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So Many Books, So Little Time! Here’s the next installment in my, “Books Off the Shelf” series. I will attempt to give you an idea on some books you might enjoy or not enjoy quite as much without ruining it with too many spoilers.
The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks Rating 9 out of 10 As the old gods awaken and satrapies splinter, the Chromeria races to find the only man who can still end a civil war before it engulfs the known world. But Gavin Guile has been captured by an old enemy and enslaved on a pirate galley. Worse still, Gavin has lost more than his powers as Prism--he can't use magic at all. Without the protection of his father, Kip Guile will face a master of shadows as his grandfather moves to choose a new Prism and put himself in power. With Teia and Karris, Kip will have to use all his wits to survive a secret war between noble houses, religious factions, rebels, and an ascendant order of hidden assassins called The Broken Eye. So, I know that I have been harping on this book as I’ve been reading it and saying that you need to read it as well. Well, I’ve finished reading it and you do need to read it. You need to read The Broken Eye. You need to read the whole Lightbringer series. You need to read Brent Weeks—everything he has written and everything he writes in the future. Don’t misunderstand. I don’t have an agreement with Mr. Weeks for promotion. I’m simply a fan—a fan of his and a fan of good fantasy—good writing. That being said, you need to read this book. The Broken Eye is the third book of the series, and, as I’ve said before, you need to start at the beginning. Just the same, in this book, Weeks offers a stirring combination of a coming of age tale with a tale of loss and redemption. He does all this on an epic scale, giving us believable characters (both lovable and hatable), along with a world that is real enough to touch. This story twists and turns in all the right ways, introducing new sinister elements and pushing the envelope of unbelievable catastrophe almost realized. We get to experience Kip as he begins to find a true manhood while still struggling to shrug of the boy he used to be. We also get to see Gavin at his lowest point along with his most honorable. Weeks has a big job to do in his upcoming fourth, and final volume of The Lightbringer series. There are a ton of questions still needing to be answered. I’m looking forward to wading through its depth as soon as it comes out. For now, you need to get this book/series and dive in yourself. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts. Leave a message below. And as ever, if you have suggestions of books to review, please let me know. If it is Science Fiction or especially Fantasy, there is a good chance it is on my shelf or should be. If you would like to be the first to hear about other great books, feel free to sign up on the right. I’ll also be sending out some free giveaways for my debut novel, MIST FALCON. I would love to send them your way, so do me a favor and sign up. |
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I posted a Christmas poem entitled A Hectic Silent Night a month or so ago. If you missed it you can find it here: http://www.ryanjdoughan.com/blog/a-hectic-silent-night I received so much positive feedback on it that I thought I would share another with you.
There are so many things about the nature of an infinite God that my finite human mind struggles to grasp. This poem is a snapshot of this struggling represented by a few biblical examples. Let me know your thoughts, and enjoy. Wrestling the Almighty By Ryan Doughan Ezra sent away the children. He sent away the wives. Intermarriage—not God’s plan. But what about their lives? Ezra weeps. The people weep. But God demands perfection. Still, what about those babies—their chief crime, their birth. Grace is lacking—Judgment found—and where is God’s protection? So many unanswered questions, defining right and wrong. A gray twine of joy and sorrow, leaving silence of the absent song. But sin requires payment. All debts due before we close. So come along now, come along. A man must reap all that he sows. The Magi went to Herod, and told him all they knew. A King is born—let’s worship. Yet, the little boys he slew. God sustains—Jesus escapes-- but, what of Bethlehem’s babies? Ruined families. Murdered kids. Are these my God’s decrees? So many unanswered questions, defining right and wrong. A gray twine of joy and sorrow, leaving silence of the absent song. But sin requires payment. All debts due before we close. So come along now, come along. A man must reap all that he sows. Habakkuk cries for answers, And I’ll mimic in his stance. Where, oh God’s your presence? Sin and death have claimed this Earthly dance. My name is God, you said to me, Perhaps you’ve heard of all I’ve done. My plan is for my glory-- New Heavens—New Earth—all paid for by the Son So many unanswered questions, Defining right and wrong. A gray twine of joy and sorrow, Leaving silence of the absent song. But sin requires payment. All debts were paid before Christ closed. So come along now, come along, for God will reap all that he sows. There you have it, some ponderings on things I can’t always grasp. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment. Also, if you would like to receive more poems along with writing updates and giveaways for my upcoming novel MIST FALCON—BOOK ONE OF THE WARRIOR POET ARCHIVES, I’d love to have you sign up on the right.
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