Deborah ChesterCritiques

I am going to preface this with I have not read the Sword, the Ring or the Chalice, but this book stands up pretty well on its own, even without that context. This book is fantasy in the vein of Tolkein; the society seems to be pretty explicitly based on a medieval Europe, but everything has a weird fantasy name. This is the story of Pheresa, an ambitious woman who aspires to be queen in a society that is so patriarchal that the people plotting against her do not want her to be queen because she is not a man, even if the other candidate doesn't have the temperament, moral compass, or qualifications to be king (remind you of someone?), and at the peril of the entire country. Everybody underestimates her because she is a woman, even the people who like her. Pheresa has character flaws and she has a lot to learn about being queen, but she is not condemned by the author for her ambition. This is a plus, because I think that in another book she could've been the villain, especially if that book were written by a man. The other important character in this book is Talmor. Talmor is in love with Pheresa, but that romance takes a back seat. This courtly love, like in medieval chivalric romances. Talmor expresses his love through nobility and heroism. It is like Guinevere and Lancelot, but with less cuckoldry (and trust me her husband deserved to be cuckolded, but one of Pheresa's character traits is a strong moral compass).

Prima afsluitend derde deel van de serie: Het zwaard, de ring & de bokaal. Dain gaat verder met zijn avontuur en alles komt natuurlijk goed. Het enige wat er voor zorgt dat het geen 8 wordt maar een 7 is het grote aantal gevechten. Bladzijden lang, van het een naar het andere strijdtoneel. Verder prettig lezen.½

Tweede deel van deze serie. Een fijn ouderwets fantasy verhaal, Een jonge eenvoudige knul met een missie, een beetje magie en half eld-(elf) bloed. Een andere jongeman, een koningszoon, die hem alles misgunt en hem overal in dwars probeert te zitten. Een beeldschone maar naïeve prinses waar de jongens (natuurlijk) beiden om verschillende redenen mee willen huwen (want trouwen doet men niet in dit soort boeken). Ik ben heel benieuwd naar het derde deel.

This was a good trilogy, it started kind of slow, but was a good story!

Intriguing story focusing less on adventure and thrills and more on the drama of exploring a new world. All the characters are well written, and for once we have a pair of kids who aren't annoying.

The third and final book in "Lucasfilm's Alien Chronicles," following ‘The Golden One' and ‘The Crimson Claw.'
As it opens, we find Our Hero, Ampris, former pet of the Imperial Ruler, gladiator, slave, and victim of a cruel scientist, living free in the wilderness, with a group of other escaped abiru (slave races). Unfortunately, the wilderness is harsh, and drought has set in. Necessity leads the group toward the Imperial city – but even here, the signs of imminent collapse are unavoidable, as the spoiled, selfish Kaa, Israi, is incapable of dealing with the many problems facing her reign. Ampris had set aside her revolutionary aspirations in favor of motherhood (and, while she has many admirable qualities, her mothering skills leave something to be desired – her cubs are insufferable brats, if not downright evil), but in the city, she finds herself again taking on the mantle of subversive leader.
As with the other two books, this is wholly enjoyable, fun space opera – but I was disappointed at the end – there aren't any more books in the series, but the ending is definitely wide open for a sequel, with several unanswered questions, unfinished character arcs, etc... Perhaps someday we'll find out what happens to the next generation?

This is the second book in the "Lucasfilm's Alien Chronicles" trilogy. To tell you the truth, I have no idea what Lucasfilm's involvement in this story was. I assumed they were intended to be made into an animated feature, but on the author's website, it states that "they were never intended to be filmed" (and moreover, that she's never even met George Lucas). So I don't know. They have nothing whatsoever to do with Star Wars, anyway.
I read the first book in this series, "The Golden One" shortly after it came out - I think, in 1998. A friend gave it to me, and I basically said, "eh, what is this, some kind of movie tie-in novel?" But she said, "No, it's really really good! You have to read it!"
And, while I can't say it was Great Literature, the story of Ampris, the catlike Aaroun who grows up as a pampered pet in the household of the reptilian Viis princess, somehow stuck with me. (Which is fairly rare: I freely admit that I forget most of what I read for entertainment pretty promptly.) When Ampris is rudely disillusioned upon her sale to a gladitorial training school, she begins to harbor a fierce desire to learn the history of her people and to somehow foment rebellion among all the 'abiru' slave races.
It seems a hopeless task - but the Viis' interstellar empire is decadent and crumbling at its core, attacked by mismanagement, disease, and technological failures.
It took me a while to get this sequel, but all the characters came right back to me. 'The Crimson Claw' sees Ampris become a star gladiator - but she never forgets that she is still a slave, and she still holds out for freedom - not just for herself, but for all... Meanwhile, her former owner, the spoiled and selfish Israi, comes to power at the heart of the Empire - and disaster seems to follow her...
I'm definitely going to wait less than 8 years before getting the last book in this story! While I enjoyed this sequel enormously, it's obvious that much more is coming in the last part!

I'd like to say that this was a great new world, expanding upon the first book, but while it is a good high fantasy novel, it just seems...sub-par after reading some of the more intricate and well thought out series in the high Fantasy world. By no means is that condemnation, it was still a good read, just not up to the level of what I expect from a good novel.

Reviewed on SF Mistressworks: http://sfmistressworks.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/the-omcri-matrix-jay-d-blakeney/½

What I liked most about this book was the fae action in it. While most fae books I've read always have a half-breed that is rare and wanted, these half-breeds were hated and were to be killed. Diello and Cynthe lived a very sheltered life. After receiving a warning, they return home to fine there parents killed and their sister missing. Diello and Cynthe go on an adventure of a lifetime searching out the secrets their parents held.

Let me tell you that there was lots of Fae action going on. They was fighting, running and risking their life at every turn of a corner. Diello is the only boy and needs to take care of his sister. I loved his heroism when he sets out to find his little sister. He takes a stand as the man and takes no crap. He slowly is learning knowledge of his powers and secrets.

The adventure of Deillo and Cynthe go on was fun and exciting. As a reader, you too get the feel of the adventure and learning every secret. Deillo and Cynthe learn a lot about their family. My heart felt for them that they had to discover this all on their own. But they stayed strong and kept going. This book touch a lot about racial issues between human and fae. I had never seen that around and thought it was a nice touch.

Crystal Bones is a great fae adventure that has lots of action! It has lots of twist and turns, secrets to be revealed and a family that stands strong.

My review was originally posted on my website http://www.books4hearts.blogspot.com/
This book was great! I loved the way it was written. I thought the whole thing flowed really well and was written just kind of... mystically and mysteriously, to fit the story perfectly. I liked the characters, especially Diello (I'm sure you're supposed to like him best though). I thoroughly enjoyed the odd twists and turns the story took as it unfolded, and the whole thing really wasn't what you'd expect it to be by reading the first few chapters or the back of the book. I think this book could easily be the next middle-grade/YA/anyone fantasy story, (ex: "Magyk", "Eragon", "Harry Potter", "Spiderwick" fans will love this one). I can't wait for the sequel! The downside of getting to read it this early is I suppose I'll have to wait even longer haha! I'm really glad I got the opportunity to read this though. I liked the setting, and Diello and Cynthe's world. I'm guessing it's supposed to take place in a more medieval time, and different country. The Faelin thing is really cool to :) I give this one 4 and 1/2 stars. Really excellent. Random: I also liked the cover :) Can't wait to read the next one and anything else by C. Aubrey Hall! Look for "Crystal Bones" in April!

Thank you Marshall Cavendish publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this and sending me a copy of it.
Reader's Note: UNBIASED REVIEW. Always :)

Twelve years ago, King Faldain and his beloved warrior-wife, the Queen Alexeika, rescued their two daughters, taken forcefully from the palace by the barbarian Grethori. Since then, Dain has waged brutal war against that tribe – seeking the Chieftain who killed their young son on that terrible day, and the evil sorceress behind him…

Now, as the circumstances bring the family back together, Alexeika clashes with her eldest daughter, Princess Tashalya, over her growing infatuation with the dark side of magic. And Dain – suffering from a powerful, life-threatening curse – struggles homeward to be saved by drinking from the Chalice of Life. But he is about to be betrayed by one closer than he could ever imagine…

Einfach köstlich. Mindestens drei mal gelesen und immer wieder weiterempfohlen. Antidepressive Wirkung garantiert.

The Pearls is a solid story. Good character development, interesting premise, solid detail. However, it falls into what seems to be happening more and more in SF & Fantasy books... it's not really a complete book. The Pearls is really just the first section of a larger book. This is frustrating, and that frustration is compounded by the fact that the next book(s) has not yet been published.

So you, dear reader will be reading along, enjoying yourself immensely... and then you'll start thinking..."wait a minute, I'm almost 90% through this great book, and the story isn't starting to wrap up yet"! Frankly, the story really doesn't start tying up loose ends until the last few pages, and even this is just enough to be able to end the book without it being TOTALLY disappointing.

So, if you don't mind waiting for the next edition to be released, by all means, go grab a copy. As with all of Chester's books, it's a very good one... but don't expect to be able to wrap up the story any time soon!

Someone must have let ol’ George Lucas help out on this book, because it wasn’t near as good as the first one. Ampris never seems to learn anything, and it gets really annoying. In her overzealousness to free the slave races, she trusts those that she knows she shouldn’t and gets maimed for it, even though she’s a hardened, seasoned gladiator now. Whatever. I hope the final book gets better.½

Despite having Lucas’ name in a font larger than the author’s, this book was quite good. It must mean ol’ George Lucas (rot in hell for episodes 1-3, bi0tch!) had very little to do with the story.

I zipped through this book, and it constantly got better. Just when you were really getting tired of the wussy behavior of the main character, Ampris, she turns around and goes feral. I can’t wait to start on the second book!

I highly recommend this book, it’s great science fiction so far. I hope the two sequels prove to be as entertaining.

This book wrapped up the Lucasfilm Alien Chronicles. From what I gathered at the website, it’s based on the rejected creatures from Star Wars movies, the ones that didn’t make it past the drawing board. Anyway, the book was a good wrap-up, but it was annoying how the characters never had any progression, they never seemed to learn anything.

I feel I’m being a little generous with the 5 rating, because it wasn’t terribly good, but it wasn’t awful, either.

I despise characters that can never learn from their mistakes. This book's main character is like that, and I found it annoying.½

Deborah Chester is a very consistent writer. One of the few authors where I'll pick up a book, just because she's the author.

Her books are entertaining, are character driven, and are well thought out. However, don't look for life changing philosophical insights, that is not the purpose of her books.

The Ring, The Sword, and the Chalice are classic fantasy fiction. Stories of lost kings, mythical devices, prophecies, and horrendous evil that needs to be overcome.

Chester always is able to weave a few surprises into her plot. Her universe is reasonably consistent, and her characters live and grow in that universe.

As others have mentioned, this is light weekend reading, a series to be enjoyed for what it is.

Final Recommendation: Worth purchase, pick up the entire series. For that matter, if you want similar type reading, pick up anything by Deborah Chester.

Weekend reading.... nothing great to write about...

Weekend reading.... nothing great to write about...

Weekend reading.... nothing great to write about...

I originally purchased this as an audio book to share with my husband, who doesn't like to read. The audio production was excellent, with a full cast. So why do I have the paperback? Simple, the publisher issued volumes 1 and 2 in audio, but never released volume 3! I have a few colorful words to say about that, but will stick the reviewing the novel. The story was so good I had to buy the paperbacks to get the conclusion. This is a wonderful space opera. All the races/peoples in the trilogy are "aliens" - no humans to be found. A repitilian race has enslaved many other species of sentient beings. But, a messiah is coming to lead them in a revolution against their oppressers. And she will be raised as a companion to the princess herself. Friends will become enemies, and an empire hangs in the balance. Highly recommended.

Full review to come!