Carolyn's comments (member since Jan 16, 2009)

Carolyn's comments from the Fantasy Book Club group.

Glad you were able to find some good suggestions in the post, but have to give credit to starting the post to Pamela. = )

My thanks as well Pamela, this was a good discussion!

Arthur: Obviously you missed my sarcasm at your heavy-handed approach, considering you choose to then LECTURE me about my reading order of books. Kindly go stuff yourself.


Pamela: I am so glad you're enjoying them! You are most welcome. = )

You're right about Fitz, of course, because while he was trained as an assassin, at heart he never was. (Which is of course why I loved him as a character!)

On your side note - I'm already a member of that group, so I will also see you there! I just a minute ago posted on a thread about authors who do both YA and adult books - I'm usually the only one adding in science fiction authors. = )

Arthur wrote: "Violence and Love
How Robin Hobb got into this list, I don't really know. Let's put it this way: Robin Hobb and Joe Abercrombie are so different as white and black. Go figure..."

The only reason I suggested Robin Hobb was because her series is about an assassin - apparently called it right for the OP, since she has already read (and loved the series.)

Oh, and thanks for telling me in advance that the Liveship Traders will be 'spoiled' for me, maybe I'd better save myself the trouble of reading them, since you've already decided for me - NOT.

Pamela - enjoy the Brust series!

Well, definitely look into Robin Hobb's Assassin trilogy, with the Tawny Man trilogy sequels.
Also, Tanya Huff's The Quarters Novels Volume I and The Quarters Novels Volume II - a very fun fantasy quartet, now in these two omnibus editions.
I love the Kushiel series by Carey (which, I really don't get everyone's preoccupation with the supposed 'sex' in the book, it has much less (and much less explicit) sex than most Harlequin or 'romance' novels out there...)
The Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust

Those are off the top of my head, have to check through my shelves to give you any other recommendations...

Sarah wrote: "I didn;t know Serpent's Shadow was part of a series. I suppose it's good as a standalone as well, right?

Sarah, it's thematically part of a series, but each book can completely stand alone, so you're fine to read just that, if you like. The Five Hundred Kingdoms series is another thematic series, all written in the same 'world' but each book can stand alone.

OK, most anything with dragons and I'm in, so I'll definitely be reading the LiveShip books now!

Haven't read Graceling yet, it's another on my immense tbr list, as is the Ness book. I'm a big fan of YA (done well) also. Looking forward to getting the Weeks trilogy soon, moved it up my list based on your glowing recommendation. = )

Since you like 'darker' reading, do you read much in the post-apoc/dystopian genre? That is one of my favorites subgenres. One of my other groups is reading/discussing Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale this month. Have you read it? It's one of my all-time favorite books. The discussion is just starting to kick off, a bunch are still reading the book. If you'd like to join us we're in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club .

Glad to be of help! = )

I have the Brent Weeks trilogy on my tbr list, they look very good, as well as the Korre series by Holly Lisle.
The Cast series is one of my guilty pleasures, can't really define just why I like it, but snarf each one up in a day or so. = )
I love the Assassin and Tawny Man books by Hobb, I've read them at least twice now. I plan on reading her LiveShip books at some point, because many have mentioned that they tie into the story somehow. Have you read those?

Thought of some other fantasy series that you might like:
one by Sharon Lee - it begins with Duainfey, continues with Longeye and is still ongoing.

another (YA) series by Kristin Cashore, beginning with Graceling - another assasin series = )


On another topic, whatcha stitching? Always fun to see what others are doing - I'm working on Little House Needleworks' 'Yesteryear' right now.
I've been thinking of starting a group for cross stitchers on GR, mostly to review xs publications - I hate buying an xs book online and then finding out I don't like most of the content. What do you think of the idea? (not to hijack your thread, you can send me a pm if you'd like. = )

Well, I highly recommend the Outlander and Kushiel series - they are among my favorites!

In addition I'll add:
Michelle Sagara West's series beginning with Cast in Shadow

Robin Hobb's Assassin series (and followup Tawny Man series), beginning with Assassin's Apprentice

Stephen Brust's Vlad Taltos series - beginning with Jhereg

books by P.C. Hodgell

Dave Duncan's Kings Blades series, beginning with The Gilded Chain

Barb Hendee's Noble Dead series beginning with Dhampir

Some of these are heavier on the violence, lesser on the romance, but all are 'dark'.

Landon wrote: "Do most of you reread your books? I don't know if I'm just blessed with an above average memory, but when I look at my bookshelves, I can recall just about everything that happens in every book. Therefore, instead of rereading, I just get new books to add to the collection... Does everyone here reread? Or am I the crazy one... "

Nope, you're not crazy. = )
I have the same kind of memory, which is the reason I rarely write reviews - I can usually look at a book and tell you the basic plot and characters (and how it ends), and how/whether I liked it, regardless of how long ago I read it.

However, I do re-read occasionally. Either because it is an on-going series with long time spans between book releases and I want a 'refresher' on the book/characters/history in the story, or I have a very few 'comfort-reads' that I've read multiple times, but that always draw me in and make my brain relax and feel better.

Michael wrote: "I joined the book club a few months ago actually, but I haven't introduced myself yet. so here it comes

My name is Michael, I'll be 22 in a little more than a month. I am from Uppsala, Sweden. I'm..."

Welcome Michael! I'm a huge fan of the Deverry series myself. Have fun adding to your bookshelves!

Josh wrote: "The one requirement I have, is that they are in the 500+ page range, or close to it.

Any recommendations? Anyone know if GoodReads has a "suggested reading based on these ratings" kinda deal?.."

Welcome to the group Josh!
GR doesn't have a 'suggested reading' widget yet, I think they have one somewhere in the works. The best ways I've found are to check out the shelves of other readers that you already have some commonalities with & surfing the lists in Listopia.

The suggestions I'll add are the Jacqueline Carey series, starting with Kushiel's Dart - excellent world building and characters, each book is easily in the 700-1000 page range (depending on the format). She just started the third trilogy in the sequence, so there's plenty of reading to do. = )

I've been doing this the last couple of days, while reading some of LMB's Vorkosigan books - staying up until 2am seems to be the most I can handle, now that I'm pushing 40.

Viktoria - thanks for the mental image! LOL!

I liked the flashbacks as well, I thought that they were very well done.

Ooooh, I really enjoyed this book (and the sequel), I'm looking forward to the third book coming out.
Anyone else?

Lauren wrote: "If your speaking of the book series I think you are then an old teacher of mine use to read them and said that his son or someone was thinking of finishing the series. Sad that the author passed. But the series that he was speaking of was super long."

I think that would be a different series - the Halfblood Chronicles are only 3 books.

For series recommendations, I also recommend the Deverry series by Katharine Kerr. From what you've said, I also think you'd like the Chronicles of the Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson and the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.

Happy reading!

I've read quite a few books that kept me up until I finished - a couple of times until just before dawn!

Besides a bunch of the ones listed above, I'd also recommend two stand-alones:
Sunshine by Robin McKinley and The Mummy by Anne Rice.

I've read the Asassin and the Fool trilogies, but not the Liveship trilogy. I 'got' the Fool trilogy fine without it, so I don't think it is necessary at all. Bonus, maybe, but not necessary.

I just started Farthing, and I've got the two sequels on my shelf as well. Besides those, I want to get the first Vorkosigan book read - I have the newer book Cordelia's Honor, which has the first two books in the series.

I always have a book with me in my purse - I have 2 little ones myself and have nothing for them in my purse! = )

Both my DH and I are readers, and thankfully both my kids have picked up the 'habit' - even the 19-month old! You can calm her down out of a fit by offering her a book, or asking her to go get one for you to read to her...I've used the technique a lot!