Fantasies

I do like a good fantasy and have read a few new series these past few weeks. While I am anxiously awaiting the final book in The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and the third book of The Beka Cooper series called Mastiff this fall, I have found one or two good ones that I think you will like.

The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima begins with "The Demon King". A good choice for the mature readers this book introduces you to characters you immediately connect to and are intrigued by who they really are and what will happen to them.

For instance Han is a reformed street thief but wears silver cuffs that cannot come off and even magically seem to grow as he grows. He travels between the mountains, where the clans live and where he feels free and accepted, and the town of Fellcastle where he is targeted by bullies and guardsmen alike. Thrown into this mix are wizards, the Princess heir named Raisa who is turning 16, her childhood friend Amon who is now a part of her Guard and Han's very good friend named Fire Dancer who has a secret of his own.

It is on a hunting trip that Han and his friend Fire Dancer come upon 3 young wizards who are up to mischief on the mountain where they are forbidden. Han takes a prized and magical amulet from one not knowing this is a dangerous artifact and will bring danger to not only Han and his family but to many of the street gangs that carve out an existence in the city. Princess Raisa also is at risk as her mother the Queen seems to be under the spell of The High Wizard and has plans for Raisa that she cannot accept.

This is a page turner, full of exciting adventures that lead right into the next installment.


The Relic Master series by Catherine Fisher, who wrote "Incarceron", begins with "The Dark City" followed by "The Lost Heiress" and "The Hidden Coronet" and finishes with"The Margrave". These books draw you in to a world where ancient relics emit a modern technology, where Keepers of these once cherished relics are now hunted by The Watch and the relics destroyed.

Galen is one of the few remaining Keepers of The Order and he and his 16 year old apprentice Raffi head to a dangerous city full of a million streets and crumbling skyscrapers where it is rumored to have a most powerful relic hidden.

These books will appeal to those students who love fantasy. It had all the elements that I look for and love; characters who exhibit bravery in the face of danger and loyalty to what they believe in and to their companions. The relationship between master and apprentice is reminiscent of Halt and Will.