Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Red Country by Joe Abercrombie starting June 17, 2023.

Spot

I'm leaning towards joining this too, let me know when you guys making your way through The First Law series get here, I can see that you were running behind..

I hope to start this on time, very excited for this one <3

I'll be either on time or within the two-weeks time frame. :) I'm also excited that this is the ONLY book in the universe on Hoopla! No credit spending this time!

We still set for starting on 6/17, or will it be pushed out some?

I plan on starting on time, cannot wait for this one!!!!!

Dunno if I'll make this, got a few other BRs all within a few days of each other, reckon I'll still be quite a while with my current read and will definitely be a slow slog with LOTR lol.

I started and (view spoiler)[ LOGEN!!!! Even if he is "Lamb" and a wimp now, very much looking forward to the kicking ass and taking names portion of the book to begin lol (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Scale & Calder are what he named the oxen? lolololol (hide spoiler)]

All Got A Past (view spoiler)[ THE BLOODY NINE!!!!!!! I mean I know he is still "Lamb" but yeah, we know who it is <3 (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[OMG I am so happy. When Shy was calling him a coward I was like just wait.....

Shivers is back? Is he going after Logen again? WHY? Also Cosca is back, he is like a bad penny, keeps turning up. Actually there were several past characters who have popped up which I am so here for. This Cantliss guy does not know what he is in for!!! (hide spoiler)]

On to Part 2!

Ann-Marie wrote: "I started and [spoilers removed]"

OMG! I just started too (2 hours in, some four or five chapters, I think) and I was like--(view spoiler)[I recognize all those quotes!!! "Better to do a thing than live in fear of it" "Have to be realistic"--Logen!!! And that Northman with a scar across his eye in the marketplace--That MUST be Shivers! Shivers and Logen! And then the next book had Cosca, and Friendly totally stealing the show there--most of my favorite people all together in one book... (hide spoiler)]

re: Oxen--I totally missed that. LOL!!!

Ann-Marie wrote: "Part 1 OMG..."

I know, right?!!! (view spoiler)[I'm more excited than anxious about Shivers crossing paths with Logen. After the last book, where Shivers went from one extreme to the other, I'm thinking he's looking to Logen to do some soul-searching, find one man who might understand what Shivers has been through. I'd like to see him work his leadership magic on him like he did on the current King, way back in the original trilogy...

I'm finding Temple a funny character--kind of reminds me a little of Brother Longfoot, in that he's a timid character looking to write a story... but without the character quirks of Longfoot.

And the torturer in the company, the narrator does his voice very similar to Glokta... I keep wishing he was back too...

I loved Shiver's entrance... "He was trying to take my eggs." Was the guy who is so obsessed with rules in the last book? I seem to have a vague memory of a character like him... (hide spoiler)]

I missed posting at the end of Part 2 and am well into Part 3 (view spoiler)[Logen <3

That caravan, filled with interesting and awesome characters to add to the characters making appearances from prior books, absolutely loving that for us. The Shivers thing, man he needs to stay in the North! His brother was a dick and he still wants to avenge him? So dumb! I think Glotka's days of traveling like this are well behind him but I agree it would be good to see him on page again.

The action has been great as well which is no surprise. I am enjoying it more than The Heroes, which is weird because that book was just about a battle. Maybe I failed at managing my expectations there....

Anyway very much looking forward to the battle to the death and there is no way the Bloody Nine loses! (hide spoiler)]

Finished part 3 (view spoiler)[I am sad Golden died but OMFG what a fight! I knew when he kept the mustache it would come in play but when it did I still cringed! And he kept thinking "This is my last fight" and I was like yup, it sure is and then HE realized it definitely was when he realized it was The Bloody Nine he was fighting. love, love, LOVE that!!! And Shy's rescue was chef's kiss awesome as well. And then the last chapter, Ro gave up on them, like NO they are coming for you!!!

One thing that surprises me is I am finding Cosca super annoying, not amusing like I have previously. (hide spoiler)]

Starting part 4 now, probably will not get a chance to read a lot this afternoon since we are doing Father's Day stuff, hoping I can get some in later today, I expect to finish tomorrow.

So I know most who have been reading these haven't started this one yet but is there any interest in continuing the books in this universe? I think the next is a short story compilation but then there are books set in the future in this world. If Glotka's daughter isn't as awesome as I expect I will be disappointed and I generally do not manage my own expectations with something I am psyched about...

I'm interested in going forward...

Part 4 finished (view spoiler)[I didn't really think Logen would kill Ro but when she tried to run away I wanted to kill her! Did it seem like she went full Dragon person super quickly? The rescue was so awesome though, like I knew the kids would be alive but then was like can I really be sure with Abercrombie???? Also loved the dragon, would have liked to see it come alive.

There is still 3 hours left in my audio for Part 5, what else is going to happen? I swear if Shivers manages to kill Logen I will be so mad!!! (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "I'm interested in going forward..."

Sweet! I am good with scheduling whenever, next month or if people want to take a month or so break but I do like mid-month like this, the beginning of the months are generally overloaded.

I agree on the mid month starts, yes.

I haven't started this as I worked a ton of overtime last week and all of my reading pretty much shut down. I have an audiobook that I started in front of this one, but should get back on track soon and it isn't long.

Part 5/Going Back (view spoiler)[Logen going back for Savian and Shy following him because he is her father? Love this <3

only if they both live.... (hide spoiler)]

Finished...

(view spoiler)[ I hated the ending but it fit. Effing Shivers showing up & ruined everything! It makes sense why Logen left, to protect his family, but it still sucks.

But the rest of part 5? When the heads started to roll I was literally dying, loved that so much! Temple asking "God, is that you?" to Shy was hilarious. The way they tricked Cosca and Lorsen to leave Crease be made me laugh as well. Cosca getting his finally, so good, it was time for him to go for sure but the way he dies not remembering his final words was so fitting. (hide spoiler)]

I loved this and would definitely recommend the series. As for the standalones I'd probably go Red Country > Best Served Cold > The Heroes but I admit I am most definitely biased lol

I started and stopped Yellowface and Witch King since I finished this so I guess I have a book hangover? Gonna try starting the book for my irl book club this Sunday and hope it sticks,,,,

Ann-Marie wrote: "Finished part 3 ..."

Ooh, that was a good (view spoiler)[fight! The play-by-play you revisited in your comments was pretty much how my brain was going too... and Shy's rescue also... I was just bummed they stopped before killing the bastard.

I was glad, however, that the children weren't being abused at their final destination... (hide spoiler)]

Chris wrote: "I'm interested in going forward..."

Ditto! I'm not sure about doing the short stories, but I'm in for the Age of Madness books. I wouldn't mind taking a month break either... July is starting to get almost as crowded as June...

If we can all agree on dates I can put in request threads.

Ann-Marie wrote: "Part 4..."

Yeah, (view spoiler)[on the one hand, I liked dragon people being good parents and all made this a much more gray story, and very Abercrombie, but on the other hand it did seem a little too easy... they didn't really woo the children at all, just sort of told them hey, this is your family now, and they drank the coolaid.

The turn-point here reminds me of a similar feeling point in Best Served Cold, when I went from really enjoying the story to it just being kinda Meh for me... probably about when Shivers lost his eye....

Definitely finding Cosca more annoying this time around. I think I like Shy the most--I like how she keeps repeating Logen Lamb's idioms to herself.... (hide spoiler)]

Finished also--(view spoiler)[I loved Shy realizing that Lamb is her father, in all ways that matter... and I wanted to smack Logen for leaving at the end. Made me think of the ending of Dexter, before the sequel series. Logen managed for how many years on the farm, with no trouble? Does he really think that leaving now would take trouble away? Trouble found them just fine without it coming after him in the first place, and if he stuck around he'd have a chance of deflecting it...

I was surprised that Shivers had like, no role in this book. I was really hoping he'd get some direction from Logen, but he didn't really until the very end. (hide spoiler)]

Month break sounds good. Especially as I haven't started yet lol

Chris wrote: "Month break sounds good. Especially as I haven't started yet lol"

Nirkatze wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'm interested in going forward..."

Ditto! I'm not sure about doing the short stories, but I'm in for the Age of Madness books. I wouldn't mind taking a month break either... July is..."

I am good with starting in August, that way if anyone wants to read the shorts they can!

Nirkatze wrote: "Finished also--I loved Shy realizing that Lamb is her father, in all ways that matter... and I wanted to smack Logen for leaving at the end. Made me think of the ending of Dexter, before the sequel..."

(view spoiler)[It's no surprise Logen is my favorite and I wanted him to have a happy ending but that is on me because this is Abercrombie. So for me I believe that Logen set up a spot to camp not too far out of town so he is readily available to swoop in and assist if anything bad happens to Shy & the kids. Loved that Shy came around to him being her father at the end too.

I was also surprised at the small amount of on page time Shivers had, just enough to come in and ruin everything like a jerk. (hide spoiler)]

LOL I'm going to buy in to your ending theory for L too, Ann-Marie. Two thumbs up.

Chris wrote: "Month break sounds good. Especially as I haven't started yet lol"

I'll go ahead and request threads for 8/17-10/17.... tomorrow. ^^

If anyone wants to read & comment on Sharp Ends they could do it here...

Requests made!

Started today

I am most of the way through Sharp Ends and OMG so many characters from the prior books! If you can fit this in I strongly suggest you do not sleep on this, I am loving it so far <3

(view spoiler)[Glotka in his prime! Gorst screwing up at the brothel in Best-Served Cold! There is a Shy story! MORE WHIRRUN!!!!! Many more so far plus some new characters and the story with Sheve, Jevre & Whirrun was lol funny. (hide spoiler)]

Ann-Marie wrote: "I am most of the way through Sharp Ends and OMG so many characters from the prior books! If you can fit this in I strongly suggest you do not sleep on this, I am loving it so far <3..."

I have it sitting on my desk ready to go. Just been too busy to have a go at it. I could get audio, but I don't want to spend a credit on such a short book when I have the paperback.

I finished last night and (view spoiler)[LOGEN!!!!! Absolutely loved seeing where the feud with Berthod began instead of just references. If I knew there was a Logen story I absolutely would have skipped to that one first lol

Clearly my favorite was the last story with Logen but I absolutely loved getting more of Whirrun and the story with him & the women was for real LOL funny. I loved seeing just a bit of Glotka before his capture by the Gurkish that changed his life entirely. Abercrombie narrated a story! It was a lost chapter of Cosca's "biography" which was as ridiculous as you might think. (hide spoiler)]

So many characters, old and new, I really enjoyed this book and I normally hate short stories. I have been keeping track of my favorite books each month in like a bracket challenge and I thought for sure Tress of the Emerald Sea would grab the spot for this month but man, I will need to consider this.....

Dammit, I'm going to have to squeeze the shorts in somehow, somewhere... no idea how or when though, lol.

Nirkatze wrote: "Dammit, I'm going to have to squeeze the shorts in somehow, somewhere... no idea how or when though, lol."

I would say sorry but.....do it!!!! lol

Oh, if everyone is squeezing into shorts I'm glad I joined this buddy read.....

Uhh, wait..

Chris wrote: "Oh, if everyone is squeezing into shorts I'm glad I joined this buddy read.....

Uhh, wait.."

That took me way too long to get that joke. LOL

Nirkatze wrote: "That took me way too long to get that joke. LOL"

lol

Abercrombie linked an article on Twitter "Top 10 good sex in fiction" and nothing by him was included and he was like "maybe I was number 11 or something". Someone replied his next book will be 50 Shades of Grey Moral Choices lol

LOL That's hilarious! I'm curious what was on that list now.

Here is the link, I do not see him fitting in with this crowd lol

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

LOL I haven't heard of most of those authors and books... I'll keep my Abercrombie... Thank you for sharing the article!

So I started Sharp Ends last night.

While reading the first story, I was missing the audio....and, the font is pretty tiny in the paperback. So while this appears to be a short book, part of that reason is the small font on the pages....

I went to my audible app and spent a credit and picked up there....much better...

This is the first one so far that I listened to 100% and it was so worth it, hope you enjoy!!!