Friday, April 15, 2011
Cue For Treason Questions, Samuel Slager
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Lonsdale Inquisitor Editorial
Lonsdale Inquisitor Poetry Review
Monday, February 28, 2011
Journal Entry: Predictions
How were my predictions different? Well to say as much without giving to much away might be difficult, but I'll try. All in all, there were four characters that the novel generally revolved around. Vali, Feileg, Adisla, and The Witch Queen. They are all apart of a huge prophecy that has to do with the Fenris Wolf and Odin, and how that prophecy plays itself out on earth time and time again. I got their roles in the prophecy messed up quite a bit, for the author did a great job of leading you on one way only to smack you in the other direction! The near the end you find out some interesting information about the God's "dreams" and how they can actually dream themselves on earth, and they will actually be born, live, and die on earth. All without even knowing who they are. I found this very interesting, if a little confusing at that. That part plays into some of the main characters though as you find out near the end, it was something I certainly didn't expect though. If I said I was not pleased with how the resolution was, or how my predictions were wrong, I'd be a liar. This book was most definitely a great find, and the author along with it.
Journal Entry: Experiances
This book reminds me of some things in my life, mainly stuff that anyone could relate too though. For instance Vali and his inner-beast, I do relate to that. Sometimes, like Vali, I just can't control it. I've mention in a different journal that me and Vali are a lot alike, and this is one of those things too. As well as Vali impressing the girl he eventually falls in love with. He was a prince and she was a common girl, but she didn't make it any easier for him, if anything she was harder. Although I'm no prince, I certainly got a laugh out of that. Since it was no simple task for me either to get to where I am now with the girl I'm with.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Journal Entry: Evaluation
If I were to compare this book to others I have read, it would most certainly rank up near the top. I've read many books by many authors and they all have their unique qualities and aspects. None of them however had the same grip that this book has had on my from the first chapter. Most books I've read have had to take time to build up, and those beginning chapters were always a bore. This one however had me from the start! It was hard to put the book down in the store so I could actually buy it, let alone leave it alone for school or other commitments. I'm currently reading another viking series at the moment, and they match up as far as their life-styles and actions go. They all love their boats for sure, treat them like children even. For their lives can very well depend on their ship when put out to sea. It's safe to say that although I've read many books, this one has stood out from the rest in certain ways, and I'm quite glad it has.
Journal Entry: Questions
My favourite character in the novel was Vali, and coincidentally he was apart of my favourite scene as well. To start off, Vali was my favourite character because he was the one I felt I could most relate too. We share a dry sense of humour that other characters in the book always we're irritated by, not too mention our sarcasm. Not only do we have things in common, but he is someone I might aspire to be more like as well. As for my favourite scene, it would be near the end of the book, when Vali finally succumbs to his destiny completely and becomes the Fenris Wolf. I like it so much because it had been the scene I was waiting for the entire book, I wanted to see what would be the after-effect, what would happen, would he change back? Safe to say I wasn't disappointed. He attacked a whole village of tribesmen who were actually trying to summon him! How stupid eh? Anyways, he attacked them because they also had Adisla, the girl he loves. Some part, no matter how small, was still Vali and he knew he needed to save her. I was so excited by the prospect of what she would say when she saw him. If she would fear him completely, or perhaps even see past the beast and still know it's Vali.
And as much as that's my favourite scene, the conclusion was still something to remember. It was so unexpected, so surprising! I had never even thought of it being a possibility till I read it. Not that I'm complaining about that. The conclusion certainly made lots of things make even more sense, and added a twist to things that certainly made all the suspense through the book come to a satisfying climax in my opinion.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Journal Entry: Quotations
There is a quote at the very start of the book that I thought was an insightful and interesting to start the novel. "The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being - and who is willing to destroy a piece of their own heart?" It was a great way to start the book in my opinion, definitely set the right kind of tone that the author played off of during the whole novel. It relates very well to real life and the novel, for there have been great people who have stooped to evil things indeed. As for the novel, Vali starts out as the hero in search of his captured loved one, he is "innocent" in a sense. Only to turn on his friend half way and kill him without even a moments pause. It just goes to show that no matter how virtuous you are, no matter how righteous your cause. Everyone has that inner-animal, their dark side, that is just dying to get out to control us, and if we are not careful, that is exactly what it will do.
Journal Entry: Characters
The main characters in my story are Vali, Bragi, The Witch Queen, Felieg, and Adisla. I liked all of them, I could believe that there are people out there really like them, perhaps they were the author’s inspiration for them even, (minus the supernatural features of one or two characters). Although some more than others. Vali was ultimately my favourite, although it wasn’t until things got interesting for him in the plot that I took an interest in his character.
There were many changes throughout the story, especially for Vali. During the story Vali was slowly but surely being woven into a prophecy that is as old as the gods. He starts to acquire animal traits, consisting of far eyesight, highly acute hearing, tracking by scent, and later an insatiable thirst for blood during the story. All of this ultimately leading to him becoming the Fenrisulfr, otherwise known as the Fenris Wolf, the child of Loki destined to kill Odin on Ragnarok.
Feileg is Vali’s brother, although I do not believe either of them ever finds out during the novel, although the quickly find out after meeting that their lives had been tightly woven together. Feileg was a barbarian of sorts, but is now known as a Wolf-man. Taken from his mother shortly after birth by the witches, he was given over to the barbarian tribes in the north to be raised until a proper age when they had something bigger planned for him. Around age 7, his father, also the clan chief, led him on a journey far away from home, out into the wilderness during mid-winter. His father left him there all alone. Within a short time however, Felieg was found by a pack of wolves. Feileg was ready to fight for his life when the pack leader walked up to him, although he was no wolf, it was a man with the fur and hide of a wolf across his body with the head of it fitting perfectly as a mask on his face. Feileg was brought up for the rest of his child-hood and teen years in the pack, becoming ever stronger and ever more like a wolf himself. Until one day he becomes like the first Wolf-man he met that day, donning his own wolf pelt and forgetting most of what was the human side of him. He continued as such throughout the story until he met his unknown brother Vali and a girl Adisla with whom he fell in love with. He started to remember his family with the barbarians and started to act like a human, although he never truly became one again in the novel.
My opinion of all these characters varies from one to the other. I think they are all sadly unlucky in the end, and if you read this novel you will find out why. The Witch Queen on the other hand, I respect her in the sense that she is a good leader, and underwent many hard trials including fasting for months, being submerged up to her neck in cold water for a week, or being left in the tundra for days on end, to become as powerful as she is. She is terribly cruel at that though, but I can’t entirely blame her.
Journal Entry: Reactions
As for this book in general, I definitely feel it is worth your money and attention. It took me 3 days to finish this book, I read it for about 3-5 hours a day. Not because I had nothing else to do, but simply because this book captivates you from the start! Immediately you're thrown into the action and once you have tasted it, you will not be able to get enough. This book has a sense of mystery to it that keeps you in suspense all the way to the end, and you enjoy it along the way. There's no obvious answer in this book, and the saying "expect the unexpected" could be used to describe every chapter in it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for fantasy and/or historical fiction novels. Especially those of you who like werewolf tales. This book has a unique take on it that had me quite impressed by the end. One day I have a feeling I might just pick this book up again and relive all the excitement I've experienced over the course of reading this book.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Journal Entry: Mood
An exciting part in my novel that I remember quite well is when Vali succumbs to his inner-animal side,and tears apart to ships of armed men, ripping them limb from limb. Although the excitement for me was short lived, for quickly after the battle was over, Vali soon finds out that in the heat of all the carnage, he had torn out the throat of his best friend Bragi as well. The mood was sad for a great period of time, as Vali was mourning the loss of his friend.Then eventually Vali snapped out of it, only to become consumed by a rage like no other.
A part that you might find most mysterious, and interesting. Has to do with a sacred swamp that is used to reach the god Odin to speak with him. In order to do this however, you must drown in the swamp. Vali in all his stubborness and love decides to undergo this trial to help him find an answer. Although things do not turn out to be so easy, for there is only a chance that Odin will answer your call if he feels the need is pure and great. Vali had his friends drag him into that swamp kicking and begging for mercy, for 4 days straight. I found this part in the novel to be truly amazing in that even though his suffering was great, his love for Adisla was greater still. I could almost feel the pain pulsing out of the novel at me, making the mood most dark indeed.
