On the Verge of Lunacy

This game-based novel tells the same story in the first installment of the game series. The book gives a different perspective of the gods and Kratos plus more that only written material can offer which the experience of playing Kratos cannot. Anyone who's played the game will be familiar with Kratos' background and his motives for serving the gods --- that is to rid himself of the terrible visions of his monstrous acts. In this book, Kratos will follow the same path that the Kratos in the video game took; he will battle the same foes and use the same weapons and magic. This time however, the reader gets more intimate with Kratos' thoughts and emotions. The authors did a great job in explaining things that we usually take for granted in the game such as the acquisition and carrying of the items (how does he keep all the weapons), Kratos' ability to absorb orbs (of course this is to replenish health, mana and rage meter in the game but how to explain that...

Dante Alighieri's Inferno is given a different twist in this bloody game of one man's quest to save his wife's soul. The game did justice to the description of hell in this adaptation of the first part of the Divine Comedy epic. In this game however, Dante has a different motivation for going to hell. In order to rescue Beatrice's soul from Lucifer's grasp, he fights demons, saves or damns souls, and goes through a series of recollections of his life, in particular the events that led to the breaking of his vow to Beatrice. In the process, he not only tries to save Beatrice but is also seeking her forgiveness and the salvation of his soul. Why Dante was allowed to gain power in his quest and constantly provoked by Lucifer will make sense at the end of the game. This game is not for the squeamish type. It's very bloody; filled with hellish creatures from women who use their uterus as weapons, well not really just the uterus but the entire female reproduc...

Padraic Colum not only provides a retelling of the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts but also of some of the Greek heroes and gods that most readers would recognize. The book is divided into the following three major parts: Part 1. The Voyage to Colchis Part 2. The Return to Greece Part 3. The Heroes of the Quest Colum is not only a narrator of the events in the heroes' quest to retrieve the fleece and return home safely, but he also made an attempt at characterization. Jason is no longer just a famous hero and the readers voyeurs, but instead are involved in the emotional struggles of the characters. First time readers of this tale will not find the book difficult to understand. Several stories told or sung by Orpheus are also very helpful for readers who are new to Greek mythology. These stories include the beginning of things and Titanomachy, Demeter and Persephone, Atalanta's Race, The Golden Maid, Prometheus, and Perseus. The final part of the book features...

The book is a condensed and translated version of the Hindu epic of a war of the kingdoms in Northern India caught in a scheme of a jealous cousin and five brothers struggling to reclaim their kingdom. Mr. Dutt provided introductions and summary for each chapter. The summary might spoil the story for the first time readers of the epic but keep in mind that this is a condensed version. Some of the less important scenes were omitted. The contents of these chapters are in English verse form. The translator explained in the epilogue his method in selecting the passages and included here as well as his approach to its translation. This gives the reader an idea how much information was not included in this book. The translator was able to pick out the story of the Pandavas and Kurus buried in all the material added to the original epic. The information provided by Dutt in the epilogue is an excellent guide and introduction to the entire epic itself. There is also a glossary of terms a...

Oreki Houtarou is a lazy, easygoing, and a bit anti-social high school student who suddenly finds himself immersed in the activities of the new members of the Classics Club. He was asked by his sister to save the club by enlisting as a member. He agreed thinking that no one else would bother to sign up. However it was through this club that he met the highly curious and energetic Chitanda Eru, the strong and determined Ibara Mayaka, and his long-time friend Fukube Satoshi who tagged along when he discovered that Houtarou joined a club. The group discovers Houtarou's knack for solving mysteries. His skills were put to the ultimate test when they investigated a school event involving Chitanda's uncle 45 years ago. Oreki Houtarou (L-R) Chitanda Eru, Ibara Mayaka, and Fukube Satoshi Although the 22-episode series started off with plenty of mysteries that the characters had to solve, it spiraled into a day-to-day narration of normal high school friends getting thro...

This first installment of the Kharkanas Trilogy introduces the realm of Kurald Galain as it was long before the advent of the Malazan Empire. Told from various characters' points of view, it relates the events leading to the schism of its old and recent inhabitants, particularly the Tiste. Readers will be able to deduce how the Tiste broke up into what are now known as the Andii, Liosan, and Edur. There are familiar characters from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, notably a younger and more emotional Anomander, as well as new characters including those that are mentioned only in passing in the other books. Readers will be reintroduced to the Vitr, Azath, Shake, Hust Swords,  and the Warrens or Houses. Several clues are given to the origins and functions of those mentioned, but new questions will come to mind. Unlike the Malazan series however, the story is told in a direct manner, seldom steering away from the main story; that's if the long character ramblings a...

Ayuzawa Misaki is well-liked by her friends for her passion and determination  in trying to manage her time in both school and work. As school council president, she's very strict and hardworking, oftentimes labeled as a terror to the boys. Her insistence in creating a school environment attractive to the female students sometimes gets her in trouble. It was this willingness to help the female students that forced her to confront Usui Takumi, a good-looking and talented popular guy who is known to have broken more than a few girls' hearts. Misaki is determined to keep this wholesome image and must therefore keep her part-time job a secret from her schoolmates. She loves working at Cafe Maid Latte but she doesn't want to be seen in such condition. Later Usui discovers what she does for a living but promised to keep it a secret. Since then they see each other more often. The story is about friendship, perseverance, and change. It highlights the trials and trium...