Play Book Tag discussion
June, 2016: Fantasy
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Announcing the June Tag: Share Your Reading Plans and Suggestions
I didn't vote for fantasy but I'm happy with it.My top recommendation:
The Name of the Wind
Other recommendations:
Neverwhere
Daughter of the Forest
The Dark Tower series by King (book one isn't great but the rest of the series is good).
Nights at the Circus
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making or any other in her series
The 13 Clocks
I will read:
The Once and Future King
Uprooted
The Fifth Season
Anita wrote: "We are excited to announce that this month's tag is: fantasy."Please, Anita, your enthusiasm is overwhelming! lol. I am sure you would rather stab yourself with a hot poker than read this month!
I am thrilled with the tag! I am not a huge fantasy buff or anything but I do enjoy the ones that I read.My number #1 recommendation is The Night Circus. It is in the magical fantasy realm (as opposed to made up world and monsters of epic fantasy) and I think it appeals to a broad range of readers.
I have a bazillion books that I want to read but will likely only get to one. My options are:
Uprooted -- Jen, your reading this sways me.
An Ember in the Ashes -- the second book in this (I assume) trilogy comes out later this year. Do I really want to start another series?
Drums of Autumn -- always floating near the top of the TBR
The Wise Man's Fear -- book two after Jen's recommendation of The Name of the Wind, which I whole-heartedly support.
The Book of Life -- ugh, I was not thrilled with the second book in this trilogy, but my OCD demands that I finish it.
A Dance with Dragons -- honestly, I think I may temporarily abandon this book series until the series is complete. I am LOVING the HBO show and it has diverged so much that it may be better to put some space between them.
Neverwhere is at the top of my list. I really enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Night Circus, The Lord of the Rings, The Giver Series, and of course Harry Potter. I'll have to comb my TBR list.
Nicole wrote: "Anita wrote: "We are excited to announce that this month's tag is: fantasy."Please, Anita, your enthusiasm is overwhelming! lol. I am sure you would rather stab yourself with a hot poker than rea..."
lol, my first reaction was to feel sad for Anita.
Nicole wrote: "I am thrilled with the tag! I am not a huge fantasy buff or anything but I do enjoy the ones that I read.My number #1 recommendation is The Night Circus. It is in the magical fanta..."
I almost got killed at Book Expo trying to avoid the crazy obsessed fans of the author for An Ember in Ashes. She was signing books there and I got caught up in the rush of squealing (not joking there was lots of it) fans running to get in line for her book drop and signing.
Jen wrote: "I almost got killed at Book Expo trying to avoid the crazy obsessed fans of the author for An Ember in Ashes."I have heard great things about the book! I do want to read it and the plus is that it isn't a bazillion freaking pages like Outlander, GoT, or Name of the Wind....
Maybe I will aim for TWO books next month with An Ember in the Ashes and Uprooted. I could probably do Uprooted on audio...
Believe it or not, I did not vote for fantasy this month even though those who know me know that I read a lot of it. Here are some of my recommendations:
Tooth and Claw - Jo Walton (dragons meet a novel of manners)
The Fifth Season - N. K. Jemisin (strong female characters, diverse characters)
Steelheart - Brandon Sanderson (young adult, people begin to develop superpowers, and take over the world can our not-super hero stop them)
The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle (a classic)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor (angels and demons)
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury (classic)
The Curse of Chalion - Lois Bujold McMaster (part of a series, but each volume can stand on its own)
The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly
In the Night Garden Catherynne M. Valente (original fairy tales written for adults)
Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay (epic fantasy but standalone)
I am not sure what I will pick up. I have hundreds of choices on my physical TBR, so I will read what I am at the mood for at the time. Some options are:
Watership Down
The Bone Doll's Twin
Dreams Underfoot
Deerskin
The Golem and the Jinni
London Falling
Jen wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I am thrilled with the tag! I am not a huge fantasy buff or anything but I do enjoy the ones that I read.My number #1 recommendation is The Night Circus. It is in th..."
I have a cousin who has sworn off reading for a few months because she keeps starting books and none of them compare to Ember! Pretty dramatic! I started it a month or so ago and then los the library loan without realizing it. But I think I have it back now, so I will get that done for June.
AND The Night Circus was available with no holds and the library, so now I have that as well.
I own Neverwhere and haven't read it, but not sure I'll get to that.
I would love to read Cinder as well.
I liked all the categories this month, but I did spend 1 vote on this one because I knew I had things I'd been waiting to read in this category. Sorry Anita! There MUST be a fantasy novel out there you'd like though.
Just finished my go-to fantasy series: the Sookie Stackhouse series. Maybe I'll try for the billionth time to read The Game of Thrones. Also suggesting (along with everyone else) The Night Circus. My boyfriend loves the Dark Tower series, although it's totally not up my alley.
Would you guys consider Water for Elephants as fantasy? I'm thinking about starting that anyway and don't know too much about it.
Joi wrote: "Would you guys consider Water for Elephants as fantasy? I'm thinking about starting that anyway and don't know too much about it. ..."I read it a long time ago, but I don't remember any fantasy elements in Water for Elephants.
I read fantasy, but not as much as I used to. For this month's read I will try and get to at least one of the following, all of which will help clear my overwhelming TBR:The Bone Clocks
The 5th Wave
The Cabinet of Curiosities
The Terror
The Man Who Spoke Snakish
The High Mountains of Portugal
I recommend:
The Golem and the Jinni
Ready Player One
The Wind Through the Keyhole
Cora wrote: "Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor (angels and demons)..."Jennifer wrote: "I would love to read Cinder as well."
Well crap, those are both on my TBR as well.
YES!!! That's the tag I voted for. I'm SO excited!!! Fantasy is my favorite genre, so I'm happy to knock some books of my TBR next month!
I recommend the following if you're a YA fan. All of these are considered high fantasy.Throne of Glass
The False Prince
Stitching Snow (a lot like Cinder, but it's a stand-alone)
Defy
Cinder
The False Princess (stand-alone)
The Winner's Curse
Graceling
I recommend these books if you're not a YA fan. All of these are considered high fantasy.
The Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit
Elantris (stand-alone)
Dragon Prince
For those who aren't into high fantasy:
The Night Circus (stand-alone)
Clockwork Angel (YA)
City of Bones (YA)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (YA)
This is WAY out of my comfort zone (except for Harry Potter) but I do own "The Golem and the Jinni" so that will be my choice. Sometimes it is nice to be nudged in another direction.
Jenni Elyse wrote: "I recommend the following if you're a YA fan. All of these are considered high fantasy...."Now you are talking with those stand-alones!
@Jenni: Love the "fantasy books for people who don't like fantasy" lol- that's totally me.
I think I'd have been ok with just about any of them. I'm sure I have plenty to choose from.
My #1 recommendation would be:Wildwood Dancing / Juliet Marillier
I will plan for at least one of these:
The Snow Child / Eowyn Ivey
Voyager / Diana Gabaldon
Dead Ever After / Charlaine Harris
The Bees / Laline Paull
Lady of the Forest / Jennifer Roberson
Fables, Vol. 19: Snow White / Bill Willingham
The Stepford Wives / Ira Levin
Locke and Key: Crown of Shadows #3 / Joe Hill
A Walking Tour of the Shambles / Neil Gaiman
And there are many more to choose from...
Nicole wrote: "I am thrilled with the tag! I am not a huge fantasy buff or anything but I do enjoy the ones that I read.My number #1 recommendation is The Night Circus. It is in the magical fanta..."
I'm currently reading A Dance with Dragons and it's been HARD. I don't know if it's because there was such a big reading gap between this book and book 4, but I'm struggling with this one. Can't really tell if it's the writing or if I'm just "over" Game of Thrones. =/
Nicole wrote: "Jenni Elyse wrote: "I recommend the following if you're a YA fan. All of these are considered high fantasy...."Now you are talking with those stand-alones!"
Glad I could help!
Not my genre of choice, though I've read and enjoyed some that fit.I was hoping to get to Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angel's Game this month, but won't .... happily for me it ALSO has the genre FANTASY!
I liked Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon, so I may try book 2 in the series (yet another book that would work either in May or in June) ... Throne of Jade
And I love Jasper Fforde's works. Shades of Grey is really a stand-alone book (though it is listed as #1 in a series ... there are no other books in this "series").
I have too many favorites in this genre.Children's/Young Adult:
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (you all are probably sick of me recommending this)
The Safe-Keeper's Secret (trilogy) by Sharon Shinn
Arrows of the Queen (Valdemar series) by Mercedes Lackey
Adult, traditional fantasy:
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
The Name of the Wind series by Patrick Rothfuss
Daughter of the Forest series by Juliet Marillier
Dreamer's Pool series by Juliet Marillier
Archangel series by Sharon Shinn
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (goes without saying)
The Oathbound, Oathbreakers & By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey
Urban fantasy:
The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher
Kitty and the Midnight Hour series by Carrie Vaughn
Moon Called series by Patricia Briggs
Magic Bites series by Ilona Andrews
Children of the Night series by Mercedes Lackey
There's more, but I'll just stop here...
Jen wrote: "I didn't vote for fantasy but I'm happy with it.My top recommendation:
The Name of the Wind
I second your recommendation!
Cora wrote: "Believe it or not, I did not vote for fantasy this month even though those who know me know that I read a lot of it. Here are some of my recommendations:
I really liked The Book of Lost Things. I would certainly second your recommendation. As for your reading, let me recommend Watership Down and The Golem and the Jinni is my top recommendation!
Ellen wrote: "This is WAY out of my comfort zone (except for Harry Potter) but I do own "The Golem and the Jinni" so that will be my choice. Sometimes it is nice to be nudged in another direction."Ellen, I loved The Golem and the Jinni. Probably my favorite of the year.
LibraryCin wrote: "My #1 recommendation would be:Wildwood Dancing / Juliet Marillier
I will plan for at least one of these:
The Snow Child / Eowyn Ivey
Voyager / Diana Gaba..."
Snow Child was a quick and lovely read in my book!
I'm good with Fantasy even though it is not my go-to genre. I have enjoyed several lately though.My top recommendation is The Golem and the Jinni
I'm not sure how much I'll get to this month but I have the audio of Written in My Own Heart's Blood.
I own a copy of City of Bones, so that would take care of one of my Shelfagories.
The Name of the Wind has been on my list for quite awhile.
I'm hearing such good things about An Ember in the Ashes, I've put it on my TBR. Questionable about getting to it but you never can tell!
My top recommendation is The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis.I also recommend
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Giver
The Hunger Games
I'll be reading Memory House and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Nicole wrote: "Anita wrote: "We are excited to announce that this month's tag is: fantasy."Please, Anita, your enthusiasm is overwhelming! lol. I am sure you would rather stab yourself with a hot poker than rea..."
Lol, is a hot poker stabbing truly an option?
.Sorry Anita! There MUST be a fantasy novel out there you'd like though. ."
I'm definitely appreciating everyone's sympathy! But hey, it's not magical realism which I dislike so much more than fantasy, so there's that.
I am definitely going with Neverwhere because it is PBT Top 100, and I already own it. If Susie likes it that gives me hope.
Ellen wrote: "This is WAY out of my comfort zone (except for Harry Potter) but I do own "The Golem and the Jinni" so that will be my choice. Sometimes it is nice to be nudged in another direction."That's another one I own that I could read . . .
I did vote for Fantasy but only because I am hoping to read Embassytown next month for a different challenge and I also have requested the next Harry Potter to read this month but I am on a wait list at the library so maybe that will be what I read next month. There are so many directions to go with fantasy because anything not realistic would be fantasy. I will recommend The Lord of the Rings.
I loved Daughter of the Forest & Uprooted -the ones that have been mentioned above...I'd like to recommend (limited to Aussie authors or I'd go on forever!):
The Colours of Madeleine -it is a trilogy but it is completed :)
Eon -a completed duology
Blackthorn & Grim series -ongoing series by Juliet Marillier
I'll start with:
Shadow and Bone
Illuminae
I've both so I should get to them, right?
Surprisingly I have a lot on my list that fall in to this category (I seem to say that a lot...LOL.)My #1 recommendation would be A Great and Terrible Beauty.
As for what I'll read...if it's not finished by then I will finish Once Upon Stilettos. Others on my list are:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
A Discovery of Witches
The Serpent of Venice
The Diviners
The Paper Magician
Secondhand Souls
So I love fantasy. I only gave it one vote though because I didn'f feel strongly about reading it next month. So many of my favorites have already been recommended, so I will suggest something completely different, The Magic of Recluce. Modesitt has been called the thinking man's fantasy author as he delves into the psychology and philisophy of good and evil, while still telling a great fantasy story that occassionally blurs the line with sci-fi. As for what I will read, I haven't had a chance to read the final Fairyland book, The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home, so if I don't get to it in the next week, I will start there. I also really need to read The Name of the Wind so that is next on my list. And my husband is still after me to finally read The Way of Kings, so there is that.
I've loved many of the books already mentioned so will recommend a favorite not already suggested: Sabriel by Garth Nix. It's the first of a series but works as a stand alone. It's also classified as YA but is not typical for that genre. Unusual book.I also recommend A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab - strong well written fantasy.
I plan to read The Fifth Season
An Ember in the Ashes
and, not sure how well it's going to fit the tag but it does fit with other reading goals, Cloud Atlas
Anita wrote: ".I'm definitely appreciating everyone's sympathy! But hey, it's not magical realism which I dislike so much more than fantasy, so there's that...."Agreed! Of course, I am much more amenable than you are to fantasy, overall, I think; it just depends on the type of fantasy for me. Some are better than others. I definitely prefer those types of fantasy (that I am ok with; epic fantasy being the biggest omission from what I like) to magical realism!
This group must really like fantasy. I counted 19 titles on our 100 list that are 'shelved' that way. and I've already read most of them. Some of them push the boundaries of the genre definition (IMO) .These are light on the fantasy and read more like historical fiction, but for me, 5 stars reads :
Outlander
The Lions of Al-Rassan
11/22/63
Cora mentioned Tigana and I agree with that recommendation. I just finished Kay's newest book, Children of Earth and Sky, which wasn't as good, but still worth a read.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was a very good book, but if you want to read it, start now, it is very long.
I'm currently reading The Name of the Wind, but I'll probably finish it before June 1 . So I will have the second book in that series, or I might finally finish A Clash of Kings. And I'd like to read something by Terry Pratchett, sadly I didn't read any of his books until he was gone. I have a lot up Disc World exploring to do.
I haven't decided what I'll read yet, though there are some cool suggestions here and I have quite a lot that will fit the tag.A series I discovered a little while ago is Rachel Bach's "Paradox Trilogy" - Fortune's Pawn,Honor's Knight and Heaven's Queen. A kick-a*** mercenary heroine in powered armour, some great dialogue, and a really original storyline. More space opera than fantasy, but you can squeeze it in :)
Anita wrote: "I am definitely going with Neverwhere because it is PBT Top 100, and I already own it. If Susie likes it that gives me hope. ..."Neverwhere is a wonderful book.
Anita wrote: ".Sorry Anita! There MUST be a fantasy novel out there you'd like though. ."
I'm definitely appreciating everyone's sympathy! But hey, it's not magical realism which I dislike so much more than fa..."
I've just realised that my post was deceiving and sounded as though I was recommending Neverwhere! It is at the top of my list to read for the month. BUT I have hope that I will love it, which means you can have hope that you will too!
I see so many great suggestions listed, both books I've read or would like to read!!I must recommend the following:
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ~ It's been listed above but I just have to agree with this recommendation. This story is amazing.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor ~ Laini Taylor creates a beautiful other world in this book that completely captivates.
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey ~ This is historical fantasy and not for the faint of heart. This book is over 900 pages and yet I've read it 3 times, I love it that much.
I may read:
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ~ I may have to give this one another try. It moved too slow for me before but it could have been my frame of mind at the time.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King ~ I actually just started this audio on my drive to work this morning. I heard they are making a TV series and I've neglected these books for years. Thanks to the member above that gave me a heads up that this first book may not be that great but to stick it out because the rest of the series is really good.
Fantasy books are everywhere so who knows what else I may pick up before the end of the month.
I hate everything about this discussion thread. I just added a bazillion books to my TBR.
Nicole wrote: "I hate everything about this discussion thread. I just added a bazillion books to my TBR."Hahahahahahahaha.......yeah, we all need more books on our TBR!
Brandy wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I hate everything about this discussion thread. I just added a bazillion books to my TBR."Hahahahahahahaha.......yeah, we all need more books on our TBR!"
Brandy, the audio of Night Circus is very good. Jim Dale reads it. I thought that wouldn't work for me, that I would keep hearin Harry and Hermione, but somehow that wasn't a problem.
Jgrace wrote: "These are light on the fantasy and read more like historical fiction, but for me, 5 stars reads :Outlander
The Lions of Al-Rassan
11/22/63
Cora mentioned Tigana and I agree with that recommendation. I just finished Kay's newest book, Children of Earth and Sky, which wasn't as good, but still worth a read. "
Two Guy Gavriel Kay books recommended in your posting. The only Kay I've read is Ysabel which I found average at best and decided not to read any other books by him. Should I rethink that. Checking on GR, I see it is his worst rated book.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Castings Trilogy (other topics)The Castings Trilogy (other topics)
The Castings Trilogy (other topics)
Station Eleven (other topics)
The Deed of Paksenarrion (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gabriel García Márquez (other topics)Stephen R. Lawhead (other topics)
Juliet Marillier (other topics)
fantasy
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below!
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as fantasy on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
To find books to read for this tag, please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Fantasy was really the overwhelming choice this month (sorry JW!) so hopefully everyone finds something great to read and share!