Polgara the Sorceress by David and Leigh Eddings

This is the story told from Polgara's point of view. As with Balgarath the Sorcerer, we get the same time line nearly and also the nice little brief glimpses into life for Belgarion and his family after everything has happened. I find that after reading Polgara the Sorceress, I actually like Polgara more. She isn't really all that likable in the series except that you feel you must love her since Garion does. It might have been David and Leigh Eddings way of making Polgara shine the way they had really wanted her to. I found myself depressed at times during the story and other times annoyed with Polgara that she'd act so bossy, or rude to even her father. I suppose she may have had good reason to act that way, but I found that I didn't like her in those spots. I like Belgarath alot. Maybe I'm just biased. Anyways, a very nice contribution to the end of the line of books of Belgarion's life. 4/5 Stars!!

The Belgariad: Volume One(inclusive of books: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, and Magician's Gambit) by David Eddings

David Eddings has created a wonderful epic fantasy series. He claims it all started with a map sketch. It is such a wonderful series that I have read the entire series 3 times.

Garion is a normal seeming youth growing up on a farm in Sendaria with his Aunt Pol. Everything is mostly normal until a visit from a vagabond story teller leads them on a great adventure after a thief. The party grows and grows and grows until Garion is unsure about his role in the party and things lead him to question all he held dear and right in his life... Thus began the first great novel in the series, Pawn of Prophecy.

Stuck with unpleasant realizations that everything has changed, Garion is now waiting in the cold snow of Arendia for more party members to arrive. He sinks into self pity and anger over events that he can't control. Little clues keep popping out at Garion, confusing him about his true role in the whole affair. What will it all mean? What has Garion become a part of? What has Garion become? He learns more than he wanted to as he travels from one country to another in the continued search for the thief... Thus continues Garion's story in Queen of Sorcery.

Things rush to a head with the magician, Ctuchik. The orb, the stolen object, is now in his possession. Garion learns what he is and who is Aunt Pol and the vagabond story teller, Mister Wolf, really are. Gaining new friends along his journey, Garion can't begin to imagine going back to Faldor's Farm, but he wishes everything would go back to normal and he could just go home... Thus finales in a cliff hanger, nearly literally, Volume one, Magician's Gambit.

Love this series. Must read. 5/5 Stars!!!

Starman by Sara Douglass

The final book of the Axis trilogy, Starman, was a wonderful read. Sara Douglass really makes the readers happy as they come to the end of this story. It was so exciting to read. All the answers we were longing for are revealed and we get to see many wondrous things happen. It's not a fairy tale ending of "happily ever after" though. We do see some death that wished we didn't happen, but all in all...it was amazing. There are still 3 more books in The Wayfarer Redemption series, but they are a trilogy of their own which I have read are to be the story of Axis' children. I am nervous thinking about what they might bring, knowing that at least one of his children is meant for evil. My favorite part of this book would be revalation of the 9 star gods and the fact that we finally see Wolfstar credited for his help instead of his horrid deads from his past. I was also very happy to see the Bane who hates Azhure be discredited and disposed of...to say in an unkind way. I wonder if the Bane had been corrupted by something evil trying to sway the Avar... The book is 647 pages long, not including the wonderful glossary again. The ending epilogue chapter really helps us tie this story to the next as we head out to the store to pick up the next in the series to discover the adventures that await Axis' children. I am happy with the epilogue, for in some stories the epilogue ends the book and series leaving you wanting more and upset with the author for that (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...ya that's right J.K. Rowling....I'm mad at you for your epilogue.) Anyways... I will give this book the best rating yet. 25/5 stars! The best book of the trilogy. Thank you Sara Douglass for this wonderful story.

Enchanter by Sara Douglass

So this is the 2nd book in the Wayfarer Redemption series (US) by Sara Douglass. It took me a long time to read this book mainly because I did not enjoy the love triangle that was evident through this whole book. I had already fallen in love with Faraday and then they introduce a new love into Axis' life... Anyways, what makes it so hard is that you fall in love with this other girl as much as you love Faraday...putting the reader in the same dilemma as Axis. This book is great though in having so many mysteries revealed and love found again, re awakening magical places... I could go on and on about how magical and wonderful this book is. We see people pulled together and some evil killed off. Exciting battle sequences and just amazing surprises that some aren't such a surprise if you have caught on to the clues leading up to them. Getting to the end makes me want to burst into tears of happiness for most of the characters and shout in a victory shout of glee for a few others. I will wait a bit longer before starting the 3rd book in this series only because I want to enjoy this happy ending for a little bit before moving on to see how Axis will yet defeat Gorgrael. 626 pages long, not including a wonderful glossary at the end. I highly recommend this book to read in the continuation of this trilogy. 10/10 stars!!

The Wayfarer Redemption (US version of Battleaxe) by Sara Douglass

I have had this book sitting on my shelf for a long time now that I bought one day and kept for a new read when I was bored. Well I regret putting it on the shelf for so long. I should have read it long ago. The Wayfarer Redemption aka Battleaxe by Australian author Sara Douglass(www.saradouglass.com) was a refreshing epic fantasy. I had been looking for a new epic fantasy to read. One that would come close to standards with David Eddings' Belgariad series. This is the first of a trilogy and then there is another trilogy that takes place in the future past the Axis triolgy. I didn't realize this was a series until most of the way through the book (that always seems to happen to me...otherwise I try to avoid series.lol...not that it does me good since I have read so many now.) It took me a little to get into this book at first only because it was so foriegn to me I had a hard time grasping it. It took me 3 days to read this 629 page paper back book. It takes a while to become engrossed in the story only because it takes forever for us to be introduced to the two main characters and learn to like them enough to want to find out what happens to them. Though the main characters, Axis and Faraday, are very likable; there are many people controlling them that we don't like. This can become distressing. Don't let it. This fantasy has some crucial must haves: 1. some sort of magic 2. some sort of prophecy 3. great battle sequences 4. a great Hero 5. a great Heroine. I have yet to even purchase the next book in this series but how could I not? The end leaves us on a cliff and we have to read the next to find out what happens. Though they were nice enough to put a nice couple chapter exert from the next book at the end, I will not read it because it will just torment me that I can't continue to read past those chapters. I will hopefully purchase the book the day after Christmas. Merry Christmas to me :)! Merry Christmas to everyone else and Happy Holidays too! Pick up this book and read it! it's a marvolous read =) 10/10 stars!!!!!!

SoT by Terry Goodkind, B3- Blood of the Fold

So, I finished the 3rd book in The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind a couple days ago. Blood of the Fold was very good. Being 623 pages long made it a faster read than the 2nd book by far. It also had alot of exciting things going on in this one, rather than just having a sense of dread. We see alot of twists and turns in this book. Richard now has Aydindril in the palm of his hand if he can hold tight enough... Alot of alliances and trust between them are tested... Good point; not as many horrific torture or rape scenes. Though at a few points I winced and grabbed my nipples...lol. I also found myself yelling at Richard alot throught this book. He's so headstrong and just going off and doing whatever whim of an idea comes to mind. Though his ideas have not come to go wrong enough that I don't trust him...idk..it's just...I don't trust Terry Goodkind not to twist it on us. I find that as soon as you think something is going right Mr. Goodkind decides to flip the tables on us. That can be a double egded sword there. I like to not feel on the verge of histaria reading a book and reading about the characters. LOL...ok. Maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit... Maybe I'm just feeling that way now...I started the 4th book yesterday. ;) Let me just say this... I have times I just wanna yell at both Kahlan and Richard, maybe go as far as bend them over my knee and spank them. ROFL. Anyways, 3rd book was wonderful :) I was very happy with it after reading the 2nd book and worrying that the 3rd would be like it.

The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind: Wizard's First Rule

Ok, so I started reading The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind maybe three weeks ago. The first book, Wizard's First Rule, was 573 pages long in the large edition print. I didn't realize it was the first book in a series when I purchased it until later... I read it as a stand alone book not realizing til maybe a week after I finished it that there were many more books in the series. I was excited and annoyed at the same time. I love to read, so when I find a series of books I get excited because it's like a promise of the story to continue longer than usual. Yet, I have come to dread series as well because I read so fast and must have the next book as soon as I'm finished with the one in my hands that my wallet cries everytime I find a new book series. ( I buy my books and keep them to reread later) Well, anyways... Wizard's First Rule was wonderful. It took me 3 days to read. I fell in love with all the characters so quickly. It reminded me some of The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings...I'll talk about those books in later blogs... Anyways, Richard is a great hero in this tale and you quickly see how he can love Kahlan. Zedd makes a marvalous "all knowing" grandfather figure *wink*wink*. The book flew by before my eyes and I have the gift of being able to see these words in my mind almost as a movie playing before me. Though quite nerve wracking at some points, it was a breathless exilerating journey around Midlands and into the People's Palace. (which btw I love that it's called the People's Palace. In a way, if felt almost like it was my home too. After Richard of course clears it of it's evil...*listens for Zedd's fire and order to walk not run and rethinks that statement* LOL Anyways, if you haven't read this series, I would recommend it so far. It's a great epic fantasy tale. If you have read it. Please leave comments and tell me what you thought about the book. I have finished w/ the 2nd book already last night and started the third today. I will post seperate posts for them. :)