Fantasy Book Club discussion

Pine Cove by Christopher Moore - 3/3
Amber by Roger Zelazny - 10/10
The Way of the Shaman by Vasily Mahanenko 5/5
Spells, Swords, & Stealth by Drew Hayes 3/3
First Law World by Joe Abercrombie 6/7
Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones 11/11 +4/4 short stories #12 Expected publication: October 31st 2017
Garrett Files by Glen Cook 4/14
Jig the Goblin by Jim C. Hines 0/3
Caverns and Creatures by Robert Bevan 4/4
Guardians of the Flame by Joel Rosenberg 7/7
Powder Mage by Brian McClellan 3/3
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson 3/3
Earthsea Cycle series by Ursula K. Le Guin 6.5/6.5
Mistborn - Alloy Era series by Brandon Sanderson 3 1/2 /3 + 1/2
Summoner series by Taran Matharu 3/3 + ss + novella
Sword Art Online by Reki Kawahara 6/10 only 10 translated so far
Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews 3/3
Velveteen vs. series by Seanan McGuire 3/3
Indexing series 2/2
Invisible Library series 3/3
Dispelled (A Null for Hire, #1) by Terri L. Austin 1/1
Highland Magic series by Helen Harper 4/4
Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan 6/7 *
Warrior Chronicles series 6/6 +1 ss
Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews 2/2
Cradle series by Wil Wright 3/3
Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire 2/2
Strange The Dreamer 1/1 **
Daughter of the Pirate King Series 1/1 ***
The Great Library Series by Rachel Caine 3/3
Witch City Mystery Series 5/5
Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic Series by Helen Harper 2/3 #3 Expected: August 23rd 2017
Magical Bakery Mystery by Bailey Cates 6/6 #7 Expected: November 7th 2017

Re-read
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber 2/7
Hobbit, LOTR, Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien 0/3
The Chronicles of the Deryni series by Katherine Kurtz 3/3
Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel series by Nagaru Tanigawa 7/9 translated so far

Started by Will Not Finissh
The Black Company by Glen Cook

Started Prior to 2017 Not FInished
The Hollows series 12/13

Discworld 11/41
Discworld - DEATH Series 2/5 + 1 short story
Discworld - Industrial Revolution Series 0/6

* book 7 starts a new 3 book arc, I'll read this but not until after the next 2 are released. I don't like reading unfinished trilogies.

**sequel planned but no release date yet.

*** next book to be published next year
Mystery Series I'm reading

Good luck.

Helen wrote: "Good luck."
Thanks Helen, it'll be fun, even if I don't get through them all, I'll still be ahead in the end.

I just finished the first 2 Mistborn - Alloy Era series by Brandon Sanderson novels, not loving them so far, 1 more published novel to go in the series. The a wait for the next on Expected publication: October 18th 2018 by Gollancz

Smashing it,

What didnt you like about Mistborn - Alloy Era?

Aaron wrote: "Smashing it,

What didnt you like about Mistborn - Alloy Era?"

I really liked the original trilogy but really not crazy about having guns in a fantasy that includes magic, I read the Powder Mage books and didn't love them either.

I just don't believe that a magic system then involves pushing and pulling of metals would evolve a steampunk level of tech without magic going away. Any magic user could wreck havoc with just about any invention, and as we see with the internet, some few people would wreck havoc if they could get away with it.

My favorite fantasy mystery series are Glen Cook's Garrett series and Adams Dirk Gentley.

Ah fair enough, that's a reasonable response. I like Steampunk/Flintlock type fantasy so it was easy for me to settle into it. The main worry I had was the time jump, I personally find it hard to deal with the knowledge that everyone (mostly) you liked is dead. Haha silly I know.

Do you plan to read the next trilogy as its going to be set in Space even further in the future?

Aaron wrote: "Ah fair enough, that's a reasonable response. I like Steampunk/Flintlock type fantasy so it was easy for me to settle into it. The main worry I had was the time jump, I personally find it hard to d..."

I do plan on reading the next trilogy. I'm going to read the next standalone also, I do like the characters especially Wayne and Steris and also admire Sanderson's writing. I do like Steampunk/Flintlock type science fiction like Difference Engine.

A space based fantasy might be interesting depending on the tech and magic system, of course a metal based magic user on the ISS would be godlike, one magic push gone wrong could destroy the whole thing. Maybe the tech could be ceramic or some fictional substance like a super plastic.

Did you read Powder Mage, you might like that, for me the magic system in Powder Mage made more sense because the magic in that series is based on gun powder used almost like a drug. The setting was very much like Napoleonic.
Sorry just saw in your series thread that you've already read it.

Finished the first book of a new series Deryni Rising, that I'd read way back in the 1980s and while I have fond memories of the series, I'd forgotten most of the storyline, so it almost feels like a new read!

Two days ago finished Bitter Gold Hearts (Garrett P.I., #2) by Glen Cook
Yesterday finished Red Country by Joe Abercrombie, great book and started Sword Art Online Book 1 just finished it, I love SAO and am so glad to finally read the book that started the franchise.

yesterday finished book 6 Sword Art Online and Started book 1 Innkeeper Chronicles, finished today and started book 2.

I'm getting challenge envy, everyone is doing so well.

Thanks Helen, but I keep adding more stuff, I'm sure I'll never finish it all.
o͡͡͡╮༼ • ʖ̯ • ༽╭o͡͡͡

I know Helen, Kevins pace is amazing, It's very impressive

Aaron wrote: "I know Helen, Kevins pace is amazing, It's very impressive"

Thanks Aaron :)

Just finished Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews book 2, and while I was reading this one it came to me what it reminded me of xxxHolic manga by clamp.

Finished book 3 and very much enjoyed the series, will definitely be reading any further books released in the series.

Just finished Pine Cove's series Lust Lizard, read these out of order, as I didn't know they were a series when I started on book 3, then 1 & 2. Luckily they are very loosely related.

Just finished the last book in the Velveteen vs series and so sorry I don't have another in this series to read loved all 3 of them, I hope Seanan writes another.

I'm going to try another series by Seaanan now Indexing series

Just finished the Indexing series and about to start the Invisible Library series. adding a new category of series I've started prior to 2017 but never finished, only 1 series so far but I'm sure I'll remember others.

Just finished the Invisible Library series, many similarities to the Amber series, but characters are completely different. Can't wait for the next book, due out next January.

Great progress Kevin. I've read Seanan McGuire's October Daye series and it's really enjoyed it. I'll have to check out the Velveteen vs series.

Angela wrote: "Great progress Kevin. I've read Seanan McGuire's October Daye series and it's really enjoyed it. I'll have to check out the Velveteen vs series."

Thanks Angela, I'm going to get some of the October Daye series to read soon.

Finished reread of Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, now I just have unread volumes left.

Started a new series Dispelled (A Null for Hire, #1) by Terri L. Austin only the one volume released so far, I'm more then half done and enjoying it so I'll read the next book when the author releases it.

Started a new series Highland Magic series, I've read the first 2 of 4 and really enjoying the Scottish fae worldbuilding, and fast moving plot.

Finished Highland Magic series, loved it. One of the only fantasies I've read where the main character is a pacifist.

Started new series by Rachel Morgan Creepy Hollow yesterday and just finished book 1 of the series, good world building and likeable MC. Time to start on book 2.
Finished 2 onto 3
June 19 finished book 3 and the first arc of Creepy Hollow
June 21 finished the three book 2nd arc, will start the 3rd arc after all three books are released.

Starting back with the 5th book of the Charley Davidson series, read the first 4 in January 2017

Good luck with Charley Davidson Kevin. I read the 5th book, but didn't carry on with the series from that point. A lot of my friends are still reading it though.

Angela wrote: "Good luck with Charley Davidson Kevin. I read the 5th book, but didn't carry on with the series from that point. A lot of my friends are still reading it though."

I just finished it and really enjoyed it, I love Charley she is so funny and such a good person. Just downloaded a couple of short stories from the authors website 5.5 and 5.6 then I'm ready for book 6.

Can I ask why you quit? It did get quite dark at the end when the cheating husband attempted to rape and murder her.

Great to hear you are still enjoying the series Kevin.

For me the humour got a but much after a while. I found it a little annoying after 5 books. That's just me though, so many people I know are still reading the series. I'm the odd one out.

Angela wrote: "Great to hear you are still enjoying the series Kevin.

For me the humour got a but much after a while. I found it a little annoying after 5 books. That's just me though, so many people I know are..."

Angela, I think that's why I stopped after book 4, but after a break, I really like it better then ever. I might have to pause again after a few more books, just have to see how it goes.

Just finished the 11th book in the Charley Davidson and the 4th short story, can't wait till the next book is released on 11/31/17.

Finished book 4 of the Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel series and Book 1 of 6 of a new series the Warrior Chronicles.

Great reads, completely different just the way I like it to keep things interesting. Warrior Chronicles series is like a ninja heroic fantasy series, Haruhi more a comedic science fantasy.

Finished Warrior Chronicles books 1-6 + 1 short story.

To begin today Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews

You're going through this challenge at a record breaking speed. Don't you feel exhausted after reading so many fantasy books back to back?

But am mighty envious of all the books/series that you're reading.;)

Manju wrote: "You're going through this challenge at a record breaking speed. Don't you feel exhausted after reading so many fantasy books back to back?

But am mighty envious of all the books/series that you're..."

I read mostly genre stuff, I love fantasy, SF, historical and cozy mysteries but I tend to cycle through instead of spreading out if you know what I mean. I'll read a ton of fantasy, then I might read a ton of cozy mysteries. I know it's weird but it keeps my reading fresh and I look forward to it everyday.
Fantasy is an especially great genre but it can include so many other genre, the series I'm reading right now Hidden Legacy, is about a detective, so it's got mystery and fantasy covered. Glen Cook's Garrett series is another mystery and fantasy mixed with the added bonus that series is very similar to Nero Wolfe. I try to vary what I'm reading within a genre as well, like an epic or high fantasy then an urban then a classic like Earthsea, then a LitRPG.

Sorry for the long rant, I feel weird about my reading too.

Your progress is fantastic! Isn't it great how we are all different. I usually mix my reading up between fantasy (which is so broad in itself like you said), mystery and historical.

Angela wrote: "Your progress is fantastic! Isn't it great how we are all different. I usually mix my reading up between fantasy (which is so broad in itself like you said), mystery and historical."

Thanks Angela, different but also the same, we'll just have to get you reading SF. If you don't mind I'd suggest The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers It was one of the best books I read last year, and it's sequel is even better. Terrific characters and very little violence. It's a great read after an Abercrombie grimdark :D

Thanks for the recommendation Kevin. I've added it to my TBR and will give it a go. I am trying The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey in November as a buddy read. Have you read that series?

@Kevin: That's great. I just saw all those big series in post 1 and got curious. :)

Angela wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation Kevin. I've added it to my TBR and will give it a go. I am trying The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey in November as a buddy read. Have you read that series?"

I watched the 1st season of the TV show and really enjoyed it so then I read the first book and that book covers the 1st 2 seasons of the show. So I stopped, not wanting spoilers for the show which very closely follows the book. It's a terrific book, so I'll probably wind up reading the rest of them before the show airs.

Finished the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews, it was good but not as good as the last two books of the Innkeeper Chronicles series by the same authors, I read earlier this year.

Tonight having finished off White Hot I'm going to cheat and start on The Black Company, July's BOTM not sure if I'll read the trilogy or just the first book, I'll see how much I enjoy it.

Started The Black Company Trilogy last night but after reading Book 1 decided that I wouldn't read the last two books at this time. 3 stars review

Then I lucked into reading Unsouled first book of the Cradle series and very much enjoyed it, 2 more to go.

**edit 7/2/17 Finished the last 2 Cradle books, loved them and the series, more books to come but no publication date yet.

*** edit 7/4/17 yesterday finished The Karmadont Chess Set (The Way of the Shaman #5) all caught up on the series and started The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya (Haruhi Suzumiya #5)
EDIT 7/4 Finished Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya & Started Strange The Dreamer

7/5 Finished Strange The Dreamer

Started the Discworld - DEATH Series, read the first 2 books, Mort and Reaper Man along with the short story Death and What Comes Next. Starting Soul Music later tonight.

edit** yesterday finished book 3 of the Death series, then started Hollows 12, just finished, only 1 more book left in the hollows series.

edit** 7/12 finished book 7 Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel 2 more togo

edit** 7/13 finished Daughter of the Pirate King Series book 1, next book to be published next year

Just finished Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) and loved it, 2 more books and 2 short stories to go. review

edit** 7/14 FInished Book 2