Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hello my fellow book-dragons!

I can't believe it's June already. It's my birthday month and therefore is, without the shadow of a doubt, the best month of the year :D

What are you reading / planning to read? Share with us and help me grow my birthday wish-list :p

It's SF, not fantasy, but I'm really enjoying Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire.

Happy Birthday Month! Hope you have a good one despite everything going on.

Joseph wrote: "It's SF, not fantasy, but I'm really enjoying Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire."

That has been on my list for a while. Let me know if its worth it when you are done :)

I am planning to finish the Planetfall series with Atlas Alone, after that I want to read Flashforward. Currently I am reading a Discworld book between every book. On Guards! Guards! at the moment.

I'm slowly getting back to reading after months of not touching a book. Reading The Legion of Flame in hardback and the monthly book The Girl and the Stars in audio.

Joseph wrote: "It's SF, not fantasy, but I'm really enjoying Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire."

I'm curious to hear what you think as well. Two reviewers whose tastes I trust read it so far; one thought it was a "clever debut", the other called it a slog.

Happy birthday month! Hope it's s good one :)

Virginie wrote: "I'm curious to hear what you think as well. Two reviewers whose tastes I trust read it so far; one thought it was a "clever debut", the other called it a slog...."

I'm leaning much more towards "clever debut" than "slog" at this point, and don't expect my opinion to change unless things go very badly wrong in the last half of the book.

Having said which, there's not much (so far) in the way of "action" -- it's mostly a new ambassador who's in way over her head, and lots and lots of political intrigue.

Go ask Mark Lawrence a bookish question in our QandA this month 😁

Joseph wrote: "I'm leaning much more towards "clever debut" than "slog" at this point, and don't expect my opinion to change unless things go very badly wrong in the last half of the book."

I see. Thank you for your input :)
If the book is political intrigue and dialogue heavy, then it's understandable some people might think of it as a slog; I usually like those kind of books but have to be in the mood for it.

I started Along the Razor's Edge by Rob J. Hayes a couple of days ago, and so far it's fantastic.

Also working on the audiobook for Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie for awhile now. I'm not sure what's keeping me at a snail's pace with this, as it's a great book with a fantastic narrator. Guess it's more my mindset with audio at the moment...

What frustrates me on that is I'd planned on listening to The Girl and the Stars next and my slowness could affect my timing with the buddy read and Q&A.

Ask him about a different book? I want spoilers tags on this book or I’ll get grumpy 😁🥰

Virginie wrote: "If the book is political intrigue and dialogue heavy, then it's understandable some people might think of it as a slog; I usually like those kind of books but have to be in the mood for it."

The amount of action does pick up as the end approaches. And I'm still really liking it.

Joseph wrote: "Virginie wrote: "I'm curious to hear what you think as well. Two reviewers whose tastes I trust read it so far; one thought it was a "clever debut", the other called it a slog...."

I'm leaning muc..."

Me too, I mean I like both, but I do enjoy the "new to the situation in over their head" type stories. It shall stay high on my TBR now :)

Just finished Guards! Guards! which was fantastic, probably my fav Discworld so far. Onto Atlas Alone

I always liked the guards books.

I did finish A Memory Called Empire and thought it was great. Now it's time for some fantasy heists with Patrick Weekes' The Palace Job.

The View From Castle Always by Melissa McShane

Finished The Palace Job and went straight to the second in the series, The Prophecy Con.

The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes

Just finished The Wise Man's Fear and moving onto Shadows Return. Glad to be returning to this great series.

Finished The Girl and the Stars and The House in the Cerulean Sea in audio. Still haven't decided what to listen to next :p

If you like urban fantasy, the Kate Daniels series is pretty good. It starts with Magic Bites.

@ Virginie. Just saw your already reading them.

Yup, already read the entire series but it reminded me that I was planning on re-listening to Dresden Files :D
I started The Starless Sea but I think that listening to a Dresden every other book should make for a good pace. Thanks!

Finished Atlas Alone which was fantastic, highly recommend the series to anyone who likes Sci Fi.

Reading Eric at the mo

Virginie wrote: "Yup, already read the entire series but it reminded me that I was planning on re-listening to Dresden Files :D
I started The Starless Sea but I think that listening to a Dresden eve..."

Oh, Harry Dresden is the greatest.

Just finished The House in the Cerulean Sea which I really enjoyed and almost done with The Shadow of the Wind .

Finished Shadows Return and I was sooo tempted to hop into the next book but I thought I should at least read another book in between. So, now I'm reading The Desert Spear Hopefully it doesn't take me ages to get through this one.

Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi

Moved on to The Prophecy Con, the third of Patrick Weekes' Rogues of the Republic trilogy.

Started Wolf in Shadow

Finished Eric which was fun. Still craving Sci fi so hitting up We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

I just started NADA the Lily by H. Rider Haggard on what, by coincidence, turns out to be his 164th birthday (06/22/1856).

Starless Sky took me over a month. I didn’t like it too much.

Cerulean Sea is outstanding though.

Just finished Girl and the Stars, it’s really good.

I finished Network Effect. Murderbot is still great, but I didn't care for the plot in this one. The book coming out next year looks better though.

Now I'm reading A Darker Shade of Magic, which I'm enjoying so far.

I finished The Starless Sea. Rated it 3 stars for now, but might drop it to two stars depending on whether my frustration with this book grows or vanishes in the next few days. Interesting concept, beautiful writing but so damn confusing!

Starting my re-listen of the Dresden Files :)

Elise wrote: "I finished Network Effect. Murderbot is still great, but I didn't care for the plot in this one. The book coming out next year looks better though.

Now I'm reading [book:A Darker ..."

Argh, I really need to read Murderbot, but I'll postpone since I'll be reading another series of Martha Wells (Raksura) soon (for the monthly book).

Minimum Wage Magic by Rachel Aaron

Part-Time Gods by Rachel Aaron

Finished NADA the Lily and decided to keep on with Haggard, so started another historical, Montezuma's Daughter, set in the waning days of the Aztec Empire.

It's round-up time once again! How many books did you read? Any favorites?

Here are some symbols to copy-paste if you want them :)

[★☆☆☆☆]
[★★☆☆☆]
[★★★☆☆]
[★★★★☆]
[★★★★★]
📖 = print books
🎧 = audiobooks

I've listened to 5 books this month:


🎧 [★★★★☆] The Girl and the Stars
🎧 [★★★★☆] The House in the Cerulean Sea
🎧 [★★★☆☆] The Starless Sea
🎧 [★★★☆☆] Storm Front *re-read*
🎧 [★★★★☆] Minimum Wage Magic *re-read*

All 📖

[★★★★★]A Memory Called Empire
[★★★★☆]The Palace Job
[★★★★☆]The Prophecy Con
[★★★★☆]The Paladin Caper
[★★★★☆]Nada the Lily

Read 8 books this month, which is a lot for me:

★★★★☆ The Odyssey
★★★☆☆ Buffalo Gals and Other Animal Presences
★★★☆☆ The Persians
★★★★☆ In the Hand of the Goddess
★★★☆☆ The Girl and the Stars
★★★☆☆ Nice Dragons Finish Last
★★★★☆ The Beginning Place
★★★★☆ The Birds of Pandemonium

Just one I guess. I was really close to finishing another, but couldn't do it before midnight. :P

Network Effect ★★★☆☆

Virginie wrote: "I finished The Starless Sea. Rated it 3 stars for now, but might drop it to two stars depending on whether my frustration with this book grows or vanishes in the next few days. Inte..."

It irritated the hell or of me and took me about three months to finish.

Raksura is SO good

Finished seven this month

📖These Women ★★★★☆
🎧A Memory Called Empire ★★★☆☆
🎧The Testament of Mary★★★★☆
📖The House in the Cerulean Sea ★★★★☆
📖The Shadow of the Wind ★★★★☆
📖In the Scrape ★★★★☆
📖Wolf in Shadow ★★★★☆

Only got 4 done this month.

🎧We Are Legion (We Are Bob)[★★★☆☆]
🎧Eric[★★★★☆]
🎧Guards! Guards![★★★★★]
🎧Atlas Alone [★★★★★]

One Dark Night★★★★☆
Chaos Reigning★★★★☆
See How They Run★★★★☆
The Host★★★★☆
One Summer In Paris★★★★☆
The Girl and the Stars★★★★★
Wildcard★★★☆☆
The Hermitage★★★★☆