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Muriella Pent
Russell Smith
Manufacturer: Anchor Canada
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Binding: Paperback
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Smith, Russell
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ASIN: 0385259794
Release Date: 2005-04-12 |
Book Description
Russell Smith’s highly praised new novel features some typically caustic satire, alongside a deep and melancholy awareness of the force of desire in our lives. The combination of wit and perception in
Muriella Pent — and its brilliant dialogue, beautiful descriptive prose, assured handling of racial politics, and exact observation of modern types — underlines Russell Smith’s claim to be one of Canada’s subtlest, sharpest writers.
The book begins with a poem by Marcus Royston (from his "Island Eclogues") and a fundraising message from Muriella Pent; then, in the first scene, still before chapter one, these two very different writers have a revealing post-coital conversation. The combination of texts and action, the pointed and moving dialogue, and the ineradicable presence of sex tell us a lot about how
Muriella Pent will go on: it’s precise and original even before really beginning.
In the first two chapters the principal characters are introduced more fully. Marcus Royston, a successful poet twenty years ago, is now jaded, boozy, and slightly seedy, and finding himself increasingly superannuated on the Caribbean island of St. Andrew’s. Muriella Pent, in the Arts and Crafts oasis of Stilwoode Park in Toronto, is widowed, free, sometimes unhappy, and perhaps a little uncontrolled. Phone conversations introduce us to her younger friend Julia Sternberg and to Brian Sillwell, a student who volunteers alongside Muriella on the very PC City Arts Board Action Council (Literature Committee).
At this committee’s invitation, with a little quiet help from Canada’s ministry of External Affairs, Marcus comes to Toronto on a literary residency, to live in a basement apartment in Muriella’s large house. From his arrival he is a disruptive presence: he instantly flirts with his hostess (and most everyone else), drinks too much, and is constitutionally unable to use the buzzword-heavy language of victimhood, appropriation, and community spoken in the Toronto arts world. As he tells the shocked literature committee, alternative journalists, a meeting of librarians and Muriella’s genteel book club alike: identity politics isn’t everything, art isn’t activism, and a novel shouldn’t be read to uncover the author’s social "message."
"It is not about providing positive influence, or solving the problems of poverty. It’s about the things, all dark things that…" He drained his cup. "All the dark things that motivate us." He stared straight in the eyes of the beautiful young girl and said, "Sex. It’s about sex. Largely. And corruption and decadence. And all the terrible, terrible things we think."
Muriella, Brian, and Julia — that "beautiful young girl" — are unsettled, and inspired.
Perhaps the disastrous and chaotic party held in his honour at Muriella’s house best illustrates the disruptive effect Marcus has on the lives around him, when the explosive power of desire crosses boundaries of age, gender and race. But Marcus is not simply a maverick: he is honest, pained, doubly in exile from a home he is ambivalent about, in sight of old age, and genuinely moved by his connection to Muriella and Julia.
The novel’s collage of diary entries, e-mails, letters and newspaper articles gives us unusual insight into the characters’ needs and weaknesses as they are profoundly affected by crashing into each other. With Marcus and Muriella’s involvement, Brian and Julia develop from wary adolescents into people capable of meaningful action; it is Muriella herself, however, who seems to change the most.
But
Muriella Pent works on a wider canvas; for all its psychological acuity it is profoundly, perhaps even primarily, a novel of place. Toronto is a vivid presence, from the roti shops on St. Clair West to historic sites like Fort York, from its earnest, grasping artists to the cosseted, pseudonymous enclave of Stilwoode Park.
As satire and social observation, as an exploration of what art should be and do, as a study of sex as a prime mover in the messy triumphs of our lives,
Muriella Pent is unmatched.
Book Description
The first novel of the Sons of Destiny...a romantic tale of magic, superstition, and a love that transcends dimensions.
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Island, a land where women are strictly forbidden. But, when the youngest of the mage-brothers rescues a woman from another universe, their world is altered forever.
Kelly Doyle had wanted to get away from the world. Threatened, attacked, and accused of witchcraft, Kelly had enough of her narrow-minded small town. And now she has somehow landed in another, magical dimension-the only woman in a realm inhabited by eight men who are desperately in need of a woman's touch.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific debut novel.......2007-10-02
Kelly Doley is rescued from her burning house and is whisked away to another universe by the young mage Morgannen. When she awakens she finds herself alone with eight powerful and exiled mage brothers on a lonely island. From the beginning her relationship with Saber, the oldest brother is more like one between cats and dogs. They fight every moment, but soon the sparks between them change into something completely different. Unfortunately Saber is cursed that the woman he loves will bring him disaster. Will Kelly find a way to persuade him that it is worth it to love someone?
THE SWORD is one of the best romantic fantasy novels that this reviewer has ever read. The eight brothers are truly magical, because they will completely bewitch you and once you have started with this book you won't be able to put it down.
Ms. Johnson created a set of characters that is absolutely fascinating. Each of the brothers has his own magical talent and is completely different in character. You will fall in love them all. They are very strong characters, typical Alphas, but Kelly will show them that she isn't a meek woman who says yes and amen to everything. Especially Saber as well as his younger brother Dominor has to live with her ire.
THE SWORD is a real keeper and this reviewer highly recommends keeping your eyes open for the other books by this talented author. This novel is a must read for readers who love to get drawn into a wonderful fantasy tale.
Courtesy of Loveromances and More
It's OK, Get from library or 1/2 priced book store.......2007-08-28
I became so frustrated with this book I actually couldn't finish it, I gave up about ¾ through & returned it to library. I really didn't take to Kelly at all, bitc*y, bossing and just annoying. It also drove me crazy how in depth the author got into such boring issues like the redecorating of rooms & sewing. Was this used as a filler to add additional pages? If I had paid trade size prices for this book, I would have returned it.
I can say I like the basis of the book. The alternate world, magic & curse are very well thought out. The interaction between the brothers was great. One day when I have nothing else to read waiting for better books to come in, I may go back to library & finish The Sword. Maybe not. I may skip to book 2, from the library of course, in hopes that the 1st book worked out the kinks of unlikable heroines and boring fillers. The other brothers do sound oh so promising...
Huh.......2007-08-04
Did I read the same book? Not, because I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The plotline was actually interesting, but the writing style was immature. Didn't find the characters engaging, they were silly. Mostly I wanted to slap the heroine. Of the eight brothers, only one sounded remotely interesting (not the hero here). The plague of magic spiders was gross.
There are much better paranormal books available.
Don't judge this book by the cover!.......2007-07-24
OK, so I'll admit that I stuck this one on the bottom of the pile at the bookstore because I thought the cover screamed 'cheesy romance novel'. Heck NO! This book is romantic in nature, but that in my opinion falls behind the fantasy-adventure part of it. Johnson has an amazing talent for transporting you into the story. Her writing is very descriptive and flows quickly. The characters are likeable and while the setting of the story IS in a completely different world she still manages to develop the characters realistically. They have strengths, weaknesses and a sense of humor just like we would have; just with a bit of an 'other-world twist'. Many times I found myself laughing out loud at the dialog between the characters. The book is intriguing, romantic, exciting and witty. Johnson has an AMAZINGINGLY creative mind and it shows in this book. And with 9 main characters I was shocked at how well you knew them all so early into the book. I could go on and on, but I'll just say "READ THE BOOK"! If you like fantasy, adventure and romance, you'll love The Sword.
A series by a new author.......2007-07-05
It's always exciting to discover a new author that is able to grab and hold my attention, fortunately Ms Johnson is just such an author. Only twice before have I delighted in finding a relative unknown in the process of writing a new series. The names that spring to mind are Dara Joy and Stephanie Laurens. Ms Johnson is in their league.
This book is the first of eight in a series and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book. This one starts out with the oldest brother and his destiny. With magic, romance and a bit of fantasy this book will lure you into a new world, one that Ms Johnson portrays brilliantly. The heroine is no shrinking violet and humor is scattered through the book.
If you read one "just for fun" book this summer, let it be this one.
My thanks to LOTM for this delightful read.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent Read
- Enjoyable, good story, enjoyable characters
- J. Ardian Lee Fan
- SGIAN DUBH BUT NO DIRK
- son of the sword
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Son of the Sword
J. Ardian Lee
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Outlaw Sword
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Sword of King James
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Glencoe, A Romance of Scotland
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Scotsman
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Knight Tenebrae
ASIN: 0441010504
Release Date: 2003-01-28 |
Book Description
Dylan is an ordinary modern guy...until extraordinary forces transport him to medieval Scotland-where he will find the bitterness of betrayal...and the sweetness of true love.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Read .......2006-09-16
An excellent read. Enough historical accuracy to make it compelling without getting too boring. Could use a little more action but overall a very excellent read. Very entertaining. There are other books in the series. I think I'd spring for the money to try the second. (This is the first in the series)
Enjoyable, good story, enjoyable characters.......2006-01-10
I had read earlier comments on boards about this book being a "bomb," and almost sent it back to the library. Then I read a few pages, and still, almost sent it back to the library. My compulsion to read the story kept me going, however, past the modern day beginning (which is a bit awkwardly written, as it does not even give the read a glimpse of the complexity of the main character that appears later on). I am glad I read on.
The story is about a modern-day man, Dylan Matheson, self-employed as a martial arts expert, and man of Scottish descent. He is very into his Scottish ancestry, and as such participates in games and gatherings that support and entertain his interest. During the course of one of these, he encounters a rare authentic and ancient Scottish broadsword, and wanting to handle it, makes a bet with the owner, to have a contest to "first touch." He wins the contest, and approaches to inspect the sword.
Several hundred years earlier (early 1700s), prior to the first Jacobite uprisings, the beginnings of British/Scots battle finds a faerie making a spell upon this very sword -- to find a Matheson (clan name) worthy of the sword and able to make a difference in the Scots clash against the Brits. Thus, Dylan, being THE ONE for whom her spell was cast, finds himself transported back to the early 1700s, just prior to events that transform history.
The story is essentially how he bides his time, eventually believing he cannot return to his own time, and over time, the events and characters that transform his sense of wanting to return to the year 2000 to one of truly belonging in 1700s Scotland. The characters are well-written, some likable and some not, the plot is interesting, and the events are well defined. I finished the book with great anticipation for reading the next in the series.
J. Ardian Lee Fan.......2005-08-22
I will say this, the series that this book begins is one of my favorites.
That being said, "Son of the Sword" is my least favorite book. Many of the other reviewers have commented (some quite nastily) about the poor plotting and unsympathetic characters. It's true, this books has FIRST NOVEL written all over it; however, everyone starts somewhere, and very few authors hit one out of the ballpark on the first try.
One of the things I like about this book is the narrator's voice. Although one previous reviewer talked about breaking the fourth wall, I'd like to point out that the concept of the "Walls" of fiction is very modern. This books appeals to me, I suppose, because my sensibilities often lie outside modern tastes. Ms. Lee's style of writing is definitely modern in tone and diction, but pre-modern is style. It's a strange combination, but I find it, at the very least, interesting.
Yes, this book is somewhat predictable and somewhat formulaic, but the others in the series (especially "The Sword of King James") are excellent. Ms. Lee's craft was obviously refined by the time "Sword of the White Rose" was written. "Son of the Sword is a worthy beginning, and leads up to better decendents.
SGIAN DUBH BUT NO DIRK.......2004-03-10
If you're one to enjoy a very light Highlander story and have already read, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, keeping with the title metaphor, the claymore of the genra, then Son of the Sword may just barely fit the bill. I found myself alternating from hating the simplistic plodding style and poorly developed characters to enjoying the Gaelic speech and minor history lessons. Another reviewer was agitated at the 4th wall being broken and they're right - periodically characters give history lessons to others, but clearly designed for the reader - the mark of a poor writer. I was surprised at the sudden appearence of Rob Roy and was prepared to be irked by this - however, the book seemed to pick up slightly at this point - but not enough for a more glowing review.
son of the sword.......2002-07-18
Very enjoyable, combining present day misfortunes along with past adventures. Once started this book was hard to put down, finished it that day. My son picked it up, enjoyed it and knew I would also.
Average customer rating:
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The jester's sword: How Aldebaran, the king's son, wore the sheathed sword of conquest
Annie F Johnston
Manufacturer: L.C. Page & company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
ASIN: B00085AJSA |
Average customer rating:
- A great novel with a great story.
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Knowing the Son (Sword of the Spirit)
Colin W. Dye
Manufacturer: Sovereign World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Discipleship | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Fundamentalism | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Protestant | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Christology | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1852402091 |
Book Description
The Sword of the Spirit series books are interactive study books for those wanting a good grounding in basic doctrine. 12 volumes in all. This series has been published in co-operation with Kensington Temple Church, London and forms a major part of the International London Bible School curriculum.
Each book in the series focuses on a different topic vital to ministry. The Bible's teaching is examined in detail and established, eternal principles are clearly explained. Each book contains an activity section that can be used to teach the material to small groups.
Customer Reviews:
A great novel with a great story........2000-06-19
This is a great novel, well worth being made into a film. It's about a ballet dancer, Mark, who turns his back on his art to become a religous leader in a Pentecostal church. It's told from the point of view of the narrator who is a young female journalist, Emma, who discovers there is a wall of silence around the great man; no-one from his past will give her an interview. She gets one lead, from the person who has inherited the diaries and papers of someone who had an unrequited love for Mark. As Emma begins to read the diaries a different story emerges, and she begins to understand who the wall of silence is protecting. There's quite a twist at the end, which I won't reveal.
There's a simple Chekhovian style narrative, with poignant flashbacks to the 1970's. It's naive in some ways, but quite powerful. I wondered just how auto-biographical it is.
Average customer rating:
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Prodigal Son: The Second Book in the Sword Trilogy
Tom Teal
Manufacturer: iUniverse-Indigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595451136 |
Book Description
Hernando Diaz is the young commander of an expeditionary force sent to the new world by the duke of Aragon. His mission is to check on the loyalty of Cortez for the Spanish court. Wild rumors of treasure, gold and a rich land excite the court. Hernando looks forward to the job as he sees it as a way of escaping his past and the terrible memories that torture him. Hernando is impressed and falls in love with this strange land and its people. He battles his way to the golden city only to find Cortez in need of his help. Hernando helps secure the vast riches of the new world for Charles V and saves the newly emerging country of Spain from certain bankruptcy. Back in Spain, after dealing with roving pirates, he is presented with a chance to save the king from assassination. But Hernando's greater quest is given to him by a secret society of which his deceased father was a member. He must go back to the new world and retrieve a much greater treasure. A treasure so important that it may just save man- kind.
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Shuttle and sword;: The adventures of a weaver's son in old Flanders,
Hawthorne Daniel
Manufacturer: The Macmillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
ASIN: B00085RHFI |
Average customer rating:
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Son of the sword
Youel B Mirza
Manufacturer: The Junior Literary Guild and the Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008AZ51Q |
Customer Reviews:
The Chronicles.......2004-02-20
If I had started with this book I seriously doubt that I would have gone on to read the full series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro on Saint Germain. Maybe it's just me because I'm not the biggest fan of short stories due to the lack of space for character development. But through out the book I felt that if I hadn't already gained some knowledge of St Germain's history I would have been left in the dark. I will say that I did find the book filled with good wit and amazing turns through out.
My favorite story was "Renewal" mainly because of the depth the writer goes to to explain how a "baby" vampire has to learn all the tricks of the trade. "Cabin 33" was my least favorite story, I found it two dimensional and the characters very unbelievable. I would recommend this book to those who have already had the pleasure of reading the first two books in the series.
Short stories.......2003-02-11
Some neat short stories form Chelsea Quin Yarbro about her favorite Comte. Not as much historical atmosphere, but good little plots. I like the modern one best, at the end.
Sixth in the Saint-Germain series........2002-10-03
For those of you unfamiliar with the series, the Saint-Germain series is a series of "historical horror" fiction in which the title character and hero (yes, he is a proper hero, not an antihero as in so much vampire fiction) is a vampire who has "lived" for somewhere between 3500 and 4000 years. In the first five books of the series ("Hotel Transylvania", "The Palace", "Blood Games", "Path of the Eclipse", and "Tempting Fate") we have seen him in five novels in five different historical periods: pre-Revolutionary France, Renaissance Italy, Imperial Rome, 13th century China, India, and Persia, and Germany between the World Wars, respectively.
This book is somewhat different; it is a collection of short stories (interspersed, as always, with dated correspondence to establish the time frame) ranging chronologically from 1889-1981. Thus, if your preference is for longer stories with an overarching plot, this book may not be for you; similarly, if one of the drawing cards for the series is the earlier historical settings, this might be disappointing. Still, the stories are interesting, and provide insight into the character. Further, two of the stories, "Renewal" and "Cabin 33" are excellent, must-read stories for those fond of the series; in "Renewal", we see the initiation into vampirism of James Emmerson Tree, who we met in the fifth book of the series as the American lover of the vampire Madeline de Montalia. In that book, he was told of her nature, and warned that as her long-time lover, he would become a vampire when he died, but her refused to believe any of it, being the pragmatic modern man that he was. In this story, he is forced to come to terms with the reality of the situation. In "Cabin 33", we have the pleasure of seeing Saint Germain deal with a villain who happens to be a fellow vampire, albeit a more traditionally-minded one than himself. (Imagine the humor inherent in seeing someone attempt to impress Saint Germain with their puissance by archly informing him that they "died in 1896". This in 1980, thus making them approximately 1/40th of Saint-Germain's age, a mere puppy by comparison.)
A wonderful collection of short stories........1998-10-08
Chronicles is a wonderful collection of short stories about C.Q. Yarbro's most famous character, St. Germain. For those of you who delight in piecing together Ragoczy's past, this one is a must have. If you can find it. This book also includes the story "Spider Glass".
Product Description
Originally intended to be the final book in the series featuring the Vampire Comte de Saint--Germain.
Book Description
From the Chronicles of Saint-Germain comes Book 16 in the long-running vampire series which brings the Dark Prince to Calif- ornia during the Great Depression. Fleeing Spain at the beginning of their Civil War, the vampire Saint-Germain arrives in Calif-ornia to reunite with the older and wiser Rowena Saxon, who is considering following the Dark Prince into an eternal life. Meanwhile, Saint-Germain is unaware that a ruthless assassin is pursuing him-one of the most charming killers ever to grace the page: Cenere. Unbelievably smooth and utterly inhumane, Cenere has trailed Saint-Germain across oceans and continents, killing anyone in his way, including those under Saint-Germain's protection. But will Saint-Germain finally awaken to the danger that threatens him before all he loves is lost?
Customer Reviews:
shouldn't a historical novel have history?.......2006-02-28
I have to agree with Juan Depaz. I have done some amateur historical research on the period (I published a study of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera which received good reviews in Spain) and the vision that Yarbro has of the Civil War and what led to it is plain ridiculous. Somehow she wanted the atmosphere so that she could hang her tale, never mind how it meshed with reality.
(That reminds me that, never mind how much I enjoyed The Palace, Savonarola never conducted an auto-da-fe).
I am also irritated by the frequency in which priests, monks, and other members of the Church tend to be ignorant and despicable villains. Yarbro should get off her anti-Christian kick.
Midnight Harvest fails.......2006-02-03
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has spent two decades giving us windows to distant times and forgotten lands through the eyes of the vampires Saint-Germain and Olivia and often done an extraordinary job. This is not the case. Reading Midnight Harvest one wonders if she even bothered to make research this time. Saint-Germain has to flee Spain to escape the Fascists. As if they would have bothered a rich, Catholic nobleman. Yarbro seems to fall pray to the easy conceit many fall pray to and believe the Fascists were bad and the Republicans were good. She goes on and on about the "Generals" stealing business and killing the owners. Not one word about radical Communists and Anarquist doing it ten times worse. Saint-Germain's struggle with the White Legion in California and a Fascist assassin is a study in boredom.
My greatest problem with the book is that it makes me doubt the accuracy of Yarbro's research for other books. Dark of the Sun was astonishing(in a good way). But if all her research is so inaccurate...
Twenty first in the Saint Germain series........2005-02-01
Or sixteenth, if one doesn't count the two offshoot series, one centering around Atta Olivia Clemens and one around Madeline de Montalia, both vampires who came to the undead life by way of Saint Germain.
Like all of the books in this series, this is a historical novel, set during a period in the unlife of Ferenc Ragosky, Count Saint Germain, a vampire who has lived since approximately 2000 years BCE. Unlike most of the others, however, this one is set fairly recently, in the period between World Wars I and II, and uniquely to this point (discounting a couple of the short stories in "The Chronicles of Saint Germain") is set in the United States of America.
Like all of the books in this series, it is a fascinating look at a fascinating character; Saint Germain is always a delight, although to some fans of more standard vampire fiction, he's too much of an unmitigated hero; there isn't enough of the dark, brooding antihero to him for some tastes. There may be some fans of the seiries, too, who prefer the more distant historical settings, and who find the twentieth century too current for their tastes in historical fiction.
Unless either of these quibbles sounds like something that would resonate with you, however, this book is highly recommended. Both the character and the history are very well-handled, and in addition, we see a character from a previous book; the love interest, Rowena Saxon, is a carryover from "Writ In Blood", which was set in the period immediately before the first world war.
Yawn from beginning to end.......2003-12-16
I really don't know why I keep doing this to myself. I suppose it's out of loyalty to Saint-Germain. But I must say my hopes for a truly engaging SG book have pretty much been extinquished. There was a time when Yarbro could write...what happened?
I'll overlook the fact that the book opens with an entirely gratuitous and graphic sex scene (can I just say I really don't need a blow by blow description of where the count is sticking his tongue...some things are better left to imagination). But let's move beyond that.
The whole plot of the book was weak. SG leaves Spain on the eve of civil war only to be followed by an assasin of the new regime. Sounds exciting? HA! This is a study in how to make nothing happen throughout an entire book. Things that should have been suspenseful were flattened by endless repetative dialog and an entire lack of action. He must get his lover out of Spain...blah blah blah, lover leaves Spain without incident. He must get out of Spain...blah blah blah, he drives out of Spain without incident. Once he's in America things really pick up. I particularly liked the entire chapter devoted to buying a car. Wheeee! Eleven pages conversations with a saleman...the test drive was really exciting.
It was nice to see Rowena Saxon again (more muff diving). However, the "problems" SG faces with the vinyards he has invested in seem entirely contrived...and again, the action is buried in the repetitive dialog. Let's Beat This Point to Death should have been the title of this book. When action finally does manage to shoulder its way to the fore, Yarbro gets it over with as quickly as possible and gets back to being tedious. SG gets severely injured, turn the page, bing, all better...back to endless yapping.
Die hard fans will still read this just to get their SG fix (look at me). I probably can't talk them out of it. If you've never been introduced to Saint-Germain, for the love of all the forgotten gods, don't start with this one.
Saint-Germain Comes to US.......2003-11-24
Midnight Harvest, while not as much of an edge-of-seat read as might be a few of the previous books, manages to introduce new connections, resolutions and laying bare of some previously met plots, settings, mysteries and people. Running for his life, as usual, Saint-Germain leaves eve-of-Civil War Spain and makes his way across to America and on to San Francisco. Reuniting with a previous lover, he must survive the attentions of a murderous assassin and help the people he loves and those he cares about survive the attentions of 20th century American villains. While there is not the "cast of thousands" violence seen in some of the earlier adventures, a healthy dose of suspense mixed with Ms. Yarbro's usual extremely competent period scholarship make for a very satisfying read. Saint-Germain is the oldest and, I think, so very romantic of the six vampiric "heroes" in either current TV or books available to us today. This latest book makes for a good addition to any collection of Saint-Germain's adventures, or the beginning of one. After all, you can't beat a bit of sex, violence and learnin' for curl up and enjoyable pleasure.
Customer Reviews:
not the most colorful cookbook i've cooked from.......2007-08-26
i just started my vegetarian venture so this is a cookbook i picked up. the book gives really good side tips about food that are not common knowledge. i have tried a few of the recipes and they turned out fabulous. so no damage there. the only down side is there are absolutely no pictures of any of the recipes. so if your ok with cooking blindly then this is one for you.
The Everything Vegetarian Cookbook.......2007-05-25
As recent arrivals in the vegetarian world, we are very pleased with this informative and well-written book.
We look forward to many healthy meals, without the gnawing feeling that some animal was killed to feed our carnivore tastes.
Well done, and thanks.
basic and uninteresting vegetarian recipies.......2007-05-12
Though included in this book were recipies for many, many differeny vegetables, none were very creative or inspiring. Just basic stuff.
Eh........2007-05-07
This book is ok, but you can probably find better vegetarian recipes than this collection online. I'd save my money.
The Everything Vegetarian Cookbook:300 Healthy Recipes Everyone will Enjoy.......2007-01-20
This was given as a gift and they are thouroughly enjoying all the recipes the book has to offer.
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- Realms of the Arcane (Forgotten Realms)
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