14 Days of Discoveries (Part 1)

[Angus]

This thread is making by TBR bigger and bigger and i'm not even mad :D Thanks for all the recommendations, The Emperor's Blades sounds really interesting.

[Tammie]

Ahdam wrote: "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..."

I haven't read Tad Williams so I can't compare the two. From what I've heard he is a good world builder though. I may have to try his books in the future.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Ahdam wrote: "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 "

I must warn you the first book was a 3.5* book and that was only based upon a great ending. Book 2 was 4.5* and book 3 was 4.25. It was definitely a great series but it took a while to get there. But the world building was great from the get-go.

[Bill]

I really love series where there is a really rich history that still impacts the world Malazan, Inda and Wheel of Time all do this incredibly well. Think A Song of Ice and Fire is my top choice though I mean it has a history book with The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones.

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

Good world-building is my weakness in books. I can put up with a lot if I think the world-building is bomb. So it's hard to pick a favorite. The ones that come to mind are:

Daughter of the Empire - Feist/Wurst
The Cloud Roads - Martha Wells
The Last Stormlord & The Aware by Glenda Larke
Reap the Wild Wind pretty much anything by Czerneda (Scifi)

Story time: I went to a writing seminar a few years ago and in one author panel, the question asked was "how do you get good at world-building?" One of the panelists answered, "BE Brandon Sanderson." Everyone thought it was hysterical... except L.E. Modesitt Jr., also on the panel, who was visibly not amused.

[C.P.]

Hahah, that's great, Niki!

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Great choices. Especially JRR Tolkien the Song of Ice and Fire.

World building I'm actually going to have to go with an urban fantasy series by Devon Monk. House Immortal series. Wonderful alternate futuristic earth.

This series would have been a great answer for the question about a hidden gem as well.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Nikki you must know then that Brandon has full lectures posted online right? I'd watch them but I have zero interest in writing

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

Since Scott didn't pick it, I'd better mention Malazan. There are so many amazing things about the series, but the worldbuilding is the thing that blows me away every time I open the next book in the series.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Jenna wrote: "Since Scott didn't pick it, I'd better mention Malazan. There are so many amazing things about the series, but the worldbuilding is the thing that blows me away every time I open the next book in t..."

I really feel like I could just pick it for every single day. I think half the reason why I haven't enjoyed the First Law stand alone books as much as the trilogy is because the trilogy was pre-BotF and the singles post.

[Kieron]

I haven't got a massive sample size to choose from, so for sheer scale, history and potential I would have to go with Malazan as well. Gardens of the Moon

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

This morning a song came on my radio called "Seven Seas Blues" so we have the theme for today

Sea Voyages

At first I thought maybe it'd be too hard, but then quickly thought of at least 5 series that would work.

I will pick Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb :)

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Hope and Red Book one of Empire of Storms

Red Seas Under Red Skies book two of the Gentleman Bastards series.

Heir of Novron book three of Riyeria Revelations

Stonewielder book 4 of Malazan Empire

A book one, two, three and four all from series not specifically about the sea where each one has the sea as a main focal point.

[Ahdam]

I will be interested with this one and while I read books that have ships where the characters ride in I dont think I've seen enough of stories where the person travels by ship to a far out destination where most of the focus is on the ship and the closest I have to say to that would be The Emerald Storm

However if it was any other voyage apart from sea such as sky I would say Leviathan which is a good book where your riding on a flying whale....just a thought

[Bill]

Feel like I'm beating a dead horse but Inda by Sherwood Smith. The second half is centered around a newbie to the sea. It continues on in the rest of the series. So good.

Hawkwood and the Kings by Paul Kearney has a sea voyage to explore a new world. He also has another series called Sea Beggars but haven't read it yet.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I can think of a couple of series with HUGE followings.. plenty of ship travel in them

[Silvana]

His Majesty's Dragon and the rest of Temeraire novels. I love how Novik combined Aubrey-Maturin series and fantasy.

[Frank]

Let's go classic:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

[Tammie]

The Legion of Flame has a sea voyage in it.

[Chris]

I have never read a fantasy series with a sea voyage in it, SO...

I'll recommend off the board, Patrick Robinson's Admiral Morgan series is a good read. It's military fiction with focus on submarines and Navy SEALs. The first book is Nimitz Class.

Like I said though, NOT FANTASY.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

You haven't read A Song of Ice and Fire?

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

I apparently love books with sea voyages in them, because a brief glance at my read shelf showed over 20. My fav would either be Liveship or Red Seas Under Red Skies, but I'll put forth these random ones I also enjoyed:

Pearls of Lutra
The Demon Awakens
Sorcery Rising
The Dagger's Path

Random sea goodness lol.

Margret - I am aware of those online workshops, but for some reason feel to intimidated to watch them. Its weird. I love that you've no interest in writing and you've seen them though lol.

[Anni]

I also thougt of Liveship and Red Seas Under Red Skies first. Instead I will choose Half a King, the sea voyage is only a part of the book, but I think it's an important part :)

[Kayleigh]

I love a good sea voyage!

Some books I can think of off the top of my head (and haven't been already mentioned) that have sea voyages are:

A Conjuring of Light
Alias Hook
Abarat

[Chris]

Margret wrote: "You haven't read A Song of Ice and Fire?"

No...
Do I have to spend time in the closet of shame now? 😦

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Wow tonight is just not my night. I have a wasp sting that may or may not be turning into cellulitis, what a great start to my weekend of night shifts! So while I'm sitting here icing my ever swelling leg I'll just post the next topic (thank you Anni for the suggestion)

Best Sidekicks

I apologize about not updating the master list. I'll try to later this am or tomorrow night.

[Angus]

There are so many good sidekicks to chose from D: But I have to go with Zuzana and Mik from Daughter of Smoke & Bone

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Margret wrote: "Wow tonight is just not my night. I have a wasp sting that may or may not be turning into cellulitis, what a great start to my weekend of night shifts! So while I'm sitting here icing my ever swell..."

I hope you feel better.

Trying to pick different series if I can I'll go Yarden Hane from the Dragon and Coin series who ultimately does what's best for the main character and not what the main character wants him to do. A zen priest warrior who definitely balances Marcus out.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Well that was a very emo post of me.. kind of embarrassed. I'll let you guys know if my leg fell off this afternoon when I wake up haha

[Tammie]

I originally thought Royce or Hadrian, but neither of them are really sidekicks. I think they would belong in a buddy category, so I'm going to say Wayne from the Mistborn second era books.

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

For me the best sidekicks are in The Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series by Kim Harrison! I especially love the gargoyle. :)

[Anne-Marie]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "For me the best sidekicks are in The Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series by Kim Harrison! I especially love the gargoyle. :)"

Oh, i love that series. Good choice.

[Ahdam]

I too was going to say Hadrian and Royce but I think I'm going to give this to Kest and Brasti well specifically Brasti from Traitor's Blade since there the 3 musketeers and I loved Brasti in it,,, the other two were fine as well :) :)

[Bill]

I'm going with Sevro from Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Tremendously loyal and completely insane.

[C.P.]

Bill wrote: "I'm going with Sevro from Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Tremendously loyal and completely insane."

I was just thinking about Sevro! He was probably my favorite from that series.

[Anni]

He might also be more than a sidekick but I will go with Jean from The Republic of Thieves he's an incredible as Lockes friend and protector. Sometimes I think he is more than Locke deserve!

[Kieron]

Anni wrote: "He might also be more than a sidekick but I will go with Jean from The Republic of Thieves he's an incredible as Lockes friend and protector. Sometimes I think he is more than Locke ..."

I am going to have to get my answer in quicker because Jean was going to be my choice as well. The Lies of Locke Lamora

[Frank]

Riyria, sidekicks for each other.
Hadrian and Royce. They are both sidekicks and main characters!!

[Tammie]

Frank wrote: "Riyria, sidekicks for each other.
Hadrian and Royce. They are both sidekicks and main characters!!"

Ok I guess that works haha.

[C.P.]

They really are kind of sidekicks for each other. So glad I finally started their story. :)

[Silvana]

Hermione Granger and Samwise Gamgee. Both are so great I even preferred them than the heroes.

[Kayleigh]

Bill wrote: "I'm going with Sevro from Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Tremendously loyal and completely insane."

I love Sevro so much.

[Kayleigh]

Kasia from Uprooted is pretty great. I also like Po from Graceling and George Cooper from the Song of the Lioness series.

[Hacen]

Kayleigh wrote: "Kasia from Uprooted is pretty great. I also like Po from Graceling and George Cooper from the Song of the Lioness series."

George Cooper is awesome!

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Great replies today, yes Sevro is a great sidekick

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

So I've been thinking a little bit about the challenge and was wondering if it would be ok to make it a bit shorter, because it's had such a great, strong response and I'm worried it will wear a little thin if it goes on too long.

Would everyone be fine if we split it up, do 2 weeks now total and maybe 2 weeks in the winter (summer for those of you in the eastern hemisphere)?

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Margret wrote: "Would everyone be fine if we split it up, do 2 weeks now total and maybe 2 weeks in the winter (summer for those of you in the eastern hemisphere)?"

Southern hemisphere Beavis.

I think that would be fine.

[Anne-Marie]

I would have mentionned Ron and Hermione in The Chamber of Secrets. But since Hermione was mentionned already, I'm going to go with Cara, the Mord-Sith in the Sword of Truth series.

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

Yay! Another Harrison fan!! I think Cara is a great pick too. :)

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Oh man, go back to bed Marg