Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Sword-Dancer by Jennifer Roberson

Starting September 8, 2017

Saving my spot. Love Tiger and Del. :D

I love this group. It always finds incredibly interesting books in the fantasy genre.

My wallet is less happy about it though for the same reason(s) I love this group.

I am in!

Well, in my case my bookshelves are not very happy as they are already crammed and I keep adding and adding...

I love it though! and I'm in too!

Bumping as Buddy Read is due to start 8th September.

Are we starting this today?

I started last night.

I'll start tomorrow. Want to close off at least 1 of the open reads till then. :)
How do you like it till now?

Just started!

Haven't started yet, but I remember the introduction to Tiger and I love love love it. I think he's funny and I like his character growth through the series. Will hopefully start tonight. I've got a lot of books on the go right now. 😕

Laura wrote: "I'll start tomorrow. Want to close off at least 1 of the open reads till then. :)
How do you like it till now?"


I started really late (like almost midnight) so I didn't get too far before I had to call it a night. It's a short book though so it shouldn't take long to read at all. It's a bit cheesy as you might expect from something originally published in the 80s but it seems like it could be fun.

To piggy back a little on what @Emily said, the intro to Tiger is humorous. It almost has an old detective noir vibe - "Of all the gin joints in the world, she had to walk into mine..." - lol. And Tiger sure seems full of himself but in a likable way.

Veronica wrote: "Laura wrote: "I'll start tomorrow. Want to close off at least 1 of the open reads till then. :)
How do you like it till now?"


I started really late (like almost midnight) so I didn't get too far..."

Haha, great comparison Veronica I love it!


"Of all the gin joints in the world, she had to walk into mine..."

Veronica wrote: "Laura wrote: "I'll start tomorrow. Want to close off at least 1 of the open reads till then. :)
How do you like it till now?"


I started really late (like almost midnight) so I didn't get too far..."

"Of all the cantinas in the south..." :D

I am so late on the other reads - I might not be able to join. Let's see what I can juggle (I might just put down the book that I started so I can read with you guys!).

It's a really short book, Aristea, only 286 in the mmp version, so hopefully you'll be able to join in even if it's a little late.

I haven't officially joined yet either Aristea but it's a pretty easy and short read. Hopefully you can swing it.

It turns out I have it on my shelf. I will probably join (just wanted to finish Sarantium first).

I'm tearing through this and thoroughly enjoying it. It's lightweight fare (certainly not epic or grimdark), but none the worse for that - almost the book equivalent of comfort food! I think out of the two characters I prefer Tiger slightly over Del - her distraction and coolness are rather off-putting, but that's part of her character, so it's certainly not a complaint.

I'm starting tonight and looking forward to it after your comments.

Finished chapter 3 last night.
Tiger strikes me as (view spoiler)[a horny teenager in a bad need of action (hide spoiler)].
I like the Bascha though.
For now, the story itself is good but not great for me. Something about the writing is troubling me. I just can't put my finger on what exactly just yet.
For instance that word "cantine" came up practically in every other sentence in the beginning up to the point I found it irritating. Didn't anyone else have a problem with that?

Starting right now.

Laura wrote: "Finished chapter 3 last night.
Tiger strikes me as [spoilers removed].
I like the Bascha though.
For now, the story itself is good but not great for me. Something about the writing is troubling ..."

Sorry to hear Laura. I cant say I had an issue with that. My first time reading I had trouble with "southroner" but I'm used to it now.
Hopefully it gets better for you.
The story takes place from Tiger's point of view and he is a bit of a show off macho man. Perhaps thats bothering you? I personally came to love Tiger in the end. But he takes a bit to grow on you. And his character does grow.

The macho man narrative is hilarious. All hail the mighty alpha romeo male.

I think that simplicity of the style/language kind of reflects the fact that Tiger is not a philosopher, but merely a fighter for hire (even if better than average).

It might appear as crude (when compared with the previous book we read!) but it is fitting in the light of the general setting.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Roberson wrote this first book in a single week. As you can imagine, it lacks a little sophistication and polish. The next books get better and better as they go if you can get past this one (which I still enjoyed, but it didn't knock my socks off).

A WEEK?! *nearly faints*

Mayim wrote: "A WEEK?! *nearly faints*"

I know. It's almost insulting. ::looks at own 10 yr manuscript:: lol

hear, hear! *looks at 6 chapters that took a year to be written*

I think this book may be for me a little at disadvantage because I have been reading several elegantly written ones these days. Compared to those, this writing style is a bit lacking. However, the story is intriguing and I'll try keeping an open mind about Tiger.

But then: one week!!! "Get out of here!!!!"

Finished! Slightly simplistic, but enjoyable.

I think Tiger grows as a character throughout this book - and will continue to do so throughout the series, I imagine.

I'm generally willing to forgive older books any slips in style and characterisation that seems a bit absurd to a modern audience (I don't think Conan would be as impressive if he was written now); I actually quite like the style of this one - it is written from Tiger's POV, and as Mayim said, he's a fighter, so it's going to be written in a rather blunt, plain style. (I recommend Barbara Hambley's Sunwolf and Starhawk novels for beautifully written books with a strong male/female dynamic.)

A week? Gak, it took me six months to write a simple (and not terribly good) first draft, and that was only because camp Nano fell in one of those months!

Thank you Shaitarn, already added to my TBR. :)

Mayim wrote: "The macho man narrative is hilarious. All hail the mighty alpha romeo male.

I think that simplicity of the style/language kind of reflects the fact that Tiger is not a philosopher, but merely a f..."


I think that simplicity of the style/language kind of reflects the fact that Tiger is not a philosopher, but merely a f..."

I agree with you 100% here. The writing represents the character's point of view.

I also laughed my way through a good chunk of the book. Tiger is hilarious IMO. Not book boyfriend material (at least not at first) but his internal monologs are great. :)

Chapter 6. (view spoiler)[there are kittens! (hide spoiler)] small things give me a lot of joy

Laura wrote: "I think this book may be for me a little at disadvantage because I have been reading several elegantly written ones these days. Compared to those, this writing style is a bit lacking. However, the ..."

I'm having the same response, Laura. I've just come off reading Brandon Sanderson and am currently reading Guy Gavriel Kay. Compared to those two, almost anyone's writing would come off as inferior. Plus, this book is over 30 years old so it's bound to feel it's age.

All that said, it's been an okay story so far. The plot and characters feel superficial but then the author did just writ it in a week, lol. Tiger is okay though the macho man attitude is very apparent. It's played mostly for laughs so it doesn't come off as too overbearing. I don't feel any attachment to Del though. She just seems too dry and remote and other than her physical appearance I've no idea why Tiger seems so taken with her.

@Veronica. In regards to Tiger and Del I think it's a combination of things. She's absolutely stunning, she's the only woman he's ever known to carry a sword (let alone be able to use one), she's mysterious and she isn't immediately taken with his charm. I guess he sees her as a challenge among other things. My thoughts anyway. Hopefully you'll warm up to her. We don't get to see inside her head since the story is told from Tiger's point of view so I think it's easier to relate to/be amused by Tiger.

I'd almost forgotten about the stud. I love that horse! 😄

I like her. I really do. She is no nonsense and yet she doesn't flaunt. Rather introvert and mistrustful because of her hardships but not biter or jaded. Her withdrawn, icy manner is I guess part of the design, but it really suits her. And then all her traits are even more pronounced when juxtaposed with the extravert machismo of Tiger. Even if some things are a bit exaggerated or overly emphasised, I do not mind that much, because clearly this has been the key design based on the North versus South divide and opposites attract adage.

Mayim wrote: "Chapter 6. [spoilers removed] small things give me a lot of joy"

I loved that scene! I could picture the look on Del's face perfectly, because that is so much what I would've done in her place!

So I am almost at the end (just finished chapter 22) - I mostly listened to the audio book.

I felt a bit forced to continue at the beginning (view spoiler)[ albeit I loved the description of the desert and Tiger's and Del's adventures through the desert (hide spoiler)] because it felt repetitive.
Yet, (view spoiler)[ after their near death experience in the desert, after the fight in the circle between Del and Tiger (hide spoiler)] the book picked up the pace in my opinion and there was plenty of shocking moments!

I am liking Del and Tiger a lot. I find the constant Tiger PoV fascinating actually (view spoiler)[ and it is interesting seeing a female author looking women through a man's eyes. I actually giggle every now and again! (hide spoiler)] and it gets better and better. I also find that there is a great balance in the book between the drive of the characters and their (view spoiler)[ extremely traumatic (hide spoiler)] pasts and a lighter tone that makes the book less grim and more an "easy" read which I do not mind!

I hope to finish the book later today (and focus on some really messed up book with Beyond Redemption!).

I finished it the other day and overall I thought it was okay. I had picked it up for a dollar a couple of years ago at a used book sale but just had never gotten around to reading it. I'm sure I would have liked this a lot better if I had read it back when it was a newer book but I never felt invested enough in the story or the characters to read any more in the series. I am glad I got to read it with all of you. It's always fun to read about other people's perspectives.

I totally get what you guys are saying.
I read this one over a decade ago for the first time so it's kind of like comfort food for me. But with all the great stuff that's out there now it is a bit dated.
Still love it though. ☺

I liked it and I am happy to continue with the series. It was just a fast read not a book to get crazy about, but also not bad and much batter than majority of the newer novels that usually have more pages and less substance in them.

I'm bringing up the rear end this time. Got distracted with Library at Mount Char. I'm back on track though and hope to finish this by tomorrow.

No worries Laura, I overbooked on reads and haven't finished yet either.

I am at Chapter 15 now and I actually like it. It became more and more interesting as the chapters passed. I was not expecting it but, by now I am really enjoying the story and even like the big Tiger macho. Del is great. :)

I finally finished it. and boy am I sorry for having kept it aside in favour of other reads! After the disappointment of the first 2 chapters, this book kept only getting better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the sequel (which I'll definitely not set aside again)!

Laura wrote: "I finally finished it. and boy am I sorry for having kept it aside in favour of other reads! After the disappointment of the first 2 chapters, this book kept only getting better and better. I thoro..."

I had a very similar experience Laura! I just love the adventures of the two (view spoiler)[ and how raw was Del meeting her brother? I almost teared up a bit (hide spoiler)] and I cannot wait to read book #2. Plus, it is a fun and quick read!

(view spoiler)[the brother motif was very touching indeed, but the finding fell flat - as if the quest was far more important that what happens after he's been 'rescued' (hide spoiler)]

Mayim wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Yes, I agree with you Mayim that it was a bit "superficial". Said so and knowing that this book is an "older" fantasy and written in one week (or was it two), I am just so impressed by the connection I felt with the characters. It is not easy to achieve these days and it was certainly not a given in the '80s!

Aristea wrote: "Laura wrote: "I finally finished it. and boy am I sorry for having kept it aside in favour of other reads! After the disappointment of the first 2 chapters, this book kept only getting better and b..."

Exactly the same for me Aristea. That part was very touching.

But I think the author did that on purpose. Because for Del (view spoiler)[ in a way, the quest was more important than what happens after the find. Tiger repeatedly asked her those "what if" and "what next" questions, but she was stuck on needing to find Jamail and answered she will think about the next when that time comes. Del was literally obsessed with only the quest. And it was a nice touch to put that sentence in the end.
"I feel empty." - I believe this is what Del said after they had found Jamail. Because that is actually the moment she realised, she hadn't really thought about after and she had no clue what to do next. (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Aristea wrote: "Laura wrote: "I finally finished it. and boy am I sorry for having kept it aside in favour of other reads! After the disappointment of the first 2 chapters, this book kept only gett..."

Agreed, well said.