Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the twelfth Read Harder task.

Some posts that might help:

http://bookriot.com/2016/07/13/8-asia...

http://bookriot.com/2016/10/11/7-fant...

http://bookriot.com/2016/10/03/100-mu...

http://bookriot.com/2016/05/02/100-mu...

Do we think Underground Airlines would count as fantasy? I never know if alt history fits here.

Would the Lord of the Rings series qualify?

Melissa W wrote: "Would the Lord of the Rings series qualify?"

Definitely!

Might finally get around to reading Harry Potter for this

Definitely reading the Obelisk Gate for this - I loved the Fifth Season so much!

Book Riot wrote: "Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the twelfth Read Harder task." On my to read list include Outlander and Six of Crows. Have decided on Ready Player One.

Laura wrote: "Book Riot wrote: "Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the twelfth Read Harder task." On my to read list include Outlander and Six of Crows. Have decided on Ready Player..."

Ready Player one is a Sci-Fi not Fantasy.

I'm going to read 'House of shattered Wings' by Aliette de Bodard. A civil war among angles who could resist?

Felicity wrote: "Definitely reading the Obelisk Gate for this - I loved the Fifth Season so much!"

That was my plan too! I read the Fifth Season for the 2016 challenge and ended up loving it

I'm not familiar with the fantasy genre at all but am excited to explore.

I'm going to read The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfus. I picked it because it has a lot of ratings and good reviews. I considered Chronicles of Narnia and LOTR but this plot interests me more.

Uprooted is the January pick for two book clubs I am in, so that makes this choice an easy one. :-)

Jaime wrote: "I'm not familiar with the fantasy genre at all but am excited to explore.

I'm going to read The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfus. I picked it because it has a lot of ratings and good reviews. I..."

It is one of the best! Good choice.

Uprooted is a delight - great choice for this category! As a fantasy fan, I can't even narrow down my choices for this one - whatever I grab first will do.

Melissa wrote: "Jaime wrote: "I'm not familiar with the fantasy genre at all but am excited to explore.

I'm going to read The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfus. I picked it because it has a lot of ratings and g..."

If 'doors of stone comes out, it will go directely in all my challenges:-) really waiting for this one...

American Gods?

The Stone Sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amanda wrote: "American Gods?"

yes!

Annie wrote: "The Stone Sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

yes!

Felicity wrote: "Definitely reading the Obelisk Gate for this - I loved the Fifth Season so much!"

Yes--me, too.

I think I'll finally get to The Magicians for this one.

I've been meaning to read Fablehaven after a student last year said it was his favorite. Here's my chance!

I'm going to read Woman on the Edge of Time, a book that has been recommended to me by my husband for over a decade.

I'm currently reading volume 2 of Sigrid Petterssons "Odinschild"-triology. I might go with vol. 3 for this one.
For any readers in danish/norwegian/swedish it is an excellent series!

I am thinking Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (I hope that qualifies!) or the next book in the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill.

Would any of the Stephen King's Dark Tower books qualify? I've read the first two and this would be a great excuse to resume the series.

Yes, Chris, I think they would:-) Great series!

Would The Princess Bride count?

Arlene wrote: "Might finally get around to reading Harry Potter for this "

Was thinking the same thing :)

Megan wrote: "Would The Princess Bride count?" Yes, this is a fantasy book.

I have several fantasies on my TBR list, but will probably go with The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison. I am also considering Phantastes and/or Lilith by George MacDonald.

I also plan to read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them very soon because the movie is out, but it is so short I don't think it would be much of a challenge by itself.

I am re-reading the Harry Potter series right now, but I would count this under the re-read task, not this one. I am also reading A Song of Ice and Fire series right now, and while the beginning of the series was a re-read, I am past the point I had read to before. I might also do The Summer Tree, A Crown for Cold Silver, or A Natural History of Dragons.

Melissa wrote: "I will be reading the third book in the same trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss Doors of Stone in addition to A Conjuring of Light"

It would be wonderful in Doors of Stone actually came out in 2017. I can't say I'm depending on it but that would be a perfect read for this.

I'll be reading (and recommending) Abhorsen for this one!

Ariel wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I will be reading the third book in the same trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss Doors of Stone in addition to A Conjuring of Light"

It would be wonderful in Doors of Stone actually came out in 2017. I can't say I'm depending on it but that would be a perfect read for this."

My sentiments also... Am reading Six of Crows myself, but can't wait for Kvothe's adventures to continue!

I've haven't read too many fantasy novels before. Honestly the genre doesn't appeal to me too much, but I want to give it another chance (and it's part of the Read Harder Challenge). Any suggestions for really good novels for newbies to the fantasy genre?

ive been wanting to give A Wizard of Earthsea a try lately. I may pick that one up. And there's always Pratchett!

Amanda wrote: "I've haven't read too many fantasy novels before. Honestly the genre doesn't appeal to me too much, but I want to give it another chance (and it's part of the Read Harder Challenge). Any suggestion..."

Amanda, what sort of books do you usually read? fantasy novels can vary wildly in tone, structure and topic, so im sure there's one out there that will suit your whims but a little more info might help to narrow down a suggestion

As far as fiction novels go I like contemporary, prefer adult rather than YA, thrillers, mysteries, anything with a feminist or mental health theme, not too much romance. I also really enjoy memoirs and non fiction books about health, medicine, and science.

Amanda wrote: "As far as fiction novels go..."

Man, I've run into a bit of a dilemma because i think you might really like The Magician King by Lev Grossman because it has some really interesting themes of mental health and privilege and a very compelling female lead. But to get to that one, you must first read The Magicians, which imo is more or less 400 pages of the most annoying protagonist ive ever read. Quentin Coldwater is privileged, rich and is never satisfied with anything that happens to him, even when the fantasy world he's dreamed of all his life is dropped into his lap.

In The Magician King, you get Quentin's perspective split with Julia's. Julia doesn't have anything easy but wants the same things. She's easily one of the more accurate portrayals of depression i've seen in literature, and it's easy to get invested with her. As a contrast to Quentin's journey, her's is far more engaging and wrapped up in the real world. Both books are fast paced, engaging, and interesting. just with the first one you might want to strangle the protagonist constantly.

One of my favorite reads last year was The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. That one tells the story of a exhile thrust onto the throne after the death of his father. Maia is dark skinned in a world of light skinned elves and that prejudice is well examined. But above all it's a story of a good man that changes the world around him with his goodness, and I find that very refreshing. Not a romance. More court drama sort of thing.

You might also look into Urban Fantasy in general. One of my favorite books of all time is Kraken by China Miéville. It moves quickly, and is weird and interesting on a variety of different levels. A cephalopod scientist is drawn into a strange fight for the fate of the world after a giant squid is stolen from the Natural History Museum. There are competing Armageddons, a gangster that's a tattoo, a sect of squid worshipers, and a /lot/ more that's really interesting and cool.

It's contemporary, and probably moves fast enough to satisfy a reader of thrillers. No romance, and a bit of science. (It goes a little harder with psychology and the examination of why people believe things and have different sorts of obsessions.)

Hope I've helped!

You've definitely helped. It's so hard to pick a book from a genre that I don't know anything about, so thanks a bunch! Kraken and The Magician series both look interesting, so I'm going to give them a go.

How about Steampunk or Sci-Fi? Do those count here, since both are a sub-genre of fantasy.

Sci-fi is its own category and steampunk is a sub-genre of sci-fi, so those categories would not fit here.

I tried super hard to finish The Name of The Wind before 2016 ended -- and I finished it in the wee morning hours of January 1. So I can cross my fantasy pick off the list, although I'll probably keep reading the Kingkiller Chronicles!

For this task, I've begun reading "The Vorrh" by B. Catling.

Melanie wrote: "Sci-fi is its own category and steampunk is a sub-genre of sci-fi, so those categories would not fit here."
Aw, but happily I just ordered the second volume of a high fantasy trilogy. So I'm going to read that one instead.

I was gonna double dip and use Ink and Bone, but I started listening to The Sin Eater’s Daughter, so that's what I'll use instead. I'm really enjoying it too. The narrator is excellent.

I read The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice.

I just finished Watership Down. I picked it up because I set myself a challenge of plowing through our library in authors' alphabetical order, for 2017 (and 2018, 2019, 2020 and beyond. We have at least a thousand fiction books.) Luckily I feel no compulsion to finish every book I start.

Yeah, I did not think that one through really.

But I have fantasy checked off now. Won't be the only one though, there are so many exciting and interesting suggestions!

I think my A-Z challenge will be sidelined repeatedly this year...