Review: A Memory of Light: Book 14 of the Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

While I didn’t review the rest of the books in The Wheel of Time series, I’d like to review the last book, A Memory of Light. It seemed like reviewing all 14 books would overwhelm whatever else I posted during my reading challenge in 2011, but one review can’t hurt, right?

A Memory of Light

As we’ve discussed before, I’m not a big fan of happy endings–many stories seem too forced and joyful at the end, when real life is never so neatly wrapped up. I don’t demand that all my books be 100% realistic, but I wouldn’t mind more ambiguous/uncertain endings! Even though I had some issues with Rand throughout the series, I largely enjoyed these books (plus I got to meet Brandon Sanderson two times!). And the ending….oh, this series had a good ending. There were some happy parts, some upsetting parts, and so many “OMG what?!” parts. I started reading this book while on vacation in Hawaii, and it was totally worth doubling the weight of my carry on bag.

Brandon Sanderson, the author picked to finish Robert Jordan’s wonderful series, has always been pretty open about how the last three books were originally designed to be a single book (and at the most recent book signing at Powell’s Harriet shared that Jordan even planned for the book to be a trilogy way back before it turned into an epic fantasy series!). I’m sure every reader was as happy as me when it was turned into multiple books so every story line, even for more minor characters, could be resolved. Did they all end the way I wanted? Not at all! But was it realistic to what probably would happen in a war-torn world with so many competing factions? Yes, so I’ll only cry a little when good characters die.

I don’t want to give away any major plot points for people new to the series so I won’t give a plot overview, but I do want to say this: The Wheel of Time is an amazing epic fantasy series, and I completely enjoyed my time with these books. I’m already planning to reread the series every few years, and I’d like to go back to reread A Memory of Light once on its own to make sure I caught everything (Sanderson loves to hide small but important details). The length of the books may be off-putting for some, but I can’t think of a better way to spend your time!

 

Teaser Tuesday

Despite what my blogging schedule would imply, I’ve got a stack of books to review. But work got crazy (A promotion! More work than hours in the day!) and life got busy. I’d still like to share what I’m reading though, and see what you all are reading too!

The rules for Teaser Tuesday, hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, are simple:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from that page (without spoiling the book!)
   
4. Include the title and author so others can find the book if they enjoyed your teaser

This weeks teaser:

“Miles supposed eight developed planets and an equal fringe of allied and puppet dependencies qualified as sprawl in any sane person’s lexicon. Not that the Cetagandan ghem-lords wouldn’t like to sprawl a little further, at their neighbors’ expense, if they could.”

~Miles, Mystery & Mayhem, by Lois McMaster Bujold

 

Review: The Emperor’s Soul, by Brandon Sanderson

I’m sure I’ve mentioned it on ever Brandon Sanderson book I’ve reviewed, but I love his story telling. Sanderson writes grand sweeping novels with complicated worlds, and I have yet to meet a hero I don’t love. So when a tiny novella came out last year, I eagerly pre-ordered the book and read it the first chance I had (it made a great read-at-lunch book). The Emperor’s Soul takes place in the same world as the book Elantris, but adds a level of depth unexpected in a story so short.

The Emperor’s Soul

Where Elantris followed a princess trying to save her world, The Emperor’s Soul follows Shai, a notorious forger who got caught. Having a main character who is, by some accounts, a bad person with no morals doesn’t change the insane connection I felt with Shai. She may be part of the underground black market in expensive forgeries, but she is also intelligent, fiercely independent, and loyal to her family and teachers.

Shai does have to face punishment for her crimes, but like any good Sanderson story the punishment isn’t what Shai or the readers expected. To pay for the crime of forgery…she must create a forgery of the Emperor’s soul. What Shai and the rest of the world don’t realize is that the Emperor was hurt, and the only way to save him is to create a new soul that defies everything their religion stands for. If Shai can create this impossible soul stamp by the time he is expected in public again, she will be allowed to live.

If you keep up on things in the sci-fi/fantasy world, you already know that The Emperor’s Soul has been nominated for a Hugo Award for best novella. I haven’t read any of the other works nominated this year, but I hope Sanderson wins because this story was great. With very  little action compared to his normal battle-filled books, Shai still lives an exciting and dangerous life. It tackles issues of morality versus the law in a direct but subtle way, by viewing the world’s religion almost as an archaeological study would (Shai does not subscribe to the same religion as the Emperor and his government). And because Sanderson’s writing is never dull, there is even a story behind how the novella went from concept to award nominee in just over a year.

The Emperor’s Soul may not be the length or scope we’ve come to expect from Brandon Sanderson, but it’s just as well written and thought out as his other books.

 

Book Review: Cordelia’s Honor, by Lois McMaster Bujold

Apparently everyone is in a science fiction mood right now–or at least two of my favorite stores! Powell’s is celebrating Geek Week with a sale on science fiction/fantasy games and gifts, and Out of Print is running Book Madness with a sale on science fiction/fantasy shirts and accessories (I have the Wizard of Oz shirt and absolutely love it). I recently finished Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold, and am currently halfway done with the second book in the series.

Cordelia’s Honor

I’ve read several fantasy books by Bujold, but this is the first sci fi book I’ve read despite owning several of them so I was really excited for this one. Cordelia’s Honor is actually two stories in the Vorkosigan Saga, Shards of Honor and Barrayar (which won a Hugo Award for best science fiction novel), and follows a few years in the life of Cordelia Naismith. Cordelia is captain of a spaceship and comes from a very technologically advanced planet called Beta Colony, but has never seen the ocean or even a lake because her world mainly exists as underground cities.

While on a mission, her team is overwhelmed by a group from the rival planet of Barrayar (a planet so “backward” they don’t have electricity and computers in every home). Soon only Cordelia, a wounded member of her group, and the leader of the other group, Aral Vorkosigan, remain to make the trip back to a base to be rescued. Like any good love story, two very different people thrown together in stressful circumstances naturally fall in love…except Cordelia and Aral will do most anything to avoid admitting they feel anything but hate toward the person who should be the enemy. Yet when life back on her home planet becomes unbearable, Cordelia manages to escape the military to join her love on his strange planet.

And while Barrayar may have many similarities to Earth, it’s the strangest thing Cordelia has ever seen. She struggles to understand their political system, their food (instead of “protien packets” they eat animals, something not seen on Beta Colony), and the way marriage and sex works on this planet (they don’t have birth control, and arranged marriages are common). And when Aral becomes Regnant to a child Emperor orphaned in a bloody civil war, Cordelia barely manages to survive this strange new world.

Obviously this book has an exciting story line, and I love most anything to do with space travel. The true highlight of the book, however, is Cordelia and the contrast between women on Beta Colony and women on Barrayar. In Cordelia’s world women can fill any position in the army, control their own love lives, and live like independent modern women. In Aral’s world, however, women aren’t allowed in the army and they don’t hold political office. What appalls Cordelia most of all is the lack of medical technology–on Beta Colony pregnant women can transfer the fetus to a robot-like incubator so the pregnancy and birth don’t disrupt their lives, while on Barrayar it’s rare to even have a doctor perform a C-section!

Cordelia is an intelligent, funny, and passionate woman. Her crazy antics never seem out of place because she truly believes in everything she does, and I hope those traits continue into the rest of the series.

 

Review: The Wise Man’s Fear: The Kingkiller Chronicle Day Two, by Patrick Rothfuss

One of my biggest annoyances with books is when only part of a series is out and I’ve got to wait for the rest of the books–patience is not one of my strengths. Even thought only two of the three books in Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicle series are currently out, I love these books so much I can deal with having to wait for the third. The second book, The Wise Man’s Fear, was even better than the first.

The Wise Man’s Fear

The Wise Man’s Fear continues Kvothe’s tale, bouncing back and forth between his adventurous childhood and the bitter old man he is today. This book also starts to fill in some of the history behind the legends surrounding him, and they provide a great example of how legends rarely tell what really happened. Despite how well Kvothe does at his University classes his roaming childhood did not prepare him to get along well with upper class citizens, resulting in enough trouble with another boy that he must take a break from the school.

While on this break he works for a local nobleman leading a band of mercenaries on a bandit hunt (while stopping an assassination attempt on the man and winning a wife for him!). One member of this mercenary band, Tempi, is part of a mysterious warrior tribe who teaches Kvothe their ways despite their mistrust of outsiders, starting just one of many legends about him. Kvothe also spends some time with the Fae (fairy) Felurian in the Fae realm, starting yet another legend as the first man to resist her powers. There is also continuing issues with his Edema Ruh past, a girl he fell in love with at University, and his quest to find the Chandrian (demon group responsible for killing his family).

As amazing as the stories are, it’s still the characters and the writing that make these books amazing. Kvothe is young and impulsive and eager to become an adult instead of a troubled kid, and reminds me so much of other young kids I know. He tries so hard to be a good person and seems genuinely confused when people don’t see things the same way he does, and that earnestness is heartbreaking. I found myself crying several times and I really hope the last book comes out soon so I can figure out what happens!

 

Book Store Review: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing

I’ve talked before about how much I love Powell’s, a book store most famous for its giant downtown location. Since I don’t live in downtown Portland, however, the Beaverton location is more convenient for most of my book browsing. The Cedar Hills location is half the size of the downtown location, but I’ve never had a problem finding a book.

Powell’s at Cedar Hills Crossing

After getting our tax return we decided to spend a rainy Saturday at Powell’s with only three goals: a cookbook for our new wok (a wedding present), some books off the NPR list, and a few classics. One hour and $99 later we had three cookbooks, five sci-fi books, and five classics. One of the best things about Powell’s is the quality of used books for the price–every one of the classics we bought, along with one of the cookbooks, were used and except for the covers being slightly battered on the corners they look good as new for half the price. Even the new books at Powell’s are wonderfully priced though, since no book on this shopping trip cost more than $10.

Just like the downtown location, the staff at Powell’s at Cedar Hills Crossing are incredibly helpful and always excited to help you find a book. They also host some great events at this location–I’ve seen Brandon Sanderson speak here twice. So if you’re looking for a great bookstore without driving all the way into Portland, I highly recommend the Cedar Hills Crossing location.

 

Teaser Tuesday, and meeting Brandon Sanderson again

Powell’s has one again proven itself the best bookstore ever–they host Brandon Sanderson, one of my favorite fantasy authors, every time he does a book tour. And this time, since he’s promoting the last Wheel of Time book, Harriet, Robert Jordan’s wife, was on tour with him! Makes for a very exciting Monday night in this introverted book worm’s world.

Me, with Brandon Sanderson and Harriet

I’ve already finished A Memory of Light (review pending, but I’m happy with how it all ended), but I’d still like to share it for Teaser Tuesday this week. Has anyone else read the book? I’d love to know what you thought, so please leave a comment!

The rules for Teaser Tuesday are simple:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from that page (without spoiling the book!)
4. Include the title and author so others can find the book if they enjoyed your teaser

This week’s teaser:

“There are no endings, and never will be endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time.

But it was an ending.”

~A Memory of Light: Book 14 in the Wheel of Time series, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, page 908