Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Share your favourite book of September with the group!

Remember, try to share only one and if you want to share everything you read this month, head over to this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Definitely The Illuminae Files.


I did a few re-reads this month, so I won't count those (because obviously Words of Radiance would win), but among new books, those totally blew me away.

The Stone Sky and not counting a re-read for TWoK it's not even close.

My favorite was the book club book The Shadow of What Was Lost :D

Book: Words of Radiance... I started the month strong and nothing quite surpassed it after... altho I liked almost everything I read this month...

Short story: Of Things Unknown (included in The Brightest Fell)

Tough call, but I have to go with Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb.

I think this month will be The Great Hunt not only because its the only book I read this month I also really enjoyed this one

Michael Moorcock's The Queen of the Swords. I'd never heard of Michael Moorcock before this. I didn't get to read much this September, but this was certainly fun, entertaining and surprisingly intense.

The book that I liked most this month was Strange the Dreamer.

The prose and the word building both hit the right notes for me.

A Time Of Dread and The Armored Saint both are ARCS but both made it to my 'favorite' shelf!

Arkadeb wrote: "Tough call, but I have to go with Neil Gaiman's American Gods."

One of my favourite books ever! :)

Best book I read this month was His Majesty's Dragon (called Temeraire in the UK). Absolutely loved it!

Olivia wrote: "Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. "

Olivia, Ship of Magic is my favorite Hobb novel!

Siobhan wrote: "Arkadeb wrote: "Tough call, but I have to go with Neil Gaiman's American Gods."

One of my favourite books ever! :)"

I had been meaning to read this since forever. Ever since I read his Sandman I knew I had to read his fiction. Anansi Boys and Neverwhere are up next.

The Great Hunt Buddy Read was my top read of the month. Still have a couple hundred pages left in the Lord of Emperors BR, but I don't anticipate it knocking Great Hunt off the perch.

I've only finished two so far and one was a reread. Assuming I finish The Shadow of What was Lost by the end of the month, I think that will be my favorite. (Not counting that reread of Words of Radiance, obviously.)

Arkadeb wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Arkadeb wrote: "Tough call, but I have to go with Neil Gaiman's American Gods."

One of my favourite books ever! :)"

I had been meaning to read this since forever. Ever since I rea..."

Loved both of those too! Enjoy xD

I still need to read Sandman, it's on my list!

Faithful and the Fallen #2. Really enjoying the world and characters created by Gwynne.

Angela wrote: " Faithful and the Fallen #2. Really enjoying the world and characters created by Gwynne."

Same here.

Great minds think alike Samir. Glad to see you enjoyed it as well.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Margret wrote: "The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood"

I read it this month too and I was also shattered by this novel.

Edit: After checking my record, I realised I lied. I had read The Handmaid's Tale in August. And nothing worth 5-star rating in September so I will put forward the City of Bones by Martha Wells (I finished August 31 so it's almost a September read). Great novel highly recommended to those smitten with Jemisin's trilogy (she was clearly inspired by Wells' writing).

It was a fabulous feminist read :) I could go into a huge discussion about the book and how misogyny still is prevalent in our society, because the book made me feel so many feelings and brought up issues our family recently faced from an employer

Margret wrote: "It was a fabulous feminist read :) I could go into a huge discussion about the book and how misogyny still is prevalent in our society, because the book made me feel so many feelings and brought up..."

It wasn't a feminist read for me, in fact I thought this novel could be read in many ways and on many levels - labelling this book just "a feminist read" is in my opinion simplistic and as such does it injustice. Regardless, I loved it (almost as much as I hated the series which I watched afterwards).

I wasn't labeling it as "just a feminist read" either..

Not sure if I'm misreading, but I didn't mean to irritate you whatsoever... Merely that I found it very inspiring in that way

Arkadeb wrote: "Tough call, but I have to go with Neil Gaiman's American Gods."

I thought this was a really great book too Arkadeb. Enjoy Neverwhere. It's my favourite Gaiman book to date.

My best read for this month was The Emperor's Soul

Treason's Shore by Sherwood Smith for me. Wrapped up one of my favorite series.

Tammie wrote: "My best read for this month was The Emperor's Soul"

Very underrated work of Sanderson's. In some ways this reminded me of the Long Price Quartet series by Abraham with the culture and nuances.

Ooh good comparison.

holy shit really? Long Price is like Emperor's Soul??? definitely moving it to this year read

Petrik wrote: "holy shit really? Long Price is like Emperor's Soul??? definitely moving it to this year read"

Yes it's very subtle and philosophical in the same way. Both have an Eastern feel to me as well. Shai's magic is different than the Poets in LPQ and yet the moral dilemmas and learning your enemy are very similar.

I know everybody wants an Elantris sequel but if I could only have one of the two I'd choose Emperor's Soul.

Long Price is one of my favs too. I think you'd totally appreciate the nuances, Petrik. :)

Thanks both of you! I'll definitely read it within this year now! Most likely before my SA binge read! :D

Emperor's Soul is seriously amazing imo, i'm very impressed with what Sanderson achieved with that minimum amount of pages

ES was my first experience actually appreciating a short story. I swear he can writing anything and I'll fangirl.

I went into ES thinking it wouldn't be as good as Elantris and was blown away.

I loved Emperor's Soul. I've never even heard of Long Price Quartet, but I'll need to check it out =].

Liam wrote: "I loved Emperor's Soul. I've never even heard of Long Price Quartet, but I'll need to check it out =]."

If it wasnt for Scott I would never heard of it too. Cant wait to start it!! :)

Petrik wrote: "Liam wrote: "I loved Emperor's Soul. I've never even heard of Long Price Quartet, but I'll need to check it out =]."

If it wasnt for Scott I would never heard of it too. Cant wait to start it!! :)"

Glancing through the reviews, it seems like the kind of book people either love or hate haha.

Oddly enough, those are the books I usually love the most, and I'm weirdly drawn to books that are so polarizing. Like there was HUGELY mixed opinions for The Night Circus, and that book was a five star read and instant favorite for me.

It's by one of the authors that wrote the Expanse series, to give you an idea of quality. :)

Speaking of, Scott, any interest in nailing down a date next year for Unclean Spirits? 4/8?

Liam wrote: "Glancing through the reviews, it seems like the kind of book people either love or hate haha. ."

That's why Niki and I keep referencing loving subtlety and should mention character and world development as well. If a reader is an action junky this is not your series.

Night Circus completely captivated me - 5 stars. Booya Liam haha.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Night Circus completely captivated me - 5 stars. Booya Liam haha."

Petrik chastised me for having the gaul to give it 2*'s so you're in for it. :) (I caved and knocked it down to 1* :))

Oh man I hated Night Circus! XD i do understand the love towards the book though. That said I dont mind zero actions, depends on how great the characters worldbuilding and prose. Characters are the one that matters to me the most. I disliked the char in Night Circus, that's why the book doesnt work for me

Scott wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Night Circus completely captivated me - 5 stars. Booya Liam haha."

Petrik chastised me for having the gaul to give it 2*'s so you're in for it. :) (I caved and knocked it down ..."

Whoops! xD

Depending on the mood I'm in, I can go both ways. I love books with great action (The Alloy Era Mistborn books have some of the best action of all time imo), but I also really, really appreciate subtlety and even philosophy in writing. This is what kept me reading Orson Scott Card's Ender books even after they kind of tapered off.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Scott, any interest in nailing down a date next year for Unclean Spirits? 4/8?"

The last Expanse book, currently published, starts May-24th

Unclean Spirits May-10
Darker Angels Jun-10
Vicious Grace Jul-10
Killing Rites Aug-10
Graveyard Child Sep-10

???

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Night Circus completely captivated me - 5 stars. Booya Liam haha."

*High fives*. I just loved the writing in that book haha.