Nate > Recent Status Updates

I love Helikaon's Jekyll/Hyde dynamic. In a lot of ways this has been reminding me of The Winter King and this is a good example of why--I definitely remember Arthur having a very scary side as well.

I love Gemmell's easy charm and way with characters. It's also clever what he did with Aeneas. I'm wary of the fact that his wife finished the third book, although everyone seems to like it.

My work just got the new paperbacks of A Dance With Dragons with a BARRISTAN sample chapter...I proceeded to devour it and now I need more :(

Seriously considering stopping now and just telling myself Richard destroys all this conniving traitorous scum in a giant battle and then he and Anne take flight on a winged steed into the sunset.

"Book Three: Lord of the North": in which said Lord deals with difficult mother-in-law.

Nerd mystery solved: the cover is a painting of Agincourt!

This book is brilliant. What a monumental battle.

Ugh I'm so pumped for Edward to cross the channel and kill these fuckers.

Okay I'm aware this is horribly nerdy but I was staring at the cover painting and I realized it really looks like a painting of the English fighting the French in a very Hundred Years War-looking situation. Not very War of the Roses. Does anyone recognize it by chance?

George is a traitorous prick.

There is an insane amount of beheadings in this book. In one way it's depressing and in another way you do have to admire people who would brave such a thing in the name of loyalty. All the displaying of heads on gates and stuff does bring back vivid memories of sunny Westeros, though.

Olives are gross.

Wow, that was some ugly shit.

Epic Hanno flashback with Hamilcar. I already like this book.

...Yeah, I can't. Super-dense 500-page viking saga is not what I'd call an easy read. Have to pause this. Really, really good so far though!

"'Bloody hell!' Hagman spat in horror at the sudden smell which came across the grassland. It was the rancid stench of saddle and crupper sores that came on the chill west wind from the dead ground. The Riflemen wrinkled their noses against the foul odour." Uhh...was this really a thing?

The Hakeswill mention makes me wonder where that creepy bastard is around to.

Typically exciting Sharpe stuff, but I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT SHARPE'S LOVE LIFE.

We'll see if I can sneak this in before the A&M group reads start.

The Piss-Drinking Doctor: A lamentably underused Cornwell archetype.

Just realized Prince Edward is the famous Black Prince. I never said I was quick.

I'm pretty sure the original title of the novel was just fine. Honestly, how lame is this new American one? It's irritating when this happens, I'm pretty sure this happened with a Harry Potter book when it came to the States as well.

"It's from N'kai that frightful Tsathoggua came--you know, the amorphous, toad-like god-creature mentioned in the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Necronomicon and the Commoriom myth-cycle preserved by the Atlantean high-priest Klarklash-Ton." I think I missed that part.

I'm really hoping this version of history includes Nathan Bedford Forrest being shot in the face (by a black soldier.)

I probably like the Blackbird more than Thomas at this point.

Not twenty pages in and a town is completely and graphically sacked by the French. It's nice to see a kindler, gentler Cornwell. As a side note, it is mildly annoying this protagonist shares such a similar name with Cornwell's other Hundred Years War archer.

It's too bad Lovecraft never wrote an epic horror-fantasy novel.

"Since we can't drink this water," he gritted vindictively, "I'll see that nobody else enjoys drinking it. Curse such a well, anyway!" He heaved the body over the curb and let it drop, tossing the head after it. A dull splash sounded far beneath.

Barely 20 pages in and this is already shockingly well-written and detailed. The premise is uh, well, pretty ridiculous but the straight-faced manner in which Turtledove's approaching it is impressive.

Sorry if I spammed everyone. I was working on my shelves and didn't know every edition change would be put into the feed.