Michael Smith > Recent Status Updates

This book is a masterpiece, and may be my favourite book I've read this year. A short book this is not, but it's fast paced and gripping, with wonderful characters. The historical detail is exquisite. Learning about history has never been more fun (this book is as accurate to true history as it's possible to be in fiction).

Obsessed

I am tiring fast of fantasy at the moment, so I've hopped over to the brilliant Ken Follett, to indulge myself in another passion of mine: epic historical fiction.

This is the genre at its most ambitious, but also it's most readable. Highly recommended, it shines even more brightly the second go around.

Call it a guilty pleasure all you want, and I probably should, but I can't help but enjoy Cassandra Clare's world and characters, even if I know it will never be high art.

I absolutely love this book! It's so nice to have a short and easy read that isn't mind numbingly stupid, shallow or poorly written. This is showing signs of being a favourite series of mine, and I definitely rate the author highly. Old fashioned coming of age, adventurous fun, perfect for fans of Harry Potter or even Michael J. Sullivan.

No way did I expect to love the characters as much as I do so quickly. I also really love that the main characters are older (one keen adventurer at the forefront of the story, Cornar, is a 53 year old married man, father, and formerly retired). The excitement to go on an adventure to, basically, dig up history and learn is so refreshing to me. So many things I'm loving already. I love coming back to this long book

I really loved the first book, and to my absolute delight, book two is even better. I know this series is regarded as middle grade, or even YA, but great writing and great characters with really strong storytelling, and real moments of threat and menace (there is no real sense of talking down to kids here, the kids are learning to kill enemies in combat) ensure that the story never feels too juvenile. Big fan so far.

I just wrote "1%" instead of 15 lol

That prologue was huge, and you know what else? Erm...a little boring, outside of Rand and Min.

Not the most positive start, but I hope to once again enjoy a new volume of WoT.

Okay, so this is surprisingly brilliant. An epic fantasy that doesn't revolve a young man needing to find himself? A quest for lost world's? Older, wise adventurers sought to go on missions?

This is at once a classically styled adventure tale, and something refreshingly modern. Really loving this so far!

This book feels almost like a collection of separate novellas, and you know what? It feels very effective. Incredibly fond of this book so far, which is likely a surprise to no one at all.

I see nothing but genius on display, as well as an author confident in the ability of his audience who have stayed to this point to be able to value and understand why the characters are making their choices, as well as value the importance of seemingly uneventful plot progression. Everything feels like an essential puzzle piece and as a reader, I can see they are essential to put into place. I love this book.

Yeah, I give up waiting for the "slog", I am loving the drama, the character dynamics, and the creeping sense of dread and paranoia. This is an astounding installment.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BORING? Wheeeen iiiissssss thiiiiissssss suuuupppppoooooossssseeeed tooooo haaaaapeeeennnn?

Because honest to god the opening chapters dealing with The Bowl Of The Winds, Elayne, Nynaeve and Aviendha, the seanchan etc left me GRIPPPED! Seriously, this book opened like the way many classic fantasy books end: with a massive BANG!

Absolutely loving The Path Of Daggers.

Loving it. Feel I'm becoming really boring in my endless WoT praise.

Wow

This is a magnificent book! Some of the best character writing I have ever read, in any genre. The prose is beautiful; the descriptions of everything are divine to read. Even if all that is being described is the texture of fabric, or the greenery of a field, or the everyday goings on of normal people doing mundane things, I'm riveted. EXQUISITE WRITING! Carol Berg is a terrific, and unforgivably underrated writer..

Ever read a book for the first time, and find that there is so much to relish and enjoy, you can't wait to reread it and soak in more that you might have missed?

That is me with Carol Berg's Flesh And Spirit.

Well, this is turning out to be possibly my favourite book I have read this year! Phenomenal! Robin Hobb fans, look here: Carol Berg is an author for you!

Ok so this book feels like a huge departure from the previous volumes. Lighter in tone at times, so much so that the impactful moments feel weightier. Terrific character development for Elayne and Nynaeve, and I'm loving the scenes with Moghedien. Seems to be primarily focused on the girls, with Mat thrown in. This feels less ambitious than the previous three books, and honestly, it's all the better for it.