Side Jobs, by Jim Butcher

A collection of short stories featuring the main and supportive characters from Butcher's Dresden Files series.  Reading these made me yearn for the next book in the Dresden Files series.  As always, Butcher's humor tickles me and his plots/characters compel me to continue reading.  This collection of short stories may be an excellent way to pull adolescent readers into the series or Butcher's other series, The Codex Alera.  Although readers of the series will be able to bring a layered and complex understanding of the characters and plot to these short stories I also believe that readers new to this would find each story engaging and lucid. 

Mastiff: Beka Cooper Series # 3, by Tamora Pierce (2011)

I have long been a fan of Tamora Pierce's work.  The Beka Cooper series is a particular favorite.  Over the series of books Beka works her way up through the "police" system in the land of Tortall.  Readers will have to be able to tolerate some ambiguity.   Even as a long-time reader of Pierce's books, I found myself having to "wait for it" in some of the references.  In this book Beka and her police colleagues have to rush to their Lord's call on a mysterious and highly secretive mission.  It's a sort of "Mission Impossible" set in Pierce's fantasy land of Tortall.

I read Mastiff using the "read for free" option on my ebook reader.  That meant I had to go to the bookstore regularly to work my way through the book.  I'm getting to know the staff at the local store quite well.  I found myself scheduling an hour of time each and every day so that I could finish the book.

In this book Beka not only has to "save the day" but she also has to contend with several personal losses (I'm not going to be a spoiler here).  Overall this in one of the most satisfying books I've read in the YA fantasy genre in a long time.

The Wizard's First Rule, by Terry Goodkind

I bought this during "bargain sale" at the Audible site.  I listened to it as I walked, cleaned house, cooked dinner, and other activities.  Overall is was a good "listen" and encouraged me to get my exercise in.  This series is very popular.  I did note however that when it was first released Publisher's Weekly didn't give it a glowing review. 

The book is "epic" in scope and the series continues for eleven books.  I'm not certain I'm up for that much.  I was enjoying the book--although it was fairly predictable as far as "fantasy epics" go.  Then, near the end we ran into some sadomasochistic torture.  It discouraged me.  I was really enjoying the adventures of  Richard Cypher, Zedd and Kahlan.  If it weren't for the S&M near the end, it would be a book I could recommend to any teen who needed something after finishing Lord of the Rings. I won't be reading the next book right away.  Maybe an audio book for gym/greenbelt is something I will enjoy in the future, but I have quite a backlog of audio books from that Audible sale to get through. 

Eyes Like Stars, by Lisa Matchev

I will be reading the others in the series.  But right now I'm picking up Patrick Rothfuss's next book The Wise Man's Fear.  At 993 pages I think it's going to take a while.  I'm also reading Janet Evanovich's new book (using my "read for free" option at Barnes and Nobel).  I may be tied up for a while.

I enjoyed this fantasy, set in a London theater.  However, as I read it I became increasingly concerned that teens wouldn't enjoy it.  The main character, Bertie, has been left with the theater stock company.  The "magical" actors, costume designer, house manager, etc. have raised her from childhood.  The actors and actresses are all confined to the theater and are primarily characters from Shakespearean plays.  Although I was enjoying the interactions between the characters, theater personnel and Bertie, I worried that few teens would have enough background knowledge to fully understand the plot and character development. 

Fortunately, I stopped to talk with one of my favorite book clerks (thanks Wally and Rediscovered Books) who told me that the series was one that has a great "niche" followings.  Apparently it is wildly popular with teens who are artistic.  Wally said, "A main character who dies her hair wild colors and blows things up--What's not to love!"  Put that way, I was more comfortable with the book.