Into the Forest discussion

Asaria wrote: "I love, love Patricia McKillip's lyrical, poetic prose. I've never found another author that would be able to match her writing style."

If you're okay with gay romance, I find K.L. Noone similarly poetic and also to share McKillip's animate portrayal of the material and natural worlds. ParticularlyMagician.

Jalilah wrote: "Andy and Margaret, why did you both not enjoy Masquerade? I’m just curious because it looks interesting!..."

I got about as far as Andy. The protagonist didn't really have reactions that made sense to me. She was drugged and kidnapped and just seemed mildly curious.

I'm still struggling with reading. I abandoned another book, am currently listening to the Arthurian retelling The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman, which I just started. Probably not the best fit right now because it's LONG, but I need to try to read it to review for a website I write for.

I'm almost finished with All This & More by Peng Shepherd, which is an adult choose your own adventure. I am enjoying it, though there have been some formatting errors with the arc.

I'm also extremely busy, which is probably one reason I'm having trouble getting into books.

On a side note, I also love Patricia McKillip's books. I got to meet her at a conference several years ago.

Mir wrote: "Asaria wrote: "I love, love Patricia McKillip's lyrical, poetic prose. I've never found another author that would be able to match her writing style."

If you're okay with gay romance, I find [auth..."

It's a bit out of my comfort zone, but I'll give "Magician" a try, thanks!

Asaria wrote: "The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa. Translated from Arabic. The protagonists becomes a censor in the world where all books need to be approved by the government before printing. That decision of course spirals out of control :)”

Oh wow! I never heard about this! I’m also doing a challenge in the Middle East North African lit group and this book would be perfect!
I wonder if it’s available where I am?


Asaria wrote: “at last The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko after sitting on my shelf for too many years- extremely easy read with really nicely written shades of grey in the good old fight between Good and Evil. I hate myself for enjoying this book considering Lukjanienko's xenophobic and homophobic opinions :)”

I feel similarly. I was delighted to have discovered him and found his style of Urban fantasy was refreshingly different from the American style. I was looking forward to reading all the books in this series but then found out about his views ☹️

Cecily by Alida Leacroft

I finally found a couple of books to get lost in. I finished The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (sweet friends to lovers love story between slightly older characters in a fantasy / portal world) and A Study in Drowning - a bit melodramatic YA but very well written and atmospheric, and with a good message.

I took a break from fantasy/fairy tales etc to read books for a challenge I’m doing in the Middle East/North African lit group.
In the Language of Miracles and am now reading River Spirit

Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell

I just finished She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor and really enjoyed it! It releases in late August. It's technically a prequel to Who Fears Death, but I haven't read that one and still enjoyed it.

Still wending my way through the Barchester Chronicles (with a group that reads classics). The challenge is getting hold of all six novels in the Penguin Classics editions (with introductory material and endnotes). I've just begun Framley Parsonage--
and that will lead to reading Tooth and Claw, which Jo Walton wrote as a fantasy . . . reaction? spinoff? . . . anyway, it's going to be Trollope in a society of dragons--and that would work for the challenge.

Margaret wrote: "I just finished She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor and really enjoyed it! It releases in late August. It's technically a prequel to Who Fears Death, but..."

Who Fears Death is my favourite Nnedi Okorafor, so I am very excited about her new one!

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I just finished She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor and really enjoyed it! It releases in late August. It's technically a prequel to [book:Who Fears De..."

You'll love it!

Teaching the Empire: Education and State Loyalty in Late Habsburg Austria by Scott O. Moore

I know there are lots of T. Kingfisher fans here. I just finished A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher and really enjoyed it! It's a fairytale fantasy, not one of her horrors (which I love).

I also finished From These Dark Abodes by Lyndsie Manusos, which is a lovely mythological novella.

Margaret wrote: "I know there are lots of T. Kingfisher fans here. I just finished A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher and really enjoyed it!..."

Really looking forward to that!

I just finished The Thorns Remain - it was slow, but well written and interesting! I also finally read Mislaid in Parts Half-Known, and, while I liked it, the overexplaining of the messages of the stories in the series are starting to feel a bit too much! :P

Migrations and Cultures: A World View by Thomas Sowell

I just finished The Prisoner’s Throne the second book of the The Stolen Heir series by Holly Black. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I prefer Blacks earlier Faerie novels, but I think people who are fans of her Folk of the Air series, The Cruel Prince being the first, will like it as it takes place in the same world. I’ve concluded I prefer Faerie stories that take place in our world and focus more on human interactions with them. And I prefer depictions of fae as mysterious feral creatures. When they live in palaces and behave exactly like humans I just don’t enjoy the story as much

Jalilah wrote: "I just finished The Prisoner’s Throne the second book of the The Stolen Heir series by Holly Black. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I prefer Blacks ea..."

I think you might like The Thorns Remain
I look forward to the The Prisoner’s Throne :)

The Property of Hate Volume 3 by Sarah Jolley

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I think you might like The Thorns Remain
I look forward to the The Prisoner’s Throne :) ”

That does look like something I’d like! Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

I finished Sophie, in Shadow. I liked it, but not as much as the other novels of this author I’ve read. Going by the description, I thought it might work for the religious mythology prompt, but as often happens the cover blurb is misleading and actually has a spoiler in it. What I enjoyed is it takes place several decades later than Wild Talent: A Novel of the Supernatural and the lead characters and several of the supporting characters are also in Sophie in Shadow

I'm reading Six of Crows right now. It's darker and more gritty than the show and the characters are much younger than in the show, so that kinda threw me off for a minute. But, I am really enjoying it.

Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen Vol. 4 by Hiromi Satō

Still on manga and manhwa kick but two more Lyukanienko's Patrols books later I managed to start The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. English version was giving me a headache, so I broke my rule and chose Polish translation instead.

I won't say it is the most gripping read, but the basic premise and the way the author presents the underworld is promising. :).

Just finished The Last Cato and I think I have Andy to thanks for recommending it awhile back

Jalilah wrote: "Just finished The Last Cato and I think I have Andy to thanks for recommending it awhile back"

Hope you liked it! :)

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Just finished The Last Cato and I think I have Andy to thanks for recommending it awhile back"

Hope you liked it! :)"

Yes I did! The only reason I didn’t give it more than 3 stars is because for me in the first third of the book there were parts that either dragged on too much or found confusing. At one point I even considered ditching it, but afterwards so happy I read on! I will definitely check out other books from this author.

Finally read Legends & Lattes to find out what "cozy fantasy" means. A quick read--probably spent less time reading thant I spent trying to get the internets to tell me how/when orcs evolved from Tolkein's small crabbed creatures into tall robust ones.

Now sampling ghost stories to see what to read next. (In my other reading life, I'm in the middle of Framley Parsonage.)

Forgot to add that I've ordered The Modern Fairies, which is fiction inspired by the lives of the 17th century French authors who gave us so many wonder tales. I'm excited to see it, since I'm writing about an imagined literary salon in the same time frame.

Susan wrote: "Forgot to add that I've ordered The Modern Fairies, which is fiction inspired by the lives of the 17th century French authors who gave us so many wonder tales. I'm excited to see i..."

This looks like something I would absolutely love!
Have you read The Wild Girl? It’s historical fiction about the Grimm brothers

I’m taking a break from fantasy and fairy tales and reading books for a challenge in another group
I just finished The Lion Women of Tehran (really moving!) and just started Enter Ghost

Susan wrote: "Finally read Legends & Lattes to find out what "cozy fantasy" means..."


This made me chuckle! :)

Jalilah wrote: "Susan wrote: "Forgot to add that I've ordered The Modern Fairies, which is fiction inspired by the lives of the 17th century French authors who gave us so many wonder tales. I'm ex..."

Read The Wild Girl when it first came out--my introduction to Kate Forsyth, who is one of my idols--examining history through a fairy tale lens (or is it the other way round?).

I finished The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean today and it was delightful! It takes place in a zoo for magical creatures. I love the setting. It did drag in the middle in my opinion, but the neat setting made up for it.

I just finished an amazing book: The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien. It's one of my few 5-star reads this year. If you're a Tolkien & Lewis fan, I definitely recommend reading it. It releases in late September.

I have just finished a beautiful novella by Marly Youmans Val/ Orson which would fit our forest creatures category for the challenge- review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English by Hana Videen

Finished Enter Ghost, which was excellent and just started The Jinn Daughter which I think people in this group would definitely like

The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe by Martyn Rady

Ghosts on an Alien Wind by Moe Lane

Tales From The Fermi Resolution: Vol. 2: Lights in the Darkness by Moe Lane

I’m reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this author, so I have a feeling I’ll love this too. Historical fiction with fantastical/supernatural elements with mythology and folktales worked in is my favourite type of read!

Jalilah wrote: "I’m reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this author, so I have a feeling I’ll live this too. Historical fiction with fantasti..."

I read The Ghost Bride in July, and really liked it! I do plan to check out The Fox Wife, too!

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I’m reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this author, so I have a feeling I’ll live this too. Historical ficti..."

The Ghost Bride was a delightful read as was The Night Tiger
I really enjoy her style

Jalilah wrote: "Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I’m reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this author, so I have a feeling I’ll live this too. His..."

Uh, thank you! I didn't know about The Night Tiger!

I am reading Strange the Dreamer, and I love it so much! I know it's probably too YA for most of the group, but it is really sweet and thoughtful...
It also has ghosts and gods, as well as fire creatures, so it does tick several boxes...

Andy wrote: "I am reading Strange the Dreamer, and I love it so much! I know it's probably too YA for most of the group, but it is really sweet and thoughtful...
It also has ghosts and gods, as ..."

I'm pretty sure we have some Laini Taylor fans here! I think Jaliliah introduced me to Daughter of Smoke & Bone, which I enjoyed!

Margaret wrote: "Andy wrote: "I am reading Strange the Dreamer, and I love it so much! I know it's probably too YA for most of the group, but it is really sweet and thoughtful...
It also has ghosts ..."

I love Laini Taylor

Andy wrote: "I am reading Strange the Dreamer, and I love it so much! I know it's probably too YA for most of the group, but it is really sweet and thoughtful...
It also has ghosts and gods, as ..."

I loved everything about Strange the Dreamer! It felt really fresh and unique to me, and a world apart from other YA fantasy rich with imagination and heartfelt characters.

I'm currently reading Yume Kitasei's The Stardust Grail which is sci-fi and not fairy tale/mythology at all unless you count the mythology of an ancient artifact lost in space which the MC is planning a heist to recover. I'm really enjoying it so far and also enjoyed The Deep Sky by the same author.

I recently finished Hannah Lynn's Daughters of Olympus, which is a retelling of Persephone and Demeter's story told from both of their perspectives. Overall, I really enjoyed the story from both mother and daughter, and it was a somewhat fresh take on the myth with new elements added. I felt the writing often told more than it showed and dragged a little in certain sections.

Erin wrote: "I'm currently reading Yume Kitasei's The Stardust Grail which is sci-fi and not fairy tale/mythology at all unless you count the mythology of an ancient artifact lost in space which the MC is planning a heist to recover. I'm really enjoying it so far and also enjoyed The Deep Sky by the same author. ..."

I enjoyed both of these!

I finished Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo and loved it. Magical realism, really lovely. It doesn't fit our challenge, but I think a lot of readers here would enjoy it.

I just started The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai, the second in a duology. I loved the first book, not enjoying the second quite as much so far. We'll see!