The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan
435 pages

    To learn more about different battle skills, Horace travels to Nihon-Ja to learn the ways of the Senshi warriors. While he is there, he becomes good friends with the Emperor. But when a rebel Senshi threatens the emperor's power, Horace must choose between safety and protecting the emperor. Loyal to his new friend, Horace stays.
    When Will and Halt get word that Horace has stayed in Nihon-Ja to protect the emperor, they rush to help him. Soon, the Araluens find themselves caught in a battle between those loyal to the emperor and the rebel Senshi warriors. With limited troops and resources, the emperor cannot hope to win, unless the Araluens are brave enough to find help.


    The Senshi arrow flashed downward, heading directly for the emperor. Will flicked his bow at it, caught it, and deflected it from its course. The arrowhead screeched on the hard, rocky ground and the arrow skittered away. Even Halt took a second to be impressed.
    "How did you do that?"
    Then, realizing that there was no more time for talking, he shot the Senshi bowman.

**Book 10 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: Halt's Peril

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby
386 pages

    Giuseppe is a street musician who works for a cruel employer. If he doesn't bring in enough money, he will not get food or could possibly get thrown into the rat cellar. Giuseppe begins to think his life is hopeless, until one day, he finds a green violin floating in the river.
    Frederick is a clockmaker who wants to start his own business instead of being an apprentice. Secretly, his works on making a clockwork man, but he cannot do it alone.
    Hannah is a hotel maid, working to keep her family's apartment. Her father is deathly ill and she is their only hope. When she hears of a hidden treasure at the hotel, she knows she must find it to help her family.
    All three children are brought together and they realize that they need each other. But can they solve the mysteries before Giuseppe's master finds him, Hannah's father gets worse, or Frederick is caught?

Today-The Release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 3-D!!

I'm so excited! The first time I saw Star Wars was. . . are you ready? . . .  November 2011!
*Gasp!*
I know you are thinking How could you live so long without even seeing one Star Wars movie?
Answer: I have no idea, but I am so grateful for my friends who organized the Star Wars Marathon. And got me hooked. But the original thanks goes to my dad, who told me the stories for bedtime when I was little almost every night. I guess it stole a piece of my mind and my heart, I just didn't realize it until now.
Now, I am obssessed with it. Even though I haven't seen #6 yet. And now, with Episode 1 in 3-D? Well, I hope I can see it! I won't be able to see it opening night (today), but there is still hope for another day, right?
   Here is the preview:

Comment with your thoughts here. Speak up now if you love Star Wars!(or if you don't. Either way, I'd like to hear your opinion)

Beyond the Reflection's Edge by Bryan Davis

Beyond the Reflection's Edge by Bryan Davis
373 pages

    Nathan Shepherd's mother is a famous violinist and his father an investigator. He is fine with his life of traveling, but then, suddenly, his parents are both murdered. Nathan is sent to live with his father's friend and his daughter, Kelly. Together, Kelly and Nathan use three objects that might help them find out why the Shepherd's were murdered-a violin that plays with voices, a mirror that shows things that are not really there and a camera that take pictures of unseen images. But the killer is looking for Nathan. Can the two teens solve the mystery or is this something more complicated than either of them can imagine?

**Book 1 in Echoes from the Edge**
Next book: Eternity's Edge

Slayers by C. J. Hill

Slayers by C. J. Hill
373 pages
    Tori, the daughter of a U.S. senator is obsessed with dragons. She doesn't know why, but she reads all she can about them and one summer she signs up for dragon camp. When she gets, there, it is nothing like she thought it would be: a clean camp like the ones she had been to before. Her older sister tells her that she won't be able to stay. Determined to prove her wrong, Tori stays.
    She soon finds herself in the advanced part of the camp with a group of teens who call them selves slayers, saying they are descendants from the original dragon slayers. They tell Tori that she is a slayer, too. Not sure if they are right, Tori is caught up in a quest to find and destroy the last dragon eggs before they destroy the country. Will they be brave enough?

Halt's Peril by John Flanagan

Halt's Peril by John Flanagan
386 pages
    While chasing the leader of the Outsiders cult, Halt is ambushed and shot by a poison arrow.  Not realizing that Halt has been poisoned, he, Will and Horace continued their chase. But soon, the effect of the poison is evident and Will sees that Halt is slowly dying. The only person that can help Halt is the sorcerer, Malkallam. Will quickly sets out to find him, but will they be fast enough to save Halt from death?

    Will stepped clear of the tree, pivoting so that he emerged on the opposite side. And his mouth went dry as he saw the assassin aiming a crossbow toward Halt, heard the dull smack of the cord. Halt had warned him that they might have more than one bow apiece and he'd been right.
    Then Will's heart froze at the most chilling sound he had heard in his young life: Halt's brief cry of pain, followed by the sound of his bow dropping.


**Book 9 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: The Kings of Clonmel
Next book: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja