The Not a Book Club Club discussion

The first chapter really threw me off, but it turned out to be a good thing. The whole book ended up being different than what I thought, and the opening courtroom scene really made sure I checked my pre-conceived notions at the door. In that way, it really helped me enjoy the book, since I convinced myself to just sit back and enjoy things.

I am liking it so far. Sigrud's extreme violence was a nice way to end the section. I was wondering when some action was going to show up.

The city of Bulikov kind of reminds me of Sanderson's Elantris in that it was a divine city that lost its power and is now overrun with decay.

I like the intrigue he is building up with the dead historian and the people able to disappear at will. The way he is unraveling the background of the characters is also really well done so far.

I'm liking it so far as well. Interesting that the "magic" system is via miracles. I don't typically like present tense, but its not bothering me in this book - in fact, it took me awhile to notice.

I am curious about the glimpses into the beautiful city, since Bulikov itself seems very run down. Are the people who disappear going back and forth? I'm interested to hear what is going on there.

Can you imagine how terrifying Sigurd must be? A six and a half feet tall one-eyed giant, covered in blood and running after a car after taking out all but one of the attackers, half with his bare hands ...

The guy didn't have to escape using a miracle: he probably spontaneously learned to levitate out of sheer terror.

His answer of why he was there (trouble) was pretty appropriate!

Neat! Those are pretty much what I imagined it looks like, which means the descriptions in the book are good!

Alex wrote: "I secretly like violence in my books, and this scratched an itch. Oh, did it scratch it."

You should try Koko Takes a Holiday by Kieran Shea. Excellent hard SF with a side-helping of ultra-violence.

I thought it interesting after a chapter or two. But I really like it after the last chapter of this section.

I like the characters and the world building is interesting. I really want to know about this place people keep disappearing to.

I had a time crunch tonight and hated to stop here. Hopefully I'll make up for it tomorrow night.

Two books in this series? I thought it was a stand alone book.

The story is done in this book. It looks like a real series rather than a multi-part novel.

Good. I have too many series right now.

Well, to be fair, if the second book follows the character I hear it will, you'll want to read it.

In fact, after reading this book I've bought both American Elsewhere and The Troupe and added them to my to-read list. It's that good.

I'm not saying I won't, just that I'm glad not to need to.

This book has a ton of hype though. So far I'm cautiously optimistic it will live up to it.

I've read that one and I have Two Serpents Rise on my to-read list database.

Similar ideas with a modern world based on fantastic principles although Gladstone obviously goes a lot further. I also feel like the Craft books play more to urban fantasy tropes than this book.

That's hilarious. He's a funny guy.

I must say, I was really disappointed with the start of this book. I'm not sure if it's a matter of too high of expectations, but I felt it really dragged. Too much world building before giving me a reason to care about any of the characters. I'm listening to it on audio - and I'm not sure how far I'm through. But man I just kept thinking, "Is there a plot in here somewhere?" Don't mean to sound so critical but I'm really bored so far and hope it gets better.

It does pick up as it gets going, but I was never bored, so maybe it's not for you.

My suggestion is to listen to the end of this section: "What he does best" and if you don't like it by that point, move on..

Actually that's exactly what I was going to say.

The book grabbed me with the introduction of Shara. This tiny, scrawny, Indian lady with a hatchet nose and coke bottle glasses who is so clearly the 800-pound gorilla in the room ...

So if you get through the action scene at the party and you're still not hooked, it's probably not for you.

@Alex - If the audio book meshes up with the print version, I've been through the first two chapters...a little over an hour and a half of listening.

@Rob - I'm not wiling to give up yet. It may just be a case of expecting too much based on the feedback of others. I'll let you know how I feel when I get to "What he does best."

@Lindsay - I do agree that things got better when Shara came on scene. I'm glad to hear there is an "action scene coming." It's not like I have to have "non-stop action" but I do need some intrigue or a character I really connect with. There is a little of the former, and I'm hoping that Shara will become the later.

I finally started! I am doing the audio mostly....Before I read all these comments, at what chapter does part I end? I believe I just started chapter 5.

Pretty sure chapter 5 is the end of this section. My copy doesn't have them numbered though.

The book doesn't come out of the gate with both guns blazing but there was enough intrigue in these early sections to keep me interested. I did enjoy the way the initial courtroom scene was used to set up the conflict between the two groups.
Loving the Sigrud character so far and am also liking Mulaghesh, really liked the scene where Sigrud finds her "calmly garroting him with a festively colored ribbon." For some twisted reason that made me smile.

Michael wrote: "I must say, I was really disappointed with the start of this book. I'm not sure if it's a matter of too high of expectations, but I felt it really dragged. Too much world building before giving me ..."

I am listening to the audio as well and struggling a bit to keep interested. There are finally a few things happening but I haven't really connected with the people of Bulakov. It is really the reviews of others that keep me hoping it gets more interesting.

Looks like Chapter 6 is the end of the first part, and I am glad it ended with a bang. Like others, I enjoyed the world building and character development, but the book really needed some action to liven it up. And by action I mean throat slashing, eyeball popping, body crushing ultra-violence. Actually that scene could have gone on another 20 minutes and I'd be more happy. Sigrud is definitely my favorite character, and I too enjoyed how he started out one-dimensional but gets fleshed out to much more than a big brute. Here's to hoping there will be plenty more "action" the rest of the book :)

@Tammy - glad to hear I'm not totally off my rocker on that point. I'm the same way - the reviews of others is going to keep me reading but I'm struggling at the moment.

This is by no means a top 10 read of the year for me yet, but at this point I am enjoying it enough and invested in the plot enough to spend another 10 hours to finish it. That said, this had better not be the biggest action sequence in the book ;) I have to say I like it much better than Mirror Empire though :)

Way to the party as seems to be a common theme for me here.

Great ending place for this section, that was an awesome chapter. I loved the balance of Shara calming sitting there, telling the leader to give up with us knowing that Sigrud is out there destroying his comrades. "They shot me ... with an arrow." Fucking gold.

I've been pretty immersed in the story so far. True, not a lot of action till this chapter but I'm finding I'm ok with that. Getting the world, back story and main characters has so far been enough to keep my interest.

I also have to say it's pretty refreshing to see homosexuality being dealt with in a fantasy setting. For all the imagination and creativity fantasy delivers it can be pretty bad with exploring sexuality in their worlds.

And I think, more than anything, I just really dig this guy's writing style.

*late to the party. Sorry, auto correct. Need to proofread my posts better when posting from the telephono

See personally I'm not big on too much romance in my books, so I really dont care what a characters orientation is. And I'm certainly not going to skip a book for that reason.

I do like to see more variety in characters though. It's nice to have a 30 something female protagonist instead of a 15 year old chosen one.

I will say the homosexuality added an interesting element to the story though, so for that reason I thought it was a good addition.

Yeah, I wouldn't say I care too much what the sexual orientation is but it is nice to see it included. More that authors are branching out, exploring more sides to a society than just opposite sex relationships, white people getting their white on, etc.

Definitely dig Shara as the main character and I'm very much looking forward to seeing Sigrud fleshed out more

That just feels tacked on like checking a checkbox to me.

To me if the characters in a book aren't explicitly white/heterosexual that's just as good.

Maybe it's because I'm single, but my heterosexuality doesn't really factoer into my day to day.

Hell even my many of my coworkers who are married dont mention their wives in conversation every day.

Like I said, I think this book does a good job in working it in as a meaningful detail, without it feeling done for it's own sake.

Except you're saying it needs to be present, even if in a minor way. Sounds like a checkbox to me.

Actors in movies are such a crock of shit anyways. They cast people for looks first, and ability second.

For me I want diversity not because of any concern about being representive of our world, especially in a fictional/fantastical world, and more about wanting new/different/interesting stories.

And none of this is me saying your opinion/criteria is wrong, just that I dont consider them requirements for me to enjoy a good story.

What's to hug out? Are we arguing? I thought we were simply discussing/debating? Gauging tone on the internet can be rather difficult.

So...I finally finished. And I did end up enjoying it. But I still think I may not be the right audience for it. I'm going to go through and read all the posts I missed now ;-)

Sorry to hear you didn't really like it.

Here are some giveaways that caught my eye...some might already be listed.


• Fantasy for a Good Cause by Multiple Authors Ending: 1/18/2015
• Orn (Of Man and Manta, #2) by Piers Anthony Ending: 11/24/2014
• Unbound (Magic Ex Libris #3) by Jim C. Hines Ending: Nov 15, 2014
• Reign of Ash (Ascendant Kingdoms, #2) by Gail Z. Martin Ending: 11/09/2014
• The Ghost Bride: A Novel by Yangsze Choo Ending: 11/6/2014
• Rhune (The First Empire #1) by Michael J. Sullivan Ending: 11/12/2014**

**In full disclosure this is my own book

I think you meant to post those in the giveaways thread.

I agree that Sigurd is my favorite part of the book - an excellent character - and well done by the narrator. As to the homosexuality...I didn't really feel like it was even worth mentioning. it seemed natural and not ground breaking in any way which is actually probably a good thing that a character can be gay and it not matter either way.

Agreed...and I'm seeing it more and more so I do think things are changing with that regard.

I liked the start of the book, and felt somewhat like Daniel Brown book where in a murder happens at the start and it kicks off series of events.

Not exactly sure about which character I like in the book.