Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hello everyone!

What are you all reading/planning to read this month?

I'm planning on slowly getting through Deadhouse Gates the entire month in ebook, and listen to the Eli Monpress series (by Rachel Aaron) and the Shadow Saga (by Orson Scott Card).

My Holy Sister arrived today as I finished a reread of Grey Sister. It’s early but I’m delighted. Of course, I then spent the day filling out job applications!!

I just started Peril in the Old Country and so far I'm loving it.

The Door in the Hedge at the moment

Helen wrote: "My Holy Sister arrived today as I finished a reread of Grey Sister. It’s early but I’m delighted. Of course, I then spent the day filling out job applications!!"

Ive been re-reading the same Helen and I am ridiculously excited to get Holy Sister on Thursday!

My books for April are: The Ruin of Kings, Angel of Storms, Storm Glass, Half a War and Royal Assassin. Notice the storm theme. I hope to read these at the first of the month. In like a lion and out like a lamb. ; )

Right now I'm reading The Magician King and will probably read The Magician's Land next. I'm really liking this series and all the differences between the books and show! I think I'll do an easy read palate cleanser after that, I've been eyeing The Vampire Knitting Club for one of my r/fantasy Bingo squares, or maybe A Closed and Common Orbit (for a different square).

@ Jess - Vampire Knitting Club?!? That sounds interesting.

Jason wrote: "Helen wrote: "My Holy Sister arrived today as I finished a reread of Grey Sister. It’s early but I’m delighted. Of course, I then spent the day filling out job applications!!"

Ive been re-reading ..."

I'm 20% in and its good.

More Chanur -- finished The Kif Strike Back and started Chanur's Homecoming.

After I finish that, and Chanur's Legacy, I think it'll finally be time for me to start Empire of Sand, the book that I nominated, and which won, as our March book of the month.

Oops.

Tnkw01 wrote: "@ Jess - Vampire Knitting Club?!? That sounds interesting."

It sounds like a fun, light-hearted mystery; should work well as a palate cleanser.

Reading The Blinding Knife and will follow that up with The Light Fantastic

Aaron wrote: "Reading The Blinding Knife and will follow that up with The Light Fantastic"

Oh you're going to enjoy these. IMO they are probably Weeks' best works.

Listening to The Dragon Keeper during my commute and reading The Book of Swords

Holy Sister is absolutely amazing. I read the last 2/3 in one sitting. The oohs and aahs and the emotional roller-coaster. Also the biggies that I can't discuss as no-one else has read it, given it was released today!

Straight on to One Word Kill. Not sure what Amazon were doing but they let me pre-order it at 99p rather than £4 and then it arrived on my kindle. Win! About a third in and I'm really enjoying it. Not that I knew anything about D&D - for instance I'm assuming that one player is writing a game-script rather than following an existing one. But who knows :)

The Wrath of Cons by Robert Kroese

My liocal library has obviously been spending money on fantasy books. I am currently reading Malice my John Gwynn. It took me a while to get into it as it is multi view point and it took a while for me to get involved with the characters.
Then I have Mark Lawrence’s Red Queen’s War to read

That series, Malice, is brilliant.

I've read some Mercy this week, Silver Borne and River Marked. So much fun!

In Plain Sight by Dan Willis

I finished Static Ruin. Solid emotional finish to the trilogy. I really enjoyed this series.

Now I'm starting The Armored Saint.

Finished Assassins Apprentice last night, and I really enjoyed it. I have the next two books but I will read Moondance of Stonewylde next. Not overly looking forward to it but will persevere.

It's such a good series Katie, you should read all three together.

I've been doing a re-read of the classics: LOTR. Currently on the Two Towers.

But I've also picked up the first book of Riyria Revelations by Michael Sullivan, which Virginie recommended. So looking forward to that too. :)

(I tend to read more than one book at a time, is that weird?)

I have dropped Moondance. It wasnt grabbing me. I barely remember any of the first book and characters and I prefer something not quite so...urban?

I know I should read them all together, but I have so many other started series and own sequels, that I decided to read The Masked City instead. After this I will decide if to purchase the next in the series.

Alex wrote: "I've been doing a re-read of the classics: LOTR. Currently on the Two Towers.

But I've also picked up the first book of Riyria Revelations by Michael Sullivan, which Virginie recommended. So looki..."

Yay, I hope you like it! And no, it's not weird. I typically have 4-5 books going at the same time, along with some short stories for when I'm not feeling like reading any of those.

Finished the next John Gwynne Valour which was brilliant. Currently waiting for the third one to arrive from the library. Have also read Prince of Fools and am currently reading Liar's Key. Not enjoying them as much but all three were in the library so thought I would take the opportunity to try them out. I still think that Red Sister is the best thing of his that I have read.

Finished Chanur's Homecoming and am on to Chanur's Legacy, the last of C.J. Cherryh's Chanur novels.

Janette wrote: "Finished the next John Gwynne Valour which was brilliant. Currently waiting for the third one to arrive from the library. Have also read Prince of Fools and am curre..."

I've enjoyed all his trilogies but I know some people only like the sisters.

I've finished Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan - still love Hadrian and Royce plus Arista. I just started Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

I might read The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo after that - it has been intriguing me.

Now I have my library card, I can finally borrow ebooks, and decided my first shall be The Princess Bride, so i'll give that a go as well.

Started Angel of Storms. It's really good.

Finished Ruin of Kings, hardbacks are soooo heavy! It is so good. I’m not sure why reviewers are saying it’s complicated. Loads of fun.

Now starting a trilogy final book - The Foretelling of Georgie Spider. I hate spiders! It’s a YA series set in Australia in a future dystopia style world.

I’m starting my audio of Tiamat’s Wrath today too.

It’s so annoying that you can’t link books on the app!

I’ve not been able to access the group for a couple of days, said it wasn’t formatted. Is anyone else getting that?

I haven't noticed anything Helen. Was it with the app?

Started The Path of Anger

@ Helen. My iPad is working fine. I've had no issues.

Helen wrote: "I’ve not been able to access the group for a couple of days, said it wasn’t formatted. Is anyone else getting that? "

I'm only going on GR with my computer or the mobile website on my phone, not the app. Never had that particular problem.

Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them by Nancy Marie Brown

It’s on my iPhone app. It only effects this group or at least out of the 2 I go in regularly, just this. Says something like XTL error.

It’s fine again now :)

I’m currently half way through Ruin of Kings. It’s OK but not amazing

Helen wrote: "It’s on my iPhone app. It only effects this group or at least out of the 2 I go in regularly, just this. Says something like XTL error.

It’s fine again now :)"

Mmmh. After a quick Goggle search, I found a few people that had the same problem. Apparently, it only happens on iOS.

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

Doesn't look like a solution has been found... Maybe you should to contact Goodreads about it.

To continue the discussion from last month's thread: I found a new author whose works get tons of praise but I don't like: Nnedi Okorafor.

I read the Binti trilogy a few months ago and only finished it because it was so short. I tried again with Lagoon and threw in the towel at 32%, after rewinding my audiobook 3 times and still spacing out.

Better late than never, I just started Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri.

Maybe I'll get to The Ruin of Kings before the end of the year ...

Enjoy Empire of Sand - that is a great story.

It has been warm where I am so I thought I'd listen to The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden so I can be transported to a colder climate. It helped and I loved the nostalgic tale that reminded me of my grandmothers and their quirks.

Just started The Night Tiger as I originally planned, and I'm already swept away by the story.

Virginie wrote: "Helen wrote: "It’s on my iPhone app. It only effects this group or at least out of the 2 I go in regularly, just this. Says something like XTL error.

It’s fine again now :)"

Mmmh. After a quick ..."


I just checked these and then my phone and it came up again so I've sent them a screen shot :)

Finished Malice. I did struggle with this to begin with - the learning curve was steep. I persevered and i'm glad I did because I loved it by the end. 4.5 stars.
Straight onto Valour

That was how I felt about it too. I enjoyed Valor and am currently waiting for Ruin to arrive at the library

I did it in audio, keeping check of names was tough but you get used to them. I then kept going to make sure I didn’t lose them again!

Finished Empire of Sand (which I really enjoyed), read The Black God's Drums (a shortish novella which ditto) and decided to go old-school with Swords of the Steppes: The Complete Cossack Adventures, Volume Four, the fourth volume of Harold Lamb's adventure stories set mostly in Asia in the early 17th century. No overtly fantastical elements, but he was a huge influence on Robert E. Howard, and his stories are still eminently readable.

Helen wrote: "I did it in audio, keeping check of names was tough but you get used to them. I then kept going to make sure I didn’t lose them again!"

Totally agree Helen. I'm not very good at skipping from one series to the next at the best of times - I tend to do a lot of rereading as new books are released. With this series, a straight read through is essential for me. Hardly a chore though....

Finished Bloody Rose last night. So so good. 2020 can't come sooner for the next book.

Now I'm on to Holy Sister.

And finished The Battle of the Labyrinth last night. Might be my favorite Percy Jackson so far. :)