Jo

The Dreamers - David and Leigh Eddings

There are four books in the Dreamer series: The Elder Gods; The The Treasured One; The Crystal Gorge; and The Younger Gods.

The fourth year at Hogwarts sees the return of Harry, Ron and Hermione and the introduction of a few more characters. For the first time in ages the Tri-Wizard Tournament is being held, with competitors hailing from Hogwarts, Beaubatons and Durmstrang.

The Dreamers  Book 2 - David and Leigh Eddings

There are 8 Elder Gods, 4 awake and 4 asleep, who rule the Land of Dhrall in turns. When they sleep it is for eons. The only time they are vulnerable is when the sleepers awaken. The Vlagh, ruler of the Wasteland, knows this and has hatched a plan to destroy all the Gods so that she may rule all of the the Land of Dhrall. Only with the help of the outlanders is there a hope that all the Gods and their people may survive.

Harry's penultimate year at Hogwarts becomes one of his most traumatic.

Ron gets a girlfriend who isn't Hermione (it's a rather saccharine sweet and vomit inducing Lavender Brown), but this is only after Ginny visciously rips into him for never having kissed girl that wasn't related to him. I have to say I really felt for him, even though he did act like a bit of the git. That said Ron also has a very close brush with death that only a bezoar saves, but it is enough to make him think about a few of his priorities.

The Dreamers Book 4 - David and Leigh Eddings

Overall I enjoyed the books, but they suffered from the fact that I have read almost all of their other books and could see virtual carbon copies of characters resurfacing in this series. Longbow is a Sparhawk of the Elenium and Tamuli reborn and the Goddess Eleria/Balacenia is Aphrael with Polgara turning up as Ara, a wise woman with a penchant for hearty flavoursome cooking!!!

In fifth year at Hogwarts Harry finally learns of the prophecy foretold by Professor Trelawney many years before.

What touched me most about Order of the Phoenix was the little extra things that we found out, such as the rest of the gang discovering Neville's secret about his parents while visiting St. Mungo's. I couldn't help but feel for Neville, the way his parents are so precious to him but he has no-one to talk to about them apart from his battle ax of a grandmother.

Betrayal is the first book in the Trinity trilogy.

I picked up this book because I was looking for something that wasn't challenging and would easily carry me away on an adventure. To my pleasant surprise I have really enjoyed this book, having been sucked in almost from the first page. Betrayal uses a film trick of starting near the dramatic end of the story and then taking us back several years and showing how Torkyn Gynt, our hero, found himself in his predicament and beyond.

Does this book even need an introduction? It would seem that anyone who is anyone has read a Harry Potter book.

The Philosopher's Stone is where it all begins with Harry's first year at Hogwarts School of magic. It's very easy to sympathise with the young Harry as we see him escape from his horrible life with the Dursleys. He quickly forms a friendship with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and together they solve the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.

Harry, Ron and Hermione return for their third year at Hogwarts, all is not good in the wizarding world, Sirius Black has escaped from the famed prison Azkaban.

This is where the series begins to darken in tone, we start to see some the prejudices that are rife in the magical community, who apart from Dumbeldore would trust a werewolf. The Dementors are a nice touch, even if they are a bit like the Ring Wraiths from Lord of the Rings.

Revenge is the second book in the Trinity trilogy.

Revenge sees our hero Torkyn Gynt surviving the execution, but only through the self sacrifice of his teacher Merkhud. Leaving behind his beloved Alyssa, Torkyn must attempt to unravel the truth behind the Trinity and prepare himself to fight the God Orlac when he finally escapes his centuries long imprisonment.