Review: Citadels of the Lost by Tracy Hickman

Citadels of the Lost (Annals of Drakis Series #2)Citadels of the Lost by Tracy Hickman

  • ISBN-13: 9780756406721
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
  • Publication date: 7/5/2011
  • Pages: 368
  • Series: Annals of Drakis Series, #2
  • Source:  From Publisher

Synopsis:

The Rhonas Empire of elves is built upon a thirst for conquest, disdain for other races, and an appetite for hedonistic self-gratification. They have complete control of the Aether — the mystical substance that fuels their magic. One use of this Aether is to compel total obedience of the slaves drawn from the races they have defeated.

But there are legends that tell of a time when humans and other slave races were free and dragons flew the skies. And they speak of a hero who will return to lead an uprising against their masters: a human named Drakis.

When Aer magic, the magic of nature itself, is wielded by Jugar, a captive dwarf, it signals the start of a rebellion straight from legend. In the ensuing chaos, the former warrior-slave Drakis Sha-Timuran, with a small group of slaves, flees for his life and freedom — lured by a melody that conjures visions of dark wings, scales, and fire. Following the melody he alone can hear, Drakis stumbles on the truth behind the legends: the dragons are real!

Can they survive the dangers of this treacherous realm and bring the truth behind the legends to the army of rebellion?

My Thoughts:

I’ve been a fan of Tracy Hickman novels ever since I first bought Dragon of Autumn Twilight in early high school.  The books written by him and Margaret Weis are the most often read books on my shelf, after The Lord of the Rings.  The worlds he creates are always interesting, detailed, full of history and greatly varied.  Mr. Hickman’s novels leave me wanting to know more about the world setting; why is that structure a ruin now, what caused the last war, why would that become a custom of an entire race?  One read through is never enough, I like to go back and reread each book looking for things that might have been explained later on in the series.

I read Citadels of the Lost in one go, unable to put it down.  It’s book 2 in the series, so the reader is left waiting for the next book to come out, which thankfully is later this year.  I’ve put of writing a review for this book for a while now, because I don’t know what to say other than It’s a great book.  I loved reading it and can’t wait for Blood of the Emperor to find out how the story continues.  If you’re looking for a good fantasy read, look no further.

My Rating

5 Penguins

Follow Friday

OJV FF Feature & Follow #83Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

I really do not like rereading books, if I know what happens in the end then it does not seem worth it for me.  So that being said, I guess I would rather read 100s of mediocre books that one over and over again.  I would get so bored with the same book.

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Author Guest Post: Hildie McQueen

The all powerful and knowing Hildie will now help you decipher men’s body language and explain what their gestures ‘usually’ mean.  This list of ten mannerisms is good information for writers, for use in storytelling, but also for those of us that spend too much time trying to figure ‘that guy’ out!

  1.  Licks lips when he looks toward you.  He’s preparing for the chase.  Most big cats in the wild lick their lips upon spying their prey.  It’s the same with human males.
  2. Lifts an eyebrow.  He’s trying to figure you out and may be puzzled. If he lifts an eyebrow and smiles.  He is interested and entertained by what you are saying.
  3. Fidgets in his seat.  This could be bad.  He’s anxious to make his escape.  Or it could be very good.  He’s trying to accommodate the development between his legs.
  4. Talks with his hands.  He’s very communicative and is trying to make a good impression.  Heck he’s probably good with his hands too.
  5. Runs fingers through hair.  If he’s doing this as he approaches, he is nervous.  If he ducks while speaking to you and runs his fingers through his hair, he is attracted and wants to make a good impression.
  6. Kisses your forehead.  It usually means the dreaded “just wants to be friends”, occasionally it could mean he’s too nervous to kiss you on the lips, but it’s probably the friend gesture.
  7. Strokes his face.  He’s actually listening.  Yes!  Well that or he’s imagining touching you and not listening at all.  This is a confusing one.
  8. Reaches one or both hands out toward you.  He’s protective and also could be seeking permission to touch you.
  9. Sways while talking.  Side to Side, he’s a Momma’s boy, run!  If he rocks and comes forward to his toes, it generally means he’s happy. You don’t have to run.
  10. Sits or stands with legs spread.  This is an Alpha male gesture intended to impress the female.  Hmm, I thought this meant the guy was chafed, I guess I always read this one wrong.

Now let’s go out there and study the men around us and see if we can figure out what they’re all about based on their gestures.  Good luck with that.

Desperate Betrayal
By Hildie McQueen

Cynden Frasier (Cyn) is a member of a group of immortal warriors, the Protectors, assigned to protect humans in Atlanta, Georgia, the epicenter of a major uprising in demon activity. When Cyn is approached by a beautiful woman in a dirty alley, he is intrigued by the fact that she can see him for what he is, a terrifying demon slayer, and still dares to approach him.
Emma Blake, a half-demon, has to convince Cyn to help rescue her sister from powerful demons. Terrified that the Protector will kill her if he realizes what she is, she still goes against every instinct and approaches Cyn for help. Despite knowing that she is leading them both into territory so wrought with treachery, neither of them may survive.
Can Cyn and Emma overcome betrayal, the ancient rules that prevent Protectors from taking a wife, unless she is his one true mate? And if they do, will it even matter?
 
Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author: 

Hildie McQueen is a whirlwind who refuses to wear anything but jeans and heels.

She grew up on the San Diego/Mexico border, joined the military at seventeen and never returned. After living in Germany, Texas and Hawaii, she finally settled in the beautiful southern town of Augusta, Georgia.

Biracial, half Mexican and half African-American, Hildie’s native language is Spanish, but English is her favorite way of communicating now.

Her mission in life is to make as many people as possible to feel normal. It’s an easy thing to do, for others to feel normal around her, because she’s anything but.

www.hildiemcqueen.com

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Blog: http://www.hildiemcqueen.com/