Review of Deathwish by Rob Thurman

You see I believe in serendipidy, that's why I found this book. I was walking past it at Borders and I saw the cover. I stopped, pulled it out...loved the story. Two weeks later I went back a and bought it. Now onto the 4th book:

I’ve come to love the Leandros brothers. They are second in my heart only to Sam and Dean. Why do I love Cal and Niko? They are loyal to each other and those in their circle. They fight the demons without and within. They are fallible, they want to live in peace and will never find it. But they keep on trying.

I love messages of hope, I always have. Though I think it more likely this is about fighting the evil within yourself and staying true to your ideals more than anything.

And wow! In this novel Cal is really coming into his own as a monster. Cal has always identified with being human, but in this fourth book he is beginning to doubt the strength of his humanity. And when he discovers he’s wanted as an Auphe breeding machine he realizes he is truly the last male Auphe. The novel ends with it seeming that the Auphe have disappeared ads a threat, but this remains to be seen in future books.

The tension level is definitely lower. Yes, it’s kinda given that our delightful brothers aren’t going to die any time soon. Still, they go through all levels of angst and suffering. Especially Niko, who we now see as a little more human and a little more vulnerable. Niko realizes he will probably have to concede that little bro can handle himself.

There’s a little romance: Niko and his vampire lover Promise. Cal has a dalliance with weregirl, and Robin, our darling puck gets it on with his peri! Yay for the joy of love! For in this universe love might not last long.

I love the grayness of this series, and really, when your protagonist could be the embodiment of evil but choose s not to be…..that is grey and I like the idea that there are monsters human and inhuman. I really can’t wait for more!

An Early Look at the the Deliciousness that is Zekk

Oh, please, just call him the master already. Look at this dude! Ok, seriously crappy Obi Wan clothes aside, this is a hot man. And look: He's got two hot women in the picture with him!

All I can say is they better be the Hapan twins and this boy better get some action!

Hope he's a bit dirty and a little dark too! That be a plus. The book was due in the spring, but got moved to winter due to some SW bullshit they were slinging about the author not being done. Yeh, right! SW is cool and sucks at the same time.

Still, the book holds delicious promise.

Eternal Sabbath

So this is Akiba-kun or Shuro from the manga Eternal Sabbath by Fuyumi Soryo. I happened upon this manga while searching online and I was instantly drawn in by both the detailed artwork and the story line.

I've included Akiba here because he fits in with the theme of the tortured soul who has little control over circumstances of his life.

Akiba was a genetic experiment, "grown" in a lab and subjected to scientific tests and upbringing. He had no family and no one he could trust, and yet, he remained a good person.

Akiba's genetic manipulation gave him some powers. He can read minds, and also alter thoughts. He is more durable and self healing than the common human and is capable of living to 200. Being able to read thoughts makes him have skewed social skills because he doesn't have to wonder what others think and go about the typical route of learning about people. Until he meets Mine, a scientist whose mind he can not read.

The nemesis in this tale is Isaac, the clone of Akiba, and one who has embraced evil. In Akiba we have one path, and in Isaac the other. This is a moral tale, a love story, and a tragedy.

It's an adult manga, not dirty, but not for kids either.

Invinsible......who?

So here we are...at the end of a nine book journey that began 2 years ago. The funny thing is those 2 years flew by and I really don't feel like they were two years ago. I think that's how real time works.

I don't think there are great epiphanies in 2 years. Even when there are children involved 2 years is not that great a span of time.

So here we are two years later with a series that spanned 6-10 months of time. In the series tons of stuff happened and teenaged boy completely came of age! Hello! Last time I checked 8th graders were just starting on their journey of self-discovery. And in a universe where the average human life span is 120, I'm not buying that the kid was adult level at 14.

Do I love Ben Skywalker's character? YES!!!!! But he still has growing to do. In Invincible he acts older than 14, not in any implusible way, just a little. He believes in redemption, and that sheds a real light on him. He seems like the ideal Jedi.

Early thoughts on Revelation

The only thing revealed in this book is that Jacen publically tells his collegues he is a Sith Lord. Wow! Shocker, everyone knows he's insane, he just names it.

Jaina's work with the Mando's is pretty cool. She really is such a light sider and doesn't know it. She has to be taught how to be ruthless, and I'm not so sure she learns. She bonds with Boba Fett's granddaughter Mirta, and I think the parallel of families dealing with the past and the recovery of relationships is evident. Jaina has her own grandfather to forgive as idd Mirta, just Mirta is lucky, she gets to before his death.

Is Boba redeemed? Ah, he's still pretty cold. I think Mirta has made him as human as he will ever be and that's not saying much.

Ben, as always is cooler than cool. He uses evidence and plays CSI in this book. My only complaint is when Luke asks him to be in charge of the Jedi pull out from Endor. Jag's there and certainly more competant than a 14 year old. sure Luke could have had Ben assist the older man...strange.

The Jedi perform a Fallenasi mind illusion on Jacen. He thinks he's surrounded by warships. He thinks it's Luke or maybe Zekk. that made no sense. Corran is the master of mind illusion and Jacen knows this. so if he were thinking of anyone he'd think of Corran Horn. The fact the Jedi got Jacen by using one of his typical tricks was great.

Other exciting Force use: Jaina over rides Jacen's Force choke of Mirta! I cheered at that. That's foreshadowing to me!

Fury: In which no one is furious....well not really, & no Ben doesn't turn Sithly, but this picture is way cooler than the official cover!

This was Aaron Allston's finale to the LOTF series. It was spectacular! 10 out of 10!!! Very energetic and it gave us everything we wanted from the characters. And yes, it was VERY Kyp heavy!!!!

Kyp first is shown basically leading the Order b/c Luke is in mourning and disfunctional. Kyp, with the help of the other master's, puts together a plan to neutralize Jacen. Later, we see the master's spar. It is Kyp who takes on Luke. Luke even uses two sabers at once and it is written that Kyp matches him for speed. They don't win, they just turn off the lightsabers and move on to another topic of discussion.


Later, there is to be a run on Jacen's ship...it does not happen, but it would have been Kyp and Luke storming Jacen.

Finally, we see Kyp disguised as a GAG officier attacking Centerpoint. With the help of the scientist from the first book (Betrayal), Kyp effectively destroys the superweapon and saves the planet!!!!!

And Kyp comes up with the rally: "Let the enemy do the work!"

Allston includes fun props to all his pets including Lando discovering he is going to be a daddy!!!

Excellent book!

ps....crappy cover! So I replaced it with this evil Ben done by Little Zion. Ben is fine in the novel. Showing maturity and acceptance and helping Luke get grounded. And by the end Luke is just fine.

Oh! How can I forget!!! This is where Han and Leia discover Allana is their granddaughter! Very very sweet scene after an energetic rescue scene!

Inferno

I liked this book. This is the book where Luke reminds us he really truly is VADER's son! Wow. Luke punks Jacen's butt a few good times. Then Jacen tries to abuse poor Ben and Luke barrels in and saves his kid. This is what we expect from the Grandmaster.

Caedus is his usual bonkers self. He sets Kashyyk afire.

The Jedi finally get smart (and likely follow Kyp's advice) and leave the GA until Jacen is out of power.

Review of Exile

So nobody gets exciled okay!!!!

Why must they have such amazingly misleading titles and covers. Yes, Leia fights Alema and Han runs around with his blaster drawn, but that's it.

On to the review.

I like Allston because he has the ability to combine elements from all the stories including Bantam and the movies!!!

He referrenced more things than I can count, but being Kyp centric let me say he gave a nod to Kessel (taras-chi) and Kyp mentioned his darkside pull of the suncrusher from Yavin's planet. Kyp never overtly says what he did, but we all know the story so Allston doesn't belabor it, though he does make an odd hint:

"I felt with absolute cetainty what I was doing was right...." [only sith think in absolutes~ROTS]!!!!!!

It seemed the highlight ofthe book was Wedge and Ben. Wedge was outed from his job and then the corellians attempt to assissinate him [he has a street named after him for goodness sake!]. His escape with the help of Corran, Mirax, Iella, and Myri made a fun way to work everyrone in. so duh...Wedge is the Exile who we leave abord the Errant Venture moving in space near Coruscant. Lando and Booster are there too....and i was excited to see Lando!

Alema does not die even at the hands of several competant Jedi, and this is stupid. At this point I want her down. Lumiya takes most of the book to recover from Luke's three blaster shots. She causes more than her share of trouble by getting the Bothans and the Commenors involved and escallating the war. She can cause more trouble from her asteroid than Jacen from a Statdestroyer...he really needs to step it up, and I think we'll set that from Sacrifice onward.

Jacen is cold to Luke, addressing him as "Luke" in such a way that makes you forget they are realatives or that Jacen was once his honored apprentice. when you really think of it , it is heartbreaking. Jacen isn't very in this book!

Ben's story is exciting to me because he grows tremdously while on his quest. He does not get assigned a master, nor now do I think he will.

A moment to Discuss the book Twilight

OMG!!!! I loved this book. Yeh, it's about vampires, but they are the benevolent type...and it's a love story. It's just got these great characters, which isn't that why we get so smitten by characters like Kyp in the first place. You know, isn't that why there is fan fiction?

The characters in Twilight are Edward and Bella. It is told in a first person narritive by Bella (the human). she's a great character and you love her, but you love Edward too, even though, as a vampire, he has obvious flaws.

Maybe that's why I like Kyp. He has in his grasp the ability to do great evil, but he choses not to, no not by abstaining but by controlling himself. It is his strength of character and his ability to do good and help others that makes him a hero.

Wait who'sthat about: Kyp or Edward? See it doesn't matter. It's the archetypre of the flawed hero, the redeemed, the even the tragic hero. It's interesting reading. And hey, maybe we see something of our own flaws and forgivance in these characters.

I still love to ponder free will versus genetics and that there always is a choice.

this links to the twilight site: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com

Ben's Thoughts in Tempest

p. 268 …”during their practice sessions, not even Jacen could always tell when he was lying.”

p. 270 His thoughts on Jaina:
“Jaina was just as volatile and unreasonable as Jacen claimed. It was a wonder she lasted as long in the military as she had- but then the standards of the New republic forces had not been nearly as high as they were now that Jacen and Niathal had reorganized the military. These days, someone as hot headed as Jaina would never even make it into flight school-and he couldn’t imagine how she ever became a Jedi Knight. Jacen was always telling him that a good Jedi used his anger-not the other way around. “

I thought these two passages were interesting. In Bloodlines Ben also asks Jacen to teach him to hide his presence in the Force. He also has the ability to lay down a sonic blast that knocks people flat momentarily.

He is one powerful 13 year old.

Plot Summary of LOTF books 1-3

Ok, so now I have read 3 of the LOTF books. If I had to summarize the plot thus far and tell you the theme...could I? Typically this comes easily to me, but for some reason I can't. Maybe it's because when I get these books I read them in a race. Last night I read Tempest from 5 PM to 12:20 AM and was done. Perhaps I am simply going so fast I am not giving myself time to process the material. Maybe I need to calm down and try a new technique (yeah right, Exile is next and Kyp is in it so you know I'm gonna spas! At least this time I was perfectly calm about Kyp's non-involvement, honestly it would not have made sense in the story line. So here is my attempt at summary.

This is the external conflict and plot:

The story begins with Corellia's dissatisfaction with the GA. The tension rises and negotiation fails. There is an assassination of the Corellian leader and misunderstanding regarding who attacked. It ends with battle between Corellia and the GA and a GA blockade. By the second novel Corellia has officiallly declared independence. This is the beginning of the Civil War. The GAG is formed with Jacen Solo as its commander. Protest becomes terrorism and civil rights are weakened as laws become oppressive. After two months things have not improved, in fact more worlds are likely to defect and join Corellia. Corellia makes a calculated attempt to draw Hapes to their side. This requires the execution of Tenel Ka since she is GA loyal. The murder is foiled however her usupers rally a small fleet and a battle is fought over Hapes in which the GA wins and Jacen is seen as a hero.

Now for the Internal Conflict and Plot:

This is harder because it is dependent on whose point of view is being presented. Obviously we have a Force powerful thinker named Jacen who is willing to learn more about his destiny. He embraces the Sith teachings willingly asa way to bring peace to his galaxy. He is a narcissitic man who thinks he can use his great power to save everyone, however in his manipulations and the manipulations of the bitter Sith Lumiya war is perpetuated. Jacen knows how to work people and in a short amount of time is given a very special position as head of the GAG (read Gestapo). In this position he rises to power and popularity within the fear fed culture of Coruscant. After two months he is the hero, given his own SSD and he takes the initiative to go to Hapes to protect GA interests there (do you really think it matters to him about Tenel Ka? I don't). Despite his ever questionable behavior he is popular as ever and the push is on from the top to make him a Jedi Master.

Review of Tempest

Hapan Trechery, secret trysts, betrayal, Vader moments, and cold realizations, it’s all here in Tempest. We have the core characters and some useful peripheral ones too. Denning allows multiple characters screen time and gives everyone but Mara Jade a backbone and personality. Yes, you read that right, Luke has spunk and he does not waver!!!!!! The Force is used in satisfying ways and the author let’s you into the characters’ thoughts.

I have to say once again I wasn’t disappointed. Denning was able to convey enough setting to me that I pictured the whole thing and he kept building the kinetic energy all the way to the end just as in SBS. He danced us through multiple characters too, which was a favorite part of the NJO. As many characters as NJO? NO! But still, it wasn’t the “BIG 4” show.

Jaina had some real screen time and I liked it. Zekk had a personality and got to live (to fight another day). And my favorite screaming with excitement moment: JAG FEL !!!!!!! He’s back and he’s bitter!!!! YES! He should be bitter, he was practically left for dead and marooned on Tenupe for 2 years. Then he gets exiled from the Chiss Ascendency and let’s face it, the military was everything to him. Oh the joy, please Jag, please become the first Emperor! It would be too cool. At least we know he is free and doing his own thing. I just hope he has a hidden agenda and is already secretly working for the Empire. Palleon left the GA and we haven’t heard from him, so we can hope they are concocting their plan. (Well we know the Empire arises in a few years).

Let’s just get the bad out of the way:
Allana would not have a speech impediment befitting a preschooler in need of special services! She’s a Force user and probably has the potential to be a really powerful one! For Kriffin’ sake Denning, what were you thinking. She’s going to seem precocious and she should! I don’t want my future Sith Queen to be an idiot!!!!!

I guess humans don’t really get their relationship poodoo together until they are in their 40’s. The only flirting and innuendo going on was Han/Leia and Luke/Mara. Tenel Ka and Jacen didn’t even have clearly hidden passion, droids feel more. Jaina at least has fantasies of Jag, but she thinks maybe she doesn’t want to be with anyone! OK, I’d like a little more romance in these novels, after all, if they are like a soap (and let’s face it they are) they need some sordid affairs.

So Denning has set up some things to carry on, namely is Lumiya dead? I hope so, it’s time for Jacen to step up to Sith Lord, and she was getting very annoying. She told Alema he was ready. “Jacen has the knowledge to complete his journey.” She also stated to Alema. “Sly, ruthless, and deadly, I couldn’t be more proud.” Hopefully Luke did blast her to death!!! Their fight by the way was exciting and not easy for either of them, and though Luke was in uber mode (which I think strains the edges of darkness) he never used the dark side or appeared tempted to.
What else is left hanging? Ben’s future. Luke forces him back with him to Coruscant, but what will happen next? Ben is not happy about this and he doesn’t respect his parents. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be coming around to the light any time soon.