Book 3.  Riders in the Sky
Author: Charles Grant
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 458
Release date: 1999

What is about: It is the time of the Millennium, of great battles between good and evil. The hoofbeats of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse herald the last days of Mankind.

These are the survivors, no longer completely human-and the only people who can stand against the Horsemen: a preacher given the power to stop Death. Two teenagers who can see the truth in anyone's heart. A mother and her two daughters, who saw the man they all loved sacrifice himself to save them from Plague. A waitress who has decided she can't wait any longer. A would-be writer whose young son has become Famine. The young widow of a British nobleman-the only person who knows the earthly identities of all four Horsemen-has brought them all together. Now they prepare to do battle. With War as their leader, the Horsemen are preparing to lay waste to the world. They have gathered for a final strategy session on an isolated island in the Atlantic.

But their coming is no longer secret, and they are no longer unopposed. The defenders of mankind are coming. They may well fail to defeat theApocalypse. But if so, they will die trying.


What worked:  I am a fantasy junky.  I love it when the heroes band together to fight the ultimate evil.  In this case, the end of the world and the Four Horsemen.  It doesn't get more dramatic than that.  I really liked Casey.  He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and struggles with that responsibility.  Love the fact that the fate of the world is decided on a small island in the deep south.  Within the small community there was a lot going on and that as handled very well. 

Very simple writing, which was easy and quick to read. 

What did not work:  The chrarcter development for the other players would have bee nice.  Mainly due to the description of the book that talks about them makes them seem more important than they actually are.   The ending was a bit anti-climatic.  Also, I did not know this was the last book of a series.  Nothing on the book really indicated that, so that was a bit irritating. 

Best quote:  "scarlight fire overhead.  Emerald sparks over the water and the church bell tolls."

Grade:  6.5 out of 10    

Next books. Swashbuckler's of the 7 Seas by Chad Underkoffler and Dead Until Dark by Charlene Harris

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Pges: 309 pages
Release date: 1997

The Skinny.  The book that started it all.  A life long obsession and a beginning to an amazing world.

What is is about.  Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin Dudley. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

What worked: Very charming first novel of one my favorite series of all time.  Fun and enjoyable characters, and other that you can't help but love to hate.  Rowling's writing style is not always complex, so it makes for a fun and easy read (the writing gets better as she grows as an author).  The setting was a lot of tun, with them going to a castle and getting to explore it a bit.  I have always loved fantasy novels set in current times and this was a great start to an amazing series.

What did not work:  You can tell it is a novel for young adults.  That isn't THAT big of a deal, but being older it is more obvious.  

Grade: 9 out of 10. 

Next books: The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross (book club), Riders in the Sky by Charles Grant