Category: Book Reviews

Book Review: Perelandra

Perelandra The Space Trilogy, Book 2 By C.S. Lewis Dr. Ransom is called up by the Oyarsa of Malacandra to travel to Perelandra, known to humans as the planet Venus. He discovers an Eden-like paradise, in which he must prevent the Un-man, a possessed form of Dr. Weston, from turning Perelandra into a fallen world. …

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Book Review: Out of the Silent Planet

Out of the Silent Planet The Space Trilogy, Book 1 By C.S. Lewis This first book in C.S. Lewis’ so-called ‘Space Trilogy’ or ‘Cosmic Trilogy’ follows the adventures of Dr. Elwin Ransom on the planet Malacandra. Ransom is kidnapped by a pair of fellow scientists who have secretly built a spaceship. When they reach the …

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Book Review: The Sea Fairies

The Sea Fairies By L. Frank Baum When Cap’n Bill loses his leg, he goes to live with the family of his first mate. He soon grows attached to the first mate’s daughter, Trot, and the two spend many happy hours together near the sea. One day, Trot asks Cap’n Bill to tell him about …

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Book Review: The Settlers of Catan

The Settlers of Catan By Rebecca Gable Translated by Lee Chadeayne Based on Klaus Teuber’s wildly popular board game of the same name, The Settlers of Catan is a semi-historical/fantasy novel based on Norse cultures around the year 850 BCE. The novel was originally written in German, but has been translated into English. The tale …

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Book Review: Brotherband Chronicles: The Outcasts

The Outcasts Brotherband Chronicles, Book 1 By John Flanagan Brotherband Chronicles is a companion trilogy to John Flanagan’s wildly popular Ranger’s Apprentice series. The trilogy follows a half-Skandian, half-Araluen boy, Hal, and his group of friends on their journey to be recognized as warriors by the Skandian adults. When his best friend Mikkel is killed …

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Book Review: Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories

The Lost Stories Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 11 By John Flanagan In honor of the release of The Royal Ranger, I’ve decided to post a review of the preceeding book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, The Lost Stories, on the final novel’s Australian release date. Rather than a novel like the other books in the series, …

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Book Review: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo Translated by J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Christopher Tolkien While not strictly fantasy in the modern sense, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sir Orfeo are both fantasy in their own rights. They are both circa 14th century poems containing fantastical elements which could not possibly …

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Book Review: The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion By J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Christopher Tolkien Published posthumously, The Silmarillion is the bible to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Literally. Told mostly from an Elf-centric point-of-view, The Silmarillion covers the creation of Middle-earth, or Arda, through the rise and fall of the elf kingdoms, the rise and fall of Numenor, and the rise and …

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Book Review: Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth By J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Christopher Tolkien Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth is the first book in a study of the many fragments of Tolkien’s writing on his legendarium. Tolkien’s son Christopher collects several lengthy fragments stretching from the First Age of Middle-earth to the beginning of the …

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Book Review: The High King

The High King The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 5 By Lloyd Alexander In the conclusion to the Chronicles, all Prydain is at war. Arawn, Lord of Annuvin, has attacked Prince Gwydion and stolen the magical sword Dyrnwyn. Gwydion rides to recover the sword, but the companions soon learn the threat is greater than they ever …

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