Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This week, help out everyone who is struggling with a reading slump by sharing books that got you out of one! :)

I would say Katherine Arden - The Bear and the Nightingale

Exile (Nandor Tales #1) by Martin Owton got me out of mine. Very fun and easy read and super cheap on Kindle. Reminded me of Michael Sullivan style of writing. Hope this helps

Planetside by Michael Mammay. Although anything Expanse series also works for me. ^_^

Beyond Redemption

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Book Four

The Lies of Locke Lamora

For me, I go for something amusing when I'm in a slump. The fact that BR and TLoLL are both grimdark isn't lost on me. It's in fact a perk.

House of Chains
Small Favor
The Heroes

Fantasy or Grimdark is what helps me.. Whenever I have a stretch of nothing to read Malazan is my fallback and The First Law Series is always great. Dresden when I need a UF.

I usually just try to finish something and that gets me out of the slump. So I'll pick up a novella or comic just to get me going again. Tor has a really great group of novellas that haven't disappointed me yet.

Harry Potter
The Watch novels from Discworld
Graphic novels

I might have to re read one of those now since I happen to be in a slump.

Anything funny usually helps.

Malazan actually got me out of a 4 year reading slump but I don't think I would recommend it to somebody who is in a reading slump right now. Too dense. I think it only worked for me because I built up that intense fascination with the world.

This year the Kate Daniels series has helped me a few times when I wasn't that enthusiastic about reading, though :)

Bea wrote: "Malazan actually got me out of a 4 year reading slump but I don't think I would recommend it to somebody who is in a reading slump right now. Too dense. I think it only worked for me because I buil..."

That's exactly why I didn't list Malazan.

Malazan doubles as a safety blanket for me when I see a bookless stretch ahead but yeah, it's got some serious girth.

Bea wrote: "This year the Kate Daniels series has helped me a few times when I wasn't that enthusiastic about reading, though :)..."

I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed Kate Daniels. I'd back this to get out of a slump.

Reading slumps are the worst! These books worked for me:

1. The Grey Bastards - Action packed, somewhat crass but humorous, yet not without heart. The very first page took me by surprise and had me blushing- but I was hooked and raced through the rest.
2. Agree about The Bear and the Nightingale - this book had a dreamy, transporting effect on me, I was completely absorbed by the beauty of the writing and exploration of Russian Folklore.
3. I've really loved dipping into The Great Library series by Rachel Caine, when nothing else grabs me (starting with Ink and Bone) - each book is only around 350 pages, so not too heavy going, yet really engaging.

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien the Castell. It's a fun fantasy in the style of The Three Musketeers. Very easy to read and very engaging. Nothing too voluminous either, so it's a very quick book.

Theft of Swords by Michael Sullivan. For the same reason as the one above. It's almost like an episode of a TV show, where the action doesn't stop and it sets up the rest of the series. Also very easy to read, unlike a lot of fantasy.

Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. It's a well-written YA series with lots of excitement without bogging itself down with heavy elements of apocalyptic stakes. It's about a young apprentice and how he learns to do his job as a Ranger, and the adventures he has on the way.

Of course, the old favorites are always a help: The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and Anathem by Neal Stephenson

Silvana wrote: "Harry Potter
The Watch novels from Discworld
Graphic novels

I might have to re read one of those now since I happen to be in a slump."

I agree with Harry Potter! I'm always gravitated towards the series when I can't seem to read anything else

Otherwise I enjoy anything light and fun but also with a good dose of heavy subject matter. I once read a wattpad contemporary about a high school feminist club. Highlighted gender and racial discrimination, etc. but it was fun at the same time!

I agree with Theft of Swords, that one got me out of a book slump last year. Fun and rollicking good times with plenty of banter makes for an enjoyable read.

Another one that pulled me out several years back was the sci-fi suspense Wool Omnibus. Right away you get caught up in the conspiracies wrapped up in conspiracies, not sure what or whom to believe. It was a real page turner, and I had the good luck to read it at the same time as a coworker. Every day we'd arrive and make dramatic eyes at each other, carefully asking, "So... do you know things?" "...I know some things." "How much do you know?"

I lot of my slump-busters have been sci-fi, come to think of it. Old Man's War, Ancillary Justice, Ender's Game... Oh yeah, nostalgia re-reads are great for putting you back on track. Sometimes you just have a run of bad books, and want something you know you like.

To get me out of a slump, I need a fun read. My top three would be (in no particular order):

- Theft of Swords

- Nice Dragons Finish Last

- Super Powereds: Year 1

Virginie wrote: "To get me out of a slump, I need a fun read. My top three would be (in no particular order):

- Theft of Swords

- Nice Dragons Finish Last

- [book:Super Powereds: ..."

2nded

The Princess Bride! You can't go wrong with this classic!

The Alchemist A light read, but with a great message.

Fahrenheit 451 What better way to get out of a reading slump than to explore a story about a world without books?