Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
Monthly Group Reads
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Reading the Poll Losers Instead?
Huzzah! I've bought a few of these as well. Likely that will continue :)
In the January Poll these two were up against each other.
I would have read whichever book won, but I voted for Traitor's Blood.
I now have it out from the library and as soon as I have finished The King's Spy and the Ancient Poll winner Eaters of the Dead I will be reading Traitor's Blood as I am interested to see if this is a new series I might like to follow.
D wrote: "Huzzah! I've bought a few of these as well. Likely that will continue :)"Lol! And now if they lose, you can read them and post here! :D
Reading the loser if the Medieval Poll last month, Traitor's Blood. Gosh, it would have made a terrific group read too. I am loving it. Enjoy all the characters, there is no weak character at this stage.Looks like I have found myself a new series to follow.
Love to see enthusiasm. This sent me to Amazon and I was startled to find NO customer reviews for Stryker #1 or #2. Lucky Terri's on the case, I thought. But then I went to Amazon UK and not to worry, it has its fair share of reviews. Does this mean unpublished in US, or another one hard to get there?
Yep. I'm on the case. :-) Forgot to mention before...this book/series is high action adventure. It is full of action and movement.
I think members had the same problem with Traitor's Blood as they had with The King's Spy. It is readily available in some Commonwealth countries and the UK, but is slim on the ground in the US and Canada. I can't understand why. You'd think that with 3 (nearly) 4 books in the series so far that it would have been marketed into the US and Nth America.
Anne inspired me as she wasn't able to find the ones this month. I thought maybe if people can't find the winners they may like to pick a loser. :)
I'll probably end up in here sometimes too. :)
Tasha wrote: "I'll probably end up in here sometimes too. :)"In the losers thread?.....that sounds about right.
;D
Lets not mention that I was the first in here...that may make me a loser too...
I am still right into Traitor's Blood. Not far to go now.I'll be giving it 5 stars! And I have purchased a copy of Traitor's Blood now, and a copy if book two, so I can own the series.
I now own these two
This one is still far too expensive and I will have to wait for the paperback and its cheaper price
And this one isn't due out until later this year.
Good to hear. I put it on my wishlist at the swap site.
It is one of those books where, to me, there is always something happening. It is very character driven.
I'm looking forward to reading this one.
I haven't anything to compare it too as I have never read Sharpe and I have not read much English Civil War...but, if I was to guess, from what I know of Cornwell and what I have heard about Sharpe, this would be like an English Civil War Sharpe series. Which is exactly what it says on the cover! For once it is true.Bernard Cornwell
Terrific, could do worse than picturing Sean Bean as the lead character... heh(I've not read any of the Sharpe series, only watched)
It would have to be Sean Bean with half his face disfigured. :-) Stryker (the main dude) was handsome once, but he is horribly scarred now on one side of his face.
It's seems sad to call these books "losers" ;-(They were the runners up ;-)
Also-rans. Second-bests. Nobody-voted-for-me. Or, the Sympathy Vote. I like a loser.
I like loser. It makes me feel sorry for them and want to read them. :D
I'm nearly halfway through Traitor's Blood and I'm really enjoying it. The banter between Stryker's men makes laugh, especially Burton's attempts at impressing Forrester with his knowledge of Shakespeare...Also, their loyalty to each other, slightly superseding the cause is a delight. The author writes characters really well. I've guessed incorrectly at what would come next a few times. My one criticism is that every now and then the spacing of 'time' is awkward. But seriously, if that ends up being my only complaint, this will rate highly.Edit to add: if Michael Arnold could find it in his heart to have a word with his publishing house/distributor to make this series available in Canada I would be eternally grateful. (:
Yes, Michael Arnold's publishers...you need to listen to D the Bookworm. It is a crime that this series is not readily available in Canada.
I tend to agree on the time thing. In fact I agree in it all. He does do great characters. They are all fun to read about. I especially like the firey little spy Lissette (spelling?). I like a female character who isn't there just to be the companion or love interest of a male character. She stands on her own independently. I could even imagine another series being based on her.Have you noticed that Arnold seems to have set the book up for prequels? Like Bernard Cornwell did with the Sharpe series.
There is a lot of potential for this to be an epic series.
The thing I liked most about the books was the way there was always something happening. You rarely find yourself bored. There is a long battle in it, but I scan read some of that. It seems to be set out for that purpose. If the reader is a blow by blow, page after page, battle loving freak, then they can absorb every moment. But if you don't need that much detail, then you can read some scan some, read some scan some, and read the other stories that are going on at the same time. Like two stories in one.
I am going to try the book Niccolo Rising which lost the February Group Read Poll.Anyone is welcome to join me.
Terri wrote: "I am going to try the book Niccolo Rising which lost the February Group Read Poll.Anyone is welcome to join me." Terri, This is the book I may have a shot at getting from a library. If it's on-hand I will request it.
Hi Monica,Some other members are going to join us. I was going to try and squeeze it into this month, but since some members are going to try and get it via 'inter library loan' I am going to read it Feb now. After I have read the two group read winners. Would that work for you too?
Terri wrote: "Hi Monica, I am going to read it Feb now. After I have read the two group read winners. Would that work for you too?..."Yes, in fact that works better for me, as I too have to get this via ILL. There is only one copy in my entire county, so I'll see about reserving it. Thanks for letting me know. (I did download the ebook sample, so I could read the first 20-30 pages from that.)
I haven't read a sample. I will do that too. Great, so Feb it is then. :-) That works better for me also in actuality. I can just return the copy to the library and get it out again next month.
Terri wrote: "I am going to try the book Niccolo Rising which lost the February Group Read Poll.Anyone is welcome to join me."
I'm taking it out of the library to see if I want to get to it. I'm trying hard to stay on my tbr list of reads this year. I am definitely going to be reading Attila though.
That's good that you will be on Attila. I will be reading both the winners. Not sure which I will start the month with yet..
Monica wrote: "Terri wrote: "I am going to try the book Niccolo Rising which lost the February Group Read Poll.Anyone is welcome to join me." Terri, This is the book I may have a shot at getting from a library...."
I've read the whole series twice and Dorothy Dunnett is my all-time favourite writer. I'll follow your reactions with interest!
I am still up for buddy reading our Feb Medieval loser middle of February.
Niccolo Rising
Although in saying that, I may have to start earlier than mid Feb as I have it out from the library and if someone reserves it after me then I cannot extend it passed the three week loan period.
Terri wrote: "I am still up for buddy reading our Feb Medieval loser middle of February.Niccolo Rising
..."
I hope to get this from the library. It is 2 towns away, and they say it will take 3-4 days to transfer to me. My town's library is about the size of my house, so not much there. I am requesting it to arrive in the first few days of February.
Excellent.I wonder how Anne's Inter library loan (ILL) is going.
I think I'll join you, I put in the request 5 minutes ago. I should have it next week so I can start early with you. :)
I also have this one to read. Not sure when in Feb I'll read it, but I'll get through it.
I have the two group read winners to read first, so it all depends on how quickly I read them.I would love to start it now. I have an open reading slot. :)
Terri wrote: "Excellent.I wonder how Anne's Inter library loan (ILL) is going."
I have 3 on the ILL. since 2 are AMH reads for Feb. and it still is Jan. I'm not too worried. I hope we like "Niccolo."
I hope so too. I have started another book, so I won't be jumping into it too early now. Maybe second week of Feb.
How are all you fellow losers going with sourcing your loser book?And by loser book I mean...
I am a little behind on my reading so I won't be starting early in the month. I will start about mid month as originally planned.
I picked mine up at the library yesterday. I have 3 weeks so if you're not gonna start til mid-month I can put off reading it until the 14th. That will still give me a week to finish it.
I'll check my copy in the library database and make sure nobody else has reserved it, then I'll extend. If someone else has reserved it behind me I will be in trouble.
I have mine from the library. It certainly has made the rounds...well worn copy. I'll be starting it soon.
You might be the first to start. :)
Is anyone else reading this book? I'm finding the story very slow to get into. Read the first two chapters...it was okay. Re-read the first two chapters thinking I may have missed something...I didn't. I hope it picks up the pace a bit. I'll give it a couple more chapters.
I am thinking that maybe the book will be a slow wind up. They are loved so much that it must creep up on the reader..surely?
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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If you do, then please feel free to share your thoughts on the book here in this thread. I know people will be interested, as you will not be the only one who wanted to read one of the losers, or the only one who is reading the winner, but wanted to read one of the losing books also.