Anathema by Megg Johnson

This wonderful fantasy book is the first in a new series by Megg Johnson and begins with Reychel, a slave girl. She has been raised a slave and has never known any other kind of life. But she knows that even though she is a slave, she isn’t treated like all the other slaves. Her master has sometimes given her preferential treatment and other times punished her for unknown reasons by isolating her from the others. In the end, we come to realize that it is this specialness that is the mystery that surrounds Reychel.

We soon discover that her life is almost in two worlds, the one that consists of the outside world, and the other of that inner isolated world of Reychel’s that separates her from the others.  Megg Johnson is very clever in her use of these two worlds to set up this mystery that is so central to the story. It creates an inner tension that simply adds to the plot as a whole.

It is Reychel’s isolation that is the twist to the story; the one item that keeps you asking “why?” and so you keep reading to find the answer to your question. The reader is taken down a very crooked path in this story, one that is full of surprises that in the end may lead to a different conclusion then you would have imagined at the beginning.

Each of the characters takes on a life of their own in this fantasy book and this just adds to the enjoyment of this fantasy book. As the author weaves their stories into the central plot of Anathema we find ourselves drawn into this world and the mysteries that are part of it. Ms. Johnson has woven us a fine tale that is just the beginning to a new and marvelous adventure.

The Lannister Family

This week’s Game of Thrones really zoomed in on this family, in fact to the point where it felt like it was a show about the Lannisters and not about the five families’ vying for the same throne.

Tywin shows himself to be in possession of honor of a sort, when he confronts Ayra about her lineage. He knows she is noble born and tells her how she can better blend in, for her own good. My guess is he may have figured out she is of noble blood, but that she is a Stark is another matter. There is a strange bond building between her and the head of the Lannister family. On the other hand, his coldness is illustrated by his decision to have his henchmen burn down a few farms until he can find out more about the Brotherhood Without Banners, an underground group that he thinks were actually trying to kill him when Lorch went down by a poisoned dart last week. But we know different – how Arya ordered that killing to prevent Lorch from revealing what she is to Tywin.

And if the conversation between Cersei and Tyrion are any indication, Cersei is finally ready to admit she has born a monster. Her comment that everything that is happening is a curse laid on her family for her sins (as in her having incest with her brother) is telling because it admits she feels some guilt about all of it. Perhaps we will see a glimmer of honor coming from the Lady Cersei yet?

The question of honor really comes to a head with Jamie- still held a prisoner by the Stark Family and kinda MIA lately on Game of Thrones. I guess it is hard to write much in the way of interesting dialogue for a guy who is basically chained up in a cage. But his conversations, first with his cousin that he eventually kills to escape and then later with Catelyn about his views on the vows he has taken are revealing. He has been someone who has tried to stay true to his vision of honor, even with a cold and self-serving father and a madman for a king. In the end, all he has left is his belief in himself, and that he seems to still have. For all his faults, you can’t help but admire him. Of course – his taunts at Catelyn may have gone too far, we will have to see in next week’s Game of Thrones if she really does kill him with Brienne’s sword.

The Stark Family

Starting up north, Jon Snow wakens to find he is very much liking this snuggle up to the wilding he has captured, and gets teased about it plenty. Ygritte tries very hard to seduce him, in her own fashion. It seems that his code of honor does not include bedding those you have captured and he seems determined to return to his group and live up to his oath as a member of the Night Watch. Not that it does him much good, as he ends up surrounded by her kinsmen in the end.

Sansa gets some good air time in Game of Thrones this week, and we get to see a sensible side to The Hound. He seems to not have quite the loyalty to Joffrey that the boy thinks he has, if the Hound’s comments on being the one between her and Joffrey when she is Queen can be taken literally. Maybe there is some honor within him as well.

But for Bran, who with the help of Osha, Rickon and Hordor managed to escape in the night, there is no justice or honor. As they try to make it by on nuts and berries while on the run from Theon and his gang of thugs, they come upon a farm where they could find shelter and food. But Bran, like his father, does not want to put the farmer’s family at risk, so they move on. Unfortunately it doesn’t help the family, for when Theon and crew track Bran’s group to the farm, Theon is frustrated by the lack of information and in the end kills and hangs the two children of the farmer. This is a grisly reminder that Theon has become someone who truly has no honor at all.

The Targaryen Family

Well, this week’s Game of Thrones shows Daenerys just how ruthless her suitor Xaro is, when he reveals that the dragons are at the House of the Undying (Vampires?) and that they will hold them there for her to raise, while Xaro rules the city. We then get to watch as they proceed to kill the rest of The 13, and we are left with the poor girl once again running for her life. If she and Jorah run off without her Dragons, with the rest of “her people” dead, she is once more just a lost soul in a foreign country trying to survive. Only this time instead of being with her brother she is with Jorah. I am not so sure how that is a step up in any way. But she certainly seems to be understanding that just showing up back home will not guarantee her the throne. Who even knows she is alive still?

The Baratheon Family

There are plenty of references to Stannis and his threat to Kings Landing, but not much action from him again in this week’s Game of Thrones. On the other hand, you can’t cover every family every week – so I expected to see plenty of him soon.

The Greyjoy Family

Well, Theon is proving what a complete and total ass he is and this week’s Game of Thrones really adds to it. We know that everyone hates him and the fact he was sleeping off having had the wild thing with Osha while Bran escaped just solidifies for everyone that he isn’t much of a leader. Even those around him who try to temper his inhumane treatment are beginning to have their doubts about the man.

Here is someone with absolutely zero sense of honor, and who whines constantly about how it is all because he was given away by his father to the Starks as a condition of surrender. Seems to me he was probably not the only one this happened to – the time period this is being based on saw this exchange a fair amount. So why is it so particularly bad with him?

And who is Cleftjaw really? It seems a new mystery to be revealed in Game of Thrones as even Asha doesn’t really know.

So that is how it rolled out on this week’s Game of Thrones – with lots going on and every side story seeming to move forward just a tiny bit. The body count remains high, but I have been noticing that when the body count goes up, the nudity tends to drop. Perhaps the powers that be don’t want both running at full tilt? But it is HBO after all, so you have to expect a certain amount of each.

So- do you think Catelyn will kill Jaime? Will Tywin reveal he knows who his cupbearer really is? Will Bran get away and live long enough to find his brother Robb and return for revenge? Can’t wait to see what happens on next week’s Game of Thrones episode!

Lea awakens in a forest, bleeding and alone. Where she is and who she is we don’t know – but will soon find out. So begins a new fantasy book series adventure by newcomer author Isabella Amaris. It is a charming story that takes us out of our dreary everyday world and into a fantasy land of magic bearing Magi and dark dangerous forests. It is a world where Lea finds refuge in a mystical kingdom that has secrets of its own. For Lea does not dare let anyone know who and what she is.

From the moment that Caleb discovered Lea, bleeding and alone in the forest, he was fascinated by her. He could tell that she held some secrets, and he wanted to know what they were. But then, hiding secrets is not a new thing in Verlaine. It is a land that is hidden from everyone. But the Magi Gabriel has an interest in the girl too when Caleb takes her to the healer after he discovers her bleeding. Now Gabriel will not let Lea leave and return to her kingdom. But then again, it isn’t as if she seems to want to go back that badly. What kind of secrets is Lea hiding?

Sanctuary is the first book for a new fantasy book series Mesmer, and it promises to entice us all. Some of you may be aware of Isabella Amaris’s short stories that she has published through Smashmouth, and if you do then you know you are in for a treat here. Just because she hasn’t put out a full length novel doesn’t mean Isabella doesn’t know her way around a word processor – the girl can write some pretty fun short stories.

This new fantasy book series is off to a good start with Sanctuary, with lots of mystery and intrigue mixed in with a hint of romance and plenty of magic. Be sure to check it out as she has already announced the second book in the series on her blog!

Anyway, I’m going to review this great book for you, but not to worry, I’m NOT going to include any spoilers that will ruin the reading experience for you. I’m going to give you JUST ENOUGH so you’ll want to click-ity click at the bottom of the review to order your copy of the book.

SOOKIE

On top of that, it seems as if everyone around her is hooking up with the love of their life. I’ll just give you a few names (these people aren’t with EACH OTHER; they’re with other people):

-Tara
-Jason
-Alcide
-Holly

In Deadlocked, Sookie undergoes several moral _______ crossroads? which might require her to make life changing decisions. Although it’s clear that she WAY too involved in the vampire and werewolf world to turn her back on it, she also

TEAM BILL FANS

TEAM ERIC FANS
In Deadlocked Eric becomes the prime suspect in a murder case and ends up

The Lannisters

Even for Game of Thrones, this was a truly brutal scene – when the folks of the city decided that they had enough of being starved to feed the fat cats in power. Tyrion is the only one who from the start knows something bad is going to happen when he tells the guards to get the women to safety but even he is taken by surprise at how fast and vicious the crowd turns. That one councilor being torn apart by the crowd was a telling touch – but of course the worst was when Sansa is brutalized and almost raped by a gang of thugs who take advantage of the situation.

She is bewildered by why they attacked her and even when Shae tells her that her horse is better fed then their kids, she just says she would give them bread. She doesn’t really get it, but this is one more thing to harden her for when the time comes in Game of Thrones for her betrayal of Joffrey. The fact that he was more than willing to ignore that she was missing is not something anyone will forget.

The Starks

Tough times indeed from the get go for the Stark family in this week’s Game of Thrones episode, as Bran is rudely awoken to the news that he has lost Winterfell. He watches in horror as Theon fulfills his dream when Sir Roderick, ever the loyal captain refuses to back down when he is captured and taken before Theon as a prisoner. I will give Theon credit, he truly did not want to kill the old man, but his First Mate was correct in saying that to retain the loyalty and respect of his own men he needed to kill Roderick for refusing to recognize him as the new Lord of Winterfell. But he was weak to do it for all the wrong reason.

There was a bit of a feeling of flashback as we watch him do the deed himself, for when we saw at the beginning of Game of Thrones that Ned had to take discipline in his own hand for desertion, he did it with one swift blow. But poor Sir Roderick had to suffer through Theon hacking repeatedly at his neck and then finally kicking the head off the severed stump of a neck. Gruesome but also very telling!

Arya, meanwhile is still in the employ (or is it slavery?) of Lord Tywin as he discussed battle plans with his men. She almost gives herself away when it becomes obvious that she can read; something only the upper classes can do in this world from the sounds of it. You have to wonder if Tywin actually believes she is the daughter of a stonemason, from the way he questions her. Her best answer was when he asked what killed her father and she answered, “loyalty”.

Then Petyr Baelish shows up with news from the Lannister camp, and she is trying desperately to not have him recognize her. I kept wondering if at this point Lord Tywin is toying with her and actually knows all along just who she is. Though if he does, why he doesn’t use her to get his son back would be puzzling, as it is obvious that he is desperate to do so. And Baelish is obviously trying hard to argue for Marguerite as Queen, but what does he hope to gain from it? As usual, he is trying to find a place for himself in the scheme of things. And now there are three women who would be queen in Game of Thrones.

But in the end we get to see Arya make her getaway. She finds a note that tells her where Robb is and plans to find her brother, only to be stopped by a stupid lout who hates her because she showed him up earlier when she could read a book he could not. Now he wants to betray that she has taken the note, so she must find a way to stop him. Lucky for her she has her pagan warrior Jaqen, who still owes her two more deaths. We never see how he does it but he manages to kill the lout with a mysteriously appearing dart to the neck just as he is about to deliver his message of Arya’s betrayal. That leaves one more to die – will it be Lord Tywin?

And where is Robb during all of this? Why still at war, of course. We see a sweet little interplay between him and the “nurse” he met last week at the beginning when she was hacking off someone’s leg. She says she is no lady, but it is hard to believe she is some country girl with the way she acts so self-assured. He is obviously smitten, and his Mother returns in time to see it and remind him he is promised to another when this war ends.

But he is shocked when he hears of Winterfell’s fall, and it is easy to understand why he wants to drop everything and ride to take it back. But they are right in pointing out he cannot abandon the campaign for this – there are others who can ride and take it back. Theon only has the barest of men at the place now. Of course, they don’t know a raven has been sent for his sister’s 500 men. Robb tells them to bring Theon to him alive so he can confront his treachery face to face. Poor Robb, he loses everyone around him and now someone he thought of as like a brother has shown just how weak he can be.

And least we forget, Jon Snow is still north of The Wall, trudging through the snow. Only this time he has a girl captive that he can’t quite make himself kill, even though he knows he should. She is a wilding and will betray him the moment she gets away – but he can’t make himself chop off her head so he is stuck with her. It is cold, they are “cuddled up” for warmth and you know something is going to show up soon.

The Targaryens

Daenyrs is still in the city and trying hard to find a way to convince someone that she should be given ships. Her arguments are just not taking anyone in, though why she continues to turn the wealthiest man in town aside with his offer of marriage in return for ships is hard to imagine. But she wants the ships on her own terms, no marriage strings attached.

She is really dynamic when she declares “I am no ordinary woman – my dreams come true!”  I guess that Bran isn’t the only one to have prophetic dreams, though in his case it would have been better if his were wrong. But in the end all is lost, for someone has broken into her home, killed all her followers and taken the dragons. What good does it do to be Queen of the Dragons if they are not yours anymore?

The Baratheons

Don’t see much at all of Stannis this week on Game of Thrones . Actually, didn’t see much of any of the Baratheons although how many are even left anymore? I am assuming that the next Game of Thrones episode will see us return to more of his happenings.

The Greyjoys

Theon is trying to prove himself by betraying the Starks and capturing Winterfell. He still isn’t too good at acting the lord and no one at Winterfell sounds like they want to have much to do with him. But my guess is he will find more ways to screw things up, as that seems to be his pattern. Bottom line is that he is weak and always looking for approval. It is why he decided in the end to not listen to reason and to kill Sir Roderick even though it was certain to put a target on his back. He just doesn’t understand how much that act will make him hated, while before he was simply despised.

Theon may not be a good guy but in Game of Thrones even someone like Theon has his reasons for acting the way he does. Sure, the guy is weak of character and we know he must have some serious Dad issues. In the end he is more to be pitied for who he is, and who he wishes he could be. A great example of Theon and bad decisions is his decision to take Osha to bed when she offers herself. We see her after he falls asleep get herself and the others out of there and head for freedom. They are probably the only ones in Winterfell that manage to get out.

And so with this week’s episode of Game of Thrones we see many failings in our characters, from Joffrey’s  over reaction to a flung ball of dung that in the end caused a riot to Theon’s inability to stand up for doing the right thing for Sir Roderick to Daenerys not quite understanding that claiming her birthright is not the same as taking it. They all have much to learn and in Game of Thrones we can hopefully watch it grow.

I just saw the photos for a bunch of the new True Blood cast members for Season Five and had to post them pronto! While it is true that we have known about these castings for a while now, we haven’t always been able to find out much about the characters for the new true blood cast. To just add to the excitement, the show has started to release a set of new promo posters that are just dripping with vampire charisma. I particularly love that many of the new cast are featured on them. One of them, Christopher, was recently given his first set of fangs for the promo poster here. Isn’t he just perfect?

Speaking of Christopher Meloni, he of the tall dark and dangerously handsome will be playing a new vampire called Roman. The former Law & Order star will be a regular on the show. Alan Ball describes his character Roman as an ancient vampire who holds a lot of power and will have Eric and Bill’s fate in his hands. Wow- now that sounds like a role this guy can really sink his teeth into! Sink his teeth into – vampire- get it! Well, in any event you can check him out below-

As for Scott Foley, it seems that he has got to be just about the only casting I have heard of that isn’t something paranormal. Scott will be playing Terry Bellefleur’s old war buddy, Patrick. And the weird thing is, Patrick is a human! For those of you who are fans of Scott’s at Grey’s Anatomy, have no fear. The shooting schedules don’t overlap and so while Scott’s role as Patrick is viewed as “pivotal” but not permanent, Scott seems to feel confident he can handle both roles with ease.

So that is the scoop for these two new true blood cast roles which we are looking forward to enjoying soon. Since they are sending out casting calls for faeries of every description for the penultimate episode, we know that they must be nearing the end of this season’s work. You know what that means, right? It means that soon we will get to see plenty of shirtless hunks with fangs!

For a bit of a sneak peek at some upcoming scenes, check out these outtakes from the latest shooting of True Blood Season 5:

Stay tuned for more sneek peeks and True Blood spoilers coming soon!