Fantasy Book Club discussion

Do tell us what wonders you're reading this month; would you recommend it or bin it?

I've just finished the Tearling trilogy which begins with The Queen of the Tearling, the benefit of being stuck at home with a cold. I'm also listening to Elantris and have lined up Home :)

Finished Griffin's Daughter. Here's my review . Started The Riddle-Master of Hed.

I finished a couple books a few days ago. First I finished Calamity. I enjoyed it, but a little less than the first two books, and the ending was kind of eh... Disneyish.

I also finished The Dark Forest. It seemed to have more slow parts than the first book and the first book had its slow parts too, but the concepts are still interesting. I'm following up with the final book of the trilogy: Death's End.

And I also started Shadow's Edge. I checked and it's been seven years since I read the first book. :O But better late than never. I'm really enjoying it so far.

I am reading The Golem and the Jinni . It is a character driven book and although I am almost half way I do not see a clear plot, it's just what's going on with these characters. I am liking it though, it keeps you wanting to know what happens to them.

I'm also listening to Super Powereds: Year 1 which is quite long but fun to listen to and Persuasion by Jane Austen (my first read for this author)

I've finished the The Unseen Trilogy. Paranormal (mindreaders) with a romantic element. It's YA, I guess (there's nothing explicit in the romance), though there are some moderately gruesome terrorist attacks. Fairly lightweight, if you're after something that doesn't involve much concentration, fast to read, but a bit lacking in action for my tastes and has a few tropes earlier on. Absolutely spotless proofing/editing though, if typos bug you!

Now on to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Just finished up The Black Guard, a pretty good read, fantasy with a bit of horror thrown in. Started Caliban's War

I finished up the Codex Alera series after starting it last year and I'm going to start The Bear and the Nightingale tomorrow.

I enjoyed the Codex series. I'm intending to read Calamity this year Elise, so it's good to know that you enjoyed it.

Helen wrote: "I enjoyed the Codex series. I'm intending to read Calamity this year Elise, so it's good to know that you enjoyed it."

I also enjoyed it, especially the 3rd and 4th books.

I enjoyed the Codex series. I'm intending to read Calamity this year Elise, so it's good to know that you enjoyed it.

I just finished Son of the Shadows one of the February reads in the sister group and quite enjoyed it. I'm planning to read The Curse of the Mistwraith but have momentarily been sidetracked by Prince of Thorns.

I love Mark Lawrence's books. I'm desperate to read The Wheel of Osheim but I can't justify the cost of the kindle.

This is the first of his books I've read and so far I am enjoying but feel a bit weird saying that given how dark it is starting off,

Yes, sometimes enjoying makes you look bad. I read that and wasp factory then got told I was a sociopath. Hmmm, really?!

Helen wrote: "Yes, sometimes enjoying makes you look bad. I read that and wasp factory then got told I was a sociopath. Hmmm, really?!"

Well Helen it looks like I'm in the same boat because I tore through the book today and am waiting anxiously for book 2. Moving on to Oryx and Crake for another group.

Started Thief's Magic last night...looks promising.

I'm reading Three Parts Dead and listening to Unbound.

About to finish my first trilogy of 2017 -- I wrapped up The Magician King and started The Magician's Land.

Joseph wrote: "About to finish my first trilogy of 2017 -- I wrapped up The Magician King and started The Magician's Land."

I'm about to start watching the TV series season 2 and was thinking I should read the books. What did you think of them?

Krista wrote: "I'm about to start watching the TV series season 2 and was thinking I should read the books. What did you think of them? "

I'm liking the books quite a bit. I had watched S1 of the TV series last fall before reading any of the books; the TV series is also very good, but they changed things pretty drastically for the adaptation. (Which isn't to complain about either the books or the TV series; just to say that they're very different to each other.)

Krista wrote: "I'm about to start watching the TV series season 2 and was thinking I should read the books. What did you think of them?"

The show is very different from the books. IMHO I think the books are much, much better. Just a suggestion, maybe you could take a break from the show and read all the books and then finish watching the show. You might get a better contrast of the differences.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Krista wrote: "I'm about to start watching the TV series season 2 and was thinking I should read the books. What did you think of them?"

The show is very different from the books. IMHO I think th..."

Good advice. I haven't embarked on season 2 yet and have all the books so I'll take that approach. I've heard the show is diverting from the books. I just hope it does not turn into a situation like when Disney got hold of the Three Muskateers!

LOL, yea, and HBO with the Game of Thrones.

Finished The Riddle-Master of Hed. Here's my review. Stared The Whitefire Crossing.

Currently:

Interview with the Vampire (audio)
Lords of the North (overdrive app)
Curse of the Mistwraith (book)
The Black Lung Captain (book)

Also recently finished The Bear and the Nightingale, and Industrial Magic. Both were so-so

Margret wrote: "Currently:

Interview with the Vampire (audio)
Lords of the North (overdrive app)
Curse of the Mistwraith (book)
The Black Lung Captain (book)

Also recently finished The Bear and the Nightingale, ..."

Great job.

The Whitefire Crossing: As someone scared of heights, this book is making my palms sweat with anxiety. Great read so far.

Just finished GRRM's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Good prequel to ASOIAF, though for some obscure reason I initially thought this was aimed more at younger readers. I was very wrong - this is NOT safe for children! Fun read, though, with a couple of likeable lead characters and the usual mess of betrayal, intrigue and nastiness you'd expect from Mr Martin.

Next up for me is some historical fantasy, Felicity Pulman's I, Morgana

Monica wrote: "Started Thief's Magic last night...looks promising."

I've been anxiously waiting for the final book in this series, so that I can start it. I don't often read incomplete series. I really enjoy Canavan's other series, so I'm hoping I'll love this one, too.

I'm rereading The Books of Magic graphic novel series, and about to start Station Eleven.

Anna, I'm half way through Thief's Magic. I'm enjoying the storyline with Tyen/Vella far more than the storyline with Rielle, but it may yet all come together in the end. Still, a good read overall.

I'm reading The Warded Man. Hoping it's going to be good.

Monica wrote: "Anna, I'm half way through Thief's Magic. I'm enjoying the storyline with Tyen/Vella far more than the storyline with Rielle, but it may yet all come together in the end. Still, a g..."

Looks interesting, I added it to my TBR list.

Angela wrote: "I'm reading The Warded Man. Hoping it's going to be good."

This is just my opinion and I don't want to be a wet blanket but The Warded Man was a great book. However, The Desert Spear (the next book in the series) was a real disappointment. Again, just my opinion, I encourage everyone to make their own but just wanted to say that.

Thanks Tnkw01. We're doing it as a buddy read in another group I'm in and everyone seems to love this first one who has already completed it. I'll keep what you said in mind. So did you stop reading the series after the second book?

Angela wrote: "Thanks Tnkw01. We're doing it as a buddy read in another group I'm in and everyone seems to love this first one who has already completed it. I'll keep what you said in mind. So did you stop readin..."

Yes, I felt their were much better reads out there. But please, don't let me influence you. There are a lot of people that love the series. It's just my opinion. I know that Mr. Brett has written some side stories that are in the same universe, The Great Bazaar & Brayan's Gold, which I thought about reading. It's just there are so many books I want to read so, if it's not my taste I move on.

Angela wrote: "We're doing it as a buddy read in another group I'm in and everyone seems to love this first one who has already completed it."

I think the first book is the best of the series, but I love the rest, too. I've read all four books that have come out so far and have enjoyed all of them. I hope the final book will come out soon.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Angela wrote: "Thanks Tnkw01. We're doing it as a buddy read in another group I'm in and everyone seems to love this first one who has already completed it. I'll keep what you said in mind. So did ..."

I am finding it hard to really get into. Might have to put aside for another time, as maybe I'm just not in the right mood to read it.

That's great to hear Femmy. I think I'll pick it up at a later date.

Finished the Magicians trilogy with The Magician's Land and for something completely different, started Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee.

Sam wrote: "I've finished the The Unseen Trilogy. Paranormal (mindreaders) with a romantic element. It's YA, I guess (there's nothing explicit in the romance), though there are some moderately ..."

I loved a knight of the seven kingdoms!

I just finished Wen Spencer's new book The Black Wolves of Boston. Right now I'm trying to finish Childhood End which I started last month but got distracted from. After that, I'm not sure what I'll put from my TBR pile next!

Currently right now I'm reading sapiens! It's very good! I also read terry goodkinds new book called deaths mistress, sorta an epilogue of a long series but focused on a different character. Sword of truth series is amazing! One of my favorites!

I'm very picky about fantasy books, so I have strayed away abit to other genres.
I heard six of crows is good so I am going to read that within the next few weeks!

The demon cycle by Peter v Brett is great as well! The NEW book is coming out this August! It's called the core if you search it on indigo you can add it to your wish list!

Alyssa wrote: "I'm very picky about fantasy books, so I have strayed away abit to other genres.
I heard six of crows is good so I am going to read that within the next few weeks!"

Just remember, there are a lot of subgenres in fantasy. I gave up along time ago and now fantasy is all I seem to read.

Finished The Whitefire Crossing today. Started Howl's Moving Castle.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Started Howl's Moving Castle."

I love it so much! I listen to the audiobook pretty often.

Anna wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Started Howl's Moving Castle."

I love it so much! I listen to the audiobook pretty often."

I'm actually listening to the Audio also. It's very good.

Finished Oryx and Crake. I had trouble getting into it but it picked up toward the end...and ended leaving me feel like the story was not done. It is the first in a trilogy so hopefully if I continue I'll find closure, lol. Picking up with The Well of Lost Plots.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Alyssa wrote: "I'm very picky about fantasy books, so I have strayed away abit to other genres.
I heard six of crows is good so I am going to read that within the next few weeks!"

Just remember, ..."

I'm largely fantasy exclusive too.

Finished I, Morgana, which left me feeling kind of unsatisfied. It's definitely a standalone novel, and felt much more like fantasy than historical fiction to me. It didn't really grab me though—Arthurian junkies might like it.

Next up, I think I may just have to Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind
It's been on the bookshelves for a while, and it keeps looking at me....