Book Review: Star Wars: Revan by Drew Karpyshyn

Book Review of Star Wars: Revan - Drew Karpyshyn

Other Worlds' Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Alright, well, just to warn you, this review is coming from a huge fan of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games. I loved the games - both of them. So this review may be slightly biased.

I really, really liked this book. That said, the ending was really pretty sad for me, and it's hard to say whether I felt like this book was a let down or not. One thing I really liked about it is the fact that Karpyshyn remained completely true to his characters in this book - I felt like all of the characters acted exactly how they should have, and that this book wasn't created simply as a giant billboard for the new game, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

However, one thing I think this book did well was that it gave good insight into the world of the new Bioware game without being overly "preachy" about it. It revealed many things about the setting of the new MMO that was just released, but I didn't feel like I was being told to buy the game throughout the whole book.

In summary, this book is really pretty good, and really fun. However, it is pretty sad, especially for anyone who knows and loves the character Revan.

Book Review: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Book Review of The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan

Other Worlds' Rating: 9 out of 10 stars


Ever since finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there has been a bit of a void caused by the lack of more Harry Potter to read. I've found lots of books I love, but none have come as close to feeling as close to Harry Potter as Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. I've come to love the characters in these books about as much as I fell in love with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and all the rest. Percy, Annabeth, Grover - these characters are what make these books great.

Specifically, this book is even better than the last two. It is the sequel to The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters. It continues the story of demi-god Percy Jackson, son of the sea god Poseidon. The plot thickens in this book as Annabeth is captured early on, as well as the godess Artemis. It is up to Percy, Grover, and their friends to find and release them before the Titan's curse becomes too much for them.

This continuation of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is as enjoyable, if not more so, than it's predecessors. These books have a special kind of fun and adventure about them that is hard to find. Also, if you've only seen the movie version of The Lightning Thief, or if you haven't read these books at all, it's time to. The link is right down there. Get this series and read it today - you'll love it.

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Book Review of The Giver - Lois Lowry


Other Worlds' Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

This is the 1994 Newberry Award winner. It is about Jonas, who lives in the future, at a time when everyone and everything is the same. Children are given the same toys, people are assigned jobs based on their aptitudes, and the elderly are cared for until they reach a certain age, and then they are released. It is the perfect society.

....or so it seems. Jonas's twelfth birthday is coming up soon, and that is the birthday where children are assigned to and start training for the jobs they will do as an adult. At the Ceremony of Twelves, Jonas is assigned a special job in the community, which shatters the perception he's had of his community forever, as he discovers the secrets that lay behind it.

I really quite enjoyed this book. The best way I can think to describe it is to say that it's like a Fahrenheit 451 for younger readers. It addresses many of the same themes and thoughts. I felt like it was extremely well written, and I was sucked in as soon as I had gotten a few pages into it.

I would recommend this book to adults and children alike. I think that it raises interesting points that will make you think, and will also perhaps help you appreciate the world we live in know. A great read!

Book Review: The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Book Review of The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks


Other Worlds' Rating: 5 out of 10 stars 


The Sword of Shannara is often mentioned as classic fantasy. It is about a boy named Shea Ohmsford, who lives in his peaceful Shady Vale, a small community that is near perfection. However, that changes when one of the Warlock Lord's Skull Bearers brings the power of darkness comes looking for him.

This is your cut and dry, traditional farm-boy-gets/has-powers-that-enable-him-to-be-the-one-to-save-the-world-by-defeating-evil-overlord story. Frankly, I found this story rather generic. This would possibly be a good book to anyone who has never read another farm boy saves the world fantasy, but even then, it is lengthy, slow, and can be fairly hard to get through. This novel feels like it was simply written to jump on the Tolkien-Robert Jordan bandwagon, and frankly, this is a mediocre bandwagon book at best.

I probably wouldn't recommend this book unless you've read lots of Terry Brooks' other Shannara books and liked them. And even then, it might be a slower paced book than you're used to, so just prepare yourself (I know - I read a bunch of his other books before reading this one).

Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Book Review of The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman


Other Worlds' Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

This book is about a young boy, Nobody Owens, who is raised in a graveyard by the ghostly inhabitants. The book is about his adventures, his misadventures, and the mysterious person known only as the man Jack.

This book is wonderful. It was one of those rare books where reaching the end was a sad experience. I grew to love the characters, the story, and the atmosphere. This book is a Halloween gem, although it could certainly be read at other times of the year as well. It is the winner of both the Hugo Award and the Newberry Award. It's not often you see a book like that.

I loved the mixture of feelings in this book. Sometimes it feels suspenseful, sometimes it feels homey, and sometimes it's downright creepy. However, I'd recommend it to anyone - even if you don't like scary stories. Nobody Owens, the boy from the graveyard, will surely find his way into your list of most lovable characters.

Really. Read this book. You'll love it.

Book Review: Star Wars:The Desperate Mission by Jude Watson Jude

Book Review of Star Wars: The Desperate Mission - Jude Watson


Other Worlds' Rating: 6 of 10 stars

This book follows Obi-Wan Kenobi in the time immediately following Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. Written by Jude Watson, author of the Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series, I was excited to read this book, which is the first in his new Last of the Jedi series.

I must say I was a bit disappointed. I enjoyed reading this book, and I found it entertaining and interesting, but it just didn't live up to something I'd expect from the author of the Jedi Apprentice series. However, I am going to read the rest of the series. Also, this book is short enough that it doesn't take very long to read, so if finding out what happens to Obi-Wan between Episodes 3 and 4, go ahead and read this. You'll probably at least enjoy it, although it may not make your favorite book list.

Book Review: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Book Review of The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
Other Worlds' Rating: 9 of 10 Stars
This book was immensely enjoyable. The way in which Rick Riordan manages to make his books so humorous, and yet so engaging, is amazing to me. This book was great from the first chapter, and kept me wanting to read and read and read. The plot was good - it moved at a good pace, there was lots of excitement, and it was interesting enough that it was hard to find a good stopping point in the book because I just wanted to keep reading. Just by itself, the plot was good enough that I would recommend this book.
However, the part that really makes this book so fun and enjoyable is that the awesome plot is interspersed with lots of humor, and it works. I've read many books that attempted to have both a serious, good plot, and be funny at the same time, but I've never found an author that pulls it off quite as well as Rick Riordan. 
Basically, if you haven't read this series, you need to start it immediately. You'll be pulled along by the plot, and you'll find yourself laughing at the same time.

Book Review: Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Book Review of Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Other Worlds' Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
There's a reason this book is a classic. It's a great read all around. Ray Bradbury's vision of the future paints a chilling picture of what could happen if our climate of political correctness and appeasing the minorities are taken too far. Bradbury's future is one where most books are banned, because they inspire thinking, which creates possible offenses for the millions of minority groups - the dog-lovers, the cat-lovers, the vegetable eaters, etc. Thus, by eliminating things that get people thinking, no one is offended and everyone is happy.
Or at least that's what Guy Montag has been told. Guy is a fireman - someone hired to burn books, as well as the homes that they've been illegally stashed in. He enjoys his job - but when he meets the teenage girl next door who has a peculiar way of looking at life, he starts to question everything he's ever known, and starts doing the very thing the government fears people doing - thinking.
This book is a must read for anyone. By taking such a critical look at a possible future, it can help us re-evaluate our priorities today. I thought this book was exceptionally well written, and was very interesting and thought provoking. If you're looking for a great book, look no further than Ray Bradbury's classic, Fahrenheit 451. With a lovable main character, and a world that seems all too familiar and relate-able, you'll be pushed through this fairly short book at a quick pace. I loved it!

Book Review: Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole

Book Review of Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron - Michael Stackpole

Other Worlds' Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

This book is about the legendary Star Wars hero Wedge Antilles as he tries to reform Rogue Squadron years after the Battle of Endor. This book is a cross between space opera and military science fiction - it's Star Wars, but it focuses on the military aspect of a starfighter squadron.

This book was good. However, I must admit, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. This series is supposed to be one of the best Star Wars series available; however, I found that there have been other books I've liked better. That said, I felt like Stackpole has done an excellent job in many ways - including making new characters, while keeping some familiar ones, and keeping the general overall feel of Star Wars intact.

I thought one of the books main strengths is that I liked the main character. His motives were real to me, his thought patterns made sense, and he was your average human. I felt that this made him relatable, and led to a more enjoyable book overall. Though this book didn't live up to my expectations, I believe this is more because my expectations had been set too high, and less because of any failure on the part of this book. If you're a Star Wars fan, you should read this, because it's pretty good. However, if not, it may leave you wanting.

Book Review: Running with the Demon, by Terry Brooks

Book Review of Running with the Demon (The Word and Void Book 1) - Terry Brooks
Other Worlds' Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.
Terry Brooks has created an X-File-esque fantasy series with the Word and Void. This series is about the conflict of good and evil (as fantasy often is). However, set in modern America, this series has some unique spins on a familiar flavor, and Running with the Demon is quite a good read.
Fourteen-year-old Nest Freemark lives in Hopewell, Illinois. She isn't your average teenager - her mother's line is endowed with magical powers and the ability to see shadowy creatures called "feeders". Feeders are demons that feed on emotions and influence thoughts, hoping to drive victims to self-destruction and "devour" them. Feeders are everywhere, but things take a turn for the worse when a traveler named John Ross comes to town. John is a "Knight of the Word", a warrior of the Word pledged to fight demons of the Void. He is plagued at night by dreams of what the world will be like should he fail to stop certain events from happening. He has come to Hopewell because there is a demon there that he must stop. 
This book was good, and, for Terry Brooks, was well-written. The characters are interesting and riveting. The mysterious nature of John Ross makes him a very intriguing character, and I found myself wanting to keep reading more simply to find out more about him. This book has some light Christian overtones, which will likely be visible to any Christian who reads it. The plot is interesting, and this book is a great start to the series.
I wouldn't say this is a must-read, but I would recommend it as a good read.

Book Review: The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review of The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson


Other Worlds' Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Yes, it really deserves a 10.

The Way of Kings is the first novel in the planned Stormlight Archive. It has several main viewpoint characters - Kaladin, the warrior turned slave, Shallan, the scholar turned thief, and Dalinar, the Brightlord turned visionary. It is a tale about bravery, loyalty, and trust.

Seriously, folks, this is a great book. If you like epic fantasy, and you haven't read this, then you really, really need to. Sanderson has always been great about creating imaginative worlds and magic systems, but this one really tops them all. I was blown away by the depth of the world he's created, and by the depth he puts into his characters. Kaladin's story pulled at my heartstrings, it frustrated me when no one would listen to Dalinar, and Shallan's story kept me confused at which side to pull for. It was really a great read. Don't let the massive size of this volume scare you - you'll love every minute of it.

The plot was amazing - it was extremely subtle, but Sanderson does an unrivaled job of setting up the scene and helping you understand the way the world works. This works to his advantage in many ways - it helps give the world more depth, it helps us understand the characters and their motivations better, and it makes it so that when we really understand what the problem is, it is that much more important to us.

I couldn't give this any less than a 10. It was simply excellent. Once again, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes epic fantasy, or who is just looking for a good read.

Book Review: The Precipice: Book One of the Asteroid Wars by Ben Bova

Book Review of The Precipice: Book One of the Asteroid Wars by Ben Bova


Other Worlds' Rating: 3 of 10 stars

Dan Randolph is the head of Astro Manufacturing. The Earth has just suffered a major global disaster - a giant greenhouse effect is causing a total restructuring of climates around the globe, and melting ice caps are causing catastrophic flooding in major coastal cities. In the midst of all this, a rival of Dan Randolph, Martin Humphreys, approaches him with a new idea - mine the asteroid belts using ships powered by experimental rockets to get the resources that Earth so desperately needs. Randolph is all about saving the earth, Humphreys is all about pulling a profit.

This book really had potential. It started off fairly strong, and seemed to have a great premise. However, this didn't last long. The characters soon became static, and there were several groups that served as "strawmen" for the characters to bash on - namely, several religious groups that were doing things that no religious group in their right minds would do. The religious groups were always getting in the way of progress, and always refused to see reason, etc. etc. etc. Honestly, it started to get to the point that I found this rather tiresome. As I mentioned, the characters were static - the good guys were good, the bad guys were bad, and the scoundrels were scoundrels...no one was changing, no one was having to take a major look inside to challenge their own beliefs, etc. It seemed as though this book were written for the sole purpose that the author thought that a fusion propelled rocket was a cool idea.

On top of these problems, the plot was extremely slow. It dragged horribly. While once again, the start was strong, and moved a little faster, soon the pace of the book leveled off into a tortoise-like crawl. I gave this book 3 stars because of the strong start, but that was about the only redeeming thing I found about it. I also found that the frequent swearing in the book was a nuisance.

I can't in good conscience recommend this book to anyone. I think that there are much stronger reads out there.

Book Review: Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull

Book Review of Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star - Brandon Mull


Other Worlds' Rating: 8 of 10 stars

This book is the sequel to Fablehaven, a New York Times best-selling novel which was reviewed by me here. It continues the story of Seth and Kendra Sorensen and the mysterious preserve for magical creatures. The sequel is better than the original in this book that extends the Fablehaven mythos into much wider territory. This book opens up the plot much further, and gives a much more overall view of what is really going on at Fablehaven.

I enjoyed the first Fablehaven, but this one really tops it. It brings in a whole new sense of intrigue and gives the magical world a much grander scale than the original. The characters deepen and we gain a greater appreciation and understanding of them. There are also new characters introduced that will quickly become readers' favorites.

Also, as a side note, I listened to part of this as an audiobook, and let me tell you, the performance was excellent.

To anyone who liked the first Fablehaven, this is a must read.

Book Review: Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review of Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

Other Worlds' Rating: 9 of 10 stars

Mistborn is a unique new fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson. It is focused around the character Vin, a street rat who has special powers of influence she calls "luck". She is found by the Mistborn Kelsier and his crew, and her life will never be the same. This book is centered around an inventive type of magic system called Allomancy, in which users burn metals ingested inside of them to use their magical abilities. It sounded a little strange to me at first, but Sanderson pulls it off remarkably well.

This book is definitely a 9 of 10. The characterization is great, the plot is riveting, and the mysteries of Allomancy will keep you thinking. It is rare that I find a book that I am so absorbed in. I highly recommend this book as a must read to any lover of fantasy. Sanderson's amazing tale-telling ability kept me reading and wanting more.

Seriously, read this book. And buy the sequel while you're at it, because you'll only want more when you're done.

Book Review: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Book Review of The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins


Other Worlds' Rating: 7 of 10 stars

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian, young adult science fiction novel set in a destroyed North America that has been renamed Panem. This nation consists of 13 Districts, the Capitol and the 12 other districts that were labeled rebellious. The Capitol decided to punish the rebellious districts by instituting the Hunger Games. A raffle is hosted among the children of the 12 rebellious districts, which all children are required to enter. Each district has 2 names drawn - one boy, and one girl. The children whose names are drawn from the raffle are entered in the Hunger Games, a brutal gladiator-like event where the contestants fight to the death. The event is televised for the entertainment of the citizens of the Captiol. Katniss is a young girl who ends up representing her district. She is faced with a difficult choice - kill or be killed.

I thought this book got off to a rather slow start. I had a difficult time feeling totally engaged in the book until about a third or half of the way through the book. However, the character Katniss was interesting enough to me to keep me reading until the Hunger Games actually start in the book, and then I was hooked from there. I gave this book 7 stars because of the slow start.

The book is written in an interesting way - a first person, present tense viewpoint makes the book both tense and riveting. I had a hard time not feeling tensed up at certain moments of the book when Katniss finds herself in danger. The book manages to convey Katniss's views and emotions in a way that I thought was excellent. It was hard not to feel like I was Katniss at some points, and the emotions I felt while reading matched hers. When she was in danger, I felt the danger. I was amazed by how well Collins managed this effect.

The plot was good, and very believable. I felt like the characters were well developed, and were very three dimensional. While sometimes characters suprised me, they never did anything that made me say, "Yeah right, they wouldn't have ever done that." I think that this made the characters feel like real people to me, in a way that is hard to find.

In a couple places, the book surprised me with its brutality and realism. Some of the deaths of characters in the Hunger Games are savage and ruthless. Since the book is written in first person from Katniss's view, the gorey details are often given when Katniss is privy to them. This book is probably not for the faint of heart or for children too young to cope with these details.

Overall, I really loved this book. I'm excited to read the next book soon.

Book Review: Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull

 Book Review of Fablehaven - Brandon Mull


Other Worlds' Rating: 7 of 10 stars

Seth and Kendra Sorenson visit their grandparents while their parents go on vacation, and, expecting a boring vacation, are pleasantly surprised. They find that their grandparents are the caretakers of a magical preserve, Fablehaven, and they meet and interact with magical creatures.

I enjoyed this book. However, I did find that it was a fairly slow starting book - the beginning dragged a bit and it took a while for me to get into the book. Once I was into it though, this book was a definitely a page turner. It was fairly difficult for me to put it down near the end.

I feel like the book presented a unique idea - which is refreshing in the often repetitive fantasy genre. The characters were unique, albeit with familiar characteristics. I feel like the writing is pretty good too, especially since this is Mull's debut novel. The novel features an ending battle which was both unexpected and awesome, pitting the forces of good against a demon released from imprisonment.

I would recommend this read, and would say that if you're having a hard time getting through the beginning of the book, just push through. The book is really quite good and is worth it in the end.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

Book Review of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan


Other Worlds' Rating : 8 of 10 stars

I decided to read this after enjoying the recent film adaptation of this book. As is fairly typical, the book was much better than the movie was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The goofy, almost sarcastic humor of Rick Riordan makes this book an immensely entertaining read.

The story is about 12 year old Percy Jackson, who is dyslexic and ADHD, and feels like hardly anything is going right in his life. His mom is married to the vile Gabe Ugliano, who lives for beer and poker, and hates work almost as much as he hates Percy. Percy knows little about his dad, whom he is informed died before he was born. Percy's main goal is to survive school and not incur Gabe's wrath too often.

However, when a vacation with his mom takes a turn for the worse, Percy discovers that the Greek gods of Olympus have never been more real, and that he is involved with them in a way that he never would have thought possible. Rick Riordan spins a tale of adventure and self discovery that will keep you both laughing and on the edge of your seat until the final page.

This book is advertised as children's literature, but I think that children and adults alike will enjoy this book. It was really a good read - I loved the writing style, and the plot was fairly gripping. Riordan had a fascinating view on how the Olympians could blend with modern society. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Book Review: Outbound Flight, by Timothy Zahn

Book Review of Outbound Flight - Timothy Zahn


Other Worlds' Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Star Wars: Outbound Flight was a great book. I listened to this one as an audiobook, read by Jonathan Davis. His performance was wonderful, with different voices for each character and some sound effects to enhance the mood of the book.

The book is centered around the Outbound Flight project, and around Star Wars characters Jorj Car'das and Mitth'raw'nuruodo (core name: Thrawn). It tells the story of Thrawn's earliest contact with the Republic, as Car'das and his smuggler shipmates find themselves in the Unknown Regions and are captured by Thrawn and the Chiss Ascendancy.

For those who have read Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire Series, or experienced Thrawn in any of the other books or video games in which he is present, this book is a fun new light on a familiar character. For those who have never heard of Thrawn, or only have a limited experience with him, this book is an excellent introduction.

Outbound Flight is a combined effort from the Jedi Council and the Republic, intending to send a number of Jedi and colonists into the Unknown Regions and beyond into another galaxy. The Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, however, has other plans for Outbound Flight. When Thrawn gets thrown into the mix, you have the makings for an awesome book.

Step into the Star Wars universe again and enjoy the excitement, intrigue, and military brilliance that is Outbound Flight. If you like Star Wars, you won't be sorry you picked this title up.

Book Review: Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review of Elantris - Brandon Sanderson


Other Worlds' Rating : 9 out of 10 stars

First off, I'll just start by saying this book is great. One of my all time favorites. After reading it, I went searching for anything and everything by Brandon, only to find that this was his only published work. Luckily for people discovering his work now, he's written many more books, including finishing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.


Elantris is a city where Gods live. These are people that heal quickly, are seemingly immortal, and have greater insight, speed, and strength than normal people. And they can use magic. In fact, the residents of Elantris make an easy living as people come to them to get magical healings, etc. And the best part is, that anyone can become one of these Gods. You just have to be taken by the Shaod, which selects people, seemingly at random. You are taken by the Shaod, and then you're a God for all eternity. Good deal, right?


Well, there's one problem - as the prologue of the book states, "Eternity ended ten years ago."


The book begins ten years after Elantris myteriously fell, leaving its once glorious inhabitants as horrific, darkened creatures, unable to perform the simplest of magics that had been available to them only ten years ago.


This book is great. Seriously. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. It is set in a fantasy setting, but is full of mystery, political intrigue, and great, three-dimensional characters. Brandon Sanderson will keep you on the edge of your seat (or your bed, or wherever else you read) with this one.


I mean - the first line of the book states that the main character has been "damned for all eternity". From page one, Elantris keeps you wanting more. Once again, I loved this book. Reading it is a refreshingly new fantasy experience, and you certainly won't regret it.