Beth’s Comments (group member since Jan 12, 2017)

Beth’s comments from the SciFi/Fantasy (Or Whatever Else) Book Club group.

There ARE no rules for this folder! Please feel free to post about any book you are reading at the moment. It can be likes/dislikes or whether or not you recommend it.

Happy Reading! Beth

So I was looking at my "To-Read" list and have a ton I want to get through. I am going to put this Book Club on hiatus for a little while. If there is additional interest, I will start it up again. But for now, I think I am going to leave it for awhile.

However! I still love discussing books and getting ideas on what to read next. Everyone has different tastes and I am going to create an "Open Discussion" folder where you can post your thoughts/recommendations on current books you are reading.

In the meantime, Kraken is still the book for July. Please feel free to post your thoughts in the July folder if/when you finish!

I finished this book and gave it 3 stars. It was really hard to get through, but I appreciated the effort. This author has a massive vocabulary and isn't afraid to use it! Plus there was a lot of British slang that I didn't feel like looking up. The pace was odd and I totally wasn't engaged. I still gave it 3 stars only because it was super creative and I did like some parts of it. I just didn't connect with it like I do some other books.

I'm having a really hard time connecting with this book for some reason. I feel really disengaged and don't especially look forward to reading it. It is almost like one of those paranormal detective novels like Dresden Files but not nearly as funny or fun (even with a missing giant squid). I can't tell if it is supposed to be serious or funny. I like it enough to finish it though. I am over the halfway mark so hopefully it will pick up. The only character I feel invested in at all is Marge. I hope there is more of her!

I admit I had a hard time starting out with this one, but am finally getting into it. I was having a hard time concentrating and getting the characters straight. It is a really slow build up, but eventually hits its stride. I am hoping to finish it during my long weekend but we shall see! I keep getting distracted by Twin Peaks and outdoor activities.

I got this book on the Kindle sale and am going to start a bit early on it. I am waiting for a bunch of books to come off hold so this is the perfect time for it! I read the first few pages and I think it is going to be a lot of fun and super ridiculous!

*

*

*

OMG You guys, the Kindle version of Kraken is on sale until June 24th for $1.99! Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

This is the book choice for the month of July (thank you Maggie)! It looks super fun and adventurous. I haven't read this author before, but have heard great things about him!

Oh I have had Kraken on my list for awhile!! By China Meiville? Let's do that one! I was looking and both The Hike and The Ocean at the End of the Lane are fairly short..maybe we could do them both for August? And even just reading one or the other would be ok too! I think combined they are less pages than the darn Summer Dragon! LOL! Let me know, but I think I will go ahead and post Kraken for July.

Speaking of creepy, you should check out the book I am currently reading! It is called The Ritual and it is actually pretty freaky. I wasn't expecting it to be either! It's about these hikers in Sweden who get lost in the woods and they awaken some ancient beast that is after them. You should check it out! I didn't realize it was horror when I picked it out, but I am liking it a lot. Plus I admit I had to put it down and watch something funny on TV before I could go to sleep last night!!

I agree with your entire review! I thought it was unnecessarily wordy and I wanted to die in that battle scene. If one more person "loosed and arrow" I was going to scream!

I was really intrigued about the life cycles and the machines that were discussed. Were they planes? And did they take place in modern times? And then it cycled back to dragons? I wanted to know more about that and I am sure it will be discussed in future books. But I might just check out a summary online to find out haha!

I am looking at books for next month and think I am going to steer away from hard fantasy this time! Can you think of anything you have been wanting to read in this genre? There is one called The Hike I am leaning towards but am totally open to suggestions. I will post the link.

The Hike

Ok, I have had some time to think about this for a bit. I felt like this book started out strong, but the ending dragged. And then it ended on a cliffhanger so there was no resolution..and I am not sure if I liked it enough to read the sequel if/when it comes out.

I really liked the descriptions of dragons in this book and it was well thought out. I enjoyed the fictional world and most of the characters. There was something missing though. Maybe an element of fun? I can't quite put my finger on it. But there were times this book was pretty dry which shouldn't happen in a book about dragons! I was also hoping for more of an appearance from the title character (Getig) as well.

However, I want to remain positive and restate that I did like this book. It was well written and Maia was a strong female character. She didn't annoy me at all which was refreshing. I sort of wish she would have had a little more fun though. But I guess it is hard when there are Horrors and evil people running around everywhere!

I finished it! Overall I liked it and gave it 4 stars. However, it was a little too long and ended on a cliffhanger. It had too many unfinished endings! I will discuss my thoughts in more detail later.

I am having a hard time getting through parts of this book. It isn't bad or anything and I actually really like it. Maybe it is that it is the start of summer and I am distracted, but I swear it took me several days to get through (going by Kindle time) the 50%-70% portion of it. It is starting to get really good now, the Horrors are really cool monsters and I love the relationship between Maia and Keirr the dragon. It is slightly formulamatic, but I only notice since I read a ton of fantasy!

Me neither! I have a love of fantasy art even though some of it is extremely dorky. I can be found looking for prints at the Renaissance Festival! I remember being little and coloring pictures of unicorns and fairies and these illustrations really take me back. I am flying through this book. It isn't the best fantasy I've ever read, but it definitely is keeping me interested in what happens next. I don't like sad baby dragons though! I keep having to remind myself that dragons are not actually real so it is ok!

Audiobooks are definitely NOT cheating! I agree that the narrators voice can make or break them though. I am happy you are enjoying the book. I am too! It got really adventurous very quickly. I like how it is straight forward and easy to follow..which sometimes isn't the case with fantasy books!! I like Maia and (of course) the DRAGONS! The illustrations are beautiful, but I have the Kindle so I am sure they are better in the actual book. Are they in color in your book?

I have actually started this book a bit early. It was available at the library where I get my books so I snagged it. I think I am going to love it! This guy is also a fantasy artist who specializes in dragons. I have seen them before and he is fantastic! Check him out if you get a chance. It looks as though there are illustrations in this book as well.

Post here only after you have finished reading. Spoilers are okay in this thread, so read at your own risk!