[Deornoth]

I decided to read/re-read some David Gemmell books this month and first up is 'The King Beyond the Gate'. The themes of heroism, honour etc are displayed in force but felt, to me, a little bit too much like everything else I've read of his work. It's a good job then that the story itself is a belter of a read with bonecrunching pitched battle and a look into the minds of the people fighting their way through the story. My full review is over Here.
This week is a week of finishing books off and these are Charlie Huston's 'The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death' and Charles De Lint's 'The Mystery of Grace'...

[teholbeddict]

I've finished with Gilman's Thunderer and am now back to the Black Company books. I took a detour on the advice of Salt-Man and read the Silver Spike after finishing the first tilogy. So now I'm back on track with Shadow Games. I'm glad to have Croaker back as the narrator, I think I missed that most in the Silver Spike. So far it's shaping up to be another excellent read.

[Mentalist]

I have finished "The Empire of Black and Gold"

THe story itself's been pretty generic (too many love triangles anong the numerous young characters), but I loved the setting.
The idea of putting up magic and technology as antipods but not really was also interesting.
I'm curious to see how the story will unfold, and will certainly purchase the following installments.

I have recently seen "Blood of the Elves" on sale in my local chapters.
I have realized that I will not be patient enough to wait for all 7 books to be published in English, so I got my hands on all 9 ("Last Wish", the other short story collection "Sword of destiny" and the 7 novels starting with "Blood of the Elves") Witcher books in Russian. Those whould keep me busy for a while,

[teholbeddict]

Mentalist, on Jan 5 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

I have finished "The Empire of Black and Gold"

THe story itself's been pretty generic (too many love triangles anong the numerous young characters), but I loved the setting.
The idea of putting up magic and technology as antipods but not really was also interesting.
I'm curious to see how the story will unfold, and will certainly purchase the following installments.

I really enjoyed this one too Ment! Yes as you say some of it was generic, but it's the first time I've seen insects used in fantasy like that! I was very pleased to find out the next two installment will both be coming out in '09!

[MOONSPAWN]

jusy started reading child of a dead god, seems pretty decent so far

[ch'arlz]

Flawed, on Dec 29 2008, 10:39 AM, said:

Reading Brisngr, yes i know but i read the first two and so i MUST read this one. Tis ok for a passing of time. 4 out of ten i guess

I just finished _Brisingr_ last night and I'd rate it 6 out of 10. I've really enjoyed this series (and consequently have been unable to understand the snarky hostility some here have demonstrated (same for Harry Potter)). Say what you will, Paolini does have an inventive imagination, writes well, and develops his world and characters believably. My only disappointment is that I thought this was the concluding volume, but apparently he has so much material that a fourth book is required to kill (or not) Galbatorix. I'm not holding my breath, but I'll read it when published.

[Salt-Man Z]

Finished The Urth of the New Sun over the weekend. Wow, what a trip. The beginning still has me a bit confused, but the last half or so was...well, mind-blowing.

Currently reading The Warded Man, and three chapters in it's pretty good. Reminds me a little of vintage Card (good) crossed with Eddings (bad). I'm not super well-read in fantasy, but the "feel" I'm getting is closest to Sanderson's Elantris. Though I'm not pleased to find out that the narration is switching characters on me in Chapter 4; I was just getting to like Arlen...

[Deornoth]

I've just finished reading an advance copy of Charles de Lint's 'The Mystery of Grace' (due out in March), a tale of love and the supernatural obstacles that it must overcome. An absolutely gorgeous book that I ended up really getting into, my full review is over Here.
I'm finishing off the last few pages of 'The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death' and I've also started on R.A. Salvatore's 'The Ancient'.

[Cougar]

Just Finished Storm Front by Jim Butcher and I'm starting the Ten Thousand, seems good so far.

I found Storm Front really snappy and enjoyable, sparse writing and not needlessley complicated, just a good story told with pace and a touchof humour I'd give it 8 out of 10.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 January 2009 - 06:46 PM

[Astra]

Finished Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. 8/10
Started Royal Assassin.

This post has been edited by Astra: 07 January 2009 - 07:08 PM

[pat5150]

Just finished reading C. S. Friedman's upcoming Wings of Wrath, the sequel to Feast of Souls. Man, what a ride!

Hands down, one of the fantasy books to read in 2009!

Check out the blog for the full review.

Patrick

[murphy72]

Deornoth, on Jan 6 2009, 09:07 AM, said:

I've just finished reading an advance copy of Charles de Lint's 'The Mystery of Grace' (due out in March), a tale of love and the supernatural obstacles that it must overcome. An absolutely gorgeous book that I ended up really getting into, my full review is over Here.
I'm finishing off the last few pages of 'The Mystic Arts of Erasing all Signs of Death' and I've also started on R.A. Salvatore's 'The Ancient'.

Re the Charles de Lint book, is this one of the Newford books? He is one of my favorite authors.

Working my way through the first 14 of John Sandford's Prey series. Now on Mortal Prey, No. 13. Police procedural mystery for a change.

[EsotericForest]

I'm reading the first book in R.A. Salvatores Icewind Dale trilogy...The Crystal Shard. I've already read his Dark Elf Trilogy and really enjoyed it. I'm about 250 pages in so I'm almost done with it already haha. I figured I'd finnish the trilogy then start Deadhouse Gates.

[Dark Wolf]

I finished Ekaterina Sedia's "The Secret History of Moscow" and I really liked it. It is a wonderful story and the presence of a few Russians legends and myths reminded me of the Russian fairytales I used to read in my childhood. Lovely memories
Now I am reading Shaun Hutson's "Body Count" which started pretty good. I hope that the novel will keep it like this all the way

[Camel]

EsotericForest, on Jan 7 2009, 06:31 PM, said:

I'm reading the first book in R.A. Salvatores Icewind Dale trilogy...The Crystal Shard. I've already read his Dark Elf Trilogy and really enjoyed it. I'm about 250 pages in so I'm almost done with it already haha. I figured I'd finnish the trilogy then start Deadhouse Gates.

Read the next trilogy by him (Starless Nights, Passage to Dawn, and Siege of Darkness) and then stop reading the Drizzt books because they basically all suck after that. It's more and more of the same.

My biggest problem with Salvatore is his use of diary entries for his main characters. With Drizzt, it was cool because it was his thing. Then Salvatore started writing other series where the main characters do the same thing and it turned into a gimmick, and, quite frankly, badass characters like Drizzt and The Highwayman shouldn't need to write sappy shitty diaries like that.

[Deornoth]

I've finished reading R.A. Salvatore's 'The Ancient', a book that delivered on it's promise of a cool finale but made me sit through a big morass of meh' before I got there. On the bright side though, I got a few laughs out of the most awful dialogue I've ever read... My full review is over Here.
I fancied a quick read, for the commute, so I'm giving James Morrow's 'Shambling Towards Hiroshima' a go next...

[Slum]

murphy72, on Jan 7 2009, 06:08 PM, said:

Working my way through the first 14 of John Sandford's Prey series. Now on Mortal Prey, No. 13. Police procedural mystery for a change.

Just finished Phantom Prey myself, actually. Been reading these novels for the last ten years or so - good, quick reads, for the most part. Davenport (or Sandford) has lost a little of his bite, though, if you ask me. The last few Prey novels have been pretty weak plot-wise. There's nothing new and exciting going on; Davenport cracks wise, gets confused, breaks the case, gets his man - and this one left a big unresolved plot thread dangling...

Oh well, I'll keep reading them. They only take a day or so to finish, and it's nice to check in with the characters now and again.

Sticking with crime fiction - next up is Michael Connelly's The Brass Verdict. Haller and Bosch together for the first time. Should be good.


Also, read GRRM's short story The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr out of his Dreamsongs collection while having a coffee at B&N. I quite enjoyed it - nice imagery.

[QuickTidal]

Currently: The Ruby Key (Book 1 of Moon & Sun) by Holly Lisle. Great YA read. Rollicking through it so far. Up Next Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead.

[MTS]

Reading The Lies Of Locke Lamora at the moment and just started reading the Foundation series by Asimov. Both look to be great reads.

[kcf]

I finished up The House of the Stag by Kage Baker over the holidays. While it has its flaws, it is a fun deconstruction of the dark lord fantasy trope.

I should finish up The Hero of Ages by Sanderson soon. I'm not sure what will come next.