Call of the Herald - Pre-Review Problem

So I'm again in a quandary.  I have just been offered a lent copy of Bryan Liftin's The Gift.  Which is the second in the Chiveis Trilogy.  I totally loved the first novel The Sword as you can see from my prior review.

http://nextonmykindle.blogspot.com/2011/06/sword-by-bryan-liftin.html

I am just about done with Call of the Herald, which has been slow at times, but I can definitely see myself finishing the series.  It is about a girl and her becoming the Herald of Istra.  The book has been well written and I anticipate the others to be that way as well.

Here is my plan ... I am 80% complete with Call of the Herald and the loan offer is available for 7 days from today.  I'm going to do my best to finish COTH over the weekend and download the loaned The Gift on Monday.  Sound like a good plan?  Here is the catch ... my wife is 100% pregnant and could give birth to our second daughter any day now ... that MAY throw a little wrench in the works.  I think I can make it to still read even though we'll have another little one in the house.

UPDATED 8/16/11 - Call of the Herald Complete!!!

I was able to complete Call of the Herald and loved it so much that I dove right into the second story.  Catrin Volker is just your normal farm girl, who struggles with the rich brats in the town.  She and her cousin Chase and her friend Osbourne mut endure abuse and torture daily.  Until ... one day Catrin is faced with a life or death situation.  Life wins ... at least HER life wins.  She protects those that she loves on numerous occasions, and is accused of being a witch with amazing powers.

She fights her way through this book with the help of those who have sworn to protect her.  Her cousin Chase, her friends Osbourne and Strom and her father's friend Benjin.  There are struggles and problems, and Brian Rathbone weaves a thread that develops over time.  The characters grow and it is quite enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

WHY DIDN"T ANYONE WARN ME?????

So after reading the classic work The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I realized that it won't be a book that I'll read to my daughters anytime soon.  Granted it was amazingly written, in short prose and amazingly crafted short chapters I was pretty dark at times.  The Tin Man chops off wolves heads (40 of them to be exact), the Scarecrow gets his brains (made of bran and needles) and the Lion gets his courage by destroying an overlarge spider by knocking it's head off.

I was anticipating the nicely done 1939 movie where Dorothy visits the Munchkins, gains some friends and gets home.  I actually got something much, MUCH better.  I loved it.  The characters were intricately woven into each other.  The other 13 stories in the series will be just an enjoyable I have a feeling.  I liked how Baum described Kansas as a place full of gray, and Oz as a place beaming with color.  The characters in each place displayed those characteristics as well.

Rating: 5/5

I can't wait to read more about the land of Oz, but Call of the Herald is next.  It is supposed to be a cross between Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Eragon ... sounds like fun!  Plus it is a trilogy ... I love books in a series.

The Hangman's Daughter AND MORE!!!

All I can say is WOW!  This was an awesome read.  I didn't want to put it down ... ever.  It incorporates love, murder, mystery, and even who-dun-it.  My wife even got mad at me saying, "Will you put that thing down and empty the dishwasher."  Obviously I emptied the dishwasher.

This book is based int he 1650's in Bavaria.  It is set in the village of Schongau, and describes the time period beautifully.  It tells of the town hangman, Jakob Kuisl and his daughter Magdelena, along with Simon Fronwieser the young town physician's son.  Well, Magdelena is branded and relegated to a life of shame only because she happens to be the hangman's daughter.  The thing is that she ans Simon care for each other deeply and even talk about running away and living by begging, just so they can be together.

As I've said in my other posts, I hate giving away a book's plot ... but, just say that some children are murdered, and pleasant Schongau midwife is accused of witchcraft and is thrown in the keep.  The keep is where prisoners are kept during trials and questioning and torturing (which is the responsibility of the hangman).  This is where the compassion of Jakob is exhibited.  Typically the hangman is seen as the devil himself, but Jakob actually cares for people and loves his town.  He and Simon do everything in their power to prove the innocence of Martha the midwife.  The turn into super-sleuth's and become early detectives and do it pretty well.

Anyway, again ... AWESOME read.  In a couple of points it drags a bit, but Mr. Potzsch make up for it with his imagination and character development.  It'll make you think about history and how far we have come.
Rating: 4.5/5

My next read is an oldie.  I'm going to try to read all 14 books in the Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum.  We had a family movie night this week and watched the classic 1939 movie with Judy Garland.  My five year old daughter loved it.  In our town we actually have a Wizard of Oz Gift Shop and Museum.  Every year there is a Wizard of Oz festival, where there are look-alike contests and general fun.  I have never even been to it, but I have a feeling that this year we're going to need to go.  I'm actually kinda looking forward to it.

Until next time ... read on!