[Chance]

Didn't get into any of my alternatives so did the thing I usually do and trawl this threat for something someone else liked recently, whomever mentioned Will Wights Unsouled got me caught. Sure it is a pretty regular manga concept turned into a book. Its done skillfully and it is entertaining while not being truly excellent. Also bite sized so I'm already up to Skysworn

Tiste Simeon, on 19 July 2022 - 02:43 PM, said:

Totally agree. Mount Char is one of the best stand-alones I've ever read!

Certainly one of the best fantasyish books of the last few decades.

This post has been edited by Chance: 19 July 2022 - 03:10 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished reading Wayfarers 3, and it definitely finished stronger than it started. Going to read book 4, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within.

On audiobook I've nearly finished Caliban's War and I think I'm suffering a bit of sci-fi burnout as I've been on nothing but for a while. I think I'd like to listen to LOTR as read by Andy freaking Serkis next!

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul. Interesting stuff so far.

[Slow Ben]

Mt. Char it is. Thanks all.

Probably get started on it this weekend, forgot about Wind Through the Keyhole in my Dark Tower reread. I remember being pretty unimpressed the first time around, didnt really feel like it fit, but we'll give it another go.

[QuickTidal]

The D&D trailer made me want to read some Forgotten Realms, so I’ve dived into Erin M. Evans “Farideh and Havilar; twin tieflings” first book (I have all 5 of them) BRIMSTONE ANGELS. It’s excellent. I love Evans FR work

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 19 July 2022 - 02:43 PM, said:

Gwynn ap Nudd, on 19 July 2022 - 05:43 AM, said:

Just finished A Crown for Cold Silver, and don't really see the reason for the praise it has received. I lost interest in most of the main characters by the halfway point, and all but one or two by the end. I expected more world building from something of that length as well. I have the next two sitting around, but will come back to them later.

Spoiler

Most of the main characters come off as thick. And not in the humorous way that makes the Lot Lands first book work, but in a "let's make bad decisions and base things off of errant preconceptions" way, similar to the middle books in the Wheel of Time. I lost interest in Zosia as a character very early on, which probably didn't help.

Slow Ben, on 16 July 2022 - 08:53 PM, said:

Either starting The Steel Remains, Library at Mt. Char, Red Sister, The Scar, Black Knife, or Apt has reminded me I still have 3 or 4 of the Garretts to finish.

My pick would be Mount Char next. That was fantastic.

Totally agree. Mount Char is one of the best stand-alones I've ever read!

Chance, on 19 July 2022 - 03:09 PM, said:

Certainly one of the best fantasyish books of the last few decades.

I am Abyss and i endorse this recommendation so shut up and do as we say.

Slow Ben, on 22 July 2022 - 03:26 AM, said:

Mt. Char it is. Thanks all.

Probably get started on it this weekend...

Oh, nevermind the imperious command then, happy reading!

[Abyss]

Just finished Mark Lawrence's IMPOSSIBLE TIMES trilo (POWER WORD KILL, LIMITED WISH, DISPEL ILLUSION).

I enjoyed these. The characters had the 'normal people in exceptional events' feeling i like when done well (and hate when done whiny). The pace is solid, just fast enough without being thriller breakneck or over-drama'd slow. There was a fun 80s/90s nostalgic element that's not as overpowering as say Ready Player One. The timey whimey elements are well thought out, and explained enough without making perfect scientific comprehension necessary to the story. The reader can focus on it or just roll with the science fiction science roll through without loss to the story. Each book has a satisfying end, the trilogy together is a fun engaging read without being too long.

Solid earbook. Narrator is good, usually very good. Here or there a few supporting character voices blurred together but the text is clear enough that it was not a problem.

Quite a radical change from Mark's usual fantasy writing. Impressive switch actually.

Worth the read/listen if you're feeling a low/medium scifi, medium action, high nostalgia, fun series.



Next up i have no idea. Feeling like some 'hard' fantasy, three or four books of people hitting each other with large metal stabby things, maybe a dragon or three.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 22 July 2022 - 03:55 PM, said:

Next up i have no idea. Feeling like some 'hard' fantasy, three or four books of people hitting each other with large metal stabby things, maybe a dragon or three.

Have you heard of the series Malazan Book of the Fallen by some chap called Steven Erikson (don't let the fact that he's Canadian put you off)? They have some stabbing and some dragons!

[amphibian]

Abyss, have you gotten to Empire's Ruin by Stavely?

[champ]

Abyss, on 22 July 2022 - 03:55 PM, said:

Just finished Mark Lawrence's IMPOSSIBLE TIMES trilo (POWER WORD KILL, LIMITED WISH, DISPEL ILLUSION).

Fun trilogy, quick easy read, I remember the ending had me laughing at the absurdity of it!

Spoiler for the end and other Mark Lawrence works...

Spoiler

You catch the connection to the other series wrote by Mark? Dr Elias Root, Taproot! When he rocked up I lost my shit and made me love this series even more!

[Chance]

Abyss, on 22 July 2022 - 03:55 PM, said:

Next up i have no idea. Feeling like some 'hard' fantasy, three or four books of people hitting each other with large metal stabby things, maybe a dragon or three.

Some obvious ones would be Mile Camerons Red Knight which is awesome or The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters which is quite a bit more grimdark. If you've not tried them.

Quite a bit of dragon and copious amounts of stabbing.

This post has been edited by Chance: 22 July 2022 - 10:46 PM

[worry]

Are they talking dragons or beasty dragons?

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

I started reading Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer. Nice change of pace as I haven't been reading much science fiction lately. Enjoying the set up so far, but not far enough into the book to have a definite opinion. Other than that I need to hit up a used book store and pick up some cheap light reads for days when I am frazzled after work. Had the same thought while reading Children of Time. Some days after work I am just not up to putting thought into reading, or anything else really.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 22 July 2022 - 07:47 PM, said:

Abyss, on 22 July 2022 - 03:55 PM, said:

Next up i have no idea. Feeling like some 'hard' fantasy, three or four books of people hitting each other with large metal stabby things, maybe a dragon or three.

Have you heard of the series Malazan Book of the Fallen by some chap called Steven Erikson (don't let the fact that he's Canadian put you off)? They have some stabbing and some dragons!

Yeah but the YA vibe threw me right out.

[Chance]

worry, on 22 July 2022 - 10:50 PM, said:

Are they talking dragons or beasty dragons?

Red Knight got what best described as GOD dragons some of which talk, some of which just destroy stuff.

Rage of Dragons beasts kinda.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 23 July 2022 - 05:18 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 22 July 2022 - 07:47 PM, said:

Abyss, on 22 July 2022 - 03:55 PM, said:

Next up i have no idea. Feeling like some 'hard' fantasy, three or four books of people hitting each other with large metal stabby things, maybe a dragon or three.

Have you heard of the series Malazan Book of the Fallen by some chap called Steven Erikson (don't let the fact that he's Canadian put you off)? They have some stabbing and some dragons!

Yeah but the YA vibe threw me right out.

The whiny teenage "chosen one" protagonist was well overblown too in fairness...

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

No dragoncow. Not buying

[Tsundoku]

Biggest complaint about Erikson? Writes too fast. I just didn't get the 10+ years between installments to truly savour each one as they deserve.

[Tiste Simeon]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 23 July 2022 - 07:18 PM, said:

No dragoncow. Not buying

That made me laugh inordinately more than it should have done

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 24 July 2022 - 06:56 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 23 July 2022 - 07:18 PM, said:

No dragoncow. Not buying

That made me laugh inordinately more than it should have done

Win!

I'm so rarely quick enough with a joke, I get far too excited when I manage it