It may be the day I post a review, but, although I'm reading an assortment of books, I haven't finished any of them.
Instead I'll post a review of one of my own books. This was one of the first reviews of the Crimson Orb:
I bought the Kindle edition of this book to pre-read on a long weekend away before gifting my book-hungry grandchildren with a hard copy. I wasn't quite certain which of them would enjoy it AND I wanted to make sure it was suitable (fairly stuffy parents lol). I've concluded that it's bound for two out of the three of them, one a teenage boy (the swordplay! the wizard!} and one a pre-teen girl (the heroine! the cat! the magic!). I suspect that the third one, who's just nine and still utterly soccer-crazy, will be along to read it in due course.
The fun begins on page one, when our heroine, Nissa, sitting and petting her cat whilst (jealously) watching her brothers practice swordplay, is joined by Holm Manor's wizard, Madoc. Need I say more? A girl who yearns to master the sword, and wizardry? And probably some rapid beating of the young heart along the way? And pesky sisters, too? Yes, you've got it.
By the end of Chapter One, I'd learned the difference between magic and wizardry and that, even in Nissa's world, girls haven't been allowed to do the same things as boys. Bah! But is she going to put up with that? I think not, would you? The story of Nissa and Master Madoc, the wizard (and more), was definitely my favourite part, and central to the story. When Madoc goes missing, the quest begins.
Ever wonder if a wizard is a such a good wizard, why he can't free himself when the baddies get him? Yeah, me, too. Now I know; I think that was somewhere along about Chapter Twenty-Four.
By the end of Chapter Forty-Three, I'd learn how to turn a skirt into wide-legged riding britches, who didn't make it across the Frozen Tundra, where the Crimson Orb was (but how to get it???) and what the swamp inhabitants were doing with it. But it wasn't over yet…there was still a final chapter to go. And a sequel promised for 2015.
This is a lovely book, an otherworld story well told and with a myriad of interesting details that make it all the richer. I can't fault it (I get fussy about typos and this book is very well edited, I'm happy to report) and I'm pleased to be gifting the kids with it. Hertzoff's writing is eminently readable, it's cleverly written, brings in lots of different, interesting topics AND the dialogue moves the story along particularly well. There is a great cast of characters and always lots going on so it's a great attention-keeper.
Now I'm off to order the paperback for the kids. Two thumbs up for Nissa.
The fun begins on page one, when our heroine, Nissa, sitting and petting her cat whilst (jealously) watching her brothers practice swordplay, is joined by Holm Manor's wizard, Madoc. Need I say more? A girl who yearns to master the sword, and wizardry? And probably some rapid beating of the young heart along the way? And pesky sisters, too? Yes, you've got it.
By the end of Chapter One, I'd learned the difference between magic and wizardry and that, even in Nissa's world, girls haven't been allowed to do the same things as boys. Bah! But is she going to put up with that? I think not, would you? The story of Nissa and Master Madoc, the wizard (and more), was definitely my favourite part, and central to the story. When Madoc goes missing, the quest begins.
Ever wonder if a wizard is a such a good wizard, why he can't free himself when the baddies get him? Yeah, me, too. Now I know; I think that was somewhere along about Chapter Twenty-Four.
By the end of Chapter Forty-Three, I'd learn how to turn a skirt into wide-legged riding britches, who didn't make it across the Frozen Tundra, where the Crimson Orb was (but how to get it???) and what the swamp inhabitants were doing with it. But it wasn't over yet…there was still a final chapter to go. And a sequel promised for 2015.
This is a lovely book, an otherworld story well told and with a myriad of interesting details that make it all the richer. I can't fault it (I get fussy about typos and this book is very well edited, I'm happy to report) and I'm pleased to be gifting the kids with it. Hertzoff's writing is eminently readable, it's cleverly written, brings in lots of different, interesting topics AND the dialogue moves the story along particularly well. There is a great cast of characters and always lots going on so it's a great attention-keeper.
Now I'm off to order the paperback for the kids. Two thumbs up for Nissa.
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