48 Dragonquest - Anne McCaffery (and 38 Dragonflight)

 As a teenager, I read every book I could by Anne McCaffrey. Oh to bond a dragon! To have a telepathic connection with a magnificent, flying dragon! It was one of my favorite daydreams.  It's fun to revisit these as an adult.  Anne McCafferey's prose is much more complicated than I remember and she uses words that I often have to look up.  Yikes...I don't remember looking up words as kid... I didn't pick up on much of the innuendo either.  Anyway...  Anne McCaffrey does a wonderful job world building.  This book picks up where Dragonflight left off.   Dragonriders of Pern need to band together with Holders and Crafters as deadly thread fall upon the planet.   Will they be able to overcome their political and cultural differences to save the planet?  Or will they be caught up in petty power struggles and greed?   Will they discover the secrets of their early colonist ancestors? If you don't like sci-fi that deals with the concept of a superior warrior-class, these may bug you.   The treatment of women characters leaves a little to be desired. What happened to Lessa in this book?  In the last book, she was the hero of the world, but she gets pushed to the side as a support role in this one.   Women are useful for helping queen dragons breed more dragons...and managing the domestic side of the Weyrs.  :( I'd love to see women as scientists and crafters....or grand adventurers so this book disappoints in that regard.

These are classics in science fiction and I recommend them.   I give them a 3/5 - worth checking out from the library, but I don't need to own them.  :)

18. Home from the Sea - Mercedes Lackey

I checked this book out from the local library before the pandemic hit.  The cover looked pretty interesting, and I've enjoyed Mercedes Lackey's books before (her Joust series was AWESOME).  This one was not my favorite.   I should start with this is number 7 in the Elemental Masters series.  Perhaps, I would have enjoyed it better if I had  read the others first.

Mari lives with her father in a cottage by the sea.   Their fishing prospers and her father never seems to fear storms that have other fishermen too afraid to venture outside.  However, Daffyd has a secret: one that binds Mari to wed a man from the Selch clan.  The Selch are magical, shape-shifting creatures of the water.    Nan and Sarah suddenly show up (characters from the rest of the series I assume) to assist.   ...

I had a few issues with this book starting with the book didn't need Nan and Sarah.  The space would have been better spent developing character of Mari and family.    Also when Mari makes her choice of mate, why is this such a big deal to the clan chief?  The clan chiefs actions are just baffling.   Your clan needs to strengthen their line with the Prothero family....why anger them so much?  Also I thought there would be earth shatter peril - forces of darkness threatening to overtake or perhaps convert our new heroine.    Nope.    SPOILER ALERT so highlight to read it.... Mari's mother and brother were also a part of this bargain and supposedly a great wave swept them both to the Selch island.   When Mari shows up there, why don't they show up when she ventures there?  

Overall, I give this book a 2 on my rating system.   It was just ok.   Borrowing from the library is just fine.  I may or may not read more in this series. 

17. Fool's Fate

I just finished Fool's Fate, and I have to say...whoa!   That one was the culmination of the all the character building and plotting of the previous books in the Realm of the Elderlings.   This one I couldn't put down.  A bunch of loose ends finally come together for a very satisfying conclusion.   I don't want to give anything away, but I was glad to finally read this book in the series.  I know Fool's Assassin picks up the story, but I think I'll rest this series awhile.    One concept that I really enjoyed was questioning was the Fool truly the White Prophet?  Or was he a false prophet?  Who determines what future the world will take?   The Pale Woman's vision for the future is in complete contrast to the Fool's.   But which would be better for mankind?  The Fool claims that dragons are necessary to keep man's domination of nature in balance.   I considered that for some time.   Unfortunately in our own time and world, it seems we are bent on destroying the earth... Robin Hobb's concept of needing another sentient, powerful lifeform in the world to balance our destruction is fascinating.

Overall, I give this last book in the Tawny Man Trilogy a 5...because I did end up buying both the Audible and Kindle versions.  I couldn't stop "reading" even at the dentist.   So the Audible sustained me while the dentist worked on a bad tooth.

16. Golden Fool

I finished the book 2 of the Tawny Man Trilogy last night.  Things finally started happening in the last few chapters!   The story picks up with Tom Badgerlock tying to build a coterie for Prince Dutiful...but unknown forces and factions conspire against the thrown.    Is there a spy in their midst?   (of course there's a spy...there are always spies EVERYWHERE).   Will Tom Badgerlock finally step into the light as claim his true name and place?  

I give this book a 4/5.  I did buy it on my kindle, but I don't think I need the Audible version as well.   This book seemed to drag a bit until the last few chapters.   Tom struggles with how to parent his young adult son, Hap.    I can relate to his struggles as the parent of teen...sometimes you have to let them flounder and be there to pick up the pieces.   Queen Kettriken combats the extreme prejudice against the Witted, but the prejudice is so deeply rooted she struggles to unite her people.    Prince Dutiful prepares for his betrothal quest.  Tom Badgerlock is torn between friendship and duty.

I will warn you...there is rape mentioned in this book but it's not graphically described.   Also be prepared for a very sudden ending!  I was just really getting into the action and BOOM.   It was the epilogue.   I bet the 3rd book is going to be very exciting!

11. Fool's Errand

I finally got around to starting the Tawny Man Trilogy.  The Fool's Errand picks up the story of FitzChivalry (or rather Tom Badgerlock) 15 years after the whole dragon and raiders thing.   Fitz longs for a simple life away from the court and its intrigue.  However, that is, of course, not his fate.   Queen Kettricken summoned him back to Buck to look for the wayward Prince Dutiful.  Did Prince Dutiful run or do the enemies of the crown conspire to ransom him for their own advancement?   Will Fitz be able to find the boy and convince him to come back to marry the Out Islander princess to bring peace to the Six Duchies?  

Overall I thought this book moved fairly slowly, but it was still an enjoyable read.  I have to say I'm frustrated and wish Fitz would just come out of hiding.   He's been hiding in all the books, but it seems as if that's not going to happen any time soon.  

I rate it a 3/5.  I'm perfectly content reading the library's book.  

Robin Hobb Books (Books 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 11)

The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest) 
The first book of the new year was Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb.  This books is the second book in the Farseer Trilogy.    These books follow the story of young bastard, Fitzchivalry as he struggles to save the kingdom from Zombie-like creatures called the Forged.    Basically the Forged have had their prefrontal cortex shut offline and are incapable of the 9 functions of the cortex (as outlined by Daniel J. Siegel in Mindsight...see my last blog post).   Of particular note, they cannot communicate, feel empathy, or modulate fear.   These are truly terrifying creatures!  These books tended to wind up fairly slowly with the first 3 books representing a lot of world building and character development.     My absolute favorite part of this series is the wolf, Nighteyes, and his bond with Fitz.  The developing friendship between Fitz and the Fool is fun to read as well.  Be warned!  These books do break 3 of my rules of peril:  cannibalism, child abuse, and rape.    All the instances of this were not described in an overly graphic way.   However, the when I read fantasy, I read to get away...so in my opinion those things lessen the enjoyment of the books...  So I rate this serious a 3/5 stars

The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny)
In some ways, I enjoyed these more than the Farseer Trilogy.  In some sense it's a coming of age tale of the youth of Vestrit family.  Althea ventures out on the open sea to save her family's liveship from pirates. A live ship is a ship that is given sentience through generations of a family giving their memories at death to the ship. This series has some of my favorite themes such as voyages to far off lands and exploration of deserted cities.    Malta Vestrit grows into womanhood and learns responsibility.  At first, she was such an irritating character, but I learned to appreciate her tenacity and strength.   Overall, these were fast moving and fun reads.  However, they deal with some pretty heavy subject like the linger mental effects of child abuse.  Be wary...there is rape and child abuse in these books!  So 3/5 for me....


My scale...
1 - I almost quit reading.  I had to force myself to continue.  Probably not going to finish the series.
2 - Just ok.  Easy to put these down to go do the dishes.  May take a week to get through...
3 - I liked them, but the library version is fine.
4 - I really enjoyed them.   These are worth buying at least 1 version.   
5 - Don't talk me I'm reading.   Order a pizza to feed the children!  Read as fast as I can and will read again someday. I bought the Audible versions and ebook so I can seamlessly move between the versions.

Ps. I'm trying to stop the 2 spaces after periods, but I'm struggling. So forgive the weird, inconsistent spacing.

Theft of Swords, Michael J. Sullivan

Theft of Swords is a fantasy adventure novel featuring 2 unlikely heroes.  Hadrian and Royce were 2 thieves hired to steal a sword from a king...except when they arrived to perform the deed, they found the king dead.  The 2 adventurers set out on a grand adventure while running for their lives.  This is first in a series called the Riyria Revelations.   I listened to this series on Audible, and it was the first time I really appreciated the narrators as voice actors.  My husband and I were fully engrossed in the story right from the beginning.   There were some fabulous twists and memorable characters.  I literally yelled out "YEAH! YOU GO, GIRL!" at numerous points.  I loved this series because not only are Hadrian and Royce interesting characters, but Thrace and Arista are strong female leads.   If you read through the entire series, you will embark on a journey down rivers, infiltrate dwarf strongholds, sail the high seas, and explore lost cities.  You will laugh and cry!  This a fabulous series and I strongly recommend it!  I don't want to spoil a single twist so I'll just keep this review short! 

Next up:
Self Therapy by Jay Earley