The Children of Gods and Fighting Men - Forum discussion

Hi everyone!
Wow - those holidays went by in a flash. Kids went back to school yesterday so some sort of normality has returned to my house.

What am I reading? Well i just finished The Daughters' War by Christopher Buelhman. Amazing!!

And I've started The Dragonbone Chair for my read with Stephen Aryan and Mike Shackle! It's a bit of a beast at over 900 pages, so I'm thinkin that might be it for January...

What are you all reading?

I'm rereading two books and reading one book for the first time.
I'm reading Possession by AS Byatt with a group of friends who thought it would be a great way to remember the late author, she died last year and this book I read years ago but I only remember what it was about, not the details.

I'm rereading Stardust by Neil Gaiman with another friend, I wonder why he's no longer writing (allegedly) and only doing TV stuff... I know there's more money in that but that doesn't sound like the Gaiman I know and love. Norse Mythology came out a few years ago now.

And I'm reading, this time by my own choice, Royal Assassin, by Robin Hobb. I read Assassins Apprentice a couple of years ago and it was time for me to continue the Farseer trilogy. I love Hobb's writing so much.

That's a lovely selection. I read Possession years ago too. I remember liking it a lot.
I haven't read Stardust, but I loved the film adaptation. Did you ever see it?

Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy read!

I am reading A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Maedows and am positively enamoured with it. And also just started my reread on audio of The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake because the finale just released and now I can binge it hahah, excited!

Happy reading! :)

Esmay, I'm reading The Atlas Paradox right now for the same reason! And I have an ARC for What They Said About Luisa by Erika Rummel that I also need to get started on soon (historical fiction). And I've already listened to a bunch of audiobooks during my commute to and from work - but it was very hit or miss (as it usually is with romance books for me). I enjoyed Today Tonight Tommorow by Rachel Lynn Solomon (YA romance, it was cute), The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (I listened to a full cast dramatized version, very entertaining) and Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (somewhat controversial looking at reviews but it had me laughing out loud a lot and the narrator was amazing! I didn't really love the sequel though).

Patrícia wrote: "Esmay, I'm reading The Atlas Paradox right now for the same reason! And I have an ARC for What They Said About Luisa by Erika Rummel that I also need to get started on soon (historical fiction). An..."

Ooooh nice, I hope the finale sticks the landing for both of us!
And I am with you on Boyfriend Material, that was such an utter delight and brought me so much comfort and joy when I read it!

I am taking on A Hero Born. Listening to One Foot in the Fade. Not a big fan of celebrity books, but Luke Arnold pulls it off. Finished my third book in the SPFBO 9 contest, The Last Fang of God. I am a softy for the "Humble Farmer is really a famous Warrior with a hidden past " trope.

Shauna wrote: "That's a lovely selection. I read Possession years ago too. I remember liking it a lot.
I haven't read Stardust, but I loved the film adaptation. Did you ever see it?"

Robert Deniro dancing, yes! The book and the movie share many similarities but they're essentially different, that being said, both are quite enjoyable so I recommend you read the book some day

Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy read!

I am reading A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz..."

Let me know if you like the Olivie Blake series. I actually have the first one on my kindle

Stephen wrote: "I am taking on A Hero Born. Listening to One Foot in the Fade. Not a big fan of celebrity books, but Luke Arnold pulls it off. Finished my third boo..."

Have you read many of the SPFBO finalists? There was one that really caught my eye... hold on... going to check which one it was...

The Fall is all there is by C.M Caplan. I always enjoy following the competition and read a few of those that stand out

Paula wrote: "Shauna wrote: "That's a lovely selection. I read Possession years ago too. I remember liking it a lot.
I haven't read Stardust, but I loved the film adaptation. Did you ever see it?"

Robert Denir..."

Okay - will do.

Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy read!

I am reading A Strange and Stubborn En..."

I really enjoyed book 1 when it was selfpubbed (gave it 5 stars) but this reread it's just a solid 4 stars. Definitely a divisive one, I hope the series holds up and sticks the landing. Will keep you updated!

Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy read!

I am reading A Strange ..."

Oooh - what has marked it down? Do think it lost some of its charm through the trad editing process?

In regards to SPFBO, I have been reading along with the contest since SPFBO 5 (2019) which was lucky for me because I think that year had the strongest finalist field. I had that contest a 6-way tie for the winner.

Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy read!

I am read..."

I think it is honestly just that my reading tastes have changed and developed. I was 18 when I first read it so all the CW-level drama and angst was working really well for me, but 3 years later and it's not so enjoyable anymore haha.

In fact, I think the trad pub version might be even better with some sections tightened up and other additions to flesh out the characters' backstories and the general world buildling concepts. Or maybe I am just misremembering hahah.

It was a solid read, but definitely not the all-time fave status that it first had. Fingers crossed the sequels are enjoyable!

Stephen wrote: "In regards to SPFBO, I have been reading along with the contest since SPFBO 5 (2019) which was lucky for me because I think that year had the strongest finalist field. I had that contest a 6-way ti..."

Oh - tell me what books were in the 6 way tie?

Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun with the buddy re..."

I totally get that. I absolutely loved Twilight and The Hunger Games in my early twenties. Someone gave me Shadow and Bone when i was in my 30's and it wasn't for me - and I put entirely down to me just not being in the zone for a book like that anymore. I'm sure I'd have loved it when I was in my early 20's.

Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Shauna wrote: "Esmay wrote: "Hope you had a good holiday season!! And fingers crossed The Dragonbone Chair will be worth the time investment, have fun wit..."

Right?! So much of reading enjoyment depends on life experiences and circumstances, but that's the beauty of reading! There's always something out there for anyone to enjoy.

I ended up quite enjoying the sequel to The Atlas Six, so now I have started the finale and I am nervously excited!

My six way tie for SPFBO 5 was: ( and I hate to name them because I liked all 10 but loved 6)
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (The Official Winner)
Fortune's Fool by Angela Boord
Never Die by Rob J. Hayes
Blade's Edge by Virginia McClain
A Tale of Stars and Shadow by Lisa Cassidy
Blood of Heirs by Alicia Wanstall-Burke
For fun I will add a Panel of the authors that is on YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQih-...

Stephen wrote: "My six way tie for SPFBO 5 was: ( and I hate to name them because I liked all 10 but loved 6)
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (The Official Winner)
[book:Fortune'..."

I read The Sword of Kaigan - which i liked a lot. I have Never Die on my kindle - which I keep meaning to get to.

I'm still working my way through The Dragonbone Chair - It's a little slower than I thought it would be...

I picked up The Dragonbone Chair last year, mainly because so many authors listed the series as an influence. I found that it picked up about the halfway point. I finally got a book off my TBR pile that has been in the pile too long. I should have read Priest of Bones a few years back, but now I can rip thru the series.

Stephen wrote: "I picked up The Dragonbone Chair last year, mainly because so many authors listed the series as an influence. I found that it picked up about the halfway point. I finally got a book of..."

It's definitely started a little slow - but I'm starting to enjoy it more now