Elvenbane

Author: Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)
Date Finished: February 27, 2010

The first book of the series, this follows the life of Lashana, from her illicit birth of an human concubine to an elf lord, through her growing years with the dragons who found her to the beginning of the war between the humans, half elves and the elves.

Elvenborn is the third book of this series.

Myrren's Gift

Author: Fiona McIntosh
Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)
Date Finished: February 26, 2010

The first book of the Quickening series. The protagonist, Wyil Thirsk is a noble in his homeland. With his father's death while he is young, he assumes the hereditary position of General of the Legions, and antagonizes the Prince of his homeland. When he shows compassion to a dying woman on trial for witchcraft, he is gifted with an unusual power. When he dies, his spirit takes over the body of his killer. With this sort of gift, he doesn't really know what it is, until the first time he dies.

I think he should just get King (former Prince) Celimus to kill him, then he would assume the mantel of leadership of his homeland and prevent the wars Celimus seems intent on starting, as well as protect all the people he cares for from the wrath of Celimus.

It was a nice read and an interesting twist, but not a book to change the face of fantasy.

Elvenborn

Author: Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)
Date Finished: February 25, 2010

Third book in the Halfblood Chronicles. There was suppose to be a fourth book, but Andre Norton passed away, at the age of 93.

The book was quite nice. The on going adventures of Shana, Lorryn, Keman and the others. In this story, the focus shifted away from the half blooded wizards to an elf sympathetic to the human condition.

Rodgers & Hammerstein

Author: Mordden, Ethan
Genre: Non-fiction
Date Finished: February 18, 2010

An overview of the careers and works of Rogers & Hammerstein. With photos. The background on the people and plays is quite interesting.

Sassinak

Author: Anne McCaffery
Genre: Fiction (Sci-Fi)
Date Finished: February 14, 2010

I read the trilogy once, a long time ago. I thought I'd give it a try again. It was kind of an interesting book, but it really glossed over details of the story, and the reader arrives, suddenly, without explanation, somewhere.

Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else

Author: Geoff Colvin
Genre: Non-fiction
Date Finished: February 10, 2010

This was a very interesting book, along the line of The Talent Code or Outliers. It presents the premise that talent is not the distinguishing feature of skillful, effective people, but how knowledge and skill are developed through practice. It introduces the idea of deliberate practice, taken from a 1993 psychology paper. It is slightly business oriented, speaking several times about how organizations can apply the principals, or don't apply the principals as the case may be. However, mostly the business aspects are mentioned in passing, not detracting from the true appeal of the book.

Elfshadow

Author: Elaine Cunningham
Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)
Date Finished: February 6, 2010

This book is good, but not as good as I remember. The author tends to skip over some aspects of the story. Fight scenes are heavily abbreviated for example.