The Fall of Neskaya - Marion Zimmer Bradley & Deborah J. Ross

Points

Violence: 3/5
Drug Abuse: 0/5
Nudity: 1/5
Language: 0/5
Sexual Content: 1/5

Violence: There is war and so there are descriptions of brutal deaths.

Nudity: Taniquel suffers from hypothermia and the person saving her strips down to lend his body heat but there isn't any sexual description about it rather just that he climbed in to keep her warm.

Sexual Content: There is the explanation that in the Tower laran users are a little more exploratory with sex such as two friends have sex but it doesn't explain it in sexual terms but that it happened. Also Aran a sub character admits his love for another male on accident.

Summary

Coryn is the son of a King with many siblings. Thankfully he is a middle child and doesn't have to worry about taking over the kingdom unlike his older brother Eddard. His father seeks an alliance with another kingdom and they desire to have one of his daughters that is the strongest in laran. Laran is the psychic and magical power used to control, build weapons, and create peace. Each person's laran can also have unique abilities from animal communication, telepathy, and various others.

While Rumail a seeker of laran tests the daughters they test Coryn as well and he tells his father that Coryn needs to train in the tower so that he can better tame his laran and that the physical sickness it causes can be curbed in that environment.

After a few chapters we meet Taniquel who is a strong spirited woman that endures a lot of hardship. Her life is forever changed when Damian conquers her kingdom through illegal uses of laran leaving her husbands dead body at the castle gates. Damian is old and seeks to marry his son to Taniquel but she plots a different ending for her once kingdom.

Review

I wasn't very sure about this story because it explained a lot of background for Coryn such as his family who they are and what their relationships are like. But it does play an important role later on in the book so I wasn't bitter about it.

Once Coryn leaves for the Tower everything begins to churn really fast. What I really like was that the relationship between Coryn and Taniquel isn't mooshy gooshy or cliche. They rescue each other multiple times when they are trapped or in desperate standing. For the most part both of them are pretty level headed knowing they have obligations to other people because of their role in society.

There isn't a whole lot of background with the introduction of Taniquel it just starts off and you learn as you go. She is just one of those people that loves the honest truth and refuses to surrender in any situation though it might seem like she is. Kind of like Captain Kirk from Star Trek but prettier.

What I really liked was that it was a clean book overall and it threw curveballs. I really liked the creation of Laran as well that they could enter a psychic world and battle there. Check it out if you want some adventure, pain, friends, and war.


                                  By: J Feistner

30 Dollar Bookcases!

This is the new addition to our family! :D I got a second one because the price was AWESOME to say the least. The directions were horrible and against the instructions I used power tools. I have no regrets. We haven't busted out the second new bookcase I bought though Justin thought I would have to.

This one is my trusty steed. I have had this bookcase from my earliest memories. It's way old but I have outgrown it. I can't wait to get more books! I mean I don't have a third bookcase for nothing. ;) They were on sale at my local WalMart if anyone else wanted a steal. :D

                                   By: J Feistner

"Boys Adrift" -Leonard Sax

You might be hearing:

• "Boys are lazy these days."
• "I can't get him to focus on anything!"
• "All he wants to do it play video games."
• "He has no motivation whatsoever and I've tried everything."

Boys Adrift

There is a link to the website if you have further questions about this topic or research. I saw this book on Dr. Laura's Facebook page and I wanted to take a closer look at it. 

Summary

There are so many factors into the type of boys and men we have today. He also lightly touches on girls and women but not as much since he focused on males and he has no daughters so that was why boys were his foremost interest. 

The factors that can play a heavy influence: Video Games (duh because they are way more awesome today than before.), Teaching Methods (What?), Prescription Drugs (Saw that one coming.), Endocrine Disruptors (Say what?), Devaluation of Masculinity (Good point). 

I totally expected the video games and drugs but I have not previously considered the devaluation of masculinity or knew what endocrine disruptors. I was always viewed as somewhat radical during my education studies with my peers because I always stuck up for separate education.

Dr. Sax tackles these topics with a chapter for each one and goes in detail about the aspects, variables, and background for each. 

Review

I really enjoyed this read though at times I was stressed out because I realized how toxic our culture is right now for our sons and daughters. I have no children otherwise I would have been tossing plastic water bottles, crunching their times on video games, checking they had good role models, and interrogating their teachers. 

Luckily I was spared the impulsive rampage because we only have a cat. Fwef! But I am still concerned and I feel like my opinions haven't changed drastically but I have more knowledge about the topics and can better explain why I feel the way I do about each topic. 

This book does not contain the one answer as to what is going on. Because each child is so original we can't plug in a formula and get the solution. Kids are not math problems. Thank goodness because I am dreadful at those too. Anyways, if you want to open your mind a bit about our culture and why so many kids are different than before. 

Please read this even if you have a daughter I believe it is not the exact same problems but that way she can help and support those around her who suffer from the negative influences we are passing today. It is explained simply and he clarifies some confusing parts of the research that is presented in the book. He is also funny and cracks a few jokes along the way. 

This is great for those who prefer a more educational read. Or if you want a break from fantasy like I did. But don't worry I've got some books in the works still. 

                                 J Feistner