History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

very enjoyable
Excellent Story, extremely sexy and full of plot twist
barely adequate...
Trashy romance masquerading as fantasy
It's sad....

Forbidden Magic (Magic Series, Book 1)
Cheyenne McCray
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 031293761X
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Book Description

Cheyenne McCray's paranormal romances seduce with an award-winning combination of heat and fantasy. Now, she weaves the first tale in an enthralling new series sizzling with dark magic and dangerous desires. Prepare to be spellbound by Forbidden Magic....D'Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it's the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything....until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly-and sensuously-proves her wrong....Hawk is a Tuatha D'Danann warrior-powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. She is the embodiment of fantasies he never knew he had, but the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow....Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else-for to claim victory, they first must claim each other....

Customer Reviews:

very enjoyable.......2007-03-09

very good book, introduces different mythology and alternate races well.

i would recommend this book.

Excellent Story, extremely sexy and full of plot twist.......2007-01-08

WOW!!.....This book is HOT with a capital H. I loved this book. Extremely exciting, interesting and captivating. Not for the faint of Heart. The Author is not afraid to go there! The Heroinne Silver was strong and a real bad-A Chick that retains her femininity. The Hero-Hawk was gorgeous, dark, strong and sensitive. I like that in a man. The sister's book is out now also. (Copper and Tiernan-Seduced by Magic). The bad guys (??) are truly BAD. They commit horrendous crimes and deserve everything they get and more. Enjoy!

barely adequate..........2007-01-03

The willing suspension of disbelief eluded me completely with this book.
This seems to be an exercise in something (but what?)and it's not working.

Trashy romance masquerading as fantasy.......2006-11-30

This book was clearly written to capitalize on the Romantic Fantasy/Horror genre. It was clear the author hadn't even bothered to read anything from the genre.

The book reads like it was written from a formula derived from a Cliff notes versions of Hamilton, Harris, Dresden, ...

I couldn't even finish the book it was that bad.

It's sad...........2006-11-26

I work in a book store and tell people not to buy this book. I warn them. It was the first romance I ever did let alone paranormal, which I am notseasoned in no thanks to Ms. McCray. I wanted to go to her signing cause she lives here in the area near me in Arizona. Glad I didn't cause I would have to tell her. Please stop. Crude probably...but as a future writer...and a seasoned reader, it's an example of what not to do...I also don't recommend Elloras cave. Yes erotic romance but crappy erotic romance. These writers are horrific at times. Some of us have read alot in these genres and these are books we do not reccomend at all. How they got publishe dis the age old question...guess some people don't care about the story, or the thought put into a good read just the momentary fulllfilment of sex every other page...

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

Forbidden Magic (Signet Historical Romance)

Average customer rating:

Pagan Magic or Twist of Fate
Skip This One...
Fast and fun
Couldn't finish it!
Wonderfully eccentric characters

Forbidden Magic (Signet Historical Romance)
Jo Beverley
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 045121613X

Download Description

In Regency London, a young woman and her family are about to be thrown out of their home on Christmas Eve by their cruel landlord. In desperation, she wishes upon an ancient family heirloom--a risque pagan statue with magical powers--to save her family. But she never expected her savior to be a wealthy earl with a marriage proposal! As she accepts the good fortune granted to her, the magic of the statue exacts a high price in return. Does she have the strength to overcome those who plot to separate her from her newfound love, and the unpredictable powers of the statue?

Customer Reviews:

Pagan Magic or Twist of Fate.......2007-09-26

Lord Saxonhurst "Sax" a handsome eccentric young lord, must marry in one day or have his hated grandmother choose his bride, when his housekeeper suggests a young lady who's family is down on their luck, he quickly agrees. Meg's parents died three months ago leaving her and her four siblings without any resources, when their landlord suggests giving her 15 year old sister to him as his mistress in exchange for room and board, Meg turns to a magical but dangerous statute for help. She wishes a way out of their predicament that would fit their station and when the offer to marry Lord Sax comes up she knows it is the answer to her dreams. When they go back to pack up their belongings Meg is unable to get the statute and attempts to go back to get it but discovers it gone. When their ex-landlord contacts her, he tells her that he has what she wants and she will have to do something for him to get it back. In the meantime, Sax's evil grandmother plots to get Sax to do her will. In the middle of all this, Sax and Meg find them selves happily drawn to each other.

This was a great story, but sometimes Meg was so stupid it made me angry especially with all her lies and her attempts to chastise others for their behavior. Otherwise very good.

Skip This One..........2006-01-05

I have to echo the opinions of several previous reviewers who pointed out how far-fetched and unbelievable this plot was. Even if you suspend belief enough to buy the Shellagh-ma-gig, why is Meg so afraid to tell Sax about it? How could she think he would actually believe that she "forced" him into marrying her by wishing on a statue? Good grief! Plus the Grandmother is way over the top while being a cardboard character - we never really understand her motivations. If it weren't for Sax (and the rating system), I wouldn't have given this book even one star. Ironically, I read this book based on the opinion of a reviewer at a romance novel website. She considered it a "Desert Isle Keeper". I wonder, did she read the same book I did?!

Fast and fun.......2005-09-19

Meg is an impoverished heroine who wishes on a magic stone figure for a better life for herself and her four siblings, and the answer to her wish comes in the form of the Earl of Saxonhurst who must marry immediately or be stuck with the bride his evil grandmother chooses for him. Hijinks ensue when she leaves the statue in her old house and tries to retrieve it without his knowledge.

The good:
The humor. From the witty dialogue to the eccentric characters, including a mysogynistic parrot.
The emotions. They're clear and on the page. Sax's habit of taking out his frustrations on the inanimate objects in his bedroom is particularly well done. As is Meg's guilt over having won Sax by magic warring with her desire to provide for and protect her siblings.

The bad:
I'd give this an extra half star, but Meg's stubborn insistence on not telling anyone anything went on just a wee bit too long.

The verdict:
A thoroughly delightful, romantic read.

Couldn't finish it!.......2005-08-31

I have read Ms. Beverly's books before and enjoyed them but this one was just terrible, I have tossed it away in disgust, which is unusual for me because I usually try to finish a book even if I don't love it at first. Aside from the entirely too predictable plot and the annoying, one-dimensional characters the thing that has irritated me the most is the "Sheelagh-ma-gig". Now if Ms. Beverly had done adequate research she would have found first off that it is not a "Sheelagh-ma-gig" but a Sheelagh-NA-gig! I am perfectly fine with a hint of magic in a book and even the idea of a magic wishing statue but don't use a known item, misspell it and use it as something it isn't, if she needed a name for her statue then she should have made one up. A Sheelagh-na-gig is a stone carving found set in the walls or directly carved into the walls of medieval churches and castles throughout Ireland, Britain and a few other places throughout Europe. It is an image associated with either fertility, a warning against the sin of lust or protection from evil, no theory or myth surrounding this mysterious carving has any association with wishes except for in a few instances women would rub the image in the hopes of getting pregnant. So with that brief description of what a Sheelagh-na-gig really is, I am sorry to report that the author has done some shoddy research and misspelled the name which along with the predictable plot and unlikable heroine has made this book a loser for me.

Wonderfully eccentric characters.......2003-12-07

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! So many romance novels are formula-following treks down what has already been written. This book showed us something different. A little flash of ancient magic and one of the most bizarre casts of characters I have ever seen in a romance novel. From the maid, Susie, with an eye patch to the footman, Clarence, with his twisted foot - Saxonhurst likes to bring the neglected people of society into his world. And it doesn't stop at people. He also has a misogynistic parrot, Knox, and a cowardly but permanently snarling dog, Brak.

Even the hero, Saxonhurst, has his foibles. Beyond his penchant for surrounding himself with the most unlikely group of people and animals, he is a generous, kind-hearted soul -- who has a need for smashing items in his bedchambers when the "rages" come upon him. And his staff search all of London for items for him to break...and even bet on which item is to be destroyed next. How can you not be interested in what this group of characters will fall into next?

The characters that populate this book are wonderfully eccentric and bizarre. They serve to elevate the plot from somewhat expected to simply delightful - from beginning to end.

Book Description

Enjoy the dazzling adventures of film director Luc Besson's Arthur and the Minimoys and Arthur and the Forbidden City together for the first time. Join Arthur as he embarks on a journey to the land of the Minimoys, a tribe of people less than one inch tall, to find his missing grandfather and a stolen treasure. Arthur joins two Minimoy friends on a trip to the forbidden city of Necropolis, where they battle the evil wizard Maltazard.

Now a major motion picture brought to life by Luc Besson himself.

Performed by Jim Dale

Customer Reviews:

This is as good as it gets in audio books.......2007-05-01

Jim Dale is the most brilliant audio book performer in the world. He is as wonderful here as on the Harry Potter audios. I enjoyed this story immensely. The three main characters - Arthur, Selenia, and Beta - are all engaging. The story has an endearing sweetness. I just loved this and would very highly recommend it.

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants

Average customer rating:

This Books Makes Me Want to Become an Herbalist!
Well researched material
From an herbalist's point of view, an excellent read!
Excellent research!
Couldn't get past errors and arrogance

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants
Claudia Müller-Ebeling , Christian Rätsch , and Wolf-Dieter Storl
Manufacturer: Inner Traditions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0892819715
Release Date: 2003-10-31

Book Description

An in-depth investigation of traditional European folk medicine and the healing arts of witches

• Explores the outlawed “alternative” medicine of witches suppressed by the state and the Church and how these plants can be used today

• Reveals that female shamanic medicine can be found in cultures all over the world

• Illustrated with color and black-and-white art reproductions dating back to the 16th century

Witch medicine is wild medicine. It does more than make one healthy, it creates lust and knowledge, ecstasy and mythological insight. In Witchcraft Medicine the authors take the reader on a journey that examines the women who mix the potions and become the healers; the legacy of Hecate; the demonization of nature’s healing powers and sensuousness; the sorceress as shaman; and the plants associated with witches and devils. They explore important seasonal festivals and the plants associated with them, such as wolf’s claw and calendula as herbs of the solstice and alder as an herb of the time of the dead--Samhain or Halloween. They also look at the history of forbidden medicine from the Inquisition to current drug laws, with an eye toward how the sacred plants of our forebears can be used once again.

Customer Reviews:

This Books Makes Me Want to Become an Herbalist!.......2007-08-07

I Loved this book! It is actually my favorite book at the moment. I knew next to nothing about Germanic witches; Hexe, before I read this & I feel I'm better for the knowledge. The cross pollination of various magickal systems of belief throughout Ancient Europe & Asia is handled from a mostly Germanic perspective but reveals striking similarities to the stories of other "Heathens". This book clearly explains how early settlements carved out a place to live from the thriving "hedge" that densely covered Europe and how certain members of these communities (the old women) spent their time at the hedge picking the healing & love-inducing herbs whilst conversing with the intelligences inherent in them. As the ultra-destructive, monotheistic, anti-nature, "Desert" religions came bludgeoning through, (in the name of Peace of course) people were forced to see the natural world as evil & these women & their knowledge were vilified.

My only problems with this book were; I wanted it to go on for at least double the length & the 1st half of the book treats Christianity as though it were an ancient religion in it's own right rather than built directly on Paganism- which it SO obviously was. Writing about the ever-baleful, "pure", Mary as a Goddess is EXTREMELY generous in a book that has it's largest chapter entitled " The Legacy of Hekate"- a Goddess of truly immeasurable antiquity & power who even enjoys a growing number of followers to this day despite the best efforts of the opposition. Circe, Medea, & Diana/Artemis are paid due respect as well and we get to visit the fiasco of mercury being used as a treatment by the French for their syphillis epidemic- which killed the patients after a tortuous bout of mercury poisoning but the good news is that they may have killed the syphillis in the patient/victim. Meanwhile, (according to the author's research) the Native Americans were successfully treating syhpillis with herbs (sasparilla I think) and ritual but the Europeans who had the herb sent back over to them could NOT duplicate the success- since their doctors didn't believe in the power of ritual.
This book is merely 1 small part of the excellent argument for Western society acknowledging the importance of things that cannot be measured with rulers & microscopes or successfully controlled by dogma or fear of the Deep & Inescapable, Mighty & Awesome, Power of Mother Nature.

Well researched material.......2007-07-12

In doing research for my medicinal garden, I found this book in my local library. I wasn't sure what to expect with a picture of the painting "The Sorceress" by John William Waterhouse on the cover and a provocative title. I was pleasantly surprised. Witchcraft Medicine provides a well researched breakdown of both herbal and entheogenic plants used throughout Western Europe in medieval and ancient times. Originally published in German as Hexenmedizin: Die Widederentdeckung einer verbotenen Heilkunst--schamanische Traditionen in Europa, the text covers the history and folk uses of both hallucinogenic herbs and healing herbs. The book has three distinct sections, each authored by different individuals. Wolf-Dieter Strorl is a cultural anthropologist and ethnobotanist. Christian Rätsch and Claudia Muller-Ebeling are German ethnopharmacologists.
The first part of the book written by Wolf-Dieter Storl is interesting reading; however it lacks the references and solid research that Rätsch and Müller-Ebeling provide in their sections. This left me wanting more supporting arguments for some of his statements. His research tended to consist primarily of anecdotal stories of his field research. Rätsch and Ebeling provide extensive source references in their chapters.
The span of historical information ranges from the history of the Inquisition and its impact on witchcraft and shamanism in Europe to 20th century use of Absinthe and Coca leaves. There are numerous tables with correspondences of herbs and plants to specific god forms in Greek and Norse pantheons as well as plant lists associated with the gardens of Hecate, Medea, Artemis and Circe. The text includes recipes but I would strongly warn the reader that using entheogenic substances without proper knowledge of their handling can be dangerous and even deadly. Extreme care should be taken when introducing these plants to gardens since children and animals may accidently ingest the plant matter.
The entire book is nicely illustrated with historical botanical drawings, medieval woodcuts and full color photographs of plant materials. The bibliography is extensive, citing both classical works and contemporary sources in both German and English.

From an herbalist's point of view, an excellent read!.......2006-02-05

When I picked up this book, I thought it looked very good. I don't think however, I was quite prepared to be as impressed as I was with the work. It is not just a work about herbs and Witchcraft and their history, but a treasure trove of world cultural traditions and the folk healing modalities.

As a professional herbalist, I was really very happy to see the amount of research and documentation that went into this book. It really delves into the European shamanic traditions and healing arts and folk religions attached to them. This is something, which is sadly quite lacking in alot of literature that is about "shamanism". So much of of it is a hodge podged mess of European and Native American practices and lots of urban legend. Not so with this book. You get a clear idea where the lines of the histories of Witchcraft and folk medicine practices got blurred and blown far out of proportion by way of legend and outright lies. And you also get an in depth look at how many of these plants were used. The authors pull no punches, poisons, halucinagens and abortifacients can be found listed in this book. I think this is the first time in many years that I have seen an herbal book which dared to list them, let alone discuss them. I also learned about some plants that I had no knowledge of before and I am always up for that! This, I believe is how Witches in the past truly practiced, and how many still practice to this day throughout the world. The focus however is on European Witches and Western herbalism.

Witchcraft Medicine is clearly a scholarly work, but it it is not so much that the subject is at all dry and uninteresting to read. It was for me quite the contrary. I couldn't put it down! There is no relgious-centric slant to it at all. There are no sensationalist claims about 8 million Witches being murdered during the so-called Burning Times, for example. It's just lots of very straight facts, which is important. There is too much that is junk out there, and this book I would count it among my top ten historical herbals on my personal bookshelf. This book is a very impressive body of work. Note that there are not really recipies or proportions as to using these now.

Excellent research!.......2005-11-26

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants by Claudia Muller-Ebeling, Christian Ratsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

Christian Ratsch, PhD, the well-known ethnopharmacologist from Germany and his partner Claudia Muller-Ebeling, PhD, have come through again.
This is a fantastic book on the history, botany and prohibition of witchcraft and shamanism throughout Europe.

The book provides and excellent breakdown of both herbal and entheogenic plants used throughout Europe in medieval and ancient times. From Hawthorn to Holly, Elder to Elm, Belladonna to Mandrake, Amanita to Psilocybe, this book provides a well rounded foundation for understanding the healing plants as well as the psychotropic plants and their usage, symbology and worship and prohibition.

The first part of the book written by Wolf-Dieter Storl is good reading, however it lacks the references and solid foundation that Ratsch and Muller-Ebeling provide in their sections, providing the reader with maybe a 1/3 of the amount of reference material as the other two authors. This left me wanting more proof for some of his proposals.

Another problem with the book is that the authors should have collaborated together on the book as a whole instead of writing their own separate sections. Their own sections cause a little unnecessary repetition throughout the book and because of this, in some places, as one reviewer mentioned, information seems contradictory. However, the other reviewer took the meaning of removing the entheogenic substances from modern witches salves (which, without proper knowledge of their usage can be dangerous and poisonous) instead of in the context it was meant, when used with proper knowledge and care, is highly effective medicine, rendering modern, politically correct versions of these salves as ineffective.

Over all, the book is a 5 star read. I was especially impressed with the history of the Inquisition and its impact on witchcraft and shamanism in Europe. The book provides new angles on understanding the Pharmacratic Inquisition that I had not really considered before.

An excellent addition to any library.

Couldn't get past errors and arrogance.......2005-05-26

The authors of this book purport to tell the history of herb and plant use for religious purposes throughout history. They especially focus on plants that have hallucinogenic, healing, or toxic qualities.

Only trouble is, I find it hard to trust the authors' word on how to use dangerous plants when they make errors so often in other areas. For example, they claim that Henry VIII had syphilis, passed it on to his children, and therefore none of them lived past infancy. Ummm...except for the *three* who grew up to rule England? And in a table of plants sacred to various Greek goddesses, they mention that the pomegranate is sacred to Hera, but do not connect it to Persephone at all, which seems a pretty big oversight in light of her myth.

Then, they go on to talk about witches' flying ointments and how deadly they were--but ridicule modern witches who concoct less fatal blends to help them go into trance.

There may very well be treasures in this book. I'd just be too afraid to trust the authors' accuracy.

Average customer rating:

Fun, Fast Read!
Decent, but Lukewarm Follow-Up
Better than the first and keeps on going...

Arthur and the Forbidden City
Luc Besson
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060596287
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Arthur's backyard looked like an ordinary garden—until he discovered the Minimoys and their vast world where fierce battles are fought, ferocious monsters are faced, and one evil wizard, Maltazard the Cursed, rules from his terrifying stronghold: Necropolis, the forbidden city.

Now ten-year-old Arthur—magically transformed into a Minimoy—must help them find a way into this forbidden city in order to rescue Arthur's grandfather, recover a stolen treasure, and save the land of the Minimoys before it's too late.

Don't miss the live-action and 3-D animated movie based on the Arthur books!

Customer Reviews:

Fun, Fast Read!.......2006-12-25

This sequel to Arthur and the Minimoys is still a Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets The Secret of Nimh with a smidge of Indiana Jones conglomeration, and I rather like that about it. In this book, we pick up right where the first one left off and we get answers to all the questions left unanswered before -- Will they make it to the Forbidden City? Will they be able to stop the evil M, the cursed? Will Arthur get the treasure back before the cruel Mr. Davido boots his grandma out of her house? We also find out just how vile Maltazard is, we get a look at the Necropolis and of course, the lair of the evil villain. The author is also still parrelling the plight of the Grandmother and Mr. Davido with that of Princess Selenia and her people against M. These are the stark good vs. evil kind of stories where you just KNOW the good guys are going to win in the end...but you still find yourself watching because you HAVE to know HOW they do it and how it all plays out in the end.

In the second half we find Arthur married to the princess...a bit surprising since he's ten...but ok. We also get to meet Arthur's parents who are, well, more interested in finding the rubies than the are in finding their son. In fact, other than voicing their concern they don't seem to care at all but that does seem to be the pattern in the child hero/adventure type stories...the parents are either absent (dead) or indifferent (caring more about stuff or work than about their children). This is a convenient plot device which frees the child to be bolder and more heroic than they might otherwise be allowed to, but with suspension of disbelief, readers can disconnect from what is illogical with regards to a ten year old saving the world (Indiana Jones style) and just enjoy the story for what it is!

Overall...this isn't great literature; it's just plain old fun reading. The story is easy to follow, the good guys are all good (and likeable even) the bad guys are all totally evil and the parallel story line between the "real" world (the M, the Cursed and Mr. Davido) and the world of the Minimoys adds a nice second layer to the story. This book would make nice light reading for a couple of nights for readers aged 8-12...nothing too taxing, but highly entertaining for a few hours! I give it four stars.

Decent, but Lukewarm Follow-Up.......2006-09-16

In the sequel to Arthur and the Minimoys, Arthur, Princess Selenia and Prince Beta brave Necropolis, The Forbidden City. Arthur is searching for a lost treasure that will save his family's home, and Selenia and Beta seek the evildoer who threatens their entire people.

In Necropolis, a seedy market leads to a seedier palace, in which danger and fear are the norm. Imprisoned by Maltazard the Cursed, the three adventurers see little hope for escape. What they find in the prison and deeper in the palace will change everything. Hope MUST be found, or all the Minimoys will be doomed.

Although this installment carries the spirit and creativity of the first, it seems to lose some of the promised gusto. Things seem to come together a little too easy at times (a toy race car shows up right when and where it is needed), and a little too stretched at others (why did Arthur's grandmother and parents not to more to search for him while he was missing?).

The story is well crafted, but it is missing that intangible something that a truly great story possesses. It's one of those qualities that is hard to describe, yet easy to recognize. Perhaps it is spirit, or cultural differences, or perhaps it is something else altogether.

This is a decent follow-up to the first book, but in the end, some readers might leave with a lukewarm feeling.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
9/15/2006

3½-BALLOONS for WUAT Kids!; 4-STARS for Amazon.com

Better than the first and keeps on going..........2005-09-16

Wow...

I use to say that writing in books don't do justice to living through events. But in this book I find I want to live these words and in this world. Realationships in this world make more sense they are easier. Kissing and Love this man has these themes down to a "T". Perfect from cover to cover. Just The right amount of humor. I couldn't put it down and I tried. I am so impressed with the writing that I'm learning french in order to reread the first two books and get the second two before they make it to the us translation.

Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century (Magic in History)

Average customer rating:

A serious study
Power Packed Grimoire
Very nice!
An excellent analysis of a necromancer's manual in context
An Authority on Medieval Magic

Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century (Magic in History)
Richard Kieckhefer
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0271017511

Book Description

A general introduction to medieval magic, containing a little-known handbook from the late Middle Ages. "Forbidden Rites is the best book on magic in the late Middle Ages and a great introduction to the problematic relations of magic and religion in general." —H. C. Erik Midelfort, University of Virginia Preserved in the Bavarian State Library in Munich is a manuscript that few scholars have noticed and that no one in modern times has treated with the seriousness it deserves. Forbidden Rites consists of an edition of this medieval Latin text with a full commentary, including detailed analysis of the text and its contents, discussion of the historical context, translation of representative sections of the text, and comparison with other necromantic texts of the late Middle Ages. The result is the most vivid and readable introduction to medieval magic now available.

Like many medieval texts for the use of magicians, this handbook is a miscellany rather than a systematic treatise. It is exceptional, however, in the scope and variety of its contents—prayers and conjurations, rituals of sympathetic magic, procedures involving astral magic, a catalogue of spirits, lengthy ceremonies for consecrating a book of magic, and other materials.

With more detail on particular experiments than the famous thirteenth-century Picatrix and more variety than the Thesaurus Necromatiae ascribed to Roger Bacon, the manual is one of the most interesting and important manuscripts of medieval magic that has yet come to light.

Customer Reviews:

A serious study.......2007-06-13

This is first of all an academic work; the practical utilization of the document was not planned when the book was written. It contains real insights on the practice of magick and necromancy in the middle Age. Astonishing enough, the use of magick was proposed by clercs and even probably priester or monks to lay people. Now, in this book, necromancy doesn't mean summoning the Deads, but summoning spirits ! It has also nothing to do with a kabbalistic or goetic magick. This is why the book is unique and give detailed and accurate informations on the magick of this period of time. Did the magicians use afterwards a solomonic magick in priority to impress their clients ? Who knows...?

Power Packed Grimoire.......2005-11-15

This is a very interesting and a very well done Grimoire.
Besides a translation, it also includes the original Latin
Version, and photos. from the text illustrating the various
Magick Circles being used. What I especially liked about this
Grimoire is that includes a large amount of Magickal material
that is unique to this book and not available from other sources.
Also the book gives the reader a close sense of the original
author of this interesting grimoire in the manner that it is
written, you almost feel the presence of the original author
in the same room as you are reading this book.

Very nice!.......2005-04-20

If you are looking for the tradition meaning of the word Necromancy then this book is not for you. However, it does give you an understanding that a necromancer is not just about rasing the dead, there is an "art" around it, and it's part of a magic system.

I don't read enough Latin to read parts of the book, and would have liked english translations, but I guess you can't have everything.

An excellent analysis of a necromancer's manual in context.......2002-10-07

Analyzing a 15th-century necromancer's book of experiments doesn't sound like gripping reading. Actually, it's quite fascinating reading, though this is definitely a geekbuy for the scholar of magic, mysticism, and religious trends.

Simply, this book takes a largely complete necromantic manual and analyzes it in context of the time, history, and what the owner may be like. The manual in question thus becomes a touchstone for understanding a period in time, traditions, and ideas - and how they came to be.

It does so quite well. There's a myriad of marvelous insights, informative information, and catalogues information, all tied together in comprehendible ways.

If there is a flaw, its that the manual is included in the book - but with no translation! It's clearly aimed at scholars in that regard, but I have to wonder if a translation would have made it more useful in general.

Despite this flaw, even if a near half of the book is in latin, it's really quite an interesting buy for a scholar of such things. If one has read the other books in the series, then this one is definitely worth it for its well-done contuinuing scholarship.

An Authority on Medieval Magic.......2001-06-14

Professor Kieckheffer is one of the greatest authorities on medieval magic. It is especially ceremonial magic that he has placed firmly on the map of medieval intellectual history. The necromancer's manual is a fascinating text accompanied by Kieckheffer's high quality scholarship regarding social and intellectual contexts. I highly recoomend for anybody interested in the history of medieval and Renaissance magic.

Albertus Magnus, being the approved, verified, sympathetic and natural Egyptian secrets, White and black art for man and beast ... being the forbidden knowledge of ancient philosophers

Average customer rating:

Albertus Magnus, being the approved, verified, sympathetic and natural Egyptian secrets, White and black art for man and beast ... being the forbidden knowledge of ancient philosophers
Albertus
Manufacturer: De Laurence Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Magic | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Average customer rating:

For a Fan
Awesome!...but slow out of the gate.
Recommended by a friend
Among my favorite titles...
A very enjoyable tale

Forbidden Magic (The Godwars, Book 1)
Angus Wells
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553291289
Release Date: 1992-04-01

Customer Reviews:

For a Fan.......2007-05-15

I am a big Angus Wells fan. I have read all of the fantasy he has written save for the Godwars series. After his passing, I picked up the series in a used book store. Though it is well written and interesting, the plot is very generic, and the ending can be seen from a mile away. I am really disappointed in this one. I will read the last 2 books which I hope add a little more to the story. If you want good Angus stuff, read "The Guardian", or the Kingdoms books.

Awesome!...but slow out of the gate........2006-09-28

I acquired this book on accident. A friend found it in the trunk of his car and assumed it was mine. I layed claim to it since he was just going to throw it away otherwise (Barbarian!).
The book turned out to be the usual "young man, feeling oppressed, runs away in search of adventure" storyline. But then, about halfway through the book it became suprisingly good. The plot twists in the later books get even better. If you can get through the first half of Book 1, you will be rewarded for you effort.

Recommended by a friend.......2004-01-16

A friend who is as avid a reader of fantasy as I am recommended this book with great enthusiasm. I have to say, I am now a little dubious of his potential to recommend me books in the future.

This book is very predictable. In fact, it's so predictable, that I found myself waiting for the twist within a twist to slap me in the face, because the truth behind the lies in the book is so obvious. It never came. Apparently, I was actually supposed to be fooled.

If you can't guess the ending of the book and spoil the "suprise" for yourself very early on, then who knows - you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, you'll probably feel as if you must have read this somewhere before in a past life... (it can't possibly be that obvious, can it?)

Among my favorite titles..........2003-12-01

This, as well as the other two of the series, is among my favorites. I've read all three of the books, and I find them hard to put down, once you get past the characters' backgrounds, as well as the history of the world they live in.

Calandryll, a fopish, book-engrossed prince, leaves Secca, his father's kingdom, in search of the Arcanum, a book rumored to hold the knowledge of the resting place of the Mad God Tharn. This book is also sought by the wizard Azumandias, who turns out to be dead at the hands of his son....Ah, but the rest, you've to figure out for yourself by reading it.

A very enjoyable tale.......2003-06-29

Being an avid science fiction and fantasy reader I am constantly on the lookout for new authors and tales to capture my interest. With this novel Angus Wells kicks off his Godwars saga. As a whole the series is very enjoyable, if not particularly original. I found this book to be good, if a trifle slow in places. The story follows the scholarly prince Calandryll on his voyage to recover the mysterious arcanum. With the help of Bracht the kern freesword, and Katya the beautiful and capable swordswoman of the Vanu. Calandryll matures from a fopish princeling to a capable adventurer. Assailed along the way by assassins and evil wizards the three travel into hostile lands to find the book, so that it may be destroyed.

The characters tend to be superficial at times, and the plot limps heavily in several places. The world and concept have a great deal of potential, but the plot is fairly predictable. Don't expect this to be the best book you have ever read, but it is still very entertaining.

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