Writers of the Future Volume 30 by Miscellaneous Authors

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Title: Writers of the Future Volume 30

Author: Miscellaneous

Genre: Science Fiction, Short Stories

Length: 400 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Galaxy Press

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Embark on Voyages of Imagination and Wonder. Discover the new visionaries of imagination. Experience the thrills, laughs, heartbreak and tears that can all be found in this fabulous new anthology. We’ve scoured the globe to find the most powerful new writers, and then paired them with the most gifted new illustrators to bring you L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume XXX.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was a great collection of short stories by several promising writers. I enjoyed all of the stories, though a few of them were a little tougher for me to get into at first. Each story took me into another world with new rules and new characters to fall in love with. 

I love the fact that they include some short stories from established authors, as well as the winners of the contest. The artwork that goes along with each story is excellent and fits in very well with the story the picture is attached to. Definitely a must read for any lovers of the science fiction and fantasy genres.

You can purchase Writers of the Future Volume 30 through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Writers of the Future Volume 30? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

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Title: A Memory of Light 

Author: Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #14)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Length: 909 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: Tor Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Since 1990, when Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time® burst on the world with its first book, The Eye of the World, readers have been anticipating the final scenes of this extraordinary saga, which has sold over forty million copies in over thirty languages.

When Robert Jordan died in 2007, all feared that these concluding scenes would never be written. But working from notes and partials left by Jordan, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson stepped in to complete the masterwork. With The Gathering Storm (Book 12) and Towers of Midnight (Book 13) behind him, both of which were # 1 New York Times hardcover bestsellers, Sanderson now re-creates the vision that Robert Jordan left behind. 

Edited by Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, A Memory of Light will delight, enthrall, and deeply satisfy all of Jordan’s legions of readers.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass.
What was, what will be, and what is,
may yet fall under the Shadow.
Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I have been reading the Wheel of Time since I was in high school. I think this is one of the reasons why it took me so long to get around to reading the final book. I knew I was going to cry at the end when it was over. I knew I was going to feel like there was a hole left. I know this is a series that I will re-read in its entirety again someday. I grew up reading it, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. 

And I really did cry at the end, and in a couple of other spots throughout. This book was an emotional roller-coaster. It is literally one 900 page battle. The Last Battle is here, and the armies of the world are uniting to defeat the waves of Shadowspawn which are coming to destroy them. All of the chapters are short except one: the one where Rand finally steps in to battle with the Dark One. That chapter is nearly 200 pages long and it shows every important character as they struggle throughout the battle. I won't lie: people die. And not just nameless soldiers. I won't name names because I don't want to spoil anything. Just prepare yourself. It's not even obvious as to who dies. 

Probably the only negative thing about this book is that some characters are mentioned briefly during the fight but never mentioned again so you don't know if they survived or not. The Wheel of Time wiki goes under the assumption that unless it's specifically stated that someone has died, they managed to survive the Last Battle. 

The final volume of this series is one edge of your seat battle. I could not stop reading and hated putting it down for even a minute. 

You can purchase A Memory of Light through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read A Memory of Light? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

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Title: Towers of Midnight 

Author: Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #13)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Length: 863 pages

Published: 2010

Publisher: Tor Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The end draws near....

The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.

The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age.

Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever.

Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost.

This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Timesbestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near.

Dovie’andi se tovya sagain. It’s time to toss the dice. 

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

There are a few things to note about this book. Much of Perrin's storyline occurs before Tam is gathered up by the Aes Sedai to confront Rand. It's a little confusing at first as Sanderson went through and interjected a lot of stuff with Rand, Mat, Egwene, etc. which happened after the events in the final chapters of The Gathering Storm. Once you realize the fact that Perrin's storyline is a little bit off from the timeline of everything else, things make a lot more sense. 

A LOT happens in this book. As everyone prepares for the Last Battle and plans start coming together, a lot of little storylines start to be closed out. Everyone is gathering on the Fields of Merrilor while Lan gathers an army of Borderlanders and Malkieri at Tarwin's Gap. At the end, it seems the Last Battle has begun.

Next up, the final volume of the Wheel of Time series: A Memory of Light. I have not read this book yet, so I'm anxious to get through it, and also saddened that something I've been reading since high school has finally come to an end. (I'm pretty sure this is why I've waited so long to finally read this book.)

You can purchase Towers of Midnight through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Towers of Midnight? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

America's Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis

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Title: America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation

Author: Kenneth C. Davis

Genre: Non-Fiction, History

Length: 292 pages

Published: 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Kenneth C. Davis, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestsellerDon't Know Much About History, presents a collection of extraordinary stories, each detailing an overlooked episode that shaped the nation's destiny and character. Davis's dramatic narratives set the record straight, busting myths and bringing to light little-known but fascinating facts from a time when the nation's fate hung in the balance.

Spanning a period from the Spanish arrival in America to George Washington's inauguration in 1789, America's Hidden History details these episodes, among others: The story of the first real Pilgrims in America, who were wine-making French Huguenots, not dour English Separatists The coming-of-age story of Queen Isabella, who suggested that Columbus pack the moving mess hall of pigs that may have spread disease to many Native Americans The long, bloody relationship between the Pilgrims and Indians that runs counter to the idyllic scene of the Thanksgiving feast The little-known story of George Washington as a headstrong young soldier who committed a war crime, signed a confession, and started a war!

Full of color, intrigue, and human interest, America's Hidden History is an iconoclastic look at America's past, connecting some of the dots between history and today's headlines, proving why Davis is truly America's Teacher.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

All in all this book was pretty good. It was easy to read (which some history books are not), and I feel like I learned more about George Washington and other prominent figures in our nation's history than I ever learned in school. 

Some parts were a little boring and tough to get through, which is why I had to rate this at four stars instead of five. For the most part, however, it had some really great information. Definitely worth the read for the history buff out there. 

You can purchase America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Deadlocked 8 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 8

Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #8; Series #2)

Genre: Horror

Length: 340 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: A.R. Wise

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The finale of the second series of Deadlocked.

The High Rollers are ready to take revenge against the forces aligned against them. A hard and long winter has forced them into hiding, but has also given them a respite from something else… something far worse than anything they’ve battled so far.

The Noah Initiative has begun, and the land will soon be devastated by a new virus. The people lined up against the High Rollers are fighting among themselves as well, and everyone is at risk. This isn’t just a fight for survival anymore, it’s a fight to save the entire human race.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

First and foremost, prepare to tear up at the end. 

Second, prepare to cheer on the good guys throughout the whole book.

Third, prepare yourself to re-evaluate several times (again!) just who the good guys and bad guys are. 

Finally, enjoy the ride. All of it. This was truly the perfect ending to the series. The author did not leave anyone's fate hanging. There was closure for everyone and every plot line. I truly never expected to tear up at the end of a book about zombies. But the characters were so well written that any loss is felt deeply. I have to add that Wise did not try to come up with a miraculous recovery for a few of the characters. That would have been a cop-out and I'm really glad he stuck to his guns and didn't try to save everyone. That would not have been realistic at all. These books are definitely worth the read. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 8 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 8? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

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Title: The Gathering Storm

Author: Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #12)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Length: 783 pages

Published: 2009

Publisher: Tor Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan’s editor---his wife, Harriet McDougal---to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will make up A Memory of Light. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era. 

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward---wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders---his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower---and possibly the world itself.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

After Robert Jordan died in 2007, fans were left wondering if the series would ever be finished. His wife and editor, Harriet, worked with the publisher to find a suitable author to finish out the series. Jordan had provided his wife all of his notes, as well as a complete outline as to how the series ended. The team found Brandon Sanderson - a fantasy author who had a few books already published. Sanderson took Jordan's already finished scenes, notes, and outlines and filled in the gaps. What Jordan had originally promised was one more novel called A Memory of Light. What Sanderson found was too much story to be contained in one volume. Therefore, the book was split into three parts: The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight, and A Memory of Light. 

There are definitely times within this book that you can see Sanderson's writing style, however, it doesn't really detract from the story at all and melds pretty seamlessly with the scenes that had been completed by Jordan before his death. 

A lot happens in this book, which is why it's nearly 800 pages. There was a lot of closure with some events - chiefly major events surrounding Perrin, Egwene, and even Rand. There was also a lot of foreshadowing of events to come. There were a lot of hard decisions that had to be made by everyone. 

The fact that a lot of open events were granted closure, really made this book one of my favorites. 

Next up: Towers of Midnight.

You can purchase The Gathering Storm through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Gathering Storm? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan

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Title: Knife of Dreams

Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #11)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Length: 784 pages

Published: 2005

Publisher: Tor Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy.The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers. There are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him dead--and the Black Ajah is at his side....

Unbeknownst to Rand, Perrin has made his own truce with the Seanchan. It is a deal made with the Dark One, in his eyes, but he will do whatever is needed to rescue his wife, Faile, and destroy the Shaido who captured her. Among the Shaido, Faile works to free herself while hiding a secret that might give her her freedom or cause her destruction. And at a town called Malden, the Two Rivers longbow will be matched against Shaido spears.

Fleeing Ebou Dar through Seanchan-controlled Altara with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, Mat attempts to court the woman to whom he is half-married, knowing that she will complete that ceremony eventually. But Tuon coolly leads him on a merry chase as he learns that even a gift can have deep significance among the Seanchan Blood and what he thinks he knows of women is not enough to save him. For reasons of her own, which she will not reveal until a time of her choosing, she has pledged not to escape, but Mat still sweats whenever there are Seanchan soldiers near. Then he learns that Tuon herself is in deadly danger from those very soldiers. To get her to safety, he must do what he hates worse than work....

In Caemlyn, Elayne fights to gain the Lion Throne while trying to avert what seems a certain civil war should she win the crown....

In the White Tower, Egwene struggles to undermine the sisters loyal to Elaida from within....

The winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believes are fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Even the White Tower itself is no longer a place of safety. Now Rand, Perrin and Mat, Egwene and Elayne, Nynaeve and Lan, and even Loial, must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

A lot happens in this volume. We get a few glimpses of Rand as he begins to prepare his armies for Tarmon Gai'don, but the majority of the story follows Mat's wooing of Tuon, Perrin's quest to save Faile, and Elayne's quest for the Black Ajah and the crown of Andor. There are a few chapters which follow the rebel Aes Sedai following Egwene's capture, as well as Egwene herself as she begins trying to fight the Tower from within.

We even get to witness the capture of another of the Forsaken. Only three more books left in the series, and I can't wait to finish them off.

Next up: The Gathering Storm.

You can purchase Knife of Dreams through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Knife of Dreams? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Deadlocked 7 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 7

Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #7; Series #2)

Genre: Horror

Length: 260 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: A.R. Wise

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In the penultimate book of the second series of Deadlocked, the High Rollers struggle to find their way after an enormous loss. They fell into the trap of a madman and the horde is closing in even as the town burns around them. Meanwhile, Hero is dealing with his contraction of what is known as the Tempest Strain, a virus capable of infecting any mammal. He knows that if the virus gets out, it could threaten every species on the planet, and he's ready to make the ultimate sacrifice if he has to.

However, the true secret about to be uncovered is what happened in the past, back when Charles Reagan formed the High Rollers. What none of them know is just what role he unwittingly played in a war raging between two factions of the organization that released the zombie plague. Before the final page, a new enemy is revealed that changes everything and the heroes will find themselves at a crossroads they'd always hoped to avoid.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Since book 5, we've been plagued with the question of "how did Reagan die?". We knew he died, but not how or why or when. Through flashbacks which are interspersed throughout the story, we finally learn how Reagan died. A lot more of the plot to kill off humanity is also revealed to us through Hero's discussions with Beatrice, and also during the flashbacks with Reagan. 

The conclusion to the book leaves behind a new enemy to face, and the loss of the help the Rollers were looking to find in destroying Jerald Scott and his army. I really can't wait to get through the final volume in this series. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 7 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 7? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan

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Title: Crossroads of Twilight

Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time (Book #10)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Length: 704 pages

Published: 2003

Publisher: Tor Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.

Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al'Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha'man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha'man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.

In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One's taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Jordan used this book to cover what was going on with Mat since his escape from Ebou Dar, Perrin's quest for Faile and the Shaido Aiel that took her, the siege of Caemlyn, and what was happening in both the rebel Aes Sedai camp and the White Tower. Not much is shown of Rand, except towards the end where there is quite a bit of foreshadowing of what is to come in Knife of Dreams. 

Next up: Knife of Dreams.

You can purchase Crossroads of Twilight through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Crossroads of Twilight? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Monthly Update - May 2014

So I decided not to read Doctor Zhivago. It just held no interest for me at this point in time. I might revisit it at a later date, but not sure on that. I did, however, find an excellent zombie apocalypse series (Deadlocked) that I haven't been able to put down. I just have two books left in the series and I'm done with it. I intend on finishing the Wheel of Time series off this month and I'm trying to make sure I get through America's Hidden History, as well. I'm super excited to read Writers of the Future Volume 30, because one of my friends was one of the winners of the contest and has a story published in this volume!

Currently Reading: 

• Deadlocked 7 by A.R. Wise
• Crossroads of Twilight (WoT #10) by Robert Jordan
• America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation by Kenneth C. Davis 

Coming Up:

• Deadlocked 8 by A.R. Wise
• Knife of Dreams (WoT #11) by Robert Jordan
• The Gathering Storm (WoT #12) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
• Towers of Midnight (WoT #13) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
• A Memory of Light (WoT #14) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
• Writers of the Future Volume 30 by Miscellaneous Authors
• It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
• The Codex by Douglas Preston
• Blasphemy by Douglas Preston
• Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography by Victoria Price
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo