Reading and Ramblings of Fantastical Fiction discussion

We're all interested in what you're reading, so go ahead and tell us. I've seen other groups have this topic created anew every month, but for now I'm just going to have this one. (Doesn't fill up the group with quite as many threads this way)

Tell us what you're reading, why you picked it, a little about about it and how you like it. Plus anything else you'd like to say about it.

I'm reading The Bonehunters and Night of Knives. Both of these are part of the Malazan world. Another group I'm in is reading this series as group reads, so I'm trying to stay caught up with them. Each book keeps getting better and better. Erikson keeps amazing me with the depth, complexity and sheer brilliance of his world. I'm new to Esslemont, but I'm excited that he's adding to the world.

I'm reading The Heaven Tree Trilogy: The Heaven Tree, the Green Branch, the Scarlet Seed, recommended by a friend when I abandoned Follett's tome about cathedral building in despair for the paper cutout characters, and it's quite good. Also reading To the End of the Land, by David Grossman, an Israeli, about living in an unending war. Intense.

The last few days, however, I got hooked by another listen to the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett, which is a kind of effortless enjoyment this (4th) time through, as I've been kind of drained by the heat, work, etc.
Am almost finished, so will get back to reading tomorrow, probably.

You always have so much on your plate. Guess that's the benefit of being semi-retired.

Amelia wrote: "You always have so much on your plate. Guess that's the benefit of being semi-retired."

Yes, it is lovely. Now if they just let me keep my Social Security, all will be well.

Currently reading Fevre Dream by George RR Marting

I finished The Heaven Tree and am on to Fortress in the Eye of Time and Mistress of the Empire. Taking a little break from To the End of the Land. It's very intense. The Heaven Tree is wonderful.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "I finished The Heaven Tree and am on to Fortress in the Eye of Time and Mistress of the Empire. Taking a little break from To the End of the Land. It's very intense. The Heaven Tree is wonderful."

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Fortress in the Eye of Time when you finish.

I've finished Knight of Kives and am almost done with Bonehunters. Just past the section when Heboric saved the world. Really cool stuff. Once I finish, my next book up will be Mistress of the Empire.

All of these other book club reads - I don't know if I could every keep up. I think if I read every book my clubs are reading this month, I think I'd be reading about 10-15 books. I wish I could read that fast, but I just don't have the time to read that many, especially all at once.

But I do want to read the Cherryh books for Beyond Reality.

Shannon wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "I finished The Heaven Tree and am on to Fortress in the Eye of Time and Mistress of the Empire. Taking a little break from To the End of the Land. It's very intense. The Hea..."

Fortress in the Eye of Time is a gem. Very unique, at least in my experience. It's an unlikely friendship between a king, Cefwyn, and a 'shaping', Tristen, who is created by a wizard, Maurel, before he dies. The magic is very different. The writing is lyrical. Tristen is a total innocent at first, and he grows and learns as we go. Things 'Unfold' to him. No one is sure just what he is, but he inspires either love or fear in all he touches... I loved it. Am now into the third in the series. Highly recommend it, as all of Cherryh's books. I'm a huge fan.

I also finished Mistress of the Empire, as has Amelia! We both loved it, right, Amelia?

Beyond Reality is starting the David Weber series about Honor Harrington, and I'm rereading the first book with them. Baen Books is offering all the books free in eformat, so I downloaded them all. I had listened to the first three a while back and found them lightweight, entertaining, and annoying at times - a little too Tom Clancy-ish in all the descriptions of space battles and military hardware, and a right wing political slant. But there was something appealing about them, too, so am playing along for now.

Sandra aka Sleo said I also finished Mistress of the Empire, as has Amelia! We both loved it, right, Amelia?

Absolutely. Although, I still am sad about Mara and Hokanu. Still, Mara has proven to me that she is an amazingly strong women.

(If you haven't figured it out, I have indeed finished Mistress of the Empire. Great book, great series in fact.)

I've started Foreigner a couple of days ago. I'm a little over 100 pages in. I haven't actually read science fiction in a while, so this is a bit of a change for me. The beginning was a bit confusing, but I think I've got my head around it now.

Since, FBCS is reading a book from the Malazan world that I read a few weeks ago, I have a little break form Malazan, so I might get a few extra books in before I read Reaper's Gale. I don't know what they'll be yet, probably some quick, easy reads.

So, I've got sucked up into the Foreigner series. Finished Foreigner and jumped right into Invader and will be starting Inheritor very soon. Now I've got another series where I want to read all of the books in it. That's at least 13 books. Plus I still have Malazan to finish, hmm, 4 more books for that.

Too many books and way not enough time. Who needs to sleep or eat?

Amelia wrote: "So, I've got sucked up into the Foreigner series. Finished Foreigner and jumped right into Invader and will be starting Inheritor very soon. Now I've got an..."

Oh the Foreigner series is Great! So is her Fortress series.

I am reading the fifth and last book of Fablehaven., Keys to the Demon Prison. This has been a fun action filled story. With magic and Magical creatures. I have enjoyed the books. It has been fun to read because other family members have been reading the books as well. It is always more enjoyable to read books with a group. So now if Amelia will get busy and catch up we can talk about the books.

I won a book on goodreads that I just started reading today: Once Upon a River. I just barely started so it's hard to say how much I like it. I'll update when I'm further into it how it is.

Reading The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. Really liking it so far!

I just listened to Feed and enjoyed it so started the second one, Deadline. I hate zombies, but these are pretty interesting because of the characters. I also started The Dragonbone Chair for Fantasy Book Club and am enjoying it.

The Dragonbone Chair is a great read. The whole series is really well done.

Shannon wrote: "The Dragonbone Chair is a great read. The whole series is really well done."

The writing style is really nice. I'm intrigued.

I only made it about half way through Once Upon a River that I won on Goodreads. I am not going to finish the book. I don't enjoy the writing style, I don't enjoy the story, and the direction the author has taken with it. In reading other reviews it doesn't get any better, and the girl just continues down the path she's on and nothing ever really gets resolved.

Shannon wrote: "Currently reading Fevre Dream by George RR Marting"

What did you think of Fevre Dream?
I've thought about reading it but after reading 2.25 books in the Game of Thrones series before accepting the fact that it just wasn't my thing, I'm hesitant to try more by him. I think all the politics of it just got me down too much - I've never met an author that likes killing off all his main characters as much as him!!!
Plus I kept on waiting for something magical to happen and it just never did. I like a lot of magic in my fantasy and apparently George R.R. Martin does not.

Amelia wrote: "I've finished Knight of Kives and am almost done with Bonehunters. Just past the section when Heboric saved the world. Really cool stuff. Once I finish, my next book up will be [book:Mistress of..."

I love the Empire Trilogy, it's one of my favourite series, but I thought the first book was by far the best. I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down, the others took longer. I just couldn't forgive Mara for her relationship choices. I thought Hokanu was way better than the Midkemian (it's been years so I don't remember his name, just that he annoyed me a lot whereas Hokanu was so perfect and patient and wonderful!). I've thought about rereading it but I remember the last time wanting to rewrite the ending so I don't know if that's such a good idea! :)

I'm currently reading The Gormenghast Novels but since I'm on page 22 of 943 I don't have much of an opinion on it yet. Has anyone else ever read any of them?

~Sara~ wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Currently reading Fevre Dream by George RR Marting"

What did you think of Fevre Dream?
I've thought about reading it but after reading 2.25 books in the..."

I personally loved the ASOIAF series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Fevre Dream was quite different but still good writing. It was a decent stand alone novel. I gave it 3 out of 5.

~Sara~ wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gormenghast Novels but since I'm on page 22 of 943 I don't have much of an opinion on it yet. Has anyone else ever read any of them?"

I haven't but they're on my list of to-reads.

I got caught up in a couple of mystery series - Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters, and a series about a British Private Detective by Kate Atkinson. Both are excellent.

Also started Gate of Ivrel which just came in the mail. Continuing with Dragonbone. It's on my Nook, which I can easily carry back and forth to work. Don't have to mess up a book by putting it in my purse!

Life and Death at Hoover Dam, by Jerry Borrowman



Good book so far. A fascinating story of the building of Hoover Dam. There was a lot of blood and sweat spent in the building of this dam.

Currently I'm reading Return of The Crimson Guard. I just finished Tiger's Voyage. That was a quick read for me in a series that is very light, but I love the Indian theme and the tigers. Before that I'd read Assassin's Quest and Royal Assassin.

In the next couple of weeks I plan on reading The Alloy of Law, Inheritance, Crossed, and Toll the Hounds. A good variety of books there. All of those are very different from each other.

Currently reading:

Cruel Prince
Seafire
Frostblood

I don't think I've ever read any of those, but they sound familiar, so I've probably got them on my massive TBR shelf.

I finished Seafire and Frostblood yesterday and got 9 from the Nine Wolds and Fireblood to replace them.