Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 4,001-4,050 of 5,829

[Choko]

I am up to Ch. 2 in Heretic Royal and I love, love, love that we have a clan grudge - keeper!!!! Gruff, hahaha! And Emily, yep, they are a clan of Centaur who have goat-like hoofs and horns:))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Like the Billy Goats Gruff ;)

[Choko]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Like the Billy Goats Gruff ;)"

Hahahaha!!!! I didn't even think about that!!! Yes!!!

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Yea, Ainsley is the one everyone forgets... she hides in trees and knows archery......"

That's most of what I remember from book 2. It made me laugh each time.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Like the Billy Goats Gruff ;)"

Hahahaha!!!! I didn't even think about that!!! Yes!!!"

Now that makes me think of the Gruff brothers in Dresden. Elder Brother was cool. And has good taste in donuts.

[Nirkatze]

Heretic Royal, Chapter 3 (I was very lucky that the audio just said "Chapter 4" as I was getting ready to type up thoughts!)--I love Angus' meeting with the dragons! Really enjoying the "ridiculous and fun" narrative style. Big smiles. (view spoiler)[And the way Angus then starts chatting with Anwyn about her battle exploits from a book he read strangely reminds me of the scene in Crazy Rich Asians (movie, can't remember if it was in the book too) where the MC starts chatting with a Thai Princess... Regardless, it's fun to see a character fangirling (fanmanning?) on another character... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Heretic Royal, Chapter 3 (I was very lucky that the audio just said "Chapter 4" as I was getting ready to type up thoughts!)--I love Angus' meeting with the dragons! Really enjoying the "ridiculous..."

I can just not even hear chapter numbers on audio, I swear... it's like I've trained my brain to ignore the term "chapter ##"... which is great, until the time comes to talk about a book on Goodreads...

And Angus is/was great in Heretic Royal... the uncle is kinda funny too, in a murdery way...

I think the term is fanboy/fanboying... altho the term Stan/MegaStan might work too?... I think being a Stan is gender-neutral... altho I think it has more stalkery/obsession overtones...

[Choko]

I am up to Ch. 5, and it is hard to discuss this book. It is just absurd and hilarious and kind of terrifying at the same time! I love the G A Aiken part of this author so much! I tried her Laurenson book just once and never got into it, so I didn't continue... Kind of how I feel about the J D Robb part of Nora Roberts. She writes well in either identity, but I only like the J D Robb stuff...

How would you guys classify these series? Absurd Fantasy? What would you call it?

Also, Angus fanboying was awesome! The only thing is, I wish this narrator had spent some time listening to the Dragon Kin narrator, because she hasn't caught our dragons and Anwyll's voices quite right... And Glenna being the one calming down the masses - haha! She is one of the most bloodthirsty generals in the Dragon Queen army!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea... I gave the narrator a bit of a pass, altho they gave the old characters new voices...

Absurd Fantasy is a good description...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Still failing at catching up on 2022 ratings/reviews, but my spreadsheet is 1-2 steps closer to being ready to help me catch up... assigned all my books from June to October to the right-ish month I read them, and added in the bare bones details of the books I read in November/December...

just need to flesh out November/December and rate everything, and then i can use it to catch up on 9 months of ratings/reviews...

In the meantime, I know I read 318 books in 2022, and I've done 4 ratings/reviews for 2023 already...

EDIT: Added book links, and rated 100-200 books... I feel like I leaned into my usual 4 star middle-ground, unless I super loved the book, or know I felt meh/angry about the book...

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Yea, Ainsley is the one everyone forgets... she hides in trees and knows archery......"

That's most of what I remember from book 2. It made me laugh each time."

Yes, I really liked that running bit from Book 2!

[Tonari no Emily]

Ditto on Absurd Fantasy. We can go with that :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

2022 Spreadsheet Data Input 100% Complete

WOO... 1 step closer to caught up, for last year...

[Choko]

Iain, that is amazing!!! I still need to catch up with my paperwork for work for the last 3 weeks and it feels so overwhelming...

Emily, right? Because otherwise it doesn't fit in any category really...

[Choko]

By the way, I am in Ch. 16, The Heretic Royal, and I constantly burst out laughing!!! The terror everyone experiences when dealing with Anwyll is hilarious! And Gweinville is still the most ridiculous of dragons:)) Ainsley is so normal compared to her siblings too... I am sure this will change soon:)

[Nirkatze]

I haven't read any of the Dragon Kin books, but I'm really glad that we get to meet some of those characters in Heretic Royal. Like Choko, I'm cracking up constantly... did that in the supermarket today and got some funny looks...

Another vote here for absurd fantasy!

I know I'm up past Chapter 16--maybe 20--I caught another chapter name earlier today and was like wow! that's two in one book! Must be a record for me! I totally agree, @Iain--my brain just tends to shut out the transitions too...

And dang, updating that spreadsheet sounds like a lot of work...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "I haven't read any of the Dragon Kin books, but I'm really glad that we get to meet some of those characters in Heretic Royal. Like Choko, I'm cracking up constantly... did that in the supermarket ..."

It was... hours of work... but it was mostly relatively mindless work... I was able to do most of it while listening to Malazan, but it took hours... this is all the data entry I fell behind on in 2022... now I just need to open all the book links and copy the important info to Goodreads... then I'll be 90-99% caught up with my recordkeeping...

[Tonari no Emily]

Oof, sounds like a chore! I'm pretty sure if I got that far behind I would just abandon it and try to start again for the new year xD I respect the dedication

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

If I did that, I’d be missing 3+ years of data… this keeps happening… I read and game too much…

[Choko]

I just finished The Heretic Royal. Enjoyed it tremendously! I think we who have read The Dragon Kin series might have had an advantage in enjoyment, because we know how insane that family is, and we can appreciate the terror Anwyll brings to all:))) The scene with the demons was an example of that. I am very happy that we will have more books in the series, with that ending and all... And Beatrix is a horrible human being! I think the few scenes we have with her are just enough for us to develop a healthy hatred for her and her friend... As with all of these books, I hate when I reach the end. I love this insane world!

On a totally different note, did you guys hear the new Royal scandal, about Harry tattling on his brother for pushing him during an argument? First, I think compared to all the to-the-death battles and grudges of royals of all ages, this is a ridiculous one. But second, is it my upbringing, but dude, siblings fight and some times it gets physical. Why is this an issue?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Just another episode in the royal drama, since Harry moved to US/Canada…

Headlines made it sound worse than pushing…

[Choko]

Yeah, he pushed him and he fell down, on top of the dog's water bowl... Then he got up, asked his brother to leave and he did so, returning later to apologize... How is that a scandal?

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Yeah, he pushed him and he fell down, on top of the dog's water bowl... Then he got up, asked his brother to leave and he did so, returning later to apologize... How is that a scandal?"

Mmm, maybe just because it's the Royal Family... which are all supposed to be made up of cardboard cutouts and not have any real emotions or make mistakes... waaaay too much pressure to expect real people to live under... never understood people who want thrones... or to be famous...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

!!!



!!!

Legends & Lattes 2 is definitely a thing... eventually...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

3 months done (1 today)... 62/317 books reviewed... I'll do some more, tomorrow... I'm chipping away at it, 1hr/day at a time...

[Narilka]

Just keep chipping away at it Iain, you'll catch up :)

[Narilka]

You guys are making me curious about GA Akien. Can that trilogy be read without reading the other series? I'm not really looking for a super long series right now. Though I could mark it for the future. Hmm.

[Choko]

It can, particularly the first two books, but I think the enjoyment level of the third would be higher with some of the books in the first series....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's not a trilogy, just 3 entries in an ongoing series...

But yea, it's safely readable without knowledge of the earlier series... only me and Choko have read Dragon Kin... Nirkatze and Emily started with Blacksmith Queen...

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Legends & Lattes 2 is definitely a thing... eventually..."

WAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Though if what he wrote in the Q&A section in the back of Legends & Lattes is true, it isn't about Viv & co, but they cameo. It's another story set in the same city, with different characters.... I'm calling the series "Tales of Thune" in my head, until an official title comes out...

SO EXCITED!!!

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "It's not a trilogy, just 3 entries in an ongoing series...

But yea, it's safely readable without knowledge of the earlier series... only me and Choko have read Dragon Kin... Nirkatze and Emily sta..."

Yup, like Iain said, I haven't read any of the Dragon Kin series, though I am now very curious!! I still think I thoroughly enjoyed the characters who show up in book 3 even without the backstory--but of course I'm sure Choko & Iain loved it even more.

Speaking of--I just finished book 3! I had a ton of fun--but looking back on the book, I had to ask... what exactly happened? What was the plot? Besides throw the crazy dragon family in with the crazy blacksmith family and see what happens? Meh who cares. More potty-mouth ladies kicking ass please.

[Nirkatze]

I just started The Alice Network to try to cram in for a local book club a week from Friday. It's interesting so far--seems to be about two women--one of whom became a spy during one of the WWs... not sure if it's I or II at this point... with a theme of feminism connecting them...

[Monika]

Book #2 to Legends & Lattes?! Yes please!!!!

[Narilka]

I'm just over 50% on The Wizard's Butler. I'm still loving it. (view spoiler)[What may have started as "just a job" as turned into a way of life for Mulligan. I love how it has been beneficial for both him and Shackleford. Mulligan truly cares for the old man and I'm sure would do the job without the $1M bonus now.

I laugh each time Shackleford interacts with Naomi and deliberately antagonizes her, though possibly it cause those fire bombs at the warehouse. He may have some memory problems but he's not that bad off yet.

I am irritated a little with Mulligan. They have internet in the house. Why isn't he searching about that curse and amulet?? He seems to be believing more now, especially after they basically teleported after dropping off the antique cars.

I also half hoped that Mulligan would be adopted and be named heir, at least temporarily to make Naomi back off, even though he doesn't appear to have magic. Mulligan would make sure the residence was kept up and treated with respect. It's going to be interesting to see where this heir lead goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I thought the same about Mulligan. I guess though, that heir really needs to have magic, in order to be able to communicate with the magical creatures... And he is a normal, so kind of a dud, but I think this could work to his advantage from time to time...

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "It's not a trilogy, just 3 entries in an ongoing series...

But yea, it's safely readable without knowledge of the earlier series... only me and Choko have read Dragon Kin... ..."

Haha! Yeah I'm not exactly sure either but to get (view spoiler)[ Isadora in line for the next book going with the dragons and her twin and brother Centaur escort? (hide spoiler)]

I also really don't care so much about the plot xD

[Tonari no Emily]

Started and finished The Wizard's Butler yesterday! I loved it so much, I don't know how Iain finds these things, but it was so good for mainly being slice of life in a Wizard's Butler's life lol!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Started and finished The Wizard's Butler yesterday! I loved it so much, I don't know how Iain finds these things, but it was so good for mainly being slice of life in a Wizard's Butler's life lol!"

Honestly, I usually just ignore Audible recommendations, but I've hit on some really good ones, the last couple times I opened the app on my iPod...

And my track record seems impeccable, since I don't mention the stuff I don't follow through on, or don't think very highly of...

[Tonari no Emily]

Heh, good point. Well keep up the recommendations! I'm sure you don't need the encouragement with the amount you give us xD But I love the impromptu BRs that happen here \o/

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I thought the same about Mulligan. I guess though, that heir really needs to have magic, in order to be able to communicate with the magical creatures... And he is a normal, so kind of a dud, but I..."

Ditto that--was hoping that he would submit his swap to the DNA folks too, and have some fun discovery... but yeah... did not have some thoughts about internet though--I'm surprised neither of them tried that!

[Nirkatze]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "It's not a trilogy, just 3 entries in an ongoing series...

But yea, it's safely readable without knowledge of the earlier series... only me and Choko have re..."

Hah! so true! It's exciting to think (view spoiler)[that we'll probably get to see the Dragon court (hide spoiler)] in the next Scarred Earth entry, and that (view spoiler)[Centaur boy was so bubbly! All three of the Centaurs so far have been the "strong, silent, and emo" type--so I'm hoping this'll be a difference... unless they pair her with one of the twins instead, which'll be more strong, silent, emo... doubt there'll be a dragon... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Heh, good point. Well keep up the recommendations! I'm sure you don't need the encouragement with the amount you give us xD But I love the impromptu BRs that happen here \o/"

Ditto that \o/ !! Just wish I could somehow fit them all in--still want to find time to read Marla Mason, Tarot Sequence, finish up Constance Verity and Ghosts of Gotham...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I definitely want to BR Hungry Dreaming... just trying to not push too hard, with how busy we've made the BR schedule right now...

[Choko]

January is just insane every year. Once folks start struggling with the pace things start chilling a bit and the schedule becomes a bit more open... I give it to the end of February beginning of March... Kind of like the new year's resolutions to work out - everyone starts gun-ho, the gyms are full and you can't find a parking spot for leagues, and by the end of February you can park in front of the door and walk in to every treadmill you want:)))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Not us… we’re sticking to our guns/apps…

[Choko]

Haha! Of course not us! We are steady on throughout! Well, we get a bit distracted around Thanksgiving time, but that is typical... No one is immune to the insanity of the holidays... People do everything possible to distract you and drag you kicking and screaming into their drama... I guess just the price of being part of humanity:)))

[Tonari no Emily]

We should be be able to get to it Feb/March maybe?

[Narilka]

Around 75% on The Wizard's Butler (view spoiler)[I have noticed that Shackleford seems to have his worst episodes around Naomi now and they don't seem entirely faked. Is she part of the curse somehow or doing something else to enhance it? Hmm. The new family members show promise. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Question for T. Kingfisher fans--from the covers, it looks like A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, Minor Mage, and Illuminations are in the same world...

First, would you recommend reading the other books first? I want to join the Illuminations BR in Feb.

Second, what does your headcannon call this world? If they're in the same world, that is. My OC-not-D mind wants a series name...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I really liked Defensive Baking, I haven't read Minor Mage yet... but I plan to before Illuminations...

I'm 99% sure they're all set in the same world, but they're all standalone YA/Middle-grade books that don't fall under a shared series name banner...

If I'm right, this is a world where there are many different types of magic, but as a result there isn't much training in the magical fields (too many, etc)... if there was more training/study of it, they'd realize how versatile/powerful even the innocuous magics are... this is proven over the course of the Defensive Baking book, and reminded me of Worm, and how versatile the powers of the MC there proved, with her bug/critter control powers...

I'd have to do a google search for a planet name or something, to give the series a name, nothing immediately jumps to mind...

Minor Mage fits best, off the top of the head... like Minor Magics #1/2/3... even tho I think Defensive Baking came first...

EDIT: Minor Mage came first... makes it easier to call it Minor Magics, imo...