Tag Archives: Trilogies and Series

Everlost by Neal Shusterman (The Skinjacker Trilogy)

American Literature 7 Comments

Synopsis: Two teens find themselves in a limbo world between life and death. Review: I first read about Everlost on It’s All About Books and was totally intrigued by Suey’s rave review. Nick and Allie were victims of a fatal car accident, but instead of making it to the bright white light they were bumped into Everlost. They learn quickly that they have to keep moving or else they will sink through the ground all the way to the center of the earth. There are…

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Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

American Literature

Synopsis: The wearied mother to the heiress of Chalion attempts to flee her past insanity, only to find herself possessed by a god called The Bastard and sent on a perplexing mission of grave theological danger. Review: Paladin of Souls is the sequel to Lois McMaster Bujold’s Curse of Chalion, which I read a few years ago and greatly enjoyed. Ista is the dowager royina of Chalion, a title placing her in the top echelon of the land. She had a bad experience with one…

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Wayfarer by RJ Anderson

American Literature 7 Comments

Synopsis: A rogue fairy escapes her magical world and teams up with a regular boy in order to save Faery and the human world from a devastating threat. Review: Wayfarer might be a fairy story, but it’s mostly set in the normal world and works very hard to keep things grounded and as realistic as possible. I have to admit that I was more engaged by the relationship between Linden and Timothy than anything else that was going on. Wayfarer is the sequel to Faery…

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The Son Avenger by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

Norwegian Literature

Synopsis: With Olav Audunsson facing the end of his lonely days, his children Eirik and Cecilia find themselves trapped in the repercussions of Olav’s as-yet unconfessed sins. Review: There was so much I loved in The Son Avenger, particularly Cecilia’s journey of wife- and motherhood with Eirik’s less-than-reputable childhood friend Jorund. She really came alive as a different kind of woman than the others I’ve seen in Undset’s work, with a rigidity that blossomed into self-awareness and even a kind of independence. She’s mirrored nicely…

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In the Wilderness by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

Norwegian Literature

Synopsis: Medieval feudal lord now widower Olav Audunsson grapples with the sins of old that make each day a torment. Review: In the Wilderness had a strong transitional quality to it. I am hoping that the next book completes his spiritual journey because I was really unsatisfied with where he ended up at the end of the book. All he’s done his whole life is justify his misdeeds by claiming his own rights, and that’s just what he’s doing near the end. At this point…

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The Snake Pit by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

Norwegian Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: Olav Audunsson finally brings Ingunn Steinfinnsdatter back to his ancestral home as his wife, each harboring a dark secret that threatens the happiness they dreamed of as children. Review: The Snake Pit follows closely on the tragic events of The Axe, focusing on the far-reaching effects of sin in the lives of Olav and his childhood love Ingunn, now his wife. I really don’t want to give too much away about the story thus far, because I loved how it unfolded in the previous…

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Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

American Literature

Synopsis: Incarceron is a living prison from which no one can escape, but when the warden’s daughter makes a shocking discovery, she works to break Incarceron’s protections with the aid of a boy who believes he was born on the outside. Review: I attempted to listen to the audio book of Incarceron, but the late stages of pregnancy has made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything more complicated than nursery rhymes. But the concept really grabbed me, so I snagged a copy through…

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The Axe by Sigrid Undset (The Master of Hestviken)

Norwegian Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: Betrothed as children, Olav and Ingunn grew up together, but when Ingunn’s parents die, they take an irrevocable step that jeopardizes their futures and the social system that surrounds them. Review: The Axe begins a 4-book series by Sigrid Undset, the Nobel Prize-winning author of the acclaimed and beloved Kristin Lavransdatter books. Like that series, The Axe concerns itself heavily with matters of sexual morality and the toxic nature of secret sin, only this time we get the man’s perspective as well. Olav isn’t…

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Love Will Keep Us Together by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt (Miracle Girls)

On Reading 1 Comment

Synopsis: It’s senior year for the Miracle Girls, and thank to Ivy League pressure, the return of an ex-boyfriend, and a pregnant girl in youth group, golden girl Riley McGee is having a serious crisis of identity–and faith. Review: I’ve been following the Miracle Girls from the beginning, thanks to my friendship with co-writer Anne Dayton. Love Will Keep Us Together is a worthy conclusion to a fun series that really speaks to the tough issues facing Christian girls in today’s culture. I highly recommend…

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Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

British Literature 1 Comment

Synopsis: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. Review: This is my third time reading JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed it more. I’ve been following along with The Tolkien Professor’s podcasted course, and the background I got from finally reading and actually comprehending The Silmarillion really enhanced the depth of pleasure I received once diving back into Frodo’s familiar world.…

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