The Ruins of Gorlan

The Ruins of Gorlan
John Flanagan
Ranger's Apprentice
Marshal fiction

Summery
The Ruins of Gorlan fallows the story of will a young Orfien who can't find his way in the world. Will is small for his age, he's fast and smart but but just does not have the strangth to do what he really wants to do, be a solder.

In the 13th year of his life Will has his name day were the local crafts men pick children to train. Problem is that if know one picks you then you must leave the city and become a farmer.

On his name day everyone finds somewhere to go but Will has no one, but just as Despair is about it set in the local Ranger takes Will to be his apprentice. So Will starts his life as The Ranger's Apprentice.

A great evil is once again on the rise can Will and his master Halt stop it? or will death fall on the people of the land?

Review
This is the first book of the 11 book series Ranger's Apprentice. The first book is not the best one I have ever read but the series is amazing. Each book is only about 200-250 pages long and often it takes the writer a few books to tell one story ark. So stick with it and you will not be disappointed.

I love these books. There great for kids but adults can get a lot from them too. The Story telling is superb and you will fall in love with all the characters. Although the first book is all about Will and Halt the later books focus on his two best friends as well. this brings in some really strong female characters which i liked a lot.

The only problem this is book is that it feels like only part of a story so then you have to keep reading because you want to know what happens, but the books are so good that its really not much of a problem.

Over all I would give this book a 7 out of 10 but the series as a whole would get more.

Ashfall

Ashfall
Mike Mullin
Apocalyptic

Summary
Alex was a normal 15 year old boy medium height, medium weight, likes video games and martial arts. Not so good with girls but has a few close friends. Every thing changed on that Friday. The Friday when the volcano under Yellowstone erupts and starts covering the world in ash.

On that Friday Alex's parents had taken his little sister to there uncles farm and had left him home alone for the weekend. Now with he world falling apart Adam must find his family and a way to outlast the horrors of the volcanic winter.

On his trip Adam finds many people who hurt others to get what they want but he also found many who, even in these darkest times, were willing to help others in need. One of these people is Darla. Darla is a smart girl living on a farm with her mother. After meeting Alex Darla and him travel together to find his family, but on the way they find more then they bargained for.

Review

Ashfall is one of the best books I have ever read. Within the first 5 pages I was hooked and wanted nothing more then to read the rest of it. It only took me two days to finish it and I worked full shifts both days.

The book has a good amount of hope and despair which makes reading this book a roller coaster of emotion. The book also feels real, it feels like what people see on the news after a disaster and what people really are like when in the middle of one.

The hard part about this book is that the writer does not pull any punches. Meaning that there is death and violence, sex and pain. For that reason I would recommend this book for 16 years old and older. Yes this is a young adult book but in this case I would stress the ADULT part of that more then the young.

But I want you to understand this book is not dirty of profane, but it is real and it is harsh younger children would not be able to handle it but for adults it is an amazing book. This is not just some fun fantasy where everything will be okay. This is a scary world that could really happen to us.

This novel will make you laugh, cry, scream and hope for a better world. This book will be an experience you will want to share with everyone. It will become an old friend you fear for.

The writing is amazing, the characters are real and likable, and the plot is full of hopes and fears that we all have.

I would give this book a 10 out of 10.

Fall of a Kingdom

Fall of a Kingdom
The Farsala Trilogy
Hilari Bell
Low Fantasy

Summery
The land of Farsala has stood for thousands of years in peace. The three peoples of Farsala have found a way to service together but the old ways are starting to fail and life for all but the highest is suffering for it.

The three peoples are, The Suud a desert welling nocturnal people, the peasants little more then slaves to there masters they work the fields and make the tools, and the Deghan the ruling class pledged to defend the land and rule it.

A new threat has come to the kingdom, the Hrum empire. The empire has already conquered 29 lands in its path to become stronger and Farsala is next in line. But the Hrum empire has a weakness that the kingdom of Farsala can use against them. The empire has only one year to completely conquer a new land before they let it go and make friends instead. So all the people of Farsala have to do is last one year, but can they?

The book follows the story of three young people who in there own way must fight the Hrum if they are to last the year. But fighting the Hrum might be the easy part working together without killing each other might be impossible.

Soraya is a Deghan and a spoiled brat. She cares little for others out side her family and social level but she will have to find another way to be if Farsala is to last.

Jiaan is the bastard son of the High commander who leads the army and half sister to Soraya. All Jiaan ever wanted was to be like his father and he will have to be if they are to survive what is coming.

Kavi a peasant who travels around selling small goods to the outer villages. Kavi was once a blacksmith and was on his way to become one of the best but a Deghan crippled his right hand and left it weak and him angry. Will Kavi be able to over come his anger or will it be the downfall of his people?

Review
Fall of a kingdom is an interesting book. I very much liked it but it does have problems. Over all I'm happy I now own it and look forward to reading it again, but the book has a few limitations.

First, you have three characters who are all sort of stupid. They do stupid things and are not very likable until later in the book. It could be hard to connected with the characters and with out that connection people may have a hard to reading this book.

Second, the book takes a little warming up. Nothing really happens until about about page 160 everything before that is just build up without any meat to it.

Third, there is a whole different story build in to the book following the life and rebirth of Sorahb. Sorahb a legendary hero who is supposed to come to Farsala's add when needed, but they don't really explain it and its not even important to this book at all. In the second and third book this information makes sense but its a little odd in the first book.

Fourth, this is a fantasy book but you would not know that until about page 300 because of this Fall of an empire is really more of a Military tactics novel and this could through people off.

With all of these problems I tell you now READ THIS BOOK. I promise you will not regret it. Yes the book has a few problems but it is also really well written and even though the magic is far in the back of the book it is pretty cool when you finally get to see it. Also the fighting in it is really fascinating and cool. This book makes you feel like your fighting against a the Hrum.

But that is only the smallest peace of why you should read this book. The fact is that even though this book in only OK the trilogy as a whole is amazing. I ready all three books in less then a week with two jobs, a wife and a heavy social life.

Like a lot of great trilogies, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, the first part is not the best but it sets up the next two parts to be amazing and that is what happens with the Farsala Trilogy. The next two books, Rise of a Hero and Forging the Sword, take the characters at they best and make them better it takes the best parts of book one and eliminates the bad parts.

I would give Fall of a Kingdom a 6.5 out of 10 but I would give the trilogy a 8 out of 10. Read all three books and these will become must haves for your collection.

Way of the Pilgrim

Way of the Pilgram
Gordon R. Dickson
Science Fiction

Summery
The world was taken over in less then a day. Rebellion is impossible and mankind has become little more then cattle to grow there alien master's food. Humanity has no technology that can hurt them,

Humanity are a lot weaker and smaller then them but what the aliens don't know is the power of the human spirit.

After the alien invasion the leaders searched out humans who could learn to speak there language. Because of how hard their language is to learn only a rare few humans can speak it but Shane can and he is the best.

Because of his skill with the language Shane has become a prized servant of the alien ruler of earth. On a mission for his master Shane see's an alien kill a human for no reason other then a small mis-communication and Shane snaps and creates "The Pilgrim" a symbolic picture of the human spirit.

Without Shane's knowledge The Pilgrim spreads across the world and gives hope once again to mankind, but will it be enough to drive the invaders off of earth or will Shane have to put everything on the line to free humanity?

Review
This is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The story is compelling and pulls you right through the book like an adventure novel but it also makes you think.

Original Science fiction was not just about a fun space adventure it was supposed to make you think about what what could be and how the world would respond to these things. It was a challenge to human nature and The Way of the Pilgrim does just that.

The main character Shane is written very well. he feels real and you will start to care about him within just a few pages. The world, as it is with aliens taken over, feels real and possible. The characters around Shane have the feel of the french resistance during WWII.

The only down side to this book is that you trade a real feel for some parts that are a little boring. Some times the characters in the book have to talk about there plans and or the writer wants to show how people live in this world and his descriptions can be a little long, but its not very often and what he writes is really interesting.

This is a great book worth your time to read. I give this book to my friends all the time. You will not regret reading this book because it is fun and will make you think about the world around you.

I would give this book a 7.5 out of 10

The Man Who Was Magic

The Man Who Was Magic - A Fable of Innocence
Paul Gallico
Historical Fantasy

Summery
Adam and his talking dog Mopsy are on there way to city of magic Mageia. Adam is a man normal looking, nice, honest man who is very very different from everyone else. Adam can do real magic.

The magic city of Magia is home to the greatest magicians in the world... that is, the greatest stage magicians in the world, and they apply there trade with Skill and pride.

Adam had heard of Mageia in his homeland across the mountains, but Adam believed it to be a play of real magic where he could learn and continue his study of magic. Adam arrives at the gate and is told that the testing to join the legendary magicians of Mageia starts today and that if he wants to get in he will need to hurry.

After entering the city Adam meets Jane a young girl who is the daughter of the Mageia's mayor. she agrees to be his assistant for the testing as an assistant is needed for the test.

At the test Adam does something that none of these master magicians have ever seen or could do and this starts people thinking... what if it is real magic?

Will Adam and Mopsy be able Join the people of mageia? or will people's fears of the unknown and the magnificent drive them to destroy Adam?

Review
This book is one of the greatest book ever written that know one has ever heard off. It was written in 1966 and has only had two printings. This means that getting this book can be difficult but I promise that you will not regret the it.

I rarely lend this book out because of how hard it is to get a new one if it gets lost of damaged, but everyone I have lent this to has loved it and many have gone out to get there own copy.

The Man Who Was Magic is a story of hope and seeing the magic that lives around us everyday. This is an uplifting tale that will leave you happy and ready to face the world. this story is also a warning that just because something is different does not mean it is bad, and just because someone is over you does not mean they are always right. We must make our own way in life.

This book will teach you and build you up. this is a great book for teenagers because it is fun but also will teach them important live lessons. This book should be a must read before you die because it is possibly the best book I have ever read in my life. It is a an unknown classic just waiting for you to find.

I would give this book a 10 out of 10