Warrior by Sean Golden

This is my Dad's novel, and it's epic! It's a story of magic, myth and adventure that is growing to more than your average hero's quest. It weaves between the philosophies of the world, the ties of myth and the human condition. 

Although he is smart and strong, Lirak is ostracized from most of the Dwon village. His dreams, although useful in hunting, bring great fear to the Elders. With rumors of his missing father and a different looking mother surrounding him, he is able to confide in his older brother Jerok, younger friend Patrick and the fiery Mayrie. At the age of sixteen, he is ready to become a man through the tasks the Elders choose for him, but he has a difficult totem to bear: the Eagle. Those of the Eagle totem are known to journey far and never return, and through their wanderings they can bring with them danger and doom.  

As Lirak grows from a boy to a man, he is destined for a legacy much grander than he can even imagine. Chosen by the goddess Kathoias, both beautiful and ruthless, Lirak begins a grand adventure through the world he once believed to be a mystery. But this adventure requires bravery, intelligence and sacrifice. The more Lirak learns, the more he wonders: is he a pawn of the gods, or is he creating his own legacy?

This story is amazing, and Lirak's journey from a boy to a man is a powerful tale of humanity. What it means to be human, and what it takes to look beyond what you have been told.

I give it five out of five Eagle totems!

I recommend this book to readers of Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Ender's Game, Hyperion, and many more fantasy epics. And it's just the beginning! This book is part of The War Chronicles trilogy, and I can't wait to read book 2! 

Warrior is now available on Kindle here: 

http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-War-Chronicles-Book-I-ebook/dp/B00SGCWXYU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1421799471&sr=8-5&keywords=sean+golden

For more info on Warrior and The War Chronicles: you can visit the brand new website here: 

https://thewarchronicles.wordpress.com

Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink was one amazing ride through the world of Japan and the mythology of the Kami. Katie's voice, both in the english narrative, and her responses in Japanese show her struggle from being in a world she's always known and having no choice but to adapt to a world she has never known. She starts off the novel as a typical teenager and rebels the world around her in any way she can, but she can't help being drawn to Tomohiro Yuu, a tsundre in true fashion, and the strange events that occur when she is around ink. From a pen exploding to drawings moving on the page, she handles as much as she can without thinking she's crazy. But there is more than the loss of her mother triggering these events. Katie is tied to the ink by a destiny and curse that she can barely begin to understand. And as she begins to blend in to her new enviornment, a bigger threat awaits her as she becomes more interested in Tomohiro. 

This book was a nonstop read. I couldn't put it down, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of Japan's Sakura and Tanabata festivals. Katie is also an entertaining narrator, always throwing her two sense in the middle of an important scene. The references to both Japanese culture and mythology were a nice element to the story, and helped me see Japan through eyes that were not similar to my own. 

I recommend this story to anyone who loves Japan, and to anyone who doesn't know anything about Japan. I came to this novel knowing many things that were already explained, but I felt that the explanations added to the depth of the story's atmosphere and taught you a new perspective. I give this book five out of five cherry blossoms, and I can't wait for the next book!