SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ murder, blood, body horror (including eyes), animal death, miscarriage, abortion, domestic abuse, strangulation (hide spoiler)]

User-submitted content warnings on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4...

(More about CWs here.)

I really need to pay more attention when Anna says a story isn't cosy.

The StoryGraph lets reviewers include information about the mood of a book (one of my favorite features). "Dark" has been the most frequent choice for this one. So, yeah, what she said.

Oh, I’ve just read the content warnings above. Doesn’t seem cozy at all. I start to have some second thoughts.

This is, in my opinion, one of Slatter's cozier stories, but I would never use that word to describe it.

I don't read/enjoy horror, grimdark, etc. but I love Slatter, so if anyone is on the fence, it's not as dark as the content warnings make it sound. In addition to that, there's also healing and found family for example, so I would say it's gothic, not (grim)dark :)

Thank you, Anna. That sounds more like what I was hoping for.

Yeah I loved this and I don’t like grimdark. It’s dark or horror-y in the way T Kingfisher’s books are maybe? Like maybe nettle and bone level dark.

I wasn't planning on reading this but the replies above make it seem more appealing and I just found I have access to the audiobook so I'll give it try.

I'm getting strong gothic fiction and classic "haunted family" vibes from this, which I'd hoped for. Enjoying it so far.

re the content warnings: (view spoiler)[not the eyes, again! (hide spoiler)]

I've only read the first chapter so don't feel I've gotten enough of a first impression yet. Back a little later.

Beth, I think that's a very minor thing, I only added it because my notes from several years ago had it marked like that, but I don't remember it being a huge thing? Maybe someone who read it more recently can confirm?

edit: I reminded myself of what it is, and it's related to (view spoiler)[ medical treatment, not the horrory parts (hide spoiler)] :)

Has anyone done the audiobook for this one? I can get it free on Audible, and was debating about whether it was better to read or listen.

I liked the audio! I listened to it on Hoopla

Yes, I’m listening to the audio on Audible and I like it.

Cool, thanks. ^_^

Loving the gothic vibe. I bet our protagonist is not the only one with secrets.

I’ve started today. So far so good. It suits my autumn mood.

I started and read the first 4 or so chapters then got caught up in life (and other books). Now I am back. I really liked the gothic vibe from the start and knowing that there's more about the characters that we aren't being told and looking forward to finding out.

I appreciate creepy-cozy vibes. After first 3 chapters I’m very curious what is really going on here.

I'm finally getting going with this one. I tried to read the paper book, but I couldn't go past the first page. I think this is a me issue right now, not anything to do with the book itself. I'm finding it hard to read anything on paper, which is usually my preferred book type. I switched to the audiobook, though, and that is a much better fit. I'm a few chapters in now, appreciating the gothic vibes, and very interested in learning more about the many things being hinted at so far.

The audiobook for this is well-done. I used the audiobook myself as I have a few issues reading physical print these days--part middle aged eyes and part ADHD, and those combined just make reading physical print too frustrating. And now I have cancer and virtually no physical stamina so even holding a physical book long enough to make any progress is a task for me. So I see no shame in relying on audiobooks and ebooks these days.

this club is very very anti gatekeeping. audio books carry no stigma! While I do consume books in all forms, audio is so much more adaptive for me

I agree I think the narrator for this one was a good fit

I'm listening to this, just finished Chapter 14, and I'm a bit bored, tbh. I'm kind of wondering what the point is...

No problem with the narrator, I think it's just the story itself isn't really gripping me. Still have 7 hours to go, though, so we'll see.

I've just started reading and am thoroughly enjoying the first chapters. The prose is lovely, Slatter is setting up a wonderfully mysterious world, and Asher is intriguing.

I suspect if you like fantasy that explains its world-building as you go along, this book could be challenging. I generally enjoy being tossed in the deep end to piece together the world and its inhabitants.

I am thoroughly enjoying the first few chapters of Path of Thorns. The prose is lovely, Slatter is setting up quite a lot of interesting mysteries, and Asher is intriguing.

I suspect if you like being given lots of information about the world as you go along, this book could be challenging. I am much more hooked when the author throws me in the deep and lets me figure out the world and its characters.

I love those pieces of world building I’ve gathered so far. Makes me want to read other novels set in this world.

There are a lot of parallels between this one and Slatter's Of Sorrow and Such which I read when I learned this was going to be BOTM.

I’m adding it to my TBR.

I just put Of Sorrow and Such on my TBR too.

Me too!

Have read the first few chapters.
I like the writing and language:

At last, an ending.
Or a beginning.
Who can say?

‘You’ll be earning your coin soon enough with those three children... And I’ve no doubt the elder Mrs Morwood will put you through your paces as well.’

Had not heard of this author before so the noms, will go look at her page. Am sure this was in a poll more than once, who was so diligent about getting it onto our shelf?!
😁

Any interesting difference between writing as
A.G. Slatter
and
Angela Slatter
?

I have noticed several mentions of red. Red plaid, ruby jewels, red hair, crimson flowers.

Bonnie wrote: "Have read the first few chapters.
I like the writing and language:

At last, an ending.
Or a beginning.
Who can say?

‘You’ll be earning your coin soon enough with those three children... And I..."

I agree! The writing drew me in quickly.