A Sorrow in Our Heart by Allan W. Eckert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has been part of my home library for twenty years, and I have now read four of the five books by Allan W. Eckert on my history shelves.

Eckert writes this biography of Tecumseh in his historical narrative form so that it almost reads as if it were a 678-page novel. Or it would, if 678-page novels also included 97 pages of Amplification Notes, 11 pages of Principal Sources, 6 pages of Source Codes, 29 pages of Bibliography, and 18 pages of Index. This gives you an idea of the documented research Eckert did for this narrative.
A drawback for this casual reader of history is my stumbling over the names of Tecumseh's Indian contemporaries.

I recommend this book for mature readers of history for a great deal of graphic violence occurred during the life of this Shawnee warrior and leader of Indians from many tribes.



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Dark Wraith of Shannara by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dark Wraith of Shannara is a graphic novel, in the chronological Shannara order after Indomitable. So far, I have read sixteen books in my project to read the Shannara books in their chronological order, with ten from our home library to go before I start buying any of the current Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy.

If I liked graphic novels better than I do, I might rate this story of Jair Ohmsford's third quest higher than the three stars. Character development is hard to accomplish in graphic novels, so the only new character introduced is the mercenary witch who works for the mwellrets. I wonder how many fans of graphic novels overcame their intimidation by long text to become readers of the series.

I recommend it for fans of graphic novels and fans of the Shannara series.

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Indomitable by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This eBook fits into the Shannara chronological order after The Wishsong of Shannara. It includes an excerpt from The Measure of Magic.

I recommend it to fans of the series.

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Paladins of Shannara: The Weapons Master's Choice by Terry Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a 99-cent, 44-page ebook, set in the chronological Shannara series somewhere before The Wishsong of Shannara. Released last month, the timing was close to perfect in my own reading project, the Shannara series in chronological order.

Garet Jax had many stories to tell of his life before he joined Jair Ohmsford's quest in The Wishsong of Shannara, and this story of Lyriana and the warlock Kronswiff is one of them.

I recommend it to fans of the series.

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Murder is a Piece of Cake by Elaine Viets
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I eagerly anticipated reading this mystery for I have been waiting through several books for Josie Marcus to finally marry Dr. Ted, the attractive veterinarian. I did not need a murder or two to pique my interest in the dialogues and interactions between family members and friends. Yet, this is eighth book in the Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series in the amateur sleuth category of the mystery genre; there is going to be a murder. Clues for the prospective victim, the first suspect, and the actual murderer were heavy-handed.
I recommend this book for fans of the series.


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The Leopard: A Harry Hole Novel by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not recommend this book as a place for a new-to-the-series reader to start as the details are more violent and gross than in past books. It is only for fans of the series.

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The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My two-year project is reading the Shannara books in chronological order. This is the thirteenth book I read, the third of the original trilogy which was published in 1985.
In this third book, Brook acknowledges the pattern: Allanon the Druid seeks the help of a member of the Ohmsford family to defeat the present Evil. Gnome, Drawf, Elf, and Bordermen join the quest. Brooks paces his novel well and he writes descriptive, action-filled fight scenes.
I recommend this book for readers of the series.

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