What are you reading in April 2016?

[Sterling]

I just finished A Darker Shade of Magic which I liked a lot I will continue with the series when I get done with some of my stack of books that seems to only get larger. Now I am reading The Last Kingdom which isn't really fantasy more historical fiction but ...it is really good.

[Dan]

I've never read the series, but I did watch the TV adaptation before realizing it was based a book series. I quite enjoyed, despite an absolutely horrid soundtrack.

[Daniel]

Finished off The Name of the Wind a couple days back and am already halfway through my next Belgariad entry, Castle of Wizardry, after which I'll probably start on these Sullivan books I hear so much about.

[Ctgt]

Sterling wrote: "I just finished A Darker Shade of Magic which I liked a lot I will continue with the series when I get done with some of my stack of books that seems to only get larger. Now I am re..."

I just finished the third book in the series and I enjoyed it more than the first two, probably because I had the TV show running in the back of my mind as I read those first books.

[Sterling]

Daniel wrote: "Finished off The Name of the Wind a couple days back and am already halfway through my next Belgariad entry, Castle of Wizardry, after which I'll probably start on these..."

Ctgt wrote: "Sterling wrote: "I just finished A Darker Shade of Magic which I liked a lot I will continue with the series when I get done with some of my stack of books that seems to only get la..."

I am almost done with the first book and I am really liking it. I don't usually read historical fiction but this first book is really good. I have never seen the show, I have heard good things about it but I am a huge Game of Thrones fan so I think I might judge it to harshly.

[Michael]

I just finished Seanan McGuire's new book Every Heart a Doorway. It's a funny and somewhat dark look at children who have visited world's like Oz, Narnia or Wonderland and now struggle to fit into our world again.

[J.]

Outpost F.T. McKinstry

On page 25 and already loving it.

[Sterling]

Shari Kay wrote: "Reading Among Thieves I'm apparently on a fantasy "thief" run. I'm enjoying it, but I just realized the third book is not out and it's been a couple years since the second one came out."

That is exactly way I hate starting unfinished series. I started The Name of the Wind which I loved but the third book in the series Doors of Stone was supposed to come out years ago and we are still waiting. Now I don't want an author to rush a book out before it is done right but it is really frustrating waiting for your characters to return and continue their story. Don't get me started on A Game of Thrones.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of To ride hell's chasm.

[Tnkw01]

Sterling wrote: "I just finished A Darker Shade of Magic which I liked a lot I will continue with the series when I get done with some of my stack of books that seems to only get larger. Now I am re..."

I absolutely love the Saxon Stories series. They do have a small amount of fantasy elements in them. People have shelfed The Last Kingdom as fantasy enough to put it third on the list. But in the end it is historical fiction. With that being said it is still a great read or listen because the audiobooks are great also.

[Ctgt]

About halfway through The Pagan Night which I picked up on a whim at the library. Sometimes those "whims" don't work out but I am enjoying this so far. The pagans are those who worshiped the old gods before the coming of the Celestial Church. Now some of the old gods manifest because they no longer receive offerings and have few followers. There is also political conflict between former pagan kingdoms and those who have long served the church.

[Daniel]

Polished off Castle of Wizardry this afternoon and gave up all pretense of resisting. Going straight on to Enchanters' End Game to wipe the Belgariad off the list.

[Margret]

I have to say, I'm really enjoying Daniel Abraham's Dagger and Coin series. I'm on book#4 right now. It's such an easy read, but not so shallow as to irritate me.... Which I kind of need lately to break up the heavier books like WoT and Malazan.

I've been pretty Scrooge-like when reading/listening to YA books lately. It feels like I'm getting the same book over and over with minor detail changes. Sick of love triangles and especially post apocalyptic romance. I'm quite certain that if I got shot in the leg or shoulder I wouldn't notice the pecs of my rescuer rippling under his shirt, or give a s*** about his sparkling hazel eyes, even as a hormone laden teenager.

[Joseph]

Finished A Gathering of Shadows and liked it a lot; possibly more than it deserved.

And next up: Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. Full disclosure: I went to high school with her so will not even pretend to be objective, but seriously: Read this book.

[Daniel]

Finished my journey through the Belgariad. I enjoyed it better than expected, and was very close to starting the Mallorean immediately. I like this style of innocent, simple fantasy when done well. :)

Started Theft of Swords last night. Let's see what all the fuss is about.

[Ian]

I'm reading A crown for cold silver by Alex Marshall at the moment it's really good.

[Joseph]

Finished Lab Girl in a two-day sprint and am now reading something completely, utterly different: Something About Eve; A Comedy Of Fig Leaves by James Branch Cabell.

[Cecilia]

I started to read Room

[Tom]

yes I enjoyed a crown for cold silver..it is a shame female writers still feel the need to hide behind male names.

[Joseph]

Tom wrote: "yes I enjoyed a crown for cold silver..it is a shame female writers still feel the need to hide behind male names."

I thought Marshall was a pseudonym for Jesse Bullington?

[Chris]

That's what I've read too, Joseph..

[Em Lost In Books]

Am reading The Pillars of the Earth, A Feast for Crows and The Price of Valour.

[Em Lost In Books]

Cecilia wrote: "I started to read Room"

read it earlier this month and it was very good.

[Tnkw01]

Finished Suldrun's Garden today. It had a fairy tale feel to the story. Like taking Lord of the Ring and mixing in some Brothers Grimm. The only issue I have with the book was the way it jumped around with no flow or really no reason as to why it went from here to there. Overall, it was a very fun read. I give it a 3.5 star. With the conclusion of Suldren's Garden I will start The Orb of Truth and The Silver Gryphon.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

Just started Those Above by Daniel Polansky. I loved his Low Town series so looking forward to this.

[Dan]

Tnkw01 wrote: "Finished Suldrun's Garden today. It had a fairy tale feel to the story. Like taking Lord of the Ring and mixing in some Brothers Grimm. The only issue I have with the book was the way ..."

Really looking forward to reading Suldrun's Garden, got a copy on it's way.

I picked up Lords of Dyscrasia by S.E. Lindberg in the interim while waiting for books to arrive. Seems promising so far, kinda horror fantasy.

[Tom]

oops my bad :)

[Dan]

Just finished Tad Williams' Stone of Farewell, the second book in the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tad]

I just started Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells today. Liking it so far. Clever and a little salty, just as I like it!

[Dan]

I've begun the To Green Angel Tower, Part 1, last part of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn this morning. I was planning to wait a bit before tackling it, but my most recent order of books did not arrive when I had hoped they would so I just nabbed it up at the local used book store, also found a reader copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I will take up when I have finished Tad Williams' trilogy as well as the First Law trilogy (on the last book of each).

[Javier]

I'm Half through The Lies of Locke Lamora. So far it's been very nice, although it gets a little anoying that every time the story becomes trapping a new interlude pops up, and the momentum gets cut out. Despite of that, I really think its a great book so far.

[Charlton]

I liked this book,the characters were well developed and it was pretty detailed as for as the world goes.
The magic was like druidic magic.Which is nice because it's just a little different.
So,yeah it was a good book,not great,but I'll continue the series.

[Palash]

Reading The Hero of Ages

[Em Lost In Books]

Palash wrote: "Reading The Hero of Ages"

Its a great book.

[Palash]

Manju wrote: "Palash wrote: "Reading The Hero of Ages"

Its a great book."

Indeed. Enjoyed all three books very much. Vin is a badass.

[Mark]

I'm currently reading Truth and Fear by Peter Higgins. After that I'll resume reading The Fell Sword by Miles Cameron.

[Monica]

Dan wrote: "John Steinbeck is my girlfriend's favourite author. I should really pick up more of his works some time soon."

Two of his lesser known works are among my favorites: The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights is excellent. And The Moon Is Down is an interesting novel written as a propaganda piece.during WWII

Finally got around to beginning Half a King...pretty good so far.

[Margret]

Just by chance I found the entire Malazan book of the fallen series (plus 3 extra Malazan stories) for sale on a local buy/sell site for only $25 Canadian. So I can start on Deadhouse gates soon :)

[Chris]

Margret wrote: "Just by chance I found the entire Malazan book of the fallen series (plus 3 extra Malazan stories) for sale on a local buy/sell site for only $25 Canadian. So I can start on Deadhouse gates soon :)"

Nice find!

[Jenna]

Margret wrote: "Just by chance I found the entire Malazan book of the fallen series (plus 3 extra Malazan stories) for sale on a local buy/sell site for only $25 Canadian. So I can start on Deadhouse gates soon :)"

Wow! Such a great buy! Join the buddy read :)

[Joseph]

Finished Something About Eve; A Comedy Of Fig Leaves and am now starting my first-ever Kate Elliott book, Court of Fives.

[Dan]

I want to read some James Branch Cabell sometime. I've had Jurgen staring at me from my book shelf for some time now.

[Daniel]

Finished Theft of Swords last night, and while Sullivan hasn't really "set the hook" yet, it's good enough for me to want to continue and finish the first Riyria trilogy. Starting Rise of Empire today.

Also reading Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar on the side as my exercise book. It's been a while since I got my Valdemar fix.

[Joseph]

Dan wrote: "I want to read some James Branch Cabell sometime. I've had Jurgen staring at me from my book shelf for some time now."

He's definitely worth checking out. Ironically, Jurgen is one book of his that I've never read (I've pretty much only read the ones that were included in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series).

[Tnkw01]

Finished The Orb of Truth today and really loved the book. Still working on the The Silver Gryphon and can honestly say this one may end up being my favorite Lackey book. It is completely different from anything else I've read from her and this one is really good. It can be read as a stand alone also. Believe I might start Shadows of Self next and maybe I'll move on to The Bands of Mourning the next book in this series that just came out.

[Charlton]

Read Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Alright! Calamity opens with excitement and we meet a new character. Now upon all the action and meeting the new person(who is pretty cool,by the way).
We learn of a new city that the Reckoners will make home base for a while.Then there's a little down time while they are getting to said city.But then it picks
up again when they are in the city and making and executing plans.

I did enjoy Calamity even though it had the slow area.New character/characters and new city,it was still a fun read. :)

[Dan]

Just finished off reading The Last Battle with my girlfriend last night, and banged up a review today.

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

And influential series for sure, but I won't say I am thoroughly impressed with each instalment of it.

I'll probably be starting The Enchanted Castle with her next.

[Charlton]

Dan wrote: "Just finished off reading The Last Battle with my girlfriend last night, and banged up a review today.

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

And influential series for sur..."

That's an interesting review,it kind of had me there on the two belief systems.I had no idea this is the way that book would read.

[Dan]

In regards to the belief systems, there is a quote early on about how some people think Tash and Aslan are the same, but as an aside the narrator assures us they are not. Later they conjoin the names to Tashlan to try to convince the Narnians of their similarity and to try to sway them to the beliefs of the Calormenes.

Along with a pretty obvious description of the Calormene as more or less middle eastern men (along with the illustrations depicting them as such), I thought the intent was pretty obviously for Tash to represent Allah, the Calormene as Muslim, and to ultimately vilify them.

Either way I just call it like I see it. Not saying others can't have differing opinions. To be honest though, I'd be wary of introducing this series, beyond maybe the first 3 books, to children.

[Charlton]

Dan wrote: "In regards to the belief systems, there is a quote early on about how some people think Tash and Aslan are the same, but as an aside the narrator assures us they are not. Later they conjoin the nam..."

I agree,not having read the books.But the reference to the belief systems and like you said,the obvious depiction of people from the mid-east who I assume were the enemy,since they were fighting narnians?

I understand differing opinions,but do you want to imprint that on kids?
Just me ranting,I'm sorry.