Fantasy Books

Amy Candler arrives at Wilderness Adventure. For one full week, she's going to be doing extreme ports. Whether is rock-climbing, mountain-biking, or hand gliding, it's all going to be a great time. Only Tasha and Eric know why things are so easy for her. But something is about to happen that isn't so easy. Mysterious freak accidents begin to happen to Amy, almost causing her to die. Then some scary things begin to happen to the other kids. This definitely is not a safe place. Will Amy be able to survive a place that once seemed so much fun?

This is the first special edition in the series. To be honest, I don't think it really is that special. Sure, there's much more pages than a normal Replica book, but it's quality, not quantity. However, I really did like the novel. We get to learn more about Amy's past, and Amy meets someone who may not be as nice as he seems. This is a book you should check out, and definitely a must-read for Replica fans.

If and I mean if you have read the past five books read this one but if you havn't DO NOT read the summary or even get near this book. Okay, okay I admitt I am being a little forceful but the book gives a little more info about the history of Project Cresent then told. However the title gives it away. "And the Two Shall Meet" well if you look at the second page, the second cover page, there is a pic of a boy. His name is Andy, Amy, get it...anyway he was one of the first batch of clones done in the project of Project Cresent, cresent moon.
So Amy, Eric, and Tasha go to this Wilderness Adventure and the two conselers are weird. One gets killed supposedly by the other one, according to Andy, Andy kisses Amy, a big no no since Amy is going out with Eric, Tasha falls in love with the killer, big mystery(supposedly the organization has something to do with this mysterious junk), Andy and Amy run away, and well it just gets pretty confusing. That is why it gets four stars instead of five.
If you love the books read this if not well I don't care it is up to you. But it is good.

The other books in this series are good. However Marilyn Kaye goes all out in this one. It has captured the original mystery feeling. You can relate to the people and what they are feeling. There are plots and subplots. There are more twists and turns. All along you are so busy trying to catch your breath, so you do not have time to figure out who the bad guys are. The story takes place on a wilderness outing where there is rafting and repelling.

The Best of the Best (Replica 7)

I never knew there were boy clones to come in this series and I never expected it. Reading it, I thought that Brooke was being mean to Tasha by telling Amy that she could be with Andy and Tasha could be with Willard.
I thought Eric was also being mean to his girlfriend because he wouldn't listen to her when she wanted to tell him about Andy. It wasn't really nice from Miss Perfect to kiss Andy, though.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking foward to reading the next ones that are not out yet where I live.
This book was really good. I highly recommend it.

This is the 6th book in the amazing Replica series. In this book, Amy goes on a wilderness adventure for a couple weeks with her best friend Tasha and her boyfriend Eric. While there, Amy meet Andy, and sees that he has the same cresant moon birthmark on his shoulder blade that she has, meaning that he is a clone! Sparks fly and to conclude, great book! The first were we see Andy and certainly not the last! A must read for any YA book or Replica fan. Highly Recommended!

Want another mythology you can enjoy? Try Branson Mull's work in Fable Haven. Book 1 setup up the mythology; book 2 builds skillfully on that foundation. Turns, twists, possible betrayels...good stuff.

I bought this book when i was working for border's as another light read, and although i liked the firat in the series better, I still fell in love with it. It was exciting and detailed and well written. Finally Seth does something stupid with good intentions instead of selfish ones. We get to meet the brownies. And we also get to see more of dale and his brother clearing up alot of unanswered questions about dale and his bleak outlook we've seen before. Oh, and we get to see my favorite puppet again, yes i am a mendigo freak (for those of you who havent read the first book, mendigo is a limberjack, google it if you want more info). I had wierd and funny dreams three nights in a row after reading this and it all togeather gave me a warm fuzzy satisfied feeling throughout and after.
End Strange unorganized rant...

As a result of being touched by fairy magic, Kendra is now the center of attention from the Society of the Evening Star. After trying to kidnap her and Seth, they escape back to Fablehaven, where they must try and secure one of the five keys to a prison holding an ancient demon - before the Society of the Evening Star does! On the way they have to defeat a demon intent on devouring Seth and figure out who the traitor is bent on stealing the key!

If you get this book, get #3 as well - Grip of the Shadow Plague. You won't be able to stop reading until both are done!

I couldn't wait for kendra to get her next powers. As I finished the first book and awaited the next book I wondered who was going to save the day next. It was suspenseful. It was like a mystery thriller wih the question, "who sent who to their deaths?" The author gave a description about what humans thought as true myths and reshaped those myths into his own evil monsters and fit them into his story. 1 or 2 of the few pictures will probably freak you out. This book is a must read.

Seth and Kendra Sorenson are looking forward to another summer visit to Fablehaven with their grandparents who are really caretakers of a preserve for magical creatures. However, Fablehaven's magical mayhem comes to them as a fairy creature appears in their school, and a mysterious group bent on the destruction of magical preserves, the Society of the Evening Star, targets the kids at home. Seth and Kendra head for Fablehaven for protection, but also to help solve a mystery that could be a greater threat to Fablehaven than they faced last summer. New characters, new mysteries, and a bigger view of Brandon Mull's magical world make "Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star" a must read. Not only is this a fast paced, fun read, it also has some good lessons to learn about obedience, authority, decision making, and courage without being preachy. Just like the first installment in this series, I can't wait until my kids are old enough to read this. The action and other aspects may be a bit intense for kids under 10, but adolescents and teens will love this one. Parents will love it, too!

The Kindly Ones encompasses the direct consequences of the earlier volume, Brief Lives. In Brief Lives, Lord Morpheus (Dream) changes, for better or for worse. The actions that lead to such change must have ramifications, and The Kindly Ones details such repercussions.

In The Kindly Ones, Lyta Hall, a character who has made sporadic appearances throughout The Sandman series, is convinced that Dream has stolen her baby, Daniel. She goes to the women known as the Kindly Ones for vengeance, and even she couldn't predict the outcome.

Making use of virtually every character in The Sandman mythos, The Kindly Ones is a truly epic tale that brings us to a point in Dream's existence that would seem, based upon Brief Lives, inevitable. At times The Kindly Ones gets a bit muddled and verbose, but in the end, it was all worth it.

I've had the privilege of reading The Sandman series in completion and for the first time in the last few months, and The Kindly Ones is testament to the genius of Neil Gaiman. I don't know if it was on purpose or a happy accident, but The Kindly Ones makes use of virtually every storyline preceding it and concludes such a mammoth story ... it's nearly unimaginable someone could dream up such a story.

My only suggestion: Skip the introduction and read it after you finish The Kindly Ones. It does reveal a fairly major plot point, which, upon retrospect seems obvious, but even so, I would have liked to have avoided the introduction's cataclysmic revelation.

~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant

Lyta Hall's son Daniel is taken from her. She shows that, when a superhero, she wasn't called Fury for nothing.

Finding her mythological namesakes, she decides to put an end to Morpheus, the Lord of Dream. Morpheus is not without his own plans and defenses, however, but a promise made to a former servant costs him dearly.

This is my favorite volume of "The Sandman," by far (I still haven't read the last one, so I can't say it's my all time favorite yet). The artwork is very different from previous volumes, featuring Mark Hempel's work, which is very abstract, especially compared to the more realistic styles of other volumes. Still, I think it was well suited for such an emotional part of the story, because the expressions and moods of each character were excellently portrayed.

I don't see why a fan of "The Sandman" would ever not want to own this volume. It features the return of several past characters, including Rose Walker, Lyta Hall and her son, and Lucifer, among others. By tying in virtually all the previous volumes, it can be considered the climax of "The Sandman" storyline.

It's beautiful, poetic, heart-wrenching, and colorful; a masterpiece I can't help but flip through every time I pick it up.

Neil Gaiman once attempted to summarize the Sandman series in one sentence:

"The king of dreams learns one must change or die and then makes his decision."

As Morpheus makes that decision in the course of The Kindly Ones, it forms the climax for the entire series. And, what a climax it is.

The Kindly Ones is the story of the various "enemies" that Dream has accrued during the Sandman series (including Lucifer, Loki, the Puck and the diminutive witch, Thessaly) as they, either through conspiracy or just happenstance, take action to destroy him. The largest threat comes from Lyta Hall who, believing Dream to have kidnapped her son, sets out on a mission to envoke the wrath of the Furies against him.

This is not an easy volume to read, necessarily, though it is maybe the best of the lot. Amazingly, Gaiman picks up characters and plots from almost all of the works that had come before (some just get brief cameos, but are still represented) and weaves them into one whole story that burns to a moving conclusion.

If you're a fan of Sandman already, I don't need to tell you to read this volume. If you've just stumbled on this review, however, and are wondering about it, let me tell you that the Sandman is one of the greatest comics, ever, and compares very well to other great literature in any medium.

Perhaps the best book in a five star series.

A friend bought me the first Sandman book a few weeks ago, and upon finishing it, I immediately went out and bought the entire rest of the series. They are all wonderful, but this one is my favorite. It ties together all of the other story arcs - both the larger arcs and the stand-alone short issues - into a cohesive climax that is gorgeously written and drawn.

One thing: DO NOT READ FRANK MCCONNELL'S INTRODUCTION UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE READ THE NOVEL. There is a MAJOR spoiler on the first page of the intro; I was so mad about it that I started yelling out loud at the book. In one of the earlier volumes - I forget which - the intro contained spoilers, so Gaiman moved it to the end of the book and wrote his own short intro. I don't know why they couldn't have done that here.

Don't start with this book; start at the beginning with Preludes & Nocturnes and work your way here. It is beautiful, mythical, heart-rending. And don't read that intro!

As always C L Wilson, once again delivers!!! Can't wait for King of Sword and Sky!!

Lady of Light and Shadows takes off where Lord of the Fading Lands ended. Not only does it continue this great story Wilson begins to add to the story that was hinted at in the first book. Sexy humor and places that your bitting your nails will keep you reading this book to the end!! I'm very happy with this series and cant wait to read the other books!

I love fantasy and romance and hunky fey warriors with long flowing black hair and endless devotion...all that, but for some reason I didn't really get into Lord of the Fading Lands. I enjoyed the book alright, but somehow, it seemed dragging a little. Rain was dreamy enough...too dreamy, maybe, and somehow, Elli didn't really catch my eye as Rain's equal...well all that's gonna change in book II, Lady of Light and Shadow. Am I ever glad to have stuck with the story and picked up book II. The story really got going, and Elli's character started to shine (literally!). Also, a wonderful new character was introduced: Ser Gaelen!!!! The (former) Dark Lord with icy blue eyes! (swoon @_@) He really stole the scences and, sorry to say, I think he outshone Rain. Even though Rain's 1200 years old, he still acted a bit adolescent compared to Ser Gaelenn. ^_- Which is fine by me. I am all for character growth, and both Rain and Elli have quite a bit of growing to do. I can't wait to see how they mature together over the course of the story. Eagerly waiting for the next 2 books!!

This follow up to Lord of the Fading Lands is FANTASTIC! I highly recommend this one. This series is so compelling you won't want to put it down. If you don't already have the first one, make sure you buy both b/c you won't want to wait for the 2nd one to come in the mail - its that good!

I was given this book. I thought it was so good I went out and bought the first book in the series. Rain and Ellysetta struck a note in my psyche. The characters were real and very likable. Rain has been added to my list of fantasy characters I'd like to meet. I absolutely loved the lavender eyes!
The action was well thought out. While I can predict (as the educators say to take the fun out of reading) a story line, I am planning to buy the next books in the series. I am also looking forward to anything else Ms. Wilson writes.

I grew up on my big sister's copy of this; I don't think she has it anymore, so I'm buying a copy NOW and passing her the link.

Some of the best short SF ever! I SAID "NOW"!!

This book is an amazing read and a must for all sci-fi fans and a possible entry into the genre for the uninitiated. The stories were selected by the science fiction writers of America and represent the stories they feel have shaped science fiction from the 1920s-1960s. Some of these are classics that the average person may have come across in high school english class, like 'Flowers for Algernon', while others are relatively unknown to today's average sci-fi reader.
If you are a sci-fi fan and haven't read the stories contained in this book, then you owe it to yourself to either buy this book or borrow it from your library, because these stories have laid the foundation for all the sci-fi that has followed. If you want to get your teenager into reading, buy them this book...the stories are short, but they are extremely enjoyable which makes it great for teenagers.

This book, Volume 1, is well worth getting. The stories are the best and many are classics.

This is without a doubt the worst collection of science fiction stories - and the most wretchedly written - that I have ever encountered.

Who the hell are these people who have collectively given this book a five star rating? I suppose they must be members of the editor's extended family.

I was new to some of these stories. And I was sorry I had not read them years before.Since they date back to the 1950s in many cases, you would think they would seem dated. And some are...but there are so many gems that are worth reading, and reading again. They have aged well. What is a good yarn, written well, will never go out of style.

After reading the stellar reviews I purchased this book for my 13 year old sister. All I can say is "Blah". This is some of the lamest young fantasy I have ever read, needless to say she never got this book. Falling prey to a host of storybook and fashion cliches Emily the spunky loveable red-head, Adriane the quiet and mysterious raven haired guide at the Raven's Wood Animal Preserve, and Kira the blonde valley girl princess tromp about in a terribly typical manner discovering magic from another world and befriending a host of magical animal companions. Perhaps I've been spoiled by J.K.Rowling, but Rachel/Shelly Roberts writes as though the young women reading these books are stupid. Upon reading "Circles In The Stream" I was a little surprised that it was considered appropriate reading for a 13 year old!

On a less negative note, if you have a little girl about 7-10 that enjoys reading- this will be right up her alley. Certainly not a classic novel but one that is a "safe" fantasy book that younger readers can handle with ease. For all you not so little girls out there try "Howl's Moving Castle"- a charming fantasy novel and love story- or if you prefer a series Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums are an excellent age-appropriate set of fantasy novels.

This book is the best I have read ever!
The book is mainly about, friendship,magic, and the love of Animals, for those parents out there if you want to know more about this book and the series, go to....

http://avalonclubhouse.piczo.com/

This book a no put down, something to treasure. Shelly Roberts has a true talent for book writing!

Highly recommanded to Magic lovers everywhere!

this book is awsome!! Right now I'm middle of reading trail by fire but anyways this is a must read! I love all the magic in the book and friendship. Every thing is so magical. If u lov magic well this is a book for u!!

this book is the best its nice and thick and super interesting i wish i had the auctal book i took it out of the libray if you cant decide to buy it or not buy it you wont be disaponted also another good seires isw w.i.t.c.h.

I loved it! Emily is this new girl in town and is lonely but doesn't mind as her mom is a vet so spends most of her time with animals. As she gets adjusted to the town one day this sick animal comes with these brutal green gashes that everybody thinks is pioson. Not just that but dogs are soon found dead by the wildlife perserve. Emily decides to explore until she finds a stone that later turns beautiful like in all differnet rainbow colours. She later meets a girl Adriane and becomes fast friends. They learn to except the magic that entered their lives and most of all they learn that magic is strongest when your friends are there to help, and not to mention a magical world with evil lurking everywhere.

This a a very interesting book. If you like stories about girls who have powers. Then this a a good book for you to read. IN this book it is about a girl name Catty. In this book she is trying to find her real mom. While she tries to find her mom she bumps into something strange. A guy is trying give her this little message thing to help her. BUt she still doesn't know that who it is though. So anyways she finds out a little thing about the passage. In the middle of the story she finds out who her mother and all that good stuff.

What would you do if you had dreamable powers? Clean your room, get rid of your annoying younger sibling, who knows maybe even same the world? An amazing book named The Secret Scroll is about four girls that have unbelievable powers. The Secret Scroll is part of a series called Daughters of the Moon. In this book one of the characters is named Catty. Catty has never met her birth mother. So, Catty travels back in time (which is her power) to meet her mother. Her mother gives her a necklace that could destroy the evil Atrox. The only trick is she has many people that are working for the Atrox, trying to find her.
I think the book was incredible. A lot of stuff comes up that you wouldn't suspect. I definitely recommend this book.

This is a series of books that are about 4 girls that have special powers. This one is better than the 3rd one for me. each book is about a different girl of the 4 girls and it tells their points of views. i thought this book was a lot more exciting. my favorite one was the 1st one. when the chapters end they just leave you hanging and it makes you just want to keep reading it. you never know whats going to happen next and it makes you really think about it. when you predict something will happen your usually wrong because its hard to guess what will happen next. it was just a really good book to read!

This is the best in the series so far. (I am currently reading the 5th book) Ewing's portrayl of Catty is the most realistic and fully realised. She even comes across well in the other books, her character is always well defined and unconfused. This book also focuses a little more on the technicalities of being a moon goddess than any of the others and sounds far less hokey in doing so. Stanton has a nice featuring role, which is good, because he is the strongest character in the whole series (the most interesting too, that bad boy that needs to be redeemed is always appealing). It is also nice to see a glimpse of another generation of Moon Goddesses and how someone else could be as frustrated with Maggie as I am. I hope this is a sign the rest of the series is picking up in quality.

I read this book over the week-end and loved it. stanton played a great role in this one by the way he went out and helped Catty. The story also introduced a new character but Stanton is still my favorite. The scene at the park was the best with the merry-go-round.

My 11 yr. old son LOVES this series! According to him, #2 was the best of the three, but all were exciting and imaginative. If you have kid who loves fantasy, as mine does, he/she will find this story and this series very compelling and hard to put down. Highly recommended for fantasy-lovers.

I think earlier reviews have covered the basic plot and premise. I wanted to share our experience with the book. We read the first together this summer as a fun way to past the time, but as the characters grew and the new world opened up, we couldn't put it down. My 11 year old volunteered to cook so that I wouldn't have to stop reading it aloud. The plot is surprising and the characters grow in realistic ways. I found the internal consistency to be good and vocabulary was delightful. We enjoyed them enough from the library that we have bought them to have at home and read again. The questions in the back are great for discussions and offer chances to invite parents to observe their children make tough choices. My husband overheard us reading, and has asked for regular updates on the plot. Good for you, Brandon, for successfully writing a series that appeals to so many readers. Keep writing! We can't wait for the next installment!

Brandon Mull continues to surprise me with his latest installment of the Fablehaven novels. His writing is simple but continues to captivate attention. And yes, questions are finally answered. There is however, the on going plot to save Fablehaven from immediate distruction, But there are many sub-plots and twists that add to the novel as a whole. I am a fan and will continue to read Fablehaven and look forward to Mull's next installment. This book is for people of all ages and (in my opinion) will captivate audiences over the years to come.

Fablehaven is going to be very big!!! I haven't been this excited about a series since Harry potter! I highly recommend these books!!

Great read for an adult or child. Excellent way to escape reality with a little fantasy. I would recommend to anyone who loves to read.

I am a K-5 school librarian and am always looking for good books to recommend to my students. This series is truly excellent!

This second book of the "Underland Chronicles" continues the journey of Gregor and his baby sister Boots. Meeting new characters and encountering more tests for all involved. The author weaves a wonderful tale and my son absolutely adores all the characters. I also enjoy reading this series to him, we both become very caught up within the stories and with all the characters...it's hard to put down!

For the third time, Gregor and his little sister Boots descend to the Underland to fulfill an ancient prophecy. In this story the Curse of the Warm-bloods is a terrible plague that threatens every mammal in the Underland. On their journey to find cure, the heroes encounter Luxa, her bat Aurora and Hamnet, Luxa`s long-lost uncle. Although I enjoyed it, the story jumps around far too often and also fails to answer questions from previous books. As one and two were okay but not great and this one is only so-so I don't think I'll read any others.

I've read the last two Gregors and when I finished them i couldn't wait until the third. Collins is a genius. The last two have been about the usual stuff you read in these kind of books today but this took it to a whole new level. Theres plenty of violence for those of you who don't like sissy books and plenty of action that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book. This in my opinion and out of all the books I've read this could be the book of the year.

Having listened to the first two books on audio and loved them, I continued with the third book "curse of the warmbloods" On CD. I love it when a childrens series continues to grow, in both content , character maturity and overall plot wise. I have read books before that seem to go nowhere with ever installment and I quickly tire of those.

This book, is my favorite out of the three so far. The first one "Gregor the Overlander" correctly laid out the mythos and introduced the characters in a nonconfusing way (there are so many and types!) It made you want to read more. The second book "Prophecy of the Bane" continued where the first left off but wasnt as exciting or compelling. This third book launches Gregor back into the underland for another adventure and its all about true realities, growth, family and way darker than the first two, much like Prisoner of Azkaban is to the Harry Potter series.

Gregors family isnt just chilling in the overland allowing him to sew his wild oats underground, they are struggling with mental illness (because his father was tortured by the rats) Money issues (his mom has to be the sole breadwinner) His sister is scared to death of losing her family wouldnt you be if three of them just dissappeared underground and came back talking of giant rats, squids, roaches, and bats? The underlanders of course eventually need Gregor, but his Mother puts her foot down and says NO! Not even to help them out with a Plague that is killing them and Gregor is the "one" to find the cure according to another prophecy.

What takes place after that is truly scary, and exciting and heartwarming. More characters are introduced, and we lose more along the way. I rushed out and got the fourth Audio CD's as soon as I could!

got a couple of these for moms with small kids in our family... they will read them to their little ones and all of them will have a good time! that was an easy one!

A friend of mine received this book on Mother's Day. Her daughter had glued pages in the front submitted by every child and grandchild she had, with drawings, photos, and testimonials of what she meant to them. I was crying even before I read the book. When I actually got to the book itself, the tears turned to sobbing, but GOOD sobs, if you know what I mean.

Don't get me wrong -- it's not sappy, just a plain and simple realization of what moms are to kids. I LOVED IT!!

I love Berkeley Breathed, not only for his illustrations but for his witt. This is a great book for children, the story line starts as mom being somewhat a tyrant ,the terrible things we must make our children do! eating broccoli and such. But ends with the ultimate sacrifice we would all make for our children, don't worry no one dies. I think children learn that eventhough we seem to be "the bad guy" as a parent there is no sacrifice too great we would make for them. I hope he writes more! I would buy his books just for myself.

Very clever story that open kids' eyes to how amzing moms really are. Terrific illustrations. I discovered it as a gift to my 5-yr-old daughter, but I now buy it for all my favorite moms.

My son loves this book. We read it quite often. The author is talented and the pictures are great. One of my favorites also.