Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hello everyone, how are we? What are you reading and planning to read?

I have so many books to read this month and I'm still on two of last month's. Too many books!

Oh man, my reading list gets longer everyday. I am putting The Godless on hold for now. I enjoyed Mistborn a lot so I started The Well of Ascension. I also won a book in a Goodreads giveaway (probably the first and only time that will happen, ha!), it's called Soleri by Michael Johnston, so I've started reading that as well. Both of those on top of American Gods should add up to an interesting month of reading.

I found out I like It a lot. Although its huge!

I'm currently reading City of Stairs.

I'm listening to The Circle which is jaw-dropping and reading The Rose Society:)

Have just downloaded Death of a Necromancer by Martha Wells. Haven't read anything by her before so no idea if I will enjoy it or not.

I'm reading the Innkeeper Chronicles Series by Ilona Andrews, this weekend I'm going to read McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway.

My favourites by Wells are her Raksura series.

So far, I'm on The Crimson Campaign

I'm listening to Reaper Man on audio. Currently I'm reading a book on the history of sex and legislation Sex and Punishment: Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire

I'll probably listen to a fantasy audio when RM is finished.

Martha Wells has also written some great standalones -- City of Bones and Wheel of the Infinite.

Dang it -- now there's another author I need to revisit.

I'm currently listening to Fool Moon. I found these audiobooks listed on a 'best of' list and I'm really enjoying them so far. I am also reading Spying in America: Espionage from the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War and just finished Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring. I've been mulling over writing my own spy story so these are some great reads for inspiration.

Joseph wrote: "Martha Wells has also written some great standalones -- City of Bones and Wheel of the Infinite.

Dang it -- now there's another author I need to revisit."

I thought the cover for City was really boring then someone told me to increase the size, so pretty.

I'm about half way through Sabriel and am really enjoying it!

Krista wrote: "I'm about half way through Sabriel and am really enjoying it!"

I recently finished that series and I really enjoyed it. I liked the magic and the descriptions of the different gates of death. Some people find the second book a bit long and not as enjoyable , but I personally liked it a lot.

I finished Red Sister last night. It was kind of disappointing to me, but I'll still continue the series.

Now I'm planning on reading some Dan Brown for the summer starting with Angels & Demons.

Finished Sabriel and am on to American Gods

Elise wrote: "I finished Red Sister last night. It was kind of disappointing to me, but I'll still continue the series.
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I read this at the end of April and liked it but, really have very little memory of what happened in the book. I'll have to reread it before I can read the rest of the series.

Loved Wheel of the Infinite and Sabriel. Sabriel made a good Halloween tale. On top of American Gods I'm also reading Fortress Draconis and am about 50 pages from finishing The Red Knight.

I'm picking back up Tales of Nevèrÿon.

Heather wrote: "I'm picking back up Tales of Nevèrÿon."

Someday I'll sit down and try the Nevèrÿon books again -- I think I was way too young the first time, and expecting something much more straightforward and adventurey.

And I finished Elric: Swords and Roses and started Penric and the Shaman by Lois McMaster Bujold -- I really need to get cracking on my Hugo reading ...

I'm reading Clash of Alliances. The direct sequel to
The Sage, the Swordsman and the ScholarsLoving it

I'm now reading Dreamer's Pool. I liked the first three books in the Sevenwaters trilogy, so when the Kindle Daily Deals offered Dreamer's Pool, I thought I'd give it a try.

Ok, I finished The Red Knight. Most of the book was great, but I had a couple of issues. The climax was perfect but then it kind of tanked a bit. It got weird and the final part just wasn't very good. I think it was just setting up the next book but it just didn't flow. Finally, (view spoiler)[Thorn was suppose to be so powerful but he was so dumb (hide spoiler)]. The took a little away from the tale.

Still gave it a 4 star. The war strategy was excellent, the battle scenes were excellent, there was a lot about the book I really liked.

I'm starting that series as a buddy read in Autumn. I guess if I don't like the first two, it'll save me money on the other three.

I'm reading The Alchemists of Loom which has so much stuff attached to it: http://elisekova.com/the-world-of-loom/

I started listening to Valour today

Joseph wrote: "Heather wrote: "I'm picking back up Tales of Nevèrÿon."

Someday I'll sit down and try the Nevèrÿon books again -- I think I was way too young the first time, and expecting something m..."

I'm approaching it from a gender studies viewpoint. I started it a few months ago but took a break. Never heard of it before my friend gave it to me! Not sure what I think of it so far.

Just started Wheel of the Infinite. Enjoying it so far

I'll be mostly reading new books (mostly mysteries right now) for my shelves as a bookseller. We're getting some copies of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, I need to check that out. The last fantasy-ish thing I read was the entire 6-book series of Burton & Swinburne adventures, by Mark Hodder. They're steampunk time-travel adventures set in Victorian London.

Over the course of a couple of days I read a bunch of the Hugo-nominated novelettes (all of which I enjoyed), and just started All the Birds in the Sky, one of the Hugo-nominated novels I haven't read yet.

I've just started The Emperor's Blades. I'm loving the fact that the protagonists are siblings. I think most protagonists in fantasy are only childs. The only other story that have siblings as protagonists that I can think of right now is Tigana. Are there any others that you know?

Femmy wrote: "I've just started The Emperor's Blades. I'm loving the fact that the protagonists are siblings. I think most protagonists in fantasy are only childs. The only other story that have ..."

I guess it depends on what you mean. Game of Thrones obviously is and I think it's often that there are siblings in fantasy. The difference in Blades may be that they are all main characters.

I'm behind on my May reads too Helen. I blame Malazan.

This month I finished Red Seas Under Red Skies which was an okay read, but I didn't think it was as good as The Lies of Locke Lamora. Then I've been reading historical mysteries The Seeker and now I'm reading Where the Dead Lie.

Heather wrote: "I guess it depends on what you mean. Game of Thrones obviously is and I think it's often that there are siblings in fantasy. The difference in Blades may be that they are all main characters."

Game of Thrones! Of course. How could I forget.

But when I look at my recent reads, all have main characters who are an only child, or at least no mention of siblings. Dreamer's Pool, City of Stairs, A Discovery of Witches, Steelheart, Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, Sabriel...

And then there are Harry Potter, FitzChivalry Farseer, Rand al-Thor, Kvothe, Arlen Bales...

Just finished Words of Radiance yesterday and it was really great. Now I'm probably going to read Norse Mythology which will be the first Gaiman book for me. It isn't a sequel to American gods or anything so I'm not missing out on anything if starting from there, right?

Jakke wrote: "Now I'm probably going to read Norse Mythology which will be the first Gaiman book for me. It isn't a sequel to American gods or anything so I'm not missing out on anything if starting from there, right?"

No, it's not a sequel, and I really wouldn't start Gaiman with that book. It's just kind of a retelling of some of the Norse myths. I don't see the point of it at all. If you're interested in Norse mythology and don't know much about it, then it's fine. If you're interested in Gaiman, it's not a good place to start.

Anna wrote: "Jakke wrote: "Now I'm probably going to read Norse Mythology which will be the first Gaiman book for me. It isn't a sequel to American gods or anything so I'm not missing out on anything if startin..."

Yes, well it's because I'm mostly interested in the mythology in general and heard some good things about that book. Otherwise I probably wouldn't start with this one but good to hear it's not a sequel.

Siblings in fantasy: The Pevensy children, walking through that wardrobe into Narnia.

Thanks, Joseph. I think I'll create a new thread in the Recommendations section about this.

Jakke, you should definitely do another Gaiman book after Norse Mythology so you can get a feel for his typical books. The mythology one is good, but like others said, it's mostly just a retelling. I personally liked Neverwhere the best!

Heather wrote: "Jakke, you should definitely do another Gaiman book after Norse Mythology so you can get a feel for his typical books. The mythology one is good, but like others said, it's mostly just a retelling...."

Yes so I have heard. It has been on my reading list for ages alongside American gods and Stardust.

Reading Eldest because I'm determined to finish this childhood series even if I'm not 100% loving them like I want to.

Also reading Howl's Moving Castle, which I really enjoy, and waiting on my library copy of Drums of Autumn so I can continue on in that series.

I'm totally loving The Mad Scientist's Daughter

Tnkw01 wrote: "Loved Wheel of the Infinite and Sabriel. Sabriel made a good Halloween tale. On top of American Gods I'm also reading Fortress Draconis and..."

I had the Wheel of the Infinite ruined for me by a shabby audio narrator :(

I hope you enjoy Fortress Draconis, I've been meaning to read it as I've had a copy for quite a while

Nicole wrote: "Reading Eldest because I'm determined to finish this childhood series even if I'm not 100% loving them like I want to.

Also reading Howl's Moving Castle, which I really en..."

Eldest was my favorite. I read the next book, although it was painful. Gave up after that...life is short.

I am currently reading my way through The Deed of Paksenarrion books by Elizabeth Moon. Have read the first two and am now on Oath of Gold. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. And then I've got all seven books of the Crown of Renewal series to read so I'm sorted for a couple of weeks at least.
I really liked Wheel of the Infinite and Death of the Necromancer so will definitely read more by Martha Wells.

Margret wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Loved Wheel of the Infinite and Sabriel. Sabriel made a good Halloween tale. On top of American Gods I'm also reading [book:Fortress Draco..."

I've almost finished Fortress Draconis. Reminded me a bit of the Red Knight since both were military fantasy. I should finish it tonight.

I'm now reading Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fiction and Illusions. I don't normally read short stories so it's actually a nice change of pace.

I believe I'm going to finish off the month with Promise of Blood and Un Lun Dun.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I believe I'm going to finish off the month with Promise of Blood..."

I've given up on this one ever being chosen as the group read winner so I'll be reading it soon as well. I'm next in line for the library copy...which could mean a couple of weeks, but I will no longer postpone my place in the queue hoping that the group will read it.