Entries Categorized as 'Advanced Readers'
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Advanced Readers, Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Bears, Binding of the Blade, Dragons, L. B. Graham, Long Read, Scary, Seafaring, Wolves
Add a comment »
Our rating: 
Joraiem Andira, a young man skilled with the bow, is preparing to leave his home in Dal Harat and journey to Sulare where his training as one of the Novaana will begin. He will join with others like him in the battle against Malek, the greatest of the Titans whose betrayal brought death to his Titan brothers and destruction to Kirthanin. With memorable characters such as Valzaan the blind prophet, Wylla, Caan and Aljeron and his battle brother, Koshti, Joraiem strives to fulfill his destiny.
A truly remarkable book. L. B. Graham’s vivid imagination, woven together with adventure, suspense, and tragedy, makes an amazing story. It’s written in a style similar to Tolkien and I found it to be every bit as enjoyable. I must say that the ending was rather disappointing, but I don’t want to give anything away, so that’s all I’ll say about that. Reading it was quite an experience and by the time I finished it I was emotionally exhausted, but it was definitely worth the read.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Advanced Readers, Adventure, Fiction, Mysteries, Review
Tags:Long Read, Seafaring, Stephen R. Lawhead
3 Comments »
Our rating: 
Aidan is a monk in Ireland during the last years of Ancient Rome. Chosen to go on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Byzantium, Aidan is overjoyed to be chosen, until a dream foretells his death in the city. Captured on the way by Sea Wolves, Aidan becomes the slave of Gunnar. The Sea Wolves set off, taking Aidan with them, to a rich city of gold, where even the slaves lounge about in idleness. The city turns out to be Byzantium, and there Aidan decides that God has forsaken him, because he does not die. Through a series of evil events surrounding a plot of extent that no one imagines, Aidan is led deeper into the belief that he has been abandoned by God. Convinced that he must shape his own future, Aidan sets out to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
I thoroughly enjoyed Byzantium, but must say that it is not to be read by the faint of heart. There are some very depressing portions, and evil is displayed as evil and acts very…well…evil. (Did you expect any different?) Certain battles are a bit graphic at points, but very well described. The evildoers use some language, and there are some references to worldly pleasures. That being said, I would highly recommend Byzantium to anybody who could handle it. Lawhead writes in a way that you will feel that you are actually following Aidan on his journey. 870 very rewarding pages of mystery, excitement, daring deeds, evil plots and a story about finding true peace.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Advanced Readers, Fiction, Review
Tags:Long Read, Rudyard Kipling
Add a comment »
Our rating:
Kimball O’Hara, an English boy brought up as a native of India, meets a lama (holy man) from Tibet, and, partly because he has nothing better to do, and partly out of interest, becomes the lama’s chela (disciple). The lama is searching for the River of the Arrow, but there is much more to the story. Kim is practically catapulted into a web of intrigue and government activities. Told only as Rudyard Kipling could tell it, Kim’s story is definitely an interesting read.
Quick warning: there are a few things that I wish Kipling would have left out, but it gives you a good idea of what it was like back then. It is so neat how the story is told. On the surface it just seems like a ho-hum story about different religions, but there’s so much more! Spies, escapes, planning, diplomacy, and (unfortunately) a large sprinkling of lying and some (ouch) swearing. It almost irritates me how calmly Kipling is able to write the adventure parts! You would think that you couldn’t have adventure without excitement, but it’s in here. This is quite the book to read all at once, so take it slowly, (maybe two spoonfuls after each meal), and immerse yourself in the world within a world of India.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Advanced Readers, Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Bears, Binding of the Blade, Dragons, L. B. Graham, Long Read, Wolves
Add a comment »
Our rating:
Hold it right there! Before you read this review, I must warn you that it gives away something from the first book, Beyond the Summerland. So if you haven’t read the first book yet, don’t read any farther!!! And I mean that! I know it’s hard, but MOVE ON TO THE NEXT REVIEW! Okay, are you gone? Alright. For those of you who have read the first one, or are disregarding my warnings, go ahead and read.
Benjiah, son of Wylla and Joriaem, is now seventeen, and Wylla still has not told him that his father was a prophet of Allfather. Aljeron and Koshti are away in Shalin Bel, engaged in a seven-year war against Rhulalin, with the aim to bring him to justice. Little do they know what Malek is about to attempt, but the urgency of the situation is brought home when Valzaan discovers that Benjiah is The Chosen One.
There. Any of you who disregarded my instructions now have a pretty good idea of how Beyond the Summerland ends. I like this one better than the first. It’s really good. Oh, those of you who despaired with me over the abrupt ending in the first one, let me warn you: this one’s even worse.
content rss
