Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Fantasy Series

Fantasy amnesia. It's a real condition, with no known treatment. There seem to be more fantasy books than realistic fiction written for middle grade, and I don't have quite as many readers for it. Sure, those students will often ONLY read fantasy. There's some fantasy I really like, but even then, I have to take notes! So, here are some books in series that I read and am unable to remember enough details to write reviews!

 Paolini, Christopher. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaesia.
December 31st 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Library copy

From the publisher:
"Welcome back to the world of Alagaësia. It’s been a year since Eragon departed Alagaësia in search of the perfect home to train a new generation of Dragon Riders. Now he is struggling with an endless sea of tasks: constructing a vast dragonhold, wrangling with suppliers, guarding dragon eggs, and dealing with belligerent Urgals and haughty elves. Then a vision from the Eldunarí, unexpected visitors, and an exciting Urgal legend offer a much-needed distraction and a new perspective. This volume features three original stories set in Alagaësia, interspersed with scenes from Eragon’s own unfolding adventure. Included is an excerpt from the memoir of the unforgettable witch and fortune-teller Angela the herbalist . . . penned by Angela Paolini, the inspiration for the character, herself! Relish the incomparable imagination of Christopher Paolini in this thrilling new collection of stories based in the world of the Inheritance Cycle."

So painful. So very, very painful.

MacHale, D.J. Oracle of Doom (The Library #3)
October 9th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Library copy

From the Publisher
"Marcus is an agent of the Library, a place filled with tales that don't have an ending. Puzzles that won't be solved until Marcus and his friends step in to finish them. This time it's their own stories at stake.

Theo just visited the Oracle Baz, an old amusement-park machine that spits out fortunes for the cost of a quarter. Fun, right? The only problem is, the oracle's cheap predictions have been coming true . . . and Theo's fortune says that life as he knows it will end on his fourteenth birthday! Plus, Lu's cousin, who also went to the oracle, is missing.

Marcus knows where to find help for his friends--the Library. It turns out that the Oracle Baz was a real man who died in a fire long ago. Can a glimpse into the fortune-teller's past change all their futures?"

Got about 100 pages in, and things started to seem familiar. Sure enough, I read this back in February. Again, amnesia.

Bell, Jennifer. The Shadows of Doom (Uncommoners #2)
February 5th 2019 by Crown Books for Young Readers
Library copy

From the publisher:
"Ivy and her older brother, Seb, are back in Lundinor--the underground city where enchanted objects can do incredible things, if they're uncommon. But not everyone is thrilled at their arrival. Namely, Selena Grimes, the wicked ghoul who will stop at nothing to return her guild, the Dirge, to their former glory. When Ivy and Seb learn that Selena is after the Jar of Shadows, one of the five most powerful uncommon objects, they know it's up to them to find it first.

But there's more than just Selena to worry about this trading season. Jack-in-the-Green, an escaped shape-shifting convict, haunts the city; Grivens, a troubling game where players often end up horribly injured--or worse--is on the rise; and foes disguised as friends lurk in the shadows. Ivy will have to figure out who they can trust--before they meet their uncommon ends."

I adored The Crooked Sixpence, but really struggled to get into this. Never quite did. Perhaps I am just that sad that the cover changed from the gorgeous British version? Glad I bought it, since it does well with Harry Potter fans, but felt surprisingly "meh" about this sequel.

Cestari, Crystal. The Fairest Kind of Love (Windy City Magic #3)
March 5th 2019 by Disney-Hyperion
Library Copy

From the publisher:
"Amber Sand has spent half her life solidifying other people's happily-ever-afters. As a matchmaker, she has the ability to look into anyone's eyes and see their perfect match. But lately, her powers have been on the fritz, and not only is she totally unsure whether her matches are true, she can't see anyone in the eyes of her boyfriend Charlie Blitzman. With Amber and her friends graduating high school and about to take off for various colleges, Amber is hoping to have one last carefree summer-but she's also dying to find a way to fix her powers, and learn, for better or worse, if she and Charlie are truly meant to be. So when an online matchmaker named Madame Lamour comes to Chicago, Amber sets out to talk to her and find out who her match is once and for all. Of course, when it comes to the magical community, nothing's ever that easy, and Amber soon finds herself caught up in a breathless showdown that involves a fairy family feud and a magical-creature auction--and requires teaming up with a certain siren nemesis. Can Amber and her friends save the day one more time before setting off for their new lives? And will Amber ever learn whether Charlie is her one true love?"

I don't have a lot of readers who like romance fantasy books (like Plum's Die for Me, or the Twilight books), but there are a few. Most of them are hard core public library users, but it's good to have a few series to meet immediate demands. This is a good one, and enjoyable enough.

1 comment:

  1. I was a pretty die-hard fantasy reader as a kid, and still love the genre, so it always makes me chuckle when I struggle with the same amnesia you're describing! It hits the best of us. I see several here I'd enjoy looking at closer, so thanks for the heads up!

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