Book Review: The Great Battle lives up to its name

Hi everyone. Well, I know that you know what time it is now. It's time for me to review a new book. The lucky winner today is book one of the Guardians of Allon series, The Great Battle.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Story:
Allon is a country unlike any you've seen before. The people are capable of getting direct help from Jor'el, the god of the world. To help maintain peace Jor'el has created a race of super people known as the Guardians. Each guardian has their own special skills and use them to help mortals. However nowadays there are some guardians that are causing trouble, like a mysterious rogue who beats people. An investigation begins to uncover a dangerous plan that could change the course of Allon's history forever.
I was incredibly impressed with this story. Shawn Lamb has created an amazing world that definitely stands out on its own. It has a presence of the Divine like in Narnia, but the action of Middle-Earth. Most fantasy stories start out with the world in an age of darkness and tyranny, but the author here has come up with a well-written story that shows the world in a golden age before the fall from grace. There are mystical creatures, but they are not what you expect. One example of something fantasy fans are familiar with would be the kelpie, but it is more of a monster than the water horse we know. Shawn Lamb has also created some dangerous new monsters that most heroes would rather not face in battle. Different perspectives and characters help set things up for the future of Allon and help to move the story along. This is a must-have for anyone who loves fantasy or the Chronicles of Narnia.
Caution:
Some battles can be terrifying and intense. Characters are chased by monsters and injured. People are tortured by the villains. Cases of blood from battles. Many characters die. A man passes through fire to test his virtue.
Lessons:
Sometimes people are allowed to do bad things so the judgement will be just. Even when it seems like evil has won, God will prevail in the end. Sometimes doing the right thing means going against those around you.

Book Review: Immortal Guardians really catches you off guard

Hallo. It's time for another book review. Today I finished ready the first book of Fall of the Beasts, the next Spirit Animals series, Immortal Guardians.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Plot:
It's been several months since the events of The Evertree, and Erdas is rebuilding from the war with the Conquerors. However people have been calling the Great Beasts as Spirit Animals, much like Conor, Abeke, Rollan, and Meilin have called Briggan, Uraza, Jhi, and Essix. When you think everything will be fine and dandy, trouble rears its ugly head again. Zerif is back, and he has gained a power that allows him to rip the Great Beasts away from the people they've bonded with. What's more, the new Evertree is sick, and mysterious parasites are appearing that are causing trouble. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan must return to the role of saving Erdas as they split up to investigate the source of what is poisoning the Evertree and find the remaining Great Beasts and their partners before Zerif can claim them for himself. The stakes are higher than before, for if they fail Erdas as we know it will fall.
I was surprised to find out that Spirit Animals would continue because I thought once the Conquerors were stopped that would be the end of the story. I was delighted to be proven wrong. I was surprised with how quickly things were escalating in this book, and more than once was given my share of surprises and shocks. I truly felt concerned for the safety of the characters, and the tragic turn of events was saddening. Eliot Schrefer knows his craft as he creates a delightful story that takes elements of interior-world novels and Norse mythology, and combines them in an incredible adventure that raises the level of entertainment and excitement from the last novels. If you haven't read these books yet I would highly recommend you do, especially if you love exploring the realms of fantasy.
Caution:
A parasite takes possession of people and turns them into ghouls. A man stealing animals from their partners might be too intense for some readers. Characters are in peril, and there is some action against the ghouls. Animals fight each other and are injured. Blood is mentioned.
Lessons:
A common cause can unite old enemies. We must try to remember the past, and if we don't learn from it we could hurt our future. Be proud of who you are. Selfishness and greed can ruin goodness. There is more to our world than what we know, and we should be willing to seek it out.

Book Review: Added Upon is an inspirational and heartwarming story

Hi everyone. I know it's been a while, but I am signed up for a class this fall that requires me to do a lot of reading. I got done with one of the books, and I loved it so much I'm going to review it here and now. That book is Added Upon.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Plot:

Added Upon is a story that takes place during the three phases of a person's life: Pre-existence, mortality, and life after death. Homan and Delsa are caught up in the events that led to the casting out of Lucifer and his followers from Heaven, and are later given the opportunity to come to Earth. Having forgotten all they must follow the events of their lives that will help them return to the presence of their Heavenly Father. 

Although the characters of this book are fiction Nephi Anderson does an incredible job at writing out things that have happened, and showing an interpretation of what the world could be like in the future. When I was reading this the story filled my heart with hope and refueled the fire in me to do my family history and genealogy. I loved how Anderson suggested that even though things will be different in the future with the Savior ruling in Zion people will still be able to create in the arts, including writing. Even if you don't agree with some of the beliefs of the author you will love the story for its imagery and the feeling of hope.

Caution:

The word hell is used once, but only in its proper form. Some people are said to have been drinking, but are not seen.

Lessons:

What is sealed on Earth will be sealed in Heaven. Death will not be the end of us. With faith in Jesus Christ anything is possible.

Book Review: Galthain's Bones is a fun journey of growth

Hi everyone. I finally got done with a book I said I'd read. Now it's time to give a review. This takes us beyond the land of Astarkand in the story Galthain's Bones.

Rating: Five out of Five stars
Story:
Long before he came to Astarkand Bjorn was living with his family in Hevla. However one day the Seeress comes and tells him that he must retrieve the bones of his ancestor Eiathan from the city of Deathwater, located in the desert, and bring them to Hevla so they can be properly buried. With a company of six men Bjorn will travel through a scorching and unforgiving desert, where danger follows them and water is hard to come by. What's more, how will they get the remains of Eiathan out of the desert, and is someone in the company hiding a secret? 
There is a bonus story included as well. This story accounts the life of Bjorn Horsa at home in Hevla. We get to see another side to Bjorn as he lives with his family, close and extended. The bonus story serves for good humor and helps to show the culture of the Horsa people. While living in Hevla Bjorn gets into all kind of mischief while he seeks to have fun with his brothers and cousins. But will there be a price to pay for his humor?
I'm glad that we got to see a little more of the world apart from Astarkand. This book helps to build the world Krystine Kercher has created in Legends of Astarkand, and takes us beyond the borders of the kingdom we have become acquainted with. Like how the Horsa are Christian, the people of the desert appear to be Muslim as they worship Allah. However the danger comes from the bandits and the mysterious Emir. The journey sometimes feels long, but it is a world. Of course traveling across it would be a long process. Magic doesn't really appear until halfway through the story, but it serves as a tool that helps the characters. Overall this is a fun fantasy story that should be read. 
Caution:
A character mentions the word rape, but it isn't seen. Bandits chase men across the desert. Some fighting, but not gory. 
Lessons:
We should remember our ancestors and do what we can to honor them. The Lord will provide a way for us to obey his will. It is good to befriend those who are not of our faith. Good people are found everywhere.

Book Review: A Game of Thrones puts the Epic in Epic Fantasy

Hi everyone. I’ve been reading a book that has been entertaining, but long. Now it is finished. That book is the story A Game of Thrones

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Story:

Enter the world of Westeros, a land with a heavy medieval culture and seven kingdoms are ruled by a monarch who sits on the Iron Throne. After years of not seeing each other Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark is visited by his old friend Robert Baratheon, the King of Westeros, and is made the new Hand of the King. Reluctantly Ned follows Robert to King’s Landing with his daughters Arya and Sansa. On the way Ned starts to uncover facts that led to the death of the past Hand, Jon Arryn. As he searches for answers he uncovers a secret that could plunge all Westeros into chaos and war.

Online friends have told me that George R. R. Martin is the new king of fantasy, and it’s easy to see why with A Game of Thrones. Significantly more toned down than the HBO series the book focuses more on the politics of the world than on magic and monsters. Martin is an imaginative writer who brings you into the wondrous, and oft times, violent world of Westeros. Westeros is not a place where gallant princes and fair maidens dance with each other at the ball until midnight, or legions of orcs are trying to wipe out the kingdoms of men. The real threat comes from within, from the people themselves. The characters are well rounded, there is some serious development for many characters and you don’t have to worry about the pages being filled with clichés. In other words, no elves, no centaurs, no guiding wizard companion and counsellor. Magic is in Westeros, but it's very subtle to the point where if you blink you'll miss it. Martin steps away from many of the stereotypes of fantasy and makes Westeros seem like a place that could exist in reality. A gritty yet engrossing tale of the food and fashion of the dark ages. Also has magic and dragons and sex (sadly) and stuff. If you want a serious upgrade in fantasy worldbuilding you should pick up this book. The multiple characters the story follows helps to show the epicness of this world and once you start reading you won’t want to put this book down.
Martin does an incredible job of developing his characters. Cersei is so evil she makes the Evil Queen seem as gentle as a lamb. Sansa starts out as a silly love-struck girl lost in ideas of what stories paint the world to be, but as the book progresses she gets a serious wake up call that the world is often cold and cruel, and doing the right thing can get you killed. The Dothraki people that Daenerys Targaryan ends up with are seen as animals by many people, but as she spends time with them she sees a human side to them. Martin has said that when it comes to doing his female characters he thinks of them as people, and his writing proves it. The characters feel fleshed out and real with shortcomings and faults that many people have. More impressive is the immense political system Martin has created for Westeros. Most people in fantasy just have the king do everything when it comes to politics. In Westeros the king has a council that helps him govern and rule the land. Each man has a certain job  that they do when it comes to ruling the land. One's in charge of the treasury, the other rumors that abound in the land, etc. This suggests the king doesn't hold absolute power in this world. It makes a nice and well needed change from the stereotypes that have engulfed modern fantasy.  

Caution:

People swear, a couple of times f-bomb someone. Jaime and Cersei Lannister have incestuous sex with each other. Daenerys Targaryan's wedding night has too much detail. Characters are raped. Tyrion mentions sleeping with whores, and one instance has too much detail. Privates are mentioned. Sometimes it takes paragraphs, but other times you have to skip pages to avoid it. Not a book for younger readers. Battles break out and people die, sometimes in a gory way, more so than in The Lord of the Rings or The Inheritance Cycle. If this book were adapted into a movie the content could go beyond a PG-13 rating into NC 17. 

Lessons:

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Sometimes doing the right thing means going against the popular opinion. Family can be a source of strength and comfort. Our choices define who we are.

Movie Review: Jurassic World brings the franchise back from extinction

Hi everyone. Sorry it's been so long. I'm still trying to get that book read and reviewed. I got back from seeing a movie that I've been waiting all summer to see and I've decided to blog about it. Those of you who know me can tell what it's going to be about, but I'm going to tell you anyway: Jurassic World.

Rating: Five out of five stars

Story:

            It’s been years since the initial disaster of Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar. Now, thanks to Simon Masrani, the park has finally come under control and is a popular attraction for families all over the world. While the brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell have come to Jurassic World to visit their workaholic aunt Claire Dearing, the staff behind the park is keeping an eye on their next attraction: a hybrid dinosaur dubbed the Indominus Rex. What they don’t anticipate is the skills this new species of dinosaur has, which it uses to escape and cause mayhem across the park. With the help of Velociraptor trainer Owen Grady they must stop the Indominus Rex from killing everyone and everything on the island.

            I am a big fan of dinosaurs and have loved all the Jurassic Park films. Each one keeps to the theme that the dinosaurs are animals, not monsters. This one, however, takes it all to the next level while keeping the formula that made the past films great. The majority of the original actors don’t appear, but we do get to see B.D. Wong reprise his role as Dr. Henry Wu, the geneticist who helped create the dinosaurs. Chris Pratt did an excellent job as Owen Wilson, providing humor and the voice of reason to the film. While moving on from the events of the first Jurassic Park films, this movie does contain plenty of Easter Eggs and references to the rest of the franchise. Most people were complaining about how the training of the Veliciraptors took away from the appeal, but that only helps to make them more realistic. Many animals, like lions, tigers, wolves, and bears, can be trained to do certain things and still be a wild animal at heart. Jurassic World takes that concept and incorporates it into one of the most popular dinosaurs of all time, which only became famous thanks to the films. One of the shocking things to me in the film was that we see a female character die for the first time. I had a feeling it was going to happen, and foolishly hoped that it wouldn’t. Still, to see it happen, it shocked me and weighed heavy through the film.

            Anyway, continuing on, we do have to bid good-bye to the Brachiosaurus. However we get to see a dinosaur that was written in Michael Crichton’s original novel but had yet to appear in the films: Apatosaurus. We also see other classic dinosaurs like Parasaurolophus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. Dinosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus and Dilophosaurus are discussed and make cameos. I was really excited to see something that used to swim in the oceans finally make an appearance in the films, and it was one of the ocean’s apex predators: the Mosasaurus. The Indominus Rex, due to being a hybrid dinosaur, is quite literally insane. That does correspond to science because hybrid cows that have been created have been reported to be a little crazy. The film also sets up for potential sequels, which I have to say thanks to this film will certainly happen. If you haven’t seen it yet, then you should. It stays loyal to the spirit of the films, and evolves so much to the next level of prehistoric entertainment.

Caution:

            Dinosaurs attack people, and blood is seen plenty of times. A dinosaur attacks several other dinosaurs and kills them. Some Apatosaurs are seen injured and dying. Pteranodons carry off a woman who is eaten. Carnivores fight a hybrid dinosaur. Some mild swearing. A woman takes off her jacket while a man watches in shock.

Lessons:

            Our families can be a source of comfort and love when we are in our darkest moments and need strength. Animals are living, breathing creatures like us and deserve our respect. The only monsters are the ones we create. Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. Our actions have consequences, and if we’re not careful others will get hurt.

I realized too late I could've been using this month to blog about dinosaurs before the film was released. I may still do that. If I have time I'll update more and share with you more information about dinosaurs. Until next time, enjoy the film. 

Learning to honor my heritage

Well, I didn't meet my goal to finish that book. I'll have to work harder. However I didn't want to just wait until I had read the book to update this blog. I've been meaning to do some variation on here for some time. The best I can do for today is talking about something I'm still trying to learn how to do: honor my heritage. 

Some time ago, I was visiting a museum close to where I currently reside. There I found something that talked about how a person honored their heritage by participating in the Scottish Dance. That has helped them to feel closer to their ancestors. That reminded me of a video I saw at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, about a boy who learned they were of Scottish descent and decided he wanted to learn to play the bagpipes. It took him a while, but he refused to quit, and his actions led to his sisters learning to do Scottish dances as well. 

Sadly I've known for a while that I was of Scottish descent, but I've never really done anything to honor that heritage. I didn't learn to play the bagpipes, I haven't learned any dances. I'm even willing to try haggis, but I still haven't. If only heritage honoring is a class you can take at school, or a college elective. 

Right now the only way I've been able to do anything to honor my heritage was to start doing family history and genealogy. Yet there are times when I fear that's all I'll ever be able to do, and I want to be able to do more to honor my heritage. Sadly every time I ask nobody seems to have any suggestions other than just adding sources to RootsMagic, FamilySearch, and Ancestry. 

So as a result I've been trying to figure out on my own how I could honor my heritage. I love good stories so I've been trying to read up on the books and tales told in the countries my ancestors came from. Sadly I haven't done a lot of Scottish stories, but I have been looking at lots of stories from England. That country has a rich heritage of storytelling. Many of the classic stories come from England, but I already covered how in a previous blog post. I have also been buying DVDs that have stories that are somehow connected to England and Scotland. I just hope I'm going about it the right way. 

Another way I'm trying to honor my heritage is with the world building I'm doing for my books. I've been looking at the legends and stories of the places where my ancestors lived to get ideas as to how to build up the world of Dymos. I've gotten a lot of magical and prehistoric creatures for those places, but I'm also trying to build the culture similarly. I haven't been able to find any good books that could help with that, but I'm going to keep looking. Hopefully as time goes on I'll be able to find more ways I can honor my heritage. Maybe I should practice making Shepherd's Pie more.