Reviews: "Knee-knock Rise" and "The Alloy of Law"

Well, I've read two books of late and am in the middle of another longer and slower one. Here are the reviews:

Knee-knock Rise
Natalie Babbitt

I've come to expect good things from this author. She is a children's writer and is perhaps most famous for her story "Tuck Everlasting." I also especially love her story "The Search for Delicious."

This story is about a boy who visits a town where everyone is afraid of the "Megrimum," a mysterious creature that no one has ever seen on the top of the mountain Knee-knock Rise, but whose roars are often heard during thunderstorms. What he discovers may change the town forever.

As usual with this author, there is the surface story, which is interesting and delightful, and then there are the more thoughtful undertones that ponder on real life situations. For this reason, this is a wonderful book to take with you on an airplane ride. At ~100 pages, it's easily finishable during take-off and landing when you aren't allowed electronics. That's how I read this book, anyway.

Either way, if you're looking for a quick and simple story, or perhaps something fun to read and meaningful to your child, this book is a recommend for you.

The Alloy of Law
Brandon Sanderson

This is my second time through this book, the last time being last Christmas, and I still love it. I think it might be best to first read the Mistborn trilogy as it would help you to be familiar with the majority of the terminology and would help you appreciate the incredible world-building that Sanderson has done. That being said, this novel is capable of being read without said trilogy and it should still be incredibly enjoyable.

Set in a time-period that feels like the wild west, this story follow law-keeper Waxillium Ladrian as he moves from the Roughs back into the city. Here he tries to give up his "rough" past, but it may just be that the city is the more dangerous place. Soon he is caught up trying to solve the case of "The Vanishers" before time runs out.

This book has action, suspense, romance, philosophy, and more. It's a shame the sequel isn't out yet because I would love to continue reading this story. The characters are compelling and human and the world in which they live is incredibly well imagined. I highly recommend this novel for those who like a good fantasy novel with a mixture of suspense and mystery.

For my previous review of the same novel, check this out.