Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From
Totally Random Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
This week on Top Ten Tuesday I get to gush about my favorite authors since those are the ones I own the most books from. I’ll let you know why I love them and give a mix of physical and ebook collections. Let’s get into it!
1. Leigh Wilder – 31 – Wilder is a writer of naughty tales, a constant presence on my Frodo’s Frisky Friday feature, and one of my favorite authors. The collection I have from her is mostly in eBook form, since they are novella length and she doesn’t really do physical copies yet. I’ve read almost all of them, including ones from her alter egos, and the level of writing is always impressive.
2. Zoe E. Whitten – 34 – Whitten writes books with mature content, though not necessarily the naughty variety, and like Wilder has an exceptionally strong level of prose. My collection for her is completely made up of eBooks, many of which I have yet to get to, but she’s awesome and I know they’ll be great when I do get around to them. I recommend checking out her more mainstream title, Nobody Special, which I wrote about here.
3. Rick Riordan – 12 – You all know of Rick Riordan even if you haven’t read his books. I’ve only read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so far, but I own the Kane Chronicles and the four released Heroes of Olympus books too. Oh, and all are physical copies. ^.^
4. Jeremy C. Shipp – 15 – Another frequent author for this blog, Shipp is a horror/bizarro author that I absolutely love. His work is insightful, creepy, hilarious, and thought provoking. I own his Attic Clowns volumes in physical and eBook form (only counted each volume once though), and the rest is split between the two versions. I can’t recommend his work enough!
5 and 6. – D.J. MacHale (10) and Eoin Colfer (8) – These two authors I put together because all of their books that I own are from one series each. I own both series in physical form, MacHale’s being the Pendragon series and Colfer being Artemis Fowl. I read both of the series when I was a kid and still love them to this day. They are great MG reads if you haven’t checked them out already!
7. Kelly Apple – 10 – Another “naughty” writer, Kelly Apple is not only one of my favorite authors, but also a fantastic person, and someone I love talking to on Twitter. Nine of the ten books are from her Monstrous Tales series, which has been a bunch of fun to read, and all of them are eBooks. Take a look at her work if you would like some sexy monsters in your life!
8. Larry Kollar – 8 – A MG and YA author, Kollar is a bit of a mixed bag. He’s written dystopian and fantasy for YA audiences, and is now four books into a MG fantasy series, but no matter what audience he’s writing for it has been enjoyable for me to read. I own all of his work in eBook format, and if you follow the blog you’ve seen me review most of them already. Give him a look!
9. Sean Beaudoin – 5 – Beaudoin is an oddball, writing stories that make you question whether it was the content within that was crazy, or if it is really your own mind that developed the delusions. His books are hilarious, they always blow my mind, and are excellent for readers of YA or Adult. I’ll definitely be buying all of his other books as they come out!
10. John Green – 5 – While many of the authors in this list are ones you probably haven’t heard of (unless you read this blog often) that doesn’t mean I don’t love mainstream authors too. I own every John Green book with the exception of Let It Snow, and that’s really just because I’m not big into holiday stories. The ones I do own and have read are all amazing, as you all probably know, though An Abundance of Katherines is actually my favorite, and is the one that speaks to me the most.
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There are other authors that I could have chosen, possibly even a few that might have more than 5, but those were the ones that immediately came to mind, and are my favorites. Do you have any of these authors in your list? What is your biggest number of owned books by an author? Let me know! Thanks as always for reading! ^.^
Mini Review Monday: Into the Icebound by Larry Kollar
Into the Icebound
Summary From Goodreads: 
In the fourth “Accidental Sorcerers” story, Sura, Mik, and Bailar set sail for the Northern Reach, with Lord Darin in pursuit. Their journey is anything but smooth, with storms, raiders, and the prince of Westmarch standing in the way.
Joining an expedition to the ruins of Isenbund, Bailar disappears in the night. Now, Mik and Sura must help rescue their mentor from a legendary foe thought long extinct.
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It’s time for another edition of Frodo’s Hobbit Sized Reviews on Mini Review Monday! Short and sweet just like 2nd breakfast!
Into the Icebound, the fourth book in the Accidental Sorcerers series, is a fun and easy YA read that could even appeal to MG audiences. This continuation of the exciting fantasy series that I have come to enjoy incorporates a few more classic elements, including goblins and northerners that might as well be cut-outs of vikings or Norse mythology.
Another enjoyable change from previous entries in the series is that it has far more action in it and doesn’t focus as much on the romance. While I like the pairing of Mik and Sura just fine, Into the Icebound is certainly the most entertaining read because of that change.
Displays of magic are plentiful, adventures are undertaken, and history is told in a grand fashion, but in such a way that even younger readers will enjoy. What makes Into the Icebound stand apart the most, however, is that the danger factor is cranked up a few notches. Where as in the first books in the series it felt like the characters were invincible, here this is not nearly the case as many of them encounter real threats to their lives. It isn’t that I want to see Mik or Sura hurt, but having godlike main characters isn’t desirable either, and Kollar manages to balance that aspect the best in this entry to the series.
If you enjoy sorcery, young love (in moderate doses and not graphic), great adventures, and/or great MG/YA style storytelling then this series, and this book especially, is one I’d recommend. You can pick it up on Amazon for a mere dollar here, it’s well worth your time and a fast read to boot. Thanks as always for reading.
Killing My Kindle: The Sorcerer’s Daughter by Larry Kollar
Killing My Kindle
For 2014 I am tackling my Kindle app in an effort to make a dent in the large library of often forgotten eBooks. Every week I will talk about an eBook I read, be it good or bad, so that I can stay motivated and share some of it with you.
This week I took a stab at: The Sorcerer’s Daughter by Larry Kollar
Released On: December 10th, 2013
Summary From Goodreads: 
In the third “Accidental Sorcerer’s” story, as Bailar and his apprentices help the Conclave prepare for conflict with the rogue sorcerers, Sura learns that she is a descendant of a noble House in the Alliance. But when she discovers the price of her history, it may be too late.
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The Sorcerer’s Daughter is, by far, the best book in this magical series to date. Picking up right where Water and Chaos left off, Sura and Mik continue to learn more about magic and their abilities to control under the tutelage of their master Bailar. While there is some back and forth between the views of the two apprentices, this is Sura’s story, especially in the second half of the short but exciting adventure. After seeing things from Mik’s perspective in Water and Chaos, I’d say that I prefer things told from Sura’s point of view. There is more feeling, emotion, and passion behind her voice and the story is strengthened because of it. Kollar makes us feel what she is experiencing and, to me, this is his strongest piece from a writing standpoint as well.
The relationship between the two young sorcerers isn’t as central to the story, something for which I was very grateful, and that allowed the magic to be the focus. Spells using all elements, sometimes mixing them to create something even more powerful, and displays that were exciting and often rather humorous are spread throughout the book.
What sets The Sorcerer’s Daughter, and indeed the Accidental Sorcerers series as a whole, apart from other magical series is that the spells aren’t designed to just inflict damage against enemies or even to just protect yourself. In this series every spell has multiple purposes and uses, and often the initial intent behind them is peaceful in nature, but these sorcerer’s find creative ways to make them combative. It’s a nice departure from the never ending stream of books filled with fireballs and earthquakes.
The story is split into two halves, initially learning and teaching new spells that will be useful later on at the Conclave, and then with Sura having an adventure on her own as she learns about her history and what her life could be like if she desires for nobility. Both are equally entertaining, and the pacing is perfect. The personality of the other apprentices in the first half as well as the nobles and servants in the second helped to keep the mood light and kept me laughing. The cast overall was the strongest it has been in the series and I really enjoyed meeting some new people that I imagine will be returning in the forth book, Into the Icebound.
I’m really looking forward to experiencing more of the world Kollar has created and seeing what new spells he comes up with. This is a really light and easy read for fans of MG or YA fantasy and it’s only a dollar on Amazon if you want to check it out. I’m so happy I started the year off on a high note as this was the first book I read for my challenge and it makes me hopeful as I work my way through my Kindle app that this will be a fun feature to do each week. Thanks as always for reading!
Goodreads 2014 Reading Challenge #1/365; Mount TBR Challenge #1/200; 2014 TBR Pile #1/50; Seriously Series Reading Challenge #1/75; 2014 Ebook Reading Challenge #1/75
15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 9
15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 9
The awesome people over at Good Books and Good Wine came up with the fabulous 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge!
Today’s Challenge is: Why do you blog about books?
This is something I touched on in challenge #7 when I spoke about my blogging quirks. Most of my posts are reviews, for a variety of reasons but mostly because I feel (and have been told) that they are the most helpful for authors. Will I do them in conjunction with a blog tour? Absolutely. Regardless of whether the review is part of something or just because I want to share my thoughts about the book the goal is to bring the book to a wider audience. This is true for both positive and negative reviews. If I loved a book I want more people to read it that may not be aware of the book or might be on the fence on if they want to read it. Conversely, if I am not a fan of the book I’d like to explain why so that other people can potentially avoid that one and spend their valuable time reading something else.
This is especially the case with indie authors. They work so hard to garner even a tiny fraction of what the “big boys” get and if I can help share their book to just a few people that wouldn’t have heard of it otherwise then it’s more than worth the time and effort spent. Plus, blogging has allowed me to connect with these authors when I likely wouldn’t have otherwise so I’m reading pieces I wouldn’t otherwise as well. Examples of some fabulous authors I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise and that I reviewed a piece (or a few) for: Zoe E. Whitten, Leigh Wilder, Angela Kulig, Larry Kollar, Starla Huchton, Sarah-Jane Lehoux as well a bunch more.
The community. The book blogging community is just incredible. They’re intelligent, helpful, caring and willing to deal with each other’s obsessiveness, insanity and frequent squees. The joy I see in book bloggers when they are talking about a book they just read that they loved, a book they are super excited to get or really anything book related is like no other group. It’s infectious and uplifting how the community supports its fellow members through seemingly everything. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
It’s freaking FUN! I get to talk about books all the time and people actually talk back to me about the ones they loved or their thoughts on whatever, how great is that?! I use it to participate in readathons which are always a blast (marathon reading + twitter chats + giveaways + challenges, heck ya!). Plus I get to record my progress and see how much I’ve read whenever I’d like, and with pretty cover pictures included! Plus it is (hopefully) helping my writing and helping me to understand what I like/dislike in books so that if when I write my own I’ll know what to look out for or what to utilize.
So that’s why I blog about books! Why do you do it? What parts are your favorites? Let me know and thanks for reading! ^.^
Review: Water and Chaos by Larry Kollar
Water and Chaos
Summary From Goodreads: 
Infiltrating a nest of rogue sorcerers can be hazardous… to your heart.
Mik and Sura are growing ever stronger as apprentice sorcerers, but neither knew what living in Mik’s hometown would do to their relationship. Torn apart by misunderstanding, Mik volunteers for a hazardous mission in a distant land. Now Sura must learn to trust, and Mik must learn the true meaning of home.
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I received an eBook copy of Water and Chaos from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Water and Chaos was released today! If you’d like to pick up a copy you can do so here.
Water and Chaos picks up right where Accidental Sorcerers left off. Mik and Sura are training to hone their powers while blossoming as a young couple. Then we are plunged in a series of adventures each of which seem more perilous than the last. Sounds cool right?
Here’s what I realized after finishing Water and Chaos, this series is, at least to me, romance with fantasy elements. I don’t think that is what I expected when I was introduced to the series, but the transition from Accidental Sorcerers (mostly fantasy but with romance intertwined) to Water and Chaos (romance abound with magical happenings around it) seems to lend itself to that type of series going forward. Also in my review of Accidental Sorcerers I mentioned that I thought AS was more Middle Grade than YA. Well Water and Chaos moves more into the younger YA range so it appears that as the MC ages (13 in Book 1, 14 in Book 2) the audience and corresponding writing styles go with it. Nothing is wrong with any of these adjustments in perspective, just some guidelines to go by.
Mik continues to be a very strong MC. He’s likable, he’s got a good sense of humor and he’s an all around good guy, easy to root for. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t perfect as we find out in this book, but he’s a solid model of goodness in most cases. Possibly my favorite change from AS to W&C is the edge Mik develops. I can’t say why without spoilers but it breathes some life into his character to keep him from being a cliche.
Sura, on the other hand, becomes a whiner prone to fits of jealousy. She can’t handle even the hint of competition for Mik regardless of what he says to reassure her and even goes over the top at one point despite everyone around her assuring her she is seeing things that aren’t there. She pouts, she’s moody, she just bugged me. Worst of all the reader is stuck watching Mik deal with all of her crap, none of which he deserves. Not a fan.
I highly doubt it had anything to do with what I said in my review of AS, but Kollar incorporated the previously mentioned relationship issues just like I hoped for. It did work in the sense of providing some needed conflict between the lovebirds, though not all of the side affects of that were desirable as I pointed out. What I didn’t expect was that the conflict in their relationship would push the rest of the plot and mightily influence it to boot. It shows in the initial adventure to Mik’s hometown and in the one to “distant lands” even more so. What the book lacked though was action. I made a comment on Twitter while reading that 25% of the way through the book “the main action point has been chasing cows…admittedly with magic but still” and it didn’t get much crazier. Oh sure there was some minor skirmishes and displays of magic, enough to keep the book a “fantasy” and not bordering on some type of contemporary. However, there weren’t any “shock and awe” type of moments or large displays of magic to really excite the reader. That didn’t hinder the story, but it definitely changed the feel.
The world building is the shining success of the Accidental Sorcerers series. Kollar gives depth to his characters and the areas of the world they came from. There are different languages, ancestries, cultures, and everything else you could ask for. The landscapes come to life, spiny mountains, winding rivers and a certain narrow isle are described in beautiful detail. Between the diverse societies each with their own unique culture, the amazing lands and seas to discover and the in depth character development Kollar makes you want to read on and learn more, this is where the drive is to read the next book in the series each time.
Overall Water and Chaos is a good book with a character flaw, it’s human and there isn’t anything inherently wrong with that. It isn’t an action filled book and Sura could have done with an attitude adjustment in a major way. However, the romance is typical of young teenagers, the ups and downs are to be expected. The world Kollar creates is remarkably well done and I know in the next book I will enjoy exploring it along with a very solid MC in Mik, one with an edge to him that I really appreciate being added. I look forward to the next book and maybe a bit more magic and awe than romance, but we shall see! Thanks as always for reading!
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #103/200
Review: Pickups and Pestilence by Larry Kollar
Pickups and Pestilence
Summary From Goodreads: 
War, locusts, vermin. The world continues adjusting to the Truckalypse, and to the sudden disappearance of billions of people, seeking a new balance. People in Laurel Hills and elsewhere survive and try to rebuild what they can.
When a dream reveals the nature of the trucks, it is young Cody Sifko who must become humanity’s champion. His friends—and the enigmatic Delphinia—will stand with him, but he must face his inner demons alone.
Pickups and Pestilence takes you on a ride from suburban Atlanta, to the heights of Heaven and the depths of Hell. Buckle up and hang on!
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I received an e-book copy of Pickups and Pestilence in exchange for an honest review.
It’s time for another edition of Frodo’s Hobbit Sized Reviews! This is where I write a review in the time I have before I go to work or before I go to bed. Short and sweet just like 2nd breakfast!
Allow me to plug in my last review which was of book 1 in the Truckalypse series, White Pickups, since I’m going to be continuing off of that just as Pickups and Pestilence does off of the previous story. Also, this book is being released tomorrow (May 9th) so make sure to get yourself a copy! Alright, are you all caught up? Great, now I can go to my review.
The elements of Pickups and Pestilence are very similar to those of White Pickups with some small changes. You remember all of the romantic tension caused by the love triangles and the frenzied amount of relationships that were rather quick to begin in White Pickups? Ya, you can toss those aside for Pickups and Pestilence. Unfortunately, while I wasn’t completely in love with those elements all the time (pardon the bad pun) they added some needed tension and drove the story along. While White Pickups had some discussions about the best course to take in certain situations, mostly it was just concerning whether to give into the truck (mob mentality) or not. In Pickups and Pestilence, however, there were many questions brought up that made the reader stop and think about society as it currently is and whether or not the current system is one we should keep, especially in the current capacity it is being carried out in. Questions such as whether we should rely on things like technology are asked here, or even more specifically should they use electricity when they are thus far sustaining themselves without it for the most part.
The weaknesses and the strengths that I mentioned in my last review are essentially the same as before. While there aren’t as many love triangles, there are some, but instead of creating tension that made the book more interesting and better paced they seem irrelevant and trivial. The characters from before are still very strong but the new group is not one I care much for. This story, like White Pickups, is filled with too much minutia for my taste. I think it could have been whittled down to a story with slightly less depth, but much better pacing and that would have helped to make the crazy times more impactful.
Overall I was hoping for steps in the right direction to take the good that White Pickups had and transform it into a more polished sequel. That didn’t happen and the issues I mentioned remained in Pickups and Pestilence. Yes book 2 brought up good philosophical questions, but I wanted more action, more tension, some kind of spark to go with all that depth and I didn’t get it. It’s still worth the read and it does come out tomorrow, so if you want to get it click the link above. Thanks as always for reading!
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #96/200
Review: White Pickups by Larry Kollar
White Pickups
Summary From Goodreads: 
At summer’s end, mysterious white pickup trucks take to the roads and compel nearly everyone to “drive off.” Some of those who remain gather in a suburban Atlanta subdivision, and struggle to cope with a world whose infrastructure is rapidly crumbling. One of the few who are mentally and emotionally prepared for the end of the world is Cody Sifko, a youth who quickly becomes the inspiration for the others. When a strange homeless woman names him “Father of Nations,” is she seeing his future or her own delusions? As winter and a hate group try to destroy Laurel Hills, can Cody overcome personal tragedy and seize his destiny?
Love, hate, survival, and an apocalypse like no other—White Pickups is ready to take you on the ride of your life!
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I received an e-book copy of White Pickups in exchange for an honest review.
White Pickups, book one of the “Truckalypse” series, was very enjoyable for me and definitely has me excited for book two, Pickups and Pestilence. That doesn’t mean, however, that it wasn’t bizarre. As the series name in combination with the title would suggest, white pickups essentially are responsible for the end of humanity as we know it. The vast majority of the population goes into them and though the characters, and thus the reader as well, are not certain what exactly happens when someone enters these vehicles, they do not expect them to return to the remains of the world that they left behind.
I’m going to break down White Pickups into two sections, pros and cons, and then give a conclusion, sound good? Wonderful, somehow I knew you’d see it my way.
Cons: Love Triangles – They are very heavily used. Even when they are resolved rather quickly or the outcome seems rather obvious from the onset, Kollar uses them for tension and some fleshing out of characters. If they weren’t quite as obvious as to which way they were going to go I think this could have been a solid device, as it was the tool shone and the result fell somewhat flat.
Insta-love – You know my feelings on this if you follow my reviews at all. In this case I don’t think the love part was quite so instant in the main relationship as in many insta-love cases, despite iterations by some of the characters to the contrary. Lust? Certainly. Desire? Absolutely. Rapidly developed feelings? You betcha. But this was the best possible way it could have been incorporated and it felt very realistic. A small con at most but I had to mention it.
Slow Points In Development – There were parts in the book where I just wanted to skip ahead. I understand that Kollar wanted the reader to get an accurate portrayal of all of the work that would go into creating a post-apocalyptic community, something that is glossed over in many works and something I think is worthwhile to do. However, at some point you need to edit it down a bit so that the reader isn’t drowned in the minutia, there were areas where I certainly think that would have been possible. Had some parts been scaled down the book could have had a better pacing to it and been more exciting rather than just interesting.
Pros: Characters – There was a very large cast of characters that we actually heard from throughout the book which is a very challenging thing to attempt and Kollar did so very well. I felt like I knew them all and what they could potentially become and do in future books, that none of them seemed forced or unnecessary, and that there were strong emotional bonds with each of them. I can’t stress enough how difficult that is to accomplish and Kollar deserves major credit for them all having individual voices that stand out.
Originality – How the heck did Kollar come up with white pickup trucks ending the world? It was rapture-esque but not overly so (and without the typical religious overtones) but the idea for that was very creative and unique.
Believability – It’s an apocalypse book and it seemed possible. Read that again. Yes the premise is a bit weird (white pickup trucks calling out to you!) but the reasoning for people choosing to leave discovered by the characters certainly could apply to the vast majority of society. The characters as previously mentioned were believable, the way that the community went about creating a new life was broken down (even if a bit too much) into sections that actually felt like details weren’t skipped or glossed over and even the prophecies and magical qualities didn’t seem all that far-fetched.
Summary/Feelings: Did I enjoy White Pickups? Yes. Did I think there were parts I’d like to have been edited down? Yes. Were the characters strong enough for me to overlook the flaws and make me excited for Pickups and Pestilence? Heck ya. Do I recommend the book? Check it out, if for no other reason than it is a unique piece, you won’t find it’s double anywhere, and that is a rarity and very special. Worth the read for sure. Thanks as always for reading and come back tomorrow (you read that right!) for my next review!
Mount TBR Challenge #59/150+; 2013 TBR Pile #59/50; Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #95/200
Day 84: Oddities by Larry Kollar
Day 84
Summary From Goodreads: 
An odd little anthology of flash fiction and short stories, for those who love fantasy and science fiction.
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Today was the release day of Oddities by the always amazing and entertaining Larry Kollar so I thought it only fitting that I review it today! You can get it from Amazon here for only 99 cents! Oddities is separated into two halves, the first made up of fantasy stories, the latter science fiction, both with one entertaining story after another. As usual with anthologies I will do a list, this time of my five favorites with a little about them and why I enjoyed the stories. So without further ado, my top 5, in reverse order of course:
5. Siren in Training – It’s exactly what the title would suggest, a short story about a young girl that happens to be a siren. She just finds this out at fourteen and after finally accepting of her new powers puts them to use. These powers do have some limitations and some…side effects on her life that are a nice twist on the usual siren story. A funny little story, quite enjoyable.
4. The Seventh Sage – A story that shows nothing is as it might seem. Great warriors can become great scholars if the path they choose dictates they must. The message seems to be that the greatest rewards are those that you are not even searching for, but find naturally. A more deep-thinking story, but enjoyable.
3. Bait – Another sci-fi story as well as being yet another humorous entry, Bait is about a world where humans live but are under the power of aliens, apparently which like to fish. While the aliens have a different objective, the humans believe they do so to capture them. However, the only currency remaining is obtained by risking this capture. The ending is the selling point for Bait and definitely made me chuckle as it was a pretty good comparison for how humans often assume they know what the other people are thinking when the reality is quite different. If we take Bait as words of wisdom it would be to work on communicating more clearly with other cultures and thus bring us closer together.
2. Spark – One of the science fiction stories, Spark is another one that causes some deeper thinking. In this case the story examines our dependence on technology as well as the virtual reality that so many of us lose ourselves in. It asks us what we might lose in exchange for the way we are spending our lives and whether we are willing to pay the price. Will we risk losing our spark? I loved this one, it brings up quite the quandary.
1. Asmus and the Dragon – Filled with both subtle humor (the name of a certain land Asmus, the main character, traveled to was rather funny in a punny way) as well as the downright hilarious (two words: allergic. dragon.) this story was fabulous. Though one of the shorter ones it had me laughing throughout and my only wish is that it had been longer. Besides, who can resist a good dragon story?
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #84/365
Day 50: The Crossover by Larry Kollar
Day 50
Summary From Goodreads: 
The warrior-mage Chelinn and his friend Lodrán have visited many strange places. But when a curse goes awry, sending them to a world where mundane devices have supplanted magic, nothing is familiar at first. Then, after rescuing a merchant, they find themselves embroiled in a far more dangerous situation.
As hundreds of lives hang in the balance, two heroes and their new friends must use all their talents to foil an evil plot — and survive until they can catch a rainbow and return home.
The Crossover brings classic fantasy characters into a modern-day setting. Neither Earth nor Termag will ever be the same!
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I received an eBook copy of The Crossover from Larry Kollar in exchange for an honest review, this in no way affected my opinion of the piece.
It’s time for another edition of Frodo’s Hobbit Sized Reviews! This is where I write a review in the time I have before I go to work or before I go to bed. Short and sweet just like 2nd breakfast!
The Crossover is a fun-filled novella that explores travelling to a different world, only in this case it is from one called Termag to our own. That reversal of the norm allows for new ideas to come into question such as if there is still magic in a world that is so filled and reliant on technology. If there is what is its purpose, who can use it and to what ends? That is part of what Chelinn and Lodrán have to figure out as they try to become accustomed to the strange ways of Earth.
The main characters are wonderful. The banter between Chelinn and Lodrán is often hilarious and the different things that they are unaware of once transported to Earth make for more humorous displays. The novella does start a bit slow with the talk aboard the ship, and there are some things I didn’t care for at that beginning stage (the song lyric changes most notably felt corny/childish). However, that is all soon forgotten when the battle scenes begin, which I must say were done splendidly, Kollar definitely has a knack for them.
I thought that there were a lot of possibilities for this to continue into another story or two, or even a full length novel if Kollar wants to go that route. The characters are easy to latch onto and enjoy, the plot was fun and the idea of magic in our world is always a crowd pleaser. I recommend this to fantasy fans as well as anyone who likes a quick and enjoyable read. Thanks as always for reading and come back tomorrow for Day 51!
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #50/365
Day 47: Accidental Sorcerers by Larry Kollar
Day 47
Summary From Goodreads: 
Invaders just across the river. A powerful spell hidden in a child’s rhyme. When an untrained boy awakens an ice dragon to protect his village, and lives to tell the tale, not even the Conclave of Sorcerers can predict what happens next.
Accidental Sorcerers brings to life an unforgettable tale of love and loyalty in the world of Termag. Feel the magic!
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I received an eBook copy of Accidental Sorcerers by Larry Kollar in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions or review in any way.
A promising start to a series, Accidental Sorcerers combines magic, dragons and young love in a short and sweet package. While Accidental Sorcerers is novella-length, there is definite room for potential growth of the characters and some solid foundations already in place. More expounding on the dragons themselves, while not a must, would really enrich the series, but we will have to wait and see where Kollar wants to take his young characters.
Mik, the main character, embodies what it is like to be an adventurous young man, lacking reservations of any sort and diving head-first into possible trouble regardless of the consequences. In this case it is his approaching of the ice dragon where he is lucky to be left alive at all. Mik continues to encounter the usual “revelations” about both himself (look mom, I’ve got magic!) and the world. He seems a bit simple minded, but he’s an honest character and easy to get behind and root for. Sura, a sorcerer’s apprentice is a little fireball of a young woman. She’s feisty, devoted and a bit overzealous at times which make her all the more endearing, and as we are continually reminded, she’s quite the pretty one to boot.
Which brings me to the romance of Accidental Sorcerers. I’ve never been one to just go along with insta-love or anything close to it, and sadly this is another case of that irritating tendency. Right when they first meet they’re practically smitten with each other, at minimum on Mik’s part but probably for both, and that’s just grating on the nerves. No development of feelings, no getting to know each other first, just “Oh you’re pretty and magical like me let’s become lovey-dovey”. *sigh* Moving on…
The writing, while simplistic in parts, is solid. The target audience seems to be in the middle-grade to low teens range which would make the style fitting, however if the target is the YA fantasy crowd as a whole then I’m not sure it quite hits the mark. Now that the foundation has been put down the next piece might be more complex and more rich in detail, but we’ll have to wait and see. The story is a nice one, honesty and bravery with a bit of love thrown in can conquer all evils, it’s classic but it works.
I look forward to reading the next piece and to seeing how Kollar approaches it stylistically. The characters are good but if they are fleshed out more and given some edge they could be taken to a new level. Since the insta-love is already in place, maybe giving the lovebirds something to break them apart and test their bond would be a nice touch. Just some thoughts. Anyhow, thanks for reading and come back tomorrow for Day 48!
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge #47/365; Seriously Series Reading Challenge #25/51
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