September Reading Round-off

Well hello there folks!! I know it has been quite a while since anything got posted on this here blog but that's because I've been rather busy over on my new writing/study blog Ray May Write fretting and procrastinating my way through September. Which has disappeared alarmingly fast, I'm less than a week away from my 24th birthday and only a few days away from the start of my two OU modules which is a little scary.

But I'm here today to do my September reading wrap-up and tell you what my Book of the Month is, it should be a fairly obvious choice if you follow me on twitter :P

Books Read in September
89. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce (8/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
90. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (11/9/2014 AM)
91. Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini (12/9/2014 PM)
92. Cross Stitch/Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (15/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
93. Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce (17/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
94. Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce (17/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
95. Speechless by Hannah Harrington (21/9/2014 PM)
96. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (23/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
97. Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan (25/9/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
98. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (29/9/2014 PM)
99. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (30/9/2014 PM)

Oops again with only 4 new reads out of 11 but who cares?

Book of the Month
This is an easy choice as you'll well know that I've been absolutely *dying* to read the rest of this after I got something like 25 chapters in over the YALC weekend. I had quite a time getting hold of a copy since I hadn't realised that the UK release date was over a week later than the US date so I expended rather a lot of stress and energy getting myself to Waterstones when they didn't have it in yet. *sigh* But when I did finally get my grubby mitts on a copy everything was right with the world. I devoured this book, I fucking loved this book and all its characters and the world and dammit I just love Sarah J. Maas ok? Heir of Fire was amazing and I don't quite know what I'm going to do with myself until the fourth book comes out. Thankfully we do have the epic sounding Court of Thorns and Roses due out in the Spring(?) so I can still get my Sarah fix before I find out what's cracking with Celeana. And I always have my re-read binge before the next release :P

Books I'm looking forward to in October
Now I'm going to keep the rest of this brief because I need to go be useful and help get dinner ready. I have a few things that I'm very excited for in October. One of them I finished this afternoon and have already flailed all over Twitter about - Misty Falls by Joss Stirling is part of a series that I adore and love to re-read over and over so I nearly had a heart attack in the library earlier when this book which technically doesn't even come out until tomorrow was already there on the shelf! Like a good addict I snatched it off the shelf and took it home to speed through. I may even re-read before I have to take it back to the library.

I'm also still trying my damnedest to get hold of a copy of Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan since I did my series re-read in prep for the release on the 25th and then no bloody bookstores near me have the book! So it will be the mission of early October to get it and see what Sarah the Soul Destroyer (as I shall call her to differentiate from Sarah of the Sexy Fae) has in store for me. From what I've heard so far, heartbreak and sadness but also perfection. So who knows what the fuck is going to happen?

There's also My true Love gave to Me which is the awesome sounding anthology of Christmas stories from a bunch of my fav authors. I am super excited for this and it should be a great book to read either in October or closer to Christmas when it'll really be fitting.

Anyways that's all I gots for you now, see you guys soon maybe.
Ray

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January has been one of those months...

Where all you've wanted to do is wallow in the nostalgia of books you've already read at least twice before, or as the case is with some of my reads in January fourorfivetimesIdunno. As I've had additional goals for what I do with my time I'm strangely not all that bothered and despite my claim to re-read less this year I reckon it's going to happen just as much as it always does because 2014 is the year that ALL THE SERIES seem to be ending!

I mean the Shatter Me series is nearly over (my copy of Ignite Me is already on its sexy way here so *dances*), the last Mortal Instruments book is out in May, the last Daughter of Smoke & Bone book is out in April, the last Blood of Eden book is due out in April, the last Slated book is going to be out and the next freaking Throne of Glass book is out in September-ish, not to bloody mention Unmade by that evil madame Sarah Rees Brennan! The last Grisha book AND ISLA AND THE FREAKING HAPPILY EVER AFTER!! I mean that's a lot of series finishing and some of them I am probably to re-read ahead of the final book's release so I've already lined myself up for about 15 re-reads just from those lot.

But anyway I digress as always. I should probably confess to my shameful reading from January. Only 11 books and literally only *ONE* book was a first-time read.

January
1. The Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce (1/1/2014 AM) *RE-READ*
2. Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce (2/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
3. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (4/1/2014 AM) *RE-READ*
4. Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder (4/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
5. Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Synder (6/1/2014 PM) NEW READ WUT?
6. First Test by Tamora Pierce (13/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
7. Page by Tamora Pierce (15/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
8. Squire by Tamora Pierce (16/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
9. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (20/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
10. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (20/1/2014 PM) *RE-READ*
11. Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce (26/1/2014 AM) *RE-READ*

I think this month is very indicative of which three awesome gals are some of my absolute favourite authors, I mean I don't know if you can spot the pattern but I assure you it's there. *shifty eyes*

*coughs* But anyway that's what I read in January! Now a wee bit later today or possibly tomorrow depending on what my grumpy self can be bothered to do y'all may get a post will more info about my 2014 Write a Fucking Book project (that's not it's actual name but it's a good Motivational point). So keep your lamps peeled for that!

Laters
Ray

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Egads! Strangers!

So... Hi...

Dammit now I've freaked you all out, stop shrieking folks I'm not that shocking to see I hope. Bah maybe I am it's been so long I'm surprised I still remember what my blog looks like. I can't really make a sincere apology for my absence as that'll require me to promise not to bugger off without warning again for several months and I'm not entirely sure I can do that.

Reality is truly a bitch and it's very sad that I've essentially cut myself off from something that I really used to enjoy doing. But work is such that my brain literally can't think creatively or constructively outside of the office, I'm still managing to read thank god but it's becoming more of a life raft to stop myself from turning into a hideously boring person who does nothing but talk about work.

I worry that if I tried to kick-start my blogging again then I'll distract myself too much from work and since the internet (and Nanowrimo) factored largely into my breakdown of interest in University then I don't want to get myself fired because my sometimes addictive personality has me checking twitter every hour when I'm at work. I don't even dare to open the card games on my computer for fear I dissolve into a Freecell junkie once more :S

So where do we go from here? I did actually start a review post the other week after I read the third book in the Beka Cooper trilogy by the incomparable Tamora Pierce (the draft got incredibly gushy and due to a saving error I lost the gushiest chunk of it - a blessing perhaps?). The major thread of the review was that I'm now desperately in love with Farmer Cape and I seriously want to marry him when I grows up :D Oh and Mastiff was fecking awesome although Tammy did break my heart a little (why him?) but in the end everything that happened only helped to make it a fantastic end to a fantabulous trilogy. Oddly Beka is the character I feel most similar to, if that makes any sense (except for the pigeons, god I hate pigeons *shudders*). She's a pragmatic lass who won't take no nonsense on the job but is as shy as a dormouse without her baton. But I digress.

What do people reckon? Should I start posting the odd review now and then? I don't think they'll be anything extraordinary unless of course I read a book that blows me away, just brief thoughts and a rating perhaps? I find myself watching a lot of dvds at the moment since it requires a lot less concentration to stare at a screen than to process words. I'm a serious Downton Abbey convert (with the nerdy advantage for me that the company I work for has actually done mugs for Highclere Castle where they film the show so I got to squee just a little) I just finished earlier tonight watching the second season and God knows I'm going to be on tenterhooks until the Christmas Special and then Season 3 because IWILLNOTBEABLETOCOPEIFMATTHEWANDMARYDON'TGETTOGETHERINTHEENDARGH!

*ahem* Tangent should be my third middle name. Anyway if I stay in the right mood I'll post something with an updated list of what I've read in the past few months, some corkers I remember and an actual DNF I'm sad to say (luckily it was a library book so I'm glad I didn't buy it first). If people want more detailed thoughts on anything leave me a comment and I'll try to do some mini-reviews or something. Oh and the point of the last paragraph was that I may do the odd TV/DVD review if it's something I really get into. Don't be too surprised if a post appears in the future that is an Ode to Matthew Crawley and his drop-dead quirk of a smile. You've been warned.

Now this has rambled and raved long enough, it's 2am and I'm two glasses of wine worse off. But it's certainly been cathartic to just type for a while and I hope that you lovely folk might motivate me into posting a little more because I really need to do something more productive with my time than just bulk digest CSI re-runs every evening.

It's been good to tread the boards again, here's hoping they're not all rotten through.

Night
LadyV

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Book Review - Tortall and Other Lands

Evening Folks! Another review for y'all today since I'm on a bit of a roll with posting right now.

Title: Tortall and Other Lands
Author: Tamora Pierce
Date: 9/3/2011 AM
Source: Bought
Description: This collection of fantasy stories contains all the tales from Tamora Pierce's land of Tortall. In addition to pieces previously published in anthologies, Tortall & Other Land contains two new stories. The collection encompasses stories about characters both old and new. (Description taken from Goodreads)


My Review
Now normally I don't tend to read short story collections since they're often a bit hit & miss with me but obviously if Tamora Pierce has a collection of short stories then I am guaranteed to pick it up because I fangirl over Tammy's books. So in the interest of expediency I shall review each story in the collection in one sentence.


The Dragon's Tale - Loved this story! Kitten is the cutest baby dragon ever and being able to see through her eyes is so fab.


Elder Brother - An interesting look at what happened after Numair turned a mage into a tree and somewhere else a tree turned into a man. 


The Hidden Girl - A good moral but not my favourite story


Huntress - a genuinely creepy contemporary story with a fantastical element. 


Lost - Another fab story with an appearance from my favourite Tammy creatures - darkings! Gotta love those cute little buggers


Mimic - Interesting story about a peculiar lizard.


Nawat - I personally love the Trickster books and Nawat is one of my fav characters, in this story you get to see a very different and almost worryingly crow-like side of him as he struggles to cope with his new role as a father. 


Plain Magic - Amusing story about a girl whose village try to sacrifice her to a disgruntled dragon


Student of Ostriches - Story about the life of a character mentioned in an Alanna book. Liked it.


Testing - This was more autobiographical than fiction. But interesting nevertheless


Time of Proving - Very short and generally forgettable story. 


Overall I liked the collection although there were a couple of stories I didn't care for much. The stories I liked the most were the ones that featured characters or creatures I already knew and loved.


My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars


Ok so this review took me longer than expected since it is apparently impossible for me to concentrate on my computer while I'm watching TV (I know it would be sensible to not have the tv on while writing reviews but I'm not a sensible person am I? :P)


LadyV

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Book Review - Bloodhound

Hey folks! Sorry for the rather meagre posting this week and for the lack of Covers So Lovely - Jess and I were both pretty busy with RL stuff and our poor frazzled noggins couldn't come up with a decent cover to choose for you to drool over so it'll be back next week when we've got a bit less on our plates! I've spent this past week helping out my mum with work and I've been getting up at the ungodly hour of 6am O_o so I am *extremely* glad for the lie-ins I'll get this weekend!

But anyway this will hopefully be a mini-review although since it's for a Tammy book there's always a chance I'll spill over into gushing territory :P

Title: Bloodhound
Author: Tamora Pierce
Date: 17/2/2011 PM
Source: Bought
Description: Beka Cooper, the heroine of Terrier, is no longer a Puppy.
She's a Dog now—a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Tortall. But there's unrest throughout the land. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the capital city of Corus, and the nation's economy is on the brink of collapse.
The Dogs discover that the counterfeit money seems to originate in Port Caynn. So Beka heads upriver to investigate, traveling with her mentor, Goodwin; Achoo, a hound whose nose is as sharp as her claws; and the pigeon Slapper, who carries the voices of the dead.
In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won't let anything—or anyone—jeopardize her mission. From the Silversmith's Guild to the Provost's House to the city sewers, it won't be enough for Beka to be her usual Terrier self. She'll have to learn from Achoo how to sniff out the criminals—to be a Bloodhound. . . . (Description taken from Amazon.com)

My Review

Just in case you didn't know by now- I am a *massive* Tamora Pierce fangirl - no really have you not noticed? :P But anyway I had a random urge to re-read this second volume of the Beka Cooper trilogy last month and with the final book Mastiff finally coming out this October *squee* it felt appropriate to refresh my memory with how fabulous Beka and Co. are in this book.

I adore the journal format of this trilogy and Beka's voice is no nonsense, witty and interesting while still being easy to relate to as a teenager - I'm talking insecurities and conflicting emotions making life complicated ;-). Beka has matured since the events of Terrier and I really like that she loosens up enough to enjoy more of a personal life although I will admit that I'm a bit of a Rosto fan so while Dale is charming and handsome I'm rooting for the Piper :P

The whole money counterfeiting plot was really fascinating and made you think how quickly a country's economy can be destabilised by a deluge of fakes in a medieval-era type world like Tortall. We also got to see how corruption in law enforcement really creates more problems than it solves (if it solves any in the first place!).  But in a country where they're still figuring out the logistics of a police force I suppose it's to be expected that corruption occurs since the lines between right and wrong and not yet set in stone.

Overall the book zipped along something lovely and I think Achoo is my favourite literary dog ever she's so adorable and still hard-working and I can't wait to see more of her, Beka and Tunstall in Mastiff (due to two broken legs he's sadly absent for most of Bloodhound). At the end of this second book I really don't know how the trilogy might end and I'm going to be waiting very impatiently for October 25th so I can find out.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Wow I'm actually impressed with myself for keeping the mini-review within the restricted length! I honestly thought that I might ramble on in my ardour for this awesome series - if you've never read a Tamora Pierce book then the Beka Cooper trilogy is a great place to start since you don't have to read the other Tortall books to fall in love with the characters and the world. So go pick up Terrier and I promise that if you like your heroines kick-ass then you'll love Beka.

LadyV

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Book Review - The Will of the Empress

This is the first re-read of the year and it was desperately needed, I had a really crappy end to what started out as a good day and by the end of it I'd lost someone I thought was a friend. It's almost reflex to turn to a book you already know when what you need most is comfort and boy did I need some Tamora Pierce last Wednesday night.

Title: The Will of the Empress
Author: Tamora Pierce
Date: 20/1/2011 PM
Source: Bought
Description: Daja, Briar, Tris, and Sandry have grown up and grown apart since their days together at Winding Circle, and Sandry's especially disappointed with the change. When Sandry's uncle requests that her three old friends accompany her on a visit to Sandry's vast lands within the Empire of Namorn, the young mages discover that they've landed in a trap. Namorn's iron-willed Empress has plans for Sandry and her companions, and she has wily and powerful mages to help her. But so, of course, does Sandry--if only she can get them to work together . . . . (Description taken from Amazon)


My Review
I should point out at the start of this review that this book is technically the 9th chronologically that is set in Tamora Pierce's Emelan world. There are two quartets that follow the tangled lives of Sandry, Tris, Briar and Daja from the discovery of their strange powers through the years of them learning to control them up to the start of this book. I'm not gonna recap all the backstory that lead up to this book so apologies if things get a little confusing.


While the earlier books in the Emelan world were rather more geared to the younger end of the YA spectrum; Will of the Empress is definitely for the other end. The four mages are all grown up now and have seen more of the world than they'd perhaps like to. Despite how close they once were as children Sandry feels frustrated  that she and her foster family have drifted so far apart.


Out of the four main characters I am most attached to Tris and Briar - Tris being the most powerful of the four with her weather magic she's also the most private and is generally pretty crotchety with people. I love her loyalty to those she does care about and her tendency to read whilst riding makes me crack up cos I'm sure it's exactly what I'd do (were I to live in a world where travelling by horse was the norm). Briar is the kind of charming guy you could introduce to your grandmother without fear even if he was a thief as a child. I love his carefree attitude that can switch to high alert at a moment's notice if he or his friends are in danger.


Not that I have anything against Sandry and Daja though - Sandry can be so bad-ass when she's seriously vexed and darn if she doesn't wield the stitch-witch powers with some clout in this book! But she does get a bit het up when someone offends her noble sensibilities and I can understand Tris, Briar & Daja's dislike of being bossed about as though they were the hired help by someone they consider as family. Daja is the one character who I related to the least - I don't quite know why but she just wasn't my favourite although it was really good to see a whole unexplored and rather unexpected side of her in this book.


The main reason why I chose this book to re-read when I did was because of the overall message that no matter what horrors you may go through in life, true friends will be there for you even if you've been apart for some time. The loyalty between the four mages in the face of adversity and danger helped remind me that not all people are fair-weather friends and those who truly love you will stick by you no matter how many lightning bolts you may throw at them in a moment of anger.


If you have already read some of Tamora Pierce's books but none of the Circle of Magic/Circle Opens/Circle Reforged books then I do really recommend them. The first two quartets are comparatively smaller than Will of the Empress and perhaps more simplistic but I find that Tammy's characters are always ones you get attached to and want to know more about so even if you start off reading this book I reckon you'll find yourself wanting to go back and meet these wonderful characters at the beginning of their journey. 


I am probably a bit biased when it comes to rating Tammy's books because I think that most of them are fantastic but out of the Emelan books the Will of the Empress is probably my favourite with Shatterglass and Street Magic not far behind (They are the books that focus on Tris and Briar respectively in the Circle Opens quartet). I now anxiously await the third book in the Circle Reforged Quartet so we can learn about what happened Briar while he was travelling since all the ominous hinting throughout WotE makes it sound like it'll be a fascinating yet dark read. *crosses fingers that the wait won't be too long*


My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars


Eek terribly sorry that this is two days later than planned in going up - I've had a couple of busy days where I've been far from the computer and not getting these reviews done ahead of time means it's buggered up my pseudo-schedule of posting reviews for Firespell and Soulless supposedly today and tomorrow. I'm gonna do my best to clear the backlog this weekend.


Anyways must fly, dinner awaits!
LadyV

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Book Review - Wild Magic

Ok first off I am *really* sorry that this review is late. It should have gone up yesterday but I've been so totally whacked these past few days that I've had to summon up energy enough to actually read and with writing two massive and kinda intense reviews on the trot it's wiped me out mentally. And that's not even taking into account my uni work which I'm slowly beginning to realise will actually eat my soul this year (if there's anything left after I attempt to do Nano in November - that is starting to look like reckless foolishness now). But anyway before I try and attack the beastly spanish translation I have to do by Friday I'm gonna get this bloody review up and I'll have to figure out what the hell I'll do about the one for Trickster's Choice. *brain melts*

Title: Wild Magic
Series: The Immortals Quartet
Author: Tamora Pierce
Date: 26/9/2010 PM
Source: Bought
Description: "If anyone might be a hero -- could I?" she asked herself and smiled.

All the orphaned Daine wants when she comes to Tortall is a job. What she finds is magic in many forms. Hired by the Queen's Riders because of her knack with animals, Daine soon reveals that her knack is truly magical. Not only do animals obey her, but they understand her words. Under the tutelage of the great mage Numair, Daine struggles to focus her powers and confront the nightmares of her past. And so her wild magic grows even stronger. She now can sense the presence of the immortals, evil creatures who threaten the future of Tortall. But Daine will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers and her past -- and protect the kingdom from immortal invasion. (Description taken from Amazon.com)

Review: 

This is gonna be a tad different to the other reviews in this series because this will be the only one that doesn't has 5 Stars. This isn't my favourite book in this quartet, it's not even in my Top 5 fav Tamora Pierce books. However it is on this list because it was the *first* Tammy book I ever read. Back in 2004 I found myself browsing a bookstore for something new to read and I happened across this unassuming reddish-brown book with gorgeous cover-art. The blurb caught my attention and before I knew it I was out the door with it -and now it's all ancient history and I have to say that in the 6 years since I found Tammy (lol I make her sound like a cult) I've read a prodigious amount of fantasy novels and thought long and hard about writing my own although that didn't turn out so great.

Wild Magic was my first foray into Tammy's brilliant fantasy world that I would literally give my right kidney to be able to live in - heck I don't care if they don't have proper plumping in Tortall I'd be in a world where knights were still rife and there were ruddy magical creatures flying about! Meeting her fabulous characters for the first time was such a rapturous experience that I was desperate to buy all the other books mentioned on the back of my copy of Wild Magic right away so I could read about Alanna, Kel and Aly- oh yea and George (Cooper who is married to Alanna) cos I'm a little bit in love with him the charming rogue that he is *winks*.

So yea, another thing which I love about this quartet (besides the awesome characters and setting) is how a large part of the overall story arc revolves around the return of these weird and wonderful creatures which are essentially immortal (although they can be killed). Some are peaceful and stay away from humans but some are rather mean and will purposefully attack people - my particular favourites out of a selection which includes, Spidrens, Hurrocks, ogres, giants etc. absolutely *have* to be the Stormwings. They're nothing like any other fantasy monster you've ever seen and even though they are foul, evil creatures I can't help but love them for their originality and for how bloody *logical* they are! 

Picture this: a bird that isn't quite a bird - it's feathers and claws are all made out of razor-sharp steel and instead of a beak it has a human face and torso too. It's teeth are also sharp as knives and caked in old blood. Also the smell - Stormwings feed off the fear and mayhem of battles and if dead bodies are left on a battlefield too long then they will come and tear into them, urinate and defecate on the bodies and roll in the resulting filth so you can only imagine how utterly foul the Stormwings smell in person - it's enough to turn even the strongest stomach. Their purpose was to scare people into *not* fighting wars through the fear that if there was a battle then the Stormwings would come and desecrate their dead warriors in the most hideous way imaginable. But after all the Immortals were sent to the Divine Realms 400 years before this story began the humans forgot and so now the lesson must be re-learned. *shudders at how creepily awesome the Stormwings are*

Now, Daine; she's either my third or fourth favourite Tammy heroine (it's a toss-up between her and Beka Cooper) and although her Wild magic is way cool I just find it a leetle bit eerie that she could basically sic a sparrow onto me and have it peck my eyes out with little to no effort. As much as I wouldn't mind having the ability to talk to any animals which I owned and felt affection for, her level of power is kinda scary and in the third book of the quartet she gets *very* badass when she's angry (incidentally the 3rd is my fav of the quartet). But she is a good person and considering the hard times she suffered through before the story starts I admire her for being trusting enough to even be around humans again. I do like Daine although she scares me just a tad so it's not entirely surprising that I like Kel and Aly more. I kind of envy her cos Numair (her uber-powerful mage teacher) is so lovely and ditsy-funny and well yea I'm not saying any more on that subject :P

So basically - I do love this book although story-wise it's not quite as amazing as some of the Tortall books but I can forgive it because it holds such nostalgic and sentimental value for me. Now after writing this review I really want to re-read the other three books but dang it I *can't* cos I have tons of TBR books and they're at home anyway where I can't get them *pouts*. Anyway as an introduction to Tammy's books Wild Magic is fab cos we're seeing this world through Daine's eyes and she's never been outside of her village before the start of the book so everything is as new and fresh for her as it is for us. The series only gets better after the first book so I really hope that if anyone does decide to pick this book up that they'll continue on with the other books and eventually everything Tammy has ever published :P.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Phew there we go! It's finished and now I must go eat some dinner and then whup some spanish (translation) ass! I'll do my bestest to get the Trickster's Choice review up soon but I've also got to do Harry Potter and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader so things could get a little backed up :S

Oh yea and I turn 20 tomorrow!!! *squee* So I will be doing a vlog showing my awesome pressies and maybe waffle a bit about how crazy it feels to be two whole decades old. 

Until Tomorrow

LadyV

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Book Review - The Protector of the Small Quartet

S'up folks tis Saturday and therefore it's only SIX FREAKING DAYS TIL MY BIRTHDAY!! *dies* I know I've been whining a lot about turning 20 but my inner four year old is soo freaking excited cos being away from home for my birthday means I'll get cards and stuff through the mail and I *love* getting stuff in the mail! Anywho on Thursday I'll do a nice rambly post and do a vlog showing any bookish or funky presents I receive so be ready for that :D

But I'm procrastinating the true purpose of this post - to review the second book/series in my Favs Fortnight event. Warning this post will contain *extreme* amounts of gushy adoration and a healthy dose of ranting about mean-publishers-who-don't-publish-my-favouritest-author's-books-in-this-country HUMPH!

Title: The Protector of the Small Quartet
Books in Series: First Test, Page, Squire & Lady Knight
Author: Tamora Pierce
Date: 25/9/2010 AM (Finished re-read of last book)
Source: Bought
Description: Keladry (known as Kel) is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits girls to train for the knighthood. The only thing that can stop her is Lord Wyldon, the training master of pages and squires. He does not think girls should be knights and puts her on probation for one year. It is a trial period that no male page has to endure and one that separates the friendly Kel even more from her fellow trainees. But Kel is not someone to underestimate. . . . (Description from Amazon.com)


Rant: It won't take long promise :P
At the risk of sounding hideously pretentious and snooty I have to say that Tamora Pierce is a *vastly* under-appreciated author in Britain because to my utmost sorrow her books are not actually in print anymore in this country and a few others that I can't recall right now. But even when they were in print I cannot remember seeing them displayed and advertised with any vigour (granted this was back in 2004ish when YA book marketing wasn't anywhere near as extensive as it is now). I think that with the influx of Paranormal and the ridiculously named "Dark fantasy" novels in the YA market, there just isn't as much demand for the medieval-esque/high fantasy series like what Tammy writes - to actually find these kind of books you'll need to either be very determined to hunt down copies through online sellers or second-hand bookshops or you'll have to write the damn books yourself. Heck if you can't buy what you want to read then write it - it worked for Tolkien and C.S. Lewis right? Do you think that if I wrote enough pleading emails to Scholastic (who published the copies which I own) that they'd reprint Tammy's books with either the same funky covers or EVEN MORE AWESOME ONES?!?


Review: For real now
Out of all of the 25+ books that Tammy has written over the past 20 years, the Protector of the Small quartet is quite possibly my absolute favourite set of stories (although the Trickster Duet is a very close second). In fact just in general the style of book that Tammy writes is one of my favourite to read. The medieval-esque fantasy world that she writes the PotS quartet and several others in - Tortall - is such a fabulous world and with it being the kind of country where old-fashioned knights and heroes are needed, the books are infused with a wealth of knowledge about horse husbandry, weaponry and other knightly aspects. I will not lie to you, the tiny amount that I know about horses that was gleaned from reading Tammy's books (and also in part from behind the scenes footage from my LOTR dvds) was actually kinda useful when I went horse-riding for the first time. Ok so I had no clue how not to bounce around in the saddle when my horse decided to start trotting without warning but I reckon the horse knew I was a green rider and I scolded him for his mischief.


*anyway*
Keladry of Mindelan, or Kel as she's more often known is the protagonist in this quartet. She's really quite unique compared to Tammy's other Tortallan heroines - Kel has no magical Gift whatsoever which when contrasted with Alanna's vast Gift, Daine's Wild Magic, Aly's Sight and Beka's intriguing Air magic, makes Kel a very special gal. What she achieves is a result of her own determination and physical effort - she doesn't have magic to back her up, or gods helping her out, just her own strength and will-power to succeed. 


As a role model she's fabulous; she always works harder and longer than she's required to, her sense of ethics and morals is the strongest and most admirable out of *any* fantasy heroine. She's fiercely loyal to her family, friends and those in her care and she will always do her duty by them. She's wise beyond her years and knows better than to dwell on things that she can't change, she can only strive to overcome them. When she sets her sights on a goal - the whole plot of the series being her goal to become a knight - she goes after it whole-heartedly and with every intention of succeeding *without* resorting to cheats and short-cuts. 
She's also brilliantly funny and witty, I find myself laughing constantly at her dry good-humoured quips and I envy her ability to stay cool-headed and reasonably polite when dealing with idiotic folk who have their heads stuffed up their collective backsides. Best of all she's still human - her fear of heights was nearly her undoing on several occasions during her Page years and even when she does get over the main terror she at least is sensible enough to respect the danger that heights still present. 


In case you think I'm never going to stop gushing over my girl-crush of Kel (it's *nawt* a crush I just wish I could be her!) I am now moving onto the other ah-mazing characters which appear in this quartet.
If you have read some of Tammy's other Tortall books (if not then get on it or I'm sending the hounds after you) then you will be happy to see several of her previous characters popping up for varying chunks of time. Alanna, Daine, Numair *sigh*, Jonathon, George, Raoul, and several other people all put in an appearance. Raoul gets the most screen-time as it were because he is the man who takes Kel on as his Squire in the third book (aptly titled Squire *guffaw*). Kel's time spent riding with the King's Own, who are kind of the King's police enforcement teams and back-up for the regular army, is brilliant to read about. The camaraderie between the men and Kel makes for some great funny scenes and "seeing" Kel tilt (joust) against Raoul is possibly the funniest thing I could ever dream to see on film one day.


I know that this review has gone on for *waay* too long but I'll try to keep this last bit shortish. So why should you read this quartet? Because if you love books with a fantastic cast of characters whom you can laugh and fall in love with then this is for you. If you love a rich and vibrant fantasy world that you just wish you could dive into then this is for you. If you want books that you can re-read over and over and *never* tire of then this series and any of Tammy's other books are so perfect that I think you should go out and buy them right now!


I have literally poured my heart into this review because only then will people who have never even heard of Tamora Pierce understand how much she has affected my reading and to be perfectly honest my life. I don't think that any author has inspired me to rave about their books quite as much as Tammy has and I really hope that one day I can get to meet her (although the chances of that when I live in the UK are slim indeed) so I can tell her just what a fabulous influence she has been for me - although this will invariably come after I've hyperventilated for 15 mins in true fangirl style :P


So to sum up - READ THESE BOOKS!! *ahem*


My rating: 5 Stars out of 5 (plus 30 more stars)


Phew! It has taken me an inordinate amount of time to write this whole review out and I reckon I can safely say that unless I get serious Writer's Block sometime soon I am gonna have no problem at all churning out 1,667 words a day for NaNoWriMo considering this review alone is nearly 1,200 words. 


But anyway a massive congrats to anyone who has made it down as far as this - I commend your perseverance and I promise to try and keep the next few reviews a good deal shorter but I just can't help myself when it comes to Tammy Pierce books :P


Until Tomorrow then
LadyV

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Booking Through Thursday - Disaster

Since it's been several weeks since I've done a BTT post I thought I may as well do it today.

"You've just dropped your favourite out-of-print book in the bathtub, ruining it completely. What do you do now? Booking Through Thursday

Well I reckon that I can say with a fair amount of certainty that this will *never* happen to me for several reasons.
1. I don't really like baths. I'm just more of a shower person since I get terribly bored sitting in a bath for any amount of time (unless I have company :P)
2. I wouldn't read in the bath anyway. I'd be too worried that my own clumsiness would make my book go swimming. Maybe if I purposely bought cheap tatty copies to read in the bath then I would but at the moment, not a chance.
3. My out-of-print books (and I have a *lot* which I really love) would be guarded like the Crown Jewels from any kind of damage since if I do need to replace one of them, the potential cost and difficulty of tracking down another, decent quality copy would be ridiculous.

I have basically everything Tamora Pierce has written to date (barring perhaps a couple of short stories in certain anthologies) and well over half of these books are the UK Scholastic editions which went out-of-print a couple of years ago *boo, hiss*. So now I've gotta conserve these books like they're priceless since there's little to no chance I'll ever come across more copies that don't cost an arm and a leg. It's gonna be hard since Tamora Pierce is my favourite author and I love re-reading her books multiple times. I actually re-read the Protector of the Small Quartet maybe 3 times in a row, back-to-back - I'm *that* addicted to her books.

Now I'll show you what my copies look like cos they really are the funkiest covers ever so you can understand why I don't want to try and replace them ever.

Four top Left - The Immortals Quartet

Four bottom Left - The Protector of the Small Quartet (my fav)

Four top Right - The Circle of Magic Quartet

Four bottom Right - The Circle Opens Quartet

Ain't they all so purdy?

This is my Omnibus of the Song of the Lioness Quartet. This series was the first that Tamora wrote and the starting point of the Tortall universe which also includes the Immortals, Protector of the Small and Daughter of the Lioness books and the new Beka Cooper trilogy - the third book Mastiff is coming out late next year (which IMO is far too far away :P)

On a final *hypothetical* note - What would I do if I did drop my favourite out-of-print book in the bath? Erm probably scream bloody murder and then sob my heart out for several weeks ;-)

Have a Great Thursday Folks

LadyV

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