Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Well, I’m a bit late in posting this topic, but let’s hear what you’ve been reading in the third quarter of the year (July, August, and September).

All genres welcome here!

July was pretty good:
Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky, 8.5/10, really alien aliens and thought-provoking themes.
MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood, 10/10, excellent conclusion to the series!
Shadowheart by Tad Williams, 9/10, for our group discussion of our previous series.
The Spirit Ring by Lois McMaster Bujold, 6.5/10, kind of a letdown.
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman, 7/10, good but not great.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, 9.5/10, wonderfully memorable characters and settings and a strong commentary on how we often threat the “other”.

I finished the month with 4 short stories as audiobooks:
Click-Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman, 8/10 (performed by the author!)
Slow Time Between the Stars by John Scalzi, also 8/10
My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood, 8.5/10
The Long Game by Ann Leckie, 5.5/10

So far August has been a slow month but I’m hoping that changes in the 2nd half of the month.
How It Unfolds by James S.A. Corey, 9/10, another audiobook short story.
The Wild Irish by Robin Maxwell, 7.5/10.

I finished August with:
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence, 8/10. My comments are in our discussion folder for that series.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, 8/10. I have mixed feelings about this book. I have not read anything else by this author, so I don’t know how it compares with her later work.
Positives for me:
The characters were definitely not cardboard stereotypes—lots of gray, virtues and vices, strengths and weaknesses. Their motivations were understandable and then inexplicable, like real people.
The story was rooted in actual events but with enough fiction and fantasy to read like a novel, not a history book. I was (and still am) rather ignorant about Japan and China in the events leading up to and during WW II, so perhaps it read more like a story to me because of my lack of familiarity with the reality.
The shamanism felt original and fit with the world the author created. I especially liked the Seer’s power/role, and Jiang as the Lore master. And the immuring of the shamans in Chuluu Korikh—horrible was creative.
Negatives for me:
While the book may have its roots in historical events, some of the messaging felt heavy-handed to me. I think the various episodes in the book certainly depicted the ideas of discrimination (based on color, education, socioeconomic standing, nationality), fear of “the other”, depersonalization of the enemy (and how the enemy is often anyone we don’t understand). The responder could clearly see these themes play out. Yet the author felt obligated to explicitly spell it out, which was unnecessary, IMO.
The specific descriptions of the violence and atrocities were hard to stomach. Again, rooted in shameful reality, but still, difficult to read. I’m not sure all of it was necessary.
Vengeance/retaliation/hatred—such powerful motivations for humans. It probably makes for a more intriguing story, but it makes me sad. So few characters acting for more uplifting reasons or out of more generous impulses.
A lot of major characters died. It will be interesting to see who Rin and remaining Cike interact with in book 2.
Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman, 7.5/10. Most of this story was not really solving a mystery; the murder of the pawn shop owner was still unsolved at the end. For the characters in the book, this story was more like piecing together a puzzle; however, the reader knew all the pieces and how they fit together, so there was less suspense than one might have expected.

And September started with Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence, 8.5/10. My comments are in our group discussion folder. Not sure what’s up next…

I wrapped up September with:
Alchymist: A Tale Of The Three Worlds by Ian Irvine, 8/10. This is one convoluted story, especially considering it’s book 3 in a tetralogy (The Well of Echoes) and is part of an over-arching series of 13 books, the Tale of Three Worlds. I did find it hard at times to keep the tangled plot threads from just forming a knot in my brain. There are a few cardboard characters (the Council of Scrutators, for example) and some stereotypes, but overall the characters from all the races are both flawed and noble, and many of the continuing characters grow and change throughout the book. The author has a lot to wrap up in this 4 book series and only one more book in which to do it. I hope he pulls it off.
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman, 8/10. Tony Hillerman’s final Leaphorn & Chee book was a good mystery. I know his daughter has continued the series, but I’m going to end here on a positive note.
The Cater Street Hangman and Callander Square by Anne Perry, 7/10 & 7.5/10, the first 2 books in her Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery series.

I read those two Anne Perry mysteries several years ago.

My reading time has dwindled of late due to so many factors! I'm reading every chance I get, but it's taking a long time to finish a given book. I read a few graphic novels, and that's something new to me. They were the first several in the WOT: The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume One.

I also read many different genres:

Robert McCammon's excellent HF/ genre salad Matthew Corbett series and The Wolf's Hour
Some more historical fiction by Ben Kane and Thomas Roke
A slew of military scifi, particularly by Marko Kloos, Elliott Kay
Various fantasy, Jennifer Roberson's latest Tiger & Del novel, and it looks as if Rachel Neumeier was trending on my shelf

Michelle wrote: "I read those two Anne Perry mysteries several years ago.

My reading time has dwindled of late due to so many factors! I'm reading every chance I get, but it's taking a long time to finish a given ..."
I read the first two Matthew Corbett books by Robert McCammon and really enjoyed them. Going to continue the series. How many have you read? Also heard good things about his other book Swan Song, which I also want to read.

Nachiket wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I read those two Anne Perry mysteries several years ago.

My reading time has dwindled of late due to so many factors! I'm reading every chance I get, but it's taking a long time t..."

I've read the entire series- it's become a favorite. Although Mister Slaughter gave me a serious case of the shudders! He has a new one coming out soon, too: Seven Shades of Evil. The Wolf's Hour is one of two dealing with WWII and I haven't gotten to book two yet.