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Lord Foul's Bane is the first in a series of adventures for Thomas Covenant. His experiences are so unbelievable, he thinks he dreams everything. Covenant wakes up in an extraordinary world with a mission from Lord Foul, an apparently evil entity. To avert disaster for the unsuspecting locality in which Covenant finds himself, he must deliver a message of doom. Atiara, a formidable village medicine woman, and Saltheart Foamfollower, an amiable though powerful Giant, each travel part of Covenant's journey. They encounter the wonders of the land, but also treacheries, resulting from the power of Lord Foul and his followers. This action filled narrative recounts a struggle to save a beautiful civilization where the Earth and its creatures are revered and protected as much as its human occupants.

Reviewed by Jeff G., North County Regional

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Rip-roaring swords 'n' sorcery at its finest! Dave Duncan spins the tale of Sir Durendal, one of the mystical bodyguards to King Ambrose IV, and his adventures leading up to the final, and greatest, betrayal of his life. Written in the vein of The Three Musketeers, Dave Duncan breathes life back into the tired swords and sorcery genre which has unfairly been stereotyped by the success of Conan. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by James S., South County Regional

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This is the fourth in an epic series that ties the characters together by mystery, adventure, and danger on a quest for the Dark Tower. Roland of Gilead, the gunslinger, comes to our reality and brings the other characters to his world, as fate deems necessary. As they travel through this strange facsimile of Earth, Roland gives a fascinating account of his youth and how he became "the gunslinger." The group then comes upon a tower, but it's not the Dark Tower. This gripping tale leaves you with questions to ponder and a yearning to know what happens next.

Reviewed by Jeff G., North County Regional

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Fans of Salvatore's Dark Elf, Drizzt, won't be disappointed with this tale. Continuing the events of the Crystal Shard and Dark Elf Kingdoms trilogies, Drizzt and his faithful companion find themselves caught up in the emotional scars of Wulgar the barbarian as well as the machinations of Drizzt's arch-enemy Artemis the assassin. This is Salvatore at his best with his well-written battle sequences.

Reviewed by James S., South County Regional

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On her deathbed, Gemma exhorts Becca, the youngest of three granddaughters, to find the "castle in the sleeping woods" where she was the princess. Thus begins an intertwining of the fairy tale, "Sleeping Beauty", and the recounting of atrocities of the holocaust experienced by Becca's grandmother. The effort to keep her promise to her grandmother takes Becca to a village in Poland where she learns of her grandmother's past. Yolen masterfully weaves the two disparate stories along parallels until they finally intersect. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Morrison Regional

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Karigan finds herself "suspended indefinitely" after daring to defeat a noble's son in the practice ring. On the way home, she encounters a dying messenger, one of the fabled Green Riders of the King. he begs her to continue his mission. Karigan finds herself swept up in a high stakes gamble for life and country while being stalked by the "shadow man". Extremely fast-paced with enjoyable characters ensure that this one will be a book you will be reading when you should have gone to bed hours ago. Recommended.

Reviewed by Stubbs J., South County Regional

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The male members of the St. Leger family all possess unique metaphysical traits - one can read minds, one can absorb the pain of the injured, and the third, Lance, takes on the trappings of his namesake, Sir Lancelot, Knight of King Arthur's Round Table, as he has out-of-body experiences, drifting into the real world of war widow, Lady Rosalind Carlyon. Sheltered all her life, Lady Rosalind's fascination in Arthurian legends involves her in returning the lost "Excalibur" sword to her phantom knight. A continuation of the previous The Bride Finder, Carroll is able to blend legend, magic, fairy tale, and regency mores with a satisfying romance sure to please all who believe or want to believe.

Reviewed by Elaine N., University City Regional

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This book is billed as "A Novel of China That Never Was", and it's a splendid description. Master Li, the venerable sage, and Number Ten Ox, the strong man, find themselves caught up in an adventure of epic proportions when they attempt to cure the ku poisoning of Ox's village. Hughart has taken the typical trappings of the cliched high fantasy and wrapped it in the mysticism and folklore of China. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Reviewed by Stubbs J., South County Regional

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Reader's comments about this book

I read this book based on this review and you are right! It was great! It's so original and I can't wait to read the sequel!
-Mindy, Charlotte, NC

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Jack Vance’s “Lyonesse” trilogy is one of the highpoints of twentieth century fantasy. Its culmination in this book concerns the Princess Madouc, ostensibly granddaughter of King Casmir of Lyonesse but in fact a changeling. The book revolves around her search for her pedigree, a quest that encompasses journeys to other realms, narrow avoidance of forcible marriage, the discovery of the Holy Grail, and her part in stopping both a war and a tragedy that could have destroyed the Elder Isles. Vance’s storytelling is constantly fascinating. His use of language is intricate, precise and a joy to read. A breathtaking end to a mesmerizing saga.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Take another trip to the Discworld in the company of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. Commander Sam Vimes has survived dragons, snipers and angry golems, but the thought of being Ankh-Morpork's ambassador to Uberwald is really trying his nerves. Add the fact that the legendary Scone of Stone has been stolen days before the coronation of the Dwarfish Low King, and you have a fast-paced adventure. Sprinkle in the usual assortment of Discworld characters (including five near-identical hunchbacked servants called Igor) and you have another example of Pratchett's timeless comedy. Pratchett's writing is so funny that you almost forget how well crafted and suspenseful his stories can be. Pratchett's stories are both sharp social commentary and enchanting high fantasy, and work equally well in both regards.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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An unforgiving and unhealthy planet is the only place Leia can find to place refugees from the worlds the Yuuzhan Vong has destroyed. Unbeknownst to her, Leia’s entire estranged family is also there helping other refugees. Can Han overcome the loss he feels for Chewbacca and find his way back to Leia? With the Solo children each finding their own path in this war and in their own lives, can a new Skywalker baby bring hope for the future? The reunion of the Solos is cut short with a new invasion, but they all come together to save Leia from certain death. The New Jedi Order series is an action packed epic that is hard to put down.

Reviewed by Jennifer M., Cornelius Branch

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For fifteen years Reason Cansino and her mother, Sarafina, have been on the run in the Australian outback from Esmeralda, Reason’s grandmother. Esmeralda is a powerful witch who practices dark magic. While running away yet again, Sarafina suffers a mental breakdown and Reason is sent to live with her wicked grandmother. Reason has never believed that her grandmother was truly a witch, until she opens a door in Esmeralda’s house in Sydney and steps onto a street in New York City. Reason finds that there is magic in the world and this magic is in her blood. Reason’s journey into the world of magic is riveting; Justine Larbalestier gives her young characters dynamic voices. This is a wonderful beginning to a new trilogy.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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This is a great book. I really enjoyed it.
-Rasmi, Durban

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Books are evil. So say the Alds, a desert people that have conquered and occupy the once prosperous and educated city of Ansul. Memer, is a child of the invasion. Her mother was raped by enemy soldiers during the chaotic conquest. Now Memer's only wish is to rid her land of these foreigners. She nurses this dream while studying in the illegal hidden library of her ancient house. Now, at the request of the Ald leader, a famed poet and speaker comes to the city. His speaking rouses the passions of the conquered people. It may be possible for the oppressed people to taste freedom again, but will they regain their freedom through violence or will they choose a path that benefits both peoples? An instant classic from Le Guin.

Reviewed by Ed M., Morrison Regional

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This is a meaningful book, and one of my favorites.
-Mairi, Newtown, Conneticut

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Set in contemporary Moscow, Night Watch combines the suspense of a police thriller, the imagination of a fantasy epic, and the sardonic wit of good Russian fiction. The story tells of the ongoing battle between the forces of good and evil, or Light and Dark. Both powers are manifested in the Others, people with supernatural powers who populate our everyday lives. Anton Gorodetsky is an agent of the Night Watch, the Light’s police force. He must battle with vampires, magicians, and departmental bureaucracy to save the world from careening into a catastrophic event on the level of the Holocaust—which was what happened the last time the Light messed up. The first in what promises to be an outstanding trilogy, Night Watch is a very satisfying read.

Reviewed by Meri H., Main Library

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When a young man needs to forget a young woman, what does he do? What else but ship for the stars? Joel Johnston, erstwhile composer finds himself on the RSS Sheffield bound for Novo Brasil twenty relativistic years away. Along the way Joel experiences adventure, loss, romance and all other things one would find in a thundering space opera. Spider Robinson relates how he was tapped to finish Robert Heinlein’s 1955 outline and flesh it out into a complete work in 2005. Readers will find this a fascinating blend of both Heinlein’s and Robinson’s styles and a fitting epitaph to the grandmaster himself.

Reviewed by John C., Main Library

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Sixteen-year-old Jack has taken medicine for his heart every day of his life. He misses taking it just once and discovers that his medicine isn’t for a heart condition, but to cover up something else. He finds out that nobody close to him — even his neighbors — are who they appear to be. A secret society called the Weir has existed for thousands and thousands of years. Different houses of the Weir have been vying for control with warriors who they send out to fight to the death. Jack was born a warrior (or so they say), and all the houses of the Weir are out to get him to be their warrior. Can he escape what they keep telling him is his destiny?

Reviewed by Donna R., Mint Hill Branch

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This book was awesome, I really liked it. It had some surprises. I'm looking forward to the sequel. I really like the girl, she's certainty not one of your typical damsel in distress.
-WK, New York

The Warrior Heir is one of my favorite books that I have read. Here is what it is about: A boy named Jack has gone to school for years in Trinity, Ohio, then his whole world changes when he finds out he is a "Warrior". I Highly recommend reading this book.
-Becka, WA

I'm an avid reader, and I have to say this is one of my favorite books of all times, and its trilogy is amazing. I place this in the 1-4 category of the top books I have read. Watch out J.K Rowling, here comes C.W Chima.
-Chris, Coatesville,PA

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Until her sister’s untimely death MacKayla "Mac" Lane was a small town girl from Georgia. She didn’t believe in anything supernatural. When she got a cryptic voice-mail message her sister had sent just hours before her death, Mac's whole world changed and not for the better. She found herself in Dublin trying to find her sister's killer and seeing the oddest things, like monsters that suck beauty from women. Until now, she didn’t know that she could see beyond the human world into the realm of Faery. Worse than that, a few of the Faeries know that she can see them, and are trying to kill her. Who can she trust in a world gone topsy-turvy? Can she hope to survive another day alone?

Reviewed by Linda K., North County Regional

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Things are not what they seem at Fablehaven . . . . Being stuck with a grandfather they don’t even know for three weeks while their parents go on a cruise doesn’t sound like a good time for Kendra and her younger brother, Seth. And when they get to his house, Fablehaven, he's got all sorts of crazy rules for them to follow. Don’t drink the milk. Don’t open your window at night. Don’t go into the woods because of ticks. Yeah, right. With all of those rules, what Grandpa failed to tell them was that there are more dangerous creatures than ticks waiting in the woods, and they’ve got a score to settle. You’ve got to watch out when fairy tales come true . . . because now they’re coming to get you!

Reviewed by Amanda D., Sugar Creek Branch

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This book is so good I encourage everyone who loves fantasy to read this book. The cover I thought was strange but it was worth getting. I can't wait to read the next two.
-Brittany, Booneys, CA

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The second book in the Fablehaven series doesn’t disappoint! It is filled with even more excitement and suspense than the first book! Kendra and Seth return for another visit to the mythical land of Fablehaven, but things are a little different this time. Their grandfather has been kidnapped and Fable haven is in danger of downfall by the Evening Star, an ancient organization created to destroy magical preserves. Join them as they race against time to save Fablehaven and its magical creatures once and for all!

Reviewed by Amy H., Steele Creek Branch

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This perfect mix of magic and romance creates an enchanting fantasy/romance novel that is a captivating read. The characters and plot are charismatic and well developed. Set in the fantasy realm of Ixia, the story follows Yelena, a criminal who escapes execution to become a poison taster. Follow her through the story, as she must come to terms with her past and her growing attraction for an assassin, Valek, (also her employer), and as she brings her growing bursts of magic under control.

Reviewed by Francesca

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This is a page turner. It starts out good with the main character facing death -- quick or slow - her choice, and follows her as she tries to evade her dark past, come to terms with her feelings for Valek, and hide burgeoning powers that could doom her.
-Elizabeth, Charlote, NC

This book is an awesome read. The characters are funny and I found myself rooting for Yelena the entire time. It's completely addicting. As soon as I put down the first book, "Poison Study", I immediately started the second one. I can't wait for the third one, "Fire Study" to come out!
-N C, Canada

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Having conquered the post office, Moist Von Lipwig returns to take on the mint. Ankh Morpork's banks are heading for disaster. They simply aren't trusted any more, and the Patrician needs someone to restore their confidence and revitalize the economy. Thankfully, he knows such a man, and that man owes him a favour. Moist must fight his way past wizards, con men, clowns and golems to save the city or die trying. Or rather, be killed for not trying. Fans of the Discworld novels will love this latest addition to the series. And if you aren't a fan of the Discworld, you should be. Funny, sharp writing as we have come to expect from Terry Pratchett.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Every great series has to start somewhere. This group of four interlinked short stories form the basis of Terry Pratchett's hugely successful Discworld series. The story starts in the ancient, violent city of Ankh-Morpork, with the arrival of the Disc's first tourist, an enthusiastic and obscenely rich man called twoflower with a magic traveling case that moves by itself. He hires Rincewind, the world's worst wizard, as his native guide. Before the book finishes they've burned down a city, fought weird monsters, flown on dragons that don't exist, and fallen off the edge of the world. A great start to one of the best fantasy series of all time.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Will Hogwarts reopen? Is Snape good or evil? Where (and what) are the remaining horcruxes? And what exactly are the Deathly Hallows? These questions, as well as many others, are finally answered in the last adventure of Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off on the dangerous mission of finding and destroying the horcruxes. The question is, will they survive? This wild ride tests their magic, their intelligence, their loyalty, and their friendship. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a captivating final journey in J. K. Rowling’s magical world of Harry Potter.

Reviewed by Emily L., University City Regional

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Reader's comments about this book

I don't usually read books about wizards, but when I picked up the first Harry Potter, I have to say that I was hooked. The way the author uses details is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an amazing read.
-victoria, charlotte, north carolina

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