[Abyss]

Splitting this off to its own thread.

For now if you're raising SPOILERS

be clear at the top of the post and/or use blocks.

Abyss, on 21 July 2016 - 03:05 PM, said:

Andorion, on 20 July 2016 - 04:24 PM, said:

Abyss, on 20 July 2016 - 03:12 PM, said:

Kate Daniels series (earbook), bk 3, MAGIC STRIKES.

Ok... I understand now.

Are you done with it?

QuickTidal, on 20 July 2016 - 04:33 PM, said:

It's usually you telling me this but...

Told you.

It keeps getting better too.

JPK, on 20 July 2016 - 04:44 PM, said:

I really liked book 3. It's the one that sealed the deal for me. I can't wait to see your end if book reactions. Don't forget the short stories either. They're done like the Dresden short stories tend to be so that you get povs from supporting cast.

Actually, it was the bit about werehyeana mating rituals that convinced me the series is great.

But while 1 was ok and 2 was good fun, this book hit all the right marks for better-than-popcorn-semi-urban-fantasy... fun baddies, great supporting cast, cool development of the lead character, and some INSANE fight scenes.

...we may need a ded-thread.

Bk 4, MAGIC BLEEDS... halfway'ish.

The clam diving thing may have been even funnier than bk 3's werehyeana mating rituals.

Otoh, a significant relationship in the series is under stress due to a plot twist worthy of THREE'S COMPANY.

[QuickTidal]

I just realized I'm waiting book 9 (September!) to come out....and you still have 4 to go you lucky bastard!

Also, I need to second the recco for the short stories, and even the side books featuring Andrea. Andrew's site has reading order for them (which books they fit between chronology-wise).

But yeah, you still have lots of batshit excellence to come.

[nacht]

I am having so much fun rereading DoD and TCG after finishing FoL :-)

[nacht]

And dont forget Dancer's Lament, which is super fun.

[Cause]

Abyss report! Is this a Dresden crack substitute?


I cant tell if your mocking the books or praising them

This post has been edited by Cause: 26 July 2016 - 09:36 PM

[amphibian]

Cause, on 26 July 2016 - 09:36 PM, said:

Abyss report! Is this a Dresden crack substitute?


I cant tell if your mocking the books or praising them

The beginning is rougher than Dresden and frankly the universe isn't as big, but the series does go interesting places.

The short stories are ok with none being great. They are more fan service in pairing up characters than anything else.

[acesn8s]

amphibian, on 26 July 2016 - 10:58 PM, said:

The beginning is rougher than Dresden and frankly the universe isn't as big, but the series does go interesting places.

The short stories are ok with none being great. They are more fan service in pairing up characters than anything else.

I needed to hear this. I was a little underwhelmed by the first book, I think because the hype on this board. I'll add book 2 to my queue.

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 27 July 2016 - 12:26 PM, said:

amphibian, on 26 July 2016 - 10:58 PM, said:

The beginning is rougher than Dresden and frankly the universe isn't as big, but the series does go interesting places.

The short stories are ok with none being great. They are more fan service in pairing up characters than anything else.

I needed to hear this. I was a little underwhelmed by the first book, I think because the hype on this board. I'll add book 2 to my queue.

Book 1 is the weakest of the entire series (of which there are 8 books, with a 9th on the way).

[Abyss]

Cause, on 26 July 2016 - 09:36 PM, said:

Abyss report! Is this a Dresden crack substitute?

I cant tell if your mocking the books or praising them

Drescrack substitute, no.

Entertaining in its own right and worth your time, yes.

Qualifier: At halfway thru bk 4 it's still entertaining popcorn trope-heavy semi-post-apocalyptic urban fantasy for the most part, but getting deeper. 1 was just ok, 2 and 3 each had enough story, originality, and sheer Holy Fuck moments to hold my interest nicely.




If I mock, it's because I have read SO MUCH of this sub-genre that I can't help but figuratively roll my eyes at the umpteenth sex-radiating-uber-werewhatever, but it's commentary, not critique.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 27 July 2016 - 02:04 PM, said:

Cause, on 26 July 2016 - 09:36 PM, said:

Abyss report! Is this a Dresden crack substitute?

I cant tell if your mocking the books or praising them

Drescrack substitute, no.

As someone up to date with the series, I think I'd go as far as saying yes it actually is. When there isn't a new Dresden to read, this series is EASILY the second best option in the genre (even though it's not fully UrbFant and is as Abyss coined it more Post-Apoc/MagicFant/UrbFant) especially as it goes on and more side characters are firmly established and entrenched into the proceedings (AKA when it's not just about Kate and Curran sexual tension).

I think the only major difference between Dresdencrack and Katestacy (my term, and you lot WILL use it!) is that Dresden has gone on long enough to REALLY blow open the world he inhabits to the wide and unknown margins. Kate isn't QUITE there yet, but I sense it's on its way, and there is also a huge history at play that we've begun to glimpse more and more of. Apparently the 9th book delves into that even further.

Also, while I like the vampires of Dresden (the courts and whatnot), I really enjoy the vampires of Kate's world more. There's just something so effed up about them (if you've read the books you know what I'm referring to).

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 27 July 2016 - 03:49 PM

[Cause]

Downloading to kindle now! Thanks.

where did this thread start? I missed the whole thing

[Abyss]

@Cause - i deported it from the Reading thread.

@QT - i do think their take on Vamps and undead in general is great, one of the most original ideas in the series.
And i see why you place it close to the drescrack, i'm just not there and would still hold Aaronovich's PETER GRANT series ahead of the Kate-amine. So far.

Yes... Kate-amine. It was that or coKate. Suck it.

[Andorion]

My own take on this series is a bit different


First, I think Dresden spoiled me. Now I crave insane action in all urban fantasy. And this series satisfies that craving to an almost perfect extent.

Secondly, I think the worldbuilding is really cool - the oscillating magic-tech, the very very unconventional vampires, the weres, its easy to see that the authors wanted to do things differently.

Thirdly, this is from the perspective of someone who is current on the series I have seen the characters get progressively better - from a rather ordinary book 1 to an excellent book 4 - the last part of book 4 is one of my favourite bits anywhere in the series

Fourthly, I think Abyss commented somewhere that Kate often needs Curran to beat the big bad. I actually really really like this - because this series essentially shows them trying to form a partnership of equals - and like any real relationship there are bumps, major ones, but overall they succeed. Its that fighting shoulder to shoulder vibe that really attracts me - its a nice break from the lone heroic figure of Dresden.

Fifthly I appreciate snarky humour and Kate is really really good at that

So these are the main reasons why I love this series - and all the insane OMG moments of course

[Abyss]

Doli is rapidly becoming my favorite supporting cast member.

[amphibian]

I kinda don't like Dali. I don't think she brings much to the table, even as comic relief.

The buffalo is better.

[Abyss]

I find her pretty funny. It's a dry humour, but it works, and her sheer contrast with virtually every other shapeshifter in the series so far is fun...

Spoiler

A Malaysian vegetarian weretiger with lousy vision who drag races and can drop tactical warhead level curses on people.

...just falls outside of the usual werewhatevers that tend to populate similar series.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 29 July 2016 - 06:04 PM, said:

I find her pretty funny. It's a dry humour, but it works, and her sheer contrast with virtually every other shapeshifter in the series so far is fun...

Spoiler

A Malaysian vegetarian weretiger with lousy vision who drag races and can drop tactical warhead level curses on people.

...just falls outside of the usual werewhatevers that tend to populate similar series.

I agree with Abyss, Dali is awesome. She's just super likeable and doesn't tolerate any shit.

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 29 July 2016 - 06:04 PM, said:

I find her pretty funny. It's a dry humour, but it works, and her sheer contrast with virtually every other shapeshifter in the series so far is fun...

Spoiler

A Malaysian vegetarian weretiger with lousy vision who drag races and can drop tactical warhead level curses on people.

...just falls outside of the usual werewhatevers that tend to populate similar series.

Heheh - that arena battle - her curse - I couldn't stop laughing.

BTW Dali and Jim have a standalone novella

[Abyss]

They have two... MAGIC DREAMS and MAGIC STEALS.

[Tattersail_]

I think I'm way ahead of the pack here. Maybe not QT. I have read 8 books on my kindle by Andrews. Awesome series. When is book 9 out QT?