[Abyss]

Cause, on 16 January 2026 - 05:53 PM, said:

Is 13th paladin good?

Abyss, on 12 January 2026 - 03:26 AM, said:

Abyss, on 15 December 2025 - 03:25 PM, said:

And Just Finished The 13th Paladin bk 12, CALL OF THE ICE FIELDS.... on the the final book, and fairly psyched to see whether he can stick the landing.

I actually 'Just Finished' book 13, THE ADVERSARY a few weeks ago but am overdue to update here... so, finished, and with that the series. Very satisfying ending, the author has refined his work nicely over the course of this and the final book hit all the right notes... the (dastardly) villain was villainous, not at all ambiguous, his evil legions were evil, and the challenges for the heroes were well set up, raised the stakes nicely, and kept the pace moving. Great fun action, the entire extended cast all had opportunity to shine, and of course the hero does what heroes do. I'll try to get around to a complete series summary, but in the end it amounts to a fun classic epic high fantasy series, told at a good pace, in keeping with all the classic 'farm boy grows up, becomes hero, beats evil' stories with just enough twists and novelty to keep even a jaded reader's interest. Also, bestest Dwarf EVER.

The earbook quirks were what they were, it didn't detract for me.

Worth a try if you're feeling a need for something old school and fun without much grimdark or complexity.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Just over half way through The Making of Middle Earth by Christopher Snyder. It was a Christmas present a couple of years ago that I've been very slow to get to.

Snyder is a medievalist and he's digging into both Tolkien's life and the various mythological and literary influences that informed his writing. It's been surprisingly entertaining and far less dry to read than the premise suggests. Very occasionally I think he's reaching a bit for a link, but otherwise it's very well researched and aesthetically (both cover and inside) it's a beautiful book. I also feel like Snyder "gets" the spirit of Tolkien's work and some of the writing is genuinely quite moving as a result.

It has left me with the impression that Tolkien would have been a riot as a dinner party guest, because whether you wanted to or not you'd have found yourself in an intellectual argument about the point of fairytales or why King Arthur was rubbish and too French, and it also gives me the vague idea that if you got a letter from Tolkien unexpectedly you'd definitely fiddle with it for a long time before opening it. The man had opinions and he did not spare you the view (ever so politely and articulately, but still!)

Hoping to pick Twelve Months up this week so looking to finish it soon. I'd definitely recommend to anyone interested in Tolkien's wider stuff.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 19 January 2026 - 08:44 AM

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 19 January 2026 - 08:42 AM, said:

Just over half way through The Making of Middle Earth by Christopher Snyder. It was a Christmas present a couple of years ago that I've been very slow to get to.

. I'd definitely recommend to anyone interested in Tolkien's wider stuff.

I own it and have not gotten to it yet, but it's good to hear you're enjoying it. Next time I'm on a Tolkien kick, I'll dive in.

[BK (NTS no politics)]

I’m fighting the urge to most likely waste my gas and go see if anyone has Dresden out early. I’m sure it would be flagged date wise so I ought to just cool my jets and save the gas for tomorrow. I miss the days I could get SW EU books 3-4 days before release.

[QuickTidal]

BK (NTS no politics), on 20 January 2026 - 12:39 AM, said:

I’m fighting the urge to most likely waste my gas and go see if anyone has Dresden out early. I’m sure it would be flagged date wise so I ought to just cool my jets and save the gas for tomorrow. I miss the days I could get SW EU books 3-4 days before release.

I've heard it's street dated early in a lot of places, so you might score. But yeah if you're wasting gas to try maybe best to wait.

[champ]

I cannot wait to get home and start reading Dresden, had notification it arrived today!!!!

[Abyss]

Twelve Months already dl'd and waiting, i have 2 hrs left on my current read and it's perfectly good and i will finish it first but a little part of my brain is just losing it.

[QuickTidal]

I feel like we should all note that it SOUNDS like TWELVE MONTHS is a "breather" episode he wasn't intending to write, so it's probably going to be less hecticly paced than the last two main volumes, and more overall introspection as it sounds like he needed to write this one to get out of a long depression. I'm hoping it's going to be awesome, but I'm going in expecting a quieter story...about Harry Dresden dreading being

Spoiler

forced down the aisle with Lara Raith for political reasons, while also having been kicked out of being "allowed" to be a wizard

....MAN it's going to be awesome, who am I kidding!?

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 20 January 2026 - 06:02 PM, said:

I feel like we should all note that it SOUNDS like TWELVE MONTHS is a "breather" episode he wasn't intending to write, so it's probably going to be less hecticly paced than the last two main volumes, and more overall introspection as it sounds like he needed to write this one to get out of a long depression. I'm hoping it's going to be awesome, but I'm going in expecting a quieter story...about Harry Dresden dreading being

Spoiler

forced down the aisle with Lara Raith for political reasons, while also having been kicked out of being "allowed" to be a wizard

....MAN it's going to be awesome, who am I kidding!?

The last 'breather' was GHOST STORY. Need i say more?

[champ]

Abyss, on 20 January 2026 - 06:16 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 20 January 2026 - 06:02 PM, said:

I feel like we should all note that it SOUNDS like TWELVE MONTHS is a "breather" episode he wasn't intending to write, so it's probably going to be less hecticly paced than the last two main volumes, and more overall introspection as it sounds like he needed to write this one to get out of a long depression. I'm hoping it's going to be awesome, but I'm going in expecting a quieter story...about Harry Dresden dreading being

Spoiler

forced down the aisle with Lara Raith for political reasons, while also having been kicked out of being "allowed" to be a wizard

....MAN it's going to be awesome, who am I kidding!?

The last 'breather' was GHOST STORY. Need i say more?

Aye chaps, buckle up as we are going to be in for a ride here. A hurting Dresden but still the wise cracking wizard we love. First few chapters in and this is going to be a treat.

[worry]

Not jumping on the New Dresden train just yet...I did a library reserve for the e-book and it said there's a several month wait. Not sure what I'll do yet, I may or may not wait.

Just finished a one-off graphic novel from last year called DROME by Jesse Lonergan. Christmas present! -- It's basically an origin myth for a planet told in an incredibly rich and unique visual style. It's not wordless, but is mostly that way, letting the pictures do most of the talking. Some of the most creative paneling I've seen in comics, like ever. To some degree, the style is indebted to psychedelic art and animation of I guess the 1970s -- think Fantastic Planet, Ralph Bakshi, etc. -- but not like aping any of that. Just kind of the same way Aeon Flux had its obvious forebears but was still very modern and singular. It's hard to explain until you see it. A lot of visual WOW moments. The way time is depicted, whether that be years or just the day-night cycle, is just so cool. Anyway there's gods, creation, people, not-quite-people, beasts of all kinds, sex and love, ambitions and violence, all that good stuff. Though it's not always easy to follow panel to panel, it's very easy to follow at the macro level, and it does tell a real story from start to finish. Not too unfamiliar a plot for any fan of creation myths or epic tales, though Lonergan's version is interesting and the art truly elevates it imo.

[BK (NTS no politics)]

Bruh wtf I just JPKs post in the Butcher sub forum and he grabbed it on the 17th.. so I probably could have gotten it last night after all.

Anyway I now have it as of 40 minutes ago!

I follow a small WoT YT channel that was able to use a connection to get an interview with Jim a few weeks ago. He said he had to write this one because Mirror Mirror just wouldn’t have worked going from Battle Ground to it. He also has made tremendous progress on Mirror and I think we are looking good for his return to spinning them out like the old days up to Skin Game. He is healthy and remarried in a good head place. If he doesn’t put them out like the old days imo point to the publisher.

LETS FUCKING GO!

I think we getting more Alera to. FUCKIN A!

[JPK]

Yeah, I'm keeping mum but I'm about 250 pages in.

Sweet sweet Dresdencrack.

[BK (NTS no politics)]

I’ve made it to 103 as of this post. That’s crazy speed for me in this short of time since owning it. It’s hitting the spot. My reread was timed perfectly for this drop.

That interview I mentioned above he said the titles for the final trilogy. I can tell y’all if ya want. Idk if he has already revealed that long ago or not but we will have I think 6 more books before the trilogy at current plan. I don’t really know how the old 5 book cycle(black magic, monster, vamp, fae, Nicomotherfuckingonafuckingstick, repeat) plays out post Peace Talks through this.

Got 20 or so mins before ambien so I ll probably read another chapter now.

[champ]

JPK, on 21 January 2026 - 03:04 AM, said:

Yeah, I'm keeping mum but I'm about 250 pages in.

Sweet sweet Dresdencrack.

Very much THIS! I got up to chapter 11 last night and it is a pure, glorious Dresdencrack fix.

I know Jim Butcher was a bit worried about how the book would be received but he need have no worries at all, he has nailed it.

I'll post more in a dedicated thread later but this is a fantastic book.

[Abyss]

TWELVE MONTHS, 3 chapters in, it's good to be back. Must needs start a reading thread.

[Chance]

champ, on 21 January 2026 - 12:07 PM, said:

Very much THIS! I got up to chapter 11 last night and it is a pure, glorious Dresdencrack fix.

I know Jim Butcher was a bit worried about how the book would be received but he need have no worries at all, he has nailed it.

I'll post more in a dedicated thread later but this is a fantastic book.

Just finished it and was a bit worried for the first half of it, its a very different Dresden book at least compared to the last few in the series. Its not really about any flashy conflicts there are some but they are not really important to the story. Its about picking up the broken pieces and returning to some kind of new normal after several hard years and it is done well.

It is probably however one of the best of the last few Dresden books, maybe better than everything since Changes maybe just since Skingame.

Kinda thinking about a re-read of at least some parts of the Dresden files. So a brilliant and uplifting start to this years reading.

This post has been edited by Chance: 21 January 2026 - 02:35 PM

[QuickTidal]

Been binging some Japanese Light Novels in the last week or two.

GRIMGAR FANTASY & ASH by Ao Jūmonji, basically an isekai (though we don't know where they came from or when, but a few easter eggs indicate our current world as "games" and "phones" have been mentioned but characters don't remember what those words mean. I actually think that this is my fave aspect of this world, that all these characters clearly came from our world (the MC starts off day one with a hoodie and shorts before he gets his fantasy gear) but none of them have any idea why or how they arrived, and it gives an extra sort of mystery and oomph to the proceedings...like did the Earth die, and they were reborn? Did they time travel? did they dimension shift? No idea. Anyways, I really like the first light novel a lot. It's a tightly knit world and has not spread out too far yet world building wise, but the character growth is already very good, with most of the main cast getting some depth even in Volume 1. I'll be continuing, but the second volume of the LNs seems to be out of print, so I just watched the second season of the anime to catch up and have the 3rd volume of the LN on deck instead.

CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE by Syougo Kinugasa. Very Cruel Intentions-coded without the direct sexual connotations, and more just the cutthroat prep school vibes. The MC is effortlessly cool without seeming OP, and the lead girl is a Tsundere (which is fully my jam, I admit). Most of the other LN's I've read or am reading are fantasy-based, so it's nice to have this school-based slice of life one to palate cleanse. I have Vol. 2 on deck for this one.

DANMACHI (aka IS IT WRONG TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON) by Fujino Ōmori. This one has no right to be as awesome as it is. A sprawling world with tonnes of world building, and yet volume 1 doesn't feel like an onslaught of info either. It very cleanly sets up the stakes, the MC is interesting and a bit goofy, and the lead girl is a rambunctious goddess he tries and often fails to keep in line. The gods and goddesses grounded on earth without powers is interesting, the Familia's based around those gods and goddesses are interesting, the magic and fighting is good. I don't THINK this is an Isekai as none of the people in-world seem like they are not used to being there...so just a fantasy setting full stop. There's a girl he has a crush on, but is in another Familia and therefore it's a bit Romeo and Juliet...I've got Vol. 2 ready and also...

And that girl he has a crush on, leads her own series that overlaps the main events, called SWORD ORATORIA (same author), which you're meant to inter splice between the main volumes, so I have Vol. 1 of that.

There is also a third series that takes place before this called FAMILIA CHRONICLE, which I think I'm meant to dive into after the main series? I'm not super clear on that, but if I continue t dig DanMachi and Sword Oratoria, I'll probably bite on that one too.

[worry]

What exactly is a "light novel"? -- I am unfamiliar with that term.

[QuickTidal]

worry, on 21 January 2026 - 04:55 PM, said:

What exactly is a "light novel"? -- I am unfamiliar with that term.

Many Anime are based on Light Novels, or start life as Light Novels. They are short (hence light) prose novels, like 250-350pg books that are essentially anime in book form. You find them in the Manga section, but they are not manga.

They are simple and easy to digest little stories.

EDIT: The fonts are usually HC size even though the books are manga-size paperbacks, but for reference, I can binge through one of these in under a day easy. So I like them for that reason too.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 21 January 2026 - 05:03 PM