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This is the third in a neatly-dovetailed trilogy (after The Gilded Chain and Lord of the Fire Lands) that describes the same events from three different perspectives. The first two conflict in important ways. Not trivial "Well it might have seemed that way to you, but..." differences. Huge differences in plot.

Duncan had me wondering if he'd just forgotten what had happened in the first book well into the third, but, once I realized how it could work out, I could see the setup going way back. Very well crafted.

And, incidentally, great tales of adventure to boot.

After months on the waiting list, the SFPL has loaned me a copy of this.

Extraordinary. A description of the re-discovery of practical English Magic that took place in the Napoleonic era. Full of historical and bibliographic detail. Witty. Funny. Striking.

This caught my eye in the Lima airport. It's Isabel Allende's first foray into "young adult" fiction, and it happens to be about the Amazon (where we were headed next). How could I resist?

I was a little disappointed. Some books in this age category stand up well to older readers, but this one tried too hard to make sure its messages were understood.

Started this, found it very good, but too dense for my attention level. I'm saving it for my trip abroad, when the density in such a thin book will be a great time/weight ratio.

It was very good. At times bizarre and meandering, but always mysterious and deep.

Many interesting ideas.

Dark, moody fantasy. A deeply realized world.

An engrossing, extremely detailed account of the construction of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the serial killings of one H. H. Holmes.

Surprisingly frenetic. Fun, once you get used to the trauma.

Some interesting pieces in this short story collection, but nothing truly amazing. Lots of Cold War and post-Cold War ruminations.

Beautiful.

Horror story written in a slow-building style, full of the protagonist's unfocused dread. Reminiscent of Lovecraft, structurally. Quite a bit of the plot revolves around San Francisco geography, and some of the climactic scenes take place just up the hill from my apartment.

Good. Interesting world(s). A little overexplained. Seemed like the author had a bunch of different ideas that he wanted to fit into the book, and some of them didn't have the room to be properly fleshed out. It would have been interesting to explore the world a bit more before everything was explained.

My first book from the SFPL. Sequel to The Wizard Hunters. A solid continuation of the story from the first book. Wells is doing a good job of revealing the over-arching plot slowly, but bringing things together for the end of each book.

Sequel to The Curse of Chalion. Fun, well-constructed adventure.