2013 Worlds Without End Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge discussion

My patience for doorstopper fantasy series is rather lower than it used to be--I have to really like something to want to read several books of it. I keep a standalone fantasy list for this reason.

So, here are the questions I have about the series I'm contemplating:

1) Are they any good? (And by good I mean smart and different and well-written, without too much padding or cliche.)

2) Can the first book work as a standalone?

And here are the series I'm wondering about:

The Second Sons Trilogy, first book Lion of Senet, Jennifer Fallon

The Tamir Triad, first book The Bone Doll's Twin, Lynn Flewelling

Deverry, first book Daggerspell, Katharine Kerr

The Empire Trilogy, first book Daughter of the Empire, Feist and Wurts (okay this one might not meet the parameters of the challenge, but still)

Veneficas Americana, first book The Native Star, M.K. Hobson

Winterlands, first book Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly

The Fey and the Fallen, first book Of Blood and Honey, Stina Leicht

Discuss. :)

Katherine Kerr is one of my all time favorites, although it's been a long time since I read the first few in the sequence. Very, hmm I don't want to say gritty, but I can't think of a better word. Think of Kate Elliott. It's realistic and kind of grim but not super rape exploding head grim.

Proof of why this challenge is great, I have not read a single book of the series' you just listed.

Hmmm just as a FYI Rape trigger warning I think tbere might be one later. Also when I think about it, uh maybe in book 1. Nothing terribly graphic though. Certainly if youve read game of thrones
or any recent dark fantasy you wont be shocked. But just throwing that out there in case.

I have heard that the early Deverry books are a bit rough around the edges, at least compared to the fantasy being published these days--is it possible to start somewhere later on?

Hmmm. I don't think so, but it has been a very long time. I still can't believe its actually finished. I know book 1 had a revised edition come out. I didnt find it rough at the time but i read book one in 1999

The Fey and the Fallen:
Of Blood and Honey is quite good, being well written with great characters and Leicht does a good job giving a feel of Belfast and Ireland during the Troubles. Also works well as a stand-alone.

That being said, I had issues with the plotting that seemed to jump around to wherever the author needed it, which brought both books down to 3.5 stars for me. I would still definitely recommend them. Some parts are fairly dark too so fair warning.

Second Sons:
Boy, it's been quite a while since I read these. I remember finding the books fairly average and that was several years ago so writing is probably nothing to shout about. I think the strength of the books were the world-building and the politics.

One thing I really hated was that the main female characters seemed to lack any complexity. They only had strong emotions and/or strong actions. And one was a psychopath too. You could probably read the first book by itself, but I think you were meant to read the trilogy as a whole.



Hope this helps!

I read Daughter of the Empire so long ago that I didn't rate it when I joined Goodreads four years ago because it didn't seem fair.

I can, however, say that I love Feist in an embarrassing way. Sure, his stuff isn't truly great literature, but it's fun and entertaining and full of great, lovable characters. I definitely count Magician (usually split into Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master) as one of my all-time favorite fantasy books.

Now reading Lion of Senet, and I see what you mean, Benjamin. It seemed like the most promising one on this list, but the characterization is nothing to write home about--it's keeping me entertained, though.

I very much liked "The Bone Doll's Twin". Some real thought and imagination went into it, with a creepy(ish) magic and genuine attention to gender polictics.

Unfortunately, the later two books were pretty bland. I'd definitely recommend the first though - and you could probably read it as a standalone and fill in the blanks afterwards yourself.

I read the first Deverry, probably 13 years ago (I know I was still in school). Liked it, didn't love it, but it has stayed with me. I definitely think it could be read as a standalone.

Second Sons, I enjoyed actually. Few years since I read it. Don't think it would work as a stand alone.

Daughter of the Empire - is problematic. I read it at school (again) and really enjoyed it. I think if I were to read it again though, I'd probably be disappointed.