Review of Age of Myth J. Sullivan

 

Review of Age of Myth  by Michael J. Sullivan

 

From the back of the book:

Michael J. Sullivan's trailblazing career began with the breakout success of his Riyria series: full-bodied, spellbinding fantasy adventures whose imaginative scope and sympathetic characters won a devoted readership. Now, Sullivan's stunning hardcover debut, Age of Myth, inaugurates an original five-book series, and one of fantasy's finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.

Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between men and those they thought were gods changes forever. Now, only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer, Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom, and Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people. The Age of Myth is over; the time of rebellion has begun. 

 

Leona's Review:

 

This is my first read by Michael J. Sullivan and so I was not familiar with his writings.

It took me some time to get to know the characters but the back of the book has a glossary of terms and names and that was a great help.

 

 

 

This is the first book of the Legends of the First Empire fantasy series.  Age of Myth, Age of Swords, Age of  War, Age of Legends and Age of Empire. The author has written all the books in this series and they will be released "in a timely" manner.

 

The book begins with Raithe and his father approached by a god who demands to know why they are here.   He has two servants with him; one servant, Malcolm, becomes one of the main characters.

 

I have to say this is a hard book to review with so much happening with the different characters, friendship, battles and

 

It is a fantasy book that is well written. I give if a 5 star rating. I will say becuase I usually  do not read these books, I will give it another read before the next book comes out so I am familiar with the characters and happenings. 

Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke

   

 

Review of Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke
 

From goodreads.com:

It is Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar rules Imperial Rome at the height of its power, as the Roman Empire stretches across the known world. Cassius, son of one of her most powerful families, is the personification of Rome's imperial strength: wealthy, popular, a war hero with a decorated military career - none of Rome's fashionable parties are complete without him - except, he hides a secret. After his nerve is broken in Germany, the thought of genuine armed combat is enough to send him into a cold sweat of fear and shame. But this doesn't dissuade him from living off a false reputation so he can continue a life of casual affairs, wine, and parties, as he is seduced by the many vices of Rome. However his scandalous life is soon upset by a summons from the Emperor's wife. It ends his happy decadent life and returns him to Germany to assist the Roman legions in their greatest ever trial, and the events that will resound down in history, in the dark forests of the Teutoburg.

Leona's Review:

A book about Cassius Aprilis, a son of a wealthy and powerful family. He is considered a war hero with a military career but he holds a secret that bothers him. His life has been one of leisure but it changes when he is summoned by Livia, wife of Princeps Augustus to go back to Germany to assist the Roman legions.

I found this book somewhat slow at the beginning but stayed with it.  A lot of Latin words, names of the characters, battle names and names of places. As a reader, I found myself taking notes and searched for more information.

Roman Mask begins in Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar is the emperor at this time. The author also had historical names such as Julius Arminius, Someone who was a German Prince who lived in Rome and was a friend of Cassius, Angrivaril tribesmen who were Germanic of the early Roman Empire, Quintus Varus who was the governor of the new Roman province of Germany and the Teutoburg Forest which was the place of the battle.

There is a historical note at the end of the book. There is a map in the front of the book which is always helpful. I do wish there had been a list of characters in the book.

Thomas M. D. Brooke may be reached at www.thomasmdbrooke.com. There is an interview with him about the book, Roman Mask for one.


For those interested in Roman history or historical places, this is a good read. I won a copy of Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke from goodreads. The opinions are my own.

I give this book a 5 star rating because of the research and I learned some historical facts.

I also found some good information on  www.historyworld.net:

Review of From This moment by Elizabeth Camden

   

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

 

ISBN 10: 0764217216 | ISBN 13: 9780764217210

From http://elizabethcamden.com/books/from-this-moment:

Romulus White has tried for years to hire illustrator Stella West for his renowned scientific magazine. She is the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry.
But Stella abruptly quit the art world and moved to Boston with a single purpose: to solve the mysterious death of her beloved sister. Romulus, a man with connections to high society and every important power circle in the city, could be her most valuable ally.
Sparks fly the instant Stella and Romulus join forces, and Romulus soon realizes the strong-willed and charismatic Stella could disrupt his hard-won independence. Can they continue to help each other when their efforts draw the wrong kind of attention from the powers-that-be and put all they’ve worked for at risk?

Leona's Review:

One of the best Christian Historical books I have read in a long time. This is my first read by Elizabeth Camden and I will definitely read her books again.

The building of the Boston Subway is part of this book and historical happenings. I always like to read of historical events and the author has included many such as the typewriter, gummed envelopes and elevators. I like to research such mentions so I have included some information at the bottom of the review. 

The book is dated March 1897 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stella has come to Boston to find the killer of her sister, Gwendolyn. The police has declared that she had drowned but Stella knew she was an excellent swimmer. They had been exchanging letters and Gwendolyn had written about corruption in City Hall.

Romulus tries his best to get her to do some drawing for the magazine, Scientific World which is owned by Romulus and his cousin, Evelyn.

Stella agrees to do one project for him if he will help her with connections to City Hall and others. Stella is determined to find why and how her sister died.

 

The book includes special relationships of Stella and Romulus as well as his cousin and her husband, Evelyn and Clyde. The parents of Stella and Gwendolyn also pay an important role in the book.

 

At times, Stella questions her faith in God. Stella sees a photograph of a woman who has lost her husband but went on to do her dream of helping others in India.. "It seemed Mrs. Grosjean peered out of the photograph, straight into the moral failings of Stella's soul. Do you love God only when he is good to you?" (page 245)

 

Stella uses her talent to draw pictures of the "sandhogs". " It was a simple charcoal sketch of three sandhogs working on the street below. One man sat on the edge of the subway trench, and two others leaned against shovels as they took a rest from the backbreaking work. There was a rough dignity to their faces, a strength of character in the musculature of their necks, faces, and strong hands as they held the shovels. It was a tough, gritty work that garnered little respect, yet Stella had imbued them with the dignity and heroism rarely afforded such men. They were men working to forge the future, laying a foundation fro generations to come. Long after these men were dead and buried, their children and grandchildren would be riding on the subway they had built." (page 126)

 

The reading is easy and quick even with so much happening. The reader will find some strong characters in both the men and women.

 

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers to read and review. The opinions are my own.

 

I give From This Moment a 5 star rating.

 

Elizabeth Camden may be reached at www.elizabethcamden.com

 

 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

Notes on the typewriter, gummed envelopes and elevators which I found interesting:

 

From: http://ideafinder.com/history/inventions/typrwriter.htm. Finally, in 1867, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin printer-publisher-politician named Christopher Latham Sholes, with assistance from Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule, patented what was to be the first useful typewriter.

From:http://www.jampaper.com/blog/the-history-of-envelopes/ It wasn’t until the invention of the self-gumming envelope machine that envelope production really took off. A man by the name of James Green Arnold took the envelope folding machine to the next level when he added a brush that would apply the gum to the envelopes seal. This step was previously done by hand.  Unfortunately Arnold’s design was never put into production. It wasn’t until two brothers by the name of  D. Wheeler Swift and Henry Swift took Arnold’s design and perfected it. In 1876 the Swift Chain Dryer Machine was born. One of the main difference in this machine was that it was constructed of metal, not wood, like the Arnold design.


From: https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/03/02/how-elevator-transformed-america/b8u17Vx897wUQ8zWMTSvYO/story.html
It wasn’t until the 1870s, when elevators showed up in office buildings, that the technology really started to leave a mark on urban culture.

 

Review of Rewritng History by Vera Dodge

  

 

 

Review of Rewriting history by Vera Dodge

 

From the back of the book:

Mary’s Mystery Bookshop is hosting a very special guest: beloved mystery author Addison Hartley. Hartley gives an intimate reading to the fans gathered in the story, but Mary’s eyes are drawn not to the famous author but to a familiar face in the crowd. Could it be Mary’s best friend from childhood, Claire Wilkes? As soon as Mary moves to greet her old friend, the woman disappears. Mary is certain it was Claire, but no one else seems to have recognized her and Mary begins to doubt herself. But when Mary reads Hartley’s new novel, she finds eerie parallels to her own history. And when terrible rumors surface around town about a secret relationship between Claire and Mary’s husband John, Mary is more determined than ever to track down Claire. What brought her to Mary’s store? When did she run away? What was her connection to the best-selling novel? And, more importantly, were the rumors about Claire and Mary’s husband true?

 

 

Leona's Review:

 

This is my first read by Vera Dodge and my first read of the Secrets of Mary's Bookshop series.  Rewriting History is book #2 of the series. On goodreads.com, there is a list of 16 books in this series and by several different authors so I am gathering the books are all stand alone reads, as this one was.

 

Mary is a widow and has bought a bookstore in the small town of Ivy bay that will take the reader to the similar area of Cape Cod.  She lives with her sister, Betty.

 

At one of the book signings at her bookstore, she thinks she sees an old friend. The book written by Addison Hartley, is so similar to her life and details of the friendship between her, her husband and her friend.

 

No murder in this mystery but a mystery of what really happened 40 years ago in the lives of the three and why the friendship ended.

 

The book flows easily and has other characters such as a pastor and his grandson, the employee at the bookstore and her daughter and the sister of Mary. I can see  other books follow up on some of the other characters.

 

I like the scenery descriptions of the area.  At the back of the book is a recipe for chocolate covered pretzel ice cream that sounds good.

 

Mary prays often in the book asking for guidance and the prayers to me are something many of us do on a routine basis.  This is a book about sister love, the  loss of and finding friendship, loss of a husband, good friends and a hope for the future.

 

There is "A Conversation with Vera Dodge" at the back of the book that is interesting.

 

I bought this book at Goodwill.  I will probably read other books in the series.

It is published by Guidepost Publications.

 

I give this a 4 star rating.

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

Review of President Trump Sells California by Duke. Q. Wallace

President Trump Sells California
From goodreads.com
A short political satire in which a President Trump nationalizes the Girl Scouts, privatizes the Supreme Court, and sells the state of California—his way of paying off the Federal debt. Nine brief chapters, each one resolving a real national issue with an excess of creativity and zeal. What happens when the zeal is spent? 

Leona's Review

I won this book from goodreads.com and the opinions are my own.

Not my kind of humor. The book was really not funny to me. I can vote for a liar and one who has memory loss or a bigmouth.
I will give it a 3 star because there were some ideas that might work.

Review of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

 Review of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

From The back of the book.

The death of clan patriarch Macgregor Tulloch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whales Reef into turmoil. Everyone assumed Tulloch's heir to be his much-loved grandnephew David. But when no will is discovered, David's calculating cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island's land. And Hardy knows a North Sea oil investor who will pay dearly for that control. 

While the competing claims are investigated, the courts have frozen the estate's assets, leaving many of the locals in dire financial straits. The future of the island--and its traditional way of life--hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, Loni Ford enjoys a rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, D.C. Yet, in spite of outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is, until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Michael Phillips' dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace.

Leona's Review:

 

This is my first read by Michael Phillips and I look forward to the other books in this series.

The major characters are David Tulloch and Alonnah Ford who prefers to be called Loni.

The Scottish dialect is used through out the book and I rather liked it; it helped bring the book right to Scotland. Words like dinna, ken, ye, aboot, canna and nae.

The novel begins in June 1924, then late Summer 2005, November 2005, Winter 2005-2006, Summer 2006, July 2006, October 1953 and ends with July 2006.

The book goes back and forth between the Scottish characters and the United States' characters but flows smoothly.

The book is dedicated to Patrick Jeremy Phillips.

There is a map of Whales Reef, Shetland Islands, in the front of the book as well as the Tulloch Clan Family Tree.

I found it an interesting and easy read.

I received a complimentary copy of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips to read and review from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group. The opinions are my own.

More information about Michael Phillips at

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=author&Ntt=Michael%20Phillips

and also

https://www.facebook.com/michaelphillipschristianauthor

 

I will give this a 5 star rating because of the history and clean book.

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

   

 

Review of Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

From www.goodreads.com:

Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine (Goodreads author)
In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

Leona's review:

This is my first read by Rachel Caine. My interest was the Great Library of Alexandria of Egypt. This book is about books.

The book starts with Jess Brightwell, who is a runner,  a smuggler of books as original books are no longer allowed to be owned. His father, Callum, gets the illegal books and his sons, Jess and Brendan, smuggle them to the purchasers. Jess' older brother, Liam died when he was a runner.

Jess is sent to the Library for training to be a scholar. He is also sent by his father to be a spy. There he meets the other students.

The teenagers are around the age of 16 and most of the story is with them as the main characters.

Khalia Seif is from the Middle East and the smartest of all of them, Thomas Schreiber is from Berlin and has a creative mind, Glain Wathen is Welsh and hard to get to know, Dario Santiago is Spanish and the roommate of Jess and Morgan Haute who is from war torn London.
The main adult characters are Scholar Christopher Wolfe, who is their instructor and their guard, Captain Nicolo Santi.

This book begins in London in the year 2025. Both the past, the Great Library and the future, no books allowed, are part the story; it is fantasy/historical. The Library of Alexandria still exists as well as steam carriages

The author uses many quotes. One is "Knowledge is All" (Tota est Scientia).  It seems that books are more important than the lives of people.

 

Some words you will find in Ink and Bone are: Codex, Greek fire (a toxic flammable liquid), weapons, war, death, knowledge, America, power, rule, library, text, Serapeum, Mirroring of Books, Johannes Gutenberg, alchemy, archivist and automata.

I found some historical names such as  Descates and Callimachus. This book has encouraged me to do more research on history.

 

A quote from Rene Descartes: "The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries."

 

More information on Callimachus may be found at: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Callimachus-Greek-poet-and-scholar

I am a note taker and I took 9 pages of notes on a 5 " X 7" pad of paper.  I will keep them handy for reading the second book of this series, Paper and Ink which is scheduled to be out July 5, 2016.

I liked this book. The language was fine and the only romance was soft. I found the characters change attitudes as the book progressed and the characters grew. I liked some of the characters more than others but the book gives each their own personality.

If you like books and some history and some fantasy, this is the book for you. It is a YA (young adult) but good for adults and children who like to read. There are somewhat graphic scenes but not bad. I like a clean book and this was a good read for me.

It reminded me of Fahrenheit 451.

I will give it a 5 start rating. I was unaware it was the first book of a series so I felt it left me hanging but look forward to the next one.

I won Ink and Bone from goodreads to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Rachel Caine may be reached at www.rachelcaine.com

and www.goodreads.com/rachelcaine

 

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

   

Creative Writing For People Who Can't Not Write by Kathryn Lindskoog

 

This is on the back book cover:

"Crammed with crucial facts, ideas, and warnings never before brought together into clear focus, this guide is not only fun to read, but also work-boots practical. Not only inspiring, but pinch-penny accurate. Not only optimistic, but report-card candid. Not only kindly, but tattle-tale frank. It is an energizing tonic for writers' weary brain cells. Every writer is important. Creative Writing for People Who Can't Not Write is a book for every writer. Topics in this lively blend of advice, inspiration, and scholarly wit include: - the wonder of creativity - getting published, paid, and read - why writing should be impossible - how to avoid looking foolish in print - a sugar-coated history of the whimsical, word-rich English language - the nature of poetry - the sixteen writer-type temperaments - reflections from contemporary writers on their work - a first-ever collation of pages of advice from C.S. Lewis. Lewis once wrote to Lindskoog, "If you understand me so well, you will understand other authors, too." Writers who read Creative Writing for People Who Can't Not Write will agree with Lewis' assessment of Kathryn Lindskoog's insight into the writing life. And this book also passes Lindskoog's own test: "A good writer is a graceful guest in a reader's brain." "

I picked up this book at a sale and thought it sounded interesting.  The cover has The Thinker holding a book. 

"The Thinker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Le Penseur in the garden of the Rodin Museum, PhiladelphiaThe Thinker (French: Le Penseur) is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, usually placed on a stone pedestal. The work shows a nude male figure of over life-size sitting on a rock with his chin resting on one hand as though deep in thought, and is often used as an image to represent philosophy. There are about 28 full size castings, in which the figure is about 186 centimetres (73 in) high, though not all were made during Rodin's lifetime and under his supervision, as well as various other versions, several in plaster, studies, and posthumous castings, in a range of sizes. Rodin first conceived the figure as part of another work in 1880, but the first of the familiar monumental bronze castings did not appear until 1904."

 

A very good read not only for those who want to write but for those already an author.

 

I especially liked the chapters English, The Marvelous Mess and Writer Types.

 

The author met C. S. Lewis and was very impressed with him.

 

I read every word and learned so much about people and their writings.

 

The book was dedicated to Walter Zadrozny and Ranelda Hunsicker,  First My Students, Then My Friends and Teachers.

 

I will give this a 5 star rating.

 

Contents:

Epigraph; Written to That End

Introduction

Acknowledgements

 

Chapter 1:THE WONDER OF CREATIVITY

 An original collection of data and insights about the human mind and how we create.

 

Chapter 2: TO COMMUNICATE OR OBFUSCATE

 Why writing should be impossible. The basic essentials of good writing, and the costs and compromise   involved.

 

Chapter 3: PITFALLS AND PRATFALLS

 Ways to avoid looking foolish: sidestepping booby traps from misspellings  to overwriting.

 

Chapter 4: EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPECIALISTS

 How to show, not tell, and the power of wet prose. Color, texture, sound, smell, taste and weight in words at work and words at play.

 

Chapter 5: ENGLISH, THE MARVELOUS MESS

 A quick look at the languages of the world, and a sugar-coated history of English- the strangest of them all.

 

Chapter 6: A FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH

 Writing poems, puzzles, and preachments that please the ear, tease the brain, and ease the heart.

 

Chapter 7: A FOOT IN TH DOOR

 Ideas about writing; ideas about getting published, paid and read; and ideas about getting more ideas.

 

Chapter 8: WRITER TYPES (HOW TO TYPE YOURSELF)

 An introduction to the sixteen temperament types; how we perceive life and make choices.

 

Chapter 9: AUTHORS IN ACTION

 Reflections from real writers, each one making a key point about the writing life.

 

Chapter 10: C. S. LEWIS'S FREE ADVICE TO HOPEFUL WRITERS

 A collection of pithy advice to writers from Lewis's personal correspondence with friends and strangers.

 

Appendix: Pure Poppycock

Bibliography

Index

 

 

The author passed away in 2003.

 

 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

Review of The Secret To Hummingbird Cake

   

 

 

From goodreads.com:

The Secret To Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale.

In the South you always say “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.” You know everybody’s business. Football is a lifestyle not a pastime. Food—especially dessert— is almost a religious experience. And you protect your friends as fiercely as you protect your family— even if the threat is something you cannot see.
In this spot-on Southern novel brimming with wit and authenticity, you’ll laugh alongside lifelong friends, navigate the sometimes rocky path of marriage, and roll through the outrageous curveballs that life sometimes throws . . . from devastating pain to absolute joy. And if you’re lucky, you just may discover the secret to hummingbird cake along the way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishers.  The opinions are my own.

A sensitive story of three very close friends and part their lives. One of the main characters has cancer and we struggle, along with the friends, with her disease.

The three friends are Carrigan, Laine and Ella Rae. There are other important characters in the book and all are a special part of the book.

I warn those who have lost a loved one or close friend, it is a hard read so keep the tissues handy. I lost my husband to this disease and found it especially hard to read but real in so many places in the book.

I am not sure if most of us has this kind of friendship but we would wish we did. I did like the book and the closeness of the characters.

It is Southern in the book and will remind the readers of things they also did when they were young. The characters are in their 30s.

There are laughs. Carrigan asks the minister if he knew the difference between Catholics and Baptists.  He said he did not. "Catholics  speak to each other in the liquor store. "   "He was not amused."  I  am from a small West Texas town and remember the boys climbing the water tower and marking it.  I am also a Catholic and know the Baptists are strong in their beliefs about liquor and cards. The Baptists in my town were sure our priest sinned as he played cards.

The Secret of the Hummingbird Cake will come in the book; keep reading. My mother made this cake often.

I have decided to give it a 5 star rating.

One thing I have found are the words " No time limit on grief" are true.

There are discussion questions at the back of the book.

One question is: " Do you think food actually tastes better if you prepare for those you love?"


Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: February 9th 2016 by Thomas Nelson

Celeste Fletcher McHale may be reached at www.celestefletchermchale.com

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com