[Abyss]

I do so enjoy a vacation reading binge...

ARIEL by Steven Boyett. Decent urban fantasy, written in 1983. I can't really recommend it beyond 'good enough' with one of the more well-written takes on unicorns i've read. It was re-released in 2009 when the author wrote a sequel for some reason... honestly the most interesting part was the afterword where he explains in detail all the things wrong with the book.Can't say i would seek out any of his other work unless someone i trusted told me it was worthwhile. Weird aside, apparently he's a world-famous EDM dj. Go figure.

THE ICARUS PROJECT (bk1 BLACK AND WHITE, bk 2 SHADES OF NIGHT ( aka Shades of Gray but renamed in some markets for fairly obvious reasons) - Caitlin Kittredge and Jackie Kessler came to my attention via a Warren Ellis ref. Both are accomplished urban fantasy authors but in a crowded field the odd short story by either of them wasn't enough to bring me around. A random review over on Suduvu covered this super hero sf duology tho', and since quality superhero stories are hard to find, i gave this a try and was pleasantly surprised. The two books cover the story of two heroes... Shadow powered corporate sponsored Jet and vigilante Light powered Iridium... formerly friends at the super hero academy, they've had a parting of ways but have to work together to stop some fairly evil plots. Yes, it's just as trope heavy as you would expect, but the authors know this and work with it. The two authors are clearly lifelong comics fans and are happy to spin what they know so well. There are a tonne of sly little dedications to comic legends that are an extra level of fun. The story works, the pace is quick, nothing gets bogged down in infodump exposition and the action scenes are great fun. They do a nice of exploring the protags' histories and interweaving their individual stories with the bigger plots. These were fun fast reads and i'll look at some other work by these authors based on this.


Am most of the way thru REDEMPTION FALLS, Chris Wooding's Ketty Jay bk1 (at long last). Enjoying it muchly. Wooding's pacing had improved massively since THE BRAIDED PATH and he has a knack for ending every chapter with a hook. Will likely go directly into bk 2.




It was fun to read an extended run of just dead tree paperbacks for a change. I'm so used to ereading i had forgotten.


Read a bunch of comics stuff i'll cover in that thread.

[polishgenius]

I read The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, and simultaneously really liked and hated it.

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 12 February 2015 - 08:25 PM, said:

I read The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, and simultaneously really liked and hated it.

My friend went hysterical (in a good way) about this. I am still divided on whether to get this or not.

[Andorion]

So 8 chapters into Mistborn: Well of Ascension. Already things are both exciting and intriguing. Sanderson does not mess about.

[JPK]

I just finished Faust Eric. Another good Discworld entry, and I absolutely loved Hell. The only complaint I have for this book is that it felt too short. I guess I'll just have to go back to Discworld again soon.

Next up I'm starting Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey. I liked the first Sandman Slim book well enough that I decided to give this one a chance.

[QuickTidal]

STEELHEART by Brandon Sanderson is turning out to be a totally stellar vacation read. Sanderson applies the same skill to YA as he does his adult books. Love the series so far!

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 13 February 2015 - 09:55 PM, said:

STEELHEART by Brandon Sanderson is turning out to be a totally stellar vacation read. Sanderson applies the same skill to YA as he does his adult books. Love the series so far!

I enjoyed that far more than expected. Bk 2 is on deck post or mid KETTY JAY series.

[Tiste Simeon]

Am reading Ayoade on Ayoade by Richard Ayoade (black guy from the IT Crowd) very funny.

[Maark Abbott]

Just finished Paksenarrion. I have to say that for a book that engaged me throughout, the ending felt very rushed.<div><br></div><div>&nbsp;

Spoiler

"And she was tortured and diddled and shorn but did a Jesus, came back, kicked some ass and they were all happy forevermore"

&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Far, far too twee at the end, and a shame for it.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm about to move onto Ben Galley's Emaneska I: The Written. I'll come back with thoughts as I make progress.

</div></div>

This post has been edited by Maark: 15 February 2015 - 03:47 PM

[Andorion]

Maark, on 15 February 2015 - 03:38 PM, said:

Just finished Paksenarrion. I have to say that for a book that engaged me throughout, the ending felt very rushed.

Spoiler

[spoilers]"And she was tortured and diddled and shorn but did a Jesus, came back, kicked some ass and they were all happy forevermore"[/spoilers]

Far, far too twee at the end, and a shame for it.

I'm about to move onto Ben Galley's Emaneska I: The Written. I'll come back with thoughts as I make progress.

Did you spoiler code your post? Because it doesn't seem to be working

This post has been edited by Andorion: 15 February 2015 - 03:50 PM

[Maark Abbott]

Ho-ly shit this site really doesn't like it when you edit posts, does it?

[Andorion]

Maark, on 15 February 2015 - 03:48 PM, said:

Ho-ly shit this site really doesn't like it when you edit posts, does it?

And now there's tons of weird HTML code all over ypur post. Sorry.

[JPK]

I finished The Count of Monte Cristo on audiobook this morning. That was a hell of a story and proves yet again that movies do absolutely no justice to a good book.

Next up is either Children of Dune by Herbert or The Prefect by Reynolds. I have yet to decide.

[Andorion]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 15 February 2015 - 05:09 PM, said:

I finished The Count of Monte Cristo on audiobook this morning. That was a hell of a story and proves yet again that movies do absolutely no justice to a good book.

Next up is either Children of Dune by Herbert or The Prefect by Reynolds. I have yet to decide.

Recommend the Prefect. Excellent book

[Andorion]

Got diverted a bit from my Mistborn read. Finished Holger Herwigs The Marne 1914.

[Maark Abbott]

So I'm onto The Written now. About three chapters in.

Initial thoughts:

- Decent take on otherwise cliche races in fantasy (elves, dark elves, vampires, werewolves)
- Suitably dark in tone
- Would benefit from a heightened use of commas (specifically Oxford commas)

I'll report back as I delve deeper in.

[Serenity]

Cajun King, on 16 February 2015 - 04:52 AM, said:

200 pgs in Rome 3 so awesome. Only took 1 day to put those 100 pgs in. With as slow as I read now that's quite a big thing for me.

Yeah - the first three books are amazing! I've read the first four, got book five ready to go soon



I've read a couple more Patrick O'Brians (The Letter of Marque and The Thirteen Gun Salute, both fabulous), then read the next of Bujold's Vorkosigan books on my list (Mirror Dance, which was very good but was a bit too long for its own good, imo), and am now making a start on Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold.

[The Hust Legion]

just finished the way of kings.. had to wait a week for part two which was agony. now i have to wait another week for the delivery of words of radiance. the books are awesome IMO. they get a little slow at times but i enjoyed reading them thoroughly

[acesn8s]

I started The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. I wasn't too sure about it right out of the gate, the first person narrative was a little jarring. Once I got use to it and got to the part where Yeine meets Nahadoth and Sieh I was hooked. Can't wait to see how the book progresses.

[Andorion]

acesn8s, on 17 February 2015 - 02:06 PM, said:

I started The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. I wasn't too sure about it right out of the gate, the first person narrative was a little jarring. Once I got use to it and got to the part where Yeine meets Nahadoth and Sieh I was hooked. Can't wait to see how the book progresses.

That is also the point where the book hooked me. Looking forward to what you think of the entire book