The best books overshadowed by the author's better known work

I love the entire Dune series, but most readers don't get past the first book. The characters retained the growth and development from the first book and we see how they continue to deal with their differing struggles, like Chani who desperately wants children, while Paul knows that her desire will bring her death. Unable to marry Chani, Paul has taken a wife, in name only, but the woman loves him and desperately wants to be loved by him. I saw myself in these two women who wanted such simple things, but for reasons out of their control, were not able to have them. It made me realize that sometimes we have to let go of what we want and just be grateful for what we have, for as long as we may have it.

This is an interesting tale about a man looking for the source of eternal life and actually finds it. However, he begins to see the corruption that can accompany such a gift. He also learns that while easily attained, the gift can just as easily be taken away. I enjoyed the notion of a life spent doing whatever one wants, but I also appreciated the idea that being immortal doesn't include character development and one can just as easily spend a millenia being a tool. I especially enjoyed how the main character answered the titular character when she demanded he join her in the Eternal Flame. That was a plot twist!

This was another one with an amusing plot twist. Lord Arthur is engaged to be married when, one night at a party, a fortune teller tells him that he will commit a murder. Lord Arthur doesn't want to bring that horror into his new marriage and thus resolves to do the deed before he marries. He postpones his wedding, promising his beloved they will marry as soon as he's taken care of some "business". Poor Lord Savile is a terrible murderer and can't seem to manage to actually kill anyone. I loved this book because it was just so absurd. Some odd little man tells Lord Sevile he will commit a murder, and Lord Sevile never once questions his fate. It was an excellent reminder to me that we shouldn't base our actions on what someone else says. 

I really enjoyed this book because it was a great example of how a Utopia can't exist if people are forced into living it. The aliens that have infected the world have a blissful society, but only achieved it at the expense of another race, and while they see nothing wrong with what they are doing, there are others of their kind who, coming to know human beings, begin to recognize that they aren't as benevolent as they originally believed. It was interesting to see and experience the growing understanding through the eyes of the conqueror. It reminded me that my perspective isn't the only one and you can't force people into a Utopia.

This book is an interesting spin on a well-known fairy tale. I really enjoyed this one because the "princess" isn't a damsel in distress and the "charming" isn't always charming. They are written as multi-dimensional characters with character flaws and imperfections. They don't instantly fall in love. They bicker and disagree, but then learn how to work together to free her family from the curse that put her in the middle of the forest. I like the reality of having to learn how to work with someone else and the growth that comes from that learning.