And the winners are: War for the Oaks by Emma Bull for GR Author and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch for General Fantasy.

Happy reading everyone!

Last chance to get your nominations in! I will be closing nominations sometime this evening and creating the poll tonight.

I second the general fantasy title The Blade Itself by Abercrombie. I've heard it's good and well worth a read.

For the GR author, I'd like to offer my own title The Fall of Ossard. It's a recent title, and got some great reviews. It's also a little different to most fantasy out there at the moment, by going deeper as it builds a tale out of many layers.

For general Fantasy, I nominate The Iron Dragon's Daughter a very dark, but stunning work. For GR author, all the books I'd nominate have already been put up.

Hi Becky,

Here are my nominations:
General Fantasy: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

I second Elizabeth’s choice because I love YA fantasy and I have been wanting to read this one for a while.

Goodreads Author: Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban because it is also a YA fantasy and would be interesting to discuss them in parallel.

And also because it is a good book. Yes I know I wrote it, but that doesn’t change the facts.

Becky wrote: "RE: Secret Speakers

I didn't know that. Well that certainly puts a damper on things doesn't it? LOL. :(

Where/how did you read it electronically?"

Long ago - In November of last year she offered a free copy to anyone that "registered" - I got a copy back then - and I'm suppose to get a printed copy when it is finally released - she has delayed the release dates a few times (There was one in January and then April - I'm not sure what the most recent release date is but since there have been a few missed ones I don't want to say for sure until it is actually "out". It's a cute book.

Here are the nominations we have so far:

General Fantasy:
Duma Key by Stephen King
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

GR Author:
RealmShift by Alan Baxter
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
Griffin's Shadow by Leslie Ann Moore
Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan
*Possibly* Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate by Karey Shane - K.S.R. Kingworth

I'd like to nominate Wildwood Dancing in the general fiction category because I don't think we've done a fairy tale adaptation yet and this one contains elements of several. It is primarily based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I've read other books by Juliet Marillier and they were all well done. If someone has another suggestion for a fairy tale or myth adaptation, I'd be happy with an alternative.

RE: Secret Speakers

I didn't know that. Well that certainly puts a damper on things doesn't it? LOL. :(

Where/how did you read it electronically?

Storm Front by Jim Butcher for Non-GoodReads Author - mainly because I've heard so many good things about the Dresden series and haven't had a chance to start it yet. If it is in a bookclub the chances are much greater to get it off my TBR list.

For GoodRead authors:
Griffin's Shadow by Leslie Ann Moore because we've already read Griffin's Daughter and Griffin's Destiny will be coming soon.

also

Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan again for the same reason - We've read the first book and the third one will be released in October. Yes I know it is my husband's book - but if I don't nominate it I think someone else might so I just thought I would dive in as long as I was here nominating Leslie's

One Note about Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate I've read this in electronic form - and I think it is a great recommendation - but I don't think it is actually released yet - I know it's been delayed a few times. I think it "might" be released by then but we should make sure.

LOL, no problem, Libby! ;)

@ Becky - sorry it might help if I followed the clearly written, explicit instructions ;-)

The Lies of Locke Lamora
Scott Lynch

For GR author - I'll second Emma Bull's War for the Oaks. I really enjoyed that one.

I would second Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson for the General Fantasy topic, since I've been wanting to review this book again for a long while - and it is quite different, a law unto itself, in a field not given to wild experiments.

For the GoodReads author, I'd put forward the exquisitely well written urban fantasy, War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. This story came out long and long before the sub-genre came into being. It was in a realm by itself, at that time, and done with a flair that has stayed with me, all of these years. The prose and the characters are on a par with Kay, and the plot, very beautifully executed. This writer has never been prolific, but it is stunningly evident that she pours a great deal of thought and care into all she produces.

Sounds good Blackrose. :)

Just a reminder guys - I need you to list the author on your nominations, even when they are linked. It really makes it easier for me when creating the poll. If you haven't listed an author, please do so! :)

General fantasy - The Lies of Locke Lamora. I've heard very good things about this one.

GR Author: RealmShift by Alan Baxter. It's listed as a dark fantasy thriller which has action as well as spiritual exploration - specifically how people's beliefs effect the world around them. Complete with gods, devil and magic - it seems like it could be interesting. Plus it looks like an indie publisher, so it needs some love. :>

David, I'm gonna need you to list the author too please. :) Thanks!

general fantasy:
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

Because this is a popular series and I want to learn why. I've seen some comparisons to Songs of Fire and Ice by GRRM.

Good choice Chris, as always. :) I want to read those BADLY, and this might give me just cause to shoehorn them into my reading list.

I'll put a nomination up to help Becky get this rolling....Still pondering the others I will put up, but for now, here is my first:

General Fantasy: The Blade Itself Book One of The First Law by Joe Abercrombie

I've been hearing great things about this and his newest book looks tempting. So I need something to nudge me into reading his first series, this should do it........

More nominations coming soon....

Nobody yet? Alright, I'll go first. :)

1) General Fantasy: Duma Key by Stephen King - I listened to this on audio not long ago and it was fantastic. This is the type of creepy fantasy that keeps people up at night. It's our world, but typical of King, he puts a spin on it and makes it unusual and interesting.

2) GR Author: Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate by Karey Shane - K.S.R. Kingworth - I've seen this book around for a while, and I have wanted to read it for quite a while. I love stories that tie in mythology, even if it isn't the type we're used to. :)

Hi again! As you're all probably aware, the majority of the group wanted the GR Author reads to be held once every 3 months. Because of this, the next one will be held in September/October.

To try to limit the number of threads that we all have to keep track of, I'm trying something new this time around. I'm going to ask for BOTH CATEGORIES to be nominated in this thread ONLY. Nominating will be open a little longer than normal to account for the long holiday weekend. Nominating will go on until July 12th, at which time I will create the two polls.

You're allowed up to 2 nominations for EACH category, but if I don't know which one it is, I won't take it. (See guidelines below.) Nominate one or the other or both, it's fine with me, but please make sure that all three components below are there to make it easy on me! Gracias!! :)

Standard nominating rules apply, and I'm going to be a stickler. Please remember to list the following or your nomination WILL NOT BE INCLUDED:

- Title and author (preferably link to them, but I won't be that picky!). Nominating "Terry Pratchett's Discworld #1" won't do it. ;)

- Why you are nominating it, including why you feel it fits the fantasy genre.

- And finally, include which category the book is being nominated for: "GR AUTHOR" or "GENERAL FANTASY"

I know that's an eyeful... As always, if you have questions, concerns, gripes, suggestions, whatever, please let me know.

Happy nominating!