Voice of the Gods (Age of the Five Trilogy Book 3) by Trudi Canavan

Auraya has left the White and earned the hatred of the Goddess Huan and after agreeing to learn how to hide her thoughts she is told that Huan will be looking for any chance to kill her. Emerahl is hunting for the Scroll of the Gods in which the Wilds hope to find something to use against the gods. Mirar has announced his return and drawn the attention of the Voices of the Gods will his return spell trouble for the dreamweavers as the Pentadrians try to force him to aid them. As the gods drive the Pentadrians and Circlians to war, Will the Wilds find out the Gods secrets in time to stop the war?

I really liked this book there are some really fun characters and an interesting story. I did find it a bit irritating that it took Auraya so long to work out the secrets of the God that I knew from the first book. Also the ending of the book was made to feel incomplete as we were introduced to some new characters plotting to take advantage of the chaos.

Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen Book 2) by Steven Erikson

Kalam and Fiddler are escorting Apsalar\Sorry and Crokus back to her home but they have a secret mission to kill Empress Laseen. At the same time the Seven Cities rebel and the useless idiot who is High Fist of the Seven Cities calls back his armies abandoning the Malazan citizens. Only one Fist ignores him and tries to lead his army and thousands of refugees to safety he is Coltaine the Wickan Warlord. And Felisin Paran (Captain Ganoes Paran’s youngest sister) betrayed by her sister into slavery struggles to survive escape and get revenge on her sister.

I liked this book more then the first book the story seemed to flow better even though at times (especially at the beginning of the book) it could be tedious. I was annoyed at the beginning of the book because my favourite characters from the fist book were not in it. But there were some great bits in it I think when Coltaine tries to reward the sappers is one of my favourite parts of any book. Felisin irritated me as I really liked her at the beginning of the book but grew to despise her as the story progressed, though by the end of the book I was starting to like her again. I did feel that Erikson went a bit over the top killing off main characters. But on the whole I enjoyed the book.

Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen Book 1) by Steven Erikson

Empress Laseen has betrayed the previous Emperor and seized power. She has turned the empire into a war machine conquering city after city with non-stop recruiting. But she is gathering powerful enemies like Shadowthrone (ruler of the Warren of Shadow) and Anomander Rake (Lord of Moon’s Spawn, Son of Darkness and Knight of Darkness) at this time she decides to wipe out some of her best regiments and mages because they were loyal to the previous Emperor almost forcing them to rebel. Captain Ganoes Paran who works for the Adjunct to the Empress is given command of the Bridgeburners to hunt a soldier possessed by the god of assassins. Events do not go as planned and as the Bridgeburners are sent on a mission they are not meant to return from he finds his loyalties strained.

I am unsure of my opinion about this book the story really interests me and challenges you to solve the mysteries of a lot of the characters motives. But large parts of the book can be tedious to read. I will carry on reading the series because I need to know how the story will end but unless it improves it will not be a series I await the next book desperately.

Brilliance of the Moon (Tales the Otori Book 3) By Lian Hearn

Takeo and Kaede have married offending a number of powerful people. They win Maruyama for Kaede and Takeo starts to plan his campaign against the Otori. But the powerful people they had offended fell upon them and it looks like both the prophecy and their love are about to fail.

I liked this book and it intrigued me so I could not put it down. But the abject stupidity of everything that Takeo and Kaede did in this book irritated me immensely. But there were plenty of good points and I enjoyed reading it.

Grass for His Pillow (Tales the Otori Book 2) By Lian Hearn

With Otori Shigeru avenged Takeo allows the Tribe to take him away to train him. But distrusted and beaten Takeo finds himself hating the Tribe even more. Finally after a final betrayal Takeo allows himself to revert to his first loyalty the Otori and sets out to obey Otori Shigeru’s last command to take care of Kaede, While hoping to take revenge on the Otori lords that betrayed Otori Shigeru to his death. Meanwhile Kaede is trying to stabilise her position so she can rule her domain in the male dominated society.

A very enjoyable book Takeo’s dilemma about his different Loyalties, oaths and responsibilities not being compatible is intriguing. And Kaede’s struggles to retain power while unsure whether she even wants to live any more is entrancing.

Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales the Otori Book 1) By Lian Hearn

When Tomasu is fleeing from the soldiers who have massacred his village he is saved by Otori Shigeru lord of the Otori. Tomasu is renamed Takeo after Shigeru’s murdered Brother Takeshi and adopted into the Otori clan. Takeo finds that he is born to one of the bloodlines of the Tribe (families of assassins and spies with special abilities) and is trained to the aim of killing both his and Shigeru’s enemy Iida Sadamu. But problems arise as the Tribe decides to retrieve Takeo for themselves at the worst possible time. Will Takeo get his revenge or will he be taken from his new Father, Clan and the women he loves by the Tribe.

This was a really good book even though not much happens for most of the book the characters and dialogue maintains your interest. I was irritated by Takeo being too stupid to realise that the Tribe was going to come for him on the night of the assassination attempt. But that was the only problem with the story.

Cursed Towers (The Witches of Eileanan Book 3) By Kate Forsyth

Lachlan is now the Righ but his land is in turmoil the bright soldiers control much of the land, the Fairgean attack the coasts, the Grand seeker is gathering the red guard to him in rebellion and the Maya the ensorceller escaped him. Worried for the baby Bronwen when Lachlan threatens to kill her horse Lasair Isabeau flees to the Cursed Towers.

I think this is the best book of the series so far there was loads of action and some really good twists to the story. I was really surprised by the secret of Lasair. The problem character in this book was Maya seemed to come off more and more pathetic as the book went on and I found it hard to believe that she was capable of causing as much trouble as she did. I find myself really wanting to know where the story will go now and how the characters will develop from her.

The Pool of Two Moons (The Witches of Eileanan Book 2) By Kate Forsyth

Isabeau is studying magic with Latifa in secret while working in the kitchen of the Banrigh’s palace waiting for Meghan to call for her to bring the two parts of the Keybearer’s Key. The Banrigh sets the Prionnsa of Rurach to hunt down Meghan. Lilanthe and the Jongleur’s head to Arran to investigate the disappearances of children. After Meghan’s capture Lachlan and Iseult gather the rebels and head to Lucescere to overthrow the Banrigh and rescue the Lodestar.

The first hard of this book was hard work as the story seemed to be stalled but the it picked up in the second half with lots of action and story development. I find myself really disliking Lachlan he is too petulant and ignorant. But all in all I enjoyed the book and was left needing to know what happened next in the story.