[Andorion]

BK, starting Fiery Trials

[polishgenius]

Read the latest Steph Swainston book, Fair Rebel. Fuck me that really kicked things up a notch on the return to the Castle series. In looking for info on the next book I saw that she's been suffering from cancer and going through chemo, so all the best to her.

Then I re-read Small Gods by Pratchett. It's Pratchett, so it's good, but I always felt this one was slightly overrated and although the re-read did catch one particularly insightful criticism of organised religion I hadn't previously caught, it did otherwise re-affirm that it engages with the subject on a much shallower level than other books, including two by Pratchett himself (Carpe Jugullum and Nation) and is past that neither that funny nor that strong with characters. But it's okay.


Now I'm reading The Tiger and the Wolf, the first in Tchaikovsky's iron-age shapeshifter series. Really drawn me in. I love this kind of pre-Roman setting and wish we'd see more of it in fantasy tbqh.

[Mentalist]

polishgenius, on 20 January 2019 - 10:13 PM, said:

Read the latest Steph Swainston book, Fair Rebel. Fuck me that really kicked things up a notch on the return to the Castle series. In looking for info on the next book I saw that she's been suffering from cancer and going through chemo, so all the best to her.

I'm reading Book 2 right now, and after a bit of a plodding beginning, things just really escalated in Tris when

Spoiler

the Insect gets loose... I almost suspect someone let it loose on purpose

I haven't made up my mind on these books yet. The setting is intriguing, but the plots (so far) haven't really grabbed me.

[Zetubal]

Bleak Seasons is a very...interesting book. Not sure how this will continue to develop but as of now (like 20% in) this certainly seems to be a whole new level of narrative experiment. Remains to be seen if that works out. From what I've heard, the later books in BC aren't necessarily up to the standard of the earlier ones. Any feelings on that?

[Abyss]

Zetubal, on 22 January 2019 - 08:54 PM, said:

Bleak Seasons is a very...interesting book. Not sure how this will continue to develop but as of now (like 20% in) this certainly seems to be a whole new level of narrative experiment. Remains to be seen if that works out. From what I've heard, the later books in BC aren't necessarily up to the standard of the earlier ones. Any feelings on that?

For me it's where the series starts to erode, but i acknowledge i'm in the minority with that view even tho i'm right, they're wrong, and the nanites will fix their brainz soon, yessssss, soooooonnnn.....

[Salt-Man Z]

I think the post-Croaker books are very different than the initial trilogy in just about every way possible. I think they're still pretty great, though.

[Andorion]

Virgin of High House Bachelor, on 20 January 2019 - 04:23 PM, said:

Oh goodie! Pass me up and tell me if I ll get my popcorn! I've gotten very little of it so far. Worst book by a mile for me so far if series. Pg 351

Did you notice the mistake on very 1st heading?

Ok, BK I am upto November Year of God 905, and there is just so so so much setup. Its all setup, all the time. And there is so little emphasis on the Charisians, frankly I don't really care about Siddermark at all.

[QuickTidal]

I've rounded the 75% mark on James Islington's THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST, and I think I can safely say that this is one of the best fantasy debuts I've read since Lawrence or McClellan. It's literally FULL of unexpected plot points and character progressions. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and can't wait to finish it so I can get into book 2!

I haven't seen much chatter about it here (I think Ando has read it?), but you guys should definitely check it out.

[Andorion]

Virgin of High House Bachelor, on 23 January 2019 - 04:20 PM, said:

I didn't think I'd be alone in finding it frustrating. On pg 389.

So BK, I finished it....

It doesn't really get better. This entire book is a transitional setup book for the next section of the series. The last chapter ends in a very cool, very "totally shake everything up" way, but other than that.... meh.

QuickTidal, on 23 January 2019 - 04:31 PM, said:

I've rounded the 75% mark on James Islington's THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST, and I think I can safely say that this is one of the best fantasy debuts I've read since Lawrence or McClellan. It's literally FULL of unexpected plot points and character progressions. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and can't wait to finish it so I can get into book 2!

I haven't seen much chatter about it here (I think Ando has read it?), but you guys should definitely check it out.

Yeah I read it and the sequel, I liked the first book better to be honest.

It reminded me a lot of Wheel of Time in some ways.

[Macros]

le sigh

more books for the pile

[Andorion]

I also finished Worm. Pasting my review here

As for the book itself, its big (obviously!) and complex. Complex not in the sense that a gigantic book is going to have a lot of things going on complex, as it does not really do multiple PoVs, but a single one with interludes, but in the sense that some of the concepts developed and used take some understanding and digesting. Sanderson fans are going to be annoyed that the "magic"(?) system is not really explicated that clearly, but develops gradually from a very nebulous place.

What works for the book is character development. The PoV character arc is superb, and several of the supporting ones are outstanding as well. I have a problem with one character who sort of faded away after the 60% mark, and another who became extremely annoying in the last part, but other than that not a lot of problems.

The worldbuilding is huge and complex. What is worthy of note is that again after the 60% mark the potential scope of the story world balloons exponentially and this manifests to its full potential in the last 20% of the book. The expansion in size of the stage can be compared to going from a football field in the first half to the Russian steppes in the second.

One extremely remarkable aspect of the book is the range and diversity of superpowers. Props to the author for not only imagining a mind-boggling variety of powers but also their very diverse and often disturbing applications. As is emphasized in the book, its less about what powers you have and more about how you use them. Batman would be pleased.

The tone of the book is very dark. The PoV narrator is not a happy person, the world is not one where good things happen. Even before the paradigm shifting events of the last part of the book, the essential world dynamics as set out in the beginning are really quite sobering and worrying. What this book needed was a Deadpool/Spiderman character as humour is sorely lacking.

Lastly, pacing. To be honest, this was my major worry going into this book and I have to say, the author nails it. The events of around 20% in and 70% in could comfortably be finales in any other work. Even when gigantic things are not happening, things are moving, developing and changing all the time.

Its not an easy read, but I will highly recommend it.

[Mentalist]

Andorion, on 23 January 2019 - 05:35 PM, said:

I also finished Worm. Pasting my review here

As for the book itself, its big (obviously!) and complex. Complex not in the sense that a gigantic book is going to have a lot of things going on complex, as it does not really do multiple PoVs, but a single one with interludes, but in the sense that some of the concepts developed and used take some understanding and digesting. Sanderson fans are going to be annoyed that the "magic"(?) system is not really explicated that clearly, but develops gradually from a very nebulous place.

What works for the book is character development. The PoV character arc is superb, and several of the supporting ones are outstanding as well. I have a problem with one character who sort of faded away after the 60% mark, and another who became extremely annoying in the last part, but other than that not a lot of problems.

The worldbuilding is huge and complex. What is worthy of note is that again after the 60% mark the potential scope of the story world balloons exponentially and this manifests to its full potential in the last 20% of the book. The expansion in size of the stage can be compared to going from a football field in the first half to the Russian steppes in the second.

One extremely remarkable aspect of the book is the range and diversity of superpowers. Props to the author for not only imagining a mind-boggling variety of powers but also their very diverse and often disturbing applications. As is emphasized in the book, its less about what powers you have and more about how you use them. Batman would be pleased.

The tone of the book is very dark. The PoV narrator is not a happy person, the world is not one where good things happen. Even before the paradigm shifting events of the last part of the book, the essential world dynamics as set out in the beginning are really quite sobering and worrying. What this book needed was a Deadpool/Spiderman character as humour is sorely lacking.

Lastly, pacing. To be honest, this was my major worry going into this book and I have to say, the author nails it. The events of around 20% in and 70% in could comfortably be finales in any other work. Even when gigantic things are not happening, things are moving, developing and changing all the time.

Its not an easy read, but I will highly recommend it.

Who's the author?

[Dadding]

Man... finished Lord Foul's Bane / Thomas Covenant #1 and I really didn't love it that much. I didn't dislike it because of Covenant's un-likability or that particular scene that every hates. Most of it was a boring travelogue, and I just felt like I missed something because nothing stood out to me as interesting or important. I really like the idea of it, and I liked the beginning a lot. I like the struggle between committing to this new reality and maintaining his old ways, but by halfway through I found myself thinking "what the hell is he going on about?" any time Covenant said anything.

Is it worth persevering? If I read the next one I'm thinking I'm doing a paper book, not an audiobook, maybe it's the format that's getting to me.

[Salt-Man Z]

Dadding, on 23 January 2019 - 07:20 PM, said:

Is it worth persevering?

Definitely, although I might be biased. Each book in the first trilogy changes things up considerably from the book before. (And then the subsequent sequel series take that up to 11.) And the first book is very much the most "traditional" in terms of plot, and easily the weakest of at least the first two trilogies. I'd recommend at least checking out The Illearth War before giving up on the series.

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 23 January 2019 - 07:34 PM

[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 23 January 2019 - 04:52 PM, said:

Yeah I read it and the sequel, I liked the first book better to be honest.

It reminded me a lot of Wheel of Time in some ways.

Yeah, it's got a bit of a WoT vibe at points.

Virgin of High House Bachelor, on 23 January 2019 - 04:53 PM, said:

I fully intended to get when all 3 are released. Love the cover feels of 1-2.

You will like this series. Guaranteed. Book 3 comes out in December.

[polishgenius]

polishgenius, on 20 January 2019 - 10:13 PM, said:

Now I'm reading The Tiger and the Wolf, the first in Tchaikovsky's iron-age shapeshifter series. Really drawn me in. I love this kind of pre-Roman setting and wish we'd see more of it in fantasy tbqh.

Finished this now, it is highly enjoyable if slightly predictable. The ending seemed a little rushed and easy considering how it was built up but hopefully it's built on in sequels. One minor note bothered me though... I looked back at the map after having read the book and it's rubbish! It just makes no sense whatsoever, either in scale or in the direction various people travel throughout. Makes the world seem really small too when while reading it that wasn't the case.

Now I started reading Flowers for Algernon, which is all very sad and depressing...

This post has been edited by polishgenius: 23 January 2019 - 11:22 PM

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Rereading Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora

[Hammerhead88]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 24 January 2019 - 01:29 AM, said:

Rereading Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora

Love this book. I recommended them to a friend who read them and said 3rd was his favourite. I haven't spoken to him since....

[QuickTidal]

Hammerhead88, on 24 January 2019 - 02:24 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 24 January 2019 - 01:29 AM, said:

Rereading Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora

Love this book. I recommended them to a friend who read them and said 3rd was his favourite. I haven't spoken to him since....

That's so funny! I JUST had this convo with a friend who I recommend books to...she recommended the Lamora series, and I said I'd already read them but that they got worse as they went...and she said she liked the 3rd best....dafuq?

[Mentalist]

Book 3 wasn't terrible. It ended with a very poor sequel hook, but up to that point I quite liked it. While the underhanded election-riggting shenanigans may seem dumb, you have to realize that there are parts of the world where things are STILL done that way- so it's nowhere near as absurd as you may think it is.

The flashback storyline fleshed out the characters, and overall, it was a fun book, up until the point when Lynch decided to suddenly give Locke a "special" backstory.