The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander
pros: classic fantasy; great characters and world; fast, easy read; there is reality and the darkness of war and evil, but has an overall upbeat and positive feeling; Gurgi; Kaw; the magic gifts at the end of The Book of Three; Taran’s banner; the final ending
cons: repetitious elements of characters habits and sayings get a little annoying; some pat situations and solutions; a little predictable; Eilonwy was headstrong and foolish; Glew
misc: The Book of Three; The Black Cauldron; The Castle of Llyr; Taran Wanderer; The High King; Assistant Pig-Keeper; Caer Dallben; Hen Wen
ISBN: various editions and an anthology
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Tithe, by Holly Black
pros: original heroine and viewpoint; realistic characters; good core dilemma; good question about what constitutes good or evil individually and in context; Roiben; the plot; Lutie
cons: very dark; Kaye’s life is a mess; Kaye’s family; Corny’s situation; general desperate, hopeless feel; the betrayal by the solitary fey
misc: acorn note; kelpie/puka; carousel horse; changelings; cigarettes; samhain; sacrifice; pixie: Spike; Gristle; Thistlewitch
ISBN 0689867042; 336pp; pub. 2004
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Eccentric Circles, by Rebecca Lickiss
pros: likable characters; Grandma Dickerson; the books; the fairies; the holes in reality; the explanation of how Lord of the Rings made life so much better in fairy because Tolkein’s descriptions were better (“real” world fiction consensus of fairies/elves, etc., determines reality in fairy)
cons: felt more like an outline than a finished story; Aelvarim was a little silly; ending doesn’t work for me, it felt contrived and repetitive; the whole issue of their silly names comes up a lot but it never goes anywhere – was there a point, or was it just a way to justify a heroine named Piper Pied?
misc: Never After is much, much better; bookstore; funeral; inheritance; back door to fairy; wedding dress; wizard
ISBN 0441008283; 224pp; pub. 2001
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White Knight, by Jim Butcher
pros: Harry Dresden; Lash; Thomas’ job; the scene in Thomas’ apartment; Mouse; Ramirez; Murphy’s new gun; Justine’s new role; Harry’s guitar playing; Harry and Lara’s escape
cons: not as many jokes and humor as in past 2 books; it ended; not enough Butters
misc: Black Council; Black Hats; Cowl; ghouls; vampire courts; Skavis; Malvora; White Council; Grey cloak; Wiccans; freeholding lord; Walkers or Outsiders
favorite quips: “cult of porn-star sorceresses” and “age is always advancing and I’m fairly sure it’s up to no good”
ISBN 0451461401; 416pp; pub. 2007
Blood Rites, by Jim Butcher
pros: it’s Harry Dresden; more angst-driven than the previous books; a lot more details of the politics behind the chaos; Harry’s old mentor is back as well as some new or expanded warden characters; Michael’s daughter and her situation, especially in relation to Harry’s past
cons: With all the angst, I would have liked to see a little more resolution. I know it’s a series, but I don’t want to wait! More questions were raised about whom to trust, so I’m still unsettled about Harry’s chances for future heartbreak and disappointment
ISBN 0451461037; 496 pp; pub. 2007
Dead Beat, by Jim Butcher
pros: the funniest Dresden files so far; incredible imagery; great gags and puns
cons: what’s going on with Thomas? that part was weak; the pathologist could have been fleshed out a bit more; the snail pace romance between Murphy and Dresden
ISBN 045146091X; 448 pp; pub. 2006
The Mirror Prince, by Violette Malan
pros: interesting enough story; interesting characters, even the villian; additional characters are as interesting as the main characters; descriptive; good female lead; interesting twists in typical faerieland setting; good new author to follow
cons: hero wasn’t very sympathetic; dilemma was contrived (wouldn’t they have noticed something wrong a lot sooner?)
ISBN 0756403391; 320 pp; pub. 2006
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