The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1)

by J.R.R. Tolkien

"In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in THE HOBBIT. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose."

An epic book, with an epic story, written by an epic author and converted into an epic film!!

Just Fantastic...I have no more words to say...

Traphis: A Wizard's Tale

Traphis: A Wizard's Tale 

by James D. Maxon

 "A year after the death of his father, fifteen-year-old Traphis stumbles across his father’s hidden collection of books. Forbidden from learning magic at a young age, he resolves to read the books in secret. Doors to a dark and formidable world begin to open, and a treacherous adventure awaits both him and his newfound friends. In their journey to fight the power of lies, betrayal, and greed, they discover that no matter how well they master their magic skills, they are powerless without the most important skills in life, such as the abilities to trust, care, and forgive."

This is a recent book with an amazing rating on Goodreads (4.78 in 5).

People who read it said that it was really amazing and a great choice for the ones that already liked Harry Potter and Eragon.

This is another one to add to my "to-read" list!

Eragon

Eragon (Inheritance #1) 

 

by Christopher Paolini

"When young Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his adopted family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of inescapable destiny, magical forces, and powerful people. With only an ancient sword and the instruction of an old,mysterious, hermit storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a Emperor whose evil and power knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands…."

I first hesitated to read this book because I saw the film and did not become a big fan. But this  is actually a great fantasy novel!

Despite the criticism that Paolini's books get, I really enjoyed Eragon. He pulls a Tolkien and creates his own world, complete with different races, cultures, and languages, which is no easy task. His wording might seem a little trite at times, but it's something I can ultimately get over.

If you like Tolkien, this is a good book for you.

Daimon

Daimon (Covenant 0.5)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her." 

I wanted to read this series because I loved the covers. So, I went into this prequel hoping it would be good, and I'm glad to say that it was good. Really good. Looks like Half-Blood starts off right where Daimon left off, so I highly recommend reading this if you want an idea of what the story is like. I think it's a great start, and I can't wait to read more! :)

Poison Study

Poison Study (Study #1)

 

by Maria V. Snyder

 "About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear…"

What makes Poison Study the leap from good to great, is the protagonist Yelena. Yelena is an extremely well-drawn character. She is strong and honorable, whilst remaining realistically pragmatic. She never once strays into the to perfect or to silly territory. She is in an untenable situation and works to turn the circumstances to her advantage through blood, sweat and tears, not superhuman heroics.

The story is told in the first-person from Yelena's perspective, and it couldn't have been told as effectively any other way. We must know and see only what Yelena does as we try alongside her to navigate this world with its myriad of twists, deceptions and dangerous politics.

This book was amazing. The writing was beautiful and the story complex. It was easy to read, but not 'dumbed down.' 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) 

J.K. Rowling

"The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and WIzardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone - or something - starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself?

Rowling packs this tale with plenty of adventure and action, keeping the pace fast and furious. There's plenty of humor, too - both subtle and bold - as well as a few moral lessons. With overlapping themes that range from the simple to the sophisticated, Rowling's Potter tales should appeal to readers of all ages - the young as well as the young at heart."

Almost everyone knows Harry Potter and his films or books. This is not my favourite but in my opinion is better then the first one.

Another thing is that I prefer the books than the film because I imagine on  my mind all the characters and places and some of them didn't match on the film. But the movie is quiet good! If you don't like reading...see the film!

Royal Assassin

Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy #2)

by Robin Hobb

"Young Fitz, the illegitimate son of the noble Prince Chivalry, is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has had him tutored him in the dark arts of the assassin. He has barely survived his first, soul-shattering mission, and returns to the court where he is thrown headfirst into the tumult of royal life. With the King near death, and Fitz's only ally off on a seemingly hopeless quest, the throne itself is threatened. Meanwhile, the treacherous Red Ship Raiders have renewed their attacks on the Six Duchies, slaughtering the inhabitants of entire seaside towns. In this time of great peril, it soon becomes clear that the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz's hands--and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice."

And so the journey we began with Fitz in Assassin's Apprentice continues. Fitz has survived much, barely, and is fast learning that there are no easy resolutions to one's problems in life. He must face enemies battering the Coastal Duchies from without who bring violence and devastation, and enemies plotting and grasping for power within. The second book in The Farseer Trilogy moves along at a rapid pace. Once again, Robin Hobb drew me into the life of Fitz and advanced an exciting story that wasn't predictable at every turn. He isn't an invincible hero but rather a boy struggling to make the best of his circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A Walk to Remember

A Walk to Remember 

by Nicholas Sparks

"Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he'd fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it. Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter's life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood..."

 ♪♫♪I'll always remember
It was late afternoon
It lasted forever
And ended too soon. CRY, Mandy Moore

The song Cry describes perfectly A Walk To Remember. 

I remember it being a hit when I was in high school years ago. I watched the movie and loved it. I knew there was a book, but I only had a chance to read it recently. And I have to say that the book was just as good. Though I have to admit that I found the movie better than the book, but still both had their appeals. 

Here is the trailer:

A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2)

by George R.R. Martin

"A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles."

Why is this series so good? It started off kind of dry and a little dense at parts, but once I start reading it BAM. My mind is completely enthralled into this world. There is so much character growth and development for all these characters who we have gotten to know in the last book. Some have died, some have been tortured and those who are alive may not be there for very long. I think that's why I love about these books. Once I think I know where it's going, it switches to another place and I'm just floored by the amount of suffering GRRM will put his characters through. It's inspiring actually.

Today starts the second season of the serie Game of Thrones based on this book. I'm sure I'll love it.