strange and random happenstance: River Secrets

Showing posts with label River Secrets. Show all posts

Monday, September 14, 2009

Tuesday Tomorrow

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Published by: Doubleday Books
Publication Date: September 1st, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 528 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time with 81 million copies in print worldwide, will be published in the U.S. and Canada by Doubleday on September 15, 2009.

THE LOST SYMBOL will have a first printing of 5 million copies, and it will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon. Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, "Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. THE LOST SYMBOL is full of surprises."
Dan Brown’s popularity continues to grow. The film of The Da Vinci Code was a #1 box office smash when it was released by Columbia Pictures in May 2006 with Ron Howard directing and Tom Hanks starring as Robert Langdon. Box office receipts were $758 million. The same team will release Angels and Demons theatrically worldwide on May 15, 2009."

Yeah, so this book just screams No. 1 New York Times Bestseller. Even if you won't admit it you've probably read The Da Vinci Code and will probably pick this one up. Though in good news, this book will probably save Doubleday from declaring bankruptcy.

Forest Born by Shannon Hale
Published by: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 15th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Order

"Rin is sure that something is wrong with her…something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she’s lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies—magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters—as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin’s own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure."

The newest Bayern book by Shannon Hale is also finally released. While not my favorite in the series (read my review), I'm happy to see my favorite characters return once more.

Shannon will also be making appearances for this book, so make sure to go a check her out if you have the chance, she's an awesome public speaker!

September 19, 2009
* forest born release party!
The King's English
1500 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, Utah

September 26th
National Book Festival
National Mall
Washington DC

September 27th
Northshire Books
4869 Main Street
Manchester Center, VT

September 28th
Flying Pig
5247 Shelburne Road
Shelburne Falls, VT

September 29th
Porter Square Books
25 White Street
Cambridge, MA

Brookline Children's Book Shop
237 Washington St
Brookline, MA

Barnes & Noble
99 Middlesex Pkwy
Burlington, MA

September 30th
Wellesley Booksmith
82 Central Street
Wellesley, MA

October 2nd
R. J. Julia
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT

November 16th
ChildrenÕs Bookshop
737 Deepdene Road
Baltimore, MD

November 17th
Politics & Prose
5015 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington DC

Barnes & Noble
7851 Tyson's Corner Center
McLean, VA

November 18th
ChildrenÕs Bookworld
17 Haverford Station Rd
Haverford, PA

November 19th
Barnes & Noble
210 Commerce Blvd
Fairless Hills, PA

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Published by: Crown
Publication Date: September 15th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Order

Also not to be forgotten, Michelle Moran's highly anticipated book, Cleopatra's Daughter, is released today as well! What a week for new books! Michelle was kind enough to stop by my blog last week and answer a few questions and hold a contest, the least we can do is go out today and buy her book! So go, go now...go buy...can't get out today? Amazon? There's a link right there for you, go buy!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:02 AM 1 comments

Labels: Bayern, Cleopatra's Daughter, Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown, Enna Burning, Forest Born, Goose Girl, Michelle Moran, River Secrets, Robert Langdon, Shannon Hale, The Lost Symbol, Tuesday Tomorrow

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Book Review - Shannon Hale's Forest Born

Forest Born by Shannon Hale
Published by: Bloomsbury
ARC Provided by a Friend
Publication Date: September 15th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
Rating: ★★
To Preorder

"Rin is sure that something is wrong with her…something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she’s lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies—magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters—as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin’s own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure."

Shannon Hale has been a very busy writer, since her last Bayern book was released in 2006. She has written two adult books, another adaptation of a fairy tale and a graphic novel. But with Forest Born she finally gives us readers what we have been waiting for, a return to Bayern. In this book we follow Rin, Razo's little sister. Her abilities are far different to any of the "fire sisters" we have seen before, which also leads to a new more free flowing, train of thought writing when we are in Rin's mind. We see all the characters we love and learn what has been happening in their lives. But I had problems with Rin as the focal point of all these intertwined lives. Rin is such a non-character, in the beginning, and she was obviously written as such. She is quite literally a shadow who eventually takes form. But it is hard to befriend a shadow. It is hard to identify with a wraith. It is hard to take a girl into your heart who you aren't sure who she is. But then again she doesn't know who she is either, and therefore your unease with her mirrors her own feelings about herself very well. I found Rin and her powers fascinating, but I think her progress could have been more rapid in parts. It takes awhile to face your demons, but sometimes narratively they should be faced faster.

The journeys contained within the book, both of body and mind lead our characters to Kel. There they do valiant deeds and Rin discovers more about herself than she originally bargained for when she followed Razo to the great city. I will not spoil anything as per the author's request, but I felt that Shannon Hale relied too much on a few cliched conventions in this book then her previous ventures. When I went to WisCon back in May I attended a panel entitled "Kick Ass Moms" wherein the authors discussed the habit of when you have a mother the cliched thing to do is to put that child in danger. Baby jeopardy is a big theme which is overused, and Shannon Hale does use this in Forest Born. She does handle it better than I was expecting, but still, I'm not sure it works as a driving plot force for a teen book. Also she uses the old trick of old enemies always return for the sequel. It felt a bit like that last scene in Bruce Campbell's film, My Name is Bruce, where they have just defeated Guan-Di, and then the sequel set-up is literally two seconds later. While the end result is great, it still felt a little worn.

But in the final analysis I loved seeing where our friends in Bayern have ended up and even if I wasn't wild about Forest Born the first read-through, it got the same rating I gave Enna Burning the first time, and I now love Enna! So Forest Born might grow on me to be a four star review, now that I know Rin more I'd be willing to give it another chance. But it is strongly recommended for all those who love the denizens of Bayern.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 1:40 AM 0 comments

Labels: Bayern, Book Review, Bruce Campbell, Enna Burning, Forest Born, Goose Girl, My Name is Bruce, River Secrets, Shannon Hale

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Book Review - Shannon Hale's River Secrets

River Secrets by Shannon Hale
Published by: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 2006
Format: Paperback, 290 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy

River Secrets is the third book in Shannon Hale's popular Bayern series. If Goose Girl was about discovering your hidden power, and Enna Burning was about learning to control your power, then River Secrets is more an acceptance and dealing with the consequences of your power. The war between Tira and Bayern is at an end and a shaky alliance exists between the two countries. In order to forge a lasting peace Bayern sends an ambassador to Tira to sway the assembly's vote for peace instead of resuming the war. Among Bayern's Own chosen to escort the ambassador is Razo. Razo is so alive and fully formed the little runt of a forest boy jumps off the page and into your heart. Unlike the two previous books we are following someone with no magical powers and who does not think very highly of himself, despite all the things he's good at which he is blind to. River Secrets is also unique because unlike the first two books that were almost purely a journey of the central character, here we have a journey wrapped around a tangled web of a mystery.

Upon the Bayerns arrival in Tira, Razo discovers a burned body, the first of many. Trying to find out who the burner is and why they are burning is the mystery Hale presents us with. We are offered many likely suspects, from the cute red-headed ambassador's daughter Dasha, to the more nefarious of Tiran's, even to Bayern's own Enna. Talone, the Bayern's head of security assigns Razo to route out the pyro, because even if Razo hasn't noticed, he happens to be a very good subconscious observer, and therefore the perfect spy. Razo eventually saves the day, and not just by uncovering the burning consipicy, but just by being his wonderful food loving, life loving self and showing the Tiran's that the Bayern aren't all bad baby eaters, some are cute spiky haired forest boys who used to herd sheep. Also Enna learns that though her power is destructive by nature, her own nature can help to control it and heal the wounds she inflicted on others.

Like Enna Burning, the first time I read this book I did not like it as much as I did Goose Girl, but again I have surprised myself with loving it the second time around. Razo is so wonderfully lovable and is able to make the best of a bad situation, plus as a personal prejudice, he used to take care of the sheep, how awesome is that!?! Also the lush and very Venetian Tiran capital of Ingridan is such an interesting city of white buildings and tile work, you get lost in the lush descriptive city with its oppressive heat. But what I find draws me to this book most is the mystery. Readers love a mystery, it propels us to finish, reading late into the night, way past the time we should have turned out the light. While in Goose Girl we wait with baited breath to see how Isi will get what is rightfully hers and with Enna we hope she survives but with River Secrets, we have to know the hidden depths the book contains. Who is burning? Why? Will Razo stop them in time? Will he ever be the one to get the girl? It's a page turner, no doubt!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 3:16 AM 0 comments

Labels: Bayern, Book Review, Enna Burning, Goose Girl, Razo, River Secrets, Shannon Hale

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