Other than Grimdark, what else are you reading?

[Scott]

Age of Myth pre-ordered and started it today when it was released.

[Jenna]

Scott wrote: "Age of Myth pre-ordered and started it today when it was released."

I'm looking forward to what you have to say about this one.

[Sumant]

Here is re-read review for The Shadow Rising.

[Heather]

Has anyone finished The Wheel of Osheim? I wish I had someone to discuss with...

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

I've got it waiting for me. I don't want to start it because then it will be finished. I won't know that do to with myself after that!

[Heather]

Well, don't get your hopes up too much. I know it has great ratings but I was underwhelmed by 50% of it. It's hard to rate Lawrence - against himself or against contemporary fantasy drivel?

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

I found myself underwhelmed by The Liars Key, the first time I read it. I decided to read it again right away and absolutely loved it. I can see why you feel Lawrence is very difficult to rate, so far though, I've loved everything he's done.

[Mark]

Starting it soon.

[Heather]

I actually really loved the first two books. I wasn't one of those people that only liked Thorns. I love the sci-fi parts of this book. I just tend to have little patience for cliche Grimdark - bedding wenches, swearing, drinking.../yawn

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

I love the sci-first parts too! I'm a sucker for great tech and this is no different. One of my favourite parts of Thorns is when Jorg frees the Custodian. What must have been going through the poor mans head?

[Heather]

Oh yeah, that was an awesome part. I loved that book!

I loved figuring out what the Wheel was and interacting with more constructs in this book.

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

Ok I'm starting it tonight!

[Jenna]

Heather wrote: "Has anyone finished The Wheel of Osheim? I wish I had someone to discuss with..."

I've only read the first one and I keep meaning to get to the other two, but I have so many books to read!

[Angela]

I've just finished reading The Turner House which was interesting as set against the backdrop of Detroit in decay. It's not something I would normally read, but a blog I'm in we all picked a book of the summer to read from a list of books to read. Though here it should be book of the winter. I enjoyed it. Non fantasy.

I'm now onto The Girl in the Spider's Web. A friend lent it to me a while ago and I really need to get it read so I can hand it back to her. I enjoyed the Millennium Trilogy, so hoping this one will be okay as has had mixed reviews.

After that I'm heading back to a fantasy book Veil of the Deserters.

[Seán]

I've recently read Echopraxia by Peter Watts, the follow up to Blindsight, which is one of my favourite books ever.

If you like your books grim and bleak, and don't mind venturing into some hard sci-fi, then I couldn't have a stronger recommend. Blindsight is a book I regularly buy for friends and force on them to spread the word :)

[Chris, kingtermite]

Sean wrote: "I've recently read Echopraxia by Peter Watts, the follow up to Blindsight, which is one of my favourite books ever.

If you like your books grim and bleak, and don't mi..."

OK....You (and description) convinced me to check it out. Added Blindsight to my list.

Is the second book, Echopraxia the end of the story or are more books planned? Do you know?

[Seán]

Chris wrote: "Sean wrote: "I've recently read Echopraxia by Peter Watts, the follow up to Blindsight, which is one of my favourite books ever.

If you like your books grim and bleak,..."

I honestly don't know what his plan is for future books. Echopraxia continues events in the world, and it leaves room for more books, but doesn't necessitate them. Blindsight can be read on its own and still get a the full effect though, so definitely give it a look.

Watts writes some pretty heavy sci-fi, exploring a lot of philosophy/neuro-science concepts, so you might have to bear with it if that's not something you normally go for. But I think it's well worth sticking it out. Also, Watts has pretty much the coolest iteration of 'vampires' I've ever read.

I'll stop gushing now. But seriously, read the book! :p

[Chris, kingtermite]

Sean wrote: "Chris wrote: "Sean wrote: "I've recently read Echopraxia by Peter Watts, the follow up to Blindsight, which is one of my favourite books ever.

If you like your books g..."

I'm all in. :)

[Chompa, Founding Father]

I've been off this board too long! I did get some non-Grimdark reading in. The Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaefer is one that fills my Dresden Files want. I've read the first three books and enjoyed them. For those that like Harry Dresden, these are a good match.

I've also dipped into a couple other books that I'm not sure I'll even finish. I started Stephen King's "It" and absolutely love the writing, just not sure I want to read horror. I also started Warhammer Fantasy setting's Trollslayer which is fun, but not such great writing.

[Terrible Timy]

The Daniel Faust series is on my list too. Maybe next month I'll get to that. I read the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks right now. I didn't read the Dresden files, though it's also on my list.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of prince of fools. It's definitely a good one time read.

[Chris, kingtermite]

I just finished the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series. It was one of the best series I've read in the YA genre. I'd highly recommend it for YA readers.

As much as I enjoyed this one, between this series, Maze Runner (just before it) and Divergent (last year), I think I'm pretty YA book'd out for the time being.

[Reon]

I just finished the Conqueror/Khan series from Conn Iggulden and it was awesome. If you like David Gemmel's work you would probably enjoy these too!

[Mark]

StartedLeague of Dragons good series

[Scott]

Mikos wrote: "I just finished the Conqueror/Khan series from Conn Iggulden and it was awesome. If you like David Gemmel's work you would probably enjoy these too!"

Started book one a few days back. So far so good.

[Chris, kingtermite]

Brittany wrote: "How did you like Miss Peregrine's? "

LOL...did you just miss my post a few above yours that said how much I enjoyed it. I'm not saying it was the best series of all-time, but it might be the best YA series I've read to date. It's enjoyable for adult readers and it's great, I'd guess, for YA readers.

[Sumant]

Here is my review for Titus Alone.

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

Brittany wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I love the sci-first parts too! I'm a sucker for great tech and this is no different. One of my favourite parts of Thorns is when Jorg frees the Custodian. What must..."

Haha! The poor man, (view spoiler)[one minute he's walking around, sweeping, dusting, and then boom! It's 1100 years later and he's a Saint. And there are some very scary men looking at him rather expectantly! (hide spoiler)]

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

I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm not loving LoLL, unfortunately. I'm having trouble connecting with the characters.

[Heather]

I really enjoyed most of "Lies" but I found the ending problematic. I do get a little tired of the scrappy orphan main character.

[Mark]

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm not loving LoLL, unfortunately. I'm having trouble connecting with the characters."

Nice to hear I am not alone with regarding LoLL. ;)

[Heather]

I just finished His Majesty's Dragon, reading with Tracey and others. I didn't like the book but did like Uprooted. I'm convinced people either like one or the other, but not both!

[Terrible Timy]

I finished the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks. Finally.

[Mark]

Heather wrote: "I just finished His Majesty's Dragon, reading with Tracey and others. I didn't like the book but did like Uprooted. I'm convinced people either like one or the other, b..."

I loved both books.lol

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

I'm the opposite to Heather! Didn't much care for Uprooted, but quite enjoyed His Majesty's Dragon! It's not what I would call highbrow literature, but it was fun! The ending was a little flat though.

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

Mark wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm not loving LoLL, unfortunately. I'm having trouble connecting..."

Its very slow going at the moment, I'm finding myself having to force myself to make time for it.

[Reon]

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Mark wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm not loving LoLL, unfortunately. I'm having troub..."

Don't you hate it when you start a new serie that isn't finished yet (Gentlemen Bastard)? After WOT and ASOIAF I'm never doing that again !

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

Mikos wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Mark wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm not loving LoLL,..."

I don't really mind waiting for the next book. I have so many incomplete series on the go and usually end up adding to them all the time! Besides if no-one buys the first book in the series there's a good chance there won't be a second.

[Reon]

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Mikos wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Mark wrote: "Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and His Majesty's Dragon. I'm no..."

hahaha you make a very very good point there :D

[Silvana]

I prefer His Majesty's Dragon than Uprooted too. The later one feels too YA for me and the romance did not help. Still a good book though, but I prefer my dragon aerial squadrons.

Currently binge-reading samples. Beggars in Spain looks interesting. Low Town as well. Waiting for discounts on both (yes, I'm cheap).
And finally starting The Geek Feminist Revolution

[Heather]

I don't like battles really...whether in space or on dragons. I just kept giggling about the idea of them pitching tents on a dragon...yelling through their speaking trumpets....dragons that hatch perfect gentlemen.

[Chris, kingtermite]

I just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane and OMG what an amazing book! This may be the best one off (non-series) books I've read in years (possibly ever).

Seriously....you MUST read this book. It's not grim dark, and honestly I'd be hard pressed to categorize it. Kind of Urban Fantasy if I were forced to put it in a genre. Almost Young Adult.

[Chompa, Founding Father]

Chris wrote: "I just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane and OMG what an amazing book! This may be the best one off (non-series) books I've read in years (possibly ever).

Seriously....you..."

Chris, I loved that book. I heartily recommend it too.

[Heather]

It really is great. That is one of my favorite Gaiman books.

[Shell]

Hiya, I've just joined the group - I love fantasy (particularly Grimdark though I've not read a huge amount jusy yet) and a bit of sci-fi but I also really love historical fiction - my particular faves are Bernard Cornwall's Uhtred/Saxon Stories/Warrior Chronicles.

However, I'm currently read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of The Temporal Void

[Chompa, Founding Father]

Welcome, Michelle!

I've read some of Cornwell's Sharpe's books. I've heard this other series were good too.

[Reon]

Hi, Michelle! I have been reading a lot of historical fiction lately too. The saxon stories are on my soon to read schedule! I always recommend Gates of fire for historical fiction fans.

[Scott]

I wouldn't quite call these GD but for YA books they definitely qualify. The magic and stories aren't anything earth shattering but having a very dark main character has made these enjoyable. Book one was a solid 4.5* effort that I flew through. I'm about 40% through book two right now and it's been equally enjoyable. Book three comes out in October. If you're looking for a dark and easy read I'd recommend these. If you're looking for original and a slow great world build they're probably not for you.

The Young Elites
The Rose Society
The Midnight Star

[Chris, kingtermite]

Michelle wrote: "Hiya, I've just joined the group - I love fantasy (particularly Grimdark though I've not read a huge amount jusy yet) and a bit of sci-fi but I also really love historical fiction - my particular f..."

Welcome Michelle.


I just finished Miss Peregrine's series last month or so. It was one of the best YA series I've read yet.