How I Discovered: Terry Brooks

I discovered Terry Brooks when I was in high school.  Basically, I found Terry Brooks because he was really close to Piers Anthony.  I did not start off with his more popular Shannara series.  The first series I ever read and loved by Terry Brooks all started when I read Magic Kingdom for Sale -- Sold!.  This is the Magic Kingdom of Landover series, which I loved because it all seemed a little ridiculous to me.  The reason that I really enjoyed this story was because it started in the real world and then transitioned into the kingdom of Landover, is traditional fantasy and is ever so slightly ridiculous.  Although there is a whole series, I really do prefer to read the first book by itself.  Also, I just looked at goodreads.com and there is a sixth edition to the series.  However, it was published 14 years after the fifth book and I don't think that I'll be re-reading the whole series just to read the sixth book.

The basic plot is that the main character, Ben Holiday, no longer wishes to live in the real world.  Although he is a successful lawyer with a lot of money, life has nothing to offer him anymore.  However, he sees an ad and believes it is an elaborate hoax that someone is playing on him.  Being a lawyer and also filled with curiosity, Ben Holiday decides to respond to the ad.  He ends up purchasing the Kingdom, only to find that it was not quite as advertised.  Sterling Castle isn't quite as sterling, there are all kinds of monsters and the taxes haven't been collected in quite a long time.  In addition, there is a mysterious knight who keeps popping up every time that Ben is in danger.  Who is the knight and what does he have to do with Ben?  You'll have to read it to find out!

Once I finished this series, I started in the Shannara series.  I just gave up after a while.  It seemed like there was no end to the series and sub-series.  It is a traditional fantasy series, but unlike Landover, doesn't really seem to poke as much fun at itself.  Combine those two facts and I just got bored with the series.  If  you like fantasy, I would suggest the original Shannara Trilogy.  If you like those, you'll like the others in the sequel series as well.

      

How I Discovered – Lisa Shearin

I’ve decided to start a new series titled “How I Discovered”.  This will discuss how I found out about new books, whether it is an interesting story or not.  This is the first installment of my series.

I watched The Guild’s Game On music video (it’s a Bollywood music video about geekdom, you need to watch it if you haven’t already) and I noticed Felicia Day’s character reading a book that looked really interesting. I paused, zoomed and then looked the title up on Goodreads and found out it was the 4^th book in the Raine Benares series.

Of course, I started at the beginning of the series.  The first book is called Magic Lost, Trouble Found and is a great read.  In this book, a good deed goes bad when Raine Benares, trying to assist an old friend (who is a thief) finds herself attached to the amulet that he is stealing.  She finds herself defending herself and her family from several factions who also want the amulet.  Not only that, but her magical powers are amplifying as well.  How will she deal with all these changes?  You’ll have to read the entire series to find out.  I finished the fourth book Bewitched and Betrayed (which is the book that Felicia Day was reading) and can’t wait to get the fifth.  If you like fantasy novels with snarky, sassy and strong female leads, this is definitely the series for you!