Spring burst on us all in a rush, taking us from dirty snow to lush foliage in the space of two weeks. Even though I’m spending more time out-of-doors, I still found several fun books that I enjoyed immensely.
Mark of the Mage
The Mark of the Mage is a medieval fantasy with an interesting premise. The country is ruled by a mad king who has forbidden books. Scribes and magicians have been outlawed, doomed to be branded and shoved to the side of society, if they are allowed to live at all.
This creates a problem for Drastonia Consta-Mayria, a nobleman’s daughter whose sole ambition in life was to become a scribe. Right from the start she’s forced to flee, which is the beginning of a great adventure through a well-drawn world.
LUSH/HUSH/CRUSH
I read the first book because it was free, and bought the others because I was hooked. The concept of the world was fascinating. Children are removed from their parents at an early age, to be raised by the government. When they finish school twelve years later, they are tested to determine not only their occupation, but if they are fertile or not. All are branded on their wrists: a circle for the fertile, an x for those who are not.
My only complaint is this series had so much potential that I don’t think was realized. I thought the last book got wrapped up a little too neatly, and the author could have done more with her concept. Still, I was intrigued enough to read all three and enjoyed them all.
Sora’s Quest
Sora is a member of the nobility, and is expected to make a suitable marriage. At her coming-out party, her father is murdered and she runs away—right into the arms of a mysterious man who kidnaps her.
The adventure she goes on, however reluctantly, in the company of a dangerous assassin is full of excitement. The world Sora travels is full of magic and different races, and is well thought out and provides a great setting for this surprisingly complex story.
A Danger to Himself and Others
I took a break from fantasy to read a police mystery, and was I ever glad. This story’s protagonist works the bomb squad. He finds himself racing to find a bomber who targets veterans who lost limbs in battle. The story is well researched and detailed, and kept me guessing, reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next.
What have you been reading this spring?