What Else Are You Reading in 2023? Showing 851-900 of 1,880

[Becky]

Tyler wrote: "Going to get into Sanderson either this year or next. Mistborn is on sale for Kindle at $2.99, but is Mistborn first or is Stormlight archive first? What is the correct storyline chronological order?"

Here's a blog about Cosmere reading order, which says Mistborn first. https://thequilltolive.com/2023/04/27...

I happened to have read Mistborn first, and then other Cosmere books randomly and out of order, so I don't know that it REALLY matters all that much.

But Mistborn IS a great one to start with. You get a great story, within a few decently sized books, a feel for Sanderson's style, without a massive commitment to 83 billion pages of Stormlight. (Which are great, sure, I'm assuming since I've only read one of them because each book is 1000+ pages, and that's a LOT.)

[Meredith]

Georgann wrote: "Meredith wrote: "Catching up on a few recent-ish reads.

The Light Brigade, by Kam Hurley. I enjoyed (mostly) following the bendy-time travel aspect of the story and Hurley's social..."

Thanks for sharing about the Spotify list, I need to check it out.

[Jordan]

Recently finished The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. I had a little trouble getting in to it at the beginning, which I'm not sure whether that was a pacing thing or a me being in a reading slump thing. But once I really felt like it started picking up it was amazing!

Started The Jasmine Throne yesterday and read something like a quarter of it in one day, which is unusual for me lately. Something about the world just really pulled me in.

And I got my copy of Translation State yesterday, but didn't have much time to read by the time I got home. I made some great progress on to today though and I am so excited. Loving being back in the Imperial Radch universe.

[Kaia]

I have read a bunch lately -

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. I liked this story quite a bit. It addresses a lot of interesting scientific, social, and technical topics with an interesting mix of human, animal, and bot characters. I was surprised to see the GR average rating was so low, though I do think Newitz is an author that people tend to either like or not like.

High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson. This was okay - a quick fantasy novella I read while traveling. It has an irreverent protagonist and fairies, and was fun and generally light.

I also listened to the first three books in the series starting with Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell. I liked books 1 and 3 and the first half of book 2 - cozy sci-fi, low stakes, and found family on a trading vessel in space. The main character is a bit too perfect, which gets a little old, but I found the stories enjoyable (and the audiobook narrator is good). I decided to stop at book 3, though - it ends in a way that gives closure and allows me to imagine my own ending for the characters. It looks like book 4 will be much darker and less cozy, without much of what I liked in the first books.

[Kaia]

Jordan wrote: "And I got my copy of Translation State yesterday, but didn't have much time to read by the time I got home. I made some great progress on to today though and I am so excited. Loving being back in the Imperial Radch universe."

I'm so excited to read this, Jordan! I'm glad to hear that you are loving it so far. The Imperial Radch series is one of my favorites that I have read in the last few years (and probably of all the series I have ever read, really).

[Meredith]

Jordan wrote: "Recently finished The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. I had a little trouble getting in to it at the beginning, which I'm not sure whether that was a pacing thing or a me being in a readin..."

I am impatiently waiting for my copy of Translation State to arrive....


Kaia wrote: "I have read a bunch lately - The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. I liked this story quite a bit. It addresses a lot of interesting scientific, social, and technical topics with an..."

I really enjoyed Terraformers as well. Super imaginative story!

[Jacqueline]

Hang on….there’s a new Ann Leckie out? Hopefully it’s at the bookshop when I go and get The Book that Wouldn’t Burn tomorrow. I loved those books.

Finally finished my re-read of A Memory Called Empire last night. Just as well I re-read it. I couldn’t remember most of it. That’s a whole 1 book I’ve finished this year. I’ve started about 20. I get halfway through and then put them down and don’t go back to them. It’s not as if I’m not enjoying them. I am. I just don’t get back to them. Hasn’t stopped me buying books though. I have Witch King sitting beside me ready to go and tomorrow I’m heading to Coffs Harbour (a holiday town on the coast about 45 minutes from our beach house) to get The Book that Wouldn’t Burn (QBD has them for $25 or $26 instead of $35) and I’ll look for the Ann Leckie one. I’ve bought more than I’ve started reading that’s for sure this year. It’s not hoarding if it’s books.

[Jacqueline]

Nope…not going to be able to get Translation State. It’s not released here until next week. Hopefully I can pick it up soon.

[Eric]

I completed Magician: Apprentice. A solid four stars. Good old fashion story telling. A magical portal or "rift" is opened between medieval worlds to allow invaders to seek what they do not have while trying to destroy those who have. For once, no social or political overtones. Then again, it was first published in 1982.

[Kaia]

Jacqueline wrote: "Nope…not going to be able to get Translation State. It’s not released here until next week. Hopefully I can pick it up soon."

I’m in the same boat, Jacqueline. I’m on the hold list at my library, but their copy is still “on order,” so no telling when I will actually be able to read it. I hope you are able to get a copy soon!

[Araych]

Dead Lies Dreaming by Charles Stross

Labeled as being a novel in the Laundry Files series -- in fact it is not. We see none of the Laundry Files characters or any of the organizations. This is actually the start of another series featuring, in this case, a modern and magical version of Peter Pan's Lost Boys and the sister of one of them. The plot is so convoluted and layered I can't realistically give a precis. I can say that the book starts out slowly and confusingly but does come together in the second half. Therefore I only really liked half the book and so my rating is 3 stars.

[Rick]

Araych wrote: "Dead Lies Dreamingby Charles Stross

Labeled as being a novel in the Laundry Files series -- in fact it is not. We see none of the Laundry Files characters or..."

It is also the first of a trilogy in that universe that concludes with the just-released Season of Skulls

[Alexandra]

I've just reread Ninefox Gambit for my book club, and enjoyed it very much. I also noted flaws and things that didn't quite make sense, but it was still a solid 4 stars (instead of ca 4.5 on my first read).

My review is here ;)

[Faith]

My review of Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marc]

Finished David Brin's Brightness Reef. An interesting part 1 to his trilogy, he admitted he started it, and it just got too big to release as one big book, which makes sense, it was 660 pages long (neglecting his preview of part 2). I'm going to have to go brush up his previous 2 books, there's names that might have been in the other books, and one of his aliens I keep getting confused with a Vernor Vinge alien in my minds eye (wheeled not legged). I'll have to read his next book a little later this year.

Anyhoo, on to the next book in Mira Grant's zombie series, Blackout.

[Becky]

Finished Caliban's War and am now on short story Gods of Risk. Next up is Drive, and then Abaddon's Gate.

[Bobby]

Started The Lies of Locke Lamora which is on the D&D list.

[Michelle]

Bobby wrote: "Started The Lies of Locke Lamora which is on the D&D list."

That's a great book!

[Sarah]

Bobby wrote: "Started The Lies of Locke Lamora which is on the D&D list."

I just finished it! It lived up to the hype!

[Marc]

Finished Mira Grant's trilogy of her zombie reporter saga, ending with blackout! although it was a 630 page paperback, it was a quick read, it pulled me right in, a little surprise from the ending of the 2nd book (I was like wtf?) but all was explained! An interesting riff on zombies.

Anyhoo, now on to my first Robert Silverberg book, A time of Changes. Also started reading an ebook, The Dark Design by Philip Jose Farmer (I read the first two books, to where your scattered bodies go and fabulous riverboat a year or two ago), which is book 3 of his riverworld universe.

[DivaDiane]

I’m enjoying following you quest, Marc. You are getting to some books I haven’t read myself. Happy reading.

[Rick]

Finished Translation State the other night. It's as good as I could have expected - Leckie is a treasure. Full review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Becky]

Breezing right through The Expanse. I finished Drive, and Abaddon's Gate, and The Churn, and now I've started Cibola Burn.

[Bobby]

Becky wrote: "Breezing right through The Expanse. I finished Drive, and Abaddon's Gate, and The Churn, and now I've started Cibola Burn."

Fun! I just did this last year. Are you reading the short stories in order? I think I had the short story collection on Kindle and tried to read them at the right points between the bigger books.

[Becky]

Yes, Bobby, that’s what I’m doing! In publish order, not chronological, but yes I’m fitting the stories in where they go between the novels. I’m loving it so much!

[L]

Becky wrote: "Finished Caliban's War and am now on short story Gods of Risk. Next up is Drive, and then Abaddon's Gate."

So cool! glad you enjoyed it. Drive is great as a short story.

[Jacqueline]

I’m about to go and pick up my copy of Translation Station in about an hour. Just got to get myself motivated to go and have a shower. It’s taking everything I have to not just shower and get into some pjs. I need milk so I definitely need to go out. Fun times.

[Jacqueline]

Translation State, Translation State. What the bell is wrong with my head lol Anyway I’ve just picked it up.

[DivaDiane]

I’m reading Translation State ATM, Jacqueline.

[Kirsi]

I just started Ella Enchanted, and I'm really enjoying it so far. This is a new author for me, but I have a feeling I'll be reading more from her soon.

[Becky]

Jacqueline wrote: "Translation State, Translation State. What the bell is wrong with my head lol Anyway I’ve just picked it up."

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't even notice you said "station" at first, and had to go back and read it after your correction. I am not even familiar with the book, so either I've just seen it mentioned enough times for my brain to auto-correct, or my reading comprehension is not great. :P

[Brett]

I'm coming to the end of Sand and Steel by Peter Caddick-Adams, and despite the length (887 pages minus notes and acknowledgements) I'm going to wish there was more when it's finished. I'll write a full review then, but in a nutshell it's everything you could want to know about D-Day.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah Becky my head just thinks it should be Station. Rolls off the tongue better than State lol and my phone autocorrected hell to bell. It was supposed to be “what the hell”. I’d just picked it up at the bookshop.

Translation State is the newest in Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch books set in the same universe as Ancillary Justice and its sequels Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy as well as Provenance.

[DivaDiane]

Translation Station brings “Conjunction Junction” from Schoolhouse Rock to mind!

[Michelle]

DivaDiane wrote: "Translation Station brings “Conjunction Junction” from Schoolhouse Rock to mind!"

I loved Schoolhouse Rock!!

[L]

Might be a weird one, but there's this YA series which I read a few years ago and just revisited: The Keepers, by Ted Sanders.
It genuinely surprised me with the prowess of it's world building, the very individual, vividly human characters, the wonderfully cleaver not-really-magic system with a great backstory.
I would absolutely read this quadrillogy again in the future. I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for a slightly depressing (but also really intelligent) series, which is not only fun, but philosophical too.
For fans of: not really sure actually, it's not like many other series I've read, ever...
5/5 stars.

[Phrynne]

I just came across an Amazon Original Stories collection called The Far Reaches. The first story I tried was by Veronica Roth and it was really good
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ann Leckie is up next.

[Bobby]

Got The Three-Body Problem from my daughters for Father’s Day.

[Kiki]

Ive been wanting to read the Villans series by V.E Schawb so Im hoping to get a chance to read that.

[Colin]

Kiki wrote: "Ive been wanting to read the Villans series by V.E Schawb so Im hoping to get a chance to read that."

I have read Vicious, the first of the two, and think it is excellent. Schwab does a terrific job with the portrayal of characters who are not likeable at all.

[Marc]

Finished Robert Silverberg's A Time of Changes, an interesting book about a human society set in it's ways on a distant planet till a visitor from earth visits. Apparently earth has gone to crap (hmmm...) and he is doing some trading and investigation, meets the protagonist. The society in question does not think first-person (no I, me, my, mine), and each person has a male and female 'bond' person, who are basically exceptionally close friends, but not lovers. Anyhoo, the protagonist meets the earthman, very curious about him, and... well, no spoilers! a short 300 page read in big print.

Anyhoo, now on to Naomi Novik's Spinning silver...

[Phrynne]

I started Remarkably Bright Creatures. Not sure about it yet.....

[Brett]

A little over halfway through Atalanta. It's just okay.

[Brett]

Keeping with the Operation Overlord theme in nonfiction, reading George Koskimaki's D-Day With the Screaming Eagles (1970). He was one of the 101 on that day, so it's a little weird reading him referring to himself in 3rd person, but it's only rarely, because it's a general oral history. If you've seen or read Band of Brothers, you'll recognize some of the names here.

[Phrynne]

Finished Remarkably Bright Creatures and remain unconvinced.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kaia]

I finished a few books recently:

Lost Places by Sarah Pinsker - this is her most recent book of short stories (most of which have been previously published elsewhere). I love Sarah Pinsker, and I enjoyed this collection. There was only one story that was just meh to me - most of the rest I thought were good to excellent.

I also read The Bone Shard Daughter for the group re-reads and went on to read The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart. (I listened to the audiobooks.) I really liked the first one, but I found Bone Shard Emperor to be a little overlong - I'm debating whether or not to read the final book, which is even longer. If anyone has read it and has an opinion, I'd love to hear whether it's worth it to continue.

I'm also almost done with Central Station by Lavie Tidhar, which I'm enjoying, though not as much as Neom.

[Araych]

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty

Supposedly a sci-fi murder mystery--Mallory seems to be a magnet for murders which occur around her, and then she travels to Space Station Eternity, a sentient being inhabited by several alien species. The mystery portion of the book is largely discarded fairly quickly and it was hard for me to take the remainder of the story seriously -- very convoluted and confusing and not in a good way. 2 stars -- just OK.

[Jessica]

Help!

I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I'm only 34 pages in and I'm waiting for the story to start! I don't think I can handle much more of an anonymous boyfriend telling a fantasy story to his girlfriend.

Thoughts? Has anyone read it?

[Banshee]

Jessica wrote: "Help!

I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I'm only 34 pages in and I'm waiting for the story to start! I don't think I can handle much more of an anonymous boyfriend telling a fanta..."

The "book in a book in a book" element (the whole story about a blind assassin) is only a part of the novel that keeps re-appearing as interludes in the actual story. I would say that the main story is a historical fiction with feminist themes. Every single element of the novel, including the "fantasy" one, comes together towards the end in a way that blew my mind, but generally, the story is rather slow. I have yet to be disappointed by anything written by Margaret Atwood, but it's up to you to decide, if it's up your alley.

My review, if you're interested (with spoiler parts hidden).

Have you maybe read Cat's Eye? It's somewhat similar in a way that both books are bildungsromans with some subtle commentary on how women had to deal with being forced into certain frames in the past.

[Gary]

I finished reading Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. The third novel in the Mars trilogy. It completed the story well. I am reading Translation State by Ann Leckie. It is another novel in the Imperial Radch Series. I plan to read Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer next.