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High Druid of Shannara - Tanequil (Terry Brooks) The saga continues... As each new novel come along, I find that I like the High Druid series much better than the preceding Voyage series. These new novels, though set after the events in the Voyage series are actually more like his older work.
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The Scrolls of the Ancients (Robert Newcomb) - This series by Newcomb is really interesting. I'm always surprised when new ideas come along in epic fantasy. With all the books published in the last 20 years, you'd think every possible story line had already been used or recycled.
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Shadowmarch (Tad Williams) - Williams' Memory, Sorrow, Thorn series is one of my all time favorites. He's been writing other genre's for the last few years while we fantasy addicts avidly awaited his return to form. I like this new series but it doesn't live up to my high expectations. Not much ever does of course, so don't let that put you off from reading it. The stories are so completely different you can't compare them anyway.
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The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) I'd never read the Chronicles till now. I've thought about it a few times but not until Disney undertook the task of bringing them to film did I finally break down and buy them. I found them to be whimsicle, antiquated and child oriented. That being said, there's a wealth of imagery in my head now. Though the stories seem simplistic on the surface, there's something deeper that sticks with you long after. I truly hope Disney does a great job bringing this to life. It may not be another Wizard of Oz but it could definitely be a classic.
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Chainfire (Terry Goodkind) Another treat from Mr. Goodkind. Again, the over arching story barely inches forward while the characters run around in circles. It's one of my favorites in the series so far. I just wish he'd go ahead and get the war over so we can move on to other stories.
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (J.K Rowling) The best one yet! We're looking forward to the movie next month and this book just made the waiting worse. I always hate to see a great series end. I don't know what I'll do if she really does end it after the next book.
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The Hedge Knight (George R. R. Martin) This was a surprise. I ordered it online with a gift card, thinking it was a regular book. Turns out it's a graphic novel. I was disappointed at first but in the end I liked it. I know the amount of work involved would be prohibitive, but it would be a blast to have a full length novel given the graphic treatment.
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Eldest (Christopher Paolini) Reading now. The first book started out a little weak writing wise but by the end, it was engrossing. This installment is strong throughout. Starting at just 15, it's quite the life the young author has embarked upon. If give a choice of careers, writing bestselling fantasy novels would be near (at?) the top of the list.
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High Druid of Shannara: Straken (Terry Brooks) Another Shannara novel, need anything else be said? Well, yes actually. I'm glad for the return to the classic format of the series. The Jerle Shannara series, with it's quest to far distant places was an interesting diversion but not up to par. I prefer my stories grounded in the four lands.
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The Sorcerer's Son (Phyllis Eisenstein) Having come to the end of my books and still a month out from Christmas, I looked through my collection of "never read" books I've picked up here and there. I've had this one for 2-3 years now and it was published way back in 1979. It turned out to be a pretty good tale. Sad but with a happy ending.
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