The Fire Duke (Keepers of the Hidden Ways, No 1)

by Joel Rosenberg | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0380722070 Global Overview for this book
Registered by omly of Arlington, Massachusetts USA on 3/2/2005
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by omly from Arlington, Massachusetts USA on Wednesday, March 2, 2005
This series was a gift from a good friend.

Using a mixture of Irish and Norse mythology, this series creates a rich fantasy setting filled with fairly diverse characters. Joel Rosenburg always strikes me as a gifted writer, and this series does not disappoint.

In this first book in the series Thorian the Younger discovers a family secret that will draw in his family and friends. Maggie and Ian, friends from school and fellow fencing enthusists are drawn in too when werewolves use one of the local Hidden Ways.

Journal Entry 2 by omly from Arlington, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, March 3, 2005
I am offering this series (book 1, book 2, and book 3)as an international bookring. As of this time it is still open, and people are welcome to join it. Please PM me if you are interested. The current list participants is:

  1. MysteryMish (USA, CA)**
  2. tobysrus (USA, MA)*
  3. BooksnBeer (USA, VA)*
  4. alanfoxboro (USA, TN)*
  5. AtwoJay (Canada)
  6. aset01 (France)* (no response)
  7. GateGypsy (Japan)*
  8. JeSuisBelle (Philippines)* <- unable to be contacted
  9. indigorage (USA, AK)*** <- unable to be contacted
  10. rangerfan (USA, OK)***
  11. CheriePie (USA, MA)*** <- here
  12. omly (USA, MA)

* will ship internationally
** would prefer not to ship internationally
***can not ship internationally

Rules of this bookring:
  1. When you receive the book please ensure that you journal it.
  2. Read it as soon as you can.
  3. When you've finished reading it, make a journal entry and contact the next person on the list.
  4. If no response is received after two attempts, contact me and then next person on the list.
  5. When you send the book on make a journal entry.

Journal Entry 3 by omly from Arlington, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, March 8, 2005
This series was mailed out to MysteryMish today.

Journal Entry 4 by MysteryMish from Santa Monica , California USA on Monday, March 14, 2005
It's a good day when a bookring arrives in the mail. It's a great day when the ring has three books! Can't wait to dig into this series. It looks really good. I have a little bit left in my current book, then I'll start this.

Journal Entry 5 by MysteryMish from Santa Monica , California USA on Friday, March 25, 2005
I really liked this book all through it, but the last 75 pages or so were spectacular! The ending was great and I am on to Book number 2 in the series. One of the things I've enjoyed about Bookcrossing is that I've read a lot of books I would have never read before. I never really read science fiction or fantasy before.

Journal Entry 6 by MysteryMish from Santa Monica , California USA on Monday, April 4, 2005
Sending this along to tobysrus today.

Journal Entry 7 by tobysrus from Cambridge, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Keepers of the Hidden Ways Bookring books arrived today. I cannot wait to get into them! I plan to start reading them tonight.

Journal Entry 8 by tobysrus from Cambridge, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I finished this first book last night and am already half way through book two. I really enjoyed it and agree with MysteryMish, that if it wasn't for the bookring I may not have discovered this series. I thought the plot was creative and unexpected. I think the characters are interesting and well-developed. Can't wait to finish the others. Have e-mailed BooksnBeer for an address.

Journal Entry 9 by tobysrus from Cambridge, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, April 23, 2005
Off in the mail today to BooksnBeer. Should be there shortly. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 10 by BooksnBeer from Pasadena, Florida USA on Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Received this while I was away. I have two bookrings in front of this - one in process and one waiting. I will get to this as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 11 by BooksnBeer from Pasadena, Florida USA on Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Started reading this on May 16th. I'm already upto page 100. So far I'm enjoying the story. Can't wait to see how the Author handles the other world.

Journal Entry 12 by BooksnBeer from Pasadena, Florida USA on Monday, May 23, 2005
Just finished book #1 this morning and I’m diving right into book #2. I am enjoying this read. The fantasy writing with mythological connections is enjoyable and the political twists are interesting. An excellent read. I too would not have read this Author if it wasn’t for Bookcrossing. I am looking forward to the further development of the characters. I wonder if my local community college has a fencing course? ;-)

Journal Entry 13 by alanfoxboro from Searcy, Arkansas USA on Wednesday, June 15, 2005
I received this book in the mail today along with books 2 and 3 in the series. Thanks to omly for the bookring and to BooksnBeer for sending it on to me. I will read and post a review ASAP.

Journal Entry 14 by alanfoxboro from Searcy, Arkansas USA on Sunday, July 24, 2005
The Fire Duke is an outstanding beginning to what I hope will be an outstanding fantasy trilogy. I enjoyed it very much, even though the mythology was a little confusing at times. Great characters, and an engrossing story. I am looking forward to books 2 and 3.

Thanks again to omly for this bookring.

Journal Entry 15 by alanfoxboro from Searcy, Arkansas USA on Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Thanks again to omly for these bookrings. These books are off to AtwoJay in Canada tomorrow.

Journal Entry 16 by AtwoJay from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada on Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Received in the mail & I've already started to read it.

Journal Entry 17 by AtwoJay from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada on Thursday, November 10, 2005
I would have enjoyed this book more if not for the crude language, but I liked it anyway. I really like the idea of using the Norse gods as I don't read a lot about them. When I was a kid, I read some Norse myths (and I really liked Loki), but they don't seem anywhere near as popular as the Greek and Roman stories.

Journal Entry 18 by AtwoJay from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada on Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Mailed today

Journal Entry 19 by GateGypsy from Ladysmith, British Columbia Canada on Friday, March 3, 2006
Arrived in the mail on... oh... Tuesday? I think. Anyways, this book, plus books 2 and 3 all arrived in the same parcel. I shall get to them shortly ((I have one other bookring book ahead of them, I believe.))

Thanks so much for sharing! I'm looking forward to reading these!

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I like that the Norse gods are used in this series... though the strange marriage to Celtic mythology (only mentioned offhandedly) didn't seem at all necessary for the plot. ((I do like that the existance of the gods is a driving force in the story line!)) I was so distracted by the actions of Torrie and their group, I was really taken by surprise at the end, which is nice... always good for a book to twist on you. I was a little bored by the somewhat exhaustive descriptions of fencing, and the frequent peppering of swordplay jargon ((not knowing much about it, myself)) but in the end I suppose I can just look at it as an educational experience. ((Obviously the author is a huge fan of fencing -- probably fences, himself.))

Moving on to book two!

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Mailed off in tandem with the other two in the series on Monday (morning), Sept. 25th. Hope they get there soon!

Journal Entry 20 by BC20090206001 on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Arrived today with book 2&3 safely from Canada :-) They sound great! I will get to reading Book 1 soon.

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Oct 14
Just finished with book one. It was a great fast read. I really enjoyed it! On to book two.

Oct 19
A great fast read, now to book three.

Oct 26
Fast read. This was a great story!
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Now waiting for the address for the next person to send it to.

Has been mailed Nov,01,2006

Journal Entry 21 by CheriePie from Campbell, California USA on Tuesday, November 7, 2006
The 3 books of this trilogy arrived today. As I already told omly via PM, I've got a fairly long owed TBR list at the moment, between rings/rays and swaps, so I was initially going to decline this trilogy as I may not be able to start on these before the end of the year (though I'm hoping to at least one of them read by then). Since I'm last on the list however, and she wasn't going to have time to do anything with them right away, she's allowed me to accept them and hang on to them for longer than usual. Of course, we both live in the same state so omly, if you need them back before I've finished with them, just let me know. Thanks for allowing me to participate. :)

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