Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

 Another Cosmere novel by Brandon Sanderson and another one of his "Secret Projects." 

"Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?"

General Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It is right there under Tress of the Emerald Sea in favorites of Brandon Sanderson's books, well, books in general. The world is amazingly different, Hoid is the narrator again though he makes less actual appearances than before, and this is a love story. I almost always enjoy a good romance. 

<<Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: I think the jumping between bodies is really intriguing. I loved watching Your Name (which I highly recommend) and it very  much had a bit of that in there. Yumi's magic is very different, who would ever think that stacking stones was a form of magic? Brandon I guess. And Painters' ability to fight nightmares through art is cool too. I particularly liked the ending when they figure out what is going on and how they both fight for what they want. I think the nightmares, and what the nightmares actually are is simplistic but it works in the creepy area well. I do wish Yumi's fight at the end was longer, but it ended well. 

Setting: OH! The crazy contrast between their worlds is amazing. I think the descriptions, which were needed to be blunt, they were well done and gave us the differences between where they come from and how Yumi and Painter actually work in their societies. So strikingly different, especially the dramatic Night and Days, light and darks. I like the neon lights that fill Painters world. It's all just so different. I also love the fact that when Yumi discovers what TV is she is hooked by the moving pictures. 

Characters: Yumi and Painter are so fun. I just love each of the characters presented here. Design particularly. I can't wait to read more about her and Hoid (#FMoash, the stupid jerk.) There is just too much to say about these characters, that I don't know what to say. They really pull through in this story, like many of Brandon's other books. 

Spice: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. It is a light romance where most of it is emotional. When they switch bodies, they don't see themselves as the other person, but themselves standing an as that person. So it's not perverted, which is nice. One or the other is almost always a ghost so it's not like they could even kiss or anything. 

Writing Style: I love the way Brandon writes in general and this is no exception. The fact that Hoid is our narrator, and the fanciful storyteller he is, just makes this so much better. I would love to have more books on this world, just to look at the magic system, but I doubt that will happen. Brandon has too much left on his plate. I am probably bias at this point, but I love the way he writes. It makes it easy to enjoy the story he is telling. 

Overall: I very much enjoy this book. It is one that I will most definitely be reading again and again. 

The Throne of Fire

 The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan is the second book in The Kane Chronicles.

"Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

"And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

"To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished.

"First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?"

General Thoughts: Much of the Kane Chronicles seems to mesh in my head. Aside from a few characters, it's hard to remember what happens in which book. While they are good and interesting books, there are times when I simply forgot what happened. The big shining moment in this book is Bes. He was a fun God to have around to help the Kane's out. 

<<Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: As said above, it is kind of hard to remember what happens between this book and the next book in the series. They both seem like they are trying to do the same thing. (It was a year ago when I read this one, so forgive me.) They are supposed to find Ra in order to save the day along with their new initiates that have appeared at the Brooklyn House. Romance is "not" happening all around; "It's Complicated" seems to be on everyone's boards. But they are all trying, with much difficulty, to keep the world together. 

Setting: The most memorable setting here was the River of Death, don't quote me on the name. We spent a good portion of the time traversing it to get to Ra at his Senior Living Center in the land of the dead. But they had to fight through monsters, make deals (which were really sad), visit family and potential boyfriends, find Ra, and get back to the land of the living all without really dying. The rising action on the River was really cool. It set us in the mood for what was going on and was well done. 

Characters: Sadie and Carter are not my favorite. Even many of the side characters at the Brooklyn House were "okay" but not favorites. Had potential for coolness, but none of them had the best amount of screen time. For some, it felt as if Rick Riordan maybe was trying too hard and they didn't quite sit right with me. Bes is the favorite here. He's got a great back story and we really feel for him and all he's giving up, even his romance with a hippo was really sweet in a "ah, he doesn't know what to do" kind of way. I also like Anubis and his abilities to morph between the land of the living and the land of the dead is pretty cool. 

Spicy: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. I think there might be a kiss, at least on Sadie's side. Hard flirting, but most of the time it goes poorly, which makes it funny. How I don't miss being a teenager. 

Writing Style: This series isn't as humorous as other series Rick Riordan has written, but it was well enough done. I do wish I card for Sadie and Carter more. I don't know why I didn't as much, but I just didn't care. Bes was sweet and my son and I both enjoyed him as a character. The technical writing was bad, but I don't remember anything exceptional about it either. 

Overall: This series is one that it'll take me a minute to get back to reread. There are some good things, like Bes obviously and Anubis is a fun character, but there isn't anything particularly spectacular about these books in particular. Which makes me kind of sad. 

Demon King of Karanda

David Eddings' book number four of the Malloreon series, Demon Lord of Karanda. 

"Zandramas had stolen King Garion's infant son and fled to use the child in some ritual that would make the Dark Destiny supreme. Garion and his friends had followed, but now they were captives of Zakath, Emperor of Mallorea, who, while friendly, stubbornly refused to let them leave.

Meanwhile, a horde of demons was ravaging the cities through which they must travel. Zandramas was escaping further toward her goal. And the Seeress of Kell revealed that they must be at the anient palace of Ashaba within a matter of days or Zandramas would win by default. Then a horrible, fatal plague struck the city of Mal Zeth. closing it against all traffic in or out."

General Thoughts: I was originally going to give this one a much lower ranking, but then I remembered the Emperor and the time they spent in the Mallorean Empire and the development that happened there, and I had to give it a higher ranking. I don't do demons. I don't like them and it put a sour taste in my mouth toward the end of the book, but there were other parts of the book that could hold up the rest. 

<<Spoilers>>

Plot: Because we spent more time in particular areas, I think I was able to enjoy it more than others. Instead of we are traveling all over tar-nation for plot points to happen, we were able to be captured by the Empire and spend time with the Emperor in his city. Plague breaks out and we must find ways of escaping quarantine (it seems realistic after 2020), while still finding out what is going on in the country at the same time worrying about where Geran is with Zandramas. It was an engaging plot. I didn't particularly like the fact that demons were rampaging over the countryside and what Polgara had to do. It definitely left a nasty taste in the mouth. It was more disturbing than where Garion drops in on the Demon Lord. I do also find it kind of annoying that so much of the previous books are mirrored in this one. That fact is actually pointed out by Garion himself. It's as though David Eddings didn't want to come up with a new plot at all, which is saddening. 

Setting: We were able to get a better impression of what was in the world around us in this one than I think we did in others. It still has much to be desired in my opinion, but it's alright. 

Characters: The Emperor and how the Company "dealt" with him and the circumstances around him was good for development of side characters not actually in the Company. I wish there was more to the Company development wise then there seems to be. Ce'Nedra has gone into a depression that isn't talked about. Garion goes on rampages that isn't talked about. Belgarath and Polgara for "knowing everything" really suck at dealing with people and they don't develop at all over either series. They almost seem emotionless. Durnik does have to deal with the fact that a friend betrayed them, which is good for development and it is probably the most talked about. However, even that is lacking and then over quickly. 

Spice: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. I think there is mention of Ce'Nedra and Garion going to bed together or going into the baths together, but those curtains are quickly closed with hardly any flirtation happening. Between other characters there is a little, but not much. I don't know if David or Leigh Eddings know how to write romance, steamy or in simply just passing. There is hardly any of it in either series as I recall. 

Writing Style: I would want more of a focus on Characters instead of simply traveling, which we get probably too much of here. These books are almost like a travel guide through the kingdoms with the story being a secondary plot. It is also a rather dry book at times where there is little anticipation or even care at times for the characters and what they are going through. I have to imagine on my own what it would be like for Ce'Nedra to have had this baby kidnapped, because I'm not given it here. I don't think I've ever had any inclination to cry over a single person in the Belgariad or Malloreon, except on poor little singing boy in a war. But one side character out of eight books so far... that is a lot of not caring about the characters. 

Overall: If I reread this one, I'd probably skip parts. I don't do that often in books, but there are some moments that are just bland or demons happen. The time in the Imperial City was pretty good, but it has been found wanting. 

King of the Murgos

King of the Murgos is the second book of David Edding's Malloreon series. 

"In this second book of The Malloreon, Garion and Ce'nedra continue the quest begun in Guardians of the West. In their party travel the immortal Belgarath the Sorcerer, his daughter Polgara the Sorceress, and the little Drasnian, Silk.

"Garion knows that it is the mysterious figure Zandramas who is responsible for the abduction of his infant son, and he and his companions journey many miles and encounter many strange beings in their search for him.

"Their way leads through the foul swamps of Nyissa, ruled over by the Snake-Queen, and on into the dark kingdom of the Murgos, where human sacrifices are still made to the dead god Torak. Further on, however, even beyond those forbidding lands, they must face the ultimate danger - not only to themselves but to all mankind..."

General Thoughts: This has been my favorite book in the Malloreon series so far (of the four books I've read at this point) and I think that has to do with the titles namesake. He and Silk are hysterical. The tense situation in country coinciding with the humor that Silk and the King bring to everything is just amazing. It made the slight drudge which was the first part of the book worth it. 

<<Spoilers>>

Plot: The new plot of this series to is walk across the other side of the world to save the day. As if the first series didn't do enough travel. While the traveling isn't bad, it seemed to have lost it's engagement for me. Maybe the Belgariad has a nostalgia factor that this one just doesn't, but it seemed a bit more arduous than it had before. But at least we are well on our way to saving the baby Prince, which is strikingly similar to finding the orb in the first place. Hmm... I wonder why. I wish there was even some point of a "Hero's Journey" like there was in the last one, but no one seems to be learning anything new or developing as a character. Sure we learn new things about them, but Pol stays the same, Garion stays the same, even Silk stays the same. What to people learn? How do they grow? 

Setting: Most of the setting is the plot I think. Travel and find the boy to save the day. But we get to travel on the other side of the world into more uncharted territory that we definitely didn't get in the first series. New and unexplored cultures but with a new religious turmoil what with Torak dead and them still sacrificing people for nothing. Being in unkind territory does give us antagonists we wouldn't have gotten otherwise, which is cool, and new friendly characters which are better--in this context. 

Characters: This is what really makes this book: the characters. Sadly there is no Barak and some of the other main characters from previous series don't make much of an appearance. But Silk and the King are the real winners here. Their conversations were the most engaging part. Belgarath, Polgara, Garion, and Ce'Nedra are okay, but they don't hold a candle to Silk throughout this whole series. The Queen of Drasnia begins to make an great appearance too amongst the Western Kings. And Sadi is an interesting character too, though not a favorite. 

Spice: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. "Curtains Fall" on this one, but there is so little of anything remotely spicy, that I dropped that down. At times it feels like flirting is hard for them. 

Writing Style: David Eddings can make this journey hard to get through. Much of it is travel with "oh something happened a hundred miles after the last time anything happened. It is very scene oriented where nothing happens until dominos fall, if that makes sense. It can be very dry unless they decide to stay someplace for a longer period of time, like the Murgos palace or Salmisras palace or a camp, but in this book much of it seems to be moving and traversing the world to save Geran, but although important stuff happens, it doesn't feel like it. 

Overall: Though the ending was good, the meat of it was a struggle. And I'm having a hard time even wanting to finish the rest of the series, though that is has some other reasons too. The nostalgia is what is carrying me though this and even then it seems to be running out of gas. 

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan is the first in his Red Pyramid series based on Egyptian Mythology. 

"Since his mother's death six years ago, Carter Kane has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the globe with his father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. But while Carter's been homeschooled, his younger sister, Sadie, has been living with their grandparents in London. Sadie has just what Carter wants—school friends and a chance at a "normal" life. But Carter has just what Sadie longs for—time with their father. After six years of living apart, the siblings have almost nothing in common. Until now.

"On Christmas Eve, Sadie and Carter are reunited when their father brings them to the British Museum, with a promise that he's going to "make things right." But all does not go according to plan: Carter and Sadie watch as Julius summons a mysterious figure, who quickly banishes their father and causes a fiery explosion.

"Soon Carter and Sadie discover that the gods of Ancient Egypt are waking, and the worst of them—Set—has a frightening scheme. To save their father, they must embark on a dangerous journey—a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and its links to the House of Life, a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs."

General Thoughts: I thought I knew a bit about Egyptian Mythology, but apparently not as much as I could. Some of it got to be a little jarring at times, but Rick Riordan is pretty good at walking us through and giving the reader hints of things if we forgot them. I appreciate him for that. It's a decent book, but not high favorite. I'd probably read it again, though it would be farther in the future. I did really like Bast though, she's pretty cool. 

<<Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: I feel like there is a lot going on. Sadie and Carter end up jumping all over the world trying to find safe places from the BBEG and things that will help the out on their journey to stop said BBEG. I like the idea that they both get powers from Horus or Isis and that they can do amazing things with them, but they Mary-Sue-d their way through some of the important moments. 

Setting: They are all over the place, in many different cities, but I did enjoy it when they were in Giza (I think) in the secret base. The Hall with the timeline in it was really interesting and a really cool idea. He does tend to have great visuals. 

Characters: I really liked Bast. She was fun and really helped the kids out. Sadie and Carter were alight, but neither of them really resonated with me, which is sad because they are the main characters. The few others that I remember were alright but not as noteworthy as they could have been, at least from reading it a year ago. 

Spice: 1/5 Spicy Chilis. There was a little one sided flirting going on, but I don't recall it lasting very long. 

Writing Style: Rick Riodan has a pretty humorous writing style. I enjoy the puns and the way he tells a story. Carter is more serious than Percy is, but that's alright. In order to smoothly transition between Sadie and Carter's experience, Riordan set up the book like it was an audio recording, calling out all the other magicians that feel the Egyptian urge to go rampaging. It was kind of different, but not bad. 

Overall: There were some good moments that I remember, but a lot of it is a blur after a year. I maybe remember four scenes. It isn't a book that I'd want to read over and over again, but maybe somewhere in the future I'll return to it, and I think that's the case because I didn't care for our MC's as much as I could have.