Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling It's the fifth year at Hogwarts and Harry, fresh from another horrible summer at the Dursleys is finally returning under a black cloud. It seems that, despite previous warnings, he once again practiced magic outside of school and in plain view of a Muggle! As if that weren't bad enough, the Dark Lord has returned, there's yet another new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and there's all kinds of difficulties for Harry and his friends. J.K. Rowling has once again written an adventure that, while getting darker and more malicious, is hard to put down. The main characters have all returned, with introductions to some new villains and friends. This series becomes a little more difficult to read as Harry grows older, if only because the plots are following a logical course. The unfortunate thing is that I can't wait for the next book! This is terrific next book in the series and I highly recommend it!
	Wicked by Gregory Maguire While watching "The Wizard of Oz" as a child and as an adult, it never occurred to me that the Wicked Witch of the West may have been maligned. And yet, here in Gregory Maguire's disturbing and revealing fictional novel, we get to see the Land of Oz through the eyes of the Wicked Witch. This is no child's novel, but instead an exposé of the life and times of the Witch, theWizard and his rule. This book is captivating, and even though I kept thinking of the movie and how the novel differed from it, this is exactly why this is such a good novel. It explains what actually happened, and gives credence to the old phrase "Winners write the history..." The characters in the book include the Wizard, Glinda the Good Witch, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tinman and the Lion. It also introduces us to the Witch, her family and friends and to a frightening and tyrannized Land of Oz. I recommend this book.... but remember to keep an open mind as the old fairy tale will be turned upside down!
	Confessions Of An Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire Oh, I just couldn't help myself. Once I finished "Wicked", I just had to see what was happening with Cinderella and her stepsisters. Set in Holland, Iris, a painfully plain stepsister of the incredibly beautiful Clara, narrates this story starting with the flight of her mother and sister, Ruth to Holland, their stay with a master painter and his apprentice, the move to the home of Herr van den Meer, Clara's father and the "happy ever ending" of the fairy tale. However, this is told not so much as a fairy tale, but instead as a horror story of the family. The author, once again, brings these characters to life in a highly different manner than the original fairy tale. The author, Mr. Maguire, has obviously researched the Holland of the times and is accurate with his tale regarding the plague, artists and ways of living. His characters are fleshed out and interesting to read about; Mr. Maguire's writing captures you and doesn't let you go til the end of the book. And his stories have excellent endings - not like some authors who seem to rush to the end without making a satisfactory resolution to the characters. I highly recommend this book!
	The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Okay - first of all, I have been a rabid fan of Ms. McCaffrey's for 25 years. I love Pern, the riders and most especially, the dragons. This book opens after AIVAS, the artificial intelligenced computer has shut down, and the dragonriders are now concerning themselves with what will happen "After". After is when Thread stops falling once and for all. This book continues where "Dolphins of Pern" left off, fleshing out more characters and the culture of Pern. F'lessan, rider of bronze Golanth is the focus of the book, but all the old characters are still around and participating. The problems that were solved in Dolphins of Pern have created a whole new set of problems, including The Abominators, a fanatic group bound and determined to keep Pern in the old ways, instead of the new, technological environment that is coming about thanks to AIVAS. Read the book in 2 days, loved every minute of it! I recommend it to all Pern fans everywhere!
	The Gunslinger (Dark Tower I) by Stephen King I got the first three books in this series in a gift pack and I have to be honest. I read this book and thought "I have two more of these books to read. Maybe later....." but I did read the next two books and they are terrific. Which is why this review is so difficult. This book introduces the main character of the series, Roland, a gunslinger whose world has "moved on". As I understand it, gunslingers are supposed to be like the knights of old (or at least the old we were taught about in my day and age). They are chivalrous and protect the weak. The problem with this book was that I couldn't really sympathize or feel anything for the character. However, you kind of need this book to get along with the next two (or three or four....).So let me put it to you this way - the next three books are terrific and will be reviewed shortly. This book is iffy, but you really need it to understand what Roland is and why he does what he does - so whether or not you like this book, you'll need it to really enjoy the next set in the series. After reading the second book, I realized the worth of this one. I guess this is a backhanded recommendation - get this book so you can really be entertained by the rest of the series!
	The 10th Kingdom by Kathryn Wesley This is the first book I've bought that was written from a television mini-series. I have another one, Aladdin, on order. They will be my last, unless Aladdin is much better than the 10th Kingdom. This is a charming story, combining modern-day Manhattan and a fairy kingdom, and this fairy story is definitely an adult one! But the book is nearly word for word exactly the same as the mini-series, which I finally caught during its rerun earlier this summer. If you've seen the mini-series, or if you plan to see it, this book won't give you any additional information about motivation or the development of the main characters. If you have never seen the mini-series and plan never to see it - get the book. It's a fun read, and is truly a fantasy story!
	Legends 2 Edited by Robert Silverberg A brilliant concept. Three authors of fabulously successful series, Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth), George R.R. Martin (Song of Ice and Fire) and Anne McCaffrey (DragonRiders of Pern), provide just enough in each of the novellas to get a reader truly hooked and wanting more! Terry Goodkind's Debt of Bones takes place a long time before the Sword of Truth series actually begins and introduces Zedd, the First Wizard. George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight was simply wonderful, introducing a number of characters that I found enthralling! And the Runner of Pern story by Anne McCaffrey has again proven to me that this woman can write about just anything on Pern and I am hooked! I have not previously read anything by Goodkind or Martin, but am planning to order the books just as soon as my current on order list is exhausted!
	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling When he was an infant, Harry Potter's parents were killed by a dark wizard. Harry was given to his non-magical Aunt and Uncle to be raised. Unfortunately, their attitude toward magical beings was hateful, so Harry was thrilled and excited when he received a letter from the best school of magic in England, Hogwarts. Learning that he was a powerful under-aged wizard, and famous within the magical community was disconcerting to Harry, to say the least. But at Hogwarts, Harry learns not only magic, but bits and pieces of his history as well. Filled with fun, magic and suspense, this first book of the Potter series is a wonderful addition to any fantasy-fan's library!
	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened" and suddenly students who were born of non-magical (Muggle) parents are being petrified by some unseen being or force. Unfortunately, the evidence is pointing to that unseen being as being Harry Potter or his good friend, Hagrid, the gameskeeper at Hogwarts. Magical creatures, a mystery and Hagrid's past expulsion from the magic school are all present in the second book of the Potter series. The pages just about turn themselves! Highly recommended!
	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Azkaban. A magical prison that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone who thinks they may ever have to visit or be jailed there. A prison break, a Grim and a bunch of dementors, who are the jail's wardens give this story a darker tone than the first two books, and yet, this book is just as entertaining as the first two. Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his third year and becomes involved in helping a hippogriff, werewolf and keeping himself safe from a mad escapee from the magical prison.
	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling Hogwarts' students are eagerly anticipating the TriWizard competition, which is to be held for the first time in over a century. Harry Potter and his friends, Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger are envious of the upper-classmen who will be competing in the competition. They have been barred from competition due to their ages. But somehow, magically, Harry Potter is chosen as a participant! How will he meet the three challenges? Will Harry be able to compete with three competitors who have had several more years of study? And what about evil Lord Voldemort? This Potter book is much darker than its three predecessors, but Ms. Rowling tells a compelling and wonderful story!

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