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!

Jane by April Linder

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is one of my favorite literary stories. It's not very often that you come across a great modern day adaption of a tale you already know and love. I found Jane a year ago, right before I graduated college, and it quickly became a favorite on my book shelf. 

In this adaption, Rochester is a recovering rock star, and Jane is a nanny on the road to self discovery and the freedom to do what she believes she can. The novel is told in Jane's point of view as she is hired to work for Nico Rathburn, a rock star that even Jane has heard of, due to her brother's love of rock music. With the many rumors and countless People articles about Nico's road to success, mysterious fall out and his upcoming album, Jane must find who the real person is behind the mask. As she adjusts to the new enviornment, and meets Maddy, Nico's daughter, she expects to barely see the celebrity, even on his own grounds, but he has other plans, and Jane soon finds herself in a completely different world than she has ever lived in. To find who she is, and even the true Nico Rathburn, Jane goes on a journey, both intellectual and spiritual to find where she belongs and how much she should listen to her own heart.

I recommend this novel to anyone who loves Jane Eyre, Rock Stars and Star Crossed Romance. Jane's voice is refreshing yet it stays true to the original and Nico Rathburn is an enigmatic character. 

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

This book had a whole new twist on the myth of Persephone. Kate Winters is thrown into a world of mythology disguised by modernism, and must chose between life or death. With her mother counting down the days until she goes, Kate must learn how to cope with her passing. She arrives at her mother's hometown with no plan for the future and no way to deal with the reality she must face. She makes a few friends at her school, but her number one priority is to spend as much time with her mother as possible. Her new friend James seems to know all about her life, while her other new friend Ava appears to hate her, but forces herself to be nice. As the victim of a harsh prank, Kate witnesses Ava's death, and meets Henry, a mysterious and alluring person. He offers her a choice, Ava will not die, and he will hold Kate's mother's cancer at bay until they are ready to say goodbye. In return, she must spend six months with him and undergo a series of tests, seven in all, to prove if she is worthy to rule by his side. With the rumor that someone is trying to kill her, and the council watching her every move, Kate must decide what she wants and who she is. Is she brave enough to pass the tests and save Ava's life? Will she ever come to terms with her mother's death?
I really enjoyed reading this book. The mythology was cleverly presented, and as Kate didn't know who was a god and who was not, there was a mystery to solve. The myth of Persephone is very different from Kate's decision to spend 6 months with Henry. He doesn't kidnap her or force her to make a decision. Kate is free to leave whenever she wishes. While Kate spends time at the manor, she discovers who she is and what she wants. This is not something she bothered with while she tended to her mother. She can relate to Henry and she learns that Ava isn't as superficial as she believed her to be. This is a psychological story, where Kate slowly discovers what her personality actually is, and she begins to live, not just for her mother but for herself as well.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

This will be updated once I can post the review.