Other than Grimdark, what else are you reading?

[Sumant]

@Chompa I definitely recommend it but you need to have some patience with first two books as they are ok not as good as the third book.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Sumant wrote: "@Chompa I definitely recommend it but you need to have some patience with first two books as they are ok not as good as the third book."

I liked the first book best.
Course...I was a young teen when I first read it.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of The Shadow Throne.

[Chris, kingtermite]

I'm in a library ebook queue waiting for "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children", so while I'm waiting on that (probably another week or two), I've been reading some Phillip K. Dick.

First I read The Man in the High Castle which was pretty 'meh'. Definitely not as good as I'd hoped.

Now, I'm killing time with a book of PKD short stories.
The Philip K. Dick Megapack

[Heather]

I'm reading Dracula, which is kinda grim and dark but not Grimdark. Unusual in that the whole novel is letters and diaries. The style is much like The Phantom of the Opera, The Prestige, etc.

[Andy]

Chompa wrote: "Hyperion was an interesting read. The stories are a little hit and miss for me, but I loved the Canterbury Tales feel of it. A couple of the stories were just amazing. I never made it to book 2."

I'm huge fan of Hyperion (the first two anyway; I wasn't so into Endymion). I listened to them as audiobooks and would definitely recommend them in that format. Perhaps you recognize the creature in my current profile pic?

[Chompa, Founding Father]

Andy, I hadn't paid attention to the pic before, but that is the Shrike isn't it? Very cool.

[Andy]

Chompa wrote: "Andy, I hadn't paid attention to the pic before, but that is the Shrike isn't it? Very cool."

Yes, the Shrike. Do you know Quint VonCannon from the facebook group? It's one of his.

[Chompa, Founding Father]

Andy, I'm not sure if I know him. Looks good though.

[Scott]

Second Cataclysm

This book was excellent and there's two more out and they are planning a series of nine. It's only 99 cents on Amazon for book one. Well worth the money and time.

[Heather]

That's funny - I liked books 3 and 4 the best (of Hyperion)!

[Andy]

Heather wrote: "That's funny - I liked books 3 and 4 the best (of Hyperion)!"

Oh yeah? The third just seemed very limited to me. Much less epic than the first two. I guess you'd recommend the fourth? That's the only one I haven't read.

[Reon]

Started with Meadowland, historical fiction about the viking discovery of America, and I finally started with the Riyria Revelations!

[Angela]

I'm currently reading Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. I've just finished Storm Front which I really enjoyed. Another group I'm in is doing a series read of The Dresden Files. One book a month. I enjoyed the first book Storm Front, so looking forward to seeing what I think of the next one.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of Gap into madness.

[Chompa, Founding Father]

Angela, Jim Butcher is one of my favorite writers. I love the Dresden Files books and also loved his fantasy series. The new Steampunk book is pretty good too.

[Scott]

The Aeronaut's Windlass was my favorite book of his to date.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Angela wrote: "I'm currently reading Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. I've just finished Storm Front which I really enjoyed. Another group I'm in is doing a series read of The Dresden Files. On..."

I have ebooks of many/most of his books (especially Dresden series). I plan to start him before too long.

[Chris, kingtermite]

I'm reading The Maze Runner right now. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised. I saw some really bad reviews, but it's not bad, IMO. The story seems a bit contrived (maybe it won't be quite so bad once the explanation comes), but the prose is fine.

It's definitely not as horrible as the Divergent books. Those were just painful. I'd say it's more along the lines of Hunger Games.

I'm really surprised at all the negative comments/reviews. I bought this when I saw an amazing Amazon kindle deal for the 3-book series maybe 6 months (or more) back. After I bought it, I started noticing the reviews and had been putting it off thinking it would be horrible like that Divergent series was. I'm pleasantly surprised so far.

[Angela]

I'm looking forward to reading the series Chompa. I seem to struggle whenever I've read steampunk to date, but if I like The Dresden Files I'm sure I will give it go.

Chris I found the first book quite a quick read time wise. They aren't overly long books. My son has just finished reading The Maze Runner and really enjoyed it. He's keen to give the next book a go. I told my son I would give the book a try as well, so I would be interested to hear what your final thoughts are once you have finished the book.

[Jenna]

Chris wrote: "I'm reading The Maze Runner right now. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised. I saw some really bad reviews, but it's not bad, IMO. The story seems a bit contrived (maybe it won't be quit..."

I never read Divergent, but I didn't like The Maze Runner. I can't even pinpoint one specific reason; I just didn't like it. I probably would have liked it 10-15 years ago, when I was still in elementary school.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen, First In, Last Out]

Chris wrote: "I'm reading The Maze Runner right now. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised. I saw some really bad reviews, but it's not bad, IMO. The story seems a bit contrived (maybe it won't be quit..."

For me it started out really promising, but never quite reached its potential. There was one thing that seriously bugged me about the whole series. I won't tell you what though in case of spoilers.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Angela wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading the series Chompa. I seem to struggle whenever I've read steampunk to date, but if I like The Dresden Files I'm sure I will give it go.

Chris I found the first book ..."

I'm about 75% of the way through the book now. I still like it. I was really worried when I saw all the negative comments, but it's turning out to be much better than expectations (keeping in mind expectations were low because of reviews).

It's a bit simple and contrived, but that's par for the course in Young Adult, I think. It's a quick fun read. It's got some minor issues, but it's not horrible. Right now, I'd say it's a solid 3.5 stars.

[pisang]

I want a month of fantasy pause and try some other genre. But I really have no clue where to start haha. I've been looking at some modern classics, but still can't make up my mind. And After the 'short' break I am thinking of starting the malazan series. Mainly because I am going on a long holiday.

I'm realising I need vacation if I even can't decide what to read!

[James]

Flashman by George MacDonald Frasier. Anything by Amin Maalouf. Joseph by Julian Rathbone.

You're welcome.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Pisang wrote: "I want a month of fantasy pause and try some other genre. But I really have no clue where to start haha. I've been looking at some modern classics, but still can't make up my mind. And After the 's..."

Try some Dystopian. It's another of my favorite genres.

A few suggestions if you haven't read them:
Anthem (my fave book of all-time)
1984
Brave New World (most people love it)
The Handmaid's Tale (Read this one last year. Amazing!)

[pisang]

Thanks Chris! Brave new world is on my radar for some time now.

[pisang]

And james :)

[Chris, kingtermite]

Pisang wrote: "Thanks Chris! Brave new world is on my radar for some time now."
LOL. I know @Heather mentioned that was one of her favorites. It was my least favorite of the bunch. I mentioned it because many love it. Personally, I thought it was a bit overrated.

Anthem and 1984 would be great books to read back to back, IMO. Same topic/setting from pretty much opposite POVs.

[James]

Oh. Finish your sojourn away from fantasy with " A Visit From the Goon Squad". It finishes with one of the greatest sci fi worlds ever.

[Jenna]

Brittany wrote: "When I need a break I go for historical fiction or a modern classic too."

My fantasy breaks are also usually historical fiction or any kind of classic. I read The Nightingale awhile back on a bus ride and that was probably the worst idea ever. I cried so much...a great read, but best to read when not in public.

[Jenna]

Brittany wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Brittany wrote: "When I need a break I go for historical fiction or a modern classic too."

My fantasy breaks are also usually historical fiction or any kind of classic. I read [book:..."

More like you can share recommendations with me! I have won a couple of historical fiction giveaways on Goodreads so that has mostly been my historical fiction fix since fall.

Oh no! Strangers on snapchat - I didn't even consider that people would do that! Somewhere, someday, one of us will become a meme.

[Scott]

I'm also a historical fiction fan. I've read the ones below in the recent past and they were all excellent.

The Last Kingdom
All the Light We Cannot See
The Nightengale

[James]

Scott wrote: "I'm also a historical fiction fan. I've read the ones below in the recent past and they were all excellent.

The Last Kingdom
All the Light We Cannot See
The Nig..."</i>

Here's a few of my favourite historical fiction works, which touch on a past so utterly foreign, it feels like fantasy...
[book:Balthasar's Odyssey
Samarkand

[Mark]

Scott wrote: "I'm also a historical fiction fan. I've read the ones below in the recent past and they were all excellent.

The Last Kingdom
All the Light We Cannot See
[book:The Nig..."

Agree with Scott, Bernard Cornwell stuff is worth reading.

[Scott]

Brittany wrote: "I think Cornwell will be my next read. I have actually never read anything from him yet. Any suggestion on a good book to start with?"

The Last Kingdom was excellent. I plan on reading the entire series. It was a solid 4.5*s.

[Chris, kingtermite]

On to the second book in Maze Runner series.
The Scorch Trials

Dashner's prose style reminds me a lot of Dan Brown. Short chapters in which every single solitary one ends on a bit of a cliff hanger.

[Silvana]

the first book of Maze runner is the best and the last is the worst. the movie adaptation of Scorch trials was so bad it makes the phantom menace looks great.

[pisang]

So far the fantasy pause. Started Gardens of the moon. Curious about the serie for a long time.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen, First In, Last Out]

Just finished The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung. Great read.

[Silvana]

Empire Ascendant by Kameron Hurley. Love the gender-stereotype bending in this series.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Over half way through the Maze Runner's second book, The Scorch Trials. I'm still enjoying it, but it's trending downward.

At least the prose/writing isn't horrible like the Divergent series was. My main complaint is that there is obviously a 'big secret', but unless I'm proven wrong, I figured out the main part of the secret half way through the first book. I think now half way through this second book I've figured out the other half.

I guess, maybe that's par for the course in YA though. I have sort of a love-hate relationship with YA. I do love reading it, but seem to often end up hating the bad writing, simplistic plots, etc....

[Heather]

@Chris The writing is MUCH better in the second book. The first was so Lord of the Flies speak that it drove me freakin crazy. I was so pleased that the movie was much better. The other two books are less painful but don't expect a lot of resolution. Still better than the wrap-up of world-building in Divergent which didn't make sense...

I just started Shades of Grey, which has been on my to-read list for awhile. I thought I was reading it for sci-fi/ fantasy book club but now I see I was supposed to pick up his other book, The Eyre Affair. I obviously need more coffee.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Heather wrote: "@Chris The writing is MUCH better in the second book. The first was so Lord of the Flies speak that it drove me freakin crazy. I was so pleased that the movie was much better. The other two books a..."

I'm about 2/3 done with the second book now. I'm still enjoying it. Again...it's YA, do it's not 'deep'. It's still a fun read and the prose is fine. It was a bit Lord of the Flies in the first book, but it wasn't so bad that it annoyed me.

[Heather]

Have you tried Variant?

If you're looking for an entertaining fantasy YA - The Amulet of Samarkand.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Heather wrote: "Have you tried Variant?

If you're looking for an entertaining fantasy YA - The Amulet of Samarkand."
Cool. Thx. Added them. Read your reviews on Variant and it's sequel. Definitely looks like a fun read. :)

[Silvana]

Jonathan Stroud's books (Bartimaeus, Lockwood) are more middle-grade than YA - no love triangles, less angsty and so on.

[Heather]

I have talked to several middle-grade kids that didn't like the series and I really think they just don't get the humor (and these are American kids that watch British tv shows). I theorize that perhaps you have to be a tad older to enjoy??

I didn't really like Lockwood very much, although I'll probably try the second book.

[Heather]

My tolerance for YA has fallen considerably so I know my ratings are rather confused. The more recently I read it, the harder my ratings are! I think my biggest issue with it is that I've always been a fan of "real" dystopia and it really makes me sad how milk-toast YA has made it.

[James]

I've been doing a few rounds of read to reviews and most of the fantasy writers seem to market themselves as YA. (I definitely don't). Some of them are about steampunk cats and lost princesses, so fine, but a few I've read really restrict themselves by not being willing to be grown up. It's a pity when marketing gets in the way of good storytelling. Self censorship I generally find is detrimental to creativity. Strong armed hugs are all well and good, but can't we have a little sex without being concerned about being labelled erotica? I think YA is restricting fantasy like the comic code did back in the day...