All posts by skyebjenner

Arrow’s Fall by Mercedes Lackey

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Arrow's Fall

Title: Arrow’s Fall
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: Heralds of Valdemar #3, Valdemar #25
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw fantasy
Year: 1988
5th sentence, 74th page: I’ve told you that before.

Synopsis

VALDEMAR’S PERIL!

With Elspeth, the heir to the throne of Valdemar, come of marriageable age, Talia, the Queen’s Own Herald retursn to court to find Queen and heir beset by diplomatic intrigue as various forces vie for control of Elspeth’s future.

But just as Talia is about to uncover the traitor behind all these intrigues, she is sent off on a mission to the neighboring kingdom, chosen by the Queen to investigate the worth of a marriage proposal from Prince Ancar. And, to her horror, Talia soon discovers there is far more going on at Prince Ancar’s court than just preparation for a hoped-for royal wedding. For a different magic than that of the Heralds is loose in Ancar’s realm – an evil and ancient sorcery that may destroy all of Valdemar unless Talia can send warning to her Queen in time!

Thoughts

Arrow’s Fall was an epic end to my first Mercedes Lackey trilogy. The climax that had slowly been building in the previous two books finally reached a crescendo, and I’m not ashamed to say that I shed more than a tear or two.

Talia is finally strong enough to face her demons; both internal and external, and her ability to triumph in the worst of situations is awe inspiring. Not only does she overcome her own ragged insecurities, she survives torture and loss to eventually come home to love in the final chapters.

The highly climatic end to the trilogy perfectly sets the storyline of Valdemar for the next trilogy (Mage Winds) which I have yet to read. The series leaves you content because Talia’s battle has been won, but also tense because you know that your beloved characters are on the precipice of war. I really loved this combination of tying up loose ends and setting the reader up for the next series.

All of the Valdemar books tend to do this – they are very interrelated and once you have read one series, you generally have access to main characters in another. But they are also easily read in isolation of one another, so you can start reading these emotionally turbulent books at any point within the chronology of the Valdemar universe.

<- Arrow’s FlightBy the Sword ->

Image source: Fantastic Fiction

Fortress Conservation by Dan Brockington

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Fortress Conservation

Title: Fortress Conservation: The Preservation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania
Author: Dan Brockington
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, True stories, Science, Non-fiction
Pace: Slow
Format: Ethnographic text
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: Number of species.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Dan Brockington challenges the broad vision of Africa’s environment, history and society which drives conservation policies across the continent. He argues that his vision has been harmful, unjust and unnecessary in its effects on people at the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania.

Do cattle destroy a wilderness?
Many ecologists question whether herds degrade the environment. They ask whether a wilderness has to be devoid of people. They voice the concern for the rights of the people excluded from the Reserve by politicians and judges.

Are the interests of people to give way to wildlife?
Exclusion policies are the norm of conservation. African governments gain easily collectable revenues from tourism. Western governments and donors form alliances with the African governments to sustain this vision.

Were the Maasai in Mkomazi long ago?
Conservation policy is based on a fallacious interpretation of the Reserve’s history and environment. The evictions have been economically damaging.

Do the foreign Trusts provide valid rehabilitation projects?
The Hollywood film about the work at Mkomazi “To Walk with Lions’ is used for fund-raising. Hello! reports on London parties. Books, films, television and magazines feed the search for a long-held dream of Africa. They gloss over what has happened to the people and their herds who have been moved out.

Thoughts

I found Fortress Conservation to be a good read. It gave a fascinating insight into conservation practices throughout Africa and the idea of ‘fortress conservation’. It was amazingly useful for my BA Hons thesis – focusing on conservation in Australia. The idea that fortress conservation is a ‘white man’s practice’ was fascinating to me. Although I did find some of his writing a little too academic and dry in places (hence the lower rating). I would recommend this book to others interested in conservation though.

This book raised a lot of complex issues – it wasn’t just about conserving the natural world, Brockington also investigated the cultural and social significance of this. Add in aspects of the conservation on colonialism, and I walked away from this book with a LOT of thoughts running through my head.

Not the book for everyone, but definitely worth a read if you have any interest in Africa, conservation or just the issues of the modern political and social climate.

<- More non-fiction reviews More anthropology book reviews ->
Image source: Amazon

Arrow’s Flight by Mercedes Lackey

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Arrow's Flight

Title: Arrow’s Flight
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: Heralds of Valdemar #2, Valdemar #24
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw fantasy
Year: 1987
5th sentence, 74th page: “So that you have an excuse to carry arrows wherever you go,” Kyril replied.

Synopsis

HERALD’S CHALLENGE!

Talia could scarcely believe that she had finally earned the rank of full Herald. Yet though this seemed like the fulfillment of all her dreams, it also meant she would face trials far greater than those she had previously survived. For now Talia must ride forth to patrol the kingdom of Valdemar, dispensing Herald’s justice throughout the land.

But in this realm beset by dangerous unrest enforcing her rulings would require all the courage and skill Talia could command – for if she misused her own special powers, both she and Valdemar would pay the price!

Thoughts

Lackey is a unique writer. She takes insecurities and some (very) deep seated issues and turns them into a sort of power, or a hurdle to jump. It’s why I love her books, depression, anxiety, even a variety of forms of abuse are taken and help to shape her characters into stronger people. I know that it doesn’t always work like that in real life, but the idea that you can take all of those bad things and become a stronger person is somewhat inspiring. It’s what I’ve spent my life trying to do.

Arrow’s Flight takes the insecurity and unsurity of person that Talia felt in Arrows of the Queen and investigates what happens when these feelings are amplified. It asks what happens when others prey upon your insecurities? What happens when they get amplified tenfold? The addition of supernatural powers just helps to illustrate her point even better. I loved this take on a main character; the fact that she is just so damn vulnerable makes her a heck of a lot more relatable and loveable.

Not only were Talia’s insecurities explored, but through this journey, her strength and abilities were found. This, along with her growing sense of self and relationship with her mentor made Arrow’s Flight an incredible journey. The growing relationship between Kris was one of my favourites of the whole series. For all of Talia’s softness, she has a backbone and when Kris oversteps his bounds, she puts him straight back into his place. It’s a mixture of comradery, passion and familial love and it just works beautifully.

The juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability in this book is awe-inspiring and made me realise that I have flaws, but I have strengths too. And we can all use these.

<- Arrows of the QueenArrow’s Fall ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Magician’s Guild by Trudi Canavan

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

The Magician's Guild

Title: The Magician’s Guild
Author: Trudi Canavan
Series: The Black Magician Trilogy #1, The Black Magician World #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy, Mages
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2001
5th sentence, 74th page: He taught me lots of stuff, though.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Each year the magicians of Imardin gather to purge the city streets of vagrants, urchins and miscreants. Masters of the disciplines of magic, they know that no one can oppose them. But their protective shield is not as impenetrable as they believe.

As the mob is herded from the city, a young street girl, furious at the authorities’ treatment of her family and friends, hurls a stone at the shield, putting all her rage behind it. To the amazement of all who bear witness, the stone passes unhindered through the barrier and renders a magician unconscious.

It is an inconceivable act, and the guild’s worst fear has been realised – an untrained magician is loose on the streets. She must be found, and quickly, before her uncontrolled powers unleash forces that will destroy both her, and the city that is her home.

Thoughts

The Magician’s Guild was a great introduction to a new author. I’m always on the hunt for authors who have good, strong, female heroes. Trudi Canavan does this perfectly in The Magician’s Guild. Not only is Sonea’s tale one of the oppressed gaining power against the oppressors, it’s also a great story of inner power and doing the right thing.

I love the investigation of classes through the idea of Magicians of Imardin and the city’s undesirables and the way that Sonea is able to permeate through these boundaries. It’s not just about the two sides of a difficult story; the biases that each side have had created by their circumstances, it’s also the journey of one uniquely vulnerable heroine to find out what her future may hold.

Sonea isn’t an in your face, tough heroine. She spends much of the book running from her circumstances and fleeing her fear of the unknown. But it was this that I found endearing. By telling the story from Sonea’s point, and the point of her potential mentor, you could both understand her fear, and hope for a better future.

I’m really looking forward to reading the other two books in this trilogy – I think that with such an amazing start to the series, it will be a fantastic journey.

 <- The Mad Apprentice Review The Novice Review ->
Image source: Trudi Canavan

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

The Assassin's Blade

Title: The Assassin’s Blade
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass Companion
In: The Assassin’s Blade (Sarah J. Maas)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Short story collections, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Collection
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Roalfe croaked as she held it up in her free hand, the garnet flashing in the light.

Synopsis

Contains all five novellas.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

Thoughts

I loved this prequel. Side stories that were mentioned in the main Throne of Glass series are told in full in The Assassin’s Blade. We also FINALLY get to find out more about Sam – how Celaena fell for him and what happened to him. I honestly love everything about Celaena, so of course I was going to love this book. But I’m not entirely biased… or maybe I am.

I loved the format of this book; it was a series of five short stories. I liked that you could read them as entirely separate novellas, or you could read the whole lot. There was a nice thread that followed through between each story. It provided good breaks to put the book down, but it also allowed for large periods of time to pass. Unlike the main books, there are months of inaction between each story. Even though one story is the catalyst for the actions in the next, there are periods that would quite honestly be a little boring to read about.

My absolute favourite thing about this series of short stories is meeting the man who created Celaena. The complexity that Maas lends to this character is tremendous. He is impossible to completely hate, but you kind of despise him at the same time. Just read the book, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

<- More Sarah J. MaasThe Assassin and the Pirate Lord Review ->

Image source: Super Space Chick

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review, , , , , , , ,
Overview
Heir of Fire

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: So out they went, into the freezing night.

Synopsis

Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can’t bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back…

The Immortal queen will help her destroy the king – for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her?

Thoughts

The third book in the Throne of Glass series takes some of the things we learnt about Celaena’s past become crystallised. The greater focus on her personal journey and self are a great change of pace. Understanding her pain and past just made me love the her even more and honestly, not many series send me through the amount of emotional turmoil and ups and downs as this series.

I love that in the Heir of Fire, Celaena creates new relationships and friendships. The main relationship throughout the book – with Rowan – is complex and slowly built. It reminds us that not everyone in our lives is friendly from the beginning or even accessible. But some things are worth the fight.

The stakes become so much higher in this book. Not only does it mean that it is a lot longer than the first two books, you are also WAY more likely to cry. Or in my case, throw the book across the room in shock of the latest plot twist. It’s a testament to how well Maas can write. Her characters and plot lines are so relatable – you can’t help but fall in love!

<- Crown of MidnightQueen of Shadows ->

Image source: Live Journal

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Crown of Midnight

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Only that he’s added that little grub, Roland, to his council, and Roland seems to have been given the task of handling me.

Synopsis

CROWNED BY EVIL. BOUND BY DUTY. DIVIDED BY LOVE.

Celaena Sardothien, royal assassin, is the King Adarlan’s deadliest weapon. She must win her freedom through his enemies’ blood – but she cannot bear to kill for the crown. And every death Celaena fakes, every lie she tells, puts those she loves at risk.

Torn between her two protectors – a captain and a prince – and battling a dark force far greater than the king, Celaena must decide what she will fight for: her liberty, her heart or the fate of a kingdom…

Thoughts

This was a fantastic follow up to Throne of Glass. Not only did it extend on the themes of the first novel, it made you even more emotionally involved in the characters (I didn’t think it was possible, but believe me, it is!). Maas builds on her characters and storyline with incredible talent and it completely sucked me in – to the point that I spent an entire day reading (and finishing) this book.

Crown of Midnight takes us into Celaena’s past and even sees new friendships and characters. Finding out about why the main character is as tough and stubborn as she is fascinated me. The rare glimpses into her formation and training as an assassin (and what preceded this) was amazing.

The love triangle started in the first book was expanded on and I honestly think that it is one of my favourite love stories. There is a heavy theme of love, lust and loss throughout the story, but it doesn’t feel like a needy, teeny story. There is still strength and independence on the behalf of all of the characters. Especially Celaena. I always hate how in stories (like Twilight), the girl finds love and basically loses herself. This doesn’t happen in the Crown of Midnight. She ultimately choses a path other than love to follow which pulls at the heart strings but makes you feel proud of her power and strength.

This story ends in an amazing cliff hanger. I wouldn’t read this unless you have the third book, Heir of Fire, to reach for. I did… and I was incredibly grateful!

<- Throne of GlassHeir of Fire ->

Image source: Fantasy Book Review

Are the Oceans Becoming Quieter?

Book Review, , , ,

Originally published by ReefWatch SA on 31 March 2016.

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpheidae

Original research article: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/283/1826/20153046

If you love marine life (which you obviously do since you’re getting the Reef Watcher), then you’ve heard about ocean acidification. Actually, I think that just about everybody has heard about it. And every time we turn around, scientists have discovered a new problem associated with it. Or at least that’s how it seems because it turns out that ocean acidification is now silencing our oceans. Who knew?

To make more sense of this phenomenon, you probably need to know what sounds we’re talking about. And weirdly enough, you’ve probably all heard them – you just haven’t realised what you are listening to. It’s shrimp. Snapping shrimp to be exact. This video explains it really well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCW789vj7t4&feature=youtu.be

Basically, it’s the crackling sound that people sometimes hear near and within the ocean – that’s snapping shrimp. They are one of the loudest invertebrates in the ocean and create the ‘snapping’ or crackling sound by closing their claws very fast. This creates an air bubble that can release a sound of up to 210 dB! That’s the equivalent of an earthquake with a Richter scale of 2.0 and is louder than a rocket launch! And at 194 dB, sound waves become shock waves! They normally use this phenomenal talent to catch prey or scare off predators. But this sound is important in another way – baby fish also use this sound to navigate the sea.

Not only will snapping shrimp be in more danger if they don’t ‘snap’ frequently, but it could also have larger effects on the ecosystem. If baby fish can’t navigate through the oceans, then they are far more likely to become someone else’s lunch. Sound is the most reliable way to navigate in the water since light and smells can become distorted in the currents. Sound also travels thousands of kilometres, unlike water, which travels a few metres.

How is a rising CO2 level in the water changing the sound I hear you ask? Well, three researchers from Adelaide University, Mr. Tullio Rossi, Associate Professor Ivan Nagelkerken and Professor Sean Connell, studied the snapping shrimp surrounding volcanic vents in three locations off the coast of New Zealand. These vents are natural sources of CO2 and give us a fairly important insight into the effects that ocean acidification could have. The CO2 levels around these areas are equivalent to what scientists have predicted will be observed in 2100.

It was found that snapping shrimp made a smaller and less frequent noise when they were in locations with more CO2. No physical differences were found in these shrimps, meaning that something about this level of carbon dioxide within the water affects their behaviour. In other words, more carbon dioxide means less noise. If the world keeps warming as it has, this will turn our happy, clappy reefs into silent, directionless areas.

Not an outcome anybody wants.

Blue Urbanism by Timothy Beatley

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blue UrbanismTitle: Blue Urbanism: Exploring Connections Between Cities and Oceans
Author: Timothy Beatley
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Science, Conservation, Non-fiction
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Island Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Looking down from above gives the sense that it is just another farm field or market garden.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Blue Urbanism offers a comprehensive look at the challenges, solutions, and great potential for urban areas to integrate ocean health into their policy and planning goals. Equal parts inspiration and practical advice, it explores the question: What would it mean to live in cities designed to foster feelings of connectedness to the ocean?

Thoughts

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and was inspired by it. I love reading conservation and science based books, but I wasn’t really certain about the premise of ‘Blue Urbanism’. However, from the first paragraph, I was completely hooked. I read it from cover to cover in two hours (at the detriment to the things I should have been doing, like study and housework…)

Beatley broke down the chapters wonderfully. They were distinctly different, but wove into one another so that you could follow his argument and point. The preface also helped to place his point in context and let you know what you were getting yourself into. It’s always nice when you can read a preface (or blurb) and say “yes, this is the book for me”.

Each chapter not only outlines Beatley’s argument, it also provides some great examples of areas across the world that are using his ideas. In chapter seven, when he is discussing the idea of citizen science in marine conservation, he discusses the Dolphin Watch program in Perth. I found this incredibly helpful. Not only are you being inspired by new ways to protect our gorgeous oceans, you also get examples of ways that this is already happening. It’s a healthy dose of optimism in an otherwise complex and very serious issue.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the ways in which it inspired me. I find with some science or conservation based books, they are a little dry and inaccessible to people who don’t have a writhing passion for its topic. Luckily, I generally have that desire, so it doesn’t bother me. But I would rarely recommend these books to my friends and family – they get bored a little too easily. I would easily recommend Blue Urbanism. Beatley covers the issues well, without harping on. He also shows the reader how serious the consequences can be if we don’t start employing Blue Urbanism in our coastal cities; but it’s not all doom and gloom. He has a healthy dose of hopefulness for the future and in being so sanguine about our potential, he inspires you to get off your butt and do something.

This is definitely one of the better science based books I’ve read in a long time and is definitely worth sinking your teeth into. Especially if you live near the coast.

<- More science book reviews More conservation book reviews ->
Image source: Amazon

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Deja Dead

Title: Deja Dead
Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Arrow Books
Year: 1997
5th sentence, 74th page: A bicycle leaned against the rusted iron fence that surrounded the tiny front yard.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Bagged and discarded, the dismembered body of a woman is discovered in the grounds of an abandoned monastery.

Dr Temperance Brennan, Director of Forensic Anthropology for the province of Quebec, has been researching recent disappearances in the city.

Soon she is convinced that a serial killer is at work. When no one else seems to care, her anger drives her to take matters into her own hands. But her determined probing has placed those closest to her in mortal danger.

Can Tempe make her crucial breakthrough before the killer strikes again?

Thoughts

Do not read this book if you are female and home alone. I repeat. Do not read this book if you are easily scared.

This was the first crime book I’ve ever read. I picked it up because of the TV series Bones. But I didn’t expect just how good and realistic this book would be! Not only does Kathy Reichs take you deep into the world and mind of Temperance Brennan, she also lets you travel into the world of forensic science.

The details in this are so realistic that you can just tell that Reichs has a background in science. But fear not! If you are not a scientist or science enthusiast, everything is so beautifully (and correctly) explained so everyone can follow. Mix in the twists and turns of the case and the Brennan’s personal relationships with her co-workers, and this book is such a hit.

It’s little wonder that this series has been so insanely popular!

But again, if you want a good night’s sleep… maybe don’t read this right before bed…

<- First BonesDeath du Jour ->

Image source: Amazon