It's tradition in Balsinland for noble humans and pegasi to be bound together on the human's twelfth birthday. It's more of a symbolic bond, because humans and pegasi don't have a reliable means of communication, but it cements the centuries-old treaty that allows humans to live in the land of the pegasi. Everything changes, however, when, in the middle of the binding ceremony, Princess Sylviianel finds out that she can understand her pegasus, Ebon, and Ebon can understand her. As the years go by Sylvi and Ebon become the best of friends - but there are some who are suspicious of Sylvi and Ebon's friendship and will do anything to keep them apart.
Categories: ReviewsIf you think you know Arthur, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake guess again. Ariane is a troubled teen, starting a new life with her aunt in Regina. A new school would be hard enough, but learning you're a descendant of the Lady of the Lake too?
Categories: Reviews, Staff Pick, SciFi & Fantasy
17-year-old Jay escapes to a desert town from his stern grandmother, a woman who has steeped him in ancient Chinese dragon lore and rigid disciplined training. Once there, he begins to understand the intricate dragon tattoo that appeared overnight on his back when he was eleven, and see a glimmer of his destiny in the medicine wheel of life. He makes friends with some barrio teens who play in the band Malo Malo, and when gang bangers murder Margarita, their drummer, Jay unleashes the ferocious power of the dragon clan to destroy the evil that overwhelms the neighbourhood. Can he control his power, and can he accept the help of the cousins, the inter-world beings that surround the human world? But most of all, can he ever face his grandmother again?
Categories: Reviews
I don't specialize in my preferences for reading. I always have research books of some kind on the go, for my own writing, of course - and often, I have a biography or non-fiction bookmarked at the same time as a fiction novel and the research material.
My bookshelves are made up of mysteries, biographies, non-fiction, young adult novels, and - as I don't limit myself to strictly "literary fiction" - I also have an ample supply of other forms of fiction crammed in cheek by jowl with the others. I also keep, very close to me on my bedside table, and the one beside my bath, a few of my favourite books to reread - both to comfort me, and to recharge me. Some of my long time much-loved authors are Barbara Pym, Jane Austen, Joanna Trollope, Anne Tyler, John Steinbeck, John Mortimer, and Alan Bennett. I have also been known to have favourite cookbooks on those tables as well.
As a voracious reader of mysteries, I go from M.C. Beaton to Magdalene Nabb to Georges Simenon, and many others in between.
I also have many YA writers I enjoy. Too many to list here, but we have some of the best YA fiction writers in Canada right here in Manitoba!
Categories: Reviews, Discussions, Authors, Night Table Recommendations
I've read Modern Faerie Tale series and enjoyed it, and have heard wonderful things about her new novel, The White Cat. I've also read some of her short stories in various anthologies and thought they were pretty cool, so I knew that I was in for something good when I picked up new short story collection. But I didn't expect to be blown away - and I was. Every single one of these stories is so good.
The Poison Eaters collects twelve previously-published short stories, and are you ever in for a treat. Most of them are fairly short, but really packs a punch. Even the stories that are only a few pages long give the reader the impression that there are fully-formed worlds waiting just on the other side of the metaphorical page, if only you can get there. From an eating contest with the devil to girls poisonous to the touch - there is even a story featuring characters from Tithe - each story is perfectly crafted, with every word exactly in place. The overall tone of the anthology is fairly dark, but never loses hope, keeping the collection from being too depressing. Even though this is marketed as YA, this would be perfect for younger and older adults alike. This is a beautiful addition to any library.
The paperback is due in March 2011 from Simon and Schuster.
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