7-20-09 The Way of the Warrior by Andrew Matthews – Fiction

5 – I was surprised that this small book (it’s only 192 pages) turned out to be so enthralling. It’s the story of a boy in 16th century Japan whose parents commit suicide and leave him in the care of their bodyguard who raises him to become a master swordsman bent on revenge against the family that shamed his. Jimmu travels to the hated lord’s lands and joins the house guards looking for a chance to kill the lord. While there he learns about loyalty, honor, duty, and love. this is a young reader/teen book but it does have very violent fights and battles. there are decapitations, severed limbs, and many more injuries. But, this was a very good read and a story about self discovery and destiny. Highly recommended.

7-19-09 Dog Days by John Levitt – Fiction

5 – I loved this.  Fans of urban fantasy authors should definitely try this book.  Mason is a magical practitioner and jazz musician whose best friend is his dog that’s not a dog, Louie.  Louie is a semi-magical creature who chose Mason as his companion.  When practitioners start to disappear and die Mason is tapped by his old boss to help find out what is going on in San Francisco.  The attempt on his own life helps him decide to assist.  A book filled with magical people living among everyday folk, Dog Days is witty and action packed.

7-14-09 Eat, Drink, and Be Mississippi by Nancy Kincaid – Fiction

4 – Mom, I think you’d like this one.  It begins as a fairly basic story about a teenager in a small town in Mississippi and slowly draws you in to a great and moving story with characters you care about and are very interested in.  Truely, the small town boy, follows his sister to California, attending college in San Diego and making a name and fortune for himself.  This book is all about relationships and the bond that family and upbringing creates.  It’s not an adventure or a thriller'; it’s about everyday ordinary people who have done well for themselves and their lives, problems, and achievements.  An immensely satisfying book.

7-8-09 Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve – Fiction

2 – Boring.  this is a twist on the King Arthur tales telling the true story of Arthur and how he came to be the legend of today through tricks and stories.  Somewhat interesting because of some of the history of the time but the total story told through the eyes of a young girl, Gwyna, who is the servant of Myrdden (Merlin) is dull and slow moving.  Not a lot of action or intrigue, not really any emotion.  Just words with some interesting historical references.  Really dull.

7-5-09 Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston – Fiction

3 – This was an OK book – not stupendous but not awful.  Just OK.  The story centers around Kelley, a 17 year old actress in New York City, who gets her break when the lead she’s understudying break her ankle and can’t perform as Titiana in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  But Kelley is special even if she doesn’t know it yet.  She is the lost Faerie princess of the Unseelie Faerie court.  She becomes the center of a power struggle between Auberon, the Unseelie Faerie King, and Mabh, the Faerie Queen of Darkness.  The battle is set to take place on Samhain, Halloween, in Central Park and only Kelley has the power to prevent it.  A pretty good tale with ties between Shakespeare and the Faerie world.

7-3-09 Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith – Fiction

4 – An excellent thriller set in the Soviet Union in the 50’s.  Leo works for the MGB, the government run police force under Stalin.  He follows orders and arrests people regardless of his feelings toward them.  Leo falters in an investigation and makes an arrest later than advised.  For that he is punished by being assigned to investigate his wife as a spy.  His and his wife’s fates hang in the balance when he discovers that a case he was told was an accident truly was a murder.  Murder officially does not exist in Communist Russia because if everyone is equal why would there be murder?  As he investigates on his own he finds not only was that case a murder, it is just one of many.  A great look at the atmosphere of Stalinist Russia through the eyes of both the government and the people with a tense murder mystery thrown in.