Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

February was short, too short apparently to fit a massive tome like Dragonfly in Amber which I'm only at the halfway mark. But March is longer. What are you reading?

The Journey to the West, Volume 4 by Wu Cheng'en

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, Vol. 3 by Mo9Rang

UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government's Search for Alien Life Here―and Out There

Middle of the Night

The Penny Mansions

ARC: No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson

The Villainess's Guide to (Not) Falling in Love (Manga) 02 by Touya

Still not a ton of reading time this year, so this is where I'm at as we begin the month of March.

I continue to read Destroyer of Cities by Christian Cameron, but find it's best read on weekends/days when I can dedicate a few hours to immersing myself in it. So last week I decided to start a mystery to read during periods when it's harder to do that.

So with that said, I recently started/finished Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason. The last book in the Inspector Erlendur series. That series would be at an end for me, however I recently discovered that the books I had sadly given up on reading due to not being translated into English are actually available in French! So I will order them from Indigo so I can happily actually read the full series!

I have also done some more reading of The History of Iceland by Gunnar Karlsson. The last few chapters have been about the Reformation and arrival of Lutheranism in Iceland, 16th/17th century trade (I have been especially interested in this), and the most recent a survey of renewed significance of Icelandic literature in the mid-/late 17th century.

I haven't been following my normal reading patterns this month, but enjoying when I do get the chance.

I have finished 'Mistborn' and very much enjoyed it. So, onwards now with book two of the trilogy boxed set, 'The Well of Ascension ' I am hoping for good things. 😊

My review of The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff

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

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, Vol. 4 by Mo9Rang

Dark of the Earth by Ivan Obolensky

In this addition to the 'Eye of the Moon' series, Johnny Dodge is in a coma after a car crash, and his friend Percy means to expose the culprits who tried to kill Johnny.

Historical drama with supernatural overtones. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Sunward Sky by Harry Neilsen


A nice SF adventure with a serious twist: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, Vol. 5 by Mo9Rang

The Tainted Cup Thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy/murder mystery!

The Villainess's Guide to (Not) Falling in Love (Manga) 03 by Touya

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

I finished Salvation Lost, actually last Saturday March 1st, but because of an issue with my Internet access I could not access Goodreads properly. I started The Saints of Salvation on the same day.

Been reading The Grey Bastards, swearingly good fun. 🐗

I made another 50 page dent in Dragonfly in Amber, its not that its boring, its just really long, and when halfway through they changed settings, it seemed a good moment to take a break and read something quick and very different so I went non-SFF and read The Pelican Brief by John Grisham

My review of Him by J.D. Kirk

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

I am also reading The Tainted Cup as well as The Invisible College.

So I'll grab pretty much any SF/F book that appears in those book exchange boxes. Thus I picked up Flesh by Philip José Farmer which I was a bit leery about though fortunately it doesn't go into so many details that I'd actually call it erotica. Just lots and lots of testosterone and...well...several maenad-themed scenes. Though I'd have to side with one of the reviewers that while he might have been trying to make some point (which I'm not seeing yet, the reviewer seemed to know what it was) his main goal seemed to simply shock the reader.

Anyway its short and I'm already halfway though so might as well see where it goes.

Kill the Villainess, Vol. 1 by Haegi

I have finished Destroyer of Cities by Christian Cameron and rated it 4.25/5 stars. Another very good entry in the ancient historical fiction series, Tyrant.

Tonight I read the Prologue and first chapter of the 6th and final book of the Tyrant series, Force of Kings So far very promising.

Edit: Oh and I recently also finished Murder on the Orient Express which I really enjoyed as well.

The Anomaly will fit perfectly in the "takes place underground" bingo square!

Audrey wrote: "UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government's Search for Alien Life Here―and Out There
"

I think I have that in my TBR bookcase. If not that exact title, certainly something in a similar vein.

Work has been eating into my reading time this month. I am about 3/4 of the way through the 2 books I am currently reading - Under an Azure Sky and The Desert Air War. I'm enjoying both.

Finished Dragonfly in Amber, took me a whole month but it was worth it, it is a good book. That fills my Genre Blender BINGO slot since it has fantasy, romance and historical all in one.

Now I couldn't resist starting on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire because my mass market paperback is, well, very green, including the edges not just the cover. And its St. Patrick's Day. I mean it was fated to be read today.

I finished The Grey Bastards !

My Review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I loved the stories of Salt Slow .

Down the Long Hills by Louis L'Amour

Just finished The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord D. Mostly loved it...

Mary wrote: "The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse"

So good!

Robin wrote: "I have finished 'Mistborn' and very much enjoyed it. So, onwards now with book two of the trilogy boxed set, 'The Well of Ascension ' I am hoping for good things. 😊"

Enjoy! Avoid Googling anything and stumbling across spoilers for the Cosmere!

Cheers for the warning Dean. I had already decided to let things just unfold as the author intended, despite having a ton of questions. That just confirms I made the right choice😊

I'm reading(listening) to Sunrise on the Reaping!

I finished The Saints of Salvation; the series was good, but some of the concepts are somewhat farfetched.
I started Ready Player Two, which was lent to me, in dead tree form, by my young cousin. It has not got very good reviews in GR, so I am a bit hesitant about it.

Dean wrote: "Enjoy! Avoid Googling anything and stumbling across spoilers for the Cosmere!"

I had a coworker info dump some of the worldbuilding on me, but I've already half forgotten what he said, which I feel is a good thing, I don't like spoilers either. But what I do remember from that discussion is that is sounds like a really interesting series to get into. Just not this year, but eventually! I've started nabbing copies when I come across them in used bookstores and such.

Pierre wrote: "I started Ready Player Two, which was lent to me, in dead tree form, by my young cousin. It has not got very good reviews in GR, so I am a bit hesitant about it."

I hope you like Prince.

Tony wrote: "Audrey wrote: "UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government's Search for Alien Life Here―and Out There
"

I think I have that in my TBR bookcase. If not that exact title, certainly..."

I gave up and skimmed the rest. Nothing wrong with it; I just am not that interested in Ufology, apparently.

I finished The Desert Air War

I have finished Under an Azure Sky. On the whole, I enjoyed it, although I found the ending a little unsatisfying. It fills the LGBTQ slot in my Bingo.

I picked up a large collection of short stories and novellas - The Science Fiction Anthology. It has about 90 stories in it, and should be good for dipping into for a short read.

I have also started Fifty Years of Dungeons & Dragons, which I was given for Christmas, and will fill the non-fiction Bingo slot, and Dracula Unbound, which will fill the vampire slot in my Bingo.

I’ve been reading a non fantasy book by Bernard Cornwell titled “Agincourt”. It’s a historical fiction of the battle of Agincourt. It’s actually pretty good.

Yrret wrote: "I’ve been reading a non fantasy book by Bernard Cornwell titled “Agincourt”. It’s a historical fiction of the battle of Agincourt. It’s actually pretty good."

Oh, I have that one but haven't gotten to it yet! He's one of my favorite authors.

I'm on reread #52,000 of the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. I get in the mood every now and then because it's one of those comfort series. I just finished The Vor Game and am starting Cetaganda.

I'm on The Dark Forest. I just started, it's a slow read, each chapter is full of detail. But the scientific background is fascinating.

I just finished Peace Talks Peace Talks. Loved it! I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to get around to these last 2 books, but I'm here for them now! Next one is on hold from my library so I may even get it tomorrow!

Secret Agents of the Galaxy by John C. Wright

Michael wrote: "I'm on The Dark Forest. I just started, it's a slow read, each chapter is full of detail. But the scientific background is fascinating."

This book made an incredible impact on me. Enjoy!

Robert wrote: "This book made an incredible impact on me. Enjoy!."

Yeah! It's a great read!

I dug up my old Dark Forest review, it's brief and spoiler free: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...