Polgara the Sorceressby David & Leigh EddingsEven though it feels like a billion years ago since I mentioned I wanted to post about one of my all-time favourite books, it's really only a year ago this month. Ah, time and it's mysterious way of passing.This is the first book I have ever read by David Eddings. It was only after having read it and discussing it with customers in the bookstore that I worked that I found out it was actually a part of a series. That's when I discovered The Belgariad and The Malloreon books.The first thing that caught my eye was the cover. Yes, yes, I know. But it's true. The covert art was so enchanting I had to pick it up. I love fantasy books with strong female leads and if they also have magical abilities, well then, it's pretty much a done deal that I will read the book. Ever since I first read this book when it came out in paperback I have wanted to BE Polgara. She is one of my favourite literary characters of all times and I don't really have many issues with her.I hadn't read anything by Eddings prior to reading Polgara and I found his writing clever and humourous. It was a fun read, all 760 plus pages of it. I fell in love with all the people she meets through her life and of course, with her father, Belgarath the Sorcerer.The thing about reading this book before I read the first books of the series, is I felt like I already knew the characters in the Belgariad and it made the story seem more full and entertaining.Polgara the Sorceress is a tale of Polgara's life from birth, through 3000 years until the birth of Garion, who is the main character of the Belgariad. She is asked by Garion (now, Belgarion) and his wife Ce'nedra to tell them about her and how she grew up. You follow Polgara through losses and loves and the fall of entire cities and her sacrifices and contributions to protecting the Orb of Aldur from the evil god Torak.The whole story was just so captivating I read it all in a flash and have since read it over and over again too many times to count. The only other books I have done this with were LJ Smith's Secret Circle trilogy and Kate Forsyth's Witches of Eileanan series. All of which have strong lead females who practice magic. Can you see a theme here?