What are you reading in February 2016?

[Lára]

Share what you´re reading here.

[River]

I've just started The Book of the Cauldron by Diana L. Paxson and The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Since I'm not yet at The Death of Dulgath in the Riyria Revelations, and I've just joined the group, I plan to read The Dragonbone Chair instead.

[Pickle]

currently reading Deathworld 1 with a plan to read:

Brain Wave
Foreigner
Anansi Boys

[Femmy]

Currently reading Stone of Farewell, and after that, on to To Green Angel Tower. Due to their thickness, I think those two will be enough to last me through this month.

[Dan]

I'm currently reading Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie and an anthology, Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery. I just finished off The Silver Chair yesterday, and will begin reading The Horse and His Boy out loud with my girlfriend soon.

Once I've polished off Before They Are Hanged (should be soon, a day or two) I'll probably pick up The Dragonbone Chair.

[Kevin]

Callum wrote: "I've just started The Book of the Cauldron by Diana L. Paxson and The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Since I'm not yet at The Death of Dulgath in the Riyria Revelat..."

I don't believe you have to read any of the other books to read The Death of Dulgath. They are all stand alone prequals

[Jenna]

Sadly, my February is looking pretty free of fantasy. I'm hoping to either read The Black Company or Prince of Fools (hopefully both). Anyone have suggestions on which to start first?

[River]

Kevin wrote: "Callum wrote: "I've just started The Book of the Cauldron by Diana L. Paxson and The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Since I'm not yet at The Death of Dulgath in the..."

I suppose. I really don't like reading things out of order.

[Tnkw01]

Just finished Scepter of Faith. I give a 4.5 star but have to lower it to a 4. It was a nice YA novella. It's a really quick read and I really enjoyed it. Really do recommend it.

[Lára]

I quite love to read books that are out of order. (I prefer to read series from the last one written.)

I agree with Helen, January was really sad. I cried afrer David Bowie and I even had a personal "will remember as long as I live" with my aquatic snails and betta fish.

[Ian]

I'm reading providence of fire by Brian Staveley. Really enjoying it so far. No idea what to read next though.

[Amy]

I'm reading The Bone Season. I like how detailed the world-building is, but sadly it's not always conveyed with much clarity. After three chapters, I still haven't a clue what's going on!

[Vera]

Callum wrote: "I've just started The Book of the Cauldron by Diana L. Paxson and The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Since I'm not yet at The Death of Dulgath in the Riyria Revelat..."

I feel the same about the Death of Dulgath. I would like to read the other books first, even though I've heard this one can be read without having read those.

[Vera]

Read:
Red Queen

Planning for Fantasy reads this month:
Crown of Midnight
The Dragonbone Chair
Gardens of the Moon
The King's Blood

[Rich]

Just started Companions on the Road and The Winter Players: Two Novellas. Also reading Un Lun Dun and The Liar's Key. Not sure about Un Lun Dun, I'm about 100 pages in and it's not really keeping my interest. The Liar's Key got set aside for no good reason, I'll pick that up next.

[Rich]

Jenna wrote: "Sadly, my February is looking pretty free of fantasy. I'm hoping to either read The Black Company or Prince of Fools (hopefully both). Anyone have suggestions on which..."
Both are quite good, although I'd start with Prince of Fools. It depends if you want a dark fantasy or military fantasy.

[Tara]

I started to read A Darker Shade of Magic and so far so good, I love books with magic and time travel. I'm also listening to Brave New World but it's not really catching my attention. I've heard so much about it so I do want to try to finish it.

[Lynda]

My OCD will not let me participate in the Monthly Read since it's the third book of a series; however, I thought I would pick up The Crown Conspiracy to compensate.

I have A Darker Shade of Magic coming in from a library hold soon, so I'll be finishing it, too, Tara. I read the first half a bit ago, but couldn't finish it in time before the library hold expired. I guess I liked it, but not enough to buy it!

Did just finish The Subtle Knife - I have a few other audio books to get through before I read The Amber Spyglass though.

[Jenna]

Richard wrote: Both are quite good, although I'd start with Prince of Fools. It depends if you want a dark fantasy or military fantasy.

I will do that then. :) I enjoy both sub-genres though I usually tend to go for military fantasy.

[Dan]

I tried to reply to this thread twice, but my post keeps getting minced up...

So no quotes.

Vera: Why not wait for March to read Gardens of the Moon and join in on the group read?

I just started up The Dragonbone Chair today. The intro reminds me of T.H. White and maybe a bit of Gormenghast too.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

The series that Death of Dulgath is part three of, is set before the series beginning with Crown Conspiracy, so can be read before. Death' is effectively a stand alone, and the author states that he wrote it so it could be read with no previous reading so you could join the monthly.

Having said that, I think I'd have read them all, which I did, as they are awesome.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

January really was rubbish for people etc passing on. Terry Wogan has now died, tv/radio presenter and much loved by all.

[Vera]

Dan wrote: "I tried to reply to this thread twice, but my post keeps getting minced up...

So no quotes.

Vera: Why not wait for March to read Gardens of the Moon and join in on the group read?

I just started..."

Oh i didnt even pay attention to that it is next month read. I may hold off then to keep it fresh in my mind for group read!

[Joseph]

Finished Jess and started Allan Quatermain, both by H. Rider Haggard. No reviews forthcoming due to ice-and-arm-related technical difficulties.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I'm reading Snakewood, I really need an early night so that I can get into it properly.

[Margret]

Joseph- did you break your arm??

It sure has been icy up here in Canada, I thought about buying ice cleats for my shoes!

[Joseph]

Margret wrote: "Joseph- did you break your arm??

It sure has been icy up here in Canada, I thought about buying ice cleats for my shoes!"

Yep. Out walking, hit snow-covered ice patch on sidewalk, down I went. No fun, but could've been worse, I guess.

[Jenna]

Where are you guys in Canada? I'm in Southwestern Ontario and this winter has been absolutely pathetic. It was 11 degrees today! Where is winter? Bring me the snow!

[Joseph]

I'm actually south of the border in Minnesota. Has been mostly a pathetic winter until yesterday.

[Margret]

I'm in Alberta, has been mostly mild all winter.. Just getting freezing rain lately, but other than that I haven't had any moments on the road where I was certain I'd die! There's at least 3 per winter usually.

Take care Joseph, I was in a similar situation all week due to an old car accident injury that likes to act up. It's hard to rest up when you're supposed to I've found, and when I have lots to do I just want to shut it down and read!

That being said while I was stuck on the couch I finished An ember in the ashes, and The Kings Blood (Dagger and Coin #2)!

[Jenna]

I feel like I'm just angry because I bought new winter boots and I can't even wear them. Also, I've been reading books for school, so there has been a lot less fantasy and a lot more history and political science, which I also enjoy, but I'm feeling withdrawal symptoms of not reading fantasy. Hopefully I'll be able to read more soon so I don't have to move all my posts to the grumpy rant thread. I am very excited to start Prince of Fools, hopefully this weekend :)
I also really want to read Gardens of the Moon, which I have owned for quite some time, but I'm holding off until March for the group read.

[Matt]

Just finished The Magicians on Kindle and The Fires of Heaven as an audiobook. Now trying something different, a rare foray into sci-fi with The Three-Body Problem. About 50 pages in an it's quite engaging so far, not hard to get into at all.

[A.L.]

I'm between fantasy books at the moment. Started The Dragonbone Chair but couldn't get into it.

Thinking next A Man and His God, The Children of Húrin or a Terry Pratchett re-read.

[Dan]

I'm in Winnipeg and it's been the most mild winter ever (still a ton if snow mind you)! And I love it. went out jogging everyday this year.

[Lára]

I need to finish Meghaduta Of Kalidasa by Kālidāsa by the end of this week, so I´m on this book.

I´m still reading The Dragonbone Chair, The Sword of Shannara and The Privilege of the Sword

I borrowed Natsume Sōseki´s Kokoro in Universy´s library a couple of hours ago, because his novels always calm me down.

[Michael]

Just started Mr. Mercedes. Not sure what to expect from this one but looking forward to digging in.

[Sterling]

I Just finished The Final Empireand now I am starting The Well of Ascension I will most likely read the rest of the series this month. I am also going to re read The Death of Dulgathsince I finished Heir of Novron

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Our winter has been so wet, I'm sure that it's rained every day. There have new records set by some town in north Wales for most rained on days recently.

[Lynda]

Helen wrote: "The series that Death of Dulgath is part three of, is set before the series beginning with Crown Conspiracy, so can be read before. Death' is effectively a stand alone, and the author states that h..."

I'll consider it, for me, it really is an issue of OCD, but I'm trying to brake those patterns, I'll see what the library has to say. I did reserve next month's title at the library in order to ensure I'll be participating in discussion then,

I live just outside Seattle, and we've had a lot of adventures with icy roads this year, also. Pretty uncommon, as winter here means maybe one or two days of light snowfall (max 2-3"), then a pretty settled 40° and rain. As someone who has to climb down foothills in a Mini Cooper, I've not been appreciative of the change.

[Alissa]

Jenna wrote: "Richard wrote: Both are quite good, although I'd start with Prince of Fools. It depends if you want a dark fantasy or military fantasy.

I will do that then. :) I enjoy both sub-genres though I us..."

I loved both, but Prince of Fools is the "shorter" investment, if you end up liking the Black Company, it's a longer story and also one of my favorite endings ever (Soldiers Live I mean, though you can simply read the first trilogy and stop there, there is no cliffhanger). As for the humor...Croaker's has a certain dry style that may not be up anyone's alley, while Jalen is a very likeable rascal and he and Snorri make a great pair.
This said, I would absolutely recommend reading both!

Recently finished Schafer's most excellent Shattered Sigil's trilogy, it's a great character-driven fantasy tale, with wondrous landscapes and a must for any fantasy lover who also likes mountain climbing.

Helen wrote: "Our winter has been so wet, I'm sure that it's rained every day. There have new records set by some town in north Wales for most rained on days recently."

Uh, here we had a light shower around the beginning on January, a whole day maybe...for the rest, it has not been raining for over 4 months.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

It's raining here after being dry all day. I'm not exaggerating when I say every day.

[Robin]

I just started reading The Desert Spear, but it will probably take me through March to read it since it is a rather lengthy one, and unfortunately grad school and work must come first :(

[Frank]

the dragon reborn by Robert Jordan. God awful but I want to finish the series

[Scott]

Bout 80% through The Eye of the World. Liking it a lot more than I did my original try. A very well created world.

Excited to start Morning Star next week!

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Me too.

[Bruce]

I'm re-reading an old friend- The Curved Saber by Harold Lamb. I've been reading- and re-reading- this one since I was a teenager, and I think it is the best historical fiction I've ever come across. Historic fiction might not be the right term. I think Action/Adventure would be more accurate. An old Cossack, in 16th century Russia, is told he is too old to ride with the warriors anymore. Enraged by the insult, old Khlit- surnamed, "the Wolf,"- rides away from the Cossack Brotherhood, looking for war and battles in foreign lands. He finds both. Some in China, or Tibet, or India. Lots of very accurate background material, and lots of trickery, blood-thirsty villains, and sword play.

Great stuff.

[Joseph]

Bruce wrote: "I'm re-reading an old friend- The Curved Saber by Harold Lamb. I've been reading- and re-reading this one since I was a teenager, and I think it is the best historica..."

I love Lamb! Have you seen the Bison Press editions? Several years ago, Howard Andrew Jones edited most of Lamb's adventure fiction for an eight-volume edition (four volumes of Cossack stories and four volumes of everything else). Wolf of the Steppes: The Complete Cossack Adventures, Volume One was the first.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I'm in the middle of several books. The ones I own always have to wait for me to finish the library books.:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Terry]

I'll be starting Steal the Sky by Megan O'Keefe in the next day or so. Can't wait!! Steal the Sky But first I have to finish The Windup Girl The Windup Girl

[Ellis]

I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. Late to the party, I know. I was surprised by how slowly it started, but I very much enjoy how she develops the use of magic in this world.