Revelation by Carol Berg

Revelation (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2001) is the second of The Books of the Rai-kirah, sequel to Transformation.  I think the middle chapters set in the demons’ world could have been shortened at least by half.  The final book in the series is Restoration.

A Plague on Both Your Houses by Susanna Gregory

Though Susanna Gregory‘s A Plague on Both Your Houses (New York:  St. Martin’s Press, 1996) is identified on the cover as the third chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew, it is set before the first chronicle, during the plague in 1348-49.

The next chronicle is A Deadly Brew.

Bloodline by James Rollins

In Bloodline (New York:  William Morrow-HarperCollins, 2012), James Rollins allows the members of Sigma Force to solve the mystery of the Guild, their nemesis in previous novels.  If it weren’t for a couple of hints in Bloodline, I’d think that it might be the last novel in the series.

I hope Rollins will use the new characters, Tucker and Kane, in future novels.

Transformation by Carol Berg

Transformation (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2000), was Carol Berg‘s first published book and the first of The Books of the Rai-kirah.  I found it easier to read than her other books that I’ve read so far because it is all told from the point of view of one character.

I can certainly see the similarities to her other books.  Berg’s pattern seems to be to put a character in a situation where he or she loses everything (family, friends, freedom, faith, etc.) and then regains it all–and maybe even more.

I’m looking forward to reading the other two books in the series:  Revelation and Restoration.

A Bone of Contention by Susanna Gregory

I enjoyed Susanna Gregory‘s second chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew, A Bone of Contention (New York:  St. Martin’s Press, 1997), more than the first chronicle, An Unholy Alliance, though the second book is as long and complicated as the first.  The second novel provides insight into the “town and gown” conflict in medieval Cambridge.

Song of the Beast by Carol Berg

Song of the Beast (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2003, 2011) was one of the first books Carol Berg wrote, but it wasn’t published until after her Books of the Rai-Kirah (xiii), which I intend to read next.  I probably enjoyed Song of the Beast more than the books in Berg’s Bridge of D’Arnath series (Son of Avonar, Guardians of the Keep, The Soul Weaver, and Daughter of Ancients) because I was used to her technique of switching the point of view from one character to another.  What was odd in Song of the Beast was that the last two sections (Chapters 34 through 36 and Chapter 37) were told by the same character, but there is a title page with the character’s name (as there is every time the point of view changes) before Chapter 37 identical to the one before Chapter 34 (the previous one).

An Unholy Alliance by Susanna Gregory

An Unholy Alliance (New York:  St. Martin’s Press, 1996) is Susanna Gregory‘s first chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew, a physician teaching and healing–and solving murders–in 1350 Cambridge, England.  I actually like An Unholy Alliance better than A Conspiracy of Violence, Gregory’s first Thomas Chaloner novel.

Other novels about Matthew Bartholomew include

• A Bone of Contention
• A Plague on Both Your Houses
• A Deadly Brew
• A Wicked Deed
• A Masterly Murder
• An Order for Death
• A Summer of Discontent
• A Killer in Winter
• The Hand of Justice
• The Marker of a Murder
• The Tarnished Chalice
• To Kill or Cure
• The Devil’s Disciples
• A Vein of Deceit
• The Killer of Pilgrims
• Mystery in the Minster
• Murder by the Book

I had trouble figuring out which of the books was first in the series, but An Unholy Alliance is clearly labeled as “The first chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew.”

Daughter of Ancients by Carol Berg

Daughter of Ancients (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2005) is the fourth and final book in the fantasy series The Bridge of D’Arnath by Carol Berg.  I liked it better than the preceding book and am sorry I finished the series.

I’m planning to read her Song of the Beast next and then then, perhaps, the Rai-kirah series.

The Soul Weaver by Carol Berg

The Soul Weaver (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2004) is Book 3 of Carol Berg‘s fantasy series The Bridge of D’Arnath.  I didn’t like it as well as Book 2, Guardians of the Keep.  I think Chapters 9 through 19 could have been cut by a third without losing anything.  The part of the book set on the new planet was disturbing and too long.

The fourth and last book in the series is Daughter of Ancients.

Guardians of the Keep by Carol Berg

Carol Berg‘s Guardians of the Keep (New York:  Roc-Penguin, 2004) is the second book in her fantasy series The Bridge of D’Arnath.  I actually like this book better than the first one in the series, Son of Avonar, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.  Though sections of Guardians of the Keep are told from the points of view of four different characters, it is easier to follow than  Son of Avonar, which had numerous lengthy flashbacks.

I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series, The Soul Weaver.