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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Exile by Diana Gabladon





Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of  readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her  first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the  events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story,  gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
 
After  too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not  without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh,  promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making  good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on  the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the  sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in  the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn  in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who  demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of  Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed  Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious,  beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his   compassion . . . and arouse his desire. 
 
But even as Jamie’s  heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old  Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly  has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any  danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with  him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere. 
   
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.


 


Review:


Enjoyed this book. I was surprised to learn that Diana was a cartoonist working for Disney before turning to full time writing. This book was based on a story she wrote the Outlander that started the great love story between Jamie Fraser and Claire. Diana turned her Outlander story into a cartoon strip story and I have to say the it came very close to the book that she had written.Diana worked with a wonderful Artist to create the characters. The characters we very close to what come to your imagination.









The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry





A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice.   When Lucinda  Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and  never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual  servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a  mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter  the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will  forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with  delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under  the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just  maybe—capture the heart of a prince.




My Thoughts...


I thought this was a cute story.Lucinda parents vanished and she became a the ward of her Aunt and Uncle who treated her more like a servant than a nice.


They make Lucinda work in there bookstore were she encountered a stranger  and on that same day a piece of magical jewelry appears.Lucinda later does a good deed for a young boy Peter and gives him shelter where he in turns picks her pocket and steals the jewel. She later encounters the Amaranth witch on her quest for learning about the mystical jewel and  possible solving the mystery surrounding her parents disappearance she then learns that the which  is seeking it and gives her the gold to buy the jewel back. Lucinda then has to track down the young boy Peter to get back what she stole from him on learning that he has already pawn the jewel to the Prince. She hires him to teach her to become a pickpocket in order to steal the jewel back. To unlikely people join forces to get the jewel back and avenge her parents death. Peter and Lucinda encounter quite a few twist and turns along the way that lead to a good mystery to solve.After the mystery is solved Lucinda may after all be free of that wicked Aunt of hers, solve the death of her parents and avenge them and  may perhaps fall in love with a Prince and have a Happily Ever After ....Book was fast paced and and easy and interesting read and worth adding to your to Read pile. This is a first time read for me from this author and she did not disappoint.







  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (July 20, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599904497
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599904498
  • Also available in Hardcover, Kindle, and Audio 








Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Exile by Diana Gabaldon


Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
 
After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.


And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his  compassion . . . and arouse his desire. 
 
But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere. 
   
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.
Review:
Enjoyed this book. I was surprised to learn that Diana was a cartoonist working for Disney before turning to full time writing. This book was based on a story she wrote the Outlander that started the great love story between Jamie Fraser and Claire. Diana turned her Outlander story into a cartoon strip story and I have to say the it came very close to the book that she had written.Diana worked with a wonderful Artist to create the characters. The characters we very close to what come to your imagination.


The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice. When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

My Thoughts...
I thought this was a cute story.Lucinda parents vanished and she became a the ward of her Aunt and Uncle who treated her more like a servant than a nice.
They make Lucinda work in there bookstore were she encountered a stranger  and on that same day a piece of magical jewelry appears.Lucinda later does a good deed for a young boy Peter and gives him shelter where he in turns picks her pocket and steals the jewel. She later encounters the Amaranth witch on her quest for learning about the mystical jewel and  possible solving the mystery surrounding her parents disappearance she then learns that the which  is seeking it and gives her the gold to buy the jewel back. Lucinda then has to track down the young boy Peter to get back what she stole from him on learning that he has already pawn the jewel to the Prince. She hires him to teach her to become a pickpocket in order to steal the jewel back. To unlikely people join forces to get the jewel back and avenge her parents death. Peter and Lucinda encounter quite a few twist and turns along the way that lead to a good mystery to solve.After the mystery is solved Lucinda may after all be free of that wicked Aunt of hers, solve the death of her parents and avenge them and  may perhaps fall in love with a Prince and have a Happily Ever After ....Book was fast paced and and easy and interesting read and worth adding to your to Read pile. This is a first time read for me from this author and she did not disappoint.


  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (July 20, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599904497
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599904498
  • Also available in Hardcover, Kindle, and Audio