Assassin's Apprentice is the story of FitzChivalry's tragic yet wholly exceptional life. As an illegitimate child, this character always remained on the fringe of society's focus. Still, throughout Fitz's flaw-filled life, he leaves indelible marks on the politically important characters that surround him. I recommend this book for readers looking for characters that aren't perfect but who still try to do the best they are able.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 10:15PM

Smartly written with clever dialogue, a bustling new world, and a level of violence that never lets you forget the stakes of Locke Lamora's game.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 10:06PM

This story is full of brisk action, good humor, and lovable characters. Undoubtedly, you will be eager to read the next tale in this series about two wickedly good nightrunners!   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 10:02PM

Harry Potter is for a multi-generational audience. The series is ultimately about the power of love and friendship. While "The Sorcerer's Stone" introduces readers to the world of Hogwarts, later books become progressively darker but never lose their optimism or sense of adventure. I recommend this book as a good, if rather obvious, starting point for your journey into Harry's world.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 9:53PM

This is a delightful novel that moves quickly, buoyed by the author's deft writing style and swift pace of plot. It also sets fantasy fiction in a non-Western environment, a quality that sometimes seems like a rarity when perusing titles at the bookstore.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 9:47PM

I love how this story is self-contained yet still manages to introduce readers to the world of Middle Earth and significant elements from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit has a certain amount of innocence and fun that you do not always find in other fantasy stories. Definitely worth reading, especially if you aren't certain that you want to commit to reading Tolkien's longer stories.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 9:43PM

This book sat on my shelf for at least a year before I started reading it. I quickly began kicking myself, wondering how on earth I could have ignored such a gritty and engaging story for so long. This book has an enormous cast of characters that give life to a rich and fascinating world, reminiscent of medieval Europe.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 9:37PM

This is the book that drew me into the world of fantasy fiction. It is a true classic of its genre and a terrific introduction to the nuts and bolts of epic fantasy.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 9:28PM

I think that it is rare to find a high-level fantasy novel with a woman for its narrator and hero. While there is plenty of erotica in this story, there are far more important reasons to read this book. First, the elegant style of writing is congruent with the atmosphere of the story -- a quality not always present in other books. Second, Carey obviously spent a great deal of effort when developing the world of Terre d'Ange. And third, the complex political intrigue is marvelously connected to action on an epic scale. Read and enjoy!   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 11:41AM

Even if you're not a fan of science fiction, it's likely that you will genuinely enjoy this book. It's full of youthful adventure, intelligence, and an honest yearning for love and compassion.   posted Aug 7, 2010 at 11:24AM