Book Description
With their magic boundaries falling and terrible monsters invading, the Marshalls of Lladrana must follow ancient tradition and Summon a savior from the Exotique land. . .
For Alexa Fitzwalter, the Marshall's call pulled the savvy lawyer into a realm where she barely understood the language, let alone the intricacies of politics and power. Armed only with her wits, a mystical companion and the help of the chevalier Bastien, Alexa must use her very human mind and skills to fight the encroaching evil-and resist manipulation by the Marshall's to force her to stay in Lladrana.
Now torn between her affinity for this realm and Earth, will she return home if given the chance? Or dare she risk everything for a land not her own?
Customer Reviews:
Robin D Owens - great writter!.......2007-10-10
This is a great book, and a great series. I have read all 3 books so far and am looking forward to the next one!
another great series start for Owens.......2007-08-14
I loved the Celta books, so I sort of resisted the summoning. They are not pure romance, but more of a adventure romance you see a lot starting to do. You might say, Owens really was one of the forerunners of this style of book.
The adventure was amazing, the emotions dead on, and I found myself really "seeing" her world building.
I really love the premise of women take from this world to save another. These would make a great movie.
*yawn*.......2007-08-05
This book was SO boring. I really, really wanted to like this book. I promise that I tried, but nothing ever happens in this story! Also, the characters and their relationships are poorly developed. Usually there is at least one redeeming quality to a book, but I can't find any for this one. The only reason to pick this book up is if you need help falling asleep.
Middle of the road fantasy offering.......2007-07-30
This fantasy offering from Robin Owen tends to stick to accepted fantasy dogma.
You have the "normal" person who turns out to be special, a menacing and malignant evil, magic, romance, struggle against the establishment and self.
The world building in this novel is interesting. It seems to be a parallel world in which magic exists. People with magic have gold or silver locks of hair. There is a complicated caste system based both on magical ability and your corresponding job as well as your birth.
The issue I had with this book is that the characters fell a little flat. The main character, Alexa, is transported to a different land, and immediately starts accepting it. Several times, it is stated that whenever someone asks for help, she feels like she has to give it. There is some superficial character building in which you learn that Alexa's friend died recently and that she grew up in foster homes. However, other than these bald facts, you never really see how these experiences have shaped Alexa. It is difficult to see Alexa as a stalwart hero-type because of the way she is portrayed in the book.
All this aside, the book was interesting to read, though predictably formulaic.
WOW!.......2007-07-27
I loved this book so much, I've read it probably 4-5 times. Robin creates another world and I love going there. The only problem is waiting for the next one. Excellent book!
Average customer rating:
- Compared to the first two, a MAJOR disappointment.
- I bit disappointing
- Protector of the Flight (The Summoning, Book 3)
- Protector of the Flight (The Summoning, Book 3)
- Wonderful book!
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Protector of the Flight (The Summoning, Book 3) (Luna Books)
Robin D. Owens
Manufacturer: Luna
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Gothic | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Sorceress Of Faith (The Summoning, Book 2) (Luna Books)
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Heart Dance (Celta's HeartMates, Book 6)
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Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)
ASIN: 0373802641 |
Book Description
If horses could fly…then Calli Torcher might ride again. But a devastating accident left her in such pain she thought the chimes and chanting in her ears were a hallucination…until she found herself transported to another world, and met the Lladranans who had Summoned her.
Lladrana was a parallel, magical earth filled with exotic creatures, noble humans and enchantments--all threatened by an encroaching evil.
And when the mighty volarans stopped obeying the Chevaliers, the flying horses' unexpected rebellion had thrown Lladrana into an uproar. In desperation, the sorcerers had sought help from afar--and gotten Calli.
If she could fulfill this mission, perhaps she would also finally find all she had longed for--a mate, a home, a family. But against this great darkness, she had no battle experience, no strategy plans. She had only a bond with horses.…
Customer Reviews:
Compared to the first two, a MAJOR disappointment........2007-08-25
No spoilers.
I enjoyed the first two in this series, light, non-thought provoking reading for lazy summer days. For this third installment though, I only managed to really read the first 175 pages before I said screw it and skimmed most of the rest. Calli was such a weak, whiny, needy little girl, and even the parts I skimmed were filled with her incessant crying about NEEDING someone to love her. Calli and Marrec were both very one-dimensional, unlike the main characters of the other two books. There wasn't much world-building going on in this book; I felt like a lot of things could have been much better explained than the cursory "this is what happened, and it just works" deal we get. Unless you're the type of person who has to collect all the books in a series, Protector of the Flight really is the type of book you'd rather borrow than buy.
I bit disappointing.......2007-08-24
I enjoyed reading the first two books in this series, but I found this one to be lacking. The characters just didn't have the depth the characters in the previous books had. Owens didn't even bother to dig deeper in the relationship between Merric and Calli. Merric was so stand-offish and Calli was so needy. There was nothing to show why they even loved each other. Not to mention, they didn't even bother to tell each other. Things kept coming up, problems were solved with little to no resistance, and the characters didn't seem to even bat an eyelash. It was almost too much all bunched together and condensed to fit. I still gave it three stars, because I like the world Owens created, but I sure hope the plot line flows better and the characters are more rounded in the next one.
Protector of the Flight (The Summoning, Book 3).......2007-06-13
This continues the series with interesting twists to the magic and the characters continue to be strong. I like the concept.
Protector of the Flight (The Summoning, Book 3).......2007-05-21
A really good read. Robin Owens at her best.
Wonderful book!.......2007-03-28
One tablespoon of childhood fantasy, added a steaming cup of action, spiced with the slice of romance, and you have the perfect cup of tea! What a great story! I loved it.
Average customer rating:
- Very Interesting, Very Good
- Short n Sweet... but Great
- That Special Feeling....
- Good to help the beginner
- it works
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Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magical Evocation (Llewellyn's Practical Magick Series)
Konstantinos
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books | Adolescent Psychology | Applied Psychology | By Topic | Child Psychology | Clinical Psychology | Cognitive | Counseling | Creativity & Genius | Developmental Psychology | Education & Training | Ethnopsychology | Experimental Psychology | Forensic Psychology | General | History | Hypnosis | Industrial Psychology | Logotherapy | Medicine & Psychology | Mental Illness | Movements | Neuropsychology | Occupational & Organizational | Pathologies | Personality | Philosophy of Psychology | Physical Illness & Psychiatry | Physiological Aspects | Psychiatry | Psychoanalysis | Psychobiology | Psychopharmacology | Psychosomatic Medicine | Psychotherapy, TA & NLP | Reference | Research | Sexuality | Social Psychology & Interactions | Statistics | Suicide | Testing & Measurement
Wicca | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Witchcraft | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Channeling | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Magic | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Parapsychology | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Alchemy | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Personal Transformation | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Ceremonial Magic & The Power of Evocation: A System of Personal Power
ASIN: 1567183816 |
Book Description
Now you can learn how to evoke and communicate with 50 spirit entities and make use of their abilities, when you get Summoning Spirits by Konstantinos.
Evoking spirits is one of the most powerful magical techniques you can use-but, until now, most of the material available on evocation has been virtually unusable because it was written by those with little practical evocation experience. Summoning Spirits was written by a practicing magician who has successfully performed many evocations. With his guidance and clear directions, performing evocations will be easy and safe for anyone.
Learn to safely evoke powerful spirits to aid you with any taskCreate sigils charged with the energy of spirits to magnify the effects of your evocationsMake an etheric egregore, a manufactured spirit that will perform the task of your choicePerform easy exercises to train your magical abilities and to develop clairvoyance and clairaudienceConstruct, prepare, and use special magical tools to aid your evocationsSummoning Spirits is a complete manual for evoking entities to effect positive changes in your life. Learn how the spirits that dwell on the other planes can be evoked to the astral and physical planes to help you obtain mystical abilities, locate hidden "treasure," and even command a spirit "army" to protect your home while you're away.
Summoning Spirits describes the specific attributes and abilities of 50 entities that you can evoke to uncover valuable knowledge, and who will help you succeed in nearly any task, magical or mundane.
Whether you need help to face life's challenges or to work a minor miracle, you will find the art of magical evocation a tremendously potent tool for change. Included are information and theory, as well as full instructions for all the rituals you will need to prepare for and then evoke spirits. No other book makes this ancient magical technique as easy to understand and use, as does this one. That's why you must get Summoning Spirits.
Customer Reviews:
Very Interesting, Very Good.......2006-07-12
This book was exactly what I was asking for. I've been very curious about summoning spirits for a long time -- not with summoning the spirits of the dead but with summoning spirits who have never been dead. Yes, there are beings that are nonphysical and have alawys been spirits and we can summon them.
Aside from a few rather elaborate rituals concerning the consecration of magical tools, Konstantinos makes summoning spirits relativly easy. But of course, if you haven't practiced using your astral senses then, no, summoning spirits and communication with them will not easy at all.
Prior to purchasing this book, I delved deep into faery magick and contacting the fae using my astral senses as well as my dreams and even tarot cards. So I thought, therefore, that I didn't need to practice the exercises given in the book.
Wrong.
Without practice, my astral senses were not as open and developed as I thought but rather shallow and almost entirely unused (I haven't astrally contacted a faery in almost a year). So when I attempted to contact one of the many entities listed in the book, I conjured nothing except the dim outline of a creature struggling to rise. I blinked, and they were gone.
So it's not a hoaks. Summoning Spirits can work for you if you practice the steps and open your astral abilities. The book also gives an excellent intro on what summoning spirits is and what is isn't. So take a good look at the intro first and when you've read it, you'll want to purchase this book!
Short n Sweet... but Great.......2006-06-28
This one ain't bad.... it jumps on the exercises needed for summoning spirits (including the greater banishing rituals and the middle pillar ritual). The rituals and exercises are pretty easy to follow, and thats always good. I gave it 4 stars because the majority of the book was ripped from the golden dawn style of practice.... I've read all of this before. I like it for it's organization and simplicity. There's little talking and alot more action. I'd recommend this for those of us who already have a somewhat good amount of information, because this book has little.
That Special Feeling...........2006-05-13
I have had this book in my occult library for a number of years,
and I have to admit two things. When the weather is cold, wet and
spooky outside, this is one of the books I seem to be always
reaching for. Ok that doesn't sound that magickal,but,in actuality, mood is a critical element of real magick. Secondly,
there are a number of interesting sigils in this book, and I once
conjured the king Bael using this book,in a very interesting conjuration to visible form, so the sigils work pretty good. I also like the illustrations, back again to that "old black magick" feeling, I suppose.
Good to help the beginner.......2006-03-19
This book is great for those who want a little more detail in their workings of the Craft. It gives step by step instruction and more detailed explanations for the why as well well as the what. Enjoyable and informative.
it works.......2005-06-02
this book is fabulessly written . the book is written by a man who knows what he is writing about . i didnt give him 5 stars because he says that the words have to be the same as what he has written . they dont you can use whatever names o power you want. i mostly bought it for the tecnique it gives excellent metheds for devloping psychic abilites .some spirits take practice to be able to summon .just remember use what you belive not what you dont (for the invocations to gods) i have allready orderd more of his books nocturnal witchcraft gothic grimoir and contact the dead (im not intrested in vampires)ill write some reviws for them
Book Description
Another American woman is Summoned to Lladrana...
With evil invading evil Lladrana, the Sorcerers must Summon an outsider to stop the insidious darkness slowly taking control of their land and targeting the Sorcerers — draining their Power and destroying the Sorcerers themselves.
Arriving in Lladrana, grad student Marian Harasta is stunned to find herself the center of a dispute among Sorcerers who want to augment their Power with her own. She must quickly learn her new magical Powers—and decide who she can trust in this strange land.
She has prayed for a miracle to save her brother—could Lladrana offer that knowledge, and can she somehow return to Earth with it?
She knows she must offer the Sorcerers something in the exchange, and ridding them of the Evil Sorcerer is what they want, but how will she fare in her first magical duel?
With unexpected help—and unexpected betrayal—Marian must determine where her true fate lies.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful book, .......2007-03-28
as a meteorologist, I truly enjoyed the weather side of things as well. I loved the merging of science and paranormal gifts. Amazingly seamless, with a well written story that draws the reader in instantly. If you've got a few hours (for me it took 4, but I'm a fast reader), have a seat, and dig in! You'll love it.
Perfect.......2007-03-22
This book is a perfect sequal to the first. If you like strong women who are trying to find themselves you will love this book.
Great Fantasy Novel by Owens........2007-03-14
I think this is a great novel about a wonderul fantasy world with a not so risk a, romance mixed into it. I think it has some graphic detail that some readers should be aware of. Also you'll have to forgive the author, editor, and publisher for a few typos
fun new series.......2006-11-06
I've enjoyed this series so far. Some have wrote that the first was better, but don't let that stop you from trying this one. I think the first might be considered better because it was a new world and there was much more fighting. This one seems to focus more on the scholarly aspect (which the Sorcerers do in Amee-they're the scholars of the world) The next book will bring us back to the front lines with the fighters.
The three main charcters in this one was Marion (slightly over weight with a domineering rich mother and very ill MS brother). Jaquar (he's the one in book one where that evil creature hooked onto to his horse for a ride back) whose parents were killed-their life energy was sucked out of them. Now, all he can think of is getting revenge on the creatures threatening their world. Jaquar plans to use Marion to distroy the nest of these creatures even if it means her life. That is until he meets Marion and get to know her. Bossgond (I know I'm misspelling this, but I'm writing from memory) is the elderly father figure. He's the cute old, ecsentric, that turns endearing father figure in the story.
Great book, sure to let the warm fuzzy in your belly gurgle.
Can't wait for the next book in the series.......2006-09-01
I really loved both this book and the first in the series, Guardian of Honor. I believe the next one is coming out in February and will find it hard to wait ;-).
Robin is a very imaginative writer and really creates her "worlds". I like the Heart series very much, but feel that this series is even better. Having read both books more than once, I recommend them.
Book Description
To save her failing bakery, Lina trades souls with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring--and starts falling for hunky Hades.
Customer Reviews:
The best thing about this book is the title. And that's not saying much........2007-10-01
Hades, ruler of the underworld in mythology, is handsome. He has a palace. See Hades. See Hades' palace. See the "mature" heroine win Hades' heart with her kindness and good spirit. See Hades and Heroine have silly and predictable misunderstandings. See all work out well in the end. Ta da! Romance writing is easy! We can all do it!
The previous reviewer hit the nail on the head here when she wrote that this is a fill in the blanks romance novel. The premise seemed so promising but I'm so disappointed with this dull attempt at a novel.
Who knew Hell could be so inviting? .......2007-08-22
I love PC Casts Goddess series and this one is no different. It finds our heroine trading places with a goddess and visiting hell, literally. Who knew hell could be so inviting? Hades is strong, sexy and dangerous. All the things that make a woman swoon. This is another in a long line of good books where the heroine and the man come together and its sexy, fun, and at times laugh out loud funny. Ms Cast has a way of telling a story that pulls you in and makes you feel like you are there. I recommend this one to anyone.
For Mythology Lovers.......2007-05-13
With her Goddess Summoning series, P.C. Cast is breaking into the fantasy genre with her witty banter and far from perfect characters with whom you can relate. Demeter is a far more wise mother, Persephone is not just another pretty face, and you can't help but love Carolina as she realizes that you can't believe everything you read. Cast has breathed new life into mythology, and given us book lovers another reason to stay up at night.
Bow Down Before the Patron Goddess of Mary Sues.......2007-04-11
This is my second book by PC Cast. The first one was Goddess of the Rose. After reading them both, I'm sensing a pattern here.
Goddess of Spring is very loosely based on the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades. Lina is a middle aged baker who's just received some bad news. An accounting error leaves her owing so much in back taxes that if she doesn't think of something quick, her bakery, Pani del Goddess, is going to go under. While experimenting with new recipes to expand her bakery's menu, she summons Demeter. Demeter offers her a deal: change bodies with her flighty off-spring Persephone. Persephone will save the bakery, but Lina in return must descend into the Underworld for six months. Demeter explains that the realm of the dead needs the touch of a mature woman. Of course while Lina is there she falls in love with the Underworld's god, Hades. Much hand-wringing ensues about how he will react when Lina and Demeter's deception is exposed.
Let's get it out of the way: The Goddess Summoning series is a big fat Mary Sue wish fulfillment series. In Goddess of the Rose and Goddess of Spring a middle aged woman from Oklahoma is chosen to be the goddess of some fantasy realm. She goes from being a struggling nobody to being large and in charge. In the fantasy land, she wins over the love of her subjects through her natural charms and wisdom, and makes everyone's life much better. It gets to the point that no body can function without her guidance. This is not a bad thing. As far as Mary Sue fantasies go, these are actually pretty low key. Complementing it all is PC Cast's lovely, descriptive prose. Her descriptions of the Underworld are really what carry the story, because there is not much plot here. From the on set we know there will be a romance and eventually Hades will find out that Lina is not what she appears. The story just meanders from event to event until it reaches that point.
My biggest problem with this and Goddess of the Rose was there is something about the love interest that makes me feel unclean. I have no idea why I feel that way about Hades. He's just so..... nondescript and anti-social. I think it has to do with one scene in which Lina decides to have a bath out in the garden. Hades gets an eye-full and it leads to a rather Ewwwwww moment. At least I know why the guy from the Rose book creeped me out. It was based off Beauty and the Beast so the guy had horns, fur, and cloven hooves.
That's Goddess of Spring in a nutshell. A pleasant beach read, nothing more, nothing less. I just wish Cast could cook up some more exciting plot lines. If these stories ever went beyond Mary Sue fixes world with her awesome maternal nature, I think these stories would take a significant step up.
Goddess Series Review.......2006-08-06
I like finding a new author with a fresh voice... PC Casts Goddess Series is just that. She takes the old mythology and puts a delightful spin on these stories. Incorporating the old with the present. The women in her stories could be any of us modern woman. Thanks PC for a great read. I look forward to the rest of your stories.
Amazon.com
Book two in the Anasazi Mysteries series, The Summoning God is the sequel to The Visitant, in which archaeologist-authors Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear introduced readers to murder, mayhem, and the myriad details of life in a 13th-century Native American pueblo. In both novels, the narrative arcs between the present and the past, drawing aside the seemingly thin veil of time that separates them. Here, as archaeologists Dusty Stewart and Maureen Cole sift through an ancient Anasazi kiva, attempting to understand the circumstances that could have led to the presence of 33 charred children's bodies in the ceremonial chamber, we also see the members of the pueblo as they move toward the terrible destruction so carefully unearthed by Stewart and Cole. This narrative device isn't revolutionary, but it is clever: the demands of classic mystery plotting (we have a corpse, but who committed the crime?) are fulfilled, while the reader lives simultaneously in the worlds of evidence creation and deduction.
The Anasazi characters will be familiar to readers of The Visitant: warriors Browser and Catkin, holy men Springbank and Stone Ghost, and the witch Two Hearts continue to move silently through the sand and sagebrush, circling through a world marked by warring religions and vanishing resources. When Browser and Catkin find a mutilated old woman surrounded by the skulls of her clan, they must summon all their courage to combat what surely must be witchcraft--or is it? Although the narrative founders at times in a sea of murkily presented myth, the characters are vibrantly drawn (though to watch an Anasazi holy man conduct an autopsy in a manner that would do Kay Scarpetta proud is one of several discordant anachronisms).
The Summoning God, like its predecessor, renders the lives and habits of the Anasazi in compelling detail: we learn that they used blazing star petals for perfume and that their ceremonial purification rites included cornmeal and ground seashells. Though the tenacity with which the authors seek to hammer home a situational equivalency between modern life and the 13th century is sometimes painfully heavy-handed, the evocation of daily life never is. Readers might wish to acknowledge that overutilization of resources, a thirst for territory, and a propensity toward holy wars are indeed threads that bind us to the Anasazi--then ignore the lectures and settle into the story. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
Step back into the year A.D. 1263....and the secret lair of a killer. He walks the ruins of a dying civilization, stalking the weak, the chosen, stalking them into terror.When War Chief Browser stumbles into a subterranean ceremonial chamber filled with headless bodies, he know it is just the beginning. The darkness that has haunted him for most of his life has returned. A murderer lurks in the shadows around Browser's village, taking people one at a time. Browser turns for help to a crazy tribal elder who has solved many crimes before. Browser is certain old Stone Ghost knows the killer, but the elder is telling no one. As Browser frantically works to find the fiend, the murderer watched from closer than he would ever dream....Only a few heartbeats ahead in geological time, archaeologist, William "Dusty" Stewart, finds himself excavating a mass grave in new Mexico filled with the burned bodies of children. As the number of bodies begins to mount, he is forced to call upon the skills of his arch-nemesis: world-reknowned Canadian physical anthropologist, Dr. Maureen Cole. What Dusty and Maureen discover about the killer's methods is almost too horrible to believe.From the national award-winning archaeologist and international bestselling author of The Vistant comes a novel of unforgettable terror about mass murder in America eight hundred years ago....
Customer Reviews:
Grim, fascinating read.......2007-05-26
Just finished reading the Summoning God. This one took place around the Four Corners area. Again, I encountered some of the same problems: overwriting (Purple Prose:), weird grammatical rules, and I know they have no clue what New Mexican food really is. Maybe I'll send them a cookbook or link or something. But these were nothing - in fact a person could even have fun with it.
The switching back and forth was still there. Dusty and Maureen were warming up to each other; how sweet. But there was too much unnecessary stuff in those chapters that I didn't care about. They were at their best when they digging up bones or looking under the microscope. Those parts were what kept me going.
What I found more difficult to deal with is the unforgiving violence in the story against elderly women and the emphasis on violence towards children. Yes, I know this is a work of fiction. And I know that period was harsh and violent. It was driven home by the Gears, I'll hardly forget it.
I think some of the stuff the Gears came up with to explain the warfare was a bit of a stretch. I loved Catkin but I think she took a back seat in this story. Browser wasn't quite focused for a chief but I liked him. Never gave Springbank a single thought. Loved Redcrop and Straighthorn. Overall I did enjoy the story although I didn't love it. Probably why I gave the book three stars. But I will read the next one. I'll review it too.
Intriguing device, painfully bad writing........2006-05-23
Yeesh, what "A reader" said. Was a professional editor employed in the publication of this book? Repetitive, unbelieveable physical descriptions of the characters and their actions irritated me enough to detract from the intriguing device of an Anasazi murder mystery. No-one's hair actually looks like a "glistening black serpent", no matter how many times you repeat it.
And yeah, the story jumps around too much and introduces too many characters and situations. You'd need to keep notes to follow what is going on.....and I was irritated enough by the poor writing to lose interest in keeping it all straight.
To continue damning with faint praise, this book's wannabe-Indian authors aren't too insistently "Indian good, modern world bad" nativist, although it's in there. I've encountered worse. Still annoying, though.
If you are interested in native American/First Nations mysteries, give Tony Hillerman a try. Better written, with more believeable characters.
The Anasazi Mysteries Triogy.......2006-03-31
I got this triogy after seeing a lot of other reviews at first all I cared about was the indian half of the books. but I read the other modern half and liked it just as much. The entire triogy was great.
Lots of Smoke, No Fire.......2002-11-30
Intertwining contemporary archaeology with an Anasazi mystery is a good premise. Unfortunately, the authors fail to execute it well.
Repetitious descriptions deaden the writing, making it flat and formulaic. No less than three times, Catkin's black braid is described as a "glistening serpent lying across her back." Too often, moonlight "gilds" or "sheaths" her "upturned nose," "beautiful oval face," and lots of others things. I lost track of how many times yellow cottonwood leaves glinted or glimmered in the autumn sun or swirled somewhere (down paths, on the river, over the kiva edge, etc.) We are reminded ad nauseum of the glints in Dusty's blond beard and hair, of the chin-length black bangs plastered to Browser's face by sweat, of his knee-length war shirt whipping against brush or bushes. Concerning Elder Stone Ghost, "Thin white hair blew around his face as he looked up at Browser." A mere three lines later we read, "Thin white hair blew around [Browser's] uncle's wrinkled face. Sloppy! Where was the editor when the authors needed him/her?
Gestures are recycled until they become tedious. People tuck stray hairs behind their ears or under their hats again and again. Lots of brows draw together lots of times. There is much cupping of coffee cups, sipping of coffee, gripping of war clubs in hard fists, and clasping of capes. The result is unintentionally comic and Chaplin-esque. These characters come across more like marionettes than full-blooded people.
The problems are not merely stylistic. Early on, too much information is thrown at the reader, confusing him/her: a mummy hanging from a rock, copper bells apparently left as bait, a murderous female, a little girl tagging along with her, somebody in a wolf kachina mask, a vicious pack of white-caped warriors, a woman with her eyes gouged out, beheaded bodies in a kiva, the heads in a grove, a necklace that seems important....Whew! The narrative would have been more coherent and the pacing better if these details had been doled out more slowly, one at a time. Easing into a good mystery should be like worming into a ripe apple: the deeper you dig, the darker and juicier it gets.
Sexual tension between Dusty and Maureen is a central conflict in the novel's contemporary portion. However, their unresolved mutual attraction/revulsion soon became frustrating, if not downright annoying. When are these two going to hop in the sack together? Or at least confront their obvious feelings for each other? I know, I know...this fat novel is one in a series of fat novels, and the authors want to keep things simmering. Maybe we'll find out if anything happens between Dusty and Maureen several thousand pages hence. Want to wait that long? I don't.
Hopefully someday somebody will give prehistoric Southwestern peoples the fictional treatment they deserve. But not today....
Buy This Book!.......2002-05-24
The anasazi series by the Gears is fantastic! History comes alive, and I like the parallels written into the modern day story as well! Well done!
Book Description
After her plane crashes into the sea, an Air Force Sergeant finds herself occupying the body of the mythic mermaid Undine-and falling for a sexy merman.
Customer Reviews:
Goddess of the Sea.......2007-09-01
I really enjoyed this book! It was different from the other fantasy/romance books. Loved the ending!
Different is always good!!.......2007-07-21
I kept debating whether or not to get it but I am glad that I did. I loved the story. It was well written and loved the characters. I felt like I was in the world with them. I cant wait to read the second book.
Very Enjoyable!.......2007-04-24
This book was much better than I expected it to be. A fine blending of modern, medieval, & mystic elements. The plot moved along very well and I found the ending to be very sweet and unexpected. I have wondered, though, as to why the mermaid on the cover has a pinkish/orangish tail when the heroine's tail is described as a beautiful blueish color. Oh well...If you'd like to read more mermaid novels, I recommend The Last Mermaid by Shana Abe, The Mermaid's Song by Marianne Willman, Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid, Book 1) (Paranormal) by Mary Janice Dickinson. You may also enjoy The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip, which has mermaid-like people in it; and another book, The Changeling Sea (Firebird) by the same auther.
Magic in the Water.......2007-02-19
I picked up this book bcause I love water stories, Mermaids, Selkies that kind of thing, this really delivers in the magic department. First of all CC is a very real woman silly and open hearted, the conversation with the telephone was very funny. And I had to respect a lady that could down to bottles of the bubbley stuff and an entire bucket of KFC then go dancing in the rain in the middle of the night, on a slick balcony and not kill herself.
I loved the descriptions of the undersea world and the differnt colors of the mertails. Gaea was wonderful she's been my favorite Godddess of Cast's so far, Stong, warm, loving, and present. Not at all untouchable. My most favorite characters were Isabel and the other ladies despite their hardships an disfigurments, they were in no way tragic or sour. Sapedon is just uber-crazy, Dylan is a hair away from being to to perfect, and the Abbot, what a twist. I liked goddess of the sea, was that CC never lost herself, even though she was wearing Undines body. also she never doubted that the seemingly impossible was possible. Another plus was that Goddess of the sea was romantic without being overly erotic, which I found refreshing. All in all a great read. Pick it up, and get a little magic in your life:)
Sooo much better than "Goddess of Spring" A really good read!.......2006-09-27
I read another book by this author called "Goddess of Spring" and was not impressed at all. It was an extremely typical romance novel, with a typical plot and a typical ending. Had I not purchased this novel at the same time as that one I probably would have never read anything else by this author. As it is, I'm glad that I bought this book three month ago, because even though it is a romance novel, it is quite good.
CC is inexperienced with romance, but an extremely competent air force officer. On a flight to her new station in Saudi Arabia her plane crashes, and CC is pulled under by the wreckage of the plane. Fortunately, a plea she made to the goddess to have more magic in her saves her in the guise of a mermaid who switches bodies with her.
But being a mermaid isn't easy-especially since CC has also been sent to the year 1014. Her half-mermaid brother is bent on raping her, and the goddess Gaia can only protect her if she is on land. But as her body craves the sea-CC has a problem. Throw in a quest for true love, a sexy brooding mermaid and a knight in not so shining armor, and you have the book.
A lot of thing about this book irritated me. Mythological mistakes, language problems... But so what-this was fun to read, actually romantic, and a truly enjoyable novel. I can recommend it if you like fantasy and can put up with some typical romance novel style fluff.
Four stars. Maybe I will try another by this author. It may be worth it if more of her books are like this.
Average customer rating:
- Fresh & Original
- Interesting Book
- Courtesy of Teens Read Too
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Sisters of Isis: The Summoning (Sisters of Isis #1)
Lynne Ewing
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Sisters of Isis: Divine One - #2 (Sisters of Isis)
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Daughters of the Moon: The Final Eclipse - #13 (Daughters of the Moon)
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Enchantress (Sisters of Isis)
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Sons of the Dark: Barbarian - Book #1 (Sons of the Dark)
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Sons of the Dark: Escape - Book #2 (Sons of the Dark)
ASIN: 1423103424 |
Customer Reviews:
Fresh & Original.......2007-06-13
Anyone into magic and mythology will love The Summoning. As a fan of ancient Egypt, I especially enjoyed the twist the author put into this book. The result is an original story idea that keeps the reader hanging onto the Sister's of Isis world.
There are very few stories out there that tackle ancient Egypt, and Ms. Ewing definitely managed to bring out its story potential. She obviously did her research; the history and traditions she refers to are all solidly based on Egyptology, something that helped me immerse myself in the book.
As a person who read the Daughters of the Moon series, however, I felt that the writing quality went down a tad. There was some romance, but I didn't find it so realistic; it seemed to move too fast. Still, it added that teenage feel to the book, and I definitely thought that the mummy element was a great touch to it.
All in all, I'd give The Summoning a 4.5. Can't wait for another one!
Interesting Book.......2007-06-05
I walked into the YA section of my local Barnes & Noble the other day because a friend of mine was looking at some graphic novels and I happened to look down and see this book and its sequel. Even though they're YA (and I've never really gotten into that sort of book--with the exception of the Princess Diaries and Royal Diaries, of course), I picked the books up because of "Isis" on the cover (and I happen to be both a Priestess of Isis and a member of the Fellowship of Isis).
"The Summoning" is a good read and difficult to put down at times. Ms. Ewing makes the characters lovable and they seem to tackle the sort of problems real teens do...the only problem is that the climax wasn't very thrilling. In the Harry Potter series, Jo Rowling makes it clear that the major conflict in each book is just a small part of a greater whole, but Ms. Ewing only conveyed that sense in a vague fashion. If the second book hadn't come out the day before I bought both, I might not have been interested in buying it. I can only hope "Divine One" (which I am only a few pages into) is better.
Final Rating: 3.5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-03-13
We all remember the enchanting world that Lynne Ewing had brought us in Daughters of the Moon: Night Shade - Book #3 (Daughters of the Moon)and then in Sons of the Dark: Barbarian - Book #1 (Sons of the Dark). And now Ewing does it again with her new series, SISTERS OF ISIS.
Sudi never thought that one note could change her life; she just thought it would give her a chance at dating her longtime crush, Scott. But that note that fell out of her locker was not from Scott. Instead of Scott at the nice restaurant, he's replaced with Abdel and two other girls. Abdel was sent by the Hour Priest, a secret Egyptian society, to tell Sudi, along with Meri and Dalila, that they are all descendants of the Egyptian Pharaohs and have powers that only they can use to stop the Cult of Anubis.
Like any other teenager, none of the girls believe Abdel--just think Mia Thermopolis discovering she was a princess (SHUT UP!). As each girl tries to get away from Abdel, he makes sure that they each get a scroll, but of course they think nothing of it. Curiosity takes over, though, and before they know it, all three girls turn into unusual creatures: Sudi, a bird; Meri, a cat; and Dalila, a cobra. Their destiny has been set for them and if they still don't believe it, maybe the evil forces will help them figure it out.
THE SUMMONING is another great read from Lynne Ewing. The tales that Ewing brews up and the world that she creates in the SISTERS OF ISIS is even more imaginative and creative. Reading THE SUMMONING just reminds me of how Ewing can take the reader out of reality and into a fantasy that not only haunts but amazes them. THE SUMMONING is only the beginning and the next novel (Sister of Isis: Divine One - #2 (Sister of Isis)) should be just as amazing.
Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen
Book Description
When hardworking Pamela Smythe whispers her wish for a god-like man, she never expects to find one--especially not in Vegas. But the goddess Artemis has dared her twin handsome brother Apollo to change all that.
Customer Reviews:
A great book.......2007-08-15
This is a great book, with a complex, well done plot. I enjoyed it from beginning to end; in fact, I don't beleive I stopped reading for more than a couple minutes once I started, staying up into the night to complete it.
A true romance!.......2005-09-27
I loved this book.
Recovering from a smoothering, emotionally abusive marriage, interior designer Pamela Grey goes to Las Vegas to meet with a new client and, while wishing for true romance after too many glasses of wine, she accidentally invokes the reluctant aid of the Goddess Artemis.
The God Apollo, after witnessing the true love between Hades, God of the Underworld, and a mortal woman (from 'Goddess of Spring'), has decided there is something missing in his life. On a visit to the 'Kingdom of Las Vegas', his twin sister Artemis is entangled in a mortal's wish for romance and he realizes this might be the answer to his quest for something 'more'.
They come together both hoping to find a 'real' person, a soul mate who can fulfil the secret desire for love inside of each of them.
'Goddess of Light' highlights a woman's struggle to overcome her fear of being deceived again by love and a man's need to be completed by love. Add to this the fun and frolic of Las Vegas, Artemis's conflict between her selfish nature and love for her brother, E.D. Faust's (Pamela's client) strange combination of eccentricities and wisdom, Pamela's gay assistant's caustic humour and Dionysus's resentment at having 'his' realm of Las Vegas invaded by the other deities and the story becomes a fast-paced romantic tale of laughter and love entwined with wonder and danger.
The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I would have preferred something closer to the 'Goddess of Spring's ending although I have to admit Apollo's sacrifice was in line with what he said he wanted all along.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas..........2005-09-14
Pamela Gray runs a very successful interior design firm in Colorado. So when fantasy writer ED Faust asks her to do the decorating for his new vacation house in Las Vegas, she jumps at the opportunity. Discovering the man wants her to model his house after Caesars' Palace will be a challenge; but trying to figure out how to change his mind on the grotesque animated water fountain of Bacchus is imperative!
Apollo has felt all out of sorts ever since his encounter with the mortal Caroline from the Kingdom of Tulsa. His twin Artemis, trying to get him out of his funk, takes him through the newly opened portal to the kingdom of Las Vegas. What should be an enjoyable experience walking amongst mortals turns into a fiasco when Bacchus has several visiting nymphs perform an ancient invocation that actually works! One of the mortals watching the "show" accidentally completes the ritual binding Artemis to her.
Much to the chagrin of Artemis, completing Pamelas' hearts desire isn't as easy as she would like. That, and the interest Apollo has in Pamela is more than just lust...
I have to say, PC Cast is one of my favorite authors! While she is following the "Goddess" theme, I really feel like each of the stories is very unique and different. The ending of GODDESS OF LIGHT totally caught me off guard and actually worked for me. I also just want to add that never having been to Vegas, I can only imagine, but I really liked the visual description of the Bellagio fountains.
Pamela has been seriously hurt by her failed marriage. For this reason, she has dedicated herself to work, shutting men out of her life in regards to dating and romance. While Apollo is very charming, their relationship does seem a tad rushed, but magic is involved and he really is a God among men. (sigh!) So all and all, what should be a weekend fling turns into much more when the twins become mortal for a week.
The relationship between siblings is a tad obsessive, but I enjoyed watching Artemis grow as an individual to where she finally understands what her brother wants: True Love. She goes from being self-absorbed to willing to help him...it totally touched my heart.
While there really isn't your traditional "villain", Bacchus, the troublesome, fun loving god of wine is both the cause for Pamela and Apollo meeting and the trouble between the gods. He is a petulant child that doesn't want to share (his "kingdom" of Las Vegas) and as a result, we have a very amazing story. In the end, I think I really just feel sorry for him.
I'm sorry for being cryptic here, but this is a story well worth the read and I recommend GODDESS OF LIGHT.
A great romance you just can't put down!.......2005-07-04
I am putting this one on my KEEPER SHELF, for sure. P.C. Cast has done it, again! I can hardly wait for her next one to come out. I find myself rereading each book to discover the nuances and layers that I missed the first time through. This author's a shining star on her way to the top!
Wonderful book .......2005-06-15
PC Cast has been a favorite author of mine since Goddess by Mistake. This book, like all the others, is a page turner which can not be put down until finished. A must-read for those who enjoy modern-day Goddess/God romance fantasy.
Book Description
When modern-day Mikki ends up in the strange Realm of the Rose, Hecate has been waiting for her. So too has her gorgeous guardian beast, who soon has Mikki swooning. But to save the realm, Mikki will have to sacrifice her life-giving blood.
Customer Reviews:
A waste of time, energy & money!!.......2007-10-07
In the past, I've enjoyed Ms. Cast's books. They've been delightful & I read them over & over. This was a complete waste of time. It's slow starting, boring and dull. As much as I love roses & work so hard to keep mine in good health I would draw the line at feeding them my blood. Yuck!!
Very imaginative........2007-08-24
A really good 'magic kingdom with dark twists' story of which the romance is almost an inconsequence.
The heroine is a complete nut-case. She Has Issues. She should have started talking to her psychiatrist friend long before she began having strange dreams. I suggest that she should have sought help when she first started cutting her hands and feeding her blood to her roses. That is not normal behaviour. Even for a rose enthusiast.
This is the first romance I've read with an undercurrent of man-hate in it. Also there are far far too many women in this story. Mothers, grandmothers, goddesses, handmaidens, actresses to name but a few. Already I feel sorry for the hero. Living in this Land of Women. Some of whom are quite vindictive.
But my main gripe is that by page 91 there has been absolutely minimal interaction between the hero and heroine. In fact. I don't even know the hero's name yet.
Let's look at Mikki's little job. She's an 'executive assistant' in a large hospital. Ok. Another name for a gofer. And what, I suppose, is the dream of an immature gofer. Why. To Be The Boss and have gofers of their own. Which is exactly what happens in Mikki's fantasy. But a 35 yo? Come on. She should have more options than that about what to do with her life. Plus. She can't handle a guy who has different reading tastes from her but is more than happy to accept love from someone who is essentially a slave with a MD.
Getting to the crux. This is a novel about carnal love between a woman and a beast. The hero has cloven hooves and horns. And then the author wimps out by having the pagan goddess Hecate take away his ability to consumate that love unless the heroine begs for it. I mean. The poor guy doesn't control his own fertility. If that happened to a female character do you think it would be acceptable? In a pig's eye it would. That's what I call man-hate. Also the hero is really simplistically portrayed and doesn't really act out of free-will.
tbh. I never liked roses that much anyway. I could hate them after reading this story. Poor Mikki is a slave to the stupid plants. And, as becomes obvious as the novel progresses, she's also somewhat dumb. She must have seen the movie Jason and the Argonauts. Hecate is not a benign goddess. Plus. Those dogs which accompany her should have given Mikki a big clue as to the true nature of the Realm of the Roses, which actually turns out to be a realm of nightmares rather than nicey-wicey dreams. It is not acceptable for a thinking human being to give up her life for the sake of flowering vegetation. Mikki returns to the Realm of the Roses. But I would never have done so. The place is drenched in blood. Ugh. I couldn't really connect with Mikki. She's too earthy and, to repeat, is basically a man-hater.
What I liked about the novel is how Mikki's strange little behaviours are amplified in her fantasy world, but her other worries (job dissatisfaction, lack of a love-life) are completely solved. I thought the author handled Mikki's re-entry to the real world in a very clever, seamless manner. Mikki never spared a single thought for the pain her friends might have felt about her attack and consequent departure back to Roseland. Another characteristic of the mentally disturbed. The more I think about the plot of this novel the more it creeps me out.
But. A few years ago I might have loved this story.
One of the Best EVER.......2007-07-26
Being a woman that loved the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, not only the childrens story but the old TV show, I was one who was dissapointed when the beast turned into a prince. This is one of the BEST books I have ever read. P C Cast will have a reader for life if all the rest are like this one. Being the first book of hers that I have read I hope the rest are as good. Not only does the book have a love story it challenges you to look up greek mythology just to see where she is coming from. I was totally enchanted from the beginning to the last page. I could feel the Guardians claws on my own back and could smell the roses too. The imagination that Ms Cast has is awesome. I couldnt put it down. I definitly reccomend this to anyone that is looking for the "different" romance that stirs your heart as well as your imagination.
Amazingly Great Read.......2007-04-21
To start off, I immediately liked this book because Beauty and the Beast is one of my classic favorites and this book was the author's personal take on the beloved tale. I have to tell you it astounded me how different it was and yet managed to enchant me within minutes. The mysteries implore you to read on and find the answers even as you lose yourself to the great plot.
Mikki is the heroine who ends up accidentally breaking the Beast's curse and freeing him from his imprisonment. In exchange for his freedom, the Beast whisks Mikki off to the Realm of the Rose where he is Guardian. A land he is both awed and feared in but non-the-less calls home. Mikki slowly starts to see the inner working of both the people and the Realm and develops feelings for both. But can a human love a beast? She will have to find out while dodging enemies, unraveling mysteries and giving in to her darkest desires. A task daunting at times but ultimately worth the price it comes with.
The first thing I noticed was the author's great descriptions. The story came to life off the pages and I felt like I was able to explore along with the heroine. And then there are the great characters. The heroine is quite loveable and sees the best in everyone. Makes a person cheer for her in her quest to right the wrongs done purposely or inadvertently. The hero is the haunted beast as you may have guessed. But P.C. Cast really puts a new take on him. For me he became more real, facing the dilemmas and hardships never mentioned in any other story but all too real in life. Quite an interesting pair and really worth the read.
If there was anything I didn't like about this book, it was the ending. And that's because this is one of those books that you read and hate to see end. Eventually it will, but if you are like me, you will be so wrapped up in the story that the end will happen too fast and leave you wanting. Fortunately, this author has more great stories and the journey can continue in those pages for the avid reader.
Boring.......2007-04-13
This has got to be one of most boring books I have ever read. Or I should say half read. I can't believe with all of really great reads out there that someone would find this book good. I am going to dump this one on the book shelves at my gym. Maybe for free it makes a better read. However I doubt that.
Books:
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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