Arrows of the Queen (The Heralds of Valdemar Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
Talia is a girl of the Holderfolk Unloved and unwanted with no say in her life and her only relief is in reading. When her family decides to marry her off she runs away and encounters a Companion one of the mysterious horses of the Heralds the Queen’s roaming peacekeepers. The Companion takes her back to the Collegium of Heralds were she find he has chosen her to fill the role of Queen’s Own (The conscience of the queen) Unprepared she finds herself trying to unravel a conspiracy to overthrow the queen and destroy the heralds.

I liked this book the story mostly focused on how Talia settles into the Collegium and comes out of her shell to make friends. The story was very engaging and because the book is short had me watching the pages run out and wanting more.

Sanctuary (Dragon Jousters Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey
Kiron and his wing are now safe in the Desert City of Sanctuary but life is getting steadily worse for the peoples of Alta and Tia. As refugees flow into Sanctuary Kiron and the other leaders search for a way to brake the power of the Magi.

I loved this book as I have the rest of the series. The story has an easy enthralling flow to it and the characters are all likeable. The problem was that it was too short and I am left wanting more.

Renegade's Magic (The Soldier Son Trilogy Book 3) By Robin Hobb
Nevare has escaped from being executed in Gettys and fled into the Speck forest with the resolution to serve the magic and save the ancestor trees. What he is unprepared for is Soldiers Boy taking over his body making him an ineffectual observer as his military knowledge is used against his country men and puts the lives his cousin and friends in Gettys at risk. Can he put the two halves of his soul back together and bring a peaceful solution to the conflict?

I had a major problem with this book in that I really disliked the specks, their magic and Soldiers Boy.
What I wanted was for Nevare to break the Specks magic, cut down the ancestor trees and help the road be completed. As it was the book ended with my predicted ending and that made me feel better about the series and actually would have liked it to go on a bit longer as it required a bit more closure in my opinion.

Shadowmarch (Shadowmarch Trilogy Book 1) Tad Williams
King Olin of Southmarch has been kidnapped and when his son Kendrick is murdered the two youngest children the twins Briony and Barrick are made co-regents in a court were they have no idea who to trust. To make things worse the Twilight people fairy folk from behind the Shadowline to the north are preparing for war.

I really did not like this book and had to struggle through it. That majority of the characters seem complete idiots the only likeable character was Briony. The story jumped about a lot and seemed to be going nowhere for most of the book.

Earth Logic (Elemental Logic Saga Book 2) By Laurie J. Marks
To make things worse in war-torn Shaftal a plague has erupted killing both Sainnites and Shaftali. Karis and her family drawn from their self imposed isolation to cure it. But after taking action Zanja is unwilling to return to the passive isolation so she takes drastic action in response to a prophecy in the hope of freeing Karis to take action to bring peace Shaftal.

I found Gay characters relationship irritating as in the first book but the story was really good and the Sainnite characters were very interesting and entertaining. I did find myself skimming the paragraphs analysing their readings of the glyph cards as they were confusing and boring. But on the whole I liked the book and will be buying the next book, as I am eager to know what happens next.

Alta (Dragon Jousters Book 2) By Mercedes. Lackey
Vetch now going by his true name Kiron has made it to Alta and has been accepted. So everything is perfect, as he had dreamed? No because there is a cancer in the Altan’s highest circles. The war between Tia and Alta has been manufactured by the Magi of Alta for them to steal life to extend their own. And as long as there is the Threat of the Tian Dragon Jousters there will be no chance of ending the war and curtailing the Magi’s power.

I loved this book the characters were all like able the story was interesting and funny. I really enjoyed reading about raising of the dragons and their training. And the Magi ruthless and convincing enemy (my favourite baddies I have read about recently.

Joust (Dragon Jousters Book 1) By Mercedes. Lackey

Vetch was once the son of an Altan farmer whose family had held there land for five hundred years, now he is the lowest of the low a serf, the spoils of war less valuable then a slave. When one day he is claimed by a dragon Jouster to serve as his dragon boy. Vetch finds life at the Dragon Compound better then he has ever experienced. As he works with the dragons he is fascinated by them and when the opportunity comes he steals a dragon egg to raise as his own with the aim of escaping to his homeland of Alta.

This was an extremely enjoyable book if a bit long winded at times. The main character Vetch is very likeable and competent. And once I was caught up in the story I could not put the book down.

Turning the Storm by Naomi. Kritzer
Elianna’s Lupi have liberated most of the slave camps and it is time to take the war to the empire's capital Cuore to confront the Circle and Fedeli. When as soon as they leave the wasteland five mages kill half of her army Elianna gives up command and heads to Cuore disguised as a boy to try and find a way to combat the power of the mages.

I think I liked this book more then the first Elianna naivete spying in the imperial enclave was amusing. I did find myself engrossed in the story and had to force myself to put it down at 5am to go to bed. I don't have much more to say I enjoyed the book but it is nothing special.

Fires of the Faithful by Naomi. Kritzer
Elaiana has been studying at a music conservatory working towards an appointment at the Imperial court. Away from the conservatory the empire is suffering from a Famine that mysteriously started after they won a war with a neighbouring country. When a new girl joins the conservatory and gathers Eliana and some of her friends to play songs of the old way (The old religion of the land) some of the girls actually convert to the old religion. Soon troubles comes to the conservatory when two members of the Fedeli (the enforces of the new religion) arrive and kill one of Elianna’s friends and another friend is kidnapped by the Circle (the mysterious and powerful mages that rule the land. When Elianna learns one of the Circles most closely guarded secrets she can take no more and leaves the conservatory. But events take over Elianna’s life and she finds herself leading the opposition to the Circle and Feleli.

I enjoyed reading this book I found the story interesting and the characters very likeable. The story did come of as a bit feminist as both of the god were female and most of the leaders of the rebellion were female. And most of the male characters were incompetent.

Fire Logic (Elemental Logic Saga Book 1) By Laurie J. Marks
The G’deon of Shaftal is dead without passing on his power to a successor. On his death the Sainnites an exiled people who have been living in Shaftal wipe out the government and conquer the land. The paladins defenders of Shaftal set-up as a Guerrilla army throwing away their pacifist culture. Soon Shaftal is a lawless famine struck land. The only hope for the return of peace are three people born with elemental gifts. Zanja the sole survivor of her tribe slaughtered by the Sannites due to a prophecy, Emil a Paladin/Scholar tired of the burden of command And Karis a halfblood giant, Metalsmith and earth Witch who has amazing healing abilities when she is not overwhelmed by her addiction to a deadly drug.

I am not sure of my opinion of this book. I thought it had some good characters and it was an easy read. My problems start with the fact that one of the main characters is gay and it spoils the book for me. And I feel that there should be a warning “Queer character in this book” for people like me who do not want to read about bum boys. I also have a problem supporting Guerrilla fighters, as they are just terrorists from the other side’s perspective.

The Gates of Night (Eberron: Dreaming Dark Book 3) By Keith BakerLakashtai has escaped with the Crystal Sphere that will enable the monsters of Dal Quor to invade the Mortal world. Trapped between Harmattan and the Sulatar Daine and his friends have to flee ton the Plane of Thelanis. Now they must find their way back to Eberron and find Lakashtai in time to prevent the invasion that would destroy the world.

I this was the best book of the series I really liked the journey through Thelanis and the discoveries about Lei and Pierce and finding out what happened at Keldan Ridge though I had worked out the secrets early on in the series. The big problem with the book was the ending was abrupt and left some unanswered question which are really irritating me !!!!

The Shattered Land (Eberron: Dreaming Dark Book 2) by Keith Baker
Daine and his friends have been helping to protect the Cyrans in Sharn. But he has been blacking out and dreaming of the battle at Keldan Ridge, which he has no memory of what happened. The Kalashtar Lakashtai saves him from an attack in one of his dreams. She tells him that he will need to travel to the continent of Xend’rik where there might be an artefact from the ancient Giant empire that could save him.

I thought that this book was better then the first. The move to v makes for a more interesting storyline especially as we are introduced to the Eberron Drow for the first time. I was glad that I had the third book and was not left waiting for it to be published as this book ends very irritatingly and as I hate cliff-hangers I would have been looking for someone to kill.

The City of Towers (Eberron: Dreaming Dark Book 1) By Keith Baker
Daine and his companions are the last of there unit in the Cyran army now that Cyre has been destroyed they have come to the city of Sharn so Lei can marry her betrothed. But when they find that her betrothed is dead and she has been excoriated they find themselves in desperate need of money. When Daine finds a former associate is now living in Sharn they accept a job recovering some of her missing property. The job finds them up against some people who have been magically altered with monster's abilities and disappearing dragonmarked people.

This is an ok book it is nothing special in characters and storyline still it was a fairly entertaining me read as is the least you can expect from an Eberron novel.

Legacy of Wolves (Eberron: The Inquisitives Book 3) By Marsheila Rockwell
In the city of Aruldusk people are being savagely murdered and the murders are blamed on the cities Shifter community. When her brother is arrested for one of the murders Irulan heads for Flamekeep to ask for help from the church of the Silver Flame to fund the real culprit. Meanwhile Zoden brother of the latest murder victim does not believe that shifters are responsible for the murders and goes to the queen for help finding who is really responsible. In the end both sides must work together to find the killer even if it means hunting in the highest reaches of power.

I liked this book it was a good read nothing heavy to the story but a good book to read on a free afternoon.

Raven's Strike (Raven Duology Book 1) By Patricia Briggs
Seraph and family are on the way home now but worried that the new Shadowed is going to be targeting them because the have spoiled his plans. The Emperor has not got rid of the Raven’s Memory and it could be used to strip him of the throne. The solutions to all their problems rests in the lost city of Colossae along with the truth of the ancient wizards crime.

I really enjoyed this book and was left wanting more. The thing that has irritated me about the Patricia Briggs books I have read so far is that they are duology’s and I feel that the characters have a lot more storied in them. But I do not have anything bad to say about the books except that they always leave me wanting more.

Raven's Shadow (Raven Duology Book 1) By Patricia Briggs
The City of Colossae was home to arrogant wizards more powerful then any since. One of their experiments unleashed an evil entity that would destroy the world. To contain this evil the wizards sacrificed their city and loved one’s. The descendants of the wizards now travel the world protecting normal people from the Stalker’s evil. Now called Travelers they are persecuted by the people that they are trying to protect. Seraph is a Traveler holder of the Order known as Raven her clan has been killed by plague and her brother burned at the stake. Before she is sold as a slave she is saved by an Ex-soldier called Tier. They marry and have a family allowing Seraph to abandon the burden of her people’s responsibility. Now Tier has disappeared and Seraph must face the secret organisation that is killing Travelers and stealing their Orders and save her husband and the Emperor himself.

I wonder how I have never heard about Patricia Briggs before I saw her books on my Amazon recommendations because her books are fantastic This is the third book of hers I have read and they are impossible to put down. This book is filled with great characters and an interesting story.

Dragon Blood (Hurog Duology Book 2) By Patricia Briggs
Four years have passed since the Vorsag defeat, and Alizon was trying to raise rebellion against the high king. When Tisala escapes from being tortured to Hurog she warns Ward that the High King could soon move against his family. But there is nothing Ward can do to resist the king with Hurogs defences still not rebuilt. Locked in the Royal Asylum Ward is drugged and tortured to make him demented enough so the High King can declare him unfit to rule, So someone loyal could be installed as lord of Hurog. Ward must survive the abuse and find a way to stop the High King using an ancient artefact that was responsible for the fall of the first Empire.

This book was as good if not better then Dragon Bones and just as impossible to put down if all Patricia Briggs books are this good she will be one to my favourite authors. My only problem with the book was that the ending was too abrupt and left me unsatisfied I hope there are more books featuring Ward because I am left wanting more.

Dragon Bones (Hurog Duology Book 1) By Patricia Briggs
Wardwick of Hurog to escape the beatings from his father has pretended for years to be an imbecile. But when his father dies he gives the rulership of Hurog to Ward’s uncle until his majority. Before he manages to prove his intelligence he gives his protection to an escaped slave which leads her owner to use his political influence have Ward incarcerated in the Royal Asylum. He escapes and with a group of loyal retainers and family members to the land of Oranstone where war is brewing in the hope of regaining his lands by becoming a war hero.

I absolutely loved this book I most books I need to read a few chapters before I settle with the characters but in this book the characters were so good I was engrossed from the first page and could not put the book down. Ward has become one of my favourite characters of any book I have read.

The Heart of Stars (Rhiannon's Ride Book 3) By Kate Forsyth
Rhiannon reprieved from her death sentence is flying after Laird of Fettercairn to rescue the royal twins and Roden before they are sacrificed to raise Margrit of Arran and the Lairds son and brother from the dead. To rescue the young Righ Isabeau leads here party back in time to stop the raising of the evil Brann the Raven. All this leaves Bronwen ruling the land as Banrigh facing the suspicion that she was behind the murder of Lachlan and the disappearance of his children.

I had really anticipated reading this book and it lived up to my expectations. The story was well pace and kept me engrossed in it. I finished this book wanting more and hope that there is another book about Rhiannon soon.

The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Tales the Otori Book 4) By Lian HearnTakeo and Kaede have ruled the three countries for sixteen years of piece and prosperity. But now the peace is coming to an end the Emperor and his new warlord have turned their eyes to the three countries as Takeo has never sought their confirmation of his rule and they have decided to back the dissatisfied Ari Zenko. The rebel tribe members lead by Kikuta Akio see the time as ripe to get their revenge. Added to this all Takeo’s loyal advisers are dying weakening his position. Can he master the threats to his rule while keeping the balance that has maintained the peace for the last sixteen years?

I really disliked this book, I had been looking forward to it for ages and was overjoyed when I saw that the book was bigger then the previous three put together. But when I started reading it I soon started losing interest in it. The main characters mad one stupid decision after another! It got me so irritated that after each stupid decision I had to stop reading and had to struggle to start reading it again. I was never more depressed then when reading the ending! It is one of the most depressing ending of any book I have read! All in all this is one of the most disappointing books I have read this year.