Books you really should read-- Part Two

The Door Within: One of the most solid trilogies I've ever read, Wayne Thomas Batson's allegorical fantasy never fails to excite. This is one of those stories you look back on with fondness, years after you've read it. And absolutely splendid work.

My rating: 10/10

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: What if Greek mythology came to life? And what if you found out you were the son or daughter of one of those mythical figures? Rick Riordan's first-person narrative is fast-paced, heroic, and pure fun to read. The first four books are out, starting with The Lightning Thief, and the fifth and final volume, The Last Olympian, comes out May 5, 2009.

My rating: 10/10

The Inheritance Cycle: Christopher Paolini's first and only series is a love letter to the fantasy genre, with allusions to Tolkien, McCaffrey, and LeGuin contained in its pages (among others). The story is about Eragon, who becomes the last Dragon Rider, the only hope of defeating the corrupt king Galbatorix. The penultimate volume, Brisingr, was just released, and the last will come without too much of a wait.

My rating: 9/10

The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica: James A. Owen's writing packs a punch. He doesn't need a lot of extra words to make readers fall in love with his semi-real characters. The Archipelago of Dreams is an extremely fun place to visit, and one that requires multiple trips to explore properly. The first three books, starting with Here, There Be Dragons, is out, and the fourth will come soon.

My rating: 9.5/10

The Underland Chronicles: Suzanne Collins offers readers what at first appears to be a twisted Alice in Wonderland story, with hero Gregor falling down an air vent by a washing machine and ending up (or rather, down) in the Underland, a place filled with giant rats, bats, and cockroaches. But the story evolves into something much more original and gripping, sending the reader on an unforgettable journey. The entire series is out, starting with Gregor the Overlander.

My rating: 10/10

Books you really should read-- Part One

Erec Rex: Simon and Schuster just bought the series with an eight-book deal. Yes, that means something. Kaza Kingsley's story of Erec Rex and his many trials in Alypium is what could one day be a huge thing. This series is for the ages-- and for all ages. The first book, The Dragon's Eye and its sequel, The Monsters of Otherness are already out, and the third volume, The Search for Truth, comes out June 30, 2009.












My rating: 10/10




Harry Potter: This goes without saying. Some day down the road, these books will be known as literary classics for their ability to enrapture the minds of readers all over the world. The entire series is out, and author J. K. Rowling's next book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, comes out December 4.













My rating: 10/10





The Inkheart Trilogy: An extremely solid trilogy by German author Cornelia Funke asks the question "What is books could come to life?". And from there, the story progresses. The final book, Inkdeath, came out just recently, but the movie of the first volume, Inkheart, will be released January 23, 2009.













My rating: 9/10



Charlie Bone (or Children of the Red King): While these books may look like Harry Potter, the story contained within their pages is quite fresh, original, and fun to read. The first seven books are out, and the eighth and final one, Charlie Bone and the Red Knight, is set to come out next fall.













My rating: 9.5/10

PENDRAGON: This series is massive. There are nine books so far chronicling Bobby Pendragon's adventures across all of Halla (the blanket term for all of the universes), and the story is upbeat and epic at the same time. Fantastic. There are three prequels set to come out next spring, and the tenth and final book, The Soldiers of Halla, will be released May 12, 2009.

My rating: 10/10