Month: October 2008

The Lord of Beasts by Justin Elliott

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I would call The Lord of Beasts by Justin Elliott a classic fantasy novel for young adults. It’s about a group of young teenagers (from memory, I think they are about 14) who are drawn together in the most unusual circumstances and then thrown into a quest that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The story has it all – ogres, pixies, faeries, magic, fear, laughter and a very real threat of death, just to name a few. The characters are a good match. They are well written and each has their own problem to overcome. The setting is put together well and easy to imagine. The plot is believable, which is something some stories (and not just fantasy stories) lack, and it’s also fast paced. I enjoy a fast paced story. I don’t like being dragged through a book – grumbling and groaning all the way – so it was nice to find myself transported through a world I would not have been able to visit without the help of the author.

The Lord of Beasts is the first story in a trilogy or series. I look forward to the publication of the second instalment.

Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman is the first book in The Castings Trilogy. It is also the first adult fiction novel the author has published,as she usually writes for children. I have read several of her children’s books and enjoyed them immensely. This book was no exception. In fact, it has qualities that make it stand apart from her previous writings. If you are a fan of the author, then you definitely will not be disappointed with Blood Ties.

The story is well written – smooth and interesting. The characters are not perfect people, which make them realistic, and they are likable and well rounded. And the world is believable yet enchanting.

I was especially impressed with the flow of the story. It is so easy to read, which makes it almost impossible to put down. From what I’ve heard, the second book (Deep Water) is quite the page turner so I’m looking forward to reading it soon. Another unique quality of the book is what I call the mini-stories of the minor characters. They give the story depth and allow the reader to view storylines from different perspectives, which is brilliant.

In all honesty, Blood Ties is the best adult novel I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend it.