Shannon's Review - Plains Indian Mythology by Alice Marriott And Carol K. Rachlin

Title: Plains Indian Mythology
Series: Not Known
Author: Alice Marriott and Carol K. Rachlin
Illustrator/Book Cover Design:
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Mythology
Publisher: Plume
Received: Bought
Release Date: October 1977
Pages: 192
Rating:



Author Alice Merriott and Carol K. Rachlin Official Websites:


(Both authors have passed away and there are no website)



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Plains Indian Mythology is a book of stories some passed down orally. The stories are grouped in 4 sections; The creation of the world, tales that teach ways of behavior, stories on Europeans visiting North America, and yarns from the current day.

I thoroughly love reading about mythology from different colonies and histories of how the world was created. It is interesting how so many different countries and races can have similar but yet different stories. This also happens with the many opposed plains Indians.

The newer tales were not as intriguing as the creation of mythologies. They did not seem like a story it just like someone babbling.

I continue to read lore of different colonies and the magic and folklore because it has made me realize how alike all humans are. Plus mythology is fun.

Shannon's Review - Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr

Title: Loki’s Wolves
Series: The Blackwell Pages #1

Authors: K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr
Genre: Juvenile, Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Norse Mythology
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Received: Given For Review
Release Date: May 2013
Pages: 358
Rating:






Author K.L. Armstrong’s Official Websites:









Website:
http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/


Blog:https://kelleyarmstrong.tumblr.com/


Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KelleyArmstrongAuthor


Twitter:
https://twitter.com/kelleyarmstrong


Author M.A. Marr’s Official Websites:







Website:
http://www.melissamarrbooks.com/


Blog:http://www.melissamarrbooks.com/writing---life-blog.html


Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMarrBooks/


Twitter:https://twitter.com/melissa_marr




Shannon’s Thoughts:


A retelling of Norse mythology for pre-teens, Loki’s Wolves is the first in a trilogy called The Blackwell Pages. Similar to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, we are introduced to a main character, Matt Thorsen, who is related to a God (or so his family history states). Then we meet Laurie and Fen, descents of Loki. Fen and Matt do not get along that well. Fen tries to do everything he can to protect and take care of his cousin Laurie. The world shows signs that the end of the world, or Ragnarok, is coming. As a descendant of Thor, Matt must lead a group of kid descendants to stop the destruction of their world.

I find nothing wrong with this being similar to another author's series. In fact, I think this will fill the readers' ache for more like it. I enjoy mythology retelling as much as I enjoy fairy tale retelling. The book has quick paced chapters, and I did not expect the ending. It made me eager to read the next book.

I like that all the kids have different abilities that relate to the Gods they are a descended from, but my mythology knowledge is not so great. I wish the authors had told us a little more about each kid’s divine ancestor and why they had that ability. I do realize some of the kids did not know they were actual demigods, so maybe the reader knows as much as they do.

As a whole it is a good read. It’s got action, adventure, magic and monsters. I plan on reading the rest of the series. I recommend this one for fans of the Percy Jackson and the Harry Potter series.

Review - The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test #1
Series: Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Genre: Young Adult , Fantasy, Mythology
Publisher: Harlelquin
Received: Purchased
Release Date: April 2011
Pages: 293
Rating:


What is it About?
Eighteen year old Kate still has a year of high school but her mother only has possibly weeks or days to live.  Her mom is tired of hospitals and wants to die in peace where she was raised.  So Kate following her mother’s wishes packs them up to their new home.  While there Kate meets a young man who says he is the God Hades and brings a friend back to life.

My Thoughts:

Kate and her mom are close.   Kate’s mom is also dying.  While Kate struggles to deal with losing her mother, she makes friends in a new town.  After an accident with a “friend” dying, Kate is found by Henry, who says he is Hades, and to prove it brings her “friend” back to life.

I think of this book and the surprise ending is what sticks to memory but I don’t want to spoil the book. In my opinion this is one the best retelling of a Greek Myth.  

The bond that Kate and her mother have really pull at the heart string and had me tearing up a little.  That doesn’t happen often with me and books.

I won’t give it 5 stars because there was some things that I pretty much guessed was going to happen.  Even with the typical scenes you might expect, this a good story.  I can’t really imagine what comes next in the series, this being the first book.



Website:

Aimee Carter Official Website
http://www.aimeecarter.com/

Review - Meeting The Other Crowd by Eddie Lenihan & Carolyn Eve Green

Title: Meeting the Other Crowd
Series: N/A
Authors: Eddie Lenihan & Carolyn Eve Green
Genre: Folklore, Mythology
Publisher: Tarcher
Received: Purchased
Release Date: February 2004
Pages: 352
Rating:


What is it About?

Old stories about fairies of Ireland, passed down orally

My Thoughts:

All of these stories about fairies were told to the author by the older generations that are now grandparents.   These were stories never written down but told by word of mouth.

There were only a few I really enjoyed.  The rest of them seem to tell the same story over and over.   A lot of the stories were similar to the last.  That being said it is still cool to have the stories written down so generations can see the stories that some of the kids and adults grew up believing about fairies.

Website:

N/A

Review - Aesop's Fables translated by George Fyler Townsend

Title: Aesop’s Fables
Series: N/A
Author: (Tramslated by) George Fyler Townsend
Genre: Fiction, Mythology
Publisher: N/A
Received: Free with Kindle
Release Date: N/A
Pages: 89
Rating:


What is it About?

Short stories that are cautionary tales for children and adults who should follow the wisdom of the tales.

My Thoughts:

Tales with moral endings. Preparing those for the hard world.  Each story has some familiar stories like Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. (Those are not the actual titles of the stories in the book)  There are quite a few I did not know of like The Dolphin and The Lion which is the one that sticks with me the most.

The stories are never more than two pages long and while I got the moral of some others seemed over my head or maybe too old.   I did not find much entertainment in reading this which is probably how the tales should be read not for entertainment but as stories read to warn us of dark side of life.

Website:

N/A

Review - A Touch of Greek by Tina Folsom

Title: A Touch of Greek
Series: Out of Olympus #1
Author: Tina Folsom
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: ???
Received: Bought
Release Date: September 2010
Pages: 228
Rating:


What is it About?

The womanizing Greek God Triton is punished by Zeus and sent to the human find someone who truly loves him.

My Thoughts:

The God Triton, son of Poseidon, gets punished by Zeus for banging anything that moves and always getting in trouble for it. Zeus sends him to Earth to find someone who loves him for him and he has to love them back. It seems like the first five minutes he stops in a bar and finds Sophie. A little too lucky I say. He lusts after her but she sees through his womanizing ways. Triton tries to find a way to get her to love him. As he waits for the right moment Sophie falls down a flight of stairs. With major injuries including temporary blindness she needs to find help. That is where Triton moves himself into her life.

I don’t normally read romances and I picked this one to read because of the Greek mythology. I was a little shocked at first because the mature sexual content but after I kept reading and followed the story it was still shocking and sexy, but it had some holes in the story. One hole is Sophie’s friend has to go on a business trip and can’t help he hurt best friend. Then Sophie’s friend never calls, never comes back into the story.

I know most of this sounds predictable and a little cheesy but I got into it. The book ‘s story of their attraction to one another is magical, sexual and with a little cheese. This not a book for teens. This is a 18+ romance/fantasy book. This is also the first in a series and I think I would enjoy the series so I may continue.



Website:

Official Site of Tina Folsom
http://www.tinawritesromance.com/

Review - Arthur: The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley- Holland

Title: Arthur: The Seeing Stone
Series: Arthur Trilogy #1
Author: Kevin Crossley- Holland
Genre: Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Orion’s Children
Received: Bought
Release Date: January 2000
Pages: 338
Rating:


What is it About?

Young Arthur de Caldicot is a kind-hearted boy who tries to help the his lower status friends with their chores. Which of course gets him in trouble with his father, Lord of this particular land. His father’s friend Merlin gives Arthur a special stone, within lies a strange story that involves Arthur but he does not understand how.

My Thoughts:

Arthur wants to be squire like his brother, so he can become the knight he dreams of being but his father has other plans for him. The strange but likable family friend, Merlin, has a present for Arthur. Something only Arthur can view. When he looks at the stone it tells a story (or is it actually history) that Arthur does not quite understand.

This is a very unique telling of pieces of the Arthurian myth that mixes in a new story that makes you wonder how the new connects with the myth. Going back forth between story was not confusing but made me wonder the true connect of Arthur(myth) or Arthur (who holds the seeing stone)
I hoped for more magic and more Merlin. Merlin was pretty silly sometimes.

While some of it was fun but some was not and I think Arthur’s family could have been introduced better because I would see a sibling pop up and not know he/she was a sibling.
In general the book was okay when I put it down I was that eager to pick back up which made me sad. I am curious about the rest of the series I may read the next one.


Website:

Official Website Site of Kevin Crossley-Holland
http://www.kevincrossley-holland.com/

Review - The Mirror Of Yu-Huang by Christine Norris

Title: The Mirror Of Yu - Huang
Series: The Library Of Athena #3
Author: Christine Norris
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Zumaya Thresholds
Received: Purchased
Release Date: December 2010
Pages: 264
Rating:




What is it About?

Megan and friends are transported into a another world of the Athena library that Megan guards.  Along with a new friend, the Chinese ambassador’s daughter, they try to find a thief that want power and magic.  Megan finds out there are more than just Greek mythologies to keep safe as they jump into a magical book of Chinese mythology.


My Thoughts:

It had been a while since I read a library of athena book .  I was a little lost at first trying to remember the girls names and personalities.  I really like that the series expanded into into more than just Greek mythology.  It made me want to bring out my Chinese fairy tales book. Yes, I have one, where it is is the question.

The only thing I wish about the book is that the characters were not thrown all together as you are being introduced.  There just seemed to be a lot of people and I felt like I was at the Christmas party being introduced to everyone and knowing I would never remember everyone’s name.

I am excited to read the next book in the series which I think is a Celtic myth, The Sword of Danu.


Website:

Christine Norris Official Website
http://www.christine-norris.com/

Review - The Power Of Myth by Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell

Title: The Power Of Myth
Series: N/A
Authors: Bill Moyer and Joesph Campbell
Genre: Mythology, Literature
Publisher: Anchor Doubleday
Received: Purchased
Release Date: 1988
Pages: 320
Rating:


What is it About?

Printed interview of show where host Bill Moyer interview mythology expert Joseph Campbell.

My Thoughts:

The Power of Myth is an excellent discussion of life verses mythology, how they connect and how many stories featuring the hero or heroine follow the ancient mythology stories and history of life.

The most memorable discussion is the comparing of Star Wars with ancient mythology.  Just the thought of comparing your life or the hero you are reading about with history that people believed makes you view life differently.   Not to mention the myths differently.  Joseph Campbell views mythology as lessons of life.   This thought just makes me want to study mythology even more.   

Reading something of Joseph Campbell should be required reading.

Website:

N/A