If you're looking for my reviews of a certain author or genre you can check my tags list. You can also see my list of book reads in 2007 & 2008 and 2009.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk):

"His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione."

With these words Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince draws to a close. And here, in this seventh and final book, Harry discovers what fate truly has in store for him as he inexorably makes his way to that final meeting with Voldemort. In this thrilling climax to the phenomenally bestselling series, J.K. Rowling will reveal all to her eagerly waiting readers.

My thoughts: Again, for the second time, I get to the end of this saga. Having read this book for the first time not so long ago, just over two years ago, and having already left my opinion here I have nothing more to add except that, like the other audiobooks, Stephen Fry does a great job. It was certainly another way to enjoy one of the best stories I've ever had the pleasure to read. :D

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk):

In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge.

These dramatic words appeared in the final pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In the midst of this battle of good and evil, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with Voldemort's power and followers increasing day by day.

My thoughts: Anxious for the sixth movie to come out, mostly now that the movies seem to be getting better, as I loved the fifth one, but then I disliked the book... As I was saying, anxious for the next movie I couldn't be indifferent to the book so I decided to read it again. I must confess myself a bit disappointed, in this second reading, but I still had some facts fresh in my head and, as I read it the first time in English, this re-reading didn't lead me to better understand jokes or clear some incidents, as happened with the re-reading of the previous books.

This volume gets to be more mature and dark, than the previous ones. We have a very different beginning and changes in Hogwarts' staff that brought a bit of fresh air to the story. I liked the fact that Hagrid wasn't around that much, I also liked Slughorn and it was a pity we could see more of Snape's lessons. The book is much more interesting than the previous, as we uncover some of Snape's (by far my favourite character) and Voldemort's backgrounds. Also, I liked that Malfoy was given a bit more depth and an interesting task, since in the last books he seemed a bit overshadowed and poorly used as Harry's antagonist. Besides that, I know there sere peoples who didn't liked the inclusion of Horcruxes, but I really liked their purpose as well as I liked the visits to Tom Riddle's past through the Pensieve. It's noticeable that Harry is a bit more mature and that Dumbledore, after keeping the truth from Harry for five years and finally having disclosed everything to him, is passing unto him the burden and knowledge to better take his task to a satisfactory ending, as Dumbledore feels he will not be around for much longer.

A very good book, that sets up the final chapter of this series.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 3/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk):

Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses.
'It is time,' he said, 'for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.'

Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is desperate to get back to school and find out why his friends Ron and Hermione have been so secretive all summer. However, what Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his whole world upside down...But before he even gets to school, Harry has an unexpected and frightening encounter with two Dementors, has to face a court hearing at the Ministry of Magic and has been escorted on a night-time broomstick ride to the secret headquarters of a mysterious group called 'The Order of the Phoenix'. And that is just the start. A gripping and electrifying novel, full of suspense, secrets, and - of course - magic.

My thoughts: I must say this is the book I like less of this series. I didn't enjoyed it the first time I read it, it was the only one in which I slept half the way through a chapter, didn't enjoyed it the second time I've read nor the third.

After the more mature tone of the previous volumes, this seems to be a bit more childish, with Peeves once again messing around, even if he did it on the twins command and to defy Umbridge I don't think it was a improvement, and the fantastical creatures return, since there's a new giant which, personally, I think brings nothing to the story. Besides all that, this book as a slower rhythm, Harry seems to be against everything and everyone (really, I felt like punching and asking him not to be such a whining kid) and there's not that much action. The book only sets off the moment Harry sees his godfather and danger and flees to rescue him in the Ministry of Magic. Until then, the book seems to have only hormones and I really could do better without it.

However, it is still a reasonable nice book to start the second half of this series. I enjoyed how some characters, like Neville and Ginny, were presented on this volume, maybe even anticipating the events of the last one. I liked Umbridge, one of the best characters of this book, and wonderfully played by Stephen Fry, who once again does a brilliant job. Also, it's good to be finally told why Voldemort desires to kill Harry, we understand their connection better and the second war is afoot, being perceptible that casualties will be demanded.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): It is the summer holidays and soon Harry Potter will be starting his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is counting the days: there are new spells to be learnt, more Quidditch to be played, and Hogwarts castle to continue exploring. But Harry needs to be careful - there are unexpected dangers lurking. J.K. Rowling continues to surprise and delight with the power of her rich, demanding and action-packed storytelling.

My thoughts: This is clearly the book that sets the change in this series, not only because it marks the reborn of Voldemort, but the writing seems to take another course as well, taking a more mature tone. The characters grow up, there are hormones in the air, the dark tone, which was noted already in the second book, is even more present. There are deaths and people disappear, there is also an insecurity sense in the air and not only in Hogwarts.

Once again, knowing what happens on the next books, it still nice to find clues, more or less hidden, to what will happen or will be explained in the next volumes.

Another great continuation of this series.

Book Title: The Talisman
Author: Stephen King and Peter Straub
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from book cover): A stunning, reverberating epic of fantasy, adventure and odyssey.

The Talisman is the story of a young and courageous boy searching for the talisman, the one thing that will save his dying mother. His quest takes him into the menacing Territories where violence, surprise and the titanic struggle between good and evil reach across a mythic landscape, in a novel as extraordinary and as unforgettable as Lord of the Rings.

My thoughts: I must start by saying I've never read anything by these authors, so I can't say which part was written by whom. At the beginning I felt like they were doing it like an RPG – now I write, then you write. The writing seemed odd and confusing at first, it took a while to get into the book but then, before I noticed, an all afternoon and night passed by.

We follow the story of a 12 year boy, Jack Sawyer, whose mother is ill, actually dying due to a cancer. Having confused memories of his childhood, of his death father and his business partner, we come to learn of his Daydreams. Running with his mother from his father business partner, Morgan Sloat, Jack finds Speedy who sends him on a quest to find the Talisman and save not only his mother but the Queen of the Territories, his mother Twinner. Jack starts then a journey that will challenge him.

As I said, I've never read anything by this authors but I've always associated King to terror, so I was surprised when I stumbled upon a fantasy novel. We have two worlds very similar, populated by different beings which are also similar, as it happens with Twinners, twins of a person in the Territories who are very similar but yet different, and who may have or not the same destiny. It seems confused, but it gets clear when you read it, just as it's clear that the authors love to read stories besides telling them, so you stumble across references to other works such as The Lord of the Rings.

I really liked the characters, though I didn't felt a strong emotional connection with them, as it happened to me with other books. Also, I loved the Territories and of how they were linked to the American Territories, as Jack comes to refer to his world. It makes one wonder about how the places we know might be once you flipped to the Territories.

It's a very pleasant book, to those who like the genre, and it has some gore parts. The final was kind of left open to a sequel (with an amazing quote from Mark Twain that made me want to read Tom Sawyer) which was published in 2001, Black House, and tells a new adventure of Jack 20 years after the events of The Talisman. To know that this book is somehow linked to the Dark Tower series, of which I've been hearing some very nice reviews, makes me want to keep reading books by Stephen King.

Book Title: Fire Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 2/5

Summary (from book cover): THE APPRENTICESHIP IS OVER. NOW THE REAL TEST HAS BEGUN.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder – able to capture and release souls – spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.

Honour sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies and enemies. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself – and save the land she holds dear.

My thoughts: I've read some bad reviews, but I never thought it would be so hard to read it and it was with joy that I put it aside.

The first book is by far the best one, with interesting characters and story. In the second, the characters lacked some charisma but the story still griped us. In this third and final volume, neither character nor story was appealing. I must confess I sensed it from the moment in which Moon Man, Yelena's Storyweaver, who teaches her through cryptic messages, is told to suffer from claustrophobia. Yeah, right...

Yelena starts her journey, in this last volume, chasing after Ferde and Cahill to stop them from raising forces to go against Ixia. However, she stumbles on a bigger plan behind this all.

There's nothing new, or seems not to be nothing new, and the story is more than predictable. I lost count of the times I rolled my eyes in different situations, that seemed déjà vu or were just annoying, and me rolling eyes isn't a good sign. We feel that we go around with no meaning and not advancing on the story; there's an altruistic super-hero, who shuns everyone aside and starts questioning her powers (some pseudo-depth, that made me dislike the character even more); there's also references to previous books, that become annoying and doesn't contribute to the narrative, I actually think that if someone were to start reading this book without reading the previous, wouldn't understand at all the references. I can't forget to mention the battles, which seemed to be copied and pasted from the previous. The ending didn't satisfy me as well, but at least it was able to tangle up the loosed strings.

Clearly on a lower level, comparing it to the previous books, its worth is in the ending which, as I said, answers the doubts we had since the first volume, but I think I could have done without it. Or at least, I could have done without a great part of it. Still, I don't know if I will pick Glass Storm up...

Book Title: Magic Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from book cover): CONFRONTING THE PAST. CONTROLLING THE FUTURE.

With an execution order on her head, Yelena has no choice but to escape Sitia, the land of her birth. With only a year to master her magic – or face death – Yelena must begin her apprenticeship and travels to the Four Towers of the Magician's Keep.

But nothing in Sitia is familiar. Not the family to whom she is a stranger. Not the unsettling new facets of her magic. Not the brother who resents her return. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her rare powers, a rogue magician emerges – and Yelena catches his eye.

Suddenly she is embroiled in battle against good and evil. And once again it will be her magical abilities that will either save her life... or be her downfall.

My thoughts: I know it usually happens and I was prepared for it as, when one gives a high rate to a first volume of a series, two things can happen: the next volumes are as good as the first or they aren't. After reading some reviews my enthusiasm over this second volume of the Study trilogy died a bit, which actually it was a good thing as I ended up not feeling frustrated by it.

We meet Yelena where we left her. With an execution order over her head in Ixia, due to her possession of magic abilities, she runs towards the south, to Sitia, her homeland, to get reacquainted with her family and to learn how to control her powers. But not everything is easy. Her brother doesn't seem happy with her return, doubts about her true intentions arouse, and there's a rogue magician kidnapping and torturing girls to possess their powers, as it happened on the first book.

From the beginning that the book seemed to lack something. Despite preferring Ixia to Sitia, just as Yelena we feel we don't belong there, the characters seem to lack some charisma and the relationships aren't as credible as they were on Poison Study. It lacks what made me love the first book. The only characters who remain just like themselves are Ari and Janco, everyone else lacks something: Yelena lacks good sense and becomes a bit annoying with all her eagerness to dive into the various situations; Leif pretends to have some depth and his relationship with Yelena in the end made me roll my eyes, just as her relationship with the rest of her family actually, as it seemed to took only an instant until she trusted them completely; the Four Master Magicians didn't convinced me as well; Cahill (as long as the Moon Man) was the only character with a bit of interest but he still wasn't a match to Valek, who in this book looses his mystery aura, the thing that made him so seductive. The relationship between Valek and Yelena also made me roll my eyes (there was to much 'love' for me) and he was also incapable of pulling her ears when she stormed into something irrational. I know there wouldn't be books if she took the safe side, but it gets annoying.

Fortunately, the story is interesting and keeps you hooked and eager to know what is to come, since there's non-stop action, which might explain the less character development. To tell the truth, while in the first book the time passed at an agreeable rhythm, is this one everything seems to rush by you. No wonder I preferred the calmer parts, as Yelena's lessons with Irys, it actually made me laugh in the middle of traffic, and Yelena's ability to talk to horses. You also understand better how magic works; learn Yelena's abilities but other questions remain unanswered and I hope to see them cleared by the remaining volume.

Also, we meet the main character of the new book by the author, Glass Storm, but I really don't know what to expect from it. First I must finish this series.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third, and possibly the best, book in the phenomenally successful, award-winning Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

After just about surviving yet another summer with the dreadful Dursleys, the arrival of Aunt Marge is the final straw and, in a fit of anger, Harry casts a spell on her, causing her to blow up like a balloon. He fully expects to be expelled from Hogwarts for his blatant flaunting of the rule not to use magic outside term time, but the arrival of the mysterious Knight Bus and a meeting with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, result in Harry enjoying the rest of the holidays in the wonderful surroundings of the Leaky Cauldron.

Meanwhile Sirius Black--one-time friend of Harry's parents, implicated in their murder and follower of "You- Know-Who"--escapes from Azkaban and this has serious implications for Harry. Back at Hogwarts, Harry's movements are restricted by the presence of the Dementors--guards from Azkaban on the look out for Black.

Stephen Fry's endearingly snooty vocal chords are a perfect match for Rowling's superb storytelling, and Fry manages to give even further depth to a complex and absorbing plot by adding an irreverent wit and a deep-rooted touch of class to a compelling and magical tale that, once heard, will never be forgotten.

My thoughts: I understand why my brother says J.K. repeats herself. There are parts in which she refers previous books that really have a certain tendency to be annoying. And let me confess that the Quidditch matches also, from this book on (even on the written edition and the first time around reading these books I felt the same), annoy me and I would easily do well without them.

Again J.K.'s genius is present on this book. The overturn of events start here, the childish tone is gradually put aside, such is visible in: the less attention the Peeves and the other ghosts get, while they were almost always present on the corridors of the previous volumes; the danger is greater, namely when it comes to confront your fears, here represented by the Dementors, and the feeling of eminent danger, by the vision of the great dog or by the multiple pronounces of death by Trelawney, even if we questioned the veracity of the premonitions.

Just now I'm starting to realize the very few information that is given us concerning Dumbledore and how he appears scarcely throughout the book, only on the crucial moments. Despite that, he remains one of my favourite characters. Something you can't say of Harry while I remember the reason of my "hate". It may sound weird, as the books are told by Harry's point of view and is easy to take his side and be sympathetic towards him, but I share Snape's idea, the boy has a loose reign and he doesn't think about those who want his safety. I know that if that happened there wouldn't be books, but he still gets on my nerves. And once again, let me say that this re-reading show how J.K. had her story written long before.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last even getting there is an adventure in itself! The three firm friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione, are soon immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Quidditch. But then horrible and mysterious things begin to happen. Harry keeps hearing strange voices, sinister and dark messages appear on the wall, and then Ron's sister Ginny disappears.

My thoughts: The childish tone is still present in this book, but there's also a darker tone, since there's a feeling of danger through out the book and even the eminence of death. It's a nice continuation for this series. Also, having read all the books previously and knowing how the whole story ends, it's interesting how certain words and actions take other sense once you know everything ends, which shows the author had her story well defined from the beginning.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling; Stephen Fry (narrator)
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): There was a shower of shooting stars when Harry Potter was born - weathermen all over our world of Muggles were amazed. But in the other world, the Ministry of Magic wasn't surprised at all. For Harry Potter was to be one of its finest and most famous wizards.

Brought by flying motorcycle to live with his horrible Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia and their truly terrible son Dudley. Harry lives unhappily until his eleventh birthday. He is rescued by the magic, if somewhat disorganised, messenger Hagrid, and taken to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

My thoughts: To tell the truth, I lost count of the times I've read this book. Probably this was the fourth or fifth time, but it was the first in English which probably made me enjoy it as much as when I read it for the first time in Portuguese. I felt as learning about a new world, though I already knew the story backwards.

The childish tone is plainly there, but I think that's what makes J.K. Rowling such a wonderful writer. She presents us a very young character and makes him grow throughout the book, and doing the same with the readers. Though I'm already fully grown, this book made me fell like a child again and it was pleasant to hear about good and evil wizards, unicorns and dragons, fantastic creatures that appeal to a child's mind and imagination. But it has a dark tone on the same time, which grows even darker in the following books. But for starters it's simply amazing. These series, and this book which I read and re-read endless times, still surprises me at each reading. I can't stay indifferent to it.

Stephen Fry is an excellent actor and here he makes a great job as a narrator. He makes it easier to identify the characters through the tone and feelings behind the voices.

Book Title: Poison Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from book cover): CHOOSE: A QUICK DEATH OR SLOW POISON...

On the eve of her execution for murder, Yelena is reprieved, but her relief is short-lived. She is to be the Commander of Ixia's food taster. Can Yelena learn all she needs to know about poisons before an assassin succeeds?

Her troubles have only just begun, however... Valek, her captor, has a uniquely cruel method to stop her escaping; General Brazell, father of the man she killed, still wants her dead; and someone is plotting against the Commander.

Resourceful and wily, Yelena gains friends, survival skills – and more than a few enemies. In a desperate race against time, the Commander's life, the future of Ixia and the secrets of her own past will be in her hands...

My thoughts: Sometimes book covers influence my choice. This was one of those cases. I thought the cover was pretty and the read a favourable review. I usually try to search for more opinions but, for this book in particular, the steps mentioned were enough for me to buy it. I'm glad I did it.

I don't usually buy books in English to keep them, since I'm Portuguese and I'm the only one who reads English written fiction at home (my mom doesn't understands English), I trade them using BookMooch. This book however will be an exception. It's simply fantastic, or at least for those like the Fantasy genre, I also thought it as innovator. I'm used to those Fantasy books which seem to take you to a medieval setting, as Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, something that doesn't happen with this book. I associated it to a more modern time, an industrialized setting. Due to the authoritarian and military character of the setting, I associated it to Bismark's Germany, or at least to the idea I have of it, as I don't know much about this historical period. But getting to the plot...

The book tells us the story of Yelena to whom, though sentenced to death because of killing the son of the man who took her in as an orphan, is given one more chance to live. However, the proposal made by Valek, the Commander's (who rules over Ixia) trustful man, has a catch as she becomes the Commander's food taster, making her detect poisons in the food and drinks served to him. Despite her second chance on life, it remains threatened. So we follow Yelena on her taster training, while she makes friends, avoids enemies, reveal intrigues and discovers herself.

The world in which the characters move is a bit undeveloped, the reader only knows the essential to understand what is happening. The strong point is the characters. Just like what happened with Outlander, we see relationships evolve. You see friendships getting stronger consistently and even turning to romance. The main character is strong, although it has ghosts and you see her growing. I liked how the author gives you clues about Yelena's past and powers without giving all away. The same is true to the other characters: Valek, the Commander (whose story I really thought it was interesting), Irys...

You have action and intrigue in considerable amount, keeping you interested in the book and in what is going to come. Adding to this, you have magic and a bit of romance. For me it was a complete book, providing everything I ask from a book while reading it: it provided an escape to my daily life.

Book Title: A Clash of Kings
Author: George R.R. Martin
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): George R. R. Martin's superb fantasy epic continues in consummate style as bloodshed and alchemy lay waste the Seven Kingdoms in the second volume of A Song of Ice and Fire. The Iron Throne once united the Sunset Lands, but King Robert is dead, his widow is a traitor to his memory, and his surviving brothers are set on a path of war amongst themselves. At King's Landing, the head of Lord Eddard Stark rots on a spike for all to see. His daughter Sansa is betrothed still to his killer's son Joffrey -- Queen Cersei's son, though not the son of her late husband Robert. Even so, Joffrey is now a boy-king, Cersei is his regent, and war is inevitable. In Dragonstone, Robert's brother Stannis has declared himself king, while his other brother Renly proclaims himself king at Storm's End -- and Eddard Stark's fifteen year old son Robb wears the crown of the north at Winterfell. A comet in the night sky, red and malevolent, the colour of blood and flame, can only be an omen of murder and war. Stannis's child Princess Shireen dreams of dragons waking from stone. And a white raven has brought word from the Citadel itself, foretelling summer's end.

It has been the longest summer in living memory, lasting ten years, and the smallfolk say it means an even longer winter to come...The first rule of war is never give the enemy his wish. But winter will be the biggest enemy. From beyond the Wall the undead and Others clamour for freedom, and from beyond the sea the long-dead Dragon King's daughter hatches her revenge. Robb Stark will be exceedingly lucky to reach adulthood.

My thoughts: We continue to follow the different stories, mainly the civil war in Westeros. But there's something more. Something is different. There's a new addition to the fantasy component of the book, there's magic.

There isn't much to add. Though few, the chapters concerning Jon (the story line related to the Wall) and Daenerys, were very interesting. I like this two story lines better than the civil war, but I understand the 'lesser' importance. While the civil war touches most of the characters, Jon and Daenerys are alone when it comes to the narration. There is no one, better, there's no other P.O.V. going through the same, though in Jon's case that might change.

The new characters presented, as Melisandre and the crannogmen, are interesting as well and we can foresee some surprises. I can't wait to read the next chapter!

Book Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R.R. Martin
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): First volume of a brilliant new fantasy trilogy: the most powerful, original and absorbing new epic since Stephen Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. The first volume of George R R Martin's glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war that threatens the unity of the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall. Martin unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions, thronged with memorable characters, a story of treachery and ambition, love and magic. Set in a fabulous world scarred by battle and catastrophe over 8000 years of recorded history, it tells of the deeds of men and women locked in the deadliest of conflicts and the terrible legacy they will leave their children. In the game of thrones, you win or you die. And in the bitter-cold, unliving lands beyond the Wall, a terrible winter gathers and the others -- the undead, the neverborn, wildlings to whom the threat of the sword is nothing -- make ready to descend on the realms of men. A Game of Thrones begins the most imaginative, ambitious and compelling fantasy epic since The Lord of the Rings.

Thronged with memorable characters, it unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions. There have been many pretenders to the throne of Tolkien: now at last he has a true heir.

My thoughts: It got me from start to finish, though the story was told different from what I'm used to. Each chapter is told following a different character, which could be confusing. But is not. The author has a great ability of developing the most different characters, as well as their stories, not letting the reader be lost in its threads. The reader always knows where he stands (even with three threads of story that are, however, linked), with whom he is and what he may expect from that chapter.

So, we have a civil war between the various Houses of the Seven Kingdoms. This line of story is the most developed, not only because of the multiple characters that we follow through the chapters are involved in it but also for giving us the background history of Westeros.

Then we follow the story of Daenerys, the last survivor of the Targaryen House, which unified and reigned the Seven Kingdoms before being over-throned. She has the most interesting chapters and also presents us one of the fantasy components of the story, the dragons.

At last, we have the Wall. Is the less developed thread of story, in my opinion, but you can see it will be of great importance. It also has a fantasy component, presenting us to the Others and their powers.

Being this the first book of a series, I can't help but try to guess what's coming. I think it's curious the series being called A Song of Ice and Fire and the fantasy components of the series being made of this two elements: Ice, as the Others are creatures of the cold, of the Winter; and Fire, of dragons, symbol of the only House able to unify the Seven Kingdoms and, eventually, the only weapon against the Winter that is coming. I can't help thinking that in the end there'll be a battle between Others and Dragons, with the Seven Kingdoms in the middle.

A series to follow. I recommend it to Tolkien lovers. Though they're different from each other, Martin and Tolkien were able to make me want to know more of the worlds they created.

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from book cover): Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?

My thoughts: ( It's over. )

Book Title: The Amber Spyglass
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 3/5

Summary (from amazon.co.uk): Lyra lies sleeping in a cave near a rainbow, drugged into unconsciousness by her mother, Mrs Coulter, whose love for her daughter closely rivals her own ruthless ambition. Now, the latter threatens to overcome the former, as she strives to prevent the events which are dependent on the decisions Lyra is fated to make. Meanwhile, Will-scarred and traumatised after his last, fatal meeting with his father-seeks blindly for her, with only two of Lord Asriel's angels as companions on his dangerous search. The two are fated to meet once more, however, and begin their most treacherous journey. For Lyra owes a great debt, and she must repay it-she must rescue her friend from the Land of the Dead. Neither are prepared for the terrible sacrifice they must endure, or for the universal consequences of their actions. Lyra and Will must play their part in the war between the worlds and heaven...

My thoughts: Finally the conclusion! And I say this with a bit of relief since, just like the previous volume, it took me some time to read it and, again, it left a bittersweet taste in the end, since it was a bit far from what I was expecting to be.

Like the second volume, this one never reached the first. I don't know what the first has to be so special; maybe some other kind of innocence, but what's certain is that the second and third volumes never got into me as the first. Even the writing seems better done in the first volume, making the battle between the bears greater than the, supposedly, monumental battle in this volume.

However, the end surprised me. I liked how Lyra and Will discovered each other, so to speak, and Mary's role as the serpent. You could see their relationship evolve and Mary's story was a beautiful way to make them discover such feelings. I also liked how Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter sacrificed themselves to give Lyra a chance. For once they acted as parents probably should.

Also, I enjoyed, and on this I give credit to Pullman's mind, how he managed to make the adults so extremists to a point in which the battle between the Church (the Authority) and, let's say, the atheists seemed as a big child's tantrum, each one demanding their right to a sweet. (lousy comparison I know...) On the other hand, the children were the responsible ones, with a great task ahead and the world on their shoulders. A nice exchange of roles. Actually, the characters are, probably, the best thing in this trilogy. Aren't they only appealing, you can see them grow, especially the two main characters as they pass from childhood into adolescence and adulthood.

In all, the trilogy is well done and interesting but I think I've read better.

Book Title: The Subtle Knife
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 3/5

Summary (from amazon.co.uk): At the end of The Northern Lights, Lyra Silvertongue watched in fear and fascination as her father, Lord Asriel, created a bridge between worlds. Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, are now lost in an alternate universe where they meet Will Parry, a fugitive from a third universe. Will has found a small window between Cittagazze (a place where children roam unchecked but invisible Specters suck the spirit out of adults) and his Oxford, which, with its Burger Kings and cars, is frighteningly different from the Oxford Lyra knows.

Will's father, an explorer, disappeared years ago, but recently some odd characters have started asking questions about him, and now, having accidentally killed one of them, Will is wanted by the police. Armed with the Subtle Knife, a tool that cuts any material (including that which separates universes) and Lyra's alethiometer, the children set out to find John Parry, with adults of various stripes in desperate pursuit.

Lyra's finest qualities, her courage and quick mind, are stretched to the limit as she has to lie, cheat and steal to keep herself and Will out of danger. However, she must also learn when to tell the truth and when to trust, for, though she does not yet know it, she has a huge part to play in the upcoming battle between Good and Evil.

My thoughts: I've read the first book of this trilogy some months ago and have waited impatiently for this volume, but it left a bittersweet taste by the end. I'm not saying is bad, it just didn't stand up to my expectations.

The book starts with the point of view of another character, Will Parry, who on the contrary of The Northern Lights main character, Lyra Belacqua or Lyra Silvertongue, comes from our world and was forced to grow up a bit fast. He joins Lyra after passing through a window in the air and finds out that, just like her, he also has a mission.

And it's basically what happens in the book. If the first one was so we could meet Lyra, this one introduces us to Will and soon we understand that it's these two characters, to whom we might add Mary, also from our world and introduced in this volume, who will have to carry on their backs the Destiny as we learn they must perform another "Fall of Man".

This book is more of a bridge between the first and the last book, so none of them is able to stand alone, since it ends in a cliff-hanger, like the first one.

Book Title: Northern Lights
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 3/5

Summary (from amazon.co.uk): Lyra's life is already sufficiently interesting for a novel before she eavesdrops on a presentation by her uncle Lord Asriel to his colleagues in the Jordan College faculty, Oxford. The college, famed for its leadership in experimental theology, is funding Lord Asriel's research into the heretical possibility of the existence of worlds unlike Lyra's own, where everyone is born with a familiar animal companion, magic of a kind works, the Tartars are threatening to overrun Muscovy, and the Pope is a puritanical Protestant. Set in an England familiar and strange, Philip Pullman's lively, taut story is a must-read and re-read for fantasy lovers of all ages. The world-building is outstanding, from the subtle hints of the 1898 Tokay to odd quirks of language to the panserbjorne, while determined, clever Lyra is strongly reminiscent of Joan Aiken's Dido Twite.

My thoughts: One of the critics I've heard, from someone which opinions I usually take, was that this book was very childish. I guess that happens when the main character is a young girl with only 11 years old, but is not so childish as that person seemed to say. And it isn't so phenomenal as other critics. But yes, is interesting.

I wouldn't compare, with only this book, Philip Pullman to Tolkien. Both created new worlds, but Tolkien as also created a all new mythology, a all new world, new languages, new beings. Pullman seems to take on 19th century England, adds archaic words, so to speak, and creates 'daemons', a genius like being which is the physical manifestation of the human soul. I'm not taking away his credit. The world he created is still very interesting, such as the story.

The book follows Lyra Belacqua, an 11 years old girl, living in Oxford with Scholars, which practice something like experimental theology. You can see where the story is going to... New particles, or Dust, are discovered, which can put in doubt some dogmas of the religion set on Lyra's world, where the Church (supposedly the Protestant Church) holds a great influence. The story follows with a very nice pace, holding us to the book and not losing itself over complicated explanations of physics and theology. In fact, those who don't understand those matters still can understand what is being said (!). There's also very interesting characters.

The worst is really at the end. The last chapters seem somehow precipitate, with characters falling from the sky (almost literally) and some confusion in terms of description, but it leaves some interesting questions to be answered in the second volume.

Book Title: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Author: Gregory Maguire
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 2/5

Summary (from amazon.co.uk): When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

My thoughts: I had great expectations towards this book. I can't say I'm a big fan, but I love to watch The Wizard of Oz every time it's on tv, and I heard great things about the musical. About the book, I've also read good reviews and was curious to know about the 'true nature of evil' and why does the villain chooses to be... well, the villain. It was a good idea, but it seems badly done in this book. Everything seems just a bunch of tantrums. Even Elphaba, the protagonist and, maybe because of that, the most successful character in the book, as she has a brain and uses it, gives everything away when she throws a tantrum because of a pair of shoes.

The story is a bit confusing, with no reason, since it doesn't have so many characters and situations although the book is pretty heavy. There's a lot of stuff that could be better developed, but it seems that the author was feeling lazy or more interested thinking about other stuff that had no relevance, except maybe shocking the reader (which he couldn't also do), like a bestiality scene in which has contributed with little or nothing to the rest of the story.

I'm not saying the books isn't interesting, but its potential seems badly exploited and the fact that there's a continuation doesn't justifies so many untied strings.