MARTYR'S FIRE [MERLIN'S IMMORTALS #3] - Sigmund Brouwer 13.2.14

MARTYR'S FIRE [Merlin's Immortals #3]
Enter the world of Merlin’s Immortals -
 where ancient secrets and evil conspiracies take you on a breathless adventure of discovery, intrigue, and hidden knowledge. * Will this dangerous quest lead the outcast Orphan King toward an ancient secret—or to certain destruction? * 1313 AD.  Posing as a beggar, Thomas escapes Castle Magnus after fifteen men, who are calling themselves the Priests of the Holy Grail, arrive and take control of the inhabitants through conjured wonders  and seeming miracles. With the help of his longtime priest friend, Gervaise, Thomas sets out on a journey that leads him to the ancient Holy Land. Unaware that Immortals, Katherine and Hawkwood, are watching over him, Thomas is tested in his beliefs and comes face to face with the ancient power that the Merlins and Druids have long been searching for. -
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Author: Sigmund Brouwer  Length: 224 pages Publisher: Waterbrook Press Published: Oct. 15.13 ------------------------------- * --------------------------------- My thoughts?
Author Sigmund Brouwer is Canadian - my first attraction to reading this novel  as I'm always on the lookout for a new to me Canadian writer.   It's turned into a true reading find and a series I'm keen to pursue. . . * Steady pace of the story's opening soon becomes urgent as we follow the trail of this recently conquering Lord of Magnus Castle  to his now fugitive conquered state. Thomas' doubt of those who would assist him is returned as both sides try to determine where alliances lie. As readers, we have the advantage of seeing the background story,  yet without opportunity to intervene [ nor to prevent inevitable dangers!]
Having not read the preceding two books of the series I was at a disadvantage in not knowing main players in the drama, but was quick to catch up with the author's inclusion of references and descriptions of events.  Action was constant, keeping me involved rather than frustrated. Deception and intrigue weave a dark pattern enhancing colourful characters and action. Brouwer paints a bustling medieval York that included me midst each scene -  having walked through those very gates, the cobbled alleys, the broad stone walls. High sea adventures as Thomas continues his flight from the evil intentioned druids. Battles and skirmishes play out for better and for worse... Who does he trust?
I love the story.  I love the characters.  I want to know how it ends.
The cameo scenes of Robin Hood and his band add a  pleasing touch of familiarity and seemed to situate the story for me.  An ahah moment - this is where we are! Romantic attachments are a pleasing thread running throughout,  without overpowering the essential aura of mystery and suspense. Leaving this reader anticipating more...  More action, more resolution, more romance.
Book #4 next...

Released January 21st 2014 by Waterbrook Press Merlin’s Immortals is a series that takes readers to the heart of the sorcery battles that have been hidden from mankind all through the centuries,  since the first rays of sunlight at Stonehenge. Perfect series for fans of Lisa Bergren's medieval River of Time series. * Sigmund Brouwer is author of eighteen novels with nearly three million copies in print. His recent novel The Last Disciple was featured in Time magazine and on ABC's Good Morning America.  Married to songwriter recording artist Cindy Morgan. The couple and their two young daughters divide their time between Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and Nashville, Tennessee. He loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his RockandRoll Literacy Show. * Visit Brouwer's website HERE * Appreciation to Random House and Waterbrook Press for providing an ecopy for reading and review via Blogging for Books. *

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High Summer Read-a-Thon July 22-28.13

Joining the High Summer ReadaThon at Seasons of Reading ongoing Monday 22nd continuing til midnite CST Sunday 28th.

[Signups open until Friday midnite CST July 26th - no blog required - FB, Goodreads, Twitter - all are possibilities.  Some way to keep updated and connected...] * Host, Michelle Miller, encourages readers to  "remember to have fun this week. Again,  my read-a-thon credo is "a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries."  * My current reading includes award winning author, Lisa t Bergren's intense medieval time travel River of Time series

book 2  CASCADE - completed Sunday 28th

now beginning book 3 TORRENT

[publisher David C Cook] * My first completed High Summer ReadaThon read? James L Rubart's 'ROOMS' [published by B & H Books] *

* Looking like the perfect summer setting, it's proving to surpass all expectations for a great read..! Not sure what, if any, other books I may get to with added commitments this week. I'll be happy to complete at least this one! * * * Laura at BookSnob blog has created a mini challenge for ReadaThon participants:
The Challenge:  A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

                                                                                  1.  Choose a picture that represents a person, place or thing in one of the  books you are currently reading. 2.  Name the book you are reading and explain how the picture relates to the story you are reading. *I have chosen picture #1 representing the very thing 'ROOMS' protagonist, Micah, must learn to accept in the oceanside mansion he has inherited from his great uncle and in the new turns his life is taking... He comes to expect The Unexpected as he learns to Live Wonderstruck at his emerging life beyond the natural realm. The hazy effect depicts the atmospheric impact on the senses . * Photo #2 represents the many doors in this home that unexpectedly appear and disappear,
leading to rooms that relate to Micah's life... *

*

3.  Put a link to your post in the linky at Laura's blog
*
Liking this creative challenge, Laura, thanks for the FuN! * Thanks also to our High Summer ReadaThon Host,  Michelle Miller !

*

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Armchair BEA Genre Discussion: YA + Children's Books 1.6.13

Saturday at Armchair Book Expo for Bloggers is all about - * “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” 
― C.S. Lewis ~~~~~~ * ~~~~~ So what 'children's' stories do you enjoy ? *

I have to say the stories written by

CS Lewis , the author of the quote ,

  are def some ! And include the movies as well.   Brought them to life.
~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~ How could we grow up and live well rounded lives without Anne of Green Gables?

 Forever Thanks to Lucy Maude Montgomery for writing these ! Don't miss this amazing current amazon offer for this Anne eBook set 124 five * ratings !!

The Anne Stories: 12 Books, 142 Short Stories, Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, 

Anne of the Island, Anne's... by Lucy Maud Montgomery and Timeless Reads (Feb 4, 2013) - 

Kindle eBook   $1.99 Kindle Edition

~~~~ * ~~~~ The usual fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, were all a part of my childhood. * Robert Munsch 

and * Dick Bruna's Miffy for my kiddos. *

~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~ I really look forward to that aspect of becoming a NaNa. The opportunity to spend time reading to them.  Total Joy.  At least it was with my kids =) I am anticipating good reading times and new book discoveries along the way! ~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~ So many directions available for YA, but I probably steer toward classics for teaching really good reading material by example. Good vocabulary, dialogue, word usage - all things that add the best to their own development. Obviously our reading influences us, so we need to choose when we know believing affects behaviour.   * One YA series I'll focus on because I totally enjoyed and participated in the online weekly discussions is Lisa T Bergren's River of Time.  Time travel from today back to medieval days. Really fabulous and recommended highly around the book blogging world. *

     

           

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A few fave book quotes from Goodreads -

 “It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one 

till you have read an old one in between.” 

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”  “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally  – and often far more –  worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” 

― all by C.S. Lewis  Seemed to apply to today's genre discussion !
Hoping you're having a great reading day - whatever your genre !

*

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book covers from goodreads

Waterfall Wednesdays discussion final week ~

our final week's discussion of

Lisa Tawn Bergren's

"Waterfall" 

is hosted by Irresistable Reads

1. After Gabi is injured, the doctor gives her a tonic.  Gabi questions the doctor several times what is in it but he refuses to tell.  Would you have taken the tonic in Gabi's situation?

that would have to be a no.  i would have asked cook

who would have known the remedies of the day...

2.  Before the games Gabi asks Lia to let Lord Forabosch win in the archery event as people, especially Lord Forabosch, are becoming suspicious of them.  But during the games Lord Forabosch upsets Lia trying to throw her off her game. So Lia decides to win.  Do you think she did the right thing by not letting Lord Forabosch bully her or do you think she took an unnecessary risk?

i don't think Lia could have caused Forabosch to do any worse

than he's already schemed.

i gave her credit for standing up to him.

3.  When Gabi is dying and she and Lia decide to return to the tombs so they can get the cure at home, they have to tell Marcello the truth.  Even though Marcello thinks that it is madness that they are from the future he believes in Gabi because he loves her.  Do you think this is believable?  What would you have done if you were Marcello?

his gullibility would easily have been proven

should their story have been disproven,

so he wasn't taking a big risk.

i would have followed suit.

what really was at risk?

Gabi's life was endangered.  Marcello acted in love.

he acted in response to the crisis with all his desire

to help her - believe her, trust her...

4.       In the end Gabi and Lia return home.  Do you think Gabi will return to Marcello? Would you go back?

i'm sure she will try.

ooo me?  i'm pretty stuck on life as we know it!

maybe if it was to go back to bring my man back with me!!

5.  Looking back at Waterfall what was your favourite moment?

probably discovering Lia.

the entire courageous confrontational escapade.

this exciting time travel novel is now concluded

BUT

the series continues....

Thank you to each hostess during the Waterfall Wednesday

discussions and each visitor who stopped in to visit!

i've entirely enjoyed the journey and look forward to more

River of Time adventures with Gabi and Marcello 

along with you...

Thank you, Lisa, for putting words to paper

and creating this literary world for our enjoyment!

and now~  book 2!  trailer

Cascade chapter 1 anyone curious?
enjoy....

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