Interactive Header

Robin Writes Header
Robin Writes Header
home bio contact projects interviews

Monday, October 14, 2013

Fantastic Recent Reads: Part One

Lucky me has pnuemonia. At least it is walking pneumonia, but still, for normally active me being able to function on a low level isn't satisfying. At least I have had some great reads to keep me happy.

I had these in one post and then realized it was one extremely LONG post, so here is part one. Check back tomorrow for Part Two and two more fantastic recent reads. I might even have another post on Friday. I just read a book a day for the past three days by an incredible author and I can't wait to share them with you.

First up:

THE RITHMATIST It's not secret that I have a serious crush on Brandon Sanderson. It's one of my great faults in life that I was at BYU and didn't take creative writing from him (or anyone). I was years past my degree before I decided I could be a writer and started putting pen to paper. Okay, back to Sanderson. His Mistborn series is unbeatable. I've had many a debate with my siblings on whether Mistborn or Elantris is his best work. I'm stubborn. I'll always say Mistborn, but then that's what I read first.

As always, his world is intricately created and world class (hehe).
From Goodreads: More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings — merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing — kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery — one that will change Rithmatics — and their world — forever.
 This book also has illustrations of chalk defenses (used by Rithmatist drawn on surfaces, usually the ground, to keep back Wild Chalklings) at the start of each chapter, such as the one below:

I followed Joel and Melody as they worked to solve the mystery of the missing students and keep The United Isles safe. A definite page turner...in fact, the second I read the end I kissed the book (I know, silly, but I kiss favorite books) and then looked to see when book 2 was coming out. Unfortunately it's not until 2015, so maybe I'm doing you a disservice telling you about THE RITHMATIST, but I enjoyed it so much I had to share.

Have you read it? Did you love it? I found myself fingering the drawings and checking my pocket for chalk. Another amazing book by a master storyteller.

Also, my first page of GUTTER GIRL is up for First Impressions on Dianne K Salerni's In High Spirits and Marcy Hatch's Mainewords. I'd be grateful if you'd visit one of them and let me know what you think:D Thanks in advance!

13 comments:

  1. I haven't read anything by Brandon Sanderson. I need to. Hope you're feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Natalie! This week will hopefully be much better. I'm still not exercising, but I'm going to try and keep the house running:) Sanderson is amazing. I hope you give one of his books a try. He also writes MG-my kids LOVE Alcatrez vs. the Librarians.

      Delete
  2. Ahh. Hope you're feeling better soon. I'm sure it takes longer to recover when you're chasing after kids.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope you feel better soon :( That really stinks. I hear reading is the perfect prescription ;) (Or was that writing.... :))

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hope you're feeling better. My daughter had that this summer. Not fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jessica. Yup, that's my feeling: no fun. I miss running.

      Delete
  5. I loved this book. The drawings were so great and really added to the whole experience. And Mistborn >> Elantris. I read Elantris first, and I actually didn't like it. It seemed wrong to me that the Elantrians wouldn't understand what had had changed and be able to fix it. It had seemed like a gaping plot hole and ruined the whole book for me. I loved everything else Brandon Sanderson, so seven years after first reading Elantris, I decided to give it a second try. It is wonderful, and what I had remembered as a gaping plot hole was more like a sliver of a plot hole. But Mistborn is better. Well, maybe I need to re-read that too before I make my final decision. LOVE LOVE LOVE Brandon Sanderson!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Checked out Gutter Girl. I liked it a lot. The 1st paragraph edits from mainewords are good, and I agree with capitilizing Confident Jules. A great start that makes me want to read more. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda, WIP forever. And I'm glad you read Elantris again, but still think Mistborn is better. Careful around Mike's family, they are confused;-)

      Delete
  7. I need to read Brandon Sanderson! I really, really do. His gigantically huge books do intimidate me, though. That's impressive that a book that long is so page-turning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL-you're afraid of reading long books? Um... kidding, mostly:)

      I do hope you try him. #sogood

      Delete
  8. I need to pick this up as Sanderson is one of my fav authors. Go Mistborn!!! Have you read Steelheart yet by him? OMG! It was amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read Steelheart yet, it's on my library hold list. Glad to know you liked it-and that you're another Mistborn fan!

      Delete