What are you reading in February 2016?

[Ren]

I just started Kevin Hearne's Staked. It's too soon to say much about it but I loved the earlier books in the series.

[Aaron]

Robin wrote: "I just started reading Th[book:Mistborn: Secret Historye Desert Spear|6736971], but it will..."

Me too, i started it early Feb but had to stop to read The Bands of Mourning which was amazing. For the rest of the month the plan is to finish The Desert Spear, The Daylight War and The Skull Throne while reading Mistborn: Secret History on the side. I also recently got into Assassins Creed so wouldn't mind reading the series as i progress through the games.

[Tnkw01]

Just finish The Riddle and the Rune I rated it four stars. What a wonderful tale. Reminds of the types of fantasy I read in my youth. The tale it reminds of the most was Wizard of Earthsea. Recommend this to anyone who loves good fantasy tales when fantasy was young. About a third of the way through The Rose and the Thorn. Really, really great so far.

[Jenna]

Ellis wrote: "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."

I have yet to read Assassin's Quest so I'm behind too. The problem is that whenever I go to the bookstore, it says they have it, but they never do!

[Kena]

I'm reading The Chronicles of Amber
Very unexpected beginning but just settling in somewhere through Sign of the Unicorn

[Aniketa]

I need 2 more weeks to finish Prince of Thorns.
It'll probably be the first book for wich I'll take the time to write a review!

[Scott]

Ren wrote: "I just started Kevin Hearne's Staked. It's too soon to say much about it but I loved the earlier books in the series."

Interested to see your thoughts on it. I've been enjoying the series a lot, but the last one kind of disappointed me. Can't say I'm a big fan of expanding the POVs

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Aniketa wrote: "I need 2 more weeks to finish Prince of Thorns.
It'll probably be the first book for wich I'll take the time to write a review!"

Good or bad?

[Joseph]

Finished Allan Quatermain (which really was excellent) and am jumping far out of the 19th Century and back to the Expanse with Nemesis Games.

[Jeff]

I'm reading Revisionary (Magic Ex Libris), will be reading Calamity (Reckoners, #3) in a week

[Palash]

Just started reading The Name of the Wind.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Didn't know Calamity was out. Must buy.

Palash, will you be reading it again in April of your nomination wins, lol.

[Jeff]

Helen wrote: "Didn't know Calamity was out. Must buy.

Palash, will you be reading it again in April of your nomination wins, lol."

Its released on Feb 15th I believe

[Palash]

Helen wrote: "Didn't know Calamity was out. Must buy.

Palash, will you be reading it again in April of your nomination wins, lol."

lol. right now, it is on halt. so, maybe i will resume it in april.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Lol. It's very good as is the follow up.

[Margret]

Crossroads of Twilight......

Sigh

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Getting closer to where it really started picking up.

[Joseph]

Finished Nemesis Games in almost no time at all and -- hey! there's another Expanse novella! -- am starting The Vital Abyss.

[Joshua]

Hello All,

I finally got done with The Sword of Shannara at the beginning of this month. I would no recommend it and I do not know if I will read the next book in the series. I then picked up the last of the Rigante books by David Gemmell Stormrider. This series was fun and I was glad that I got to finish it. I do recommend this series even though the last on finished a little flat. Right now I am reading The Wise Man's Fear. Loved the first book, so I am excited to read this one. If by some miracle I finish this one before the end of the month I am going to start The Mists of Avalon.

[Tnkw01]

Joshua wrote: "Hello All,

I finally got done with The Sword of Shannara at the beginning of this month. I would no recommend it and I do not know if I will read the next book in the series. I then p..."

IMO, The Elfstones of Shannara was much better than the Sword. I believe you should just give it a try.

[Michelle]

Currently reading The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún and plan on reading The Bands of Mourning once I've finished

[Margret]

I second the opinion on Elfstones. I was quite annoyed with Sword of Shannara, but loved Elfstones

[Robin]

I enjoyed the Shannara books much better when I read them as a teenager (about a century ago)… I have the Rigante books sitting on my bookshelf. I think I'll add them to this year's list. And maybe Rothfuss. I have such a hard time making actual reading plans. I am ruled by whim!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Robin. I can recommend anything by Gemmell but I've never been able to get into Rothfuss' books. As for Shannara I read The Sword of Shannara back when it was published but never followed the series. I keep meaning to. I mean it's only been like 40 years since I read Sword...

[Scott]

I love me some Rothfuss, his writing is so soothing to me.

[Robin]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Hi Robin. I can recommend anything by Gemmell but I've never been able to get into Rothfuss' books. As for Shannara I read The Sword of Shannara back when it was published but never fo..."

Hi, Mike! After attempting to reread the Shannara books I decided to leave them in the rosy glow of history. :D Good to know about the Gemmell books — I read another Fantasy Master: David and Leigh Eddings' "The Redemption of Althalus." Wow, talk about a shocking disappointment…

[Mike (the Paladin)]

A few years ago everyone seemed to be reading Eddings, I have tried 2. My reaction is pretty much the same. Not great (in much the same way the Death Vally isn't wet).

My favorite Epic Fantasy trilogy is The Deed of Paksenarrion a trilogy in one volume (it says vol. 3-5 but that just includes the 2 prequels that don't really relate to the story in the trilogy and aren't quite as good).

Sorry, like most of us here I'm always ready to recommend my favorites.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

I'm currently reading The Invisible Library, its going good so far, it has a kind of "Sherlock/Victorian mystery" thing going on. Liking it. Just got Shadows of Self from the library and I have Calamity and Morning Star. Super excited for them!

[Lynda]

I read the original Shannara books back when I was a teenager, too, and I'm happy to keep them there in the rosy past. I tried to keep up with the series, but faltered somewhere around the Jerle Shannara - the writing just didn't strike me as strong, and the story just wasn't that interesting to me anymore.

I had a friend who was really into Eddings, so I had a similar reaction to you, Robin, when I finally picked up one his books. I don't even remember which one, it was something along the lines of, "meh".

I've added your rec to my TBR, Mike.

[Monica]

Tracey (Queen of Blades) wrote: "I'm currently reading The Invisible Library, its going good so far, it has a kind of "Sherlock/Victorian mystery" thing going on. Liking it...

Sounds interesting, Tracey. I've added it to my reading list. I'll watch for your review.

[Ellen]

Currently reading Spirit Bound and I'll probably continue with Last Sacrifice. If it arrivés in time I'll start reading The Sword of Shannara, if not I'll read After We Fell.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

Monica wrote: "Tracey (Queen of Blades) wrote: "I'm currently reading The Invisible Library, its going good so far, it has a kind of "Sherlock/Victorian mystery" thing going on. Liking it...

Soun..."

Its a lot of fun, I'm really enjoying it.

[Robin]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "A few years ago everyone seemed to be reading Eddings, I have tried 2. My reaction is pretty much the same. Not great (in much the same way the Death Vally isn't wet).

My favorite Epic Fantasy trilogy is The Deed of Paksenarrion

I read Sheepfarmer's Daughter. Though it began well, establishing Paks's character, it bored me to tears with endless lessons on how to be a soldier. Lists. Descriptions of the scenery… Did it get to an actual story in book 2?

[Charlton]

Just started reading The First Book of Swords.

[Elise]

I finished Shadow Blizzard last night. Decent trilogy overall.

Now, I'm reading Tea with the Black Dragon. The first book on my brand new Kindle Fire I got for Christmas. It's going to take some time adjusting to this since my previous Kindle was pretty ancient...no touch screen, no colors, no light, ect. Like that it's much easier to search for stuff now.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Yeah, you stopped just before the first battle I assume? The book is detailed as to training (I was Army so it didn't bother me to read it. It's a matter of taste I guess). The second half of the book is pretty much nonstop action. The second book follows her after she leaves the company and begins to "grow" on her own.

As noted a matter of taste I've read the trilogy many times (for a while I read it about every year as an annual read, LOL). It's a matter to to each their own.

The book was recommended to me by a woman who owns my long time favorite used book store. We disagreed on some books (she loves Guy Gavriel Kay while I find him very slow going in most cases). We can't all agree on every book.

:)

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I'd like to be an owner of Morning Star but it doesn't release until tomorrow in the UK.

[Scarletine]

Captive Prince: Volume One

Book 3 has just been released, so it's a re read of the first two books and then new book Kings Rising

[Amy]

Lynda wrote: "I read the original Shannara books back when I was a teenager, too, and I'm happy to keep them there in the rosy past. I tried to keep up with the series, but faltered somewhere around the Jerle Sh..."

The Jerle Shannara trilogy was about where I stopped with Shannara as well. I re-read some of them occasionally and I still find them a lot of fun, but I'm not sure how much of that is nostalgia talking! Elfstones is definitely better than Sword, though. It made a lot of sense to me when I found out that's where the new TV version would be starting.

I saw The Invisible Library mentioned above. I really enjoyed it when I read it last year; I've just read the sequel, which wasn't quite as good but still a lot of fun.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Shannara was my first fantasy, other than Narnia. I loved it then and now. I didn't enjoy it as much the second read a few years ago but it's still excellent. I loved Redemption of Althalus too. And Paksenarrion.

[Joseph]

Finished The Vital Abyss, which added some interesting Expanse backstory, and started Rusalka by C.J. Cherryh. I read the trilogy many years ago, but now I'm reading the author's revised eBook editions that I purchased directly from her website.

[Lynda]

Helen wrote: "Shannara was my first fantasy, other than Narnia. I loved it then and now. I didn't enjoy it as much the second read a few years ago but it's still excellent. I loved Redemption of Althalus too. An..."

I think I'd call Shannara my first "grown-up" fantasy story. I was surprised to see how much the story has expanded since I did stop reading it, and that the Word and the Void somehow wrapped up in it - I found that series incredibly boring!

Joseph, I've just started reading the Expanse books, and I'm really liking it. It's high, space adventure at it's finest. Sci Fi Catnip!

[Joseph]

Lynda wrote: "
Joseph, I've just started reading the Expanse books, and I'm really liking it. It's high, space adventure at it's finest. Sci Fi Catnip!"

That they are! I think I read Nemesis Games in about two days. The shorter pieces are also worth checking out if you get a chance.

[Dan]

Nearing the end of Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery. A fantastic and varied anthology (despite the title it's not all Sword & Sorcery) with a great list of authors, both old and new. On the Tanith Lee story now. Just finished Scott Lynch's story, and it was my first by him. I'm instantly enraptured. I'd been wanting to read The Lies of Locke Lamora for a while, but now even moreso.

[Joseph]

Dan wrote: "Nearing the end of Swords & Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery. A fantastic and varied anthology (despite the title it's not all Sword & Sorcery) with a great list of authors, bot..."

Yeah, that Lynch story was one of the highlights. And I also really need to read Locke Lamora one of these days.

[Scott]

Bout 50% through Morning Star and it's been totally rocking my world

[Lynda]

Joseph wrote: "That they are! I think I read Nemesis Games in about two days. The shorter pieces are also worth checking out if you get a chance. "

Indeed. Just finished The Butcher of Anderson Station. I'm having a hard time finding Drive, though.

[Joseph]

Try this: http://www.syfy.com/theexpanse/drive/

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

Scott wrote: "Bout 50% through Morning Star and it's been totally rocking my world"

I'm so jealous!

[Tnkw01]

Well I finished The Rose and the Thorn. I have to say Hadrian and Royce are two of my favorite fantasy characters. In this book one gets a look at the really dark side of Royce. It is no secret that Royce has a dark side and a dark past but in the Rose and the Thorn, Royce’s actions borders on psychotic at times. With Royce shimmying up to this dark border, he never really crosses over. Kind of reminds one of ShowTime’s Dexter. With that in mind the two guys still have their “old married couple” disagreements and all the personalities and actions that I came to really enjoy about these two. I know Mr. Sullivan has said that he didn’t want Riyria to “overstay their welcome” but I can assure him I believe they have a long way to go to get to that point.