Tag archives for Magic
Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins, and Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate
Posted by BOOK NAME: Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins, and Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate
AUTHOR: Lesley M. M. Blume
ILLUSTRATOR: David Foote
You may have heard about magical creatures in far, exotic and distant lands. Or maybe you believe they live even closer to home, scattered throughout the countryside. But did you know that magical creatures are even closer than that? According to Miss Edythe McFate, they don’t just live in nature but in our homes, businesses, and cities. Miss McFate has followed mythical creatures for almost all her life and has extensive knowledge of these ancient beings. She was kind enough to write a guide for us with her new perspective.
This book provides an account of eight children and their completely true and terrifying encounters with fairies. Miss Edythe explains how to avoid these problems and how to recognize a fairy and whether they are good or bad. Miss Edythe has her reason for writing this guide in the first place. You see, she was one of the eight stories she tells in the book and since no one believed her, she had a need to show the rest of the world that fairies do exist. And she provides plenty of evidence to support it.
This is a really wonderful book filled with imagination. The reason I loved it so much is that it shows modern fairies in everyday life. The Spiderwick Chronicles were also about modern fairies, but they were located in the countryside far away from urban life. This book changes all that by documenting truly urban living fairies. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy books and stories about fairies. It will provide you with a fresh perspective on fairies and everyday life. Perhaps you have one living near you!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Magician: Master
AUTHOR: Raymond E. Feist
Pug’s life has changed forever. In his earlier years, he lived in the keep of castle Crydee, in the land known as the Kingdom of the Isles, on the world of Midkemia. While there, he was apprenticed to the magician Kulgan, learning how to harness the power of magic. He earned himself a place as Squire of Lord Borric’s court, as well as the affection of the Princess Carline. These were good times in Pug’s life, but all of it to a grinding halt.
The Kingdom was invaded by the Tsurani, a warrior race from another faraway world. The Empire of Tsuranuanni has targeted the Kingdom to obtain metals, which are rare on Kelewan, the Tsurani home planet. Soon after the first soldiers transported to the Kingdom via a rift in space-time, war broke out. It has raged for years. Early on, Pug was captured and enslaved by the aliens during a daring raid on the enemy’s main camp.
Pug toiled in the hot, dangerous swamps of Tsuranuanni . After an encounter with the son of a very powerful Tsurani noble, Pug was taken from the swamps and forced to work as a servant. While tending to the house, Pug’s magical talents were discovered. He was once again whisked away to have his magician skills honed to perfection for servicing the Empire, perhaps even against his own people.
Now Pug wears the Black Robe, marking him a magician of the Empire. His powers far surpass those of his fellow Black Robes, and he is perhaps the mightiest magician in all the land. He may just be powerful enough to close the rift and separate the two worlds once more. It’s time to put an end to the conflict.
This book is the sequel to one of my earlier reads, Magician: Apprentice, and the second book in the Riftwar series. I liked this book even more than the first. This book is interesting at every turn of the page, with questions being answered and new ones being posed. Pug and the other sorcerers’ displays of power were fascinating to imagine, jets of blue flames, and commanding of the elements. The battle scenarios were also interesting reads, as the Tsurani and their allies clashed with Midkemian soldiers, elves, and dwarves. The battles were described in such detail that I could picture them, every clash of the swords and the shouts and battle cries of the ferocious combatants. Though Pug and his adventures are the main focus of this book, it also tells of the exploits of Kulgan, Borric and Pug’s other friends and allies back on Midkemia. I liked how the story was told from many different perspectives. This book was somewhat long, at around 500 pages, but I so enjoyed reading it that it seemed far shorter.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Midnight for Charlie Bone
AUTHOR: Jenny Nimmo
Charlie Bone always knew that his family was “Endowed”. Endowed families are certain families that have special powers. No, we’re not talking about super powers but more magical powers.
Charlie’s special power is discovered when his friend, Benjamin, is having s birthday party. Charlie decides to get a picture of Benjamin’s dog, Runner Bean, as a birthday card. He ends up getting the wrong card, though. It is a picture of a man who is holding a baby. That is when Charlie discovers that he is Endowed!
Charlie has the power to see and hear what is going on in pictures. In the picture that he is holding, the man and woman who are taking the photo are fighting about what to do with their orphan niece. The woman wants to keep her while the man does not. Charlie is very puzzled, but doesn’t know the dark secret, behind this photo.
Grandma Bone has been waiting for Charlie to get his powers. Charlie’s father was Endowed but he died in a deadly car crash, so Grandma Bone is so excited when she finds out that Charlie is finally Endowed. Grandma Bone calls her sisters over to see if Charlie is worthy to go to school at Bloor’s Academy. All Endowed children go there along with good musicians, artists and actors. Charlie is heartbroken that he has to leave his best friend Benjamin behind but on the bright side, he gets to come home for the weekends.
Charlie will meet new friends and, with the help of them and Benjamin, they will solve the mystery of the orphan girl. This book is a lot like Harry Potter and it is a very exiting book. I tore through it and I hope that you will, too. See ya later alligator!
Posted by Book Name: The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)
Author: Michael Scott
The twins of prophecy have been split. Nicholas Flamel is near death. John Dee has the swords of power. And Danu Talis has yet to fall. The future of the human race lies in the balance–how will the legend end?
Book of the Month: The Emerald Atlas
BOOK NAME: The Emerald Atlas
AUTHOR: John Stephens
Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.
Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.
Until now.
Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world…a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem. And–if an ancient prophesy is correct–what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.
The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma’s extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world.
(AD) Click here to check out Emerald Atlas videos!
BOOK NAME: Oathbreaker: Assassin’s Apprentice
AUTHOR: S. R. Vaught
Aron Brailing lives in the world of Eyrie, a place where magical beings, shape shifters, and amazing creatures roam. Eyrie is divided into dynasts, and Aron lives in Dyn Brailing, one of the dynasts. Aron helps his family around the farm and cares for his giant winged lizard, Tek. One day, members of a guild of assassins arrive at his home. They decide to take Aron for their guild and train him because he seems to have a very powerful mind talent. However, that power was not able to save those close to him when trouble and war arose. Now Aron bears a terrible grudge against the lord of his dynast and his guards because they murdered his family, but if he harms anyone other than criminals, he will be an oathbreaker, hated by all in Eyrie. Can Aron pass the difficult tests and training to become an assassin?
This book was a great read because there was so much suspense. Even when you get to the” end” of the book, you will discover something quite surprising. There is no end! This book is fantasy, but this book also made some connections to things that are more realistic. In the book, it was mentioned that humans are what drove the magical beings from Earth and made them travel to Eyrie. Also, magic and human bloodlines mixed and produced ordinary people with just a touch of magic. Including humans and Earth in an otherwise fantasy world is a unique characteristic of the story. The author of the book uses excellent detail and I believe it’s quite clever that his story carries over to another book. Guess you will have to read both…I definitely am.
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Gift: Witch & Wizard Book 2
AUTHOR: James Patterson
I hope all of you know who the author James Patterson is. If not, abandon the computer and get one of your parents to take you to the bookstore ASAP. But while you’re there, don’t pick up The Gift. I’ve already made that mistake.
Okay, okay, it wasn’t THAT bad. Let me start at the beginning: I’m normally a huge Patterson fan, but when I picked up Witch and Wizard (the book before The Gift), I was a little disappointed because it was only mediocre. It was an okay plot and everything, but the way it was written was not as appealing as it could have been. Despite this, when the sequel (The Gift) came out, I went right to my local Barnes and Noble, bought it, and read it. Now, a few hours later, I’m still in a state of confusion.
Before we get into why I didn’t like it, I’ll give a little background. Whit and Wisteria Allgood are just normal teenagers until they discover they have magical powers when the New Order is established (basically, all of the job titles start with “The One” and they hate anyone who isn’t into the whole “kill people who look like they don’t like us” thing). That was the first book, in which they engage in many adventures, live in an old department store, and use magic. The Gift is the second book in the series, and follows Whit and Wisty again as they engage in even more fun adventures, sometimes involving chocolate and inevitably ending in meeting “The One Who is The One.” Don’t worry, I’m confused, too.
Basically, my problems with the book were these: James Patterson and his coauthor (conveniently listed in barely-visible print at the bottom of the dust cover) tried WAY too hard to get the teen language and vibe right–I mean, I never say ‘totes cool.’ Also, the plot was not as great as it could have been. We’ve all seen post-apocalyptic new world government stuff before, and we’ve also seen magic. But mix them together in a generic plot line, and what do you get? Not a good book, I can tell you that.
Before you forgo reading this, remember that this is only my opinion and I tend to be pretty tough on books. If you have read it, comment back and tell me what you thought!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling
For all of Harry’s life he has been treated unfairly by his aunt, uncle and cousin. They put him in a cupboard to sleep in for the past eleven years he has lived there. One day Harry gets a suspicious letter that reveals a secret that has been kept from him. Harry is a wizard.
He goes to a wizarding school, Hogwarts, where he learns all kinds of magic and learns about his past too. Harry and his two best friends Ron and Hermione end up dealing with Centaurs, plants that kill, and teachers with two heads! Can Harry survive his first year with out getting eaten by trolls?
This is one of my favorite books EVER!! J.K. Rowling is and amazing writer because she always keeps you into the book. There are seven books in the Harry Potter series and six movies have been made. The seventh movies comes out late fall and part two comes out mid winter! I know I’ll be there opening night. The genre of the series is fantasy because of all the mythical and made up creatures that are invented in it. Make sure when you are reading this that you don’t skip around pages because crucial information that will come up in later books are found in this one. There are a lot of loose ends at the end of the book meaning you will have LOTS of questions but just keep reading and you will find out more, meet new people, and continue on this great magical adventure!
If you like the Harry Potter series, you should check out The Tales of Beedle the Bard, also by J.K. Rowling and it takes place in the world of Harry Potter.
BOOK NAME: The Green Book
AUTHOR: Jill Paton Walsh
I really recommended this book for 8-year-olds. I had to do a book report at school on a science fiction book and this is the one I chose.
The book is about how everybody on Earth has to leave the planet because of a nuclear war. Pattie doesn’t want to but she has to. They all go on a big spaceship to go to their new world. When they get there, the youngest of the group on that spaceship got to name the planet. Pattie was the youngest and she named it Planet Shine.
The main story is about how everyone gets used to Shine. They use all the wood they find to build cabins. They burn jellyfish to make lamps. The bad thing is that their crops won’t grow properly. But then they notice that they can eat the jellyfish. They also found the Candy Tree in the forest and they discovered they could eat the sap and it was sweet.
Pattie was playing in a place called Boulder Valley and then suddenly the boulders broke and they turned into giant moths, at least that’s what the people called them. They were friendly until they all died.
My favorite part was when they had to leave Earth. It was cool. I recommend this book if you like made up things like magical creatures.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Shepherd’s Quest: The Broken Key #1
AUTHOR: Brian Pratt
Chad Kelon and Riyan Borenson dreamed of nothing but adventures. They continuously tell each other stories of themselves rescuing fair ladies and defeating monstrous creatures. Then there was Bartholomew Agreani who is known as Bart. He is one of Riyan’s new friends and is handy with all sorts of tools used by thieves.
Accidentally, Riyan stumbles upon a cave which contained a few copper coins worth a lot of money. Unsure of what other treasures might remain deep in the cave Riyan informs Chad and Bart of his discovery leading to an adventure beyond their imaginations and their made-up stories. Along the way, the boys meet Kevik, a magic user. They have courage and bravery while they suffer the loss of many things, but they also benefit in the discoveries that they find.
When I read the summary on the back of the book and saw the cover I wanted to read this book. It seemed mysterious and maybe kind of scary. I read it to discover that it wasn’t scary at all. I think the vocabulary in this book is geared more for readers 10 and up. Shepherd’s Quest: The Broken Key # 1 is the first of three books. I found this book intriguing so I am going to read the other two in the series.
BOOK NAME: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a fairy tale book only it takes place in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. The characters always learn from their journey and leave you with a moral. At the end of each story, Albus Dumbledore tells you the meaning of the story. He explains why certain stuff is there and he gives you his review of the story. In my opinion it does get a little boring at that part but it’s always worth it in the end.
There are five stories in the whole book. Here is a look at three of my favorites. In the story called The Fountain of Fair Fortune there were three witches that were seeking the fountain of glory and they each needed it for different reasons.
In the story Babbitty Rabbitty and her Crackling Stump a foolish king wanted power all by himself. He gets magic lessons from a fake sorcerer then he decides to have a magic show in front of his people.
In the last story The Tale of Three Brothers, which was my favorite, three brothers each wish for three objects: an invisibility cloak, a rock to bring back the dead and a wand of more power than anything imaginable.
I will have to rate this four out of five. This book is good for people who like the whole Harry Potter series and fantasy stories like those. Write back and give me a story topic that you think J.K Rowling should use if she were to make more of these types of stories.
