Fantasy Book Club discussion

Post here if you are planning to read this month's book. Give us your first impressions. No Spoilers, please.

I've read the blurb for this book as well as a couple of reviews elsewhere. This appears to be the type of niche "fantasy" I have now become very wary of. They're typically thin on characterization, heavy on plotting, and tell their stories in ways that read more like historical fiction than actual fantasy.

I started reading this yesterday. I hope to finish it before the discussion 'officially' starts on Saturday. Unfortunately, I'll be traveling until October 6th or 7th, so won't have much to say until then.

I'm liking it so far (first 50-100 pages).

I'm reading it right now. At 78% on my Kindle. Have to say I'm a little disappointed with it.

Just got it in the mail. Will start it on lunch break today. =)

I read this shortly after it was released and really enjoyed it. I think Jorg is one of the more interesting characters to come along in a while. Definitely not your standard fantasy protagonist.

I too read this when it was released in August. I loved it. Thought it was fun being inside Jorg's demented and clever mind.

I'm looking forward to the discussion

I just started reading this book today, and I've unfortunately taken an instant dislike to the main character that makes me want to put the book aside. I love a good anti-hero, but so far, all I've seen is an antisocial with no (at least not yet) redeeming qualities. I'm going to try and push through the read so I can hopefully join in the discussion.

Stacia wrote: "I just started reading this book today, and I've unfortunately taken an instant dislike to the main character that makes me want to put the book aside. I love a good anti-hero, but so far, all I've..."

Push on through, Stacia. You will be surprised by the 'why' behind his actions, I hope. :)

Jon wrote: "Push on through, Stacia. You will be surprised by the 'why' behind his actions, I hope. :)"

I hope so. I like the author's writing style so far, and I'd appreciate some surprises in my reading.

I like the blurb but I'm hoping the price will drop, I shall get to it just not sure when.

I got it backwards. I thought Prince of Thorns was next month and I started reading Tigana a couple of days ago. I'll get to PoT next week some time. Looking forward to it.

I plan on starting Prince of Thorns after I'm done with Ready Player One which should be soon.

Just started and I'm five chapters into it. I'm not hooked yet, but I live in hope and want to see what events created such a monster so to speak. I'm also still waiting for the fantasy elements to pop up.

Roshio wrote: "Just started and I'm five chapters into it. I'm not hooked yet, but I live in hope and want to see what events created such a monster so to speak. I'm also still waiting for the fantasy elements to..."

Just started Ch. 5 as well! It's got me curious.

I'm at chapter 20 now (which is about half-way through). I am enjoying it but not as much as I would have expected. I am looking forward to finishing the book and reading the "actual" discussion. I'm new to the book club and really excited about it. Yay for reading fantasy!! :)

Rosie wrote: "I'm at chapter 20 now (which is about half-way through). I am enjoying it but not as much as I would have expected. I am looking forward to finishing the book and reading the "actual" discussion...."

I'm just over half way and I feel the same. Its not a bad read, but I think I had too high expectations.

On Ch. 10. Feel like things are still ramping up... but I too am very curious to read through the finished discussions, and that of the author Q&A.

I'm 10% and I'm just not getting into it. I'll give it until 25% and if it doesn't grasp my attention I'll maybe try it another time.

I'm just about done with Jon Sprunk's Shadow's Son. I'm looking for something new to pickup so while I may be to late to jump into this discussion (as I'm a slow reader) I just may make this my next.

I had to stop reading it. I just wasn't hooked. I typically give books a good 100 or so pages to hook me and make me want to read more, and this one just wasn't cutting it. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the main character's brutality or utter selfishness - I like a good anti-hero every now and again. I think it was just the lack of depth for ANY character.. I felt like I was watching a play with cardboard cut-outs - everything was just way too flat.

Helen wrote: "I like the blurb but I'm hoping the price will drop, I shall get to it just not sure when."

Try www.bookdepository.co.uk, they have cheap prices and free delivery worldwide...I love them.

Nigel

Tom wrote: "I think it was just the lack of depth for ANY character.. I felt like I was watching a play with cardboard cut-outs - everything was just way too flat. "

It seems to me that people keep forgetting something essential here. Namely, this is a first person narrative being told by a **sociopath**. It's natural that a sociopath isn't going to care one whit for the emotional lives or characters of the people around him. Therefore, we should *expect* that he is going to see everyone around him as something like "cardboard cutouts". A person needs empathy in order to see other people as "people" -- and sociopaths aren't big on empathy.

Contrarius wrote: "Tom wrote: "I think it was just the lack of depth for ANY character.. I felt like I was watching a play with cardboard cut-outs - everything was just way too flat. "

It seems to me that people kee..."

Agreed. To me, Jorg is completely believable as a sociopath. He's especially believable when you consider the trauma that he went through, what we can see of his father (and how his mother isn't there to counteract his father's influence), and how he's lived the last 4 years immersed in revenge. Not to mention that someone has been whispering in his ear, subtly influencing his development all these years.

Michael wrote: "...so while I may be to late to jump into this discussion (as I'm a slow reader) I just may make this my next."

Join us Michael! I'm only halfway as I have been very busy busy, but I'm still looking forward to good discussion.

Contrarius wrote: "Namely, this is a first person narrative being told by a **sociopath**

Agreed. Perfect example is the last paragraph of Chapter 22, or page 150.

(Don't even want to do a marked spoiler here... )
We REALLY need another thread. Something between beginning and finished.

Kara wrote: "Michael wrote: "...so while I may be to late to jump into this discussion (as I'm a slow reader) I just may make this my next."

Join us Michael! I'm only halfway as I have been very busy busy, ..."

Why don't you start one?

I've just started this ready for this month's read, about 40% in and enjoying it a lot.