Children of Chaos

Book Description

On a dodecahedral world in thrall to the tyrannical, war-obsessed Hrag dynasty, no one could stop the Bloodlord from sending troops to Florengia, invading its major cities, and offering them a choice between strict colonial rule or immediate and total destruction. When the doge of Celebre was faced with this ultimatum, he gave his children up as hostages so that the rest of Celebre might live. Thus the four young Florengians were taken back over the Edge and scattered across the Vigaelian face.

Fifteen years later, when Celebre suddenly takes on crucial political significance, one of the siblings must return home to serve as Celebre’s puppet ruler and the others must be eliminated so that there are no rival claimants to the throne. It’s going to be tough enough finding each other, let alone deciding whether enough kinship remains after fifteen years apart that the siblings care enough to help each other out of their respective predicaments. If they’re feeling particularly altruistic, the Celebres might even take on the bonus round: trying to save Dodec from the culture of death and war imposed on it by its evil warlords.

One thing’s for certain: the Celebre children are going to have a lot of adjusting to do . .

Children of Chaos is the start of a stirring, politically-charged quest duology by acclaimed fantasy author Dave Duncan.

Customer Reviews:

Fantasy Fans Will Enjoy This One.......2007-08-06

This book starts slowly. If this is your first Duncan book, set this aside and get one of the other ones and then come back to this book and its followup. If you like Duncan, do not be put off by the slow start. I do not know why, but these characters are not as easy to warm up to as some of his other characters. Maybe that is an interesting characteristic of this book; these people are all scarred by their pasts and all faced with their worlds falling apart. We do not see them in a state of youthful, pastoral bliss, as is often the case in fantasy novels where we see characters comfortable in their little villages.

There are also a lot of characters introduced in this first book and so it takes a while to really get the feel for the book and people. Some of this first book in the series seems a bit off balance, as in the lengthy scenes where Fabia rides around in a chariot with a personal guard, a character who is a large part of a few pages and then disappears. Who knows. Maybe he will reappear in book two?

But eventually the pieces all fall into place and the ending is quite good.

Definitely Not Dave Duncan's Best Work.......2007-06-10

I guess I was hoping for a bit more action. The plot seemed to drag along pretty slowly for almost the entire book. I felt like the book focused so much on developing its world and characters, but failed to development the plot quickly enough. Definitely not my favorite Dave Duncan book. I much prefer some of his other series including "A Man of His Word" or "The Seventh Swordsman." Those are fantastic series of books.

Good characters, intriguing plot.......2007-06-04

Duncan has created a dodecahedral world (impossible by the laws of physics, but this is fantasy) ruled by a pantheon of 13 gods and goddesses. Most people worship at least the 12 "Bright Ones," but some chose to be "henotheists," who dedicate themselves to only one deity, though they acknowledge the existence and power of the others (since the gods take an active role in the world, it's hard to deny). The children of Harg - four sons and a daughter (who's also the mother of the sons) have taken over one face of the dodecahedron and try to take over an adjacent one, relying on the followers of the war/storm god Weru. But they make a mistake when they take the four children of the Doge of Celebre hostage, and a worse one when they try to draft the children of the second face into their Werist army. Most of the story takes place 15 years after the invasion of the second face, and follows the four children - now adult or nearly so - as they begin to move toward each other. I liked this book a lot, and am liking the sequel, MOTHER OF LIES, even better, though I haven't finished it yet.

Great world-building, entertaining characters.......2007-03-18

Invaders from another face of the world have come bringing destruction with them. No merely human warriors can stand against the power of these shape-shifting, god-blessed warriors, and the entire Florengian Face seems doomed to conquest. Hostages from one of the first cities captured, Celebre, are brought to the Vigaelian Face where one dies, one becomes a god-gifted sculpture, one becomes one of the beast-warriors that oppress his people, and one becomes a young woman, apparent daughter of a wealthy merchant--but a woman with a strange interest in the underworld and the forbidden goddess of death.

Separated and scorned by their captors, these three survivors try to create their own place in a new world. Fabia, the daughter, seeks some means of avoiding marriage with the brutal warriors. Bernard is blessed by Anziel, but falls in love with a much older woman--who is in turn married to one of the warrior-leaders. Horold is most conflicted, having been brought up hating his own people who are now in revolt from their Vigaelian conquerors. Because the conquerors made a fateful mistake--they taught attempted to create a local occupation army--an army which turned against them. Each of the hostage children becomes, in their own way, god-touched. But those gods are different, and as they grow older, the hostage-children become very different in their goals and their motivation. Horold, in particular, seeks to cut all ties between himself and his family or anyone else he labels as traitors. Yet none can escape their origin.

Author Dave Duncan creates a fascinating fantasy world. The gods are in close contact with the locals, the world is weird and the personalities of its leaders are larger than life.

One challenge of a series is to thread the line between leaving too much unresolved and resolving everything too early. Duncan manages this balance perfectly in CHILDREN OF CHAOS. The short term goals are achieved, but a long term solution to their problems still appears to be an impossible distance away. Duncan fans will enjoy this action-packed story, and those not acquainted with this prolific author will certainly want to give him a try. I did think that Duncan managed the issue of the lost oldest child a bit casually, and would have liked to see a bit more conflict as Horold found himself in a situation where it was impossible to reconcile his beliefs with his environment, but neither kept me from enjoying this fine story.

A Great Start.......2007-03-16

This is the first of a duology, and I'm desperately waiting for book two.

I'm not sure why this world is a dodecahedron, but whatever. Dave Duncan is an accomplished writer and this is a wondrous book filled with reading pleasure. Yeah, you've read the synopses. They don't give a decent hint of the flavorfulness of this book. Buy it, read it, enjoy!

--Jerry

Custody Chaos, Personal Peace: Sharing Custody with an Ex Who is Driving You Crazy

Average customer rating:

The only book you need...
custody chaos, PERSONAL PEACE
Change your ex!
An excellent tool for divorced and divorcing parents
No New News

Custody Chaos, Personal Peace: Sharing Custody with an Ex Who is Driving You Crazy
Jeffrey P. Wittman
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex, A Hands on, practical guide to coping with custody issues that arise with an uncooperative ex-spouse
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The Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict after a Difficult Divorce
Divorce Casualties: Protecting Your Children From Parental Alienation
Mom's House, Dad's House: Making Two Homes for Your Child

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0399527109
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Book Description

This empowering guide is an inspirational roadmap for the millions of men and women navigating a rocky relationship with a former spouse-while trying to maintain a healthy atmosphere for their child. Topics include:

* The 7 strategies for peace when an ex refuses to change
* Skills for taming former in-laws
* Ways to help children cope with a difficult parent
* Strategies and alternatives for focusing anger
* How to avoid hot-button issues
* How to nudge an ex to change for the better
* Ways to deal with children's questions and confusion
* The new partner's role in the old partner's shadow

This is the book for every frustrated parent coming out of a divorce who needs support in setting things right-the healthy, sensible, and sane way.

Customer Reviews:

The only book you need..........2007-07-05

If you are navigating the gut-wrenching terrain of shared custody with a difficult ex-spouse, this is the only book you will need. A truly life-changing and empowering read--and a welcome reminder that while we may not be able to change other people, we can always work on ourselves. Filled with beneficial exercises and practical solutions to common problems, this book IMMEDIATELY improved my attitude with regard to my ex-spouse, and while we still have a ways to go at acheiving peace, this book gave me the tools I need to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Highly recommended.

custody chaos, PERSONAL PEACE.......2005-06-09

I teach a coparenting through and after divorce class so I have purchase several books on coparenting and been disappointed by the same information regurgitated by different authors. This book, while it offers the same basic skills as others, provides a unique perspective that if utilized can lead to personal peace. I imagine it can be difficult for some to read because there is a heavy focus on accepting responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings, and actions and changing your own outlook and behavior to obtain personal peace,(which in turn leads to a more peaceful relationship with your coparent.) The book also asks that you learn to view your coparent differently, as a human being who makes mistakes, but is probably doing the best they can, even providing exercises on forgiveness which could be hard to handle if you have not let go of anger. The book is easy to read, provides real life examples, and summarizes the points to remember at the end of each chapter. Overall, it is a great book I recommend to everybody who attends my classes.

Change your ex!.......2002-01-10

Well you may not be able to change them but...This practical, common sense guide offers communication techniques that will not only help you deal with a difficult ex-husband or ex wife, but also teaches you how to examine your own role in these sticky situations. This book offered useful advice on how to be civil when the other party is not. This book helps you communicate effectively and stay in control of yourself and your situation. If for no other reason you can learn how to minimize the conflicts between you and your ex that affect your children. This book allows you to put your children's needs first.

An excellent tool for divorced and divorcing parents.......2001-12-26

I have made this book required reading for my divorce and mediation clients. Dr. Wittmann provides simple, direct strategies which allow struggling parents to focus on what is truly important....raising healthy, well adjusted children. Mediators and divorce attorneys would be doing thier clients a great service by recommending this book!

No New News.......2001-11-29

I was disappointed by this book. It held very little new information that I haven't already read in other books. I ordered it, looked through it reading a few pages in each chapter and then decided to return it. It's possible that there are redeeming factors but if so, I didn't happen to read those parts.

Average customer rating:

Perfect for teens who want a blend of fantasy and mystery.
Light and frothy
Wonderful Supernatural Mystery
Wonderful Adventure
A YOUNG GIRL WITH AN UNUSUAL NAME AND A MYSTERIOUS ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos
R. L. LaFevers
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Dragon's Keep

ASIN: 0618756388

Book Description

Theodosia Throckmorton has her hands full at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London. Her father may be head curator, but it is Theo—and only Theo—who is able to see all the black magic and ancient curses that still cling to the artifacts in the museum. When Theo’s mother returns from her latest archaeological dig bearing the Heart of Egypt—a legendary amulet belonging to an ancient tomb—Theo learns that it comes inscribed with a curse so black and vile that it threatens to crumble the British Empire from within and start a war too terrible to imagine. Intent on returning the malevolent artifact to its rightful place, Theo devises a daring plan to put things right. But even with the help of her younger brother, a wily street urchin, and the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers, it won’t be easy . . . she quickly finds herself pursued down dark alleys, across an ocean, through the bustling crowds of Cairo, and straight into the heart of an ancient mystery. Theo will have to call upon everything she’s ever learned in order to prevent the rising chaos from destroying her country—and herself!

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for teens who want a blend of fantasy and mystery........2007-09-06

Theodosia has her hands full at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London: while her father is head curator, it's only Theo who can see all the black magic and curses that cling to the museum's holdings - and she's sneaking around using forgotten Egyptian magic to protect her father and her world from sinister forces. When her mother brings a new find into the museum with a terrible curse attached, Theo is faced with defending more than just her family in this fine fantasy story of courage and independence, perfect for teens who want a blend of fantasy and mystery.

Light and frothy.......2007-08-17

A spunky heroine, ancient curses, and a plot to rule the world...what's not to like? Just think "Indiana Jones" with a preteen heroine.

The plot is nonstop; any action not related to the plot, like the family's Christmas holidays, happens off-stage, and is passed over with a half-page description and an airy " I think it was the best Christmas ever!" but young fans of thrilling action probably won't mind. Other reviewers have noted the cardboard cut-out characters and the lack of atmosphere. Germans are bad, Theodosia's parents are absent-minded academics, and the pickpocket has a heart of gold. Readers looking for subtle characterization or character development should look elsewhere. The lack of any explanation for the heroine's magical abilities was annoying.

Wonderful Supernatural Mystery.......2007-08-12

Theodosia Throckmorton is your typical 11 year old living in London in 1906. Except that her parents run the Museum of Legends and Antiquities, and Theo seems to be the only one who can detect the multitude of black magic and curses attached to the artifacts that they are constantly bringing back with them. Nothing however has prepared this intrepid 'tween for the menacing group calling themselves the Serpents of Chaos, whose sole aim is world domination. This book sucked me in from the very first page. Theo is a fantastically drawn character, who while shows on the outside a remarkable confidence and self assuredness, masks on the inside a deep seated insecurity, particularly in regards to her parents feelings toward her. The secondary characters are also well written. I especially loved Theo's comrades in arms, her brother Henry and the street urchin Will. There are a few little glitches as a previous reviewer mentioned especially with Theo's speech which goes from a charming Edwardian dialect to something more like modern english. Still, this isn't enough to detract from the charm of the story. The ending leaves no doubt that there will be a sequel and I for one cannot wait to read the further adventures of this remarkable young lady.

Wonderful Adventure .......2007-08-06

Some kids don't like historical fiction, and my daughter is one of those. Ever since she had to read Treasure Island in school she steers well away from any book that takes place in a bygone era. It's sad, really. I read this book and thought, this is the one that will change things. I love the voice of the narrator, which the SLJ review says is inconsistent. I think it's great. It makes historical fiction easily readable, and may, someday, lead to my daughter stretching herself to real historical fiction.

Things to love about this book - the voice, the thrilling action scenes in Egypt, the quirky cast of characters, the cursed cat (I have one, too - a complete psycho!), and how Theodosia grows to see her family in a more accurate light (especially her annoying little brother, I have one of those, too).

Enjoy this imaginative and fun story, and let's all hope for more Theodosia.

A YOUNG GIRL WITH AN UNUSUAL NAME AND A MYSTERIOUS ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE.......2007-07-10

Should I be embarrassed that I am a 50-ish woman who took one little skim of this book and got all the way hooked, snuck it from my son, and read it cover to cover? WOW! I am the kind of person who has 5 or 6 books started all over the house; who reads snippets wherever I sit down. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos grabbed my imagination and took me on a mystical and suspenseful adventure, full of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, swirling curses and lively heiroglyphs. I met Theodosia's cute but pesky little brother Henry, and a heroic pickpocketing street urchin, Sticky Will, among many others. One of my favorites was Isis, the hapless kitty that became the recepticle for some dark curses Theodosia tried to remove from one of the ancient vases. I could go on and on about how much fun this story was to read, but I'd better not give any more away. I won't tell you that it was on Theodosia's shoulders to save the whole country of England, or that she had to find a way to go to Egypt and visit some tombs for herself. A real feat for an 11 year old girl. I just CAN'T tell you how she managed to get there, or how scary the dark tunnels to the tombs were. You just need to read it for yourself! If there was anything I would change about this book, it would only be to make the story longer. I hope R.L.LaFevers decides to make this only the first of Theodosia's many adventures.

The Chaos Curse (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Inept Readers Perhaps...
Should have been a quartet...
Only one reason to read this series
A worse waste of time has yet to be written
Okay conclusion to interesting series

The Chaos Curse (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 5)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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Canticle (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 1)
The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3)

ASIN: 0786916087
Release Date: 2000-07-01

Book Description

The quest is over. The hero returns home.

A weary Cadderly makes his way back to the Edificant Library, where he can begin to rebuild his shattered life. But the Chaos Curse has one last surprise for him.

If he fails to meet the challenge, his beloved Danica will be lost to him forever.

Customer Reviews:

Inept Readers Perhaps..........2006-07-13

So many bad reviews, I think the problem lies not with the book, but with the readers. This book is what it is, a closing to a 5 book series. The reader should know better then to jump into the story at book 5 and expect indepth character development and the logical development of a villain. This book is meant to end the story of Cadderly not begin a new one.

The Clerical Quintet is a series that overall bears a 5 star rating and is one of the best fantasy reads you can find. This book lacks in areas and is not as enthralling as the first 4 but it closes the story well regardless of whether people liked the ending or not. If you continue to read the Drizzt's series books that procede this book on the Forgotten Realms timeline you will run into Cadderly once again and find more information about what happened to him that might change your perspective on the story teller.

Salvatore is a master at painting a picture in everything he writes. If you purchase this book, purchase the entire Quintet and be prepared to be whisked away and immersed into the world of the Forgotten Realms by one of the best fantasy writers of our time...

Should have been a quartet..........2006-03-10

Seriously, with this as the final volume, I think the Cleric Quintet would have been better as the Cleric Quartet. If you've read the rest of the series (which is excellent) you'll want to read this one just to know how it all wraps up. The series deserved a better ending though, one that wasn't so painful to read.

Only one reason to read this series.......2003-10-07

The Bouldershoulder Brothers. They are the funniest characters in the forgotten realms. Everything else in the series is blah.

A worse waste of time has yet to be written.......2003-08-17

I generally love the work of Salvatore, however this book was a disappointment. Instead of the usual "couldn't put it down", this one I "couldn't bear to pick it up". I have a rule that I always read a book cover to cover once started, incase it had a slow start with a fantastic ending or profound message. This book had

- no character developement

- non-logical villian developement

- a let down ending

and the writing style was atypical of Salvatore. His usual in depth descriptions were just glossed over intimations of what he meant.

I'll freely admit that I'm not a huge fan of the dwarven characters in his novel. They are slap stick comedy relief and make a mockery of dwarven values and characteristics. The concept of a dwarven druid is great, but he is basically portrayed as a mentally challenged dwarven druid.

Take my word on this one. This book was terrible.

Okay conclusion to interesting series.......2002-08-12

... there are some interesting elements here. As hinted at in some of the previous novels of the series, Cadderly has something a reformer attitude. He believes his order has strayed away from its tenets and that it is too consumed with ritual and dusty tomes rather than helping people etc... Cadderly's religious order is headed up by Dean Thobiscus who, in Cadderly's view, personifies the ritualistic and power politics that have corrupted the order. This conflict had potential to be developed more, but this did not happen.

There was one improvement over the previous book in the series. Cadderly finally faces a foe that he finds difficult to combat. Obviously, I don't want to reveal who this last villain is but it was reasonably done. There is also some genuine risk involved here as Cadderly's lover, Danica, is captured. Where is the setting for this confrontation? The Edificant Library which has been overcome by the forces of darkness. Also, he faces an important choice near the end; to follow the calling of his God completely or continue his relationship with Danica.

...

From Chaos to Calm: Effective Parenting for Challenging Children with ADHD and other Behavior Problems
Average customer rating:

AN ANSWER TO A PARENT'S PRAYER!

Very comforting

helpful ideas

This Book is AMAZING!

This Book is AMAZING!
From Chaos to Calm: Effective Parenting for Challenging Children with ADHD and other Behavior Problems
Janet E. Heininger , and Sharon K. Weiss
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Discipline | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Special Needs | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Special Needs Children | Children's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ADD/ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit: Ready-to-Use Strategies & Activities for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (Ready-To-Use)

ASIN: 0399526617
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Book Description

Three points of view-parent's, therapist's, and child's-make this the most practical guide on the market for raising a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or other behavioral issues.

Traditional parenting and discipline books aren't effective for parents who are dealing with kids with ADHD, OCD, depression or other disorders. They need a guide that will help them with the unique discipline and organization challenges kids with these issues have. When getting up, going to school, completing homework, helping with chores, and getting to bed all become battlegrounds, the step-by-step proven techniques presented here will help parents achieve peace in their households. It will teach parents how to:

¥ Engage in proactive, not reactive, parenting
¥ Discipline consistently and effectively
¥ Deal with stalling, forgetting, overreacting, and other everyday behavior problems
¥ Work with a child's teachers, and more.

Customer Reviews:

AN ANSWER TO A PARENT'S PRAYER!.......2007-06-27

I bought this book recently to see if there was anything I could do to bring Peace into our chaotic household, and have found it to be amazingly accurate and very user-friendly. As I read the first few chapters, I was literally wondering if they had installed secret cameras in my house, because the authors were describing our life so accurately. With 5 children under the age of 12, of course there is always going to be some chaos, but when you add ADHD and BiPolar Disorder to the mix, it becomes a whole different story. The tips in each chapter and the 'Pointers for Parenting' were extremely helpful, but I especially liked that they included quotes from the author's son, who also struggled with ADHD- it was great to read a child's perspective on things. I highly recommend this book to any parent out there with a special needs child, or just a plain old defiant adolescent. It has made a positive impact on our lives, and I am very thankful to have found it.

Very comforting.......2007-05-18

I really thought this was a great book. Makes you feel like there are others who are having the same difficulties as you. Had many helpful ideas that really work.

helpful ideas.......2005-10-20

If you can get past the expectations of the author/mother there are a lot of great ideas to help life go smoother at home. Using calendars, lists for morning & evening preparations, and incentives more often than punishments has made life in our home a lot more peaceful!

This Book is AMAZING!.......2005-09-01

I have read so many books on this subject and this is the only one that tackles the day to day issues that many books do not. This book was loaded with practical suggestions and methods that restore calm, which is so important for children with ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders. One of the main reasons I loved this book is because it truly helps with discipline. We are so quick to dismiss certain behavior because we blame it on their condition, when in fact, they crave it probably more than a typical child. I was really surprised by the negative review, especially since every book may not mirror your child's predicament. Guess what, rules are important and there will be a day when we have to let our children into society and rules apply there too! As a parent with a child with special needs, I can tell you that we read so many things until it's hard to make sense of it all. This book was nothing short of inspirational and if you can take anything from it, it is that this a long hard journey for both parent and child, and we can certainly learn ways to diffuse situations and let them have the security and childhood that every child deserves. I highly recommend this book. It is practical, positive and reassuring for a stress-out parent. I paid full price and it was worth every penny!

This Book is AMAZING!.......2005-09-01

Planar Chaos: Time Spiral Cycle, Book 2 (Time Spiral Cycle)

Average customer rating:

very good
More of the same

Planar Chaos: Time Spiral Cycle, Book 2 (Time Spiral Cycle)
Timothy Sanders
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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Ravnica: City of Guilds (Magic: The Gathering: Ravnica Cycle)

ASIN: 0786942495
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Customer Reviews:

very good.......2007-02-17

I was pretty happy with this book. I was however somewhat disappointed with the way the Weaver King was killed, a little too easy and not explained well. He seemed very powerful to be killed in such a way. Also, it was kind of annoying that freyalise and windgrace refused to listen to teferi just because they didn't like him. All in all, it was good. Also, he should have elaborated more on Karn's character and role in the whole ordeal. It is a very good book though, the ending is good, makes you really anticipate book 3.

More of the same.......2007-02-15

I am very disappointed by the newest magic storyline, or rather how it is being handled by Scott McGough. McGough's work on the Legends Cycle Two saga Volume 1 and the Kamigawa arc were excellent. He portrays characters, whose cards have black mana in their casting cost, as deep emotional beings. When he tries to show green, white and red characters McGough makes them seem like angry primal beasts. What I find even worse is his understanding of Dominaria's history.

In Planar Chaos and Time Spiral I found myself questioning whether he knew anything of the history of MTG. As I read through the books I found myself eager to learn more of the story, but let down by the "realizations" that the characters came to when it was something the characters already knew.

Radha, the "keldon" elf, hardly acted like a keldon. If anything she was a bully. I realize that Keldon warriors are brutish soldiers, but there was an intense honor about them, like the Klingons from Star Trek. She constantly failed to beat her foe, but always boasted that he was nothing. Having her as the head of a Keldon war party is a terrible farce. Radha doesn't care for Keld, or the glory of it, she's simply angry and mean spirited. Of all the characters in MTG's history I have never openly hated a character as much as I hate her.

Windgrace and Freyalise did not seem like passionate protectors, but acted like spoiled children who refused to listen to others. I understood why they hated Teferi, as it was brought it up constantly in every conversation, but it seemed like they ignored Teferi's advice only because the book needed filler. In the end Freyalise has a "relavation" and claims she always knew Teferi's way was the right way. Windgrace's admission of being afraid was well done, and added depth to his character's passion, but again he seemed like a child who wanted everything 100% his way.

Jodah returns in this book as well. I could have sworn he moved like an ancient old man when he encountered Urza at the end of the Ice Age story arc, he seems to have regained the youthful spark of his past. Also he mentions Jaya's death, but no more is mentioned about her or what happened. While I wouldn't mind finding out in the next book, McGough's past of asking questions that he will never answer makes me wonder if the readers will ever find out what happend to Jaya.

The Weaver king was introduced in Planar Chaos, and was a mind-vampire (or spider as he's referred to) who appeared as a harlequinn ghost. He wove threads from one person's mind to another and enjoyed "playing" with them like a malicious child would play with a wounded animal. As a villian the Weaver King did his part, but he seemed to only exist to draw attention away from the other flaws in McGough's writting. It was as if McGough didn't know how to work with the time rifts, so he created a spirt/mental vampite/spider to cause trouble. Then killed him in the book to save the hassel of using him later. The Weave King was basically a lack-luster version of Yawgmoth.

Yawgmoth, the god of Phyrexia, the Father of Machines, the Lord of the Wastes, and the Ineffable is probably the greatest villian the Magic the Gathering storyline has ever known in my opinion. He incorporates all the worst that the multiverse has to offer. Unlike villians from other MTG storylines Yawgmoth threatens not just a plane, but ALL planes of existance. His touch has killed planeswalkers and caused the souls of his enemies to rise to his cause.

According to Scourge, Yawgmoth's soul still permeates the land of Urborg, and its been mentioned that he still lives in both Dominaria and in Phyrexia. This may be retconned in Time Spiral to merely an illusion that Karona experiences, since Teferi never recalls meeting her. Of course in a story where time is important it could also mean that Teferi simply hasn't met her yet.

When Windgrace links his spirit to the land he never feels Yawgmoth's being inside it. He also draws the green and black mana that Urborg is "famous for" into himself. I understand that Multani moved a large portion (if not all) of Yavimaya in the invasion, but Urborg is still primarily a Red/Black locale, and Windgrace is primarily seen through red magic cards.

The Slivers were originally an unknown even to the inhabitants of Rath. Unknown until McGough started messing with them. Now the reader is told Slivers were created by Volrath, who appearantly has some means of control over them. The slivers lost their queen with the destruction of the Stronghold, and thus needed a hive mind. If McGough had made the Weaver King into a new Sliver Queen it might have made sense, and there were allusions to the fact that this might happen. However McGough opted out of this and just killed the Weaver King with some power stones.

The Stronghold was destroyed in the Apocalypse when a groupd of stone dwarves summoned magma from Dominaria's core to burn it from existance. By doing so this destroyed the Sliver Queen as well. However in McGough's Dominaria the Stronghold is undamaged.

At times I also questioned his ability to use the English language. I realize Magic the Gathering novels are not scholarly works, but McGough's lack of editing in Time Spiral and Planar Chaos really disturbs me. Often he switched tenses in the same sentence, and wrote about individuals with plural pronouns.

I really love the Magic the Gathering story line, and the world of Magic, but I find the latest arc to be terrible. It reminds me of reading a high school short story that was stretched into a novel.

I hope that Future Sight will be a change from what has become the norm for McGough's Dominaria.

Average customer rating:

Summer Journal
Great Book!
Bharani R.- Absolutely Normal Chaos
Katie's Review
Absolutely Normal Chaos

Absolutely Normal Chaos
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064406326

Book Description

Mary Lou Finney is less than excited about her assignment to keep a journal over the summer. Boring! Then cousin Carl Ray comes to stay with her family, and what starts out as the dull dog days of summer quickly turns into the wildest roller coaster ride of all time.

How was Mary Lou suppose to know what would happen with Carl Ray and the ring? Or with her boy-crazy best friend Beth Ann? Or with (sigh) the permanently pink Alex Cheevey? Suddenly a boring school project becomes a record of the most exciting, incredible, unbelievable summer of Mary Lou's life.

But what if her teacher actually does read her journal?

Customer Reviews:

Summer Journal.......2007-06-07

When Mary Lou starts her journal at the beginning of the summer, she expects the same old thing as any other summer. She is only writing in the journal because it is a requirement for school, not because she thinks she has an exciting life. But then things start to happen.

First, as if her house wasn't crowded enough with her parents, sister and three brothers, her cousin Carl Ray comes to live with them. He is seventeen, four years older than Mary Lou, and she doesn't think much of him right from the start. He has come to stay with them to look for a job, his mom says, but he doesn't seem to be looking very hard. Even worse, he never talks and he doesn't lift a finger around the house. Mary Lou thinks he's useless.

Then Mary Lou's best friend, Beth Ann, gets a boyfriend and doesn't seem to have any time at all for Mary Lou anymore. Mary Lou can't understand until she falls for a boy herself and begins her own summertime romance.

As the summer goes on, Mary Lou starts to change her mind about Carl Ray. He is definitely mysterious. Mary Lou finds a ring hidden away in his room one day, and soon after that someone gives him a great deal of money. Furthermore, he actually starts talking to Mary Lou, which is a huge shock to her. What is the secret her cousin seems to be hiding?

I liked that Mary Lou was reading and commenting on "The Odyssey" throughout the book; her thoughts on it and the way is paralleled her own life were interesting. I liked the narrative style of this book; I could really get inside of Mary Lou's head.

Carl Ray finding what he was looking for where he did was just too easy. All of the talk of Derek and of Alex was annoying and unnecessary. I also didn't like Carl Ray's siblings and the way they treated Mary Lou.

Great Book!.......2007-04-01

A great story that I finished it in two days! A girl named Mary Lue Finny is told (along with the rest of her grade) to write a journal over the summer. She finds it fun and writes alot more then 1!
You read her journal wich is stock-full of info about her summer. It turns out pretty bad when her cosin Carl Ray turns up for a visit!
He's hear to find a job- or is he?

Bharani R.- Absolutely Normal Chaos.......2007-03-25

In this book, I liked that there were many different characters but only one plot. In the beginning of the book, it seemed as though there were many stories going on. In the end, it was clear how all these stories are related. The plot was about this girl that had to write an journal over the summer and she really didn't know how to. More than that, she really didn't want to write one. Then, unexpectedly, her cousin Carl Ray appears in her house. I liked this part because in the beginning, she hated him and in the end, she actually ended up liking him.

I know that Sharon Creech is a really good author. I don't think that she did her best in this book. The story was sort of scattered. The parts about the Oddesey was very boring. I skipped those parts because they didn't have anything to do with the story. Creech just sort of threw the Oddesey here and there. I also think that she could have came up with better parts and she could have talked more about Mr. Furtz. In this book, there really was no main conflict and solution. It was just like an everyday life kind of thing.

I would recommend this book to any girl in grade levels 5-7. This really wouldn't be the book for guys because it is said from a girl's point of view. It has a lot of "girl stuff" in it. I wouldn't expect guys to understand that. I wouldn't really recommend it to any grade level higher that 7 because it would be really boring. It is kind of childish but still has a hint of romance.

Katie's Review.......2007-01-10

I liked this book because there's a girl named Mary Lou, who is writing a journal.At the beginning she's saying mean stuff about someone and at the end the person gets hurt and she looks back in her journal and realizes how mean shes been.

Mary Lou has many cousins,but on of them, Carl Ray, comes and lives with her because he says he wants to find a job. The real reason is that he wants to find his real father. But what he doesn't know is that it's someone who lives really close to Mary Lou. To find out who Carl Ray's real dad is, read the book.

I would recommend this to someone who likes to write a journal or a diary because the girl, Mary Lou, writes a journal, but I think anyone can read this book.

Absolutely Normal Chaos.......2006-11-18

Mary Lou is less than happy about her summer assignment. Her class is assigned to keep a record of what happened to them in a journal. Mary Lou's summer starts out as a normal one. Everything goes fine until Carl Ray comes to find a job, and be with Mary Lou's family. Carl Ray is driving Mary Lou insane, and her boy-crazy best friend, Beth Ann, is getting on her nerves. Mary Lou is getting sick of hearing about Beth Ann's boyfriend, until she meets Alex Cheevey, whom she likes a lot. Her summer is going all over the place, from making Carl Ray's bed to hearing non-stop about Beth Ann's gossipy club. While all this happens Mary Lou records it all in her school journal.

Absolutely Normal Chaos is a good book and enjoyable to read. The plot does not contain a lot of action, but has a lot of feeling and emotion. The writing is amazing, and I could picture exactly what is happening in the story. The characters are realistic and have personalities that I can relate to. Mary Lou changes a lot through out the book. The change she goes through keeps the book moving. It was incredibly realistic, and her changes are most likely to happen to people in one way or another.

Sharon Creech Box Set: Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird

Average customer rating:

Best Book Ever!!

Sharon Creech Box Set: Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Replay

ASIN: 0064410080
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

Absolutely normal Mary Lou is all set for a boring summer, trying to find something, anything, to say in her school-assigned journal. Salamanca is a not-so-normal girl, on the road with her eccentric grandparents to find her erstwhile mother. And Zinnia is on the path (literally) to adulthood, seeking her identity in an old overgrown trail behind her family farmhouse. Three girls, three stories--Sharon Creech is the well-loved and award-winning author of these three novels, pulled together in a handy boxed set for her many fans who won't want to wait to get their hands on the next Creech title. Absolutely Normal Chaos, Walk Two Moons (a Newbery Medal winner), and Chasing Redbird are each sensitively drawn, witty, complex, and unexpected looks at young girls in that strange and bumpy land of adolescence. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Selected novels by Newbery Award winner Sharon Creech -- Walk Two Moons, Absolutely Normal Chaos, and Chasing Redbird -- now in a boxed set.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book Ever!!.......2003-01-25

You definitly should read this if you dont you are missing out .....!!

In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice (The Practices of Faith Series)

Average customer rating:

The Spirituality of Parenting

In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice (The Practices of Faith Series)
Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0787976768

Book Description

Theologian, mother, and writer Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore gives us some answers to this question and shows us how to integrate and strengthen the practice of faith in the everyday (and often mundane) experience of raising children. In the Midst of Chaos reveals what it takes to find the spiritual wisdom in the messy, familial ways of living. By rethinking parenting as an invitation to discover God in the middle of our busy and overstuffed lives, it relieves parents of the burden of being the all-knowing authority figures who impart spiritual knowledge to children. Finding spirituality in family activities such as reading bedtime stories, dividing household chores, and playing games can empower parents to notice what they are already doing as potentially valuable and to practice it more consciously as part of their own faith journey.

Customer Reviews:

The Spirituality of Parenting.......2007-08-01

Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2007)

Who will think of parenting as a spiritual practice? Who will think of parenting as being spiritual? For most of us parents, parenting is just basic survival, living day to day. Bonnie Miller-McLemore's book catchy title, In the Midst of Chaos captures the messy aspect of parenting exactly. It also throws a new perspective on parenting.

Bonnie is no ordinary mum. She is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Pastoral Theology at Vanderblit University Divinity School. I wonder what it will be like to have a theologian as your mother. In this book, she invites us to "...(by) rethinking parenting as an invitation to discover God in the middle of our busy and overstuffed lives..." Taking the ordinary task and routine of parenting, Bonnie shows us how to be "contemplating in chaos." She invites us to take kids seriously, dealing justly with them, playing the field (x-box, soccer etc) with them, read from Seuss to Scripture and finally to blessing and letting go.

This is a good read for parents who are struggling with being parents in the midst of chaos. God, have mercy.

Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising (Spy High)

Average customer rating:

Spy High Book Review
Spy High Mission 2
The story continues...
A must read book!
Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising (Spy High)

Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising (Spy High)
AJ Butcher
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316737658

Customer Reviews:

Spy High Book Review.......2006-10-13

This book is a very cool book.Its about 2 teams solo team and Bond team, there competing for the sherlock sheild.Outside of spyhigh , a terrorist organinization is about to send its first explosive announcement...its called C.H.A.O.S...ITS A SUPER VIRUS.its deadly too.

Spy High Mission 2.......2006-10-08

Bond Team and its leader Ben Stanton is competing for the sherlock shield vs. Solo Team and its leader Simon Macey. Bond Team is doing anything they can but Solo Team is trying everything to stop them from going to the Deveraux hall of fame or from winning the Sherlock Shield. Spy High is an organization of terrorists about to do something that may be deadly.
CHAOS Is NEAR.

The story continues..........2006-01-01

Where the first book left off, this one picks up. The second installment of twelve, Chaos Rising dives right into the action. The first book (mission 1) had to cover backgroud stories, character profiles and general setups. Now that all that is done, these books go straight into action from the start. Not just an adventure story, these six characters are coming of age in these books. Part of the enjoyment of any series (Harry included) is that you can witness these characters change over a longer time than just in one book. Not only do they deal with world terrorist, but also personal relationships and the ineveitable identity issues we all must go through in the teenage years. For anyone just looking for something fun to read that isn't a huge investment in time, money or energy. Though, once you start you'll want to read them all.

A must read book!.......2005-06-07

Deveraux Academy is not what it seems. From a distance it looks like a normal high school. It has a football team, kids walking down the halls with school books, and a normal receptionist just beyond the front door, but the second you go beyond that, Deveraux Academy is a school for training spies. Ben, Jake, Lori, Jennifer, Eddie, and Cally are students at Deveraux and are members of the Bond team. With all of the competition among teams for the Sherlock Shield, an award given to the most honorable team, the Bond team faces other problems, too. A secret terrorist organization, known as C.H.A.O.S., has created a super computer virus with huge destructive capabilities, and the Bond team is assigned to destroy it.
The story described, Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising by A.J. Butcher is well- written. It uses strong, detailed vocabulary and is very entertaining. It is filled with action which makes you keep reading and it also contains some horror to give it an exciting scare-factor. Although the plot is complicated, it makes it entertaining. The story isn't based in present day times; it's based slightly in the future making it unique. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action, horror, and spies. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed reading the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz; this series, though, has more characters and horror to make it unique.

Spy High Mission Two: Chaos Rising (Spy High).......2004-09-19

When a terrorist group called Chaos makes
disaster fall upon the world by making computer
controlled things go out of control a group of
teenagers called Bond team has to stop them. But
when they learn from a Chaos leader that a
supervirus, Nemis, that Chaos created has broken
free of their control, Bond team knows this is
going to be a hard mission. Since their teammate
Cally, has her mind trapped with Nemis, Bond team
knows they have to face Nemis head on in the
virtual world. A Bond teammate, Lori, gets a
crazy scientist to create some devices to defeat
Nemis, but even with these new inventions, will
they still be able to defeat Nemis?
I thought the flow of the book was great,
fast, and exciting. With this style of writing
and a great exciting adventure I couldn't put the
book down, even for a while. The book also made
you want to get up at times and pretend to be the
character/characters. The author had just the
right amount of details that he needed to write.
The book still had action and was very exciting.
The book kept the reader guessing to the end!
Rating: 8
MY FLamingnet Book Reviews www.flamingnet.com

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