What are you currently reading?

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Tnkw01 wrote: "Helen wrote: "I’m reading The Pariah, good so far but I’ve barely started."

While I quit reading the Raven's Shadow series, this one looks like it has potential. I trust Helen so I..."

I did mean to read his others before this even though they aren’t connected (or so I’m told). I’m 20% in and I definitely like it.

[Joseph]

Just started H. Rider Haggard's Heart of the World, which I believe is going to turn out to be one of his lost race books rather than (as I initially expected) one of his historical novels.

[Elise]

I gave up on The Black Company. I wasn't really liking the writing style. Reading a newer release instead called Gutter Mage.

[Joseph]

I love the Black Company books but yeah, they have a very particular style.

[Tnkw01]

Elise wrote: "I gave up on The Black Company. I wasn't really liking the writing style. Reading a newer release instead called Gutter Mage."

I also love the Black Company. It is a rather dark fantasy.

[Mary]

Penance: A Young Adult Superhero Novel by Paula Richey and Thomas Plutarch

[Joseph]

Started Guy Gavriel Kay's most recent, A Brightness Long Ago. I'd forgotten just how good he is.

[Mary]

The Order of Things by James V. Schall

[Tnkw01]

Finished Night Shift. It gets 4 stars. Now I'm on to Broken Blade. Just started but it is really a unique story.

[Hunter]

The Way of Kings - amazing worldbuilding and character growth!

[Tanya]

I finished that book recently and I loved it so much!

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on my nerves.

[Chris]

Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on..."

That series was a complete slog.

After that initial trilogy, he started writing epics based on historical eras from Earth yet set in fantasy worlds. They're 1000% better than that first trilogy.

[Joseph]

Agree that Kay's recent works are better than the initial trilogy (although I do like it) -- IIRC, he wrote that shortly after helping Christopher Tolkien assemble The Silmarillion for publication, so probably had to write the Tolkien out of his system.

I finished A Brightness Long Ago and decided to end 2021/begin 2022 by just wallowing in epic fantasy, so started rereading Robert Silverberg's 1998 anthology Legends, where he got a bunch of well-known authors (Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, Raymond E. Feist, etc.) to write new novellas in their famous worlds.

[Mary]

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, Vol. 7 by Waco Ioka

[Mary]

Night Shift Dragons by Rachel Aaron

[Tnkw01]

Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. It got right on..."

I've read several of Kay's books. He write very elegantly and with a depth and passion that few can meet. However, they do have a tendency to drag at times. I find for myself, I really need to be in the mood for he's books before I can enjoy them.

[Elise]

The books I wrapped up 2021 with

The Martian Chronicles ★★★★★
ReDawn ★★★★
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World ★★★★★
Siege and Storm ★★★★

[Mary]

Gemini Warrior by J.D. Cowan

[Joseph]

My December:

The Crystal Shard ★★★
Streams of Silver ★★★
The Halfling's Gem ★★★
Heart of the World ★★★
A Brightness Long Ago ★★★★

So at least I ended the month (and the year) on a very high note.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Chris wrote: "Helen wrote: "I was embroiled in Kay’s trilogy with beautiful covers and non-memorable names - 4 people swept to another land. I started book 2 but just stopped and haven’t read one of his since. I..."

My set of covers were so pretty too. I’ll have to try him again.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck waiting for a test.



December is from Thursday Murder Club.

[Mary]

The Apothecary Diaries 04 by Natsu Hyuuga

[Dhanusha]

Helen wrote: "I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck wai..."

This looks great

[Joseph]

OK, let me do that:

[Joseph]

Yes, that's very satisfying.

[Joseph]

Continuing on with Legends II, the second big fantasy anthology edited by Robert Silverberg; as it happens, the first story is a Robin Hobb Elderlings piece.

[Mary]

The Golden Maiden and Other Folk Tales and Fairy Stories Told in Armenia by A.G. Seklemian

[Elise]

I finished Cytonic the other day, which I loved.

Now I've been reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Enjoying it so far.

[Tnkw01]

Helen wrote: "I’m jumping straight in with a book cover quilt. I love making these - well as I go along at least. Lots of thrillers this year.

Happy New Year! Mine started with a loss of taste so now stuck wai..."

Do you have to do these one at a time?

[Tnkw01]

Elise wrote: "I finished Cytonic the other day, which I loved.

Now I've been reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Enjoying it so far."

I liked The Ten Thousand Doors of January but it was kind of weird at times.

[Mary]

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman

[Charlton]

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

[Tnkw01]

Charlton wrote: "The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson"

One of my favorites. I hope you like as much as I do.

[Joseph]

Tnkw01 wrote: "Do you have to do these one at a time?"

That's how I did mine, at least.

[Tnkw01]

Joseph wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Do you have to do these one at a time?"

That's how I did mine, at least."

Thanks.

[Mary]

MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing by Keith Ammann

[Janette]

I've just finished The Mask of Mirrors which I loved.

I'm now reading Empire of the Vampire - Book One which is also brilliant.

So many good fantasy books around at the moment.

[Charlton]

Fininshing The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson maybe tonight. Really good read and Sanderson makes it so entertaining,
And if I do finish tonight, I'll start reading Shadows of Self

[Elise]

I finished Gutter Mage last night. I had a blast reading this. I really loved the main character, and now I'm truly unhappy there's only one book.

Now I'm reading the final Skyward Flight novella, Evershore.

[Mary]

Ghost in the Lore by Jonathan Moeller

[Tanya]

I've just finished The City of Brass earlier today. I didn't love it at first and I was very slow with reading it, but toward the end I began liking the characters more, so I gave it three stars. Next I'm planning to read Morning Star. I read the first two books in the trilogy a while ago, so I'm hoping I remember enough to understand what's going on.

[Cee]

I'm reading Blackheart Knights by Laure Eve. It's really good so far!

[Charlton]

I'm reading Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson. Only 2 chapters in and really enjoying it so far.

[Mary]

Rebellion of the Lost by Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin

[Mary]

War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful Savage by Lawrence H. Keeley

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Tom, I added each month as I went along.

Joseph that looks great.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Tanya wrote: "I've just finished The City of Brass earlier today. I didn't love it at first and I was very slow with reading it, but toward the end I began liking the characters more, so I gave i..."

I’ve been thinking of rereading the series- part 3 of his new set is out soon.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Janette wrote: "I've just finished The Mask of Mirrors which I loved.

I'm now reading Empire of the Vampire - Book One which is also brilliant.

So many good fantasy books around..."

Both really good books.

[Joseph]

Finished Legends II and decided it was time for some Murderbot, so on to Rogue Protocol.