Pick-a-Shelf discussion

March's Genre is Fantasy

What did you read? Did you find a new favourite?

I read The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1). It didn't count for any of my challenges except Fantasy (Low Fantasy shelv). But it reminded me that I enjoy Holly Black's writing, and will go on to the other two in the series.

I read Lovely Darkness. This is an urban fantasy. It's about a girl who is half human and half god. She is raised by her mother and stepfather. She knows nothing of her other heritage until she mets Varek who runs a nightclub. I used this for my fantasy shelf.

I read (and used for my fantasy shelf in Shelf Bender) Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders. I love Neil Gaiman, so it came to me as no surprise that I loved this book. While most short stories anthologies have their ups and downs in quality, here basically all the stories were great. Some were much better than others, of course. You have everything in this collection: urban fantasy, weird fiction, horror, sci-fi... you name it.

I wouldn't say it's a new favorite, but it's an excelllent book.

I read The Narrow Road Between Desires (The Kingkiller Chronicle #2.6), which is a book the author even tells you not to read if you haven't already read the primary books in the series. It fills in a little bit about one of the characters.

I listened to A Darker Shade of Magic, and really enjoyed it. I'll definitely follow up with the second one in the series.

One was a pick, and one a "next pick for the Fantasy shelf for me. I'm closer to completing this shelf than any other. I've read all five of my picks, and two of my next picks.

Wow! I forgot to plan for a fantasy book this month! And, it is one of my favorite genres.

Still, I managed to get a couple read that included fantasy in their MPG section.

Carry On is listed as Young Adult Fantasy. To me, it was more about the relationship between two young men...but, since one was a vampire...well, I guess fantasy! LOL. I really enjoyed this book, and the relationship flowed nicely into the story. 4*

The Map of Salt and Stars is Historical Fiction as well as Fantasy. Currently reading this one, and finding it very interesting as it is about a part of the world I know little about.

I read the first two books in Nora Roberts' Cousin O'Dwyer series Dark Witch and Shadow Spell, which is more magical realism than fantasy.

The setting in a small Irish town is very atmospheric and the plot revolving around the defeat of dark sorcerer is entertaining. The romantic elements, however, are only so-so.

I also read The Demon You Know by Christine Warren, which was very disappointing. The heroine is one of the most unlikable I've ever read and she ruined the book.

I read 5 Fantasy books this month. Three were for Shelf Bender:

1. Urban Fantasy (p. 4) ~ Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire
2. Magic (p. 4) ~ Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
3. Dragons (p. 1) ~Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Chimes at Midnight and Dead Beat are both from long-running series that I'm still enjoying. I'll continue with both of these series.

Fourth Wing was a bit of a disappointment. Annoying considering that I had to wait for what seemed like forever to get it from my library. I did like the dragons, but I didn't enjoy all the NA angsty romance parts. The ending also bugs me. It wasn't exactly a cliff-hanger. It was more of a continuation tease. Up until that point, I had decided not to read on in the series, but now I want to know how the situation at the end came about. So, I guess I'm picking up the next book anyway. Here's hoping the next one centers more on the dragons and less on the OMG-look-at-that-HOT-guy is he looking at ME????-*SQUEE* bits that really annoyed me.

Outside of Shelf Bender, I read Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater and Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor. They were both super cute and very enjoyable. I'll happily pick up the next book in both those series, as well.

All in all, it was a good month for Fantasy!

i read Fourth Wing
i absolutely was engrossed in this book and greatly suggest it to everyone. five stars and i dont rate five easily. this book had me from the minute and as I neared the end, I went and got Iron Flame. this is a fabulous book with lots of action and adventures

Paige wrote: "i read Fourth Wing
i absolutely was engrossed in this book and greatly suggest it to everyone. five stars and i dont rate five easily. this book had me from the minute and as I neared the end, I w..."

I’m glad you liked both of them, Paige! Lots of action and adventure sounds good. Maybe I’ll like Iron Flame better now that I know all the characters and am attached to some of the dragons. 🤞