The Scholar, the Sphinx, and the Threads of Fate by A.R. Cook

Hi gang!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when your reading palette is as varied as the paint palettes at a hardware store.  You know you want SOMETHING different, but just what is the question indeed!  Allow me to lend a hand, or a suggestion or two...

Today, we're diving between the pages of the FINAL BOOK of a Young Adult trilogy I started reading back in 2014.  It's written by an author that I had a workplace connection with of sorts (once upon a time, she worked at the same chain bookstore as I, just in another city/state), and over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work with her as she released the first two installments in what is now a thrilling fantasy trilogy just waiting to be devoured.  Oh, wait a second...perhaps I should hold my adoration in check until I actually bring you up to speed.  Hmm...perhaps.  ^-^  Well then, no time like the present!  Ladies and gents, join me for an adventure you won't soon forget as we welcome today's book of choice..





The Scholar, the Sphinx, and the Threads of Fate
The Scholar and the Sphinx series, Book 3
by
A.R. Cook
9781910282885
Mithras Books


About the book...
Le Havre, 1854. After having had his existence erased by Lord Nyx, the incarnation of the slain night goddess, eighteen-year-old David Sandoval has forgotten everything about himself and wanders lost in a city both familiar and foreign to him. No one can see or hear him, yet something or someone still ties him to the world, enough that the forces of Madness are aware of him and out to possess him. With the help of the storyteller Anansi and a witch's cat Vasilisa, David traverses the places and people of his past, gradually regaining his memory, until he must face the Fates, the weavers of the magical Curtain that not only divides the human world from the mythical realm, but also holds everyone's destinies.


Can David have a new destiny woven for him, and will the price be higher than he is willing to pay? Meanwhile, the sphinx Acacia finds herself in league with the Asgardian warrior Tyr and the vengeful wolf Fenrir to defeat Lord Nyx once and for all, and an old friend of Acacia's, the Master Huntsman Gullin, is coming with his guild of hunters to side with her in the final battle. What Gullin will have to sacrifice may spell his doom, and may not be enough to take down the night god. Is this the final curtain for the scholar and the sphinx, or will their bond prove to be the key to saving both of their worlds?




AMAZON  |  B&N  |  BAM




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 WARNING!  This book series SHOULD BE READ IN ORDER of publication.  If you choose to ignore my strong suggestion, the consequences will be confusion, perplexed expressions, and ultimately madness...at yourself for not listening.  What...you didn't think you'd ACTUALLY go mad now did you?  Silly reader... ^-^ ...but seriously, read the others first, or at the very least catch up on the series with my review of book 1 and book 2...now that that's settled...

In this the final installment of the beloved The Scholar and the Sphinx series, much as anticipated, expected even, and...it did not disappoint.  The author deftly drops us back into David's story not very long after we previously left...that is, if he knew it was actually his story.  That's right...he's been struck with the worst case of amnesia a person could contemplate having.  Wait, make that EVER WORSE because it's not just a few blank spots, it's quite literally everything.  How'd it happen? Well, you see, he peeved a particular reincarnation of Nyx that has a temper like none other and apparently he's the key to his master plan failing (that plan being to rule them all...minus a magical ring *hehe*). 

Yeah...peeved with a capital P is an understatement but because Nyx is so level headed (bwhahahahaha!  Not this verson!), he reacted with grace and majesty and...ripped David's threads right from the tapestry of life.  *gulp*  Did I say he was mad?  Yeah...definitely mad.  HOWEVER, though all might SEEM lost, there is an unforeseen complication Nyx didn't anticipate.  It's his one blind spot, created by himself...and thanks to that one neglected area, his plan may still be stopped from reaching its decidedly dreary end.  It's gonna take a lot of effort, a huge dose of courage, and many hands to accomplish...but first things first.  David's got to be turned from a mere shadow of a memory long forgotten into a flesh and blood boy once again.  No big deal, right?  *gulp*





The whole gang is back (well, those who survived the previous adventures) and ready to do battle to save their world from being torn apart from the evil lurking within.  It was wonderful to catch up with these familiar souls once again, even when facing the dangers heading their way. From Tanuki (love him...and apparently so does someone else...oooh!) and Baba Yaga (she may be a witch but she's HI-larious!) to Acacia (she does some VERY daring and dangerous things here guys!) and Gullin (the big lug...how could he NOT tell us about that...that...never mind...), the familiar are making their presence known and taking a stand.  BUT...even those we thought we knew may surprise us though as all the stops are pulled out in order to gain some sort of advantage.  Just who and what will remain cloaked in shadow for now, but if you care to lift the veil of mystery, all you need to do is grab a copy and read...


Recommended for YA Fantasy fans and beyond!  Trust me, I don't embark on a lot of high(er of ish) fantasy reads but this series had my full attention from start to finish.  Yes, it was THAT good.






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About the author...





A native of Riverside, Illinois, A.R. Cook  currently resides in Gainesville, Georgia, and is the author of The Scholar and the Sphinx YA book series beginning with "The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx," with the sequel "The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Fang of Fenrir" released Dec. 2014. She also has short stories published in the anthology "The Kress Project" from the Georgia Museum of Art, and the fairy-tale collection "Willow Weep No More" from Tenebris Books. Several of A.R.'s short stories and short plays have been awarded honorable mentions in various magazines, such as Toasted Cheese Literary Journal and Writer's Digest. From 2009-2013, A.R. was the book review columnist for the Gainesville Times, one of the most widely distributed newspapers in northeastern Georgia.




SITE  |  BLOG  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER






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Special thanks to author A.R. Cook for the copy of review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the trilogy, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Mithras Books, an imprint of Knox Robinson Publishing, Ltd., so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Fantasy Friday with... The Scholar, the Sphinx, and the Fang of Fenrir by A.R. Cook!

Hi gang!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I'm flying high thanks to a few wonderful authors I've recently conversed with (you know who you are) and the day's selected title.  It comes to us from an author who cut her teeth on books from a young age, even becoming a bookseller for a while in a chain store that I've very familiar with, and is bringing true Fantasy reads to the Young Adult genre.  Take it from me, the self proclaimed reader-of-many-things-but-high-fantasy-generally-isn't-one-of-them, it's reach is much wider than the niche group the cover and/or title may speak to.  Without further adieu, ladies and gents, today's book of choice is....

The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Fang of Fenrir

by

A.R. Cook

9781910282076

Mithras Books

About the book...

Two years after saving Acacia, the last living sphinx, from the night goddess Nyx, David Sandoval is happily married and settled down to a quiet life in Paris. But soon new monsters are after him from the other side of the Curtain, which separates the human world from the world of myth and legend. David discovers that a world-devouring creature, Fenrir, has broken free of his prison and is hunting Acacia for something she possesses and if he gets it, he can finally fulfill his fate to consume all existence. Reluctantly leaving behind his loving wife, David heads off in search of Acacia and his friend Gullin, the Master Huntsman who is trained to slay the most dangerous beasts ever known. But there is great evil afoot. Madness itself wants to claim David, for what purpose, no one knows. And there is rumor than an old adversary has returned, quite different from the last time David and Acacia saw him... Those enemies are nothing, however, compared to the new incarnation of Nyx, whose desire for the most prized gift of all--Fenrir’s ability to destroy any world--will make him stop at nothing to attain it. The new god also knows what to do to ensure David will not interfere with his plans, as the young man did with the previous Night goddess. Old friends and new allies band together in this continuing adventure of the Scholar and the Sphinx, as both their worlds could soon come to an end.

AMAZON   |    BAM   |    B&N

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Being book 2 of a soon to be trilogy, it is HIGHLY recommended by this reader that you suck it up and READ BOOK 1 FIRST!  That's not to say you won't enjoy this one on its own, but everything makes much more sense if one has the background created from the first adventure.  Now, moving forward....

David "the Scholar" is BACK...and so are the baddies out to get him.  And his friends.  And his wife.  Oh, and pretty much ANYONE that tries to help him put an end to the proposed end of days occurring right now on BOTH sides of the Curtain.  Yep.  It's pretty dire.  Thank goodness David has a good head on his shoulders, a heart that beats true, and friends that would see him through to the end....even if some of them barely give that impression (more on that later).  It also helps that he saved the little wedding gift that Acacia left for him at the end of book 1 (< - see why it's important to read the first installment?).  They are definitely going to come in handy now not to mention the fact that they are actually much more than they seem; a statement that can be applied to almost everyone and everything in the story.  Things turn pretty bleak for David and company, but just when all seems lost, a ray of hope dawns like a new day.  Will it be enough to release both the magical and human realms from the fate that's been woven for them?  It might be....but that doesn't mean it's time to call it a WIN.  (Oh, you sneaky author you....that ending!  Ugh!  Where is book 3?  I NEED book 3, STAT!)  Suffice it to say that the story line will enchant, ensnare, and leave you ready for more.

The darkness and light BOTH have roles in this story, as do many legends, fables, and myths.  It's one of those surprising reads that you not only enjoy for pure entertainment value, but you also learn a little something along the way.  From Nyx to the sphinx, spirit guides to the legend of Odin, there is something to pick up for every reader.  Speaking of those fabled persona though, I gotta say it...Baba Yaga was a hoot!  I mean, okay...she's a witch of fabled legends that's suppose to be responsible for all sorts of tomfoolery and dark deeds, but you know what?  Actions speak louder than words and right here, right now, she's ACE in my book.  She had me laughing with her off the cuff remarks, cringing at her outbursts, and rooting for her to actually be one of the good one's when the final page of the book was turned.  Did it turn out that way?  My lips are sealed but trust me, you're gonna LOVE her character...as well as that of her cat.  

Continuing in the vein of characters, the usual suspects show up including Acacia (as beautiful and strong as ever), Gullin (a drink happy chap but with strength of body AND heart), and Tanuki (as feisty as ever).  There are a few that are unable to make an appearance thanks to the evil taking hold of the world beyond the Curtain.  Oh, that evil wears many a familiar face too, my friends.  From the new face of Nyx to Nico, and of course the world thirsty beast Fenrir out for revenge and more.  They are certainly shudder worthy.  

So, although 'Geras, Elli, and Baba Yaga sat down to play a hand of Bastra' may sound like the beginnings of a rather odd joke, it's actually one of many moments of mirth that are sprinkled throughout a wonderful YA Fantasy read I would highly recommend.  It has danger (giant, scary, rip-your-heart out Fenrir!).  It has love, both returned and unrequited.  It has unexpected friendships and uncommon strength found in the most unlikely places.  It'll keep you turning pages well into the night and leave you holding your breath as the last one turns.  My only dislike would be the cover.  I know, I know; we don't judge a book by its cover.  I totally adhere to that but I have to be honest, whereas Book 1 caught my attention, the same could not be said for this one.  Since I am not normally a pure fantasy reader, had I not known the author's work previously, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.  Sad but true.  That's one of many things I love about the book blogging community.  You can get to know reads that you might not have considered otherwise simply because a site you frequent or heard about, happened to feature it.  Recommended read for YA and Fantasy fans alike.  There's nothing to stop you here, except your own imagination.

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About the author....

A native of Riverside, Illinois, A.R. Cook  currently resides in Gainesville, Georgia, and is the author of The Scholar and the Sphinx YA book series beginning with "The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx," with the sequel "The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Fang of Fenrir" released Dec. 2014. She also has short stories published in the anthology "The Kress Project" from the Georgia Museum of Art, and the fairy-tale collection "Willow Weep No More" from Tenebris Books. Several of A.R.'s short stories and short plays have been awarded honorable mentions in various magazines, such as Toasted Cheese Literary Journal and Writer's Digest. From 2009-2013, A.R. was the book review columnist for the Gainesville Times, one of the most widely distributed newspapers in northeastern Georgia.

SITE   |   BLOG   |   TWITTER   |    FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to author A.R. Cook for the SIGNED copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this release, the first, or the grande finale (COMING SOON!), be sure to stop by her official site, friend her on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  This title was released December 2014 via Mithras Books, the YA imprint of Knox Robinson Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  

Until next time...happy reading!

The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx by Alison Reeger Cook

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you every day of the week....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I thought I'd kick off our week with a recent read from the Young Adult genre that's sure to garner your attention....if it hasn't already that is.  It's a relatively recent release from a first time author that we can expect to see more from in the future, especially as this is book one in a planned series, and I for one will certainly be on the lookout those future publications.  Ready to make the acquaintance of this possibly new-to-you author's work?  Let's!  Today's book of choice is....

The Scholar and the Sphinx, Book 1:

The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx

By

Alison Reeger Cook

9781908483874

Knox Robinson Publishing

About the book…

Cervera, Spain, 1852.  David Sandoval is a sixteen-year-old genius on many different subjects, yet he is more content studying than becoming close with family or friends.  He accepts an apprenticeship offer from a French architect, and while on his travels to Paris, a foolhardy decision on his part gets him abducted by a gypsy caravan owned by a living Grecian sphinx.  The sphinx, seemingly intrigued by the fearless young man, takes him through the Curtain, the gateway between our world and the worlds of the unseen, where many creatures of myth and legend reside.  When David attempts to escape back through the Curtain to the human world, he learns a dark secret:  a Shade, an extension of the shadowy Night Goddess Nyx, is slowly draining the sphinx of her most precious talents.  Can one normal boy truly undo the inflictions of a goddess, and rescue both the seen and unseen worlds from her dark intentions?

Sounds a bit heady, right?  Ah, but that’s where you’d be wrong and in assuming as much, might pass up the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this curious new series.

First things first…wanna know how I found out about this book?  It wasn’t in the usual fashion; you know, strolling the aisles of a bookstore or getting a recommendation from a friend and/or fellow reader.  It was at my second job.  Many of you know, job two actually places me in the hallowed walls of our local big box store and being that it is connected to the other locations information wise, the intranet (as in the internal web system) is our source of “knowledge”.  One day, there happened to be what we call a “High Five” (sort of an electronic pat on the back for something well done, a KUDOS if you will) featuring a former employee that was making her writing debut and holding a book signing at the store she use to work at.  I thought…now that’s pretty cool!  Talk about full circle!  Little did I know that the very next day, I’d see an email from the same said featured author in my inbox with a review request.  (^_^)  Small world, no?  Needless to say I as already intrigued by what I had read so my response of “yes” was certainly without delay and so here we are, with me rambling away and still ready to share my thoughts on this read.  Yes, well I will get to the point now, but I thought it a mighty fine story to share first.  Anyway….

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it a thousand more times before my blog ever disappears into the ether, I’m not a big fan of highly fantastical reads; you know, the ones that require a working knowledge of everyone, everything and the world at large created solely by the author.  The kind they have classes at the college for because it is THAT involved.  Thought this might sound somewhat along those lines, it’s really not.  A working knowledge of a few basic myths and locales of the world, not to mention a love of reading (LOVE that she built that into the lead character!), will take you pretty darn far in this Young Adult fantasy series…and I’d venture in the future installments, it’ll probably still hold true. 

Story wise, it links multiple pasts with somewhat more present times, stepping back and forth between the worlds the Curtain affords us access to.  My favorite would have to be when he landed in Japan.  Not that I’ve held a long fascination with the culture or area, though I wouldn’t mind visiting someday, but the creatures and magical folk he encounters just stuck with me, especially Tanuki.  Anywho, back to that story….the way it’s told, we watch as young David over not too long a span grows into himself, discovering just the sort of “man” he really wants to be rather than the type simply pressed upon him.  The adventure that ensues due to the path he chooses is definitely out of a nightmare as opposed to a fairytale but it keeps us on our toes, wondering where the next turn leads to or the next puff of dragon breath will come from.  What?  Oh, I didn’t mention the dragons yet….no worries, you’ll meet them in due time.  By book’s end, you’ve grown fond of our young potential hero (hey, I won’t be the one to spoil the final outcome!  It’s a treacherous road ahead…ANYTHING can happen!) but you’ll be filled with wonder about the journey still to come and just whom shall make it with you.

Character wise, we’ve already met David and I’ve made a passing mention to Tanuki (the little guy can change shape into almost any critter he wants!).  The Sphinx is an obvious attention grabber as I don’t know a person whose fancy wouldn’t be nabbed by this creature of lore, especially this one as her tendencies don’t seem to play fair with all you might have heard…much to the surprise of our young friend.  Let us not forget about our human friends as well, though the main one of which I am referring is actually more than just your average human.  His name is Gullin and he’s not simply another gypsy from afar but a master huntsman, the gravity of which will be revealed along the course of the story.  He’s rough, he’s tumble, he’s downright unlikable at times, but in the end, he’ll win you over, or at least he did me.  

Then there’s Yofune who, well okay, I guess it IS a stretch to put him in the human category as he’s actually…well, something more…but he appears in this form for a good portion of the story so there he shall be cast.  Honestly?  He left me unsettled.  I couldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him and yet, I wanted to…trust him, that is.  Once his story is told, it’s understandable why my feelings split upon his introduction but I’ll let you discover that on your own.  I could continue with my assessment of Nyx or even Hypnos or well, the list goes on and on but then this review would be more of a guide to her world and didn’t we already discuss how that wasn’t needed nor that I like that sort of writing?  (^_^)

Author Alison Reeger Cook

In conclusion, a great new Young Adult series that will cater to fantasy fans as well as those simply seeking a bigger understanding of the world and the relationships that life presents us with.  Not everything is love or even like at first sight, but allowing time for the bigger picture to form  is what counts.  This book reminds us, or me at least, that first impressions are important but if you allow your opinion of things to be fully colored by what you already know or THINK you already know, you are sorely missing out.  Something to think about, indeed….and I DEFINITELY like when a book leaves me with a gem like that.

Review copy courtesy of author Alison Reeger Cook.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the forth coming books in the series, be sure to seek her out online.  This title is available now via Knox Robinson Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…happy reading!