‘Battle Magic’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 79/200

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Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/21/2018

Goodreads

Description:

NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Tamora Pierce returns to the magical world of Winding Circle.

While visiting the God-King and the First Circle temple in Gyongxe, mages Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy are invited to visit the emperor’s summer palace. Although treated like royalty when they first arrive, the mages soon discover that the emperor plans to invade Gyongxe, posing a fatal threat to the home temple of the Living Circle religion.

Accompanied by one of the emperor’s prize captives, the three mages rush to Gyongxe to warn its citizens of the impending attack. With the imperials hot on their trail, Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy must quickly help the country prepare for battle.

But even with the help of new allies, will their combined forces be enough to fight the imperial army and win the war?

Genres: Fantasy, YA, Middle Grade, Military Fantasy, High Fantasy, Circle of Magic

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‘The Flowers of Vashnoi’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 74/200

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The Flowers of Vashoi by Lois McMaster Bujold

eBook Edition

Finished on 5/18/2018

Goodreads

Description:Still new to her duties as Lady Vorkosigan, Ekaterin is working together with expatriate scientist Enrique Borgos on a radical scheme to recover the lands of the Vashnoi exclusion zone, lingering radioactive legacy of the Cetagandan invasion of the planet Barrayar. When Enrique’s experimental bioengineered creatures go missing, the pair discover that the zone still conceals deadly old secrets.

This novella falls after Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance in the Vorkosigan series timeline, but may be read entirely independently. The Vorkosigan saga was the recipient of the first Hugo Award for best science fiction series in 2017.

Genres: Science Fiction, Novella, Vorkosigan Saga

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‘Several Sherlock Holmes Mysteries’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 65/200

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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/5/2018

Goodreads

Description:

Since Doyle created the immortal Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson, no other mystery writer has come close to eclipsing him as the standard bearer in crime fiction. A brilliant London-based “consulting detective,” Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess and renowned for his skillful use of astute observation, deductive reasoning, and inference to solve difficult cases.

Ten stories:
A scandal in Bohemia —
A case of identity —
The Boscombe Valley mystery —
The five orange pips —
The adventure of the blue carbuncle —
The adventure of the speckled band —
The adventure of the engineer’s thumb —
The adventure of the noble bachelor —
The adventure of the beryl coronet —
The adventure of the copper beeches.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Sherlock Holmes, Short Stories

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‘Tortall: A Spy’s Guide’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 75/200

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Tortall: A Spy’s Guide by Tamora Pierce

eBook Edition

Finished on 5/18/2018

Goodreads

Description: The secrets of Tortall are revealed. . . .

As Tortall’s spymaster, George Cooper has sensitive documents from all corners of the realm. When Alanna sends him a surprising letter, he cleans out his office and discovers letters from when King Jonathan and Queen Thayet first ascended the throne, notes on creating the Shadow Service of spies, threat-level profiles on favorite characters, Daine’s notes on immortals, as well as family papers, such as Aly’s first report as a young spy and Neal’s lessons with the Lioness. This rich guide also includes the first official timeline of Tortallan events from when it became a sovereign nation to the year Aly gives birth to triplets. Part history, part spy training manual, and entirely fascinating, this beautiful guide makes a perfect gift and is ideal for anyone who loves Alanna, King Jonathan, Queen Thayet, Kel, Neal, Aly, Thom, Daine, Numair, and the unforgettable world of Tortall!

Genres: Fantasy, YA, Collector’s Book, Coffee Table Book

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‘Death By Seance’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 89/200

Death by Seance by Jo-Ann Carson

eBook Edition

Finished on 6/9/2018

Goodreads

Description:

Love, Lies & Lust to Die For

Abby Jenkins, a single mother with a complex life, sorts out the murder of Kumar, the day man for a vampire, in Sunset Cove, the small Pacific Northwest town famous for all things that go bump in the night.
Abby is the night-janitor in the haunted teahouse and only private detective in town. She’s also a reluctant witch with major man-trouble. Blackmailed into attending a séance, she expects to wrestle with a cranky ghost or two, but instead finds herself in the middle of a murder.
Seven people attend the event, some human, some not- so-much. They have one thing in common: a murky past.
After Abby washes the blood off her hands, she’s left with her first whodunit. With the help of her partners in crime: Eric, the Viking ghost with existential issues; Dante, the local Casanova-man-witch; and Sparky, her snarky familiar, she digs into the secrets of the cove.
Will she survive to tell the tale?

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

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‘Canto Bight’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 73/200

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Canto Bight by Saladin Ahmed

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/15/2018

Goodreads

Description: Soon to be seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, welcome to the casino city of Canto Bight. A place where exotic aliens, captivating creatures, and other would-be high rollers are willing to risk everything to make their fortunes. Set across one fateful evening, these four interconnected stories explore the deception and danger of the lavish casino city. 

– An honest salesman meets a career criminal as a dream vacation turns into the worst nightmare imaginable, in a story by Saladin Ahmed.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Star Wars, Short Stories, Novella

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‘Servant of the Crown’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 72/200

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Servant of the Crown by Brian McClellan

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/14/2018

Goodreads

Description: Captain Tamas is an ambitious young officer in the Adran army. As a commoner, he is one of very few without noble blood to hold a rank. When he challenges the son of a duke over an insult, the subsequent duel lands him in hot water with the nobility and the royal cabal of Privileged sorcerers. Tamas is soon drawn into a conflict that goes to the very highest office in the land, and his only ally is the most unlikely of people; a young noblewoman named Erika, who needs Tamas to teach her how to wield her powers as a powder mage.

Occurs about 35 years before the events in Promise of Blood.

Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Political Fantasy, Powder Mage, Novella

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‘The Dragon’s Path’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 71/200

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The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/13/2018

Goodreads

Description: All paths lead to war…

Marcus’ hero days are behind him. He knows too well that even the smallest war still means somebody’s death. When his men are impressed into a doomed army, staying out of a battle he wants no part of requires some unorthodox steps.

Cithrin is an orphan, ward of a banking house. Her job is to smuggle a nation’s wealth across a war zone, hiding the gold from both sides. She knows the secret life of commerce like a second language, but the strategies of trade will not defend her from swords.

Geder, sole scion of a noble house, has more interest in philosophy than in swordplay. A poor excuse for a soldier, he is a pawn in these games. No one can predict what he will become.

Falling pebbles can start a landslide. A spat between the Free Cities and the Severed Throne is spiraling out of control. A new player rises from the depths of history, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto The Dragon’s Path-the path to war.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Financial Fantasy, Political Fantasy

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‘Forsworn’ Book Review

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Mount Readmore Book Review, 2018 70/200

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Forsworn by Brian McClellan

Audiobook Edition

Finished on 5/13/2018

Goodreads

Description: Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy.

When she decides to help a young commoner—a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law—she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king’s own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.

Occurs 35 years before the events in Promise of Blood.

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Powder Mage

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