Book source ~ Home library

This anthology introduces the Witcher named Geralt of Rivia. I think I figured out that the passages titled The Voice of Reason are when Geralt is healing at the temple after dealing with a striga and the other chapters are short stories involving his monster hunting.  It’s all a bit confusing. I’m not sure if it’s the translation or if the original text is like this, but it tends to go on and on and on and not in a good way. The way people talk is confusing and tedious a lot of the time, but if you can wade through it there are great stories here. Love the world and Geralt.

The Voice of Reason 1

The Witcher ~ Geralt takes on a striga.

The Voice of Reason 2

A Grain of Truth ~ So, there’s a bruxa and a cursed man in this one.

The Voice of Reason 3

The Lesser Evil ~ This is the story of Renfri and how Geralt became known as the Butcher of Blaviken. Also, Stregobor is in this.

The Voice of Reason 4

A Question of Price ~ Queen Calanthe of Cintra holds a betrothal feast for her daughter and I learn about the Law of Surprise.

The Voice of Reason 5

The Edge of the World ~ A town says there is a devil plaguing them. Also, Geralt and Dandelion are taken by elves.

The Voice of Reason 6

The Last Wish ~ Geralt and Dandelion discover a djinn and end up meeting Yennefer.

The Voice of Reason 7

*Book source ~ Home library

From Goodreads:

Wonderful late-50s illustrations and classic stories such as Heracles, Beowulf, Tristram & Iseult, and Sigurd of the Volsungs.

For the most part I enjoyed the stories in this collection, but the writing is simplistic which I guess makes sense since Golden Books are known for their children’s books. Some of the stories I’d heard before though it’s been quite awhile, so the refresher was nice. The rest I’d never heard and found interesting, but not enthralling.  Always nice to learn new legends though. I was not at all impressed with the artwork. It’s weird looking and the colors are very blah. It’s just not my thing.

*Book source ~ Home library

Sarah Bingham is a music teacher at UNC-Chapel Hill. Roland is an Immortal Guardian protecting innocents from vampires. Their paths cross one very early morning when Roland is staked to the ground in a remote area by enemies who torture him while they wait for the sun to come up and burn him to ash. Sarah, out before sunrise to beat the heat, is digging up a place for her vegetable garden in a field adjacent to her home when she hears a loud commotion. After sneaking up in the trees to see what’s going on and witnessing the torture of a naked man she decides she doesn’t have time to go home to phone 911. Taking her shovel firmly in hand she whacks the bad guys in the head, unties Roland and helps him to her house thus saving his life.  And that’s just the beginning.

This is a reread for me. When it came up in the Caffeinated Book Club as the March pick I was excited. I loved it the first time I read it back in January 2012 and I’m happy to report I love it just as much four years later. In fact, I love the entire series so far. The characters are so alive and the world is so interesting that I just want to step into it and disappear for awhile. Ok, maybe forever. :D The fact that it’s set in NC is a plus for me since I live in the vicinity of the setting. It was so much fun revisiting this world from the beginning and knowing what I know now did not detract from the story at all. I dove right in and it was like I was reading it for the first time all over again. Humor, suspense, hotness, romance, badassery, cool fights and just overall great entertainment kept me glued to my couch for the entire book. I love it. That is all.

*Book source ~ Home library

This graphic novel starts before Buffy goes to Sunnydale and contains her life in L.A. after Merrick, her Watcher, tells her that’s she’s the new Slayer. There are some Sunnydale scenes interspersed here and there and it flips back and forth between the stories and, after Origin, Giles being tested to see if he’s worthy of being the Slayer’s new Watcher.

All’s Fair ~ A Spike and Dru story set at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Man, I love these two crazy vamps.

The Origin ~ The story of how Buffy became the Chosen One.

Viva Las Buffy ~ Buffy and her friend Pike follow a lead about a vampire casino all the way to Vegas. Seeing Buffy in that coat check girl outfit, it’s hard to remember she’s still only 15. Woah.

Dawn & Hoopy the Bear ~ Not bad, but it’s about Dawn who shouldn’t even be included in the past stories because she doesn’t show up until Season 5. So…blerg.

Slayer, Interrupted ~ Ah, nice to get the skinny on when Buffy spent time in a mental institution since she mentions it in Season 6.

The artwork is fantastic and the stories kept my attention. Even though the Dawn story irritated me, it was still a decent read. I am so looking forward to continuing with the omnibus books and any other Buffyverse material I can get my greedy mitts on.

*Book source ~ Home library

Parry was the adopted son to a very competent sorcerer. Even though he was not the sorcerer’s biological offspring he proved to have an aptitude for magic as well as having an uncommonly gifted singing voice. When his beloved wife Jolie and his father die in the Albigensian Crusade (precipitated by the mischief of Lucifer) he joins the Brotherhood to hide and plot his revenge against the Horned One. After thwarting a major plot of Lucifer’s a demoness is sent to corrupt Parry and corrupt him she does. In 1250, just as Parry’s ailing body was ready to give up, Lucifer appeared to claim his soul in person. However, Parry countered the spell Lucifer threw at him and with his dying breath he claimed the Office of Evil taking the name Satan.

After reading the first five books in this series, much of the middle part of this story is recapped from the other books, but from Parry’s POV. Where Parry came from and how he obtained the Office of Evil and became an Incarnation is an interesting pathway that is new though. And what happened to him at the end of Being a Green Mother is revealed. The setup is now complete for the final book in the series and I can’t wait to get to it!

Now, a few words on the story itself. There are a few inconsistencies and at times the writing is a bit simple, but the overall storyline is just as enthralling to me now as it was when I read it two decades ago. I love, love, love this series and I most especially love Parry/Satan. I mean, who doesn’t love a bad boy who isn’t all bad?