by Jane | May 21, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
After reporting on Death’s Mistress by Terry Goodkind, set in the world of the Sword of Truth novels, I decided to go back and read the books I missed between the two series. The Omen Machine picks up the story of Richard Rahl and Mother Confessor Kahlan sometime after their victory over the wicked Jagang.
Ruling from the People’s Palace in D’Hara, Richard starts to hear what seems to be prophesy from some unlikely sources, prophesy that is coming true very quickly. Officials from around the Empire are up in arms, believing that Richard is keeping prophesy from them, especially when they hear of an Omen Machine spouting the same prophesies. These are tricky issues for Richard, but everything comes to a head when he realizes that Kahlan’s life is in danger.
The Omen Machine is the first of four books subtitled “A Richard and Kahlan Novel.” All the same characters are back from the original series, and I enjoyed spending time with them again. I did find the original series more interesting since it involved a lot of discovery by Richard, and Goodkind was particularly skilled writing about that. The breadth was also much greater, following many groups of people across the known world.
That said, The Omen Machine is a well-written book with much excitement. And true to form, Goodkind keeps readers in suspense until the very end, where he finally resolves all the critical issues. A good book, worth reading.
by Jane | May 14, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Eric McCormick heads up a cast of time travelers in Netflix’s Travelers. McCormick as Grant MacLaren leads a team who has been sent back in time to correct problems which have led to their own dystopic present. But they don’t travel by time machine. They have found a way to send a traveler’s consciousness into a person moments before he or she was supposed to die. This leads to some interesting situations, because members of the team must somehow live the lives of the people they have become, while still fulfilling their mission.
McCormick’s character takes over the body and life of a successful FBI agent, which helps greatly with his mission due to the resources available to him. Other members of the team are not so lucky. One takes over a mentally challenged woman and is accused of having faked her disability. Another is now a heroin addict and still another is a high school football player with a history of getting into trouble. As you might expect, there are many challenges for these people — their assignment, their new families, and communication with their bosses in the future, usually through children.
The first season was very exciting. McCormick and the rest of the cast are all great, and I love the new twist on time travel. (Although Quantum Leap is similar, Dr. Beckett has no control over his leaping, not does he know his mission until he gets there). It was recently announced that there will be a second season. I can’t wait. Season 1 left the team in a bit of a mess. I want to see what happens.
by Jane | May 2, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
In The Chapel of Ease by Alex Bledsoe, mystery surrounds a new musical opening Off-Off-Broadway. Written by Tennessean Ray Parrish, it is a love tragedy set in his home county and involves two couples — one corporeal and one spirit. The play, based on a true story, hints at something buried in the chapel where the play takes place, but never reveals what it is. Ray knows, but won’t even tell the cast.
The lead actor, Matt Johansson, becomes friends with Ray during rehearsals and learns something of his people called the Tufa and how they don’t want their stories told. Later, he meets one of them in New York, who seems to be there to stop the play.
After the preview performance for the press, Ray dies suddenly, and Matt volunteers to take his ashes back home. His ulterior motive is to find out the mystery of the chapel of ease, but while there, he discovers more about the Tufa people and their strange origins.
A compelling book, The Chapel of Ease takes the reader from the world of New York theater to backwater Tennessee filled with spirits, danger, and a strange people who just want to be left alone. Bledsoe has done an amazing job weaving a story around the legend of the Tufa. I highly recommend.
by Jane | Apr 21, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind is the second book which Goodkind refers to as “A Richard and Kahlan Novel.” It follows on the heels of The Omen Machine. I like this book better. It starts out with Richard and Kahlan in trouble, unconscious in the back of a wagon driven by two men who want to eat them. They escape from that dilemma but are still in trouble. It seems that the power released by Jit the Hedge Maid in the first novel, which Richard thought he had averted, has affected both him and Kahlan greatly. In fact, if they don’t get some help soon, they will die. Not only that, Richard discovers there is evil in the Dark Lands which he must fight. Unfortunately, Zedd, Nikki, and Cara are missing and Kahlan is unconscious. He must find his people, help Kahlan, and fight the evil, all while he is struggling with the darkness inside him inflicted by Jit. His only help is a teenage sorceress named Samantha, who is just starting to understand her powers.
The Third Kingdom is a lot more exciting than The Omen Machine. Starting out at a run, the action continues throughout. This is Goodkind at his best. The story continues in next book, Severed Souls. I just hope it’s as good.
by Jane | Apr 8, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
3% is a Brazilian series on Netflix about a civilization where 97% of the people live in squalor and 3% live in a land of plenty. At the age of 20, people can apply to enter the Process, a series of tests to select those who are worthy enough to leave the Inland and join the Offshore community. Some tests are social, some physical, some mental, but all are grueling — some can even result in death — and at any time a person can be eliminated and sent home.
In addition to the tension provided by the Process, more suspense is provided by a group known as the Cause, who oppose the Process and are trying to infiltrate it. Another wrinkle occurs behind the scenes. Ezequiel, the man in charge of the Process has a secret, and he is facing opposition from those who want him replaced.
This is an interesting concept, but not as well developed as I would like. The acting is flat, though that could be due to the fact that the dialogue is dubbed into English from Portuguese. In addition, as a Brazilian production, the series is probably low budget and lacking many of the resources available to an American production. That being said, they do a good job of evoking a mood of desperation among the contestants and a sense of something not quite right among those in charge. Clearly, the Offshore is not as utopic as they want everyone to believe.
I will probably watch more episodes of this show when they are released, but I will not recommend it as highly as other Netflix sci fi shows I have seen. Good, but not great. Watch it if you need a sci fi fix, but know that it’s lacking in some areas.
by Jane | Mar 4, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
A big fan of the Sword of Truth series, I was thrilled to find a new book by Terry Goodkind set in the same universe. Death’s Mistress, the first book in The Nicci Chronicles, follows sorceress Nicci, once known as Death’s Mistress, on a mission to the Old World for Richard Rahl, accompanied by the old wizard Nathan Rahl. These two have been sent by Richard to spread the word that, as Lord Rahl, Richard rules both the New World and Old World, and that the inhabitants have nothing more to fear of oppression.
At the beginning of that journey, they encounter a witch woman, who tells them that they must travel to Kol Adair where the wizard will be made whole again and that the “Sorceress must save the world.” Though doubtful, the two set out and soon determine that the witch woman’s words are true. They are joined along the way by an unlikely companion, Bannon, a young man naïve in the ways of the world. But he learns much through the tutelage of Nicci and Nathan.
If you’re not familiar with the eleven Sword of Truth books, the two prequels, or the four “Richard and Kahlan Novels”, I think you’re in for a treat. Terry Goodkind is an excellent writer who knows how to create a world and fill it with interesting, engaging characters. To fans of Goodkind who haven’t read one of his books for a while, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll admit that I miss Richard and his wife Kahlan, but Goodkind has woven an interesting tale around Nicci and Nathan, showing new sides of these characters. You won’t want to miss this one.
by Jane | Feb 25, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth is told through the eyes of two main characters, Akos and Cyra. These two teens live on a world with two adversarial nation-states: Thuvhe and Shotet, and are on opposite sides of the conflict. Tuvhe, Akos’s land, is peaceful, but the Shotets are known for their brutality. Confounding these political issues is a force known as the current, which has a great influence on people of this world. It provides a different power to each person when he or she comes of age, but also gives oracles, one of whom is Akos’ mother, the gift of prophesy. But don’t overestimate this gift; prophesies are fluid and there can be different paths. The only thing which cannot change is the future of a person who is “fated.” Akos and Cyra are two of these people.
Near the beginning of the book, Akos and his brother are kidnapped and taken to Shotet’s cruel, dictatorial ruler Ryzek, who wants to use them because of their fates. Cyra is Ryzek’s sister, but unlike him, she is kind and hates hurting people. Unfortunately, her current power is pain, and she can inflict pain on another person with just a touch. Ryzek knows this and forces her to torture his enemies.
Cyra and Akos are thrown together because his power is to interrupt the current, so he can relieve her of her own constant pain. However, as they get to know each other, a friendship develops which could alter the political structure of the world in which they live.
Carve the Mark is a very engaging book with a satisfying ending. There is no mention as to whether it is the beginning of a series, but there are questions left unanswered, so there is definitely room for a second book. Though there are a lot of characters, they are easy to keep track of, and Akos and Cyra show a great deal of growth. Veronica Roth does an amazing job creating a new world with sympathetic characters. I hope to see more of them.
by Jane | Feb 17, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
Death Marked by Leah Cypess is the sequel to Death Sworn, which I reported on earlier, and looks to be the last book in the series. In this book , Ileni, who was charged with training assassins in Death Sworn, is now at the Imperial Academy of Sorcery. The Academy is a school of the Empire she was raised to hate, and she is separated from Sorin, her assassin lover, who believes she is there as a spy to bring down the Empire. The lead teacher at the Academy is trying to recruit her for their side, and although Ileni meets people at the Academy she likes, her instincts about the evil of the Empire do not prove unfounded.
Death Marked is a book of internal conflict. Ileni is torn among three groups: the Renegi village in which she was born, made up of a group of people expelled from the Empire; the assassins she spent a year training; and the imperial sorcerers, with whom she is now training.
A fine follow-up to Death Sworn, Death Marked follows Ileni while she makes a very difficult choice of loyalties — all the groups she’s been associated with have good points and bad. What should she do? If you enjoyed Death Sworn, pick up Death Marked. I’m just sorry there’s not a third book.
by Jane | Feb 12, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Mercy Journals by Claudia Casper is an apocalypse novel told through the journal of Allen Quincy. The downfall of society as we know it has been brought on by World War III and out-of-control climate change. Millions have died, nation states have fallen, and times are hard. Though there is some semblance of civilization, it’s as though it’s in its infancy. Allen lives alone with only his forbidden goldfish for company, and holds down a job in restricted item enforcement when he isn’t drunk or high.
Things are pretty much the same day to day for him until he meets a woman, then lost family members begin to show up. Therein lies the story. It is a tale of a man lost, a man who wants to do the right thing, if he can only figure out what that is, and the journey he must go through.
With more of a literary than genre feel, The Mercy Journals is a short book for your soul. Take a peek.
by Jane | Feb 3, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
I didn’t know what to expect when I started watching Netflix’s The OA. It was described by Netflix as follows: “Seven years after vanishing from her home, a young woman returns with mysterious abilities and recruits five strangers for a secret mission.” It sounded genre, so I started watching. The first episode was intriguing, but didn’t really grab me. I wasn’t even sure it was genre — it seemed like the story of a woman who had been abducted (and not by aliens), and the only ability she seemed to have was calming a vicious dog.
Things got interesting, however, when she gathered a group of five misfits from the local high school and started telling them her story. But not just to get things off her chest — to involve them in a mystical project to find the other people who were held captive with her.
The lead character Prairie (also known as the OA) is fascinating, the lead villain chilling, and the five misfits round out the cast with their own stories in the mist of what is happening. Once you get into it, you won’t want to stop. I binge-watched the last four episodes in a single sitting. I can’t wait for the next season to come out. An amazing show!
