5 
• Takes place circa Dead Beat.
• Originally Published in the Anthology Blood Lite III: Aftertaste. 

• Bigfoot on Campus: 
• The Dresden Files, 11.7  
• Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.
• Originally Published in the Anthology Hex Appeal.

Details:
Series: The Dresden Files, Book 15.5
Published June 30th 2015 by Subterranean Press

Links:
Jim Butcher

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Mummy Brown and Other Historical Colors – Veritable Hokum

  Everything © Korwin Briggs

How did humanity discover how to make colors?

The quick answer is that we, even as cave-dwellers, ground up everything we could get our hands on. Comic creator of Veritable Hokum and historian Korwin Briggs recently assembled a chart that demonstrates the incredible millenniums-long process that resulted from that urge. Many of the paint colors that we take for granted today were actually difficult to come by for most of human history.

Often because the stuff we ground up to make colors was poisonous and kind of killed us!   - From Tor.com 

See the Infographic and read more:  

Mummy Brown and Other Historical Colors – Veritable Hokum:

JRR Tolkien: Interview from 1968

An interview with Tolkien, originally published in The Telegraph magazine on March 22. 1968.

For a fascinating look at the author behind the myth, and the discussion of his "epic fairy-tale", language, fairy-tales and the world of Middle Earth, in an era when fantasy wasn't fantasy yet.

What is also fascinating, is the language and skill of the article itself, this is before the media-zation of information. When writing was well written, and enjoyable to read in any medium.

 - Tolkien’s imaginary landscapes grew out of his predilection for creating languages. “Anyone who invents a language,” he said, “finds that it requires a suitable habitation and a history in which it can develop. A real language is never invented, of course. It is a natural thing. It is wrong to call the language you grow up speaking your native language. It is not. It is your first learnt language. It is a by-product of the total make-up of the animal.” Read the full article - telegraph.co.uk :

Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Narrated by Steven Crossley 

Series: A Darker Shade of Magic Book 1

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the Ford Audiobook Club. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I enjoyed this book, and the reader was excellent. The book reads more like a contemporary fiction book or magical realism, though this book is all Fantasy otherworld/hidden worlds Fantasy.

The author has presented the reader with a historical London setting, and combines it with unfamiliar parallel worlds, it is a fascinating, concept, I give Schwab credit, in the length of the novel, she has attempted to world build not just one, but four worlds at once. This may have resulted in an expansive, but less developed world building, that includes a bit of info dumping" or "stop and smell the roses moments", that pull the reader out of the action, and storyline.

Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic is a good, and different fantasy read, with interesting and engaging characters. This is a fantasy book, that is not all encompassing and has a medium learning curve.

Details:
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic Book 1
Published February 24th 2015 by Tor Books
Links:
V.E. Schwab


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Triggerfish Story Lab Announces Shortlisted Entrants (Wanuri Kahiu, Nnedi Okorafor, Judy Kibinge + Others)

Triggefish Animation Studios announced that its inaugural Triggerfish Story Lab (which aims to give continental Africa’s most talented storytellers and filmmakers the opportunity to develop their ideas alongside Triggerfish’s international network of mentors)
Triggerfish has revealed the 23 feature and 12 TV projects that have been shortlisted 23 for the inaugural Story Lab, upped from the initially planned 10 features and 10 TV series, thanks to the overwhelming number of quality submissions. ... Read full article on indiewire.com

The shortlisted feature film entries are:

The Big Wild (Ian Pugh)
Born Flea (Andrew Phillips)
Bru and Boegie (Mike Scott)
The Camel Racer (Wanuri Kahui and Nnedi Okorafor)
The Crash (Julia Smuts Louw)
Dropped (Ian Tucker)
Elliot’s Journey (Judy Kibinge)
Fish Out of Water (Matthys Boshoff and Carina Stander)
The Legend of the Rain Queen (Hanneke Schutte)
The Life Factory (Howard James Fyvie)
Lights (Kay Carmichael)
The Little Five (Alex Latimer)
The Loneliest Satellite (Charlie Human)
Make Believe Maya (Nimrod Geva)
The Makers (Sheldon Bengston)
Molly and the Quarks (Donovan Marsh)
Mumbo Jumbo Bambinos (Mbuso Thulani Shiburi)
Paris in Africa (Yolanda Makalaza)
Paradox City (Greig Cameron)
True Colours (Bernard Bruwer)
The Wild Waste (Naseem Hoosen)
Witches Way (Jenna Bass and Chinelo Unwualo)
Zahrah the Windseeker (Wanuri Kahui and Nnedi Okorafor)

The shortlisted TV series are:

Chicken Core (Shina Ajulo)
Folklore (Andile Ngcizela)
Gullivan’s Loft (Jenny Verwoerd and Stephen van Wyk)
Herbert Smelly Pants (Denzil Lewis)
KC’s Super 4 (Malenga Mulendema)
Matchbox Monsters (Sue-Mari L. Sauer)
Ninja Princess (Marc Dey)
Onion Boy (Sarah Scrimgeour)
Sam and Sbu (Lori Reardon and John Reardon)
Sophie the Giantslayer (Kay Carmichael)
Uncanny Valley (Nicholas Rix and Moray Rhoda)
Wormholes (Lucy Heavens)

For more information, http://triggerfishstudios.com.

Monday Musings: Cryptology Unsolved Mysteries

Monday Musings: 
Many of the early documented writings, that have survived are accounts, but others are poems, myths and stories. With the Epic of Gilgamesh Dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur (Circa 2100 BCE), being probably the most well known.  

Ancient writing systems. Some are yet to be deciphered, some have only recently been deciphered.  Though we have deciphered, many of the known early writing systems, and languages, there are a few out there yet that are still true mysteries. Read more... 

Phaistos Disk, a fired clay disk from the Minoan palace of Phaistos on the Greek island of Crete, dating to the middle or late Minoan Bronze Age (tentatively dated about 1700 BCE), it is read spirally.  Read more.


Recently Dr Gareth Owens of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Crete has put forth his deciphering of several key words, and he believes the disk is a prayer dedicated to a mother.

Scientists  Finally Crack The Code Of The Ancient 'Phaistos Disk'
Maybe ... Interesting, but from other sources, not quite there yet.

Gareth Owens, The Phaistos Disk and Related Inscriptions

Signs of Civilization Neolithic Symbol System of Southeast Europe (PDF)

Vinča-Turdaș script,
The Vinča culture, also known as Turdaș culture orTurdaș-Vinča culture, is the oldest Neolithic culture in South-eastern Europe, dated to the period 5,500–4,500 BC.  (Wikipedia)

Tărtăria tablets, found in a Neolithic site in the village of Tărtăria, in Romania

Vinča / Old European
The Vinča Culture

Indus Harappa script
Indus/Harappa script

Indus Script Based on Sanskrit Language

Speculations on some of the most common ancient Indus signs.

Proto-Elamite, Dating from 3400 BC to 2500 BC, in use before the introduction of Elamite cuneiform. It is uncertain whether the Proto-Elamite script was the direct predecessor of Linear Elamite. Both scripts remain largely undeciphered.

The Puzzle of Proto-Elamite

Technology Helping to Decipher Proto-Elamite Script

Proto-Elamite

Linear A, one of only 2 Greecian scripts left to be deciphered, has been found mostly on Crete, but also at other sites in Greece, as well as Turkey and Israel.
Linear A
Linear A Lexicon

Cretan hieroglyphs, is the second of the Greek Scripts that is still undeciphered it is found on artefacts of early Bronze Age Crete, during the Minoan era. It predates Linear A by about a century, but continued to be used in parallel for most of their history. (Wikipedia)

The Cretan Hieroglyphic Texts

Mycenaean Linear B was deciphered in 1952 by Michael Ventris.

Voynich Manuscript A parchment codex, Carbon Dated to ranging between 1404 and 1438, The MS is written in an elegant, but otherwise unknown script. There are possibilities, that this is actual text, which hasn't yet been translated or deciphered, some private or imaginary language, or encrypted in some individuals code, or possibly a hoax.

Voynich Manuscript Cipher Manuscript, digitized online at Beinecke Digital Collections 





Rohonc Codex, discovered in Hungary in the 1800s. It is believed to have been part of the personal library of Count Gusztáv Batthyány, before he donated his entire personal library to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. When the Codex surfaced, it initially appeared to be from medieval times. However, the text, which appears to resemble Old Hungarian script, was completely indecipherable. Read more.

Rohonc Codex
The Codex from Rohonc Project

dacia.org - Scanned images of the pages

Rongorongo Glyphs of Easter Island.

The name Rongorongo comes from the Rapa Nui language, which is the native language of Easter Island, and means "to recite, to declaim, to chant out.” (Wikipedia)

The mysterious Rongorongo writing of Easter Island
Rongorongo,

Book Review: Shadows of Self

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn series book 5 (Book 2 in the Wax and Wayne Arc, Book 1 in the Wax and Wayne Trilogy)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadows of Self continues the story of Waxillium Ladrian,(Just love that name :)) and his sidekick Wayne. 
This Flintlock Fantasy is a continuation in the Mistborn world, and answers that age old fantasy lovers question of what would a world with magic be like during an Industrial Revolution

Sanderson mixes up the boundaries of genres with this, I would label it Flintlock Fantasy, part fantasy, part western, part mystery and part detective story. 

Taking place 300 years after our heroes saved the world the first time around, readers get to see the evolution of Scadrial.  I loved the story, and the characters, with this second book,  Wayne though still a sidekick, developed more as a character, and is starting to move from sidekick status to equal hero on his own.  
Like any Sanderson book, there are twists and turns and surprises! Cosmere hints and a few throwbacks to the first three Mistborn books, will delight fans of Sanderson and the Mistborn world.

Mistborn unlike many epic fantasy's was lacking in an elaborate legends and myths, but with Shadows of Self, we get to see how the initial trilogy is the basis for the Myth, legends, and religions of the world, it will be interesting to see where this goes as the Mistborn world moves from Industrial Revolution, to the planned additional series, of Urban Fantasy, and Sci-Fi. 

 I suggest new readers start with The Alloy of Law, before reading this book. It does add to the experience if you have also read the the 3 book Epic Fantasy Series Mistborn,  but this series can easily be read without that as a standalone series. 

Details:
Series: Mistborn, book 5.  Book 2 in the Wax and Wayne Story Arc, Book 1 in the Wax and Wayne TrilogyPublished October 6th 2015 by Tor Books
Brandon Sanderson’s Shadows of Self debuts at number 5. on the New York Times Best Sellers Combined Print and E-Book Fiction List for  Oct 18, 2015 - Nov 1, 2015, and number 8 on the Hardcover Fiction list.

Links:
Brandon Sanderson

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New clay tablet adds 20 lines to Epic of Gilgamesh

New clay tablet adds 20 lines to Epic of Gilgamesh


Newly discovered clay Tablet V of the Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. in the Sulaymaniah Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has corrected the order of chapters, filled in blanks and added 20 lines to the Epic of Gilgamesh.


Read various versions of The Epic of Gilgamesh:
Project Gutenberg:

• An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic by Clay and Jastrow. (also on archive.org)
• The Epic of Gilgamish by Stephen Langdon
• Assyrian International News Agency Books Online (PDF)

Audio Readings and books:

From Internet Archive: The Epic of Gilgamesh - a new translation

by Prince Frederick, MD Performed by George Guidall. 

Hear The Epic of Gilgamesh Read in its Original Ancient Language, Akkadian.  Standard Version, Tablet XI, lines 1-163, read by Karl Hecker


The University of London’s Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Ancient Near. Readings of Gilgamesh, The Epic of Anzu, the Codex Hammurabi and other Babylonian texts.

Cuneiform

• English to Cuneiform Translator. Babylonian,or here,  Sumerian
Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative.
• Cuneiform the system of writing used in the ancient Middle East. Cuneiform was employed for writing a number of languages from about the end of the 4th millennium BC until about the 1st century BC.
• Akkadian Akkadian
• Elamite
• Hittite 
• Old Persian Cuneiform
• Sumerian
• Ugaritic

Akkadian was a semitic language spoken in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Syria) between about 2,800 BC and 500 AD. It was named after the city of Akkad and first appeared in Sumerian texts dating from 2,800 BC in the form of Akkadian names. Read more on omniglot.com

Sumerian was spoken in Sumer in southern Mesopotamia (part of modern Iraq) from perhaps the 4th millennium BC until about 2,000 BC, when it was replaced by Akkadian as a spoken language, though continued to be used in writing for religious, artistic and scholarly purposes until about the 1st century AD. Sumerian is not related to any other known language so is classified as a language isolate. Read more on omniglot.com

Source:http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/writingsystems/sumeriancuneiform.htm

Links

Sumerian language and writing system:

• ancientscripts.com Sumerian
• Wikipedia Cuneiform 
• Wikipedia.org Sumerian language
• sumerian.org
• Sumerian Lexicon

Akkadian language and writing system:

• Akkadian, an introduction collected by John Heise
• Wikipedia Akkadian language
• Wikipedia Akkadian Cuneiform
• ancientscripts.com Akkadian
• The Akkadians - by Robert A. Guisepi and F. Roy Williams
• Akkadian Dictionary

Early Akkadian Literature - a Text Corpus of Babylonian and Assyrian Literary Texts from the 3rd and 2nd Millennia BC:

Book Release: The Aeronaut’s Windlass

The Aeronaut’s Windlass.  The Aeronaut’s Windlass is the first book in Jim Butcher's upcoming Steampunk series, The Cinder Spires.

To be released September 29, 2015.

Sample Chapters:

Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two

Chapter Three
Chapter Four

I received an early uncorrected proofs copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads Program.


I was thrilled to get the chance to read a new Butcher series!

The ever wonderful, Butcher wit and dialogue, add to that ... Magic, steampunk, privateers, talking cats and airships!!!

With a touch of swashbuckling, The Aeronaut's Windlass is a bit magical, a bit off worldly, and all action.  It reminds me of the old high seas movies (or in this case high skies) with the ship to ship battles.

I will be re-reading this when it is released with the audiobook version.

Details:
Published September 29th 2015 by Roc

Jim Butcher’s The Aeronaut’s Windlass debuts at number 5. on the New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List for  Oct 11, 2015 - Oct 25, 2015.

Links:
Jim Butcher

Mark Lawrence: Fantasy: What's new?

Interesting blog on modern fantasy, by Mark Lawrence the author of
The Broken Empire series: Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns, Emperor of Thorns, & Prince of Fools.

Mark Lawrence: Fantasy: What's new?: Modern fantasy has increasingly taken the war between good and evil away from elves and orcs, staging it instead within an individual's skull. ....

Book Series Review: Bedlam's Bard

Bedlam's Bard series by Mercedes Lackey with Ellen Guon and Rosemary Edghill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars (Series Overall)

This was a re-read of the Bedlams's Bard series. I originally read these books, when they were first published, and devoured them as soon as each was published.

Urban fantasy before it was called Urban Fantasy. At the time I remember being entranced and thrilled with the changes and modernization of fantasy.

Years, Decades later this series still rings true, it is enjoyable, enchanting Mercedes Lackey. With a bit of magic, hard looks into cultures and places that were not so common in Fantasy books at the time, Just enough disturbing looks into real issues and the plight of runaways and children mixed with the good vs evil and struggles of not just the humans, but also the magical and Fae in this world.

I will say I was again a little disappointed when the world moved from the enchanting world of the Re-Faires to the streets of New York - breaking this into 2 series within one.

Books:
1. Knight of Ghosts and Shadows (1990) with Ellen Guon.
2. Summoned to Tourney (1992) with Ellen Guon.

3. Bedlam Boyz (1993) by Ellen Guon.
4. Beyond World's End (2000) with Rosemary Edghill.
5. Spirits White as Lightning (2001) with Rosemary Edghill.
6. Mad Maudlin (2003) with Rosemary Edghill.
7. Music to My Sorrow (2005) with Rosemary Edghill.
8. Bedlam's Edge  (2005) - Short Story Anthology, with Rosemary Edghill

Details:
Published between 1990 and 2005 by Baen Books

Series is part of the Elves on the Road universe, which also includes:

• Bedlam's Bard
• Diana Tregarde
• SERRAted Edge
• Doubled Edge

Links:
Mercedes Lackey

Rosemary Edghill

Ellen Guon ( as Ellen Beeman Game Credits)

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The Norse Mythology Blog: INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER SNOOK (AMERICAN HEATHENS),...

The Norse Mythology Blog: INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER SNOOK (AMERICAN HEATHENS),...: American Heathens by Jennifer Snook 

Sociologist Jennifer Snook's groundbreaking new book,
American Heathens: The Politics of Identity in a Pagan Religious Movement

Description

American Heathens is the first in-depth ethnographic study about the largely misunderstood practice of American Heathenry (Germanic Paganism). Jennifer Snook—who has been Pagan since her early teens and a Heathen since eighteen—traces the development and trajectory of Heathenry as a new religious movement in America, one in which all identities are political and all politics matter.

Snook explores the complexities of pagan reconstruction and racial, ethnic and gender identity in today’s divisive political climate. She considers the impact of social media on Heathen collectivities, and offers a glimpse of the world of Heathen meanings, rituals, and philosophy.

In American Heathens, Snook presents the stories and perspectives of modern practitioners in engaging detail. She treats Heathens as members of a religious movement, rather than simply a subculture reenacting myths and stories of enchantment. Her book shrewdly addresses how people construct ethnicity in a reconstructionist (historically-minded) faith system with no central authority.

Book Review: The Book of Phoenix

The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor

Who Fears Death Prequel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Book of Phoenix is the prequel to Nnedi Okorafor's World Fantasy Award-winning novel,  Who Fears Death.


Rarely do I read a prequel that surpasses the novel, but that is exactly what Nnedi Okorafor has done with The Book of Phoenix. This book is magical, it is a story tellers story.






Details:
Series: Who Fears Death
Published May 5th 2015 by DAW


Links:
Nnedi Okorafor

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Book Review: Boundary Crossed

Boundary Crossed by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Magic book 1

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book as a free Kindle First book. This is the first book I have read from this author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The story and world in Melissa Olsen's Boundary Crossed were unique, and interesting, definitely a great initial novel in a series.
I loved the concept and back story of the main character, US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther, and was thrilled to read an Urban Fantasy with a 30 something, ex-military female lead character. For once while reading a paranormal book, I did not have to suspend belief as a strong female protagonist, who kicks some Vampire butts and is not wearing high heels. ( Well except in the one scene, but then that was completely appropriate, and dialogue ensued on it! )

The major issue I had with the book, was also the protagonists age, at times I had to read back to double check, yep shes 30 ... but the dialogue certainly made her seem much younger, reading more like a younger person in a YA novel.

Details:
Series: Boundary Magic
Published May 1st 2015 by 47North
Links:
Melissa F. Olson

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Book Review: The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
George Guidall (Narrator)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow .... I stayed up too late to finish this one...
Review to follow later after I have had time to process.







Awards:

•  Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Author Best Fantasy (2013) 
• James Tiptree Jr. Award Honor List (2013) 
• Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (2013) 
• World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2014) 
• Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (2014) 
• Harold U. Ribalow Prize for Jewish fiction (2014) 
• VCU Cabell First Novel Award (2014) 
• The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey “One Book, One Community” (2015) 

Details:
Published April 23rd 2013 by Harper Audio

Links:
Helene Wecker
Episode 141 of Speculate!–Helene Wecker Novel Review (The Golem and the Jinni) by GREG
View all my reviews

Book Review: Fablehaven

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven Book 1 

 My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, is difficult to review, It really depends on the age and reading level. As a Middle Grade book, I would give it 2 stars. As a Transition or Early Chapter Book, or book to read to even younger children, I would give it 4 stars.

In an era of children's books like Harry Potter, Inkheart, and Steelheart to just name a few, Fablehaven does not quite hit that level of story or character development. The book is longer like a Middle Grade or Young Adult book, but the reading level and complexity falls short.

If I consider this as an early chapter book or Transition Book then Fablehaven rates much higher compared to many of the other books offered for this 6-9 age group. This would also be a great intro to fantasy series books, as a book that could be read to even younger children. At this transition book age level, or as a book to read to younger children I would give this book 4 stars.

Details:
Series: Fablehaven
Published July 1st 2006 by Shadow Mountain

Links:
Brandon Mull

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Book Review: People of the Wolf

People of the Wolf by W. Michael Gear

North America's Forgotten Past  Book 1

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Re-Reading books from a different time in my reading past, I loved these at the time, and they hold up as good escape books and good books for camping vacations, but not the same love I had as a teen.

The parts that I still like revolve around the great research and knowledge of anthropology and early peoples that the Gears bring to the books.

Details:
Series: North America's Forgotten Past

Published January 15th 1992 by Tor Books

Links:

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Book Review: William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher

William Shakespeare's Star Wars Book 4

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope, This book was fun, and funny, but it is also so much more than that. The idea is quirky, and what could have been just another Star Wars tie-in, is in actuality a masterful adaptation of the story and myth of Star Wars written in iambic pentameter verse.
Ian Doescher has captured both the feel and flow of Shakespearean verse, and the wonderful story and characters of Star Wars.

While reading William Shakespeare's Star Wars I had thoughts and feelings, that usually do not occur while reading a book. It is not a curl up and read book, I wanted to walk around and read it aloud. It is not an isolated read by yourself book, I wanted to get several copies of the book, to invite friends and family over for readings of the play ... and because the hardcover books are beautiful additions to my book-shelf.

This book is a great introduction to verse and iambic pentameter, for younger readers. What a great way to introduce the sound and flow of Shakespeare to those who are not quite ready or old enough to read the bards plays.

I highly recommend this book to any Star Wars fan, to anyone that is a fan of verse and prose, and for parents and educators looking for new ways to teach a love of words.

Details:
Published July 2nd 2013 by Quirk Books

Series: William Shakespeare's Star Wars
Links:
Ian Doescher

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The 8 Books Neil deGrasse Tyson Thinks Every Person Should Read | IFLScience

The 8 Books Neil deGrasse Tyson Thinks Every Person Should Read | IFLScience

First up is a list of eight books that Neil deGrasse Tyson thinks everyone should read and his reasons why.
The recommendations are from a 2011 Reddit Ask-Me-Anything.

The Bible": “To learn that it's easier to be told by others what to think and believe than it is to think for yourself."

"The System of the World" by Isaac Newton: “To learn that the universe is a knowable place.”

"On the Origins of Species" by Charles Darwin: “To learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth.”

"Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift: “To learn, among other satirical lessons, that most of the time humans are Yahoos.”

"The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine: “To learn how the power of rational thought is the primary source of freedom in the world.”

"The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith: “To learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself.”

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu: “To learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art.”

"The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli: “To learn that people not in power will do all they can to acquire it, and people in power will do all they can to keep it"

Check out an assortment of books that other notable scientists recommend at IFL.