Book Description
A stunning, heart-pounding, journey into the lost world of the Pharaohs.
Wilbur Smith has earned international acclaim for his bestselling River God, The Seventh Scroll, and Warlock. Now, the unrivalled master of adventure returns with the eagerly awaited sequel to his thrilling Egyptian series with his most fantastic story yet. The Quest continues the story of the Warlock, Taita, wise in the lore of the gods and a master of magic and the supernatural.
Egypt has been struck by a series of terrible plagues, killing its crops and crippling its people. Then the ultimate disaster befalls the kingdom. The Nile fails. The waters that nourish and sustain the land dry up.
Something catastrophic is taking place in the distant and totally unexplored depths of Africa, from where the mighty river springs. In desperation the Pharaoh sends Taita, the only man who might be able to find his way through the hazardous territory to the source of the Nile and discover the cause of all their woes. But not even Taita can have any idea of what a terrible enemy waits in ambush in those dark lands at the end of their world.
No other author can conjure up the violence and mystery of Ancient Egypt like Wilbur Smith. The Quest marks his stirring return to the acclaimed series and proves once again why fans such as Stephen King praise him as the world’s “best historical novelist.”
Customer Reviews:
Not typical.......2007-10-11
Wilbur Smith is one of my all time favorite authors yet this particular work is not characteristic of his suspense filled thrillers with their characteristic conquest of the hero over insurmountable circumstances. It deals with the supernatural, unwieldy names, and a hard to follow story line. It is the first of his books that I have found that I can easily put down, and it will probably be his only book that I have not finished.
Severely disappointing........2007-10-02
Smith has taken one of the most fascinating characters in popular literature and turned him into...a bore? I never thought it could happen, but a hundred pages into a Wilber Smith book I've put it down and walked away.
Stunning.......2007-09-24
I never thought of Wilbur Smith as one who wrote "he took her books", you know, that ones with Fabio on the cover. And I really don't car for those, at least on a regular basis. But WOW, he sucked me in with his normal STUNNING imagery that makes me want to got to Africa and see all the places he describes, then he entralled me with the final battle of Eos and Taita.
This new egypt book is great along with his other egyption works.
Big letdown.......2007-09-12
Spoiler alert!
I've read quite a few of Smith's books, and all of his Taita novels. I loved "River God" and "Warlock", and had high expectations for this book. This book disappoints me in so many ways I don't even know where to begin. First off, Smith pulls the whole "magic" thing waaay to far. In "Warlock" it was fantastic, but still believable in some way. Not so here. What really puzzled my, by the way, is that after Taita becomes "the most powerful man in the world" he still has to use a sword to fight off his enemies. And this affair with re-born Lostris. What the hell is that. Gave me some very bad associations indeed. If you read the book I'm sure you know what I mean.
Dont't buy it, pretend it doesn't excist.
Smith - Re-read River God!.......2007-09-11
This novel was awful. I was so excited to see another Taita book! What a let-down. In fact, I re-read River God and Warlock just to prepare. Continuity was a HUGE problem. Taita's original character would never has behaved this way - lusting after a child. Who is this Fenn anyway? Lostris' baby name was Lanata. She had black hair, not blonde. She never had ridden a horse, as in Taita's dream - it would have been completely out of the question. Just stupid.
Book Description
A frantic race to save a long-lost Traveler.
An epic battle for freedom.
Two brothers whose power puts them on a collision course . . .with each other.
In The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks introduced readers to a dangerous world inspired by the modern technology that monitors our lives. Under constant surveillance of the ‘Vast Machine,’ a sophisticated computer network run by a ruthless group, society is mostly unaware of its own imprisonment. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan, brothers who were raised “off the grid,” have recently learned they are Travelers like their long-lost father— part of a centuries-old line of prophets able to journey to different realms of consciousness and enlighten the world to resist being controlled. But power affects the brothers differently. As The Traveler ends, Gabriel hesitates under the weight of responsibility. Michael seizes the opportunity—and joins the enemy.
THE DARK RIVER opens in New York City with a stunning piece of news. Gabriel’s father, who has been missing for nearly twenty years, may still be alive and trapped somewhere in Europe. Gabriel and his Harlequin protector, Maya, immediately mobilize to escape New York and find the long-lost Traveler. Simultaneously, Michael orders the Brethren—the ruthless group that has been hunting Gabriel—into a full-scale search. Gabriel yearns to find his father to protect him; Michael aims to destroy the man whose existence threatens his newfound power. The race moves from the underground tunnels of New York and London to ruins hidden beneath Rome and Berlin, to a remote region of Africa that is rumored to harbor one of history’s greatest treasures. And as the story moves toward its chilling conclusion, Maya must decide if she will trade everything to rescue Gabriel.
A mesmerizing return to the places and people so richly portrayed in The Traveler, THE DARK RIVER is propelled by edge-of-the-seat suspense and haunted by a vision of a world where both hope and freedom are about to disappear.
Customer Reviews:
continues the Traveler yarn well.......2007-10-07
This is an enjoyable continuation of The Traveler. It has a lot of action like the first, the relationship of Gabriel and Maya turns a corner, and some characters mentioned in the first novel surface. The locations are exotic and the danger is ever-present.
By itself, I wouldn't recommend the 2nd part as a stand-alone work, but if you enjoyed the first novel in the series, then this will not disappoint. I'm anxious to see how things resolve in the last novel of trilogy.
An Amazing Follow-up to The Traveler.......2007-10-05
The Dark River picks up where The Traveler left off and it's amazing! While Maya the Harlequin recovers from her injury from The Traveler, she hides out with Hollis Wilson and Vicki Fraser where she finds herself developing distinctly non-Harlequin feelings towards her Traveler Gabriel. In one of the opening scenes, in which The Bretheren brutally attack the New Harmony community, it becomes really clear that the Bretheren are not to be messed with. I think that sets up the rest of the novel, since from then on, I was terrified of what the Bretheren might do if they caught up with Maya, Gabriel, Holis or Vicki. The stakes only get higher when information comes from off-the-grid that Gabriel's father, long thought dead, has been confirmed as alive and possibly in London. I won't give away any more, since I am not much for spoilers but the book is awesome. It's so action packed and totally ties up all the loose ends from The Traveler. I cannot wait until the next Fourth Realm book comes out!!
Edge of your seat!.......2007-10-04
Wish it were another 100 pages longer but I suppose we will have to wait for book 3.
This was very entertaining and I award 5 stars because the story flows well and does introduce some great new characters with enough twists to keep you wondering. The demise of one of the characters in particular provides a much clearer picture of the type of organization the Tabula represents. Wait and see and you really begin to see big brother.
Enjoy!
Let down.......2007-09-28
After reading The Traveller, I anxiously awaited the next book in the Fourth Realm trilogy. When I finally read Dark River, I had mixed feelings about the book. I suppose the best way to capsulize it is to say, it's the middle book. Dark River did not live up to my expectations. A whole story line was dropped from this sequel, and the atmosphere was not as captivating as Book One. Many loose ends were left at the end of this book, and as I await the final volume, I hope that when the trilogy is finished, I am a satisfied as I was at the end of Book One.
Enjoyable, But Some Fundamental Inconsistencies Which Distract.......2007-09-23
I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed The Traveler (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 1) and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. Although I wasn't disappointed in the sequel, it did not meet my expectations.
Since I don't write spoilers, all I will say is that I fear the author {insert your best guess here} has painted himself into a corner where the third book may fall totally into implausibility and silliness. The first novel was interesting because the spirituality aspects of the novel were a mechanism to contrast the possible spiritual (and physical) prison we may be constructing for ourselves in our technological society. In my opinion, the author {insert best guess here} goes too far into the fantasy realm using inconsistent logic which distracts the reader from the larger sociological/technological implications. Once you construct an internal logic into an alternative universe, you should stick with it. Internal consistency is very important in science fiction and fantasy. Twelve Hawks re-writes some of the fundamental tenets of his universe and I think jeopardizes the novel.
That said, the novel is well-written and every bit the page-turner as the first book. The characters continue to be developed and the reader will develop real attachments to them. You won't feel like you've wasted your time reading it, even if you may roll your eyes in a few places. I hope the final novel in the series recaptures a little more of the balance between technology and fantasy which made the first book so intriguing.
Book Description
The Children of Now is a groundbreaking work that shows that a large number of kids come into the world bearing inherent gifts that are beyond strange--they are telepathic, understand subtle energies, and/or have amazing psychic abilities. Many of them remember where they were before they came to Earth and often can describe past lives.
Many doctors mislabel them as autistic, ADD, ADHD, or suggest other behavioral difficulties. More than half the time, these doctors are wrong. The Children of Now are not defective--they are differently functional. We are doing ourselves and the world a great disservice by not acknowledging these amazing children and their special gifts.
A surprising percentage of these children carry within themselves wisdom far beyond most adults. The phenomenon is very real, and more and more of these highly evolved children enter our world every day.
The Children of Now offers not only genuine stories of many children who have brought amazing talents into our world, but also practical, easy solutions to assist society in supporting and nurturing these gifted--not defective--children and their families, rather than labeling, segregating, and condemning them.
Fascinating to anyone with an open mind, and life-illuminating for parents with these incredible kids, Meg offers detailed answers derived from counseling real kids in real families.
The Children of Now is a must-read for every parent, teacher, caregiver, and child advocate. In it you'll discover:
- Why our children's DNA is different from previous generations'.
- The traits and needs of the Crystalline Children.
- The Children of the Stars and why they are here.
- Real stories of real children as Dr. Meg helps them and their families search for answers.
- Why these kids are exhibiting telepathy, telekinesis, healing abilities, and more.
- How to help the Children of Now at home, at school, and socially.
Customer Reviews:
anecdotal, thought inspiring, does not totally convince.......2007-10-08
This book was a little new agey for me. However the points the author makes about human institutions not serving the person, the mis/diagnoses of kids who operate other than from a linear, blind obedience paradigm were well worthwhile. The author's experience with kids was interesting to the point i could not stop reading. However her categorizations of star kids, crystalline etc I could not buy into. I also hold these children have always been, although we may have more recognition of it. I would call these children "mystics" although i use the term a little loosely here. The author is an excellent writer and well worth reading---critically.
The Children of Now.......2007-09-20
I found this book very interesting. Dr. Meg's evolution and her description of her development and how it dovetailed into working with these kids was fascinating.
Fascinating book!!!.......2007-04-29
This book is a definite must for anyone around gifted kids,be it an overnight sitter or a parent.Meg describes the phenomenon in a believable,down to earth style without the New Age hype and sentimentalism that is characteristic of so many others who write about the gifted kids.The author also mentions valuble tips on how to support and nurture these kids in the last chapter.Overall, I believe this will be a major step forward in the upbringing of these children.The only part which I felt was somewhat lacking is the despcription of the aura,the differences between each energy type in it and what traits a certain type might cause in a child.
This book is a must read!.......2007-04-21
I got it from the library, read it in one evening, and promptly came here to get one in a hurry. It blew me away! Some of the information was familiar but the new information was tremendous. She explained what is going on with the most compassion. And she speaks from personal experience, not just from research. This should be REQUIRED reading for anyone in charge of kids.
The Children of Now.......2007-03-29
Hello: This information explains the behavior and unique giftedness of what is perceived as abnormalilties in children. Children are our hope for the future.
The institutions which are in place to serve our children are antiquated and disempower the children rather than nurture and educate them; this being schools and medical system alike.
A must read for both professionals and parents.
Average customer rating:
- Worth Getting Through
- Finished entire book in 2 days! Couldn't put it down...
- Bigfoot!
- Exciting!!
- great!!!!
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Monster
Frank Peretti
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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House
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![The Oath [Bargain Price] [Paperback] by Peretti, Frank E.](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0006SHMUW.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Oath [Bargain Price] [Paperback] by Peretti, Frank E.
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![The Visitation [BARGAIN PRICE] [Paperback] by Peretti, Frank](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0002H7GDA.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Visitation [BARGAIN PRICE] [Paperback] by Peretti, Frank
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Three
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Obsessed
ASIN: 084991180X
Release Date: 2005-04-12 |
Book Description
Something's out there...
Reed Shelton organized this survival weekend. Hired the best guide in the region. Meticulously trained, studied, and packed while enouraging his wife, Beck, to do the same. But little did they know that surviving the elements would become the least of their worries. During thier first night of camping, an unearthly wail pierces the calm of the forest. Then someone--no, something--emerges from the dense woods and begins pursuing them. Everything that follows is a blur to Reed--except for the unforgettable image of a huge creature carrying his wife into the darkness. Dependant on the efforts of a small town and a band of friends, Reed knows they have little time to find Beck. Even more important, he soon realizes that they aren't the only ones doing the hunting. Something much faster, more relentless--and definately not human--has begun to hunt them.
Frank Peretti is at the top of his game in this New York Times best-selling novel of "survival of the fittest." Nothing is as it first appears in this thriller where things that go bump in the night are only a heartbeat away.
Customer Reviews:
Worth Getting Through.......2007-08-23
Peretti's Monster started off with a bang in the beginning then slows down to a snails pace in the middle. There were moments I considered stopping the read for something else but I am glad I trudged through the slow moments because the last 100 pages and the climax were worth the wait. I kept hanging on the last few chapters to see how Peretti was going to tie all the pieces together & he did a masterful job in doing so. Please know this is a good but not great book. It is fun and deserves it place amongst Peretti's best.
Finished entire book in 2 days! Couldn't put it down..........2007-08-20
Author is very visual in his writing style and it's easy for the reader to get swept up in the images and sounds of the story. An easy page turner.
Bigfoot!.......2007-08-16
This is another great book by Mr. Peretti.
You can find it in the Christian Section of bookstores.
It is not preachy. FYI
This book involves a family of sasquache (bigfoot).
Reed takes his shy, stuttering wife on a "lets get out in the fresh open air survival camping trip."
She is captured by a bigfoot.
So neat to read how she learned to interact with them.
This was a wonderful book!
Exciting!!.......2007-08-06
You cann't stop reading.. at the end you want more! that's the way Peretti is.. I love it.... oh by the way don't miss "House"...!!
great!!!!.......2007-08-05
I'm very glad that I bought this. It is the beginning of my collection of books on cd that I listen to while I clean and stay out of trouble at work.
Average customer rating:
- Magic and intrigue in the British countryside
- The Magician Trap
- better than book 2 but still searching for the magic
- About on parr with the second book
- Mediocre Sequel
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The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After
Patricia C. Wrede , and
Caroline Stevermer
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Grand Tour
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Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
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Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper #1 (Beka Cooper)
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The Pinhoe Egg: A Chrestomanci Book
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Beguilement (The Sharing Knife, Book 1)
ASIN: 0152055487 |
Book Description
Ten years have passed since Kate and Cecy married Thomas and James, and England is now being transformed by the first railways. When the Duke of Wellington asks James to look into the sudden disappearance of a German railway engineer, James and Cecy's search reveals a shocking truth: The railway lines are wreaking havoc with ancient underground magic, which could endanger the very unity of England. Meanwhile, Kate has her hands full taking care of all their children, not to mention the mysterious mute girl they rescued from a kidnapper!
Written in letters between Kate and Cecy--and between their husbands--this installment of the cousins' adventures is another satisfying blend of magic, mystery, adventure, humor, and romance.
Customer Reviews:
Magic and intrigue in the British countryside.......2007-09-14
It's 1828, 10 years since the eventful honeymoon trip chronicled in The Grand Tour, and James and Cecy Tarleton and Thomas and Kate Schofield have settled down to a quiet and contented life in the country. The Tarletons have four children--twins Arthur and Eleanor, nine; Diana, four; and Alexander, an infant. The Schofields have two sons, Edward, six, and baby Laurence. Then the gentlemen's old commanding officer, the Duke of Wellington, recently created Prime Minister, gets in touch. A German magician/engineer, Herr Schellen, has mysteriously disappeared, and the Duke wants James to find him. Since James has no magical skills at all, Cecy must accompany him, which means that the four young Tarletons have to be parked with their "Aunt" Kate--whose sister, the beautiful and fashionable Georgina (now married to Daniel, the Duke of Waltham), has arrived without warning at the very start of the London Season. Then it turns out that several of the children have inherited the parental gift and are experimenting with magic themselves. While Kate tries to cope with this juvenile precocity and with her sister's moods--plus a mysterious prowler who seems immune to her attempts to bespell him--the Tarletons become entangled with a sinister brother and sister, the fittingly named Webbs, whose ancestral home is a nexus of the mysterious ley lines Herr Schellen was supposed to be investigating in connection with the new railroads now being lain across England. When Edward Schofield is inadvertantly kidnapped by what appears to be a female tinker (she isn't), Kate also finds herself responsible for a little girl who not only has a regal bearing suitable to a queen but refuses to talk to any adult. (If you've read any amount of English history you'll guess well ahead of time who Drina really is.) Comic transformations and a vividly described magical duel are among the high points of the tale, which, like its predecessors, is skilfully paced and wonderfully complex, yet in the end is neatly resolved, and also increases our understanding of the magic of this just-slightly-alternate world. With a copyright date of 2006 and the promise that the children will be put in charge of competent magical tutors, we may well look for yet another volume in the adventures of Kate, Cecy, and their families.
The Magician Trap.......2007-03-23
The Mislaid Magician (2006) is the third Fantasy novel of the Cecy and Kate series, following The Grand Tour. In the ten years since the last magical adventure, Cecelia has birthed the nine year old twins, Arthur and Eleanor, four year old Diana and the baby Alexander. Katherine now has six year old Edward and baby Laurence. In 1828, their life seems to revolve around the nursery.
In this novel, James is called to London to meet with the new prime minister, the Duke of Wellington. While he is gone, Arthur detects a prowler on the grounds of Tangleford Hall and Cecy casts a Greater Cessation spell on him. She expects the intruder to be immobilized, but instead he creeps away, gaining more speed with greater distance.
James receives orders to investigate the disappearance of a Prussian railway surveyor-magician. He and Cecy will be leaving soon for Leeds to discover the whereabouts of Herr Magus Franz Wilhelm Schellen. Apparently the duke has not considered the uproar that would ensue with both parents leaving their children behind.
Naturally, Kate agrees to take the children into the Schofield household. She sends Thomas to meet with the Tarletons in London and take the children in hand for the trip back to Skeynes. While at the Bull and Mouth, Arthur sees the prowler in the stables and gives chase, only to lose contact due to an altercation with a stable boy.
After much too long a ride, Thomas finally arrives back home and lets lose the Tarleton children among his own. Since they are returning to a familiar estate, the children soon reestablish old connections. This time Arthur gets Thomas to teach him how to scry with a bowl of ink and the children start using this skill to play a new form of hide and seek.
In Leeds, James soon discovers traces of the surveyor-magician. He also runs into Daniel, the Duke of Waltham and errant husband of Georgy. The duke is staying with Ramsey and Adella Webb, who invite the Tarletons to the house party at Haliwar Tower.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Waltham has appeared at Skeynes in a very despondent state, shedding tears on the carpets and furniture. Despite Kate's best efforts, Georgy refuses to discuss her problems. Only the children provide some relief from her vaporish mood; indeed, she is quite cheerful with the babies.
Arthur and Eleanor begin detailed mapping the grounds of Skeynes. Edward develops an interest in the household wards. Then another child joins the nursery and Diana becomes her devoted follower.
Like its predecessors, this story is a mystery with magical overtones. Naturally, Thomas is the best trained magician in the group, but Cecy is quite proficient. Kate knows fewer spells -- actually only three -- but she is very competent with those; in fact, she demonstrates great strength with those spells when her children are threatened. Then there are the twins, who develop surprising competency with scrying spells.
Highly recommended for Wrede & Stevermer fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of domestic crises, magical and mundane investigations, and political conspiracies in a historical milieu.
-Arthur W. Jordin
better than book 2 but still searching for the magic.......2007-01-20
I will assume the reader has read Sorcery And Cecelia. If not, go out and do so right away.
The second book was a letdown in many ways, but this third book does better at capturing the spark that made the first one so fun. Part of this is that, as in the first one, the main characters are separated the entire time. All we see are letters they write to each other.
The problem is that the plot is weak. Very weak. The bad guys are silly and not directly threatening, their motivations are boring, and we never get the sense of mysterious evil that we have in the first book.
Also, the railroad thing was probably something that sounded like a good idea but, in the end, didn't really work. There's no real resolution of it, nor is it really important.
In fact, resolution is a problem all around, because everything gets resolved much to quickly and with not nearly enough direct input from the main characters.
All that being said, the characters feel real and likeable again. This would have been a great second book -- another look at some wonderful characters even though the plot doesn't really hold water. As a third book it's a little more disappointing, because I expect more plot from a third book.
My guess is that if there is a fourth book, it will be about the kids. At least, that's what it should be about!
About on parr with the second book.......2007-01-14
It might be that I read the second two books in this series more sporadicly than the first and so I didn't fully grasp the plot, on the other hand I didn't read them as quickly because the plot did not fully grab me. If I could I would probably give it a 3.5 because I didn't find it all that memorable. the first book really made an impression which seems to have been fading ever so slightly with each consequential book.
Shifting from how the second book was written this is again in pure letter form, with additional missives from James and Thomas (I agree that they might be a bit excessive and that like in the second where we had more than one person narrating the same set of events it got slightly tedious at times).
Again like the second one Ithought it focused too much WAY WAY toomuch on the mechanics of the magic. Not only were James and Cecy bored to tears with ley lines and locomotives, so was I. Those poor characters their plot only got really interesting towards the very end when every one kept turning into dogs.
This might be the difference in the strengths of the authors, but I found the Kate and Thomas storyline much more interesting, it was rolicking and moving and less stagnent and technical than Cecy and James. (Ironic since Kate and Thomas stay at home while Cecy and James travel the country side)
They have been saddled with the care and keeping of all of Cecy and James' children--alot. In addition they find another child, the almost mute Drina. Thomas is still wonderfully Thomas and writes some of the funniest letters towards the end in regards to a certain dog. Georgy has a plot as well, which I found very amusing (she has a penchant for sappy poetry, how apropos)
Still a fun read but I wouldn't put off reading it too long after the first and second because things might get forgotten in the interim.
Mediocre Sequel.......2007-01-11
After the first two collaborations by these authors, I was looking forward to yet another adventure. While this book was all right, it missed out on being great. The plot was a little thin, and the characters tame in comparison to past attempts. In sum, worth a read but maybe not a purchase.
Customer Reviews:
A Fascinating Tale Laced With Supernatural Chills.......2007-09-18
In Coral Moon Collins brings us a fascinating tale laced with supernatural chills and gut wrenching suspense. Leslies Brymes, reporter for The Kanner Lake Times, has her world turned upside down when she discovers a dead body in her car. Suddenly, a typical workday turns into a nightmare for Leslie and the other citizens of Kanner Lake. Police Chief Vince Edwards searches diligently for the culprit, only to be floored when his best suspect turns out to be the dead husband of the victim. As the truth is slowly uncovered, the citizens of Kanner Lake are faced with a dark truth and their faith will be challenged at every revealing turn.
Brandilyn Collin's Kanner Lake Series is hands down her best work. The fictional town of Kanner Lake is a delightful creation, full of cleverly crafted characters that are quirky, loveable, and memorable. From the twisting and turning plots to the shocking revelations, Collins proves she is a master of the suspense genre. Each story in the series is vastly different and yet all are equally entertaining and riveting. Embedded in the suspenseful storylines we find nuggets of hope and faith that are both insightful and encouraging. This series is highly recommended for fans of suspense thrillers and mystery. (Originally reviewed as a series for Christian Library Journal)
Clear Your Calendar.......2007-08-28
Clear your calendar before you even open this book. Brandilyn Collins has woven another spellbinding tapestry of story, suspense and characterization. Book two in the Kanner Lake Series does not disappoint.
Leslie Williams strives to be a great journalist. Her role in solving the Edna Sans murder six months ago catapulted her career into new directions. The quiet little mountain vacation spot of Kanner Lake was also catapulted into a grander focus of tourism. Battle lines against change are drawn. Leslie determines to investigate both sides.
Her plans alter the morning she walks out to her car and discovers a dead body with a note and a number attached. Her life spirals into a whirlwind of murder and séances as both human and spiritual forces that threaten to destroy her peaceful community and her self-confidence.
Brandilyn Collins has created a town in Idaho where you may wish you lived, but not until it's solace returns. From the first sentence you will be hooked. Be sure to leave a light on, because things happen in the night. And, if by chance, you look into the sky and see a crescent moon the color of coral, think of the folks in Kanner Lake and remember to breathe.
Good grief! She's done it again..........2007-06-26
created a super shocking, super thrilling, super fantastic read! How does Brandilyn do it? The woman is skilled! =)
The Kanner Lake series is not one to be missed. I read a lot of suspense books, and let me tell you, Brandilyn is one of the few out there who actually get me shaking in my boots! (Now, I know I'm from Louisiana, but they're not cowboy boots, I promise. :wink:) This second novel in the Kanner Lake series doesn't disappoint! I was freaked out in a totally Brandilyn way - yet at the same time, this was one novel I did NOT want to end!! I can't wait for the next.
Pick up a copy today and see for yourself!
Comes with a warning.......2007-06-16
WARNING: Don't pick up a book from the Kanner Lake Series unless you want to
1) be transported to the picturesque lakeside town and
2) discover characters so real you want to meet them
True to form, Brandilyn Collins delivers yet another seatbelt suspense which is sure to please her existing fan base as well as new readers.
In CORAL MOON, ambitious reporter Leslie Brymes discovers a dead body in her car. Fortunately, Leslie is not the kind of girl to let anything get in her way, and she is determined to uncover the truth--no matter how unbelievable it appears.
Fear and suspicion grip the residents of Kanner Lake when a second body turns up, with a hint toward a third yet undiscovered murder.
Meanwhile, teenager Ali gets involved with a group from school, and finds herself caught up in a dark secret involving a curse and séances.
Glimpses into the antagonists past helps the reader to emphasis with his plight, and Collins does a wonderful job of keeping readers guessing at his identity right up until his unveiling.
Although CORAL MOON is the second book in the Kanner Lake Series, it can be read and enjoyed without reading the first book, VIOLET DAWN.
Another well-woven tale..........2007-06-01
Coral Moon is even better than its predecessor, Violet Dawn (Kanner Lake Series). Leslie Brymes is in the spotlight in this book as an ace reporter who takes her job very seriously and knows the new threat in town to her friends and her career is perilous...and deadly.
The characters truly come to life in this latest installment of the Kanner Lake series by Brandilyn Collins. True to her reputation for weaving seatbelt suspense, this story had me holding my breath many a time. At one point, one carefully veiled twist had me nearly fooled and over the edge.
Collins also explores a strong spiritual thread dealing with the forces of evil--directly, and the ramifications of "playing with fire." For once, we get a chance to see the power of Christ's name in action--and win.
Amazon.com
The third novel in Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series, Seduced by Moonlight continues the story of Merry Gentry, a mortal Faerie princess hiding in L.A. Her aunt, the immortal and insane Queen of Air and Darkness, has ordered her to compete with her cousin, Prince Cel, in making a baby. Whoever produces a child first wins the throne of the Unseelie Court. But Merry still hasn't conceived--and that's not her only problem. Unknown assassins seek her life; her magical powers are becoming potent and uncontrollable; and her sadistic aunt has just commanded her to return to Faerie.
Readers tired of mild modern fairy-tales about nice, polite elves may want to explore the Meredith Gentry series, which remembers that Faerie was originally a dark, dangerous realm of sex and violence. Hamilton's Queen of Air and Darkness is a vicious killer and torturer, and many of her fay drink blood or practice kinky sex (or both). Under royal orders to bed many males, Merry is far from averse; she and several lovers hit the bedroom on page 8 of Seduced by Moonlight and don't emerge until page 175. There's no shortage of sex, but not as much as the page count may indicate; the characters like to talk and sulk even more than they like to fornicate. The large cast and complicated backstory make this book the wrong starting point; newcomers should begin with the first novel, A Kiss of Shadows. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie.
Now there are those among me who whisper I am more.
They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them?
I’ve awakened the dazzling magic that’s slumbered in them for
thousands of years. But the thing is, I can’t figure out why.
My aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, is no longer distracted by her usual sadistic hobbies. Her obsession has turned unwaveringly to me. The mission to get me pregnant and beat my cousin Prince Cel to the crown is taking longer than expected. Even though I spend each night with the Queen’s Ravens, my immortal guards, no child has come of our decadent pleasures. But something else is happening. My magic courses through me uncontrollably. And as I lock my half-mortal body with their full-Sidhe blooded ones, the power surges like never before.
It all began with the chalice. I dreamed of it, and it appeared, cool and hard, beside me when I awoke. My guards know the ancient relic well—its disappearance ages ago stripped them of their vital powers. But it is here with us now. My touch resonates with its force, and they’re consumed with it, their Sidhe essences lit up by it. But even as they cherish me for this unexpected gift, there are those who loathe me for it. Me, a mongrel, only half fey and part mortal. The Unseelie court has suffered for so long, and there are some who would not have it weakened further by an impure queen. My enemies grow in number every day. But they do not know what I am capable of. Nor, for that matter, do I. . . .
In Seduced by Moonlight, Laurell K. Hamilton brings the dark, erotic reign of the immortal fey to a startling new depth. Full of sensuality and the consuming anticipation of latent powers unleashed, this world of gods, shapeshifters, and immortal souls is unveiled in all of its supreme magnificence and its treacherous deceits.
Download Description
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie.
Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I've awakened the dazzling magic that's slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can't figure out why.
My aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, is no longer distracted by her usual sadistic hobbies. Her obsession has turned unwaveringly to me. The mission to get me pregnant and beat my cousin Prince Cel to the crown is taking longer than expected. Even though I spend each night with the Queen's Ravens, my immortal guards, no child has come of our decadent pleasures. But something else is happening. My magic courses through me uncontrollably. And as I lock my half-mortal body with their full-Sidhe blooded ones, the power surges like never before.
It all began with the chalice. I dreamed of it, and it appeared, cool and hard, beside me when I awoke. My guards know the ancient relic well -- its disappearance ages ago stripped them of their vital powers. But it is here with us now. My touch resonates with its force, and they're consumed with it, their Sidhe essences lit up by it. But even as they cherish me for this unexpected gift, there are those who loathe me for it. Me, a mongrel, only half fey and part mortal. The Unseelie court has suffered for so long, and there are some who would not have it weakened further by an impure queen. My enemies grow in number every day. But they do not know what I am capable of. Nor, for that matter, do I....
In Seduced by Moonlight, Laurell K. Hamilton brings the dark, erotic reign of the immortal fey to a startling new depth. Full of sensuality and the consuming anticipation of latent powers unleashed, this world of gods, shapeshifters, and immortal souls is unveiled in all of its supreme magnificence and its treacherous deceits.
"Sexy... Merry's adventures are engaging and keep the reader turning the pages."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
"Stunning... Steamy... An exciting and original world."
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
"A sizzling new series that blends supernatural fantasy with detective adventure... Memorable characters and wicked wit make it all delicious, ribald fun."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
It is not just the packet of life savers five fruits colored Sidhe bodyguards that the princess has to romp around with, you can add goblins into the mix as well. Those goblin types like eating people too, so this can be a little problematic.
Then there is the whole possed by powerful Sidhe god types, as well. This could all really leave one woman sore.
Merry Gentry gets lucky...a lot.......2007-08-18
I never took to Laurell Hamilton's popular Anita Blake series, but I enjoy the Merry Gentry series a lot more. It's probably the sex - Merry Gentry is on a mission to have lots of it. She is a Faerie Princess - her aunt is Queen of the Unseelie Court of Faerie - and her newfound powers are triggered by sexual energy. In the earlier volumes, Merry enjoyed relations with a variety of inhumanly handsome men with gorgeous hair. Now her mission takes her further afield to partners differing in size, shape, species, and gender. Hamilton makes each encounter quite erotic. My tastes are conventional, but I saw the appeal through Merry's eyes.
The context for all this bed-wrestling is politics in the Faerie Court. Merry has an opportunity to become her aunt's successor, but of course is opposed by other factions within the court. Her aunt also becomes more insecure as she sees Merry's powers grow. Political intrigue plots can be snoozers, but Hamilton makes it be about the immediate threat to Merry, which drew me in.
Readers should start from the beginning of this series. There are quite a few characters by this point in the story who have been gradually introduced over the previous two books. Also, becoming acquainted with Merry before her powers came to her makes her a more sympathetic character. At this point in the story, she's a gorgeous woman with profound magical powers, and more magic coming to her almost every day. It's harder to relate to such a perfect being.
Le sigh... is this series going anywhere?.......2007-05-02
I read Sunny's Monere series (Mona Lisa Awakening and Mona Lisa Blossoming) and many of the reviewers compared those books to Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series, so I thought I'd give them a shot while waiting for the third Monere book to come out. I recently read the first two Merry Gentry books, A Kiss of Shadows and A Caress of Twilight. The first book in the series was interesting enough that I wanted to know more. The second was pretty much a run-down of info that should have been included in the first book, and reading it was like watching paint dry, but I was still interested in Merry and I'd already committed by reading the first two books in the series. I am a person who finishes what she starts. That being said, I feel duty-bound to finish these books off. But, I have to wonder... is this series going anywhere?
Merry just seems to be falling deeper and deeper into nothing at all. We keep hearing how great she is at court politics and I get the impression that we're supposed to want her to be the next Queen of the Unseelie court, but then she's all of a sudden bespelled by magic since she can't think when she's having sex (and she's ALWAYS having sex), or she's getting some new power she doesn't understand and everyone around her has to explain what it means (so much for all your father's knowledge), or even making promises to share her body and blood with goblins, demi-fey, and anything else that wants a taste. And she expects these people to respect her on the throne? Please! These books keep getting more and more outrageous and hard to follow, but like a fool I keep coming back for more. Take my advice and stick to Sunny's Monere series rather than coming to the Merry Gentry side of things. I wish I had, but now I'm stuck in a series that seems to be going nowhere.
porn.......2007-04-21
This book has little story and a lot of bad porn. Read only if you are into fairy sex.
Great Customer Service.......2007-03-30
Initially I received a different product, but Mark was really helpful in getting the correct item to me and I received a full credit for the original purchase. He is a really customer focused person and I would definitely recommend purchasing items through him. Thanks again Mark!
Book Description
Every Monday night millions of Americans tune into Medium, NBC's new hit drama featuring Allison DuBois, an ordinary woman who helps police solve baffling crimes through her ability to communicate with the dead. What most don't know is that this fictional character is based on a true-life medium named Allison DuBois, who is a consultant to the show. For the past four years, DuBois has been the subject of rigorous scientific experiments conducted at the University of Arizona by Harvard-trained psychologist Gary Schwartz. The Truth about Medium chronicles many of those experiments and reveals hard laboratory evidence that psychic ability and mediumship are real.
Customer Reviews:
Good for the fact-minded people.......2007-09-16
This was an informative book included with many statistics. I didn't care for the book just for the fact to it was too scientific for my liking, but that's exactly the point of it, so it might be just perfect for you.
More compelling evidence.......2007-08-10
Professor Schwartz has done it again, and this time the book is small, and a nice read to keep by the bed. It is a story about Allison Dubois, the real medium the NBC TV show Medium is based on. While the show is drama and clearly some what fictionalized, the real Allison Dubois story is pretty incredible. The book outlines a series of experiments conducted by Dr. Schwartz with Allison in a variety of situations, from Double Blind experiments to the Long Distance Internet Mediumship Experiment Involving the Double Deceased Paradigm. Sound intriguing? It is. Dr. Schwartz continues to amass compelling evidence of life after death. The writing style is riveting, and the stories are enlightening and educational, as well as entertaining. There is also a section addressing skeptics that is a real eye opener, particularly to those of us who have had dealings with them ourselves. Much like the book the After Life Experiments, the raw data from the experiments are compiled in the appendices in the rear portion of the book.
For those of you into intentions, the book is rife with evidence of "discarnate intentions" and he sums it up in the end with this:
"Is there available evidence provided by research mediums consistent with survival of consciousness after death?"
Absolutely
"Is survival of the consciousness the most promising explanation that accounts for the largest amount of data?"
Clearly
"Do the current experiments provide definitive proof of survival?"
No
"Is it possible to design future experiments that can establish once and for all if the survival of consciousness is real?"
My strong conclusion based on the evidence is yes
"Am I open to discovering in future experiments that the survival of the consciousness hypothesis is mistaken?"
Of course....
And so am I....Great book Gary!
Unethical!.......2007-04-24
Dr. Schwartz, I didn't have a choice of rating your book with NO stars, so I gave it one. You should be ashamed of yourself for exploiting Allison DuBois and her work with you. How dare you promise confidentiality and then betray the very person your book is based on?
medium the book.......2007-02-22
i gues i was hoping this was allison dubois story not her private readings...
Facinating!.......2007-01-19
Very interesting! Dr. Schwartz is doing some wonderful research in this area. His controlled envioment (usually tripple blind) speek loudly to the validity of his work. Allison it truly GIFTED!! It's the kind of book that's hard to put down.
Book Description
A world that exists in the shadows of our own.
A conflict we will never see.
One woman stands between those determined to control history and those who will risk their lives for freedom.
Maya is hiding in plain sight in London. The twenty-six-year-old has abandoned the dangerous obligations pressed upon her by her father, and chosen instead to live a normal life. But Maya comes from a long line of people who call themselves Harlequins—a fierce group of warriors willing to sacrifice their lives to protect a select few known as Travelers.
Gabriel and Michael Corrigan are brothers living in Los Angeles. Since childhood, the young men have been shaped by stories that their late father was a Traveler, one of a small band of prophets who have vastly influenced the course of history. Travelers are able to attain pure enlightenment, and have for centuries ushered change into the world. Gabriel and Michael, who may have inherited their father’s gifts, have always protected themselves by living “off the Grid”—that is, invisible to the real-life surveillance networks that monitor people in our modern society.
Summoned by her ailing father, Maya is told of the existence of the brothers. The Corrigans are in severe danger, stalked by powerful men known as the Tabula—ruthless mercenaries who have hunted Travelers for generations. This group is determined to inflict order on the world by controlling it, and they view Travelers as an intolerable threat. As Maya races to California to protect the brothers, she is reluctantly pulled back into the cold and solitary Harlequin existence. A colossal battle looms—one that will reveal not only the identities of Gabriel and Michael Corrigan but also a secret history of our time.
Moving from the back alleys of Prague to the heart of Los Angeles, from the high deserts of Arizona to a guarded research facility in New York, The Traveler explores a parallel world that exists alongside our own. John Twelve Hawks’s stunningly suspenseful debut is an international publishing sensation that marks the arrival of a major new talent.
Download Description
John Twelve Hawks lives off the grid. This is his first novel.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Fun not literature.......2007-10-04
I never saw the hype on this book. I found it by surfing Amazon. An earlier reviewer who compared it to Matrix meets Jason Bourne had it right. This is certainly not literature but it's a fast past blast of a read. The plot has already been summarized by others so I won't do it again. My addition would be that the premise is worth thinking about given the state we are in today. It's an e-ticket ride but a thoughtful one in between the mayhem.
Quick read.......2007-09-26
Quick, unchallenging, fun, entertaining read.
Does not make you think to much, if you need a fast read for a long weekend, then The Traveler will work.
Enjoy!
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks.......2007-09-19
This book actually generated quite a bit of buzz before it was released last June and I had it recommended to me by a few people saying that it was in the vein of Stephen King, and since I'm a fan I would probably enjoy this. I managed to get an ARC through the bookstore I used to work at and then it sat on my shelf for about six months until I picked it up and decided to start reading it last week. I finished it about four days later after pretty much eating it up. I would describe it as very akin to a Michael Crichton techno-thriller with some plenty of sci-fi mixed in. After getting about a hundred pages into it I was even wondering if Crichton much just be working on this same book currently because of its similarities with his story lines, the main difference being that this was a little slower and the characters had more depth to them. After finished this book I realize that this has certain elements that Crichton would never put in his book make this an enjoyable original piece of fiction. If the Matrix trilogy had originally been made into a book trilogy and done by a good writer, it would've been something like The Traveler.
The book is set near to the present day or perhaps twenty or thirty years into the future. The world is pretty much like it is now, except for being a little more high-tech and with better gadgets. There is a group of people known as Travelers who have the unique ability of being able to leave their bodies and travel to other worlds or realms. They have existed for many thousands of years, Jesus and Mohammed are though to have been travelers. There is a group of people known as the Tabula whose job it is to eradicate these travelers by whatever means necessary. They have also been in existence for a long time. Then there is a group called the Harlequins whose job it is to project the Travelers by whatever means necessary; again they have been around for a very long time.
In the present it is thought that no travelers are in existence anymore, having been wiped out by the Tabula, while the Harlequins have been reduced to very small numbers. Our main character is the daughter of a Harlequin whose father is soon killed in the book and while she had renounced her duty as a Harlequin, due to the lack of these people remaining, she has been summoned to become a Harlequin once more, because two offspring of a traveler have been found alive in California. The traveler's gift is usually passed down through genes, though this is not certain. It is her job to find those two brothers and keep them safe. The Tabula also know of the existence of these two brothers, but their modus operandi has changed dramatically. They no longer wish to kill the Travelers, but to harness their powers. The reason being that using past Travelers they have been in contact with another race living in one of the other realms that the Travelers go to, and this race is vastly superior and more intelligent and has been sending them new inventions and technology such as creating quantum computers that can measure how Travelers pass into these other realms as well as being able to send additional matter into these realms. So they want to use the Travelers as guinea pigs to work with this new race.
This the setting of the book with a lot more details than I have given and features great chase scenes and amazing fights. The Harlequins are taught from when they are children how to fight with different weapons. At the same time the Tabula basically have the Internet, all technology, the government, police, etc. under their control. So their world has its similarities to that of The Matrix, as well as to Stephenson's Snow Crash and Gibson's Neuromancer; and I also saw a lot of Blade Runner in the book too. With the world in its current state, it's not surprising that a book like this has been written. The good thing is that apart from being a really great read, it is the first book in a trilogy and hopefully unlike the Matrix trilogy, it will not doom itself to an ugly death before one is half way through the second book.
Interestingly, the author John Twelve Hawks is very much a recluse who apparently has never met with his agent, has been working on the book for a long time, and has never owned nor has he ever watched any TV. So there are some thought-provoking parallels to keep in mind, along with some strange websites that have been created for the book, though it almost seems as if some of them were created before the book came out, which is just plain weird.
For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com
Hooray--more to come!.......2007-09-11
With a whetted apetite I jumped into the second book. (The second book is book one of three ).
The author has cast a wide net and brought us into a fast paced and facinating world.
I am ready to strap on my seatbelt and start Book two (3)!!!!!!!!
5 stars?! What are you people smoking?.......2007-09-07
Just finished The Traveler. I don't think I'll be reading the sequels. Very unfulfilling. Not trash, but having just graduated with a creative writing degree I have to say that it seems like the book went to print without an editor. It's rife with cliches. The phrasing is awkward at times. The similes feel forced. The action is minimal and poorly rendered (When you're doing a "spinning back-kick" steel-toed boots don't help much since you're mking contact with the sole of your foot.) The secret history aspect of the book leaves much to be desired. (The Illuminatus Trilogy blows the doors off this lightweight if you're looking for age-old conspiracies.) Honestly, there were so many instances where I wished that I could have given some feedback to this inept writer before the book went to print. I'm not saying he's terrible, but for the amount of hype that this book have been getting...let's save our genuine praise for books of more merit. There is a huge void in this genre, and I think that this book is doing so well due to a lack of competition; it is filling that void in a way that Clancy and Brown aren't really capable of. I can't think of any books published in the last year that are along the same lines. People want this kind of a story, but they want it done well, with characters that have depth and action that matches the story's ambition. For sci-fi I think I'm going to stick with Asimov, Simmons, Card, and Bradbury for a while. The Traveler was enough junk food to last me a few years. If anything, though, it is a nice example of what not to do, or at least what can be done with minimal effort. I would say that it shows promise. Maybe in a few years Mr. Twelve Hawks will have organized his philosophy and weaved it into something that sounds more like storytelling and less like preaching.
Average customer rating:
- Well Done, Indeed!
- One of the best "thrillers" I have read
- a superior writer
- No Sophomore Slump here
- Peculiar ecclesiastical murder investigation
|
Valley of Bones
Michael Gruber
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Tropic of Night
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ASIN: 0060577673
Release Date: 2006-02-28 |
Amazon.com
This top-notch novel confirms Gruber's place as a gifted writer who stretches the conventional bounds of the genre by placing the mysteries of faith and religious experience and the complexities of the human mind as well as spirit at the center of his work. It's a taut, compelling whodunit that's as far from a typical detective procedural as good is from evil and a worthy follow-up to his acclaimed debut (Tropic of Night) that also features Cuban-American cop Jimmy Paz. Here Gruber tells a mesmerizing tale of Emmylou Dideroff, who communes with saints and whose checkered past includes stints as a hooker, drug dealer, and the leader of a band of Sudanese freedom fighters. But did she kill the Arab businessman on a government "watch list" who plunged to his death from a Miami hotel? While that's the incident that brings her to Paz's attention, it's only one of his questions about this strange woman, whose unsettling "confessions" stir up the detective's confusion about his own deepest beliefs. Emmylou is as fascinating and fully realized as Jane Doe, the memorable protagonist of Gruber's first book--so too is Lorna Wise, the psychologist brought in to assess Emmylou's sanity, whose personal and professional lives are turned totally upside down by her involvement in the case and her relationship with Paz. This is a smart, riveting, wholly original and thoroughly fascinating book that's impossible to put down and leaves the reader with only one question--when is this author's next one coming out? --Jane Adams
Book Description
The body of a wealthy oilman plunges ten stories from the balcony of a Miami hotel, and is impaled on an iron fence below. In the dead man's room, Jimmy Paz, the famed detective who solved the grisly Voodoo Murders, and Tito Morales, a young cop who witnessed the fall, find a woman on her knees, engaged in intimate conversation with Saint Catherine of Siena. Emmylou Dideroff had a strong motive for murder, and the evidence against her is overwhelming -- but she insists she's innocent of the crime, while freely admitting her guilt in numerous other amoral and unspeakable acts. And the shocking confessions of this complex enigma -- abused victim or vengeful whore, god-touched prophetess or delusional psychopath, demon or saint -- are leading Paz, Morales, and psychologist Lorna Wise into a terrifying dance with the Devil himself.
Download Description
"
The startling reviews of
Tropic of Night announced Michael Gruber as one of the most talented thriller writers to debut in many years. Now, with the much-anticipated publication of
Valley of Bones, Gruber fulfills that genre-bending promise as perhaps no writer since Graham Greene, with a genuinely exhilarating thriller that simultaneously offers a profound, deeply provocative exploration of the nature of faith itself.
The setting is Miami. Rookie cop Tito Morales arrives at the Trianon Hotel to investigate a routine disturbance call -- and, to his shock and horror, watches as a wealthy oilman plunges ten stories and impales himself on a nearby fence. Soon Morales is joined by detective Jimmy Paz, famous throughout the city for solving -- or at least providing a plausible solution to -- the so-called Voodoo Murders that left Miami burning months earlier.
Together Paz and Morales enter the hotel and discover, in the dead man's room, a most unusual suspect, an otherworldly woman by the name of Emmylou Dideroff. She emerges from a rapturous, prayerlike state and admits that she had a motive for killing the oilman. Ultimately, she says she wants to confess, and asks for a pen and several notebooks in which to convey the details of her confession.
What Emmylou writes is nothing like what Paz expects; he enlists psychologist Lorna Wise in an effort to make sense of things that go beyond Emmylou's explanation of the murder: details of childhood abuse, of other crimes committed, of regular communion with saints -- and with the devil. Is she mentally disturbed or playacting in hopes of getting declared unfit for trial? Or does she really believe herself to be an instrument of God? And why is it that so many people -- including Paz's biological father -- are suddenly interested in the contents of these notebooks and in preventing them from becoming public?
As
Valley of Bones moves toward its startling and dramatic finale, Emmylou's ""confessions"" lead Jimmy Paz, Lorna Wise, and Tito Morales down a series of unexpected and dangerous turns that puts them in the path of perhaps the most terrifying evil imaginable and forces each of them to confront questions about faith, love, and the possibility of the miraculous.
"
Customer Reviews:
Well Done, Indeed!.......2007-02-09
A man is thrown to his death from a high-rise. Cops rush to the scene and find a woman in his apartment. She is arrested for murderer, but claims to be possessed by a demon that makes her do things she can't always remember. Nice blend of horror and mystery and worth reading.
One of the best "thrillers" I have read.......2007-01-21
A complex and intriguing story, written with such intimacy I felt that I knew the heroine personally. Outstanding!
a superior writer.......2007-01-12
Michael Gruber is a superior writer of mysteries which border interestingly and believably on the magical/supernatural. His detective Jimmy Paez is a Cuban who is or was a detective with the Miami PD, a man of superior intuition who is conflicted between his western rationality and something more mysterious and vaster in scope. Night of the Jaguar and Tropic of Night deal interestingly with Siberian shamanism, Yoruba magic, Amazon indian shamanism, and Santeria. Valley of Bones deals with an extreme sect of Catholic nuns consecrated to nursing on battle lines. He acknowledges and delves into matters not as "ignorant superstitions" but as valid worldviews with their own particular power. He is well worth getting acquainted with.
No Sophomore Slump here.......2006-06-27
I was intrigued by Gruber's first outing, Tropic of Night. I expected a let down for book two.... Boy was I disappointed -- and delighted! It's like he went to the world's greatest writing school and immediately learned how to expand his best parts and whittle back the slower sections of Tropic of Night.
Valley of Bones will surely be the best book I read this year. I'm sure of it and it's not even July.
On to # 3 !
Peculiar ecclesiastical murder investigation.......2006-05-18
As is his penchant in previous Michael Gruber propagated novels, Cuban American Miami P.D. homicide detective, Jimmy Paz becomes immersed in another strange investigation in "Valley Of Bones".
Paz is called into a case which on the surface appears to be a suicide. A big wig Muslim from Sudan apparently jumped from a tenth floor balcony of a posh Miami hotel, impaling himself on a spiked wrought iron fence. Upon further review of the body shows signs of foul play. Paz and his partner Tito Morales find a woman in the victim's room praying when they go to investigate. Clues found at the scene implicate the woman. Here we are introduced to the multi faceted religous fanatic suspect Emmylou Dideroff.
At this point Gruber proceeds in a rather unique manner. He weaves together 3 separate storylines which alternate in his chapters. The main body of the plot involves the investigation of the murder by Paz. We also learn that Emmylou had a hard to fathom life history. We learn this because she writes out the story of her life to be used in her defense and at the behest of court appointed psychologist Dr. Lorna Wise. Wise is to judge whether Emmylou is mentally competent to stand trial. Gruber devotes chapters to the relating of Emmylou's story. We also find out that Emmylou belongs to an order of nuns called the Nursing Sisters of the Blood of Christ. The history of this well funded order founded in 1895 is also explored in a series of short chapters.
What makes the plot interesting is the background of Emmylou Dideroff. She hailed from Florida the product of a philandering Cajun father who died young and a young ill prepared psychotic mother. She suffered pedophilia at the hands of her stepfather, a local lawman. She suffered from visions, thinking them to be of Satan who lead her down an unfortunate path. She was manipulative and arranged things that resulted in the murder and suicide deaths of her mother and step father. Fleeing the scene she took to living in the streets, streetwalking and taking drugs. She eventually allied herself with a major marijuana cultivator and distributor Orne Foy. Foy headed a commune in the wilds of Virginia where she lived. The commune was eventually raided by the Feds and she was wounded. This led her to the enclave of the Nursing Sisters where she eventually joined the order. Oh yes, she also apparently had visions of St. Catherine of Siena as well as the devil.
Her association with her order led her to work in Sudan where she helped organize a largegroup of poor villagers caught in between waring factions of a civil war.
Paz began realizing that his investigation led to clandestine groups within the government, which was corroborated by his superior Major Oliphant. Paz along with Dr. Wise who was helping him in his inquest and eventually becoming a love interest, began to have threats on their lives. Paz, whose life had been filled with religious beliefs of Santeria, began believing that Emmylou had some supernatural aspects to her being. He also discovered that the murder of the Sudanese victim had a tie in to a supposed large cache of oil reserves buried in southern Sudan.
Gruber's convoluted plot while fascinating was occasionally just too overwhelming. Having to digest the supernatural, religion, philosophy along with a tortuous murder investigation at times became too tedious. His imagination, however is very expansive and for the most part "Valley of Bones" was an intriguing read.
Books:
- The Secret
- The Seduction of Christianity
- The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
- The Sixty-Second Motivator
- The Strategy Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach (2nd Edition)
- The Tao of Pooh
- The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
- The Temple of Man
- The Trinitarian Theology of St Thomas Aquinas
- The Witches Almanac 2007 2008 (Witches Almanac)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Acceleration
- The Doberman Pinscher
- La Prisonniere
- Only You Can Save Mankind
- Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting; A step-by-step guide from concept to finished script
- Siddhartha
- Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide
- Japanese Labor Market in a Comparative Perspective With the United States
- On My Honor, I Will: How One Simple Oath Can Lead You to Success in Business
- Ingles sin maestro para ejecutivos / English without Teachers for Executives
Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
The Navigator (NUMA Files)
Men of Men (Ballantyne Novels)
The Seventh Scroll
The Judas Strain
