I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. Here are some of my reviews from 2006 and one from 2005:
The Magicians' Guild ( The Black Magician Trilogy #1) by Trudi Canavan
Harper Collins Eos Fantasy, 2001
Fantasy; 370 pgs
My husband was the first to introduce me to the world of fantasy novels, encouraging me to read the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. I am especially drawn to stories involving magic, which is why The Magicians’ Guild caught my eye when I saw it listed in a publishers’ e-newsletter that I subscribe to.
Set in Imardin, the novel opens with the main character, Sonea, working her way through the streets to warn her old friends of an impending attack. She finds herself caught up in the confrontation between the street dwellers, or commoners, and the magicians who have come to clean the streets of the riff raff. Enraged, Sonea throws a stone at a magician expecting it to bounce off the shield, however, much to hers and everyone’s surprise, the stone breaks through and hits the magician, knocking him out. Suddenly, Sonea finds herself on the run, trying to hide from the magicians, fearing they will punish and destroy her. And yet, the magicians have other ideas. They want to bring her in to train her to control her power before it destroys her and possibly those around her. Not all of the magicians are so inclined, however. One in particular has his own ideas.
The Magicians’ Guild was enjoyable, however, it was predictable and there was not very much excitement. I liked it enough to want to continue with the trilogy and look forward to getting to know Sonea and her friends more in the future books.
Harper Collins Eos Fantasy, 2001
Fantasy; 370 pgs
My husband was the first to introduce me to the world of fantasy novels, encouraging me to read the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. I am especially drawn to stories involving magic, which is why The Magicians’ Guild caught my eye when I saw it listed in a publishers’ e-newsletter that I subscribe to.
Set in Imardin, the novel opens with the main character, Sonea, working her way through the streets to warn her old friends of an impending attack. She finds herself caught up in the confrontation between the street dwellers, or commoners, and the magicians who have come to clean the streets of the riff raff. Enraged, Sonea throws a stone at a magician expecting it to bounce off the shield, however, much to hers and everyone’s surprise, the stone breaks through and hits the magician, knocking him out. Suddenly, Sonea finds herself on the run, trying to hide from the magicians, fearing they will punish and destroy her. And yet, the magicians have other ideas. They want to bring her in to train her to control her power before it destroys her and possibly those around her. Not all of the magicians are so inclined, however. One in particular has his own ideas.
The Magicians’ Guild was enjoyable, however, it was predictable and there was not very much excitement. I liked it enough to want to continue with the trilogy and look forward to getting to know Sonea and her friends more in the future books.
Harper Voyager, 2002
Fantasy; 465 pgs
In the second book in the Black Magician Trilogy, The Novice, seventeen-year-old Sonea begins her first year of study at the Magician’s Guild. She finds herself targeted by a nasty bully who rallies her classmates against her to play mean-spirited jokes and pranks on her. Lord Dannyl, newly appointed as Second Ambassador to Elyne, is given a secret secondary assignment to uncover what High Lord Akkarin had been up to in his research of ancient magic. And a serial murderer appears to be at large in the city, one who possibly uses dark magic.
I enjoyed The Novice slightly more than I had the first book in the trilogy, The Magicians’ Guild. Although predictable and not always original, I enjoyed the story. The characters are likeable and my curiosity about the High Lord increased tenfold as I read this novel. I have a strong suspicion that all is not as it seems.
Orbit, 2003
Fantasy; 531 pgs
Full of suspense and magic, The High Lord was an intense reading pleasure. The third novel in the Black Magician Trilogy was darker and more complex than the first two in the trilogy. Magician-in-training Sonea is faced with a difficult decision when she learns her guardian, the High Lord’s secret, including his reasons for practicing the forbidden black magic. I was glad to see Sonea’s childhood friend, Cery, take on one of the leading roles in the book. The difference in treatment between the classes comes out clearly in this novel and the poor, who the magicians and upper classes tried to hide and forget about, show they are much stronger than anyone imagined (except perhaps to themselves). Browsing the author’s website, I was relieved to see that there will be more books set in Sonea’s world.
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My husband is the fantasy reader in this house. I'm always on the lookout for new things for him though, being his personal book shopper. LOL
ReplyDeleteKay - I really like Trudi Canavan's books. I hope you do look into the books for your husband. She's written quite a few more too!
DeleteThough I do sometimes delve into this genre like Kay above it is my husband who is the big fantasy reader in our household but I have a feeling reading your review that this might be a series I'd enjoy more than him.
ReplyDeleteTracy - My husband is the one who got me into reading fantasy. :-) I don't read high fantasy as often as I once did, but when I do, I'm reminded of what I love about it.
DeleteI LOVE books about magic too - I just don't read them enough. I read the first book from The Magicians trilogy and did not like it at all. I am eager to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteAthira - I haven't read any of Lev Grossman's books, but I've been meaning to at least try The Magician's. I know it got mixed reviews when it came out. Isn't there a television show coming out based on the books?
DeleteI love books with magic of any kind but for some reason I never get to read enough fantasy novels. I especially love to listen to them. If it's a good book it usually comes across as really exciting on audio. It's fun to look back at what you reading so long ago. I wish I had done that. I was writing down book titles but I never wrote down my thoughts. I wish I had done that.
ReplyDeleteDarlene - I don't seem to read a lot of the high fantasy. So often I gravitate more towards the urban fantasy or paranormal reads. It's a shame really because I really do enjoy high fantasy too.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun looking back over my reading in my pre-blogging days. I just wish I'd started keeping track earlier.
I need to read more fantasy books. I'm leaning more towards urban fantasy and paranormal too but there were a few high fantasy I enjoyed in the past. Juliet Marillier and Mercedes Lackey are one of those few authors whom I like. :)
ReplyDeleteMelody - I enjoy Mercedes Lackey's books. I haven't read anything by Juliet Marillier. I'll have to give her a try. :-)
DeleteIsn't it fun to go back and see what we liked to read, etc. Did continue with this series then? There are so many to keep up with aren't there?
ReplyDeleteIliana - Too many to keep up with. LOL I haven't read more of her books yet, but I do eventually want to. I read so few high fantasy novels now, which is a shame.
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