Seventh Son

Rating:
Summary: Amazing! Orson Scott Card never disappoints
Review: Seventh Son is set in the early 1800s--a tale of "a magical America that might have been." In this world, hexes and spells work. Alvin Miller Jr. is the seventh son of a seventh son, a very magical birth indeed. Alvin is no ordinary child--all his life, he has had a "knack" for making things (hence the name of the series, Alvin Maker). When a Presbyterian preacher from Scotland builds a church near the Miller homestead, things turn worse for young Alvin. The preacher alienates Alvin Sr. immediately, preaching that hexes and the like don't work and are just foolishness. The preacher, Philadelphia Thrower, is told by a Visitor that he must turn Alvin to God's way before he is fourteen years old. Thrower seems to hate Alvin, constantly trying to 'reform' the mischievous boy, making Sundays a nightmare. Then a wanderer named Taleswapper comes to town...

This is a really great book! I loved it, and I can't wait to read the next one. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down! Orson Scott Card is a wonderful writer. I've *never* been disappointed by one of his books. Seventh Son is a superb (did I spell that right?) novel!

Rating:
Summary: Alvin Maker is a phenomenal series
Review: The Tales of Alvin Maker has definately escalated itself to my favorite book series. The reason this book gets four stars is it is boring compared to the others. Red Prophet was completely original and the best in the series. However, every saga needs it's begin, and Seventh Son had some very memorable characters like Taleswapper, Reverend Thrower, Armor-of-God Weaver and Lolla Wossiky. I highly recommend this series to anybody who a strong advocate of history and/or fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: A unique American fantasy
Review: This book is truy unique as an American fantasy set in the 19th century instead of some pseudo-medieval Europe fantasy world. One thing I'd like to note about this novel is that the story is not entirely Card's; he wrote it as an allegory of the life of Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS (Mormon) Church. Card is a lifelong Mormon and has woven elements of LDS history, doctrine, and culture into many of his works, most notably the Homecoming series (adapted from the Book of Mormon). As an LDS church member myself, I found this book fascinating. Of course, it stands alone and is well worth the read for anyone. Card makes many important points and raises many valuable questions- and the rest of the series is excellent as well. A MUST if you are a Card fan!