"Running with the Demon" by Terry Brooks

Title: Running with the Demon

Author: Terry Brooks
Publisher: Orbit

Book 1 of 'The Word and the Void'

Blurb:

It is the beginning of the hottest July in decades, and two men have come to Hopewell, Illinois. One is not human, a dark servant of the Void, who will use the anger and frustration of the community to achieve a terrible secret goal. The other is John Ross, a Knight of the Word. While he sleeps, he lives in the hell the world will become if he fails to change its course on waking. John Ross has been given the ability to see the future. But does he have the power to change it?

At stake is the soul of a fourteen-year-old girl and the lives of the people of Hopewell. And that's just the beginning. This Fourth of July, while friends and families picnic in Sinnissippi Park and fireworks explode in celebration of freedom and independence, the fate of Humanity itself will be decided . . .

Synopsis:

Nest Freemark lives in hopewell, Illinois, a wielder of Magic helping a farey creature in her local park. John Ross comes to her town claiming to have known her mother, but in reality he is tracking a demon.

For a full synopsis go visit Wikipedia.

Verdict:

This is a great urban fantasy book set in our world, bringing magic and demons to life. A bit more in depth than a Sunday read, but well worth the effort. looking forward to book two.

Rating: 5/5

"A Feast for Crows" by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Feast For Crows

Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Pocket Books

Book 4 of 'A Song of Ice and Fire'

Blurb:

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.

But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

It is a time when the wise and the ambitious, the deceitful and the strong will acquire the skills, the power, and the magic to survive the stark and terrible times that lie before them. It is a time for nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages to come together and stake their fortunes . . . and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.

Synopsis:

Brienne goes here, Brienne goes there, Brienne goes everywhere, oh and meets Lady Stoneheart. Cersei plots and plots and plots. Sam crosses the sea with Gilly. Arya goes to Bravos and sells fish. Petyr does whatever he wishes...

Verdict:

What a long mainly boring book. Everything interesting happens in the last twenty percent of the book. I hope book five is better as this took me like what felt forever to read.

Rating: 3/5 (Let us hope the TV series is better)