Banewreaker by Jaqueline Cary–Prologue

I’m not one hundred percent sure how much immediate impact the prologue is going to have on the story, but it was really interesting. It explains the creation of the world, and the Gods. It was a lot like reading a story of Greek Mythology, and it really gave me a deeper understanding of the world.

All in all, so far a good read. Looking forward to reading more.

And in case you’re wondering – yes, that is a Magic: The Gathering Card. There was no bookmark close enough, but I’d just opened a pack of Gatecrash cards I got a birthday present. The token was a red/white, so I used the land instead.

Go geek!

A bunch of updates in one post!

As it’s Monday, that means it’s time for update the eager masses on what I’ve been up to over the weekend. I played Guild Wars 2 far more than was good for me, and I got very little writing or reading done. But that’s what weekends are for, right?

I’m actually a bit behind on the updates regarding my starting and finishing and buying of books, so here is all it to catch you up.

We took my grandma to a new Dollar General that opened up nearby, and I found three books that I just couldn’t resist. That’s them in the top row. As for the second row, February 28th was my birthday, and I got two books as gifts. On the left is a book a friend got me, knowing how much I love Steampunk. The one on the right is from my parents, which I actually picked myself from Dollar Tree.

(The Cover fell off. It’s not my fault, I swear.)

I finished the Hobbit. I am unhappy. Watching the last film is going to kill me. [Of course I’m not going to spoil it, although it was actually spoiled for me, even though the book has been out for decades.] [And thanks to my friends for not confirming the spoiler, and letting me live in hope. It hurt less.]

So with the Hobbit complete, I needed to choose a new book to start. I didn’t feel like jumping straight into Fellowship of the ring, which has a little bit to do with that fact that my copy is OLD and it smells kind of weird. There was a particular book I had in mind, so I just went with it.

You might recognize it from that photo above. Banewreaker by Jaqueline Carey. Have you ever looked a book and just known that you had to read it? It’s kind of like that for me and this book. the cover is gorgeous, and I can’t wait to find out which scene in the book it depicts. I read the prologue before I went to sleep that night, and my thoughts on that will come in my next post [I don’t want to put everything in the same post, after all].

In the meantime, I should wrap up this post because I should really do some editing, and then I’ll get snuggle under my blankets with Banwreaker, so I’ll have even more to tell you about!

Happy Reading!

Tea Review: Celestial Seasonings Safari Spice

I am one of those people who believe that nothing goes better with a book than tea.  So I decided that a tea review would be right at home here among the books reviews. We are big tea drinkers in this house, and the other day I tried something new. I like red and rooibos tea, and I like spicy teas, like Chai. (I’ll drink almost any chai.)

This tea had been sitting in the cupboard for a while when I found it, and when I was looking at the ingredients list, I saw something that gave me pause: sweet piquante peppers. Hmmm…..

I was wrong actually. It turned out to be quite good, and the peppers do not give it the flavor I would have thought. There is an underlying sweetness to the tea, and it certainly has a unique flavor I can’t really describe. I do recommend it for lovers of tea, especially spicy ones like Chai. (Almost all the spices in Chai are also in this tea.) Don’t let the peppers scare you like they did me! It’s probably not what you think.

I bought some books the other day…

I forgot to post this picture. The other day I was out running errands with mom and we stopped by Dollar General and the Dollar Tree. I guess I went a little crazy, but with discount books, you can’t take a chance; when they’re done, they are gone.

Most of the books are just random grabs that looked interesting. I thought I’d go ahead and grab that copy of the Two Towers, because my copies of the Lord of Rings belong to my dad, and they are old. The cover has already fallen off of the Hobbit, and it’s never been read until now. So I thought having a back up would be a good idea. I already the first book in the Fisherman’s Children series, and the Reluctant Mage is book two, and for a dollar I just couldn’t pass it up. I also have a thing for mages, anyone who knows me could tell you that, so I had to have it. I also remember putting the Red Necklace on my to-read shelf a long time ago, and now I finally have a copy.

 

In addition to the pretty picture of my awesome deals, the post comes with a general update. I know I said I would be trying to read and update this blog more, and so far, I’ve only done a little. I am going to try again to change up my schedule and read during the week. I am going to clean this place so it will be nice and shiny, for my next big review. The great folks at Quirk have offered me a book to review, and, being me, I screamed yes as soon as I read the e-mail. It sounds like a really cool book, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you all.

A Dark Sacrifice by Madeline Howard

One of the first books I'd like to review now that I've returned is one of those discount adventures I talked of previously. A Dark Sacrifice by Madeline Howard, book two of the Rune of Unmaking series, was a lot more than I expected.

I ended up with two copies of this book, one as a Christmas gift, and another copy I picked up myself from the Dollar Tree. I decided to make one copy my Car Book, and keep the other copy in the house so I could read it when I wasn't out of the house. (For those of you who don't know, I have issues with germs, so brining the book into the house is more trouble than it's worth, because I have to clean it, and then keep it wrapped in a towel while I read. It's a nightmare.) I don't usually keep two copies of books, but since I had them, I did just that. It turned out to be a very good thing.

Despite being the second book in the series, I was able to jump right into the story without much trouble. Howard delivers an introduction that greatly details the events of the first book, so much so, that I felt I had been there.

I really didn't have any trouble following the storyline. the story was connected to it, but it was also its own story, so it was easy to enjoy on its own. I fell in love with all the characters, and I was so captivated, that I couldn't wait until the next car ride to read some more. hence why i was so happy for the second copy. i just flipped to the right page and continued on.

it has been a while since I finished the book, but i can still remember how much i relished every word once i got started. I am even contemplating going back to read the first one. I am anxiously awaiting the third. This one left off with a major cliff hanger, and I am still waiting for my ship to come into port. The third one still hasn't been published, and I haven't seen any news in a while, but the first three chapters were posted to Teresa Edgerton's forum. (Madeline Howard is her pen name.)

The world of the Rune of Unmaking is one I will gladly lose myself in again. in fact, i can't wait to do just that. It had some very unique aspects, without falling victim to 'overdevelopment'. (I'll dedicate a blog post to that one day.) This is a series any fans of epic fantasy should not miss. It wasn't just a book I read. it stirred my emotions, and even helped inspire the tone of one of my stories. I can't wait to see what to see what happens next. And when I know more, I'll post about it here.

Rather Be Reading Returns!

I've been thinking a lot lately, and I've come to the conclusion that I really kind of miss writing for this blog. Like many of my endeavors, I don't want it to die, so I'm going to try to start it up again. Rather Be Reading is returning, but it not going to be quite the same.

First off, I don't have time to finish books as quickly as I used to. So I won't simply be updating this blog with book reviews. If I did that, I would hardly ever update. Therefore, instead of simply a book review blog, this will be more of a discussion blog. I will update as often as I can with an update on what I'm reading, how I feel about what's happening in the story right now, and things like that. As always, I will be keeping things spoiler free. (Spoilers are my archenemy.)

I am also not sure that I can keep this blog centered to just anymore. Occasionally, I do like to do other things than read. The most I will probably be including however, will be thoughts on movies I watch (especially the foreign films I love so much), and other random bits of things that belong in the Fantasy genre.

I am taking a short online fantasy and science fiction literature course, and the first assignment involve tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. I manage to read a few every night, and I will probably update this blog with some thoughts on the tales that I read the night before. That will probably be the bulk of the first few updates. When my course moves on from Grimm, than I will move on writing about the next subject, and so on and so forth. I may even post the short essays (less than 500 words) I'm writing for the class.

Of course, there have been some slight changes to what I've been reading these days. While fantasy is still my home genre, I have not been picking up as much Young Adult as I used to. Lately my tastes have been turned to more mature epic fantasies, like the Sword of the Truth (which is my favorite) and the Lord of the Rings (I've just started reading the Hobbit).

Epic fantasy series are very easy to come by, and since I frequent discount stores, like Dollar Tree and Dollar General, I find quite a few at a very affordable price. A lot of these books are lesser known, but just as deserving as praise as the most prominent of fantasy series (which is, of course, the way I like my fiction). As I've collected quite a few volumes that I have yet to read, and the number keeps growing because you have to grab the discounts before they're gone, you'll likely see a lot of content on these stories. In fact, before long, it will probably the main source of content on this blog. That, along with whatever random free books I can grab for the kindle.

So, I hope that you'll continue the ride along with me on this blog. Despite how drastic the changes may appear at first, you're still going to receive the same updates from Rather Be Reading: honest opinions that should help you decide if a book is right for you.

So, though I would Rather Be Reading, I'm off to do some homework. And remember everyone: Read Responsibly!

Taft 2012 by Jason Heller

Summary from quirkbooks.com –

He is the perfect presidential candidate. Conservatives love his hard-hitting Republican résumé. Liberals love his passion for peaceful diplomacy. The media can’t get enough of his larger-than-life personality. Regular folks can identify with his larger-than-life physique. And all the American people love that he’s an honest, hard-working man who tells it like it is.

There’s just one problem: He is William Howard Taft... and he was already U.S. president a hundred years ago. So what on earth is he doing alive and well and considering a running mate in 2012?

Rhia’s Review –

When I started reading Taft 2012, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. This was probably a very good thing, as it made reading the book more fun, never able to quite predict what would happen next. It certainly made me more interested in looking into Taft's presidency, which is something I really know very little about.

Regardless of whatever you might expect of this book, it is sure to entertain you. Interspersed with documents relative to the story, the book follows Taft through his sudden re-emergence into the spotlight, and his slightly unwilling campaign for presidency in 2012. I loved all the characters that were brought into the story. they each served a purpose in the story, and were memorable, but never over or underused.

While the story is about a former president, and a political campaign, this is not a book about politics. it's a book about our society, about how it has changed over the years, and about how we are reluctant to face change. it also the story of a man who is given a second chance to succeed where he made mistakes before. wouldn't we all love a chance like that?

All in all, Taft 2012 was a very good read, and I’m glad to add it to my collection.

The Recommendation –

I'd recommend Taft 2012 for any fans of satire, especially of the political or societal variety. Also, if you are a Taft fan, you might find this fictionalized account of his further adventures very entertaining.

The Vitals* – Taft 2012  is available in paperback for $14.95.

The Links – Taft 2012 Official Campaign Website

*=All prices are from the cover of the book itself and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.