14 Days of Discoveries (Part 1)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I've had Bartimaes, Naming, and Inda on my shelves for what feels like 10 years. I now really want to start them all lol.

[Kieron]

City Of Thieves looks interesting Samir I going to check that out. Also I thought I recognize that authors name from. somewhere. He is one of the screenwriters on Game of Thrones.

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Charlie Madigan Series by Kelly Gay. Urban Fantasy and it's a really refreshing take on the usual fare, with a heroine who is in her 30's and has a child. The Better Part of Darkness is the first book in the series.

[Samir]

Kieron wrote: "City Of Thieves looks interesting Samir I going to check that out. Also I thought I recognize that authors name from. somewhere. He is one of the screenwriters on Game of Thrones."

Yes, he is. :)

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Today's discovery topic has just exploded my TBR. Thanks for the awesome recommendations.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I'm so pleased with how the challenge is going so far. Thank you everyone for placating me and your awesome responses.

[C.P.]

It's a lot of fun, Margret!

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Master List is up to date! Anyone wanting to add all these gems to their tbr mountain can easily find them in post #1

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Bloodsounder's Arc. Scourge of the Betrayer

I haven't read so many underrated or indie fantasy books yet because I'm still trying to knock out the big ones.

[Liam]

I don't feel like this amazing book has received enough recognition, I just hope the rest of the trilogy are translated The Path of Anger

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Good morning everyone! Welcome to day 5

Name a book that portrays a bond between man and beast

This one might be a bit tougher, so here's some inspiration in honor of Nikki, who I know will be picking Robin Hobb :)

“It was inside me. The more I sought it, the stronger it grew. It loved me. Loved me even if I couldn't, wouldn't, didn't love myself. Love me even if I hated. It set its tiny teeth in my soul and braced and held so that I couldn't crawl any further. And when I tried, a howl of despair burst from it, searing me, forbidding me to break so sacred trust.
It was Smithy.”

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

My pick for the day is His Majesty's Dragon.
Because A) dragons are pets. B) the bond between Laurence and Temeraire is so heartwarming. Sleeping under his wing, they call each other "my dear"... so sweet

[Ahdam]

Hmm this one will be tricky so I cant wait to hear all your lots suggestions but if I have to choose it would either have to be Suri and Minna from Age of Myth and Binabik and Qantaqa from The Dragonbone Chair yes I know I keep mentioning some books but here's my reason

Why would you want to have a dog when a wolf is more badass seriously a man and a wolf goes better than tea and biscuits especially if wolves are considered more wiser than there friends and all that

Also I really like how because there friend with a wolf there are more outgoing types who live in the forest as such and are skilled in survival and what not

Also I'm currently reading The Eye of the World and there are definitely some wolves in that book with some....developments......

[Bill]

Sabriel by Garth Nix. Mogget is hilarious so his relationship with Sabriel and Sameth is the best.

I'm reading two books right now that have this kind of relationship. Crucible of Gold which is the follow up to Margret's pick and Where the Waters Turn Black which has a super sweet relationship between Kaimana and her very own monster Rakau.

[Silvana]

Okay, my pick would be the novella The Princess and The Queen, or, The Blacks and The Greens by George R.R. Martin, set during the height of the Targaryen's era where there were lots of dragon unfortunately being used for civil wars (because the Targs were stupid). Anyway, there were more dragons than riders so one side of the war (the Blacks) were looking for riders and there was this young common girl who had no Valyrian blood at all but she managed to befriend a feral dragon and became his rider. Her name was Nettles and her dragon was Sheepstealer. I think they both kicked ass.

[Angus]

Great Question! Eragon was the first book I ever read with this type of bond and I have loved this theme in other books ever since.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I was hoping you'd pick the Old Kingdom books Bill. I do love Mogget, but Disreputable Dog... it was just love

[Hacen]

Firekeeper Saga by Jane Lindskold

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Silvana- I'll definitely need to read that it sounds great!

[Liam]

Eragon and Nix having been said already ( love the Disreputable Dog) and Hobb also probably the best example of this, Nighteyes! ... But I think Northern Lights takes it for me.... cant beat a Polar Bear really and the daemons

[Bill]

Margret wrote: "I was hoping you'd pick the Old Kingdom books Bill. I do love Mogget, but Disreputable Dog... it was just love"

I had a really hard time deciding which to go with.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Crone is my favorite animal character. It's not that she has a tight bond with either Baruk or Anomander. It's that she's such a glorious sarcastic bitch just tweaking everybody. She gives as good as she gets again and again. Memories of Ice

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I think in Deadhouse Gates there was a horse that you did not want to eff with either

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Scott- this Crone you speak of reminds me of somebody....

[Tammie]

Green Rider has some bonds with horses in it, and also this series Dhampir has a bond with a magical wolf type fay creature. This one is very middle grade The Dark Hills Divide but lots of animal/human bonds in it.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Margret wrote: "Scott- this Crone you speak of reminds me of somebody...."

Well I'm more of a glorious sarcastic bastard. :)

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Margret wrote: "I think in Deadhouse Gates there was a horse that you did not want to eff with either"

The dogs Bent and Roach.

[C.P.]

Ahdam mentioned Suri and Minna from Age of Myth and I'm going to have to go with them as well. I'm sure there are others, but having just finished the first two books in the series these two really stand out.

[Anni]

Even if it has already been mentioned: Fitz and Nighteyes because I am absolutely in love with these two! For them, I would pick Fool's Errand, I think their bonding is best represented there.
Also The Lies of Locke Lamora because I think the Falconer woundn't have been such fustraiting (in a good way!) opponent without his falcon.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Haha Margret that made me smile. :) I started reading from the ground up, and figured out what the topic was before I reached your comment. I was thinking "can I get away with another Hobb shoutout?" Lol

My other would be the dragon bond in Joust by Mercedes lackey.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Well today's topic is perfect for Fitz :)

[Kieron]

Having just read it recently and nobody else seems to have mentioned them, I will say the bond between Corban and Storm is definitely very strong. Malice

[Frank]

Game of Thrones, John Snow and his dire wolf, Ghost

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

I would pick the same as you Frank. It's quite a tough question this one.

[Chris]

Margret wrote: "Good morning everyone! Welcome to day 5

Name a book that portrays a bond between man and beast

This one might be a bit tougher, so here's some inspiration in honor of Nikki, who I know will be pi..."

What about a portrayal of woman and beast? I just finished reading Sea of Shadows where twin sisters patrol a forest that is used as punishment to condemn criminals. Each has their own companion, one's a huge dog, the other a large cat. They work with their animal companions and travel with them as well, always best friends. It was a good story, and I still get giddy when I think about the ending. It's got my recommendation. The author's Canadian too so I gotta look out for my fellow maple leaf bearer!

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Lol yes Chris woman is fine obviously. I meant mankind :)

The Waking Fire is another one (not a huge role)

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Is the day over yet?

Awesome Worldbuilding

My favorite is the Gentleman Bastards series starting with The Lies of Locke Lamora.

[C.P.]

Ah, worldbuilding. Anything by Sanderson generally has an amazing world, in my opinion. Since The Way of Kings is my favorite I'll go with that. And I like how it's expanded in Words of Radiance. Excited to see where it goes from here.

[C.P.]

I still need to read The Lies of Locke Lamora. Will have to get to it eventually.

[Ahdam]

Same here C.P everyone keeps talking about it and I still haven't read it hahaha

I think the best worldbuilding would have to be from Tad Williams Memory Sorrow and Thorn which I keep mentioning because the world of Osten Ard feels so rich with the different kingdoms and I could feel it oozing out a I turned the page as I was reading history in the making I hear the next book there would be even more so cant wait to return to that world

As an honourable mention I would say the six duchies in farseer trilogy has some interesting history and stuff about its land (especially mind blown that the six duchies is an upside down Alaska)

[C.P.]

Tad Williams is another author I need to try. So many books to read!

[Angus]

I'd have to go with The Night Circus, as while it's not to the same scope as a lot of epic fantasy, i think it's beautifully written in a way that makes the world feel so magical and whimsical yet real too.

[Wonderland Wanderer]

Obviously I have to mention JRR Tolkien when we talk about worldbuilding.

[C.P.]

Yes, Tolkien was a genius!

And The Night Circus, yet another book I haven't tried yet.

[Tammie]

Since Sanderson has already been said I'll say Robert Jordan and his Wheel of Time series. He was a great world builder.

[C.P.]

Yes, Tammie, that's another one I thought of. I'm not a huge Wheel of Time fan (I enjoyed them, I just don't love them), but I thought his worldbuilding was amazing!

[Silvana]

I wanted to say A Song of Ice and Fire but maybe this time I vouch for Daniel Abraham's The Dagger and the Coin series. Fantastic worldbuilding in terms of races and their relationships, plus commerce!

[Ahdam]

Tammie wrote: "Since Sanderson has already been said I'll say Robert Jordan and his Wheel of Time series. He was a great world builder."

Reading that now and just looking at the map as well as the number of books I can tell there's going to be a lot of worldbuilding in the books but as for right now I think Tad Williams is so much better

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I could just keep picking the same few series again and again so I won't and instead will go off the map a bit.

The Unhewn Throne

The Emperor's Blades
The Providence of Fire
The Last Mortal Bond
Skullsworn

Loved the eastern blend of China and Mongolia along with the gods, politics, military and religion. One of the best historical fiction worlds where the world is redefined.

[Ahdam]

Scott wrote: "I could just keep picking the same few series again and again so I won't and instead will go off the map a bit.

The Unhewn Throne

The Emperor's Blades
[book:The Providence of Fir..."

This series has been in my sights for a while and every time I see it I keep seeing the last mortal bond because of it being a doorstopper of the series and if there's a series with a huge book then it definitely has my attention