What are you reading in April 2016?

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Ken wrote: "I read it soon after the last series they wrote and I was disappointed. I suspect if I had read it years later it might have been better. This was an experiment for the Eddings. To see if they could write a stand alone series"

Here is my review (key sentence is the last one): I have not read any books by David & Leigh Eddings for years and I was a bit concerned that this book would be a letdown, but I was immediately captivated by the storytelling style and by the protagonist, Althalus.

The secondary characters were all interesting as well, filling their roles in the overall story and adding a few surprises here and there.

While not quite high fantasy, there are quests, puzzles to be solved, and battles to be won.

Entertaining and satisfying as long as one doesn't look too closely or delve too deeply into the how and why of things.

[Justine]

That's a nice way of putting things, Kathi:) There are quite a few books best enjoyed that way I think.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Thanks, Justine.

I decided to venture into Irish myth with Isle of Destiny before returning to Recluce or the Childe Cycle. My husband's family is from the part of Ireland that figures largely in the tales of the Red Branch, so I already feel right at home in the first few chapters of this book.

[Juston]

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

[Juston]

This April I also read...
1. "Finance Capitalism and Its Discontents" by Professor Michael Hudson (fascinating)
2. All five of the "The Dagger and the Coin" series by Daniel Abraham (excellent)
3. "Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch, #1)" by Ann Leckie (need to read the rest before I finalise an opinion. it was a bit slow but I guess setting the scene).

[Viv]

Juston - I read Half of a Yellow Sun this month too. I thought it was amazing.

I just finished The Library at Mount Char ahead of next month's group read & am looking forward to the discussions on that - it's quite a crazy one!

I am reading Ancillary Justice (finally!) but am finding it rather slow at the moment. It feels a little cold/clinical but maybe that is the point!?

I have also just made a start on A Head Full of Ghosts.

[Justine]

I think with Ancillary Justice you have to commit to reading the whole thing before you make a decision on it because it really is one of those books that everything comes together around the 75 percent mark and then just takes off. That's my feeling anyway; other people may want to chime in on that.

[Chris]

I'm reading The Aeronaut's Windlass and so far it's a very mixed bag. Anyone else here read it? If so, I'd love to hear what you thought.

[Shel, Moderator]

I just picked up Darkspell from the library, so taking a break from Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances to read it!

[Tani]

I finished Battle Royale last night. It was really fast-paced and action packed, and I enjoyed it a lot.

I started Eona: The Last Dragoneye this morning. I really liked the first book, so I'm excited to read this one.

[Ken]

Tani wrote: "I finished Battle Royale last night. It was really fast-paced and action packed, and I enjoyed it a lot.
."

Now you have to watch the movie

[Bill]

I finally found a good book I was needing for comfort and read about 100 pages last nite. Harvest of Stars by Poul Anderson a personal Grand Master.

[Tani]

Ken wrote: "Now you have to watch the movie"

I definitely plan to! And read the manga, because I am a completionist. ;)

[Justine]

I've finished as few books recently:

Half Lost by Sally Green, the last book in the Half Bad trilogy. I know there was a bit of controversy around the way the author chose to end the story, but I thought it was really good. I think the series as a whole is great and I would recommend it.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury; this is a retelling of the Aladdin and the lamp story but with the role of the jinni as a woman. It is a romance tale done well I thought with lots of very strong female characters.

Valour by John Gwynne, the second book in The Faithful and The Fallen series. I liked the first book, Malice, but this book is definitely superior. I would recommend that if you were wavering on the first book that you try the second before giving up on the series altogether.

Europe in Autumn by Dave Hutchinson; this is an interesting book. It is for the most part a near future espionage tale, but then takes sort of a sharp turn into SF at about 80% through the book. It's intriguing anyway. The first book doesn't end on a cliffhanger per se, but it is definitely a set up book in the sense that the story arc does not come to a close. So keep that in mind. The second book, Europe at Midnight, is already out and just made the shortlist for the 2016 Clarke Award.

[Shel, Moderator]

I just finished Darkspell last night and will go pipe in the group discussion next. Back to short stories for the moment - we are taking an extended long weekend trip this coming weekend and I don't want to lug any big books with me, so I have to decide which of the 100+ books I have on my kindle to start next!