[Mentalist]

Been mostly bedridden this weekend due to a cold. Finished HoC in my Malaz re-read. Reading it at a leisurely pace, HoC is a good book. I'm realizing more and more that it's perceived "weakness" is only due to it being a follow-up to MoI, which is simply spectacular. In itself, it's fairly solid. Anyhow, I think I may have actually paid attention to soldiers of the 14th who aren't in Fiddler or Gesler's squads this time.

Bring on MT, and let's start getting messy with those Tiste histories prior to FoL!

[Chance]

Finished up The Lion of Al-Rassan and found it a very simple story done very well. Pretty sure its not up to Kays best but pretty damn good anyway.

Currently going through The Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and about 30% through it feels pretty averange with a faux middle eastern city instead of faux european city as the place of the adventure taking place. It's something i feel with a lot of authors attempting to write fantasy outside the norms, they get the scenery right but not much else. I might be overly harsh as The Lion of Al-Rassan doesn't fall into that particular category and does go into some of the same territory infinitly more skillfully.

This post has been edited by Chance: 21 September 2015 - 03:02 PM

[End of Disc One]

Shadows Linger was actually my favorite book in the first Black Company omnibus. It was very different from the first book, but I found Shed's development to be fascinating.

[QuickTidal]

Chance, on 21 September 2015 - 03:01 PM, said:

Currently going through The Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and about 30% through it feels pretty averange with a faux middle eastern city instead of faux european city as the place of the adventure taking place. It's something i feel with a lot of authors attempting to write fantasy outside the norms, they get the scenery right but not much else. I might be overly harsh as The Lion of Al-Rassan doesn't fall into that particular category and does go into some of the same territory infinitly more skillfully.

Oh thank gods I'm not the only one! I saw all the singing of praises of this book, but I found it TERRIBLY average...and it really does feel like a generic Medieval Fantasy with a Middle Eastern Skin laid over it. I certainly don't feel like I'm reading a proper middle-eastern flavored work. Which is extra sad because of how much I enjoyed his short story with this character in this setting. And fully agree about AL-RASSAN comparison.

Anyways, on my front I'm reading the last volume of Will Hill's DEPARTMENT 19 book DARKEST NIGHT...and so far (3/4 of the way through) it feels like the most lackluster of all 5 books. A few things that Hill spent multiple books setting up, like ZERO HOUR (the rise of Dracula) become "oh, don't worry about how urgent I painted all that stuff before...Dracula's not really going to come right when I said he would....he'll wait a year"...and the teen lead Jaime is as irritating in this book as he was in book 1. So while domesticating like Harry Potter was used to show growth of teens THROUGH their teenage angst and idiocy, and end with them being properly on their way to adulthood including the decisions thereof....Department 19's leads Jaime, Larissa, Kate, Matt ect. ALL feel like they are the same spoiled, petulant teens they were in books 1 (which takes place a few years ago)...with little to show for their experiences towards growth as people. I want to punch Jaime and say, "You're an adult now kid. The world isn't here to pander to you or what you feel is owed you." I honestly can't recall a book with SUCH an unlikable protagonist who I wanted to get a bad ending.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 21 September 2015 - 04:40 PM

[acesn8s]

Shadow Unit wasn't doing it for me. Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

[Andorion]

Puckstein, on 21 September 2015 - 12:19 PM, said:

Andorion, on 21 September 2015 - 03:49 AM, said:

Finished Black Company 2: shadows Linger. Can somebody help me out a bit?

I did not like this book. 60% of this book was taken up by a PoV and events/activities I had zero interest in/empathy for. Company PoVs were too short, too choppy. Some of the assertions, resolutions seemed less than believable.

Spoiler

Raven's death at the end seemed scarcely credible and very annoying. Why didn't they discover Darling on the ship earlier? Why does the Lady have an obsession with Croaker to be her chronicler? He can't be the only historian around.

I have only heard good things about this series, but now I don't even want to start the third book. my original plan was to finish the first trilogy. But now I feel like I don't care for the characters.

Does it get better?

As amph already said, yes, it does get better. Cook's writing improves, and you might actually like the setting of the later books.

A few points re your spoiler, which are not spoilerish in themselves, but I'm still going to put them in tags:

Spoiler

About Raven: it's deliberate. He, including his actions, is a deliberate deconstruction of that type of character, but it takes the whole of the trilogy to play out. Also, about Croaker & the Lady.. It's true, he's not the only historian around, so think of it more in personal terms of two people meeting. The Lady's motives are explored further with time, though.

Edit: you might want to avoid The Silver Spike when you get to it, though.

I stuck with it. I am about 10 chapters into The White Rose and I like it much better than book 2. have yet to figure out the significance of one of the three PoVs but its working for me. A big thank you to all of those who stepped up with the encouragement!

[Andorion]

Chance, on 21 September 2015 - 03:01 PM, said:

Finished up The Lion of Al-Rassan and found it a very simple story done very well. Pretty sure its not up to Kays best but pretty damn good anyway.

Currently going through The Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and about 30% through it feels pretty averange with a faux middle eastern city instead of faux european city as the place of the adventure taking place. It's something i feel with a lot of authors attempting to write fantasy outside the norms, they get the scenery right but not much else. I might be overly harsh as The Lion of Al-Rassan doesn't fall into that particular category and does go into some of the same territory infinitly more skillfully.

QuickTidal, on 21 September 2015 - 03:45 PM, said:

Chance, on 21 September 2015 - 03:01 PM, said:

Currently going through The Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and about 30% through it feels pretty averange with a faux middle eastern city instead of faux european city as the place of the adventure taking place. It's something i feel with a lot of authors attempting to write fantasy outside the norms, they get the scenery right but not much else. I might be overly harsh as The Lion of Al-Rassan doesn't fall into that particular category and does go into some of the same territory infinitly more skillfully.

Oh thank gods I'm not the only one! I saw all the singing of praises of this book, but I found it TERRIBLY average...and it really does feel like a generic Medieval Fantasy with a Middle Eastern Skin laid over it. I certainly don't feel like I'm reading a proper middle-eastern flavored work. Which is extra sad because of how much I enjoyed his short story with this character in this setting. And fully agree about AL-RASSAN comparison.

Anyways, on my front I'm reading the last volume of Will Hill's DEPARTMENT 19 book DARKEST NIGHT...and so far (3/4 of the way through) it feels like the most lackluster of all 5 books. A few things that Hill spent multiple books setting up, like ZERO HOUR (the rise of Dracula) become "oh, don't worry about how urgent I painted all that stuff before...Dracula's not really going to come right when I said he would....he'll wait a year"...and the teen lead Jaime is as irritating in this book as he was in book 1. So while domesticating like Harry Potter was used to show growth of teens THROUGH their teenage angst and idiocy, and end with them being properly on their way to adulthood including the decisions thereof....Department 19's leads Jaime, Larissa, Kate, Matt ect. ALL feel like they are the same spoiled, petulant teens they were in books 1 (which takes place a few years ago)...with little to show for their experiences towards growth as people. I want to punch Jaime and say, "You're an adult now kid. The world isn't here to pander to you or what you feel is owed you." I honestly can't recall a book with SUCH an unlikable protagonist who I wanted to get a bad ending.

I thought Lions was a fantastic book. It helps if you know a little of the history of the Caliphate of Cordoba or the Spanish Reconquista.. But then again I haven't read a lot of GGK so I don't know how it stands in relation to his other works. I have Tigana lying around though.

The Sharrakhai report is worrying as I have it and earlier books by the same author on my TBR.

[Andorion]

Mentalist, on 21 September 2015 - 01:45 PM, said:

Been mostly bedridden this weekend due to a cold. Finished HoC in my Malaz re-read. Reading it at a leisurely pace, HoC is a good book. I'm realizing more and more that it's perceived "weakness" is only due to it being a follow-up to MoI, which is simply spectacular. In itself, it's fairly solid. Anyhow, I think I may have actually paid attention to soldiers of the 14th who aren't in Fiddler or Gesler's squads this time.

Bring on MT, and let's start getting messy with those Tiste histories prior to FoL!

Dude how can any book with Karsa be 'weak'?

But seriosuly I think you are right when you point out the comparative factor to MoI. Also MoI was in many ways the climax of theBB story. HoC is basically setup for the Bonehunters. It actually does a lot of bridging work to get the second half of the series going.

[HiddenOne]

Finished Well of Ascention - will read the next one, but not in a terrible hurry

Re-read Ex-Heroes last week prepare & then finished Ex-Patriots over the weekend with help from espresso - I already have the next one so that will happen pretty soon. I like these stories (kind of short so I'm glad they were cheap on Kindle).

It may be almost time to read Emperor of Thorns, I've been saving it for a treat

[Chance]

Andorion, on 21 September 2015 - 05:00 PM, said:

I thought Lions was a fantastic book. It helps if you know a little of the history of the Caliphate of Cordoba or the Spanish Reconquista.. But then again I haven't read a lot of GGK so I don't know how it stands in relation to his other works. I have Tigana lying around though.

The Sharrakhai report is worrying as I have it and earlier books by the same author on my TBR.

Lions is a very good book but also a simple one, Under Heaven or The Sarantine Mosaic are simply even better in my opinion. I do know a lot of other people who find Lions the best GGK has written.

I'll give another report on Sharrakhai tomorrow or the day after should be finished by then, but unless it seriously steps up in the later half its a pile of mediocrity barely worth the effort and since its mostly about the actual way its written I'd be wary of anything the author has written.

This post has been edited by Chance: 21 September 2015 - 05:46 PM

[Abyss]

acesn8s, on 21 September 2015 - 04:37 PM, said:

...Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

Enjoy! That's a great trilogy.

[JPK]

I just finished the audiobook for A Memory of Light. It almost feels weird knowing that I've finished WoT. I'm happy that I invested the time into coming back to this series.

Next up for audio is 14 by Peter Clines. I'm excited to see what he can do outside of his EX series.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 21 September 2015 - 09:13 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 21 September 2015 - 04:37 PM, said:

...Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

Enjoy! That's a great trilogy.

Obligatory: but there is a fourth book...

Abyss: No, there certainly was NOT a fourth book.

[Abyss]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 21 September 2015 - 10:44 PM, said:

Next up for audio is 14 by Peter Clines. I'm excited to see what he can do outside of his EX series.

Dunno about the narration - I read the ebook -but I thought the story was awesome fun.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 September 2015 - 01:33 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 September 2015 - 09:13 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 21 September 2015 - 04:37 PM, said:

...Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

Enjoy! That's a great trilogy.

Obligatory: but there is a fourth book...

Abyss: No, there certainly was NOT a fourth book.

Awwww.... You know me so well.

[JPK]

Abyss, on 22 September 2015 - 03:00 AM, said:

The Incredible Kitsu, on 21 September 2015 - 10:44 PM, said:

Next up for audio is 14 by Peter Clines. I'm excited to see what he can do outside of his EX series.

Dunno about the narration - I read the ebook -but I thought the story was awesome fun.

Horrible horrible narration! I ended up making it through about ten minutes before returning it.

Starting Fool Moon instead.

[Abyss]

Briar King, on 22 September 2015 - 03:10 AM, said:

Abyss, on 22 September 2015 - 03:00 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 September 2015 - 01:33 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 September 2015 - 09:13 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 21 September 2015 - 04:37 PM, said:

...Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

Enjoy! That's a great trilogy.

Obligatory: but there is a fourth book...

Abyss: No, there certainly was NOT a fourth book.

Awwww.... You know me so well.

1st book was the best of the 3 I read. I've said before my copy of bk3 was messed up print wise so would have had to buy bi 3 again to finish it but I never felt the urge to get it again. Bk 1 was really badass though.

I enjoyed the setup in bk 1, and the resolution in 3 was suitably epic and satisfying for the most part. 2 kind of dragged. A lot. Almost felt like two books.

The Incredible Kitsu, on 22 September 2015 - 04:24 PM, said:

Abyss, on 22 September 2015 - 03:00 AM, said:

The Incredible Kitsu, on 21 September 2015 - 10:44 PM, said:

Next up for audio is 14 by Peter Clines. I'm excited to see what he can do outside of his EX series.

Dunno about the narration - I read the ebook -but I thought the story was awesome fun.

Horrible horrible narration! I ended up making it through about ten minutes before returning it.

Unfortunate. Bad narration can kill a great book.
Consider giving the book a shot in e or dead tree.

[JPK]

^^ Yeah, I've already grabbed it in eReader format. Everything I've heard about this book grabs my attention. I've also got The Fold on the trpfh.

[Salt-Man Z]

I finished Moorcock's Hawkmoon quartet: good old fashioned science fantasy, nothing special but well-executed.

Now moving on to A Nomad of the Time Streams, the Oswald Bastable omnibus, and it's already pretty interesting: soldier from 1902 gets caught in an earthquake and wakes up in an alternate-future 1972 featuring airships and rampant colonialism. Good stuff so far. The first-person POV in particular helps pull me in (as it did with the first Erekose book.)

[acesn8s]

Briar King, on 22 September 2015 - 03:10 AM, said:

Abyss, on 22 September 2015 - 03:00 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 September 2015 - 01:33 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 September 2015 - 09:13 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 21 September 2015 - 04:37 PM, said:

...Now I'm on to Tad Williams' Otherland vol 1.

Enjoy! That's a great trilogy.

Obligatory: but there is a fourth book...

Abyss: No, there certainly was NOT a fourth book.

Awwww.... You know me so well.

1st book was the best of the 3 I read. I've said before my copy of bk3 was messed up print wise so would have had to buy bi 3 again to finish it but I never felt the urge to get it again. Bk 1 was really badass though.

Don't you guys do this to me!