Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

I haven't used Goodreads on my computer for awhile so I was surprised to see this thread wasn't already up. Sorry for slacking, group!

What are you reading to kick off the New Year?

I've just finished Nine of Stars and I'm reading this at the moment 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy. So far it's pretty disappointing. The only other thing I know for sure I will be reading is a Mary Stewart book. I haven't decided on what fantasy I will read yet.

Sorry I completely blanked on starting this thread. I finished off a bunch of books but the ones started in January:

Done:
The Alloy of Law
The Jester
Professional Integrity
Darktown

In progress:
Stonewielder
Mage's Blood
Promise of Blood

Will start:
The Library at Mount Char
Goats of Glory
Senlin Ascends
The Crimson Campaign
The Death of Dulgath

I have a lot of great titles on my TBR Tackler Shelf this month:

Magic Bleeds – Ilona Andrews
Cursor's Fury – Jim Butcher
Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection – Brandon Sanderson
Swarm – Scott Westerfeld
The Turn – Kim Harrison (in progress)
Neverwinter – R.A. Salvatore
Blood Cross – Faith Hunter (finished)
Starflight – Melissa Landers
Firstlife – Gena Showalter (in progress)
The Demon Awakens – R.A. Salvatore (in progress and LOVING)

Original Post

I finished the manga series 07 Ghost and I'm currently reading Hawkwood's Voyage and I plan to read the four other books in the same series (The Monarchies of God).

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I have a lot of great titles on my TBR Tackler Shelf this month:

Magic Bleeds – Ilona Andrews
Cursor's Fury – Jim Butcher
[book:Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collecti..."

I loved Starflight

I just finished Crooked Kingdom and The Midnight Star, (after finally managing to get my hands on them) so off to start "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I know, it's more of a young adult/children's book, but hey, some of my all time favorite books are children's books. What can I say. I'm a child at heart. ;)
Anyway, good luck to everyone this year!

Tammie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I have a lot of great titles on my TBR Tackler Shelf this month:

Magic Bleeds – Ilona Andrews
Cursor's Fury – Jim Butcher
[book:Arcanum Unbounded: ..."

That's good to hear! I started it as an ARC ages ago, but got too busy to continue. I figured I'd better get my butt into gear to get ready for Starflight lol.

Liv-Anne wrote: "I just finished Crooked Kingdom and The Midnight Star, (after finally managing to get my hands on them) so off to start "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I know,..."

Enjoy your reading and good luck to you too! :)

I only have one buddy read obligation for the month: Stonewielder so I think I'm going to read some non-fantasy this month. Not entirely sure what I'll read yet, but hopefully I will finish The Luminaries and pick up something else.

I just finished The Policewoman last night and found it to be pretty good. Then today I started on the Tor.com reread posts for The Way of Kings, brushing up before I jump into Words of Radiance at the end of the week.

It's a great refresher.

If all goes well I'll be finished a book tonight and can't decide between the next Gentleman Bastards book (Republic of Thieves) or The Black Lung Captain, or Deadhouse Gates. Help me decide!

I just finished Chains of the Heretic which I enjoyed. Great trilogy overall.

I've now started Dead Beat by Jim Butcher.

Margret wrote: "Deadhouse Gates"

So good.

All good choices, Margret. I'll throw my vote in for Deadhouse.

Angela, that's one of my favorite in the series.

Chris wrote: "Angela, that's one of my favorite in the series."

That's awesome Chris. I really loved Book 6.

It ended up being a tie counting votes from friends as well so I decided on the Black Lung Captain as it will require fewer brain cells. I promise to start DHG soon. If Malazan could be compared to a body part I'd call it the kidney

Am I the only person who hasn't read Malazan yet? I seriously need to get with the program so I can join the conversations. I actually read 3/4 of Gardens of the Moon like 10 + years ago when it first came out but had one of those glazed-eye experiences where I looked at every word but took nothing in. I've been meaning to get back to it ever since.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Am I the only person who hasn't read Malazan yet? I seriously need to get with the program so I can join the conversations. I actually read 3/4 of Gardens of the Moon like 10 + years ago when it fi..."

Try it again! It is tough to process when you are reading the first time so you have to work harder to read than most books, but it's more than worth it.

Gardens of the moon didn't work for me either at first . I read it once and it was slow read and I barely finished it. Year later I re-read it and it was better. Not great but good enough to continue the series. On second book I was beginning to see why is everyone raving about the series. Third book was one of the best fantasy books I read. I recently finished 6th book and consider Malazan one of my favorite series.

Finished Crooked Kingdom (many tears were shed!) and am currently re-reading The Night Circus (not very recent but I love it so fight me!).

Liv-Anne wrote: "I just finished Crooked Kingdom and The Midnight Star, (after finally managing to get my hands on them) so off to start "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I know,..."

I feel like you might enjoy Magic of Blood and Sea it's not out yet (will be released Feb. 7) but is just a combination of the books The Assassin's Curse and The Pirate's Wish. While, I must admit that I can't accurately judge your reading preferences through a single comment, I hope you really do enjoy the read if you decide to pick it up! :)

Margret wrote: "If all goes well I'll be finished a book tonight and can't decide between the next Gentleman Bastards book (Republic of Thieves) or The Black Lung Captain, or Deadhouse Gates. Help me decide!"

Am dying to get my hands on The Lies of Locke Lamora!

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Am I the only person who hasn't read Malazan yet? I seriously need to get with the program so I can join the conversations. I actually read 3/4 of Gardens of the Moon like 10 + years ago when it fi..."

You have to be in the zone for Malazan. I usually couple one of it's books with something mindless and only read the Malazan book when I'm up to it.

Margret wrote: "it will require fewer brain cells. I promise to start DHG soon. If Malazan could be compared to a body part I'd call it the kidney"

It does require full concentration but I'd compare it to the heart and especially DHG as it breaks your heart again and again.

Trying to get into Way of Kings while re-reading the first Malazan book. This time in German. Hoping it'll change how much I struggle with it. Way of Kings is a far easier read.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Am I the only person who hasn't read Malazan yet? I seriously need to get with the program so I can join the conversations. I actually read 3/4 of Gardens of the Moon like 10 + years ago when it fi..."

You are not the only one. I haven't read it either.

Liv-Anne wrote: "I just finished Crooked Kingdom and The Midnight Star, (after finally managing to get my hands on them) so off to start "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I know,..."

I've got this on my TBR list for this year as well. Here's to cherishing our inner child, Liv-Anne! :-)

I am finally going to read the first book of the Malazan!Gardens of the Moon

I meant to say that Malazan is super complicated and I need to be top of my game. Maybe I'm putting too much thought into it too.. by saying it's like the kidney I mean it's super complicated and there's so much more that goes on behind the scenes

I'm glad I'm not alone Tammie!

I also am glad to hear that struggling with the first on is normal. I really am interested in picking it up at some point, but will probably round out a few other started fantasy series first.

Quinn wrote: "I am finally going to read the first book of the Malazan!Gardens of the Moon"

I hope you enjoy Quinn. Gardens of the Moon was one of my favourite reads last year. Haha you might catch up to me as I've started Deadhouse Gates but haven't progress very far yet.

In progress:
Deadhouse Gates,
Promise of Blood.

Will start:
Crooked Kingdom,
Senlin Ascends,
The Crimson Campaign.

For fantasy for this month I've decided on
The Red Heir
The Hero of Ages

I finished The Abject God last week
Currently I'm still reading Night of Knives

I'll probably start another one after having finished "Night of Knives", but not sure what yet

Jakyro wrote: "
Currently I'm still reading Night of Knives
"

Are you doing the recommending Malazan order or just starting Empire? I liked NOK. It filled in a lot of the back history for Kell and Dancer. ICE's writing style was a bit shaky but he gets better in future books. I'm about half way through Stonewielder and he's much smoother.

Can I just read the 10 main books first and then branch out? Or is it actually important I follow the recommended Malazan reading order?

Angela wrote: "Quinn wrote: "I am finally going to read the first book of the Malazan!Gardens of the Moon"

I hope you enjoy Quinn. Gardens of the Moon was one of my favourite reads last year. Haha y..."

I will do my best!

There's a GOTM thread here. If you post your thoughts and questions we'll all reply.

Scott wrote: "There's a GOTM thread here. If you post your thoughts and questions we'll all reply."

Ok thank you!

Olivia wrote: "Can I just read the 10 main books first and then branch out? Or is it actually important I follow the recommended Malazan reading order?"

You can read it like that, but I would recommend reading it in the ultimate reading order. So far I've really been enjoying the series reading it in order.

Does anyone have a helpful link to a list of the ultimate Malazan reading order? :)

Hi Niki,

It's in the below thread. Third comment down.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Yes!!!! Thank you :D

No worries :).

Since the new year I've read Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates and I should be starting Memories of Ice tomorrow depending on how bad the ice storm is that's headed this way (not sure how bad it has to be before USPS won't go out and deliver). Also working on The Black Company and The Black Prism, as well.

You are doing really well with Malazan Michael. I hope you enjoy The Black Prism. It's a favourite of mine.

I hope the ice storm isn't too bad. Do you usually get ice storms where you live in wintertime?

Angela wrote: "You are doing really well with Malazan Michael. I hope you enjoy The Black Prism. It's a favourite of mine.

I hope the ice storm isn't too bad. Do you usually get ice storms where you live in wint..."

Thank you! I've loved the first 2 but I'm nervous about #'s 5-9 due to so many people saying the quality goes down for those. But that won't stop me from reading them :) Black Prism has a super interesting magic system, that's for sure!

Thanks!! Oh all the time! Here in Oklahoma we don't ever really see snow, it usually comes down as ice lol. They're predicting up to an inch of ice, which means a lot of power outages. One year the ice was so bad that the power companies couldn't get it fixed for about 2 weeks lol. That year we also had an inch of ice. So, fingers crossed!

We only get frosts where I live, and I always find the weather interesting. Hopefully there isn't a power outage for you.

Love the magic system in Black Prism. It's unique.