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: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s classic tale of true love and high adventure
Author: William Goldman
Genre: historical fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from book cover): The Princess Bride is a timeless tale that pits country against country, good against evil, love against hate. This incredible journey and artfully rendered love story is peppered with strange beasties monstrous and gentle, memorable surprises both terrible and sublime, and such unforgettable characters as...

Westley, the handsome farm boy who risks death (and much worse) for the woman he loves; Inigo, the Spanish swordsman who lives only to avenge his father's death; Fezzik, the gentlest giant ever to have uprooted a tree with his bare hands; Vizzini, the evil Sicilian, with a mind so keen he's foiled by his own perfect logic; Prince Humperdinck, the eviler ruler of Guilder, who was as equally insatiable thirst for war and the beauteous Buttercup; Count Rugen, the evilest man of all, who thrives on the excruciating pain of others; Miracle Max, the King's ex-Miracle Man, who can raise the dead (kind of); and, of course, Buttercup... the princess bride, the most perfect, beautiful woman in the history of the world!

My thoughts: To start, let me correct the synopsis, Humperdink doesn't rule Guilder but Florin, that beautiful land from where comes the original author of the book, Simon Morgenstern, since the book by Goldman is nothing more than an abridged version; and where still lives family of the author Stephen King, who is in charge of abridging the next volume, Buttercup's Baby.

Did you believe it? Yeah, it's all a lie. (Does anybody really know a country named Florin?) But that is why this book is exceptional.

William Goldman starts by telling his story with this book. Fascinated by the book since his father, supposedly, read it to him, he decides to abridge the book, to do a version with only the "good parts", as only as an adult, after giving the book to his son and being told his son didn't liked it, does Goldman fully learns the size and the true contents of the book. And it's in this way that we come around to the text by Morgenstern, but only the good parts!

This book is great when it comes to imagination, as in the way the story is told to the reader. The story is cute, it's also ridicule and has many ridicule and improbable situations, the characters are stereotypes from fairy tales; but the narration gives it all something more and you can't help but laugh. We have two narrators who, here and there, put their own thoughts to the text. I love these parts, namely the ones by Morgenstern as in the first chapter when he tries to set a chronological time for the story, giving us quotes such as:

(This was before Europe.)

(this was after Paris)

(This was after taste too, but only just. And since it was such a new thing, and since the Countess was the only one in Florin to possess it, is it any wonder she was the leading hostess of the land?)

(This was before glamour, but if it hadn't been for ladies like the Countess, there would never have been a need for its invention.)

(This was after stew, but so is everything. When the first man first clambered from the slime and made his first home on land, what he had for supper that first night was stew.)

(This was after taxes. But everything is after taxes. Taxes were here even before stew.)

The parts by Goldman I didn't like as much since they cut the rhythm of the story. I know he does it on propose, but it distracts as he does it exactly in the climax of the story. That's why I prefer the movie.

As the title says, it's a tale about true love and adventure. It has some ridicule parts; two authors who here and there mess with the story, but you can stop but smile while reading this book. Great read for those days you feel down.

Book Title: The Lions of Al-Rassan
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Genre: historical fantasy
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): The once powerful empire of Al-Rassan, King Almarik is on the ascendancy, adding city after city to his realm aided always by the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan -- poet, diplomat, soldier and assassin. Almarik's empire is threatened only by the ambitious Jaddite kings of the north who are eager to reclaim the lands they once held.

But the Jaddite lands are divided and their own celebrated war leader Rodrigo Belmonte and his war-band are forced into exile. Thus in the exquisite lakeside city of Ragosa, Rodrigo and ibn Khairan meet and serve -- for a time -- the same monarch. And observing the byplay between the two men is Jehane, the beautiful, accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond...

My thoughts: I have to say I didn't knew the author and only knew of this book after a very nice review of it on a Portuguese blog. I'm so glad I picked it up, is one of the best books I've read this year!

You can see clearly the influence of the Iberian Peninsula history in this book, during the Muslim occupation of the South (called Al-Andalus at that time), while in the north there was Christian kingdoms. The action takes place on another world, hence the fantasy element of the book, though very similar to ours with the only difference being the two moons, and it seems to be set during the period of the taifa, independent Muslim kingdoms that appeared after the collapse of ruling dynasties of the Al-Andalus (the first period of the taifa was after the collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba) and which were aggregated again by the Almoravids and after by the Almohads, dynasties from the North of Africa that strictly followed the Muslim doctrine, to whom the taifa kingdoms turned on the edge of being conquered by the Christian kingdoms of the north.

In this book we have three different communities, the jaddites of the North (based on the Christians), the asharites of the south (depicted from the Muslims) and the kindath (based on the Jews who, in the Iberian Peninsula under the Muslims or the Christians powers, lived in ghettos, apart from the population that followed the religion of the central power, paid high taxes, and still were blamed when something was wrong, hence the persecutions and forced conversions). These three communities had been able to live together in spite of the great tension between them. We follow three main characters, one from each community, who were able to be friends even though terrible things happened around them, in a clear example of tolerance. This is the message of this book.

I liked how the author tells us the story. Contrary to what usually happens to me while reading, I usually feel like I take part of the action, with this book is like being told a story, as if someone was telling it as an oral tradition. The "story teller" does an amazing job, hiding some key parts and revealing bits without telling it all, getting our attention from the first to the last page, making us feel emotionally in certain parts since the story evolves us. The characters are amazingly well created, they seem like every other person, and you can't stop feeling like you know them and they're your friends.

Guy Gavriel Kay did an excellent job in this book. He's not just an author, he's a story teller and I'm looking forward to read more stories by him.

Book Title: Black Powder War
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: historical fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from book cover): After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty's Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn-thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master's death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte's implacable army?

My thoughts: These books are starting to seem like Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell, but if that follows a soldier, in these we follow a dragon and his aviator whom, in each book, are demanded to fulfill some order for His Majesty. I wasn't really expecting this, when I started reading this series, but I love it none the less.

This time our characters, still in China, are demanded to go to Istanbul and retrieve three eggs bought by the British government. We follow their journey, guided by Tharkay, a mysterious man, and get to know other dragons (as feral ones). Arriving at Istanbul, they're confronted by intrigues fomented by Lien. But this dragon doesn't stop here and lets her true intentions be known: join Napoleon to carry on with her vengeance.

Once again I loved the dragons, namely Temeraire. I like how he's influenced by what he sees and discusses what concerns him with Laurence, letting the latter know his doubts and ideas. Laurence, who until he met the dragon never questioned what he did for a living, also gets influenced by Temeraire's ideals, so we can see both characters growing. I liked when Laurence comments with Temeraire the way Napoleon sees and uses dragons, holding them on great account, almost as Temeraire's own ideas. That's why, in my opinion, this books once again resemble Sharpe's. The main character by Cornwell also wonders about the ideas Napoleon spreads, such as the ascension by merit which goes as his own ideal.

I liked Lien, although we see little of her, and Tharkay, whom I hope to see in the sequels. Little Iskierka also was nice and it seems it will be tough to handle her. I hope to see more of these characters.

Book Title: Throne of Jade
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: historical fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): History takes flight in the second book of Naomi Novik's deliciously addictive series which captures the Napoleonic period perfectly and skillfully layers the timeline with imagination by adding a Dragon Air Force to the battle for England. Captain William Laurence of the British Air Corps and his dragon, Temeraire, begin their slow voyage to China, fearful that upon landing they will be forced to part by Imperial decree. Temeraire is a Celestial dragon, the most highly-prized of all draconic breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility and most of all for the Divine Wind -- their terrible roar capable of shattering the heavy timbers of war ships, shattering woodland and destroying other dragons mid-flight. Temeraire's egg was captured and claimed by the British at sea, but he was meant to be the companion of the Emperor Napoleon and not captained by a mere officer in the British Air Corps.

The Chinese have demanded his return and the British cannot refuse them -- they cannot afford to provoke the asian super-power into allying themselves with the French -- even if it costs them the most powerful weapon in their arsenal and inflicts the most unimaginable pain upon Laurence and his dragon.

My thoughts: This book takes on where he left our characters on the previous book. After the battle in which we acknowledge the true potential of Temeraire and its breed, the Chinese find out that the dragon they intended to give to Napoleon has been in the hands of the English, so they try to take it back as well as separate him from Laurence, his aviator and friend. Not willing to be separated, they're sent in an Embassy to China. The voyage reveals itself full of incidents and punctuated by intrigues. What was the true intention behind the offering to Napoleon? Why would the Chinese wanted to get Temeraire back, if they wanted to give him up first?

Throughout the book we're given the answers to this question, while we see the relationship between dragon and aviator being tested. All of this was well done and the action seldom stops. The author also presents us new dragons, who may have an important part on the following books (as Lien), and show us the differences between the West and the Orient, namely in what concerns to dragons' treatment. I specially liked this and how its knowledge affected Temeraire's way of thinking, which proves us he isn't a normal dragon.

It's a good continuation to the previous book. Can't wait to pick up the next one and see what adventures wait our protagonists.

Book Title: His Majesty's Dragon
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: historical fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Summary (from Amazon.co.uk): Naomi Novik's stunning series of novels follow the global adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they are thrown together to fight for Britain during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars. Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old; finding a warmer berth in Nelson's navy than any he enjoyed as the youngest, least important son of Lord Allendale. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancee, society's esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to overrun her shores. After a skirmish with a French ship, Laurence finds himself in charge of a rare cargo: a dragon egg bound for the Emperor himself. Dragons are much prized: properly trained, they can mount a fearsome attack from the skies. One of Laurence's men must take the beast in hand and join the aviators' cause, thus relinquishing all hope of a normal life. But when the newly-hatched dragon ignores the young midshipman Laurence chose as its keeper and decides to imprint itself on the horrified captain instead, Laurence's world falls apart.

Gone is his golden future: gone his social standing, and soon his beautiful fiancee, as he is consigned to be the constant companion and trainer of the fighting dragon Temeraire!

My thoughts: As incredible as it might seem, I learned about this series due to my passion for Tolkien's books and was pleasantly surprised to know that Peter Jackson might adapt this books to cinema.

I've seen a mention to these books while checking the website of my favourite Tolkien illustrator, Anke Eissman, in which she said she liked it due to the fact that it had dragons in the Napoleonic wars. By this time I've already came across the Sharpe series, by Bernard Cornwell, in which the action takes place also in the middle of the Napoleonic wars, and since I always had a soft spot for dragons, I kept track of these series. The wait was worth it.

The story starts on board of a French ship conquered by the British, who find a dragon's egg soon to hatch. Since there's no aviator or a dragon's specialist on board, the crew is a bit confused about what to do until the dragon finally chooses captain Laurence to be his handler. Reticently the captain is convinced of his new task, which will change all his life, while getting attached to the dragon.

The author then leads us through the dragon and aviator trainings, in which both learned about each other, building a friendship, but also themselves. We see some conflict between the mentalities of the Navy, filled by second sons and those who wanted fortune, and the Aerial Corps, composed by libertine aviators who, supposedly, were condemned to a hard life. The human characters are quite pleasant to read, as well as the dragons, which are distinct from each others. Actually, I really loved Temeraire, as we accompany his evolution. He seems a little child, getting fascinated by everything and with a huge wanting to know the world. Also the battles are very well done, is like having an RAF before the World Wars.

Quite interesting, this book also innovates and has a well built story, since it takes on two distinct themes, until a certain point, which could work badly. Fortunately that didn't happen. I recommend it to those who like history and a bit of fantasy; to those who ask "who would this bit of history be if there were fantastical creatures?"