Shadowmancer - update: Other Books

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Sarah" <plungy116 at a...> wrote:
> Those of you that know me will recall that my reading is a bit hit 
> and miss, but I have been encouraged by my love of Harry Potter to 
> read fanfic and other "proper" books too.  I wrote a couple of weeks 
> ago about reading Shadowmancer ... Well I have persevered and I'm
> half way through it now and I'm loving it - I just thought you ought
> to know!
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Who cares what I'm reading, or what anyone is reading - I'm reading 
> and that is the important thing.
> ...
> Sarah xx

bboyminn:

Hi Sarah,

If you finish with Shadowmance, and are looking for something else to
read, I found the following books thoroughly captivating.

'Bartimaeus Trilogy' by Jonothan Stroud
-Volume 1 - The Amulet of Samarkand (author - Jonathan Stroud)
-Volume 2 - The Golem's Eye
-Volume 3 - not yet released

These are a little darker than the Harry Potter books and take a
different approach to magic, but the books are filled with interesting
characters and events. This was one of those books where I sat and
read for hours and hours, I just could put it down because I was so
eager to find out what happened next. Eagerly waiting for the third
book in the series. The basic story is that Nathanial, whose magic
name will be John Mandrake, is apprenticed to Underwood, a mid-level
mediocre wizard in the government. The location is London, and the
British Empire is ruled by magicians. At the age of 11, to avenge his
humilation at the hands of an adult wizard, Nathanial conjures up a
Djinni (genie) called Bartimaeus, a difficult and dangerous task at
his age, to carry out an somewhat ill-conceived plot. It is this event
that sets the story into motion.

Unlike Harry Potter, which is told for single point of view, each new
chapter of this story continues the story from the point of view of a
different primary character. Most often the point of view character is
 either Bartimaeus or Nathanial/John. This isn't confusing or
anything, it's just a different, and in this case very well used,
approach to telling a story.


Atremis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
- Vol 1 - Artemis Fowl
- Vol 2 - Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident
- Vol 3 - Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code
- Vol 4 - Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception

Again very captivating, relatively short books, light reading, very
fun and funny, interesting characters. This is more in the Yound Adult
catagory, but still very good books overal, I can't wait to read the
rest of them. Artemis Fowl is a 12 year old criminal mastermind who
due to circumstances is left with very little supervision. The only
constant in his life is his extremely large bodyguard Butler. Artemis
is always scheming up new ways to make money, usually by somewhat
dodgy means. These schemes are what set the various adventures into
motion. This series of books is lighter and shorter than the other
books mentioned, but they are still very interesting and fun. 


Eragon by Christopher Paoline
The Inheritance Trilogy
- Vol 1 - Eragon
- Vol 2 - Eldest
- Vol 3 - ?

Talk about action packed! This is a very fast paced book with lots of
action taking place in a very convincing detailed parallel universe.
It's about 15 year old Eragon who stubbles across a large oval
sapphire-colored sphere while he is out hunting for food. This sets
into motion the most amazing series of adventures. Again, this was a
thoroughly captivating 'just couldn't put it down' book. I read and
read and read without stopping desperate to find out what happened next. 

Of the books listed, this one could probably be described a blend of
Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Like Harry Potter, the young hero
Eragon is plucked from quiet obscurity and thrust into an amazing
adventure and world. And much like Harry Potter, Eragon is a somewhat
reluctant hero who is thrust into dangerous situation that are far
beyond his ability to deal with, yet through LOTS OF luck, shear
determination, and force of will he manages to pull through and save
the day.

It is like Lord of the Rings in that it take place in a parallel world
 during ancient times and requires a lot of traveling. One of the
things that put me off of Lord of the Rings was the parallel world
aspect, because of all the unusual unfamiliar place and people names I
could never keep track of who was who and what was what. That is also
somewhat true of this book, but to a much lesser degree. For example,
the story takes place in the land of Alagaësia and they travel to
Carvahall, Dras-Leona, and Farthen Dûr amoung other places. But the
flow of the story makes it relatively easy to keep track, and the
number of characters at any one place is limted. 

The amazing thing about the Inheritance Trilogy - Eragon and it's
author, is that he author was 15 years old when he wrote the first
book. Despite that, his writing is very sophisticated; excellent plot,
nice flow, engaging characters, humor, tragedy, adventure, etc....


Again, all of these books were so thoroughly captivating that I just
couldn't put them down, I read and read and read, I missed meals and
lost sleep, I simply had to know what happens next, and I can't wait
to get the next books in each of these series.

All the books take a different approach to magic, and similarly, they
all set definite limits on magic. I found them all an easy read that 
moved at a sufficiently fast pace that I never got bored or lost interest.

With all these books, if you go to Amazon.com, you can read the first
few pages on-line, that should give you a good feel for the books. 

Finally, thanks to your recommendation, think I will give Shadowmance
a read.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn