Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

    I enjoyed this novel immensely. Not only did it have a compelling story, but had a colorful array of characters. The inclusion of "Breath" and the religion attached to it creates a dynamic concept. I had never seen or read about souls being treated in that manner. It felt like Sanderson was writing this novel for artists, with all the emphasis that he placed on color. Even some of the characters, depending on how much Breath they have, can determine the particular shades of each hue in the world around them. Aside from the intricately woven tapestry of the world, the characters intrigued me even more. The story revolves around the perspectives of three main characters, limiting our knowledge on the other characters around them. Each of these characters Siri, Vivenna, and Lightsong are pretty much ignorant whether by choice or circumstance. A young princess with a lackadaisical attitude who gets sent to wed the God King, another princess who was prepared for that task is left questioning her worth, and a god who doesn't even believe in himself. Even after the author fooled me about the intentions of one character, I still continued to get surprised every time a "good guy" was revealed to be the "bad guy." 

    I enjoyed the complex system of how to properly use the Breath. Only certain commands could be used and only organic materials could be controlled. The entire religion around the god was interesting, since they are only worshiped so they could one day sacrifice the entirety of their Breaths and then pass on. Other than that, they don't really contribute the welfare of the people of Hallendran. Lightsong seems to be the only one questioning his state of godhood, while others readily accepted the life. His attitude goes against the grain, and really questions the whole existence of the gods. At times his cynical view frustrated me, while other times he fulfilled his roles as the comic relief character. The two sisters, Vivenna and Siri, have their roles reversed. Neither one prepared what they had to eventually face and both handled their new life in unexpected ways. While Siri matured and came to accept the fact that she should be more involved in securing the safety of her homeland, Vivenna completely deteriorated. I was not very fond of the character, Vivenna from the beginning. She never intended to save her sister, she may have tried to convince herself of that in the beginning, but once she was in the city it was all about her. For someone who was educated to take on a queenly role, she was very inexperienced with dealing with others and her gullibility cost her and others suffering.

     I was a tad disappointed by the end, mainly because it was abruptly over but also the story wrapped up a little too cleanly. We are supposed to gladly assume that the army of the stone Lifeless reach and stop the other Lifeless army in time to save the city of Idris. Also, I felt like the explanations of the Five Scholars and finally the revelation of their true identities was just pinned on in the end. Overall this book held my attention The conflict of religious ideals, and how closely it reflects reality with monotheism vs. polytheism, gives this fictional world a link to our own. The treatment of souls is viewed differently in each city; in one city the soul is coveted, while the other sees it as a form of commerce.

           

The Color of Magic Ep. 1 & 2

     The only literature I have read by Terry Pratchett was Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman. So I knew it would delve somewhat in the realm of comedy, if not entirely. Bits of the storytelling reminded me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. There is an ultimate, universal question that just needs to be answered. In this case the question is as silly as "What is the gender of the turtle?"  It shares the same random twists and turns and most unexpected occurrences. The main characters are pushed into an adventure, and ultimately wind up saving the world after completing their quest.
    The two travelers, TwoFlower and Rince Wind are quite polar opposites. Two Flower is the optimist tourist, stepping into the face of danger with a care or worry. He is only curious about where he is and the functions of the surrounding. Rince Wind on the other hand, is the unfortunate guide who has plenty of near-death experiences thanks to Two Flower.

     It is definitely full of common fantasy references, but distorts them into something else. There was a bit with the enchanted sword that has a strong desire to slay dragons. The sacrificial maiden who was angry when she was rescued from the hands of death. The "Cohen" the Barbarian character is a toothless, man who is as old as dirt. And yet he still wins favor with a woman who is decades younger than he.  I  also enjoyed the sprinkling of modern influences, especially the stereotype of the tourist. His bright Hawaiian shirt, huge suitcase, and his constant need to take photographs. I would love to have luggage that was loyal and could defend itself.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

     There is something very enticing about the genre of urban fantasy. The possibility that the world of Faerie coexists with modern society does not seem so far-fetched when reading one of these novels. Works such as Tithe, by Holly Black, and Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, are able to hold my complete attention. I become so enraptured by the story that I forget that I'm reading. War for the Oaks had the same effect, with its interesting characters and engaging plot. This story focuses mainly on finding one's own path.
Eddi is presented vulnerable, left her boyfriend, quit the band and is left in a financial mess. Although she is a victim of a circumstance, she soon transforms into a heroine of sorts. This novel was delved fully into female empowerment. The two courts of Faerie are led by intimidating queens. While the characters of Willy and the phouka seem to be in charge, Eddi reverses that with her own domineering qualities as the story moves along.
  
    The relationship of Eddi and the phouka mimicked the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The phouka, besides having the ability to transform into creatures, has a very agressive personality. He is constantly making a nuisance of himself, and purposely annoys everyone. It is interesting that he is never given a name. By calling him "the phouka" the author reminds us that he is supernatural. While, Eddi is not described a gorgeous woman, she has attractive qualities and is able to command the attention of others. And just like the tale, she is unhappy with the phouka's constant presence at first but unknowingly develops feeling for him by the end.

     After I finished reading, I found that I was a bit disappointed by some of the story's elements. While each character was very unique, there was little to no background information presented on any of them. The ending was quite abrupt, and the "battle" of the bands seemed a little strange after all that had occurred. While music played a major role as the base of the story, it was employed as an unconventional tool in deciding the fates of Faerie. The dramatic atmosphere came and went in the span of a couple of pages, and felt rushed. I felt that the mood was disrupted by some unnecessary, sporadic silly comments by the minor characters.

     Aside from that, I found this to be a great urban fantasy novel. I had never heard of the title or the author prior to seeing it on the recommended reading list. Using music as a source of power fits so well into the realm of fantasy. Melodies can manipulate a person's mood, and thus can control people. I have read other fantasy tales that utilize music as their primary theme, but this book really dove into the heart of it and presented it very well.