I'm Reading a Book Man!

My brother sent me a text the other day saying I needed to watch this and I ended up laughing harder the more times I watched it, so here you are. This was funny becuase it so acurately describes me when I'm reading.  It's equal parts funny and random. Just down my ally.

If you ever interupt me you can bet you're gonna see the nasty me! :)

In case you wonder, the hot kool-aid video by Julian is pretty hilarious too. Gotta love YouTube.

Albrek's Tomb

By M.L. Forman


Two thousand years ago, the dwarf Albrek went looking for new mines in the land of Thraxon in the hopes of becoming rich—and vanished. Now the dwarves must find Albrek’s magical Ring of Searching before their mines run dry, a possibility which threatens the livelihood of the entire dwarf realm.

Alexander Taylor joins a familiar company of adventurers on a quest to discover what happened to Albrek, find his mythical tomb, and locate the lost talisman.

But finding the ring may be the least of the adventurers’ problems once they cross paths with an ancient, wandering paladin, Bane, who warns of a great evil working in all of the known lands. Following in Albrek’s footsteps, Alex and his friends travel to the haunted Isle of Bones, where a mysterious creature lurks in a deserted village, to the cursed city of Neplee, where the dwarfs are hunted by the undead hellerash, and through the shadow of an empty oracle’s tower, where a whispered legend is about to come true.



So this is the 3rd installment of The Adventurerer's Wanted series and is, in my opionion better than the second book. I really loved the first one and this one is just like it and I adored it. This book finds Alex a full wizard and on another adventure with Thrang the dwarf and Arconn the elf and other friends. This was a great adventure and I couldn't put it down. My one beef is this: Alex has sort of become a tad too powerful for my liking. The kid has no weaknesses and just keeps finding out new powers. He's the Superman of Wizards; but has no Kyrptonite. Fix this Mr. Forman, or I am in danger of becoming bitter with Alex's character. :(  Although, I was rather impressed with Alex's new discovery, which was pretty awesome. I just wish he wasn't..well perfect. I'm liable to become jealous. :)

4 out of 5

Dragon's Bait

By Vivian Vande Velde


Fifteen-year-old Alys is not a witch. But that doesn’t matter—the villagers think she is and have staked her out on a hillside as a sacrifice to the local dragon. It’s late, it’s cold, and it’s raining, and Alys can only think of one thing—revenge. But first she’s got to escape, and even if she does, how can one girl possibly take on an entire town alone? Then the dragon arrives—a dragon that could quite possibly be the perfect ally…


This story is short and pretty interesting and fun. At first I was hoping, 'please don't let this be a revenge book' but it didin't disappoint me. Alys is a good character and the dragon is pretty cool and while being portrayed as exceptionally handsome, is still at heart a reptile. It's an interesting story and I really wish it would go on, but I also like the fact that it stopped where it did and doesn't have a chance to fall short of my expectations. Kinda half-glass-empty attitude, but there you have it. Fun story.  Only warning is this: There is some reference to nudity though nothing is described.

3 1/2 out of 5

Ambush (Pillage 3)

By Obert Skye


What can happen on an innocent field trip to a museum? In the secure protection of a jail? Or on a simple bus ride? Plenty, if you are a member of the Pillage family and your name is Beck Phillips. No matter what strangeness is going on, Beck still manages to turn things on their head.

When Beck’s personality and behavior begin to change after he makes a fateful, life-altering decision involving-what else?-a dragon egg, there is no one around to stop him from fulfilling his family’s destiny set out in The Grim Knot. And as life in Kingsplot moves unwittingly toward the brink of another dragon disaster, Beck finds himself living a life of deception as he hides information from the people who love and care about him the most.

In this final episode of the Pillage series, with the destructive forces of his family heritage running strong and unhindered, Beck must now face the truth and rise to the challenge of stopping the madness or succumb to the draconic chaos he has helped create.



This series is pretty hillarous, and this last in the trillogy, or "Pillogy" as some call it, is no different.  DO you like dragons? This is a great story for you and one of the most original that I've read as to how dragons come about. The best part of this series however, is Beck. His sarcasm is simply awesome. If there were an actual kid like him I'd probably strangle him myself, but for reading from his perspective, I laugh my head off. This is one of the few books that is a laugh-out-loud book.  Beck's last adventure with the dragons is just as good as the first two, and starts out with (dare I repeat myself?) the funniest scene ever of destruction and mayhem that seem to stick to Beck's shoes like gum. Pillage fans will not be disapointed, except for the fact that it's over. :(

By Darkness HId

By Jill Williamson
Half of Er’Rets is locked beneath an impenetrable shroud. On the side that still sees the sun, two young people struggle to understand the mind-communication abilities thrust upon them.

It’s called bloodvoicing. Some say it’s a gift.

Achan has been a slave all his life. Worse than a slave—a stray. He is consigned to the kitchens of a lord and forced to swallow a foul potion every day. When an enigmatic knight offers to train Achan for the Kingsguard, he readily accepts. But his new skills with the sword to not prepare him for the battle raging between the voices in his head.

Vrell Sparrow is not who she seems. She masquerades as a boy to avoid capture by the powerful forces that seek to exploit her. But Vrell feels called to help a young squire who recently discovered his bloodvoicing gift, even if doing so requires her to work with those who could destroy her.

While Achan learns to use his new ability, Vrell struggles to shut hers down. All the voices strive to learn Achan and Vrell’s true identities—and a different kind of voice is calling them both.

Toward a destination that is by darkness hid.



This is your basic story of good vs. evil with the unsuspecting hero being the lowest of the low. its 500 pages. I found myself needing to know what was happening to Achan and Vrell. Most of the time when a book is told from two perspectives I find myself liking one over the other, but in this case I liked both for different reasons which surprised me. After reading it I found out it is supposed to be Christian fiction, which after the fact I can see, but it wasn’t too heavily laced with it. It’s filled with fun characters and packed with action. Good read.



3 ½ out of 5 for being entertaining

To Darkness Fled

By Jill Williamson


They have no choice. Chased by an evil prince, Achan, Vrell, and the kinsguard knights flee into darkness. They head north, for Tsaftown and Ice Island, where they must free an army that can help them fight for Er’Rets.

Darkness sickens Vrell. How long can she keep her secret without being caught? Achan already suspects her of lying. If she is not careful, he will suspect her of treason as well. She hopes he will let his suspicions go until they reach her home.

Achan wanted freedom, but this new journey has bound him more than ever. Sir Gavin’s claims are so far fetched. First, that there might only be one God, and second, that this God chose Achan to push back Darkness, the magnificent curse of Er’Rets. Him. Achan. Barely a man himself.



So the second installment of the Blood of Kings trilogy wasn’t as good as the first one for me. I found myself just as enthralled and wanting to read to the bitter end, but the story itself was kinda…weird. There are a ton more references to Christianity, and some of which were off from my own beliefs so it had me wrinkling my nose in disagreement and saying, “no no no! That’s not right.” I found myself doubting that the voice of God would really yell at a kid that is just learning about Him, even if he’s supposed to be king. The dynamics of the story are still good, but the heavy theme of darkness was overdone at times and made me wince. Still, I ended up finishing the book. Also: frustration with Vrell for being a freaking idiot. Just tell the poor kid who you are. For me that whole plot line would’ve been better if there was more of an explanation for her unwillingness to reveal her identity to the boy she loves than simply ‘being afraid’. I needed a better/more of an explanation.


3 ½ out of 5 just for a few lines I really liked.

From Darkness Won

By Jill Williamson


Achan steps into his role as Crown Prince and prepares for war. But war against whom? Could Esek still be alive? Has Lord Nathak taken Esek’s place? Or is the mysterious Hadad the true enemy Achan must confront?

Vrell has her own agenda of serving Prince Oren as a healer, but when she is stormed and lost to the Veil, Achan does all he can to bring her back. His conversations with her are strange, though, as if she has no memory of who he is.

In a land consumed by Darkness, the fate of Er’Rets hangs in the balance as Achan endeavors to take the throne and end the reign of Darkness.



The end nears! I enjoyed this book better than the last one, but not as much as the first of the series. Achan has (finally) decided to believe wholeheartedly in Arman (God) and trust that things will work out whatever happens. This book takes us through the final battles and the final resolution for Er’Rets (which is the weirdest name if I can say that) and for Achan and Vrell. It was a good ending, but kinda lacking at the same time. I can’t really tell people to definitely go out and read this series simply because it wasn’t written very well as a whole. It had its moments but let me down in other respects as to plot line and development. It was a solid average series, and I’ve never read a Christian fiction before that wasn’t LDS (Latter-Day Saint) so it was a bit strange for me. Overall though it was fun to read and I’m not sorry I read it, but can’t really say drop everything and go get it.


3 out of 5 for the series