Fantasy Book Club discussion

Tnkw01 wrote: "Helen wrote: "I’m reading The Pariah, good so far but I’ve barely started."

While I quit reading the Raven's Shadow series, this one looks like it has potential. I trust Helen so I..."

I did mean to read his others before this even though they aren’t connected (or so I’m told). I’m 20% in and I definitely like it.

Just started H. Rider Haggard's Heart of the World, which I believe is going to turn out to be one of his lost race books rather than (as I initially expected) one of his historical novels.

I gave up on The Black Company. I wasn't really liking the writing style. Reading a newer release instead called Gutter Mage.

I love the Black Company books but yeah, they have a very particular style.

Elise wrote: "I gave up on The Black Company. I wasn't really liking the writing style. Reading a newer release instead called Gutter Mage."

I also love the Black Company. It is a rather dark fantasy.

Penance: A Young Adult Superhero Novel by Paula Richey and Thomas Plutarch

Started Guy Gavriel Kay's most recent, A Brightness Long Ago. I'd forgotten just how good he is.

The Order of Things by James V. Schall

Finished Night Shift. It gets 4 stars. Now I'm on to Broken Blade. Just started but it is really a unique story.

The Way of Kings - amazing worldbuilding and character growth!

I finished that book recently and I loved it so much!

I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on my nerves.

Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on..."

That series was a complete slog.

After that initial trilogy, he started writing epics based on historical eras from Earth yet set in fantasy worlds. They're 1000% better than that first trilogy.

Agree that Kay's recent works are better than the initial trilogy (although I do like it) -- IIRC, he wrote that shortly after helping Christopher Tolkien assemble The Silmarillion for publication, so probably had to write the Tolkien out of his system.

I finished A Brightness Long Ago and decided to end 2021/begin 2022 by just wallowing in epic fantasy, so started rereading Robert Silverberg's 1998 anthology Legends, where he got a bunch of well-known authors (Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, Raymond E. Feist, etc.) to write new novellas in their famous worlds.

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 7 by Waco Ioka

Night Shift Dragons by Rachel Aaron

Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on..."

I've read several of Kay's books. He write very elegantly and with a depth and passion that few can meet. However, they do have a tendency to drag at times. I find for myself, I really need to be in the mood for he's books before I can enjoy them.

The books I wrapped up 2021 with

The Martian Chronicles ★★★★★
ReDawn ★★★★
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World ★★★★★
Siege and Storm ★★★★

Gemini Warrior by J.D. Cowan

My December:

The Crystal Shard ★★★
Streams of Silver ★★★
The Halfling's Gem ★★★
Heart of the World ★★★
A Brightness Long Ago ★★★★

So at least I ended the month (and the year) on a very high note.

Chris wrote: "Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. I..."

My set of covers were so pretty too. I’ll have to try him again.

I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck waiting for a test.



December is from Thursday Murder Club.

The Apothecary Diaries 04 by Natsu Hyuuga

Helen wrote: "I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck wai..."

This looks great

OK, let me do that:

Yes, that's very satisfying.

Continuing on with Legends II, the second big fantasy anthology edited by Robert Silverberg; as it happens, the first story is a Robin Hobb Elderlings piece.

The Golden Maiden and Other Folk Tales and Fairy Stories Told in Armenia by A.G. Seklemian

I finished Cytonic the other day, which I loved.

Now I've been reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Enjoying it so far.

Helen wrote: "I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck wai..."

Do you have to do these one at a time?

Elise wrote: "I finished Cytonic the other day, which I loved.

Now I've been reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Enjoying it so far."

I liked The Ten Thousand Doors of January but it was kind of weird at times.

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

Charlton wrote: "The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson"

One of my favorites. I hope you like as much as I do.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Do you have to do these one at a time?"

That's how I did mine, at least.

Joseph wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Do you have to do these one at a time?"

That's how I did mine, at least."

Thanks.

MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing by Keith Ammann

I've just finished The Mask of Mirrors which I loved.

I'm now reading Empire of the Vampire - Book One which is also brilliant.

So many good fantasy books around at the moment.

Fininshing The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson maybe tonight. Really good read and Sanderson makes it so entertaining,
And if I do finish tonight, I'll start reading Shadows of Self

I finished Gutter Mage last night. I had a blast reading this. I really loved the main character, and now I'm truly unhappy there's only one book.

Now I'm reading the final Skyward Flight novella, Evershore.

Ghost in the Lore by Jonathan Moeller

I've just finished The City of Brass earlier today. I didn't love it at first and I was very slow with reading it, but toward the end I began liking the characters more, so I gave it three stars. Next I'm planning to read Morning Star. I read the first two books in the trilogy a while ago, so I'm hoping I remember enough to understand what's going on.

I'm reading Blackheart Knights by Laure Eve. It's really good so far!

I'm reading Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson. Only 2 chapters in and really enjoying it so far.

Rebellion of the Lost by Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin

War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful Savage by Lawrence H. Keeley

Tom, I added each month as I went along.

Joseph that looks great.

Tanya wrote: "I've just finished The City of Brass earlier today. I didn't love it at first and I was very slow with reading it, but toward the end I began liking the characters more, so I gave i..."

I’ve been thinking of rereading the series- part 3 of his new set is out soon.

Janette wrote: "I've just finished The Mask of Mirrors which I loved.

I'm now reading Empire of the Vampire - Book One which is also brilliant.

So many good fantasy books around..."

Both really good books.

Finished Legends II and decided it was time for some Murderbot, so on to Rogue Protocol.