The Treasured One by Eddings
The Treasured One by David and Leigh Eddings, The Dreamers Book 2. I know some people hate that the books are 'too similar' to the other series that the Eddings have written but this one is actually quite different, especially in the way that it is written. Each part seems to take on a different character's perspective and in the case of some deals with some issues in the past that have meaning to the events taking place. It took a little while getting used to but once longbow had his turn I was loving the new style. Okay so you've read Eldar Gods and how Zelana's Domain was saved but this time the Vlaugh is going for Veltan's sleepy farming Domain, who have never had any need for weapons at all apart from sling shots to scare off wolves. So Sorgan, Narasan, Longbow and co travel over to Veltan's Domain to the falls of Vash to stop the snake men from invading the land. But they have evolved, learning new tatics and not only that but another army is fast traveeling up the coast in the search of gold and Veltan's 'army' seems stuck in the middle. I STILL adore Longbow, though Veltan is still up there in the favourites list (along with Torl too) and I loved the new style and the fact that the enemy evolves is a good thing that way things don't get too much the same. Though the 'nice boy' appears twice in this book and who said it the second time had me in stitches :) And Zelana and Longbow? Poor Man, he's not got a chance.

The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gaverial Kay
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gaverial Kay. Oh my, I thought I loved Tigana (the first Kay that I read) and Song for Arbonne was pretty good once I got into it, Finovar was just weird but Lions was absolutely awesome. I could barely put it down, every time I got home I had my head buried in it. Ammar and Roderigo and Alvar are totally awesome characters, not to mention Jehane as well. Though in places it was simply sad, though I have to say out of all of them Ammar would have to be my favourite :) Traditionally Ammar and Roderigo should be enemies, but when both are exiled by their respective Kings, they find themselves working together. Equally matched in arms and wit, the pair make a formidible team along with a Kindath doctor. But when the religous zealots come into the fray and the King's want their men back, the pair find themselves asking where their loyaties lie. Fun, fast paced and immensely enjoyeable, I loved Lions it is the best Kay book I have read so far, definately worth the 10c I paid for it :) [Gotta love library sales ;D]

The Dreamthief's Daughter by Michael Moorcock
The Dreamthief's Daughter by Michael Moorcock. I picked up this book at a bargain price and thought, what the hey, and started reading it. To my suprise it actually is a follow up series to Moorcock's Elric series that I actually haven't read in the slightest. But that really didn't matter because all the blanks were filled in and it is actually more about Count ulric, a German count, who is stuck in the middle of a Nazi uprising, and his cousin wants his nice shiny black sword for some reason and thinks Ulric is hiding the Grail some where in his house. Did I mention Ulric is a 'version' of Elric and hence is also albino? It is a very interesting book, much different than what I usually read and it is good to see me 'broadening my horizons' as honestly, I feel that I'm reading the same thing over and over again. Possibly not for people who enjoy lots of romance but more for people who like a little bit of sci-fi dashed into their fanatsy. I will be doing my best to find more of Moorcock's work as I have vastly enjoyed the two that I can read so far, that and Elric intrigues me :)

The Tower of Ravens by Kate Forsyth Book 1 of Rhiannon's Ride
I thought this was going to be a new series but I was wrong it is a sequel series which is even better. It is set about 20ish years after Lachlan became Righ, and details the introduction of half fiary Rhiannon into Lewen's life. Lewen is the son of Liathane and Niall and he is an apprentice witch, the day before he leaves to go to the Tower of Two Moons to study, Rhiannon, drops into his life astride a beautiful black winged horse. Liathane sensing Rhiannon's power sends her with Lewen and Nina and Iven and other apprentice witches. They choose a shorter path through the land that brings them no end of trouble and when ghosts and dead challange their passage, they must 'uncover' the story. But Rhiannon is also hiding a terrible secret that eats her up inside. Awe it is so sweet and at least Rhiannon isn't wild one moment, perfect the next she still has her wild side from growing up in fear of her life, looking for any chance to escape. The whole necromancer thing is neat too, handled better than some other necromatic books that I have read recently. I must say I truely enjoyed it and no you don't have to read the first series to get stuck into this one but from the looks of the sample of the next book, it might just be a good idea. Though if you loved the first one, this one is set up to be a good series. Note it doesn't have very much of Lachlan in it, but he does make an apperance :)

The Charmed Sphere Catherine Asaro
I really enjoyed this book, most people think that Luna is going to be a fantasy book imprint that is really just romance novels wrapped in fantasy but in actual fact I found this book not to be the case. In fact I have read 'hard core' fantasy that is much much more romantic than this is. It is actually just an ordinary fantasy book really. But it is nice to see the break away from Sci-fi backgrounds that I find some fantasy novels get stuck into. Anyway enough of the promotion of the new Luna imprint and onto the actual book. I enjoyed it, simple as that I was reading Tower of Ravens and got sick of it after a couple of hours and picked up Charmed Sphere for a light read before bed and before I knew it it was 1.30 and I was starving, at that point I decided that sleep might be a good thing so I put the book down and eagerly started it up again the next day. So what is it about you might ask? Well Chime is a Shape-Mage and she is the strongest found in her generation so this means that she must marry the current heir to the throng, Prince Muller. But Muller doesn't want to be King, he has issues of his own and when Iris comes along, a stronger Mage than Chime and a new player to the throne enters the picture things become a little hectic. Not to mention that Varquelle, King of a neighbouring country wants the throne to him self in a first step to create an Empire but also he has Anvil a very strong Mage himself who twists others gifts. It's fun and exciting and yes of course a little romantic but somewhat less than Goodkind or even Eddings romance. Give it a go, you might just be suprised.

Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick
Really I didn't enjoy it overly that much but I did finish it and I probably will read the next books in the series but it was a little slow and dry for my tastes and some what a little predictable which is kinda annoying. That and the maps really didn't help - they are great maps and all but just not overly useful - would've been better if it had "trace route" or something - that would've been more helpful than mountain range charts. I'm suprised there wasn't a cross section or two in there - oh wait there was. But at least a lot of effort went into building the landscapes it made that bit at least interesting and the little 'legends' stories were cute.
That being said the story was a little dry it started out nicely with Leith and Hal going out after their parents that had been kidnapped and met all sorts of interesting people along the way but that's about it it was just a journey a few squimishes and that's all. Maybe the next books will have some more action in them instead of getting into the heads of the characters - meh I don't know. Give it a go if you want a sedate read

Blood and Memory by Fiona McIntosh
I loved it so much. It is the second in her Quieckening Trilogy and I enjoyed it. Wyl has yet again suffered the Quickening's curse and walks in a woman's body, an assassin at that. But when she is travelling to find Myrrin's real father and a possible way to break the curse something hinders her path. Not only that but Wyl still has friends in the North under Caliech's hand and his sister is on the run too.

Sure enough I hope the story goes in one direction and doesn't stray and twist horribly in the end (I'm sappy I know - hey I'm allowed :) ). Though I love the little twists and turns it does make such as what happens to ******* and oh yeah all about ******. Okay am I annoying you a lot now? I loved it - if you enjoyed the first book then you'll love the second :)

Shadow of Arat by Thomas Harlan
It was an okay book. I really enjoyed the first part of the story but it got a little weird towards the middle with the whol "Oath of the Empire" bussiness. I was expecting a nice little Roman story not some way out their fanatsy one. So I guess that's why I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've had I been expecting the latter rather than the former. That being said I read it to its end and whilst I wont be rushing off to find the next books in the series I am curious. Ahmet is my favourite BTW. So what IS it about? It is set in Roman times, the Persians are warmongering whilst the Emperor of the West goes to the East to help that Emperor quelch the Persians once and far all. We follow Maxian, the Western Emperor's younger brother, Dwyrin a young Scottish 'mage' and Thyatis a Roman woman of many talents. It is good though a little weird read it if you enjoyed Ash by Mary Gentle.

The Talisman of Troy by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
Whilst not as good as the other books of his that I have read I still enjoyed it and in light of just seeing Troy it just goes to show you how different the movie's story is to the actual poem version. Anyway it follows Diomedes who finds that his wife wants to kill him and travells north to find a new homeland. Meanwhile the Dor are coming down from the North ready to take over Greece, whilst Greece is embroiled in deception and war with the Queens trying to take control themselves. It is good a little slow paced and not as exciting as Alexander or Spartan but I enjoyed it none the less - Diomedes is such a tragic hero. It is written in true Greek tradegy style - not all is good in love and war. Give it a go if you liked the movie Troy and enjoy VMM

Silverheart by Michael Moorcock and Storm Constanine
I really enjoyed it and it is really a sci-fi which is not the genre that I actually read very often but I really liked it - Max Silverskin is a really likeable character and so is Rose Iron, though Jenny and Jack Ash could do with a little more work and same with Menni - he's barely mentioned really though he seems very important - oh well. Okay the story is set that Max is a theif, a 'by-blow' of high Clan Silver that has taken up a life of crime and well really annoyed the Lords of Metal, when he is captured he escapes and finds himself embroiled in something bigger than just the city of Karadur. He meets new allies, old enemies and lots of new ideas and some old ones that come back to life. Like I said Max is really likeable and the story is really good though it does seem a little rushed towards the end though which is a little dissapointing but still very enjoyeable. I bought this book on special and now I'm glad I did - I will be passing it onto others :)