What Are you Reading? Showing 16,501-16,523 of 16,523

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-written urban fantasy alt-reality series with some..."

This was a happy surprise. I'm nearing the end of the third book now. It helps that it's been very slow burn with two possible love interests — and that these waffle back and forth. There are questions about who to trust and to what extent, but not in the same way as so many of the other books I've read recently.

Anyway, lots of twists and turns. The series* could fit on a shelf that included JCP's PsyCop and Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. I'll have to finish to see that it holds up and doesn't suddenly go off the deep end. So far it's more urban fantasy with m/m romance, than romance with urban fantasy.

*Actually I'd classify it as a serial, as each book ends with a kind of season finale gotcha moment. I'm happy to be reading these when four books are already published. Except I just noticed that Book 5 (the series finale) hasn't been published yet and doesn't have a projected date. Argh! :)

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-written urban fantasy alt-reality series with some..."

ZAM's (Z.A. Maxfield) newsletter usually recommends three books by other authors that she's read. I've had some luck there.

I'm not sure how I found the Ariana Nash series. It may have popped up as a suggestion when I was buying another paranormal. The covers caught my eye. :)

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-written urban fantasy alt-reality s..."

Oh, I saw those recently! I put them in a cart for the library to purchase. I hope they're good. Also, that's a super cool thing for an author to do in their newsletter!

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-written urban fantasy alt-reality s..."

Yay! Sounds great!

[Karen]

Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-written urban fantasy..."

I thought they were very good. But they are more a serial than a series… and I found out that the 5th and final book comes out September 30th. I read the first four in a week. Is it September yet?

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ariana Nash's Shadows of London series, starting with Twisted Pretty Things. I'm on the second book of four — a well-writte..."

Now that's a sign of a good book!

[Josh]

I am OBSESSED.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4403650902

This is one of the art books by Yooichi Kadono who does the illustrations on the Japanese translations of the Art of Murder series.

I find her work inspirational. So much so, that I've got illustrations from the Art of Murder pinned all over my desk.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: "I am OBSESSED.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4403650902

This is one of the art books by Yooichi Kadono who does the illustrations on the Japanese translations of the Art of Murder series.

I find h..."

I love the Yooichi Kadono drawings! One of the books on your Amazon.jp link has some images from inside pages. Did you see the sketches of feet? They're amazing.

[Jordan]

Queer Audiobook Narrators: https://bookriot.com/queer-audiobook-...

[Jordan]

15 of the best mystery romances and guess who made #15...?!?!?!

https://bookriot.com/best-mystery-rom...

[Jordan]

So my other book group is reading a The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and I’m listening to the audiobook. It’s narrated by a woman and also a man who goes by the name Thom Rivera, but he has Gomez Pugh’s voice! I can’t find confirmation, but I’m thinking Gomez must be a penname, since there’s more info online for Thom. But, wow!

Also, what’s funny, is that Thom’s character doesn’t drink and has a few other minor similarities with Victor Bayne. Lol. Anyway, I shall enjoy this book even more now and do my best not to name the character Vic in my head.

[Karen]

I’m also in something of a reading funk, having read a slew of paranormal/fantasy that’s been mostly disappointing, but not sure I can trust my current perceptions. I find myself enjoying (except for some cringe-worthy sex scenes) a story by an author who’s mostly a miss for me, then thinking another book is brilliant until about the the 40% point when I start to wonder if the author was replaced by a different writer mid-stream. I’m going to read the new 4th book in a series I’ve enjoyed so far, see if reader confidence can be regained, and then come back to this discussion. :)

I posted this is our BOM discussion to explain why I'm giving more thought to my response to Perfect FlawPerfect Flaw before posting.

In response WMD inquired about what books I was referring to, so I'll list some of those in my next post.

My star rating system (I never rate 1 or 2)
5 = My cuppa in style, content, and delivery
4 = Minor niggles re style, content, and delivery
3 = Missing something for me in style, content, and delivery — or I appreciate the effort, but it's not my cuppa
Not rated for now = I need to give this more thought or I need to see where the next book in the series goes...
Not rated = not my cuppa, cookie-cutter content, and/or cringe-worthy writing

[Karen]

This is sort of funny because my "reading funk" seems to be triggered by the last four of these books and most of the rest of my Spring/Summer paranormal/fantasy reading was great. :)

April-present paranormal/fantasy reading:
Jordan L. Hawk The Forgotten Dead | 4
Morgan Brice Blink | 4
S.E. Harmon The Spooky Life | 5
Barbara Elsborg | Broken Things | 4.5
Louisa Masters | The Dragon Experiment | 3.5
Ariana Nash | Shadows of London, Books 1-4, starting with Twisted Pretty Things | 4.5, 5, 5, 5
F.N. Manning | The Werewolf's Heart | not rated for now
K.D. Edwards | The Hourglass Throne | 5
Lily Morton | The Sceptic | 4.5
Fay Shannon | Innate Magic | 5
Tavia Lark | Radiance Books 1-3 starting with The Necromancer's Light | 4, 4, 4
Ariana Nash | Violent Desire | not rated
Rhys Lawless | Elven Duty | not rated
X. Aratare | Cinders & Ashes Books 1-2 (serial) Cinders & Ashes: Book One | not rated for now
A.C. Andrews | Descent of Ravens | stalled out at 40%

[Karen]

Funk dismissed. Inhaled Book 4 in Kai Butler's "San Amaro Investigations" —A Shattered Silver Crown. I'm very into this series. Imagine a gay Harry Dresden, but with a lot less whining. ;)

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "Funk dismissed. Inhaled Book 4 in Kai Butler's "San Amaro Investigations" —A Shattered Silver Crown. I'm very into this series. Imagine a gay Harry Dresden, but with a lot less whin..."

I've not read Harry Dresden, but this sounds fantastic all the same!

[Jordan]

Karen wrote: "This is sort of funny because my "reading funk" seems to be triggered by the last four of these books and most of the rest of my Spring/Summer paranormal/fantasy reading was great. :)

April-presen..."

It's never fun when you get several in a row that aren't that great. But you did eventually find a good one, so that's great!

[Antonella]

Karen wrote: "Funk dismissed. Inhaled Book 4 in Kai Butler's "San Amaro Investigations" —A Shattered Silver Crown. I'm very into this series. Imagine a gay Harry Dresden, but with a lot less whin..."

Thank you for all your recs and ratings, which I see only now.

I'm in a fantasy reading period.

I've just read (some 5 years after publication) The Prey of Gods, a very imaginative debut by Nicky Drayden*.

Before I had read After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang.

I gave both 4 stars, which is really good in my rating system. Probably I should have been more generous, both are not run-of-the-mill books....


* Now I'm reading her second book: Escaping Exodus.

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "Karen wrote: "Funk dismissed. Inhaled Book 4 in Kai Butler's "San Amaro Investigations" —A Shattered Silver Crown. I'm very into this series. Imagine a gay Harry Dresden, but with a..."

Both are on my to-read list! That's great to know that The Prey of the Gods is also good!

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "Both are on my to-read list! That's great to know that The Prey of the Gods is also good!"

Yes, but check the warnings.

[Jordan]

Will do!

[Antonella]

I've just read Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Katherine Fabian and Iona Datt Sharma.

It was wonderful! And it costs only $3.45: https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Longest...

[Antonella]

Husband Material by Alexis Hall is here!

https://quicunquevult.com/book/husban...

There'll be a live (virtual) release day event at the Blue Willow bookshop TODAY 2nd August at 7pm CT. The event is free, but you do need to register:
https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/ev...

ETA: Apparently it is at 2:00 AM (2:00) next day in my time zone. Now I understand why Alexis was apologetic about the time...

[Antonella]

Subtle Bodies by Jordan Castillo Price as ebook and paperback is out!

And it is not the last PsyCop book!!!