SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Come and join Diane, Joon, Kaa and I to read A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine, the sequel for the Hugo winning A Memory Called Empire. Plenty of time to read that one before joining us!

BR starts April 10, 2021.

Discussion threads for A Memory Called Empire (might come in handy):

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I received this ARC on NetGalley, therefore I feel rich! :-)

WOW Leticia. How great is that. I loved the first one. Hopefully I can find a copy of the second one and maybe read along. Probably won’t do much discussing but I’ll follow along with yours.

All depends on the library holds fir this one

I’m in!! I’ll be buying this in kindle on day 1

Already have this pre-ordered, so I'm in.

Woohoo, lots of buddies!

I'll be reading this one as well.

I will too.

I am thinking of starting this earlier, around next week. Anyone planning to do the same?

Got the audiobook already downloaded!

Just finished it. Different to the first but keeps all the amazing prose and dialogue. Loved it

Haha! I started it already, but it looks like it’s going to take me at least another 10 days or so to read it, depending on how much I shirk my other responsibilities (I mean, reading is a responsibility, right?).

OK, I guess we'll keep it open for anyone who wants to start early. I am having a slump now (been reading the same book for almost two weeks) so I will be slow.

At the rate I'm going I'm worried I won't even be able to start by 4/10. I still have to read the first book first, which I have to squeeze in between the BR of Velocity Weapon on 3/20 and this one on 4/10 and that's all after I finish Ancestral Night which is taking me FOREVER.

I am in for 4/10 and will probably wait until then to start.

I am number two in the holds line so .... it’s possible I’ll get it in time (fingers crossed 🤞🏼)

Where’s the BR for Velocity Weapon!? I love that series !!

MadProfessah wrote: "Where’s the BR for Velocity Weapon!? I love that series !!"

It's not up yet. Starts 3/20.

I just won both books from Tor! If I can read them in time I'll join :)

Just finished chapter 1. I have forgotten most of what happened in the prequel but this is exciting!

I have another book to finish first, but will start this one next.

Silvana, or anyone, once you're a bit into it, please let me know how much I need to remember about the first book! I really want to read this, but I think I'd have to reread the first book, and like always, I'm thinking maybe I should just wait until the finale is out and read them all together.

Anna, I'm not a great judge, but I think you might be ok if you just skim or read an in depth synopsis of the first one. It follows on from the first one, but only the 2 main characters continue really, all the others are new anyway. My memory hasn't been tested at all so far (50%). But then, I only read it in January, so it's still pretty fresh.

Hmm, that sounds like maybe I could jump into it. I'd really like to!

I’m still number two in line fir holds - might not be until April 😐

20% in and I don't think it matters much if you don't reread the first book.

So far so good, nothing special though I am enjoying Nine Hibiscus' POV.

Has this BR already started? I re-read the first book to get back into the universe.

Gabi wrote: "Has this BR already started? I re-read the first book to get back into the universe."

Some of us decided to start earlier but you can check in anytime. I am reading it slowly as I am in a slump and could only read 10-15% per week.

I got on the hold list early, now I have to finish before it's due back.

Yay!

It’s going fairly slowly for me too. I’m at about 65%.

I just started the first book, and I'm optimistic this'll be a brisk read.

Even though everyone's name is a PROBLEM.

Haha, I actually am amused with the names. There's a name generator linked somewhere in the previous book's thread (see message no 2) if you want to have a Teixcalaan name.

Silvana wrote: "Haha, I actually am amused with the names. There's a name generator linked somewhere in the previous book's thread (see message no 2) if you want to have a Teixcalaan name."

No need, I'm just gonna go with Eleventy Poison Ivy

I love it, Joon!

My son’s name is very uncool (but he likes it that way): Twenty-two Games Console.

Mine could be Eight Harpsichord. Yeah, I like that.

I wish I loved anything as much as this author loves the word "brilliantine"

I started it now. I was a bit sceptical, because of the military component, which usually makes me space out. But so far (10% in, I think) the change in setting (military/personal) makes it lively for me and the first glimpse of the others was promising.

Glad you are joining us, Gabi! Been a while since our last BR :D

I am stuck in 25%, help....I did not find Three Seagrass or Mahit's POV particularly engaging.

I'll concede I'm still struggling with the first book. It's one of those books where a lot seems to happen, but ultimately not much has happened, even at like 70%.

The other problem is that the book has so far only teased a massive story development ((view spoiler)[the weird "threat" that Lsel is facing (hide spoiler)]) that I'm far more interested in than most of the rest of what's happening in the book.

Silvana wrote: "Glad you are joining us, Gabi! Been a while since our last BR :D

I am stuck in 25%, help....I did not find Three Seagrass or Mahit's POV particularly engaging."

Yes, there is a lot of talking going on that lets the mind wander ...

I’ve finished it. I was generally too busy and tired to read much before bed, which was the only time I had to read. Unfortunately, as a result, it took me over a month to read this book! I enjoyed it, but it didn’t compel me to stay awake or read when I had other things to do. 😊

XD - and still you finished it before the start of the BR, Diane! Perfect timing!

40% I think it is getting tighter now (view spoiler)[, since most of the POV's now have come together in the alien plot, which undoubtly is the exciting one (hide spoiler)]

I think I'm having the same problem like with the first book. I want to love it, the idea and the worldbuilding are great. But there is so much talking and thinking going on, that no suspense is created.

Gabi wrote: "... But there is so much talking and thinking going on, that no suspense is created."

Hmm... I got the audio book for this one. Perhaps that will be a bad combination.

Raucous wrote: "Gabi wrote: "... But there is so much talking and thinking going on, that no suspense is created."

Hmm... I got the audio book for this one. Perhaps that will be a bad combination."

I'm listening to the audiobook as well. It does work better than with the first book for me (I guess, cause now I'm in the universe)

to clarify: I like the book, but it could have been a lot tighter for my taste. I guess it will come down to a good 3.5 or 4 stars in the end

I agree with your take on the first book, Joon and Gabi. I was ready to ditch the series but then the first book won the Hugo and I got the galley for the second, so what the heck, let's go. If this ends up a three star book or less I think I'll just stop.

Yeah I felt bad DNF'ing book one, but I just couldn't get into it.