Here’s the next installment of my Books Off the Shelf series. These are some short book reviews on books quite literally off my book shelves—books I’ve read or listened toThere is a world of books out there. More than anyone could get to in a lifetime. 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.
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card Rating: 9 out of 10 A powerful secret. A dangerous path. Rigg is well trained at keeping secrets. Only his father knows the truth about Rigg's strange talent for seeing the paths of people's pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him--secrets about Rigg's own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain. Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead. He will be forced to question everything he thinks he knows, choose who to trust, and push the limits of his talent…or forfeit control of his destiny. With Pathfinder, Orson Scott Card does what he does best: takes a small group of kids on the cusp of adulthood and builds an absolutely stellar story around them. As in most of his books, the main characters of Rigg, Umbo, and later, Param or brilliant and intuitive even as they struggle with the piece of life that show their inexperience—that show that they are still children. Pathfinder is a great mix of fantasy and science fiction. In truth, it is science fiction in the guise of fantasy. Time travel is the primary magic system and there is science somewhere at its core. As Rigg and company try to figure the secrets of the past, Card unfolds a fast paced story that reveals just enough to keep the reader guessing and to force us to turn the page time after time until we’ve consumed the whole of the tale. Pathfinder is the first of a trilogy. I’m reading the third book now, and I’ll plan on reviewing book 2 and 3 in turn. For now, if you like high quality YA fantasy or Scifi, you need to pick up Pathfinder and give it read. 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. I’m also giving away the first two chapters of my debut novel, MIST FALCON. Sign up on the right and I’ll send them your way. |
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Ryan J. Doughan |