Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Anyone can hop in and join the Buddy Reads here at the Vagabond Treehouse! A few of us needed a place to have chats for books between planned BR's.

Vagabond Treehouse:
- Fantasy Genre Books
- A Small TBR of Books Picked By Vagabonds
- Reading Start Date will be chosen by Vagabonds
- Read & Chat at your own pace! No such thing as a dead book topic.

Posting Format: (For later when we end up talking about more than one book.)
- Name of Book/Series
- Spoiler Tags for big plot points.

Vagabond Treehouse Book Club Shelf Anyone can make a suggestion. As long as someone wants to read it with you, it can go on the shelf. =)

- House of Earth and Blood #1 by Sarah J. Mass
- Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay
- A Warrior's Path #1 by Davis Ashura
- Nightblade #1 by Ryan Kirk
- The Iron King #1 by Maurice Druon
- A Crucible of Souls #1 Mitchell Hogan
- Rise of the Ranger #1 by Philip C. Quaintrell
- The City of Brass #1 by S.A. Chakraborty
- Sasha #1 by Joel Shepherd
- Corpies by Drew Hayes
- Cephrael's Hand #1 by Melissa McPhail
- The Ruin of Kings #1 by Jenn Lyons
- Make Me No Grave #1 by Hayley Stone
- Quill #1 by AC Cobble

Books Read

House of Earth and Blood - Starting 04/17

Read at your own pace, post all of your thoughts and have fun! Sometimes, ranting is necessary to have fun. =)

I'd also like to add Camp Valor at some point. Buddy of mine gave the book to me and I've been putting it off.

Brian, how much of a story do you need to read before you know it's something you like? For me it's different for each book but usually I get a sense within the first few chapters.

Can you skim it and see say if it's worth getting?

I took a look at the book. It seems ok but the reviews are not encouraging me to spend $11/12 for print/audio.

Personally, I'm on the fence on this one because I'm trying to keep my book buying to sales. Like 2 or more books for $10 if possible. I've drastically cut back on my book sprees with the pandemic & changes in Audible returns.

It’s all good. I haven’t read the reviews and only have because buddy gave me a box of old books he was done with. Don’t buy it. I’ll get to it later.

If you like it, I'll jump in. =) Let us know how it goes.

Besides, Iain/Choko/others may also be interested in that one.

Soo. Don't buy Camp Valor. It's not a bad book, definately YA book but not worth $12.99 on Kindle. I am only half way done so that might change either way and I'll let you know. But I would hold off for now. Also, starting House of Earth and Blood on audio

I just purchased Rise of the Ranger by P. C. Quaintrell... Got the whole series, so I am definitely doing that one for sure:-)

Yay! =D

I'm totally eyeballing the other Rob J. Hayes books because Never Die was fun. =)

I'll start House of Earth & Blood after I wake up.

I am doing Never Die next, so I will see about those too:)

Bargain Buys
I kind of fell into the "audiobook deal" rabbit hole. This only works if you have Audible & Kindle Unlimited. Some deals are available for pretty cheap if you have just Audible. I borrowed with KU and purchased on Audible.

I did research but you know how that goes. It could be a tossup on how you will respond to the story. However, I read blurbs, skim reviews and listened to the sample audio before making my buys.

Omnibus/Boxset/Bundles
- The Variant Saga Boxed Set #1-4
- The Last Survivors Box Set: The Complete Post Apocalyptic Series #1-6
- Freedom's Fire Box Set: The Complete Military Space Opera Series #1-6
- The Complete Void Wraith Saga: Books 1 - 6 in the Epic Military Science Fiction Series #1-7
- Gods of the Ragnarok Era Omnibus 1: Books 1-3 #1-3
- The Complete Deadland Saga #1-3
- The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series #1-10

The City Series by Sarah Lyons Fleming - You can borrow on KU and buy audio for $1.99.
- Mordacious #1
- Peripeteia #2
- Instauration #3

Let me know if you get any of those and we can BR them too! Bwahahah! I read #1-2 of the City Series and will be reading #3 at some point in the future.

Thanks Soo!

Oh and there are probably more deals but these are the ones that I thought were best to get out of my search today. This was kind of a random luck of the draw thing by looking for bundles on Audible. Also, I wouldn't look at anything I already read or have. So that's a bunch there. haha

Then I realized I could have gone by Genres & narrowed down searches by length. Duh!

I’m gonna give another Rob J Hayes book a chance (Along the Razor’s Edge) on KU.

I grabbed it on KU. Not sure if I'll have time to read it but I can skim. That book blurb has a ton of errors. It's like cringe-worthy. hahahha

Nevermind! One of them is on purpose. Sourcerers. That jacked up word makes my eyes cross!

lol

Lol! I just started and it’s interesting so far. I really like this author’s style.

I read “The ties that Bind” series and loved it. I’m hoping this one grips me like that series did.

I'm gonna try to wrap up the LitRPG I started and then I'll see if I want to dive into Along the Razor's Edge.

Never Die was a good experience for me because I listened to it.

Guys, I signed up for ScribD's trial membership and here's my thoughts from looking on it for 20min:

- The app interface is terrible.
- It wants to track my FB... which I did not use to connect. Thank goodness.
- The selection for audiobooks is not that great.
- I didn't find ONE audiobook that I aim to read soon by looking for 20min.
- I went to look at Romance Category and I laughed because it had 5 SF/F books that are distinctly not romance novels listed in the results.

Oh wait, Anna (in another group) did say that the Murderbot books/audiobooks are on there and you can use the trial membership to listen to those books before the new one comes out. =)

I signed up for the trial last week and have found some audiobooks to listen to but nothing that I was dying to read. I listened to the first Murderbot novella but the next day the others were all restricted so I can only listen to them the day after my trial ends.

I agree that the interface is awful. It keeps showing the same selection of less than 50 books. I was able to find things better by searching particular authors I am interested in rather than trying to browse.

Bill, the Murderbot books 1-4 are being released one per day by Tor. It started yesterday. So you can snag the others if you go now.

Soo wrote: "Bill, the Murderbot books 1-4 are being released one per day by Tor. It started yesterday. So you can snag the others if you go now."

Thanks I’ve been getting them.

Scribd has basically restricted everything but LibriVox titles which are free anyway until my trial ends in two weeks. Not going to continue with it after my trial ends. Selection and interface aren’t worth it when I have overdrive and Hoopla.

I already canceled mine! lol

I read 3 books and no more were available until next month. What a ripoff. It's better to just go and buy the books.

House of Earth & Blood is so hyped, it's on your master list twice... top and bottom :D

I'm not surprised. I have so many "TBR" books listed that I can't find the original one. Hahahha

I don't see it? I usually just delete the duplicate when I find it later. It's the finished list that matters.

- House of Earth and Blood #1 by Sarah J. Mass
- Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay
- A Warrior's Path #1 by Davis Ashura
- Nightblade #1 by Ryan Kirk
- The Iron King #1 by Maurice Druon
- A Crucible of Souls #1 Mitchell Hogan
- Rise of the Ranger #1 by Philip C. Quaintrell
- The City of Brass #1 by S.A. Chakraborty
- Sasha #1 by Joel Shepherd
- Corpies by Drew Hayes
- House of Earth and Blood #1 by Sarah J. Maas

I would be up for reading Children of Earth and Sky when you get to it. I own it already so could start anytime. Love me some Kay.

HA! For some reason, I thought you were talking about Challenge Tracker List. In my head, I consider that my 2020 Read & TBR Master List. LOL!!! Maybe I need a nap. Hahha

Bill, I will let you know. Right now, I'm booked with BR's that I need to read for a week at least.

Also, fixed that on main post. LOL

I don't think you can screw up a bookshelf, unless there are multiple listings, or you deliberately pick 2 different editions... in 2000+ books, I've only noticed 3-4 errors in my shelves, where I have a book rated and read, but also unrated in my TBR shelves...

I meant the FBR Team Google Tracker. That's my go to current TBR mess. =D lol

No rush Soo. I'm never at a loss for things to read.

Bill wrote: "No rush Soo. I'm never at a loss for things to read."

I feel like I am... I've got a fair amount of series continuations hanging about, but I'm not interested in half of them, lately...

I really want to push ahead on Pendergast after Cabinet of Curiosities, tho...

Iain, I think you're having book burnout. You should try to do other stuff that's entertaining. Especially if jumping around different book topics doesn't make stories more interesting. No one wants a reading slump.

Iain, I went through that for a few months last year it sucked. Maybe try sneaking in a few books from a different genre.

Soo wrote: "Iain, I think you're having book burnout. You should try to do other stuff that's entertaining. Especially if jumping around different book topics doesn't make stories more interesting. No one want..."

I've been rewatching episodes of Leverage (IMDB TV is a thing now... it has a lot of shows/movies, watchable right from the information page with actors/plot summaries... Hulu-esque ads)

Also been listening to a bit more music than I usually do...

I've forced myself to read a couple things, and have been happy with most BRs... it's my in-between time I need to do something with... I'll figure it out...

Half the reason I've been lax with updating my spreadsheet lately, is it removes the (self-induced) need to maintain my monthly/yearly averages...

I had a rough patch last summer, where I did 40-50 re-reads instead of reading new stuff...

Try to change your perspective on what the Tracker is for in your head.

Like, I have a mild competitive side but I also realize that I don't like "making" myself read a story for whatever reason. When I do that too many times, I get to a place where I don't want to read at all because I'm not in the mood to read.

Since reading is one of a handful of ways I rely on to have fun, I try to stick to reading books that I am interested in and not push myself to do BR's. Buddy Reads are great if there's a flowing conversation with engaging discussions. I'm not as interested in just posting my thoughts and saying I read it. That's what book reviews are for.

The FBR Team Challenge Tracker is cool because I use it as a way to record what I've read and what I want to read. It's a tool to use. The team challenge is just a side bonus that I can be a part of since I know I'm already going to read.

It's great to have Choko, Brian & you to bounce random books with because you guys make the chatting part fun. =D

I do miss reading stuff with Em/other people but I figure we just haven't landed in the same BR yet. =D

Soo wrote: "Try to change your perspective on what the Tracker is for in your head.

Like, I have a mild competitive side but I also realize that I don't like "making" myself read a story for whatever reason...."

I try... I simplified my challenges this year, and only gain bonus points for doing series (minimal effort), so I'd stop signing up for challenges just to earn bonus points... the point difference is minimal...

Re:people: I've done a ton of BRs with different people each year of the competition (3rd year)... each year, different people have had different levels of availability... I feel like I'm on my 4th or 5th reading group...

I like the mysteries I read with Tammie... she also gets me reading random stuff off of KU audio...

I had a good BR with some new-to-me people about The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a really short Gaiman story...

I'm really liking Shorefall, altho I haven't said much in the thread, yet... I like the idea of inanimate objects that talk or have thoughts (as seen in Eli Monpress, October Daye, and Founders)...

Iain, you're my Book News hookup. I'll depend on you to know when Doors of Stone actually gets published. Current rumor is that it will release in August.

But if the book is not about Kvothe, I don't see how it's a part of the current trilogy.

Soo wrote: "Iain, you're my Book News hookup. I'll depend on you to know when Doors of Stone actually gets published. Current rumor is that it will release in August.

But if the book is not a..."

If it ever comes out, I'll start the trilogy... I think there's a joke thread for 2025 or 2075 in the group somewhere...

I'd like to see Locke Lamora continue/finish one day...

I don't really care about Game of Thrones...

Glad Dresden is making progress...

Wonder what Jacka is going to write, once Alex Verus is done...

Is Alex Verus almost done? That would be cool.

Not sure if we will ever see more of Locke Lamora. Which makes me sad.

I'd also like more Vlad. =D

I read one "news blip" about Doors of Stone and I can't see how it will be a legit part of the trilogy if it doesn't wrap up Kvothe's plot line. Apparently there's suppose to be a series of 9 books now? 3 Trilogies?

I mean, I'll be excited when it gets released but I'm not going to expect it to be as well constructed as Name of the Wind. Though, he did take his time so maybe it'll be better than Wise Man's Fear #2 and not as good as #1. lol

Soo wrote: "Is Alex Verus almost done? That would be cool.

Not sure if we will ever see more of Locke Lamora. Which makes me sad.

I'd also like more Vlad. =D

I read one "news blip" about Doors of Stone an..."

Q. How many Alex Verus books will there be?
A. 12.

http://benedictjacka.co.uk/faq/

Forged

Timelord Iain wrote: "Soo wrote: "Iain, you're my Book News hookup. I'll depend on you to know when Doors of Stone actually gets published. Current rumor is that it will release in August.

But if the b..."

I hope Doors of Stone comes out but I will have to re-read the series. I am slumping a bit on some books so trying to find something fun to push through the wall. Hope everyone is well and staying Covid free!!

Brian, which books are you reading? I am looking at the BR books and trying to figure out which one I'll start tonight. LOL

I love this idea. I have several of these on my tbr, now I know where to come to discuss them. ^_^

If you have others you wanna add, post and see if anyone wants to read 'em. =)

Brian wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Soo wrote: "Iain, you're my Book News hookup. I'll depend on you to know when Doors of Stone actually gets published. Current rumor is that it will release in ..."

I am reading Along the Razor's Edge on my kindle right now. just getting into story. I'm looking for a good audio book as well and am open to whatever. Maybe something that's a little different than my Kindle book.

I did just finish a nice short story on audio in a completely different genre so that helped a bit. Throw out some ideas and I'm down for whatever