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.