[Tiste Simeon]

Can someone who has read Ash all the way through tell me if it is going to be worth it? 55% through and it's killing me. Got a ton of books for my birthday and am hoping to start reading soon but I don't want to leave Ash when I feel like I have made it so far already... Please just tell me the payoff makes up for the drag? It's weird, when I actually get time to sit down and read it I quite enjoy it. But when I think about reading it I mentally groan...

[Baco Xtath]

Tiste Simeon, on 04 February 2016 - 10:14 PM, said:

Can someone who has read Ash all the way through tell me if it is going to be worth it? 55% through and it's killing me. Got a ton of books for my birthday and am hoping to start reading soon but I don't want to leave Ash when I feel like I have made it so far already... Please just tell me the payoff makes up for the drag? It's weird, when I actually get time to sit down and read it I quite enjoy it. But when I think about reading it I mentally groan...

I loved it but if you're not feeling it at 55% then you may want to bail. I can't recall exactly what's going on but shit does hit the fan and it gets better. I only read it in bed and it took me about three months. I read three other books and listened to twelve more during that same time. If it was my only escape, I probably wouldn't have done it.

[amphibian]

Tiste Simeon, on 04 February 2016 - 10:14 PM, said:

Can someone who has read Ash all the way through tell me if it is going to be worth it? 55% through and it's killing me. Got a ton of books for my birthday and am hoping to start reading soon but I don't want to leave Ash when I feel like I have made it so far already... Please just tell me the payoff makes up for the drag? It's weird, when I actually get time to sit down and read it I quite enjoy it. But when I think about reading it I mentally groan...

It gets NUTS both in pace and in what happens.

Trust me, it's worth getting through. By the end, most people think Ash is one of the very best characters they've ever encountered.

[Mentalist]

I`m flying thru "The Cornelius Quartet" on my commute. Writing down my thoughts for the eventual review entry, it'll be diary-style.

Seriously, people, read Moorcock's sci-fi stuff. It's like Mieville on steroids. It's New Weird without necessarily doing the "fantasy" elements.

At home, I gotta get back into Book 2 of the Hussite trilo. Had to do extra work at home 2 nights in a row this week and crashed last night. I'm finding the experience of reading the Hussite trilo transcendent in its own way: It's a book by a Polish author about events in Czech-speaking lands, translated to Russian, read by a native Ukrainian-speaker. The translator is using language that I've never heard Russian speakers use (basically, synonyms that are closer to Polish pronunciation), which sounds archaic in Russian, but totally normal to me.

And yeah, Sapkowski is SUPER-heavy on Slavic names and place names in this one. I can see English-speakers just throwing the book away for being gibberish.

[Maark Abbott]

Started TWOK and Kaladin is already a fraud. Where's his bloody bubblehearth?

[QuickTidal]

Finished CAREER OF EVIL on my day off, and quite enjoyed it. JK has a penchant for penning good, if gruesome, crime/detective fiction.

Started two books.

THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis (Book 1 of the Alchemy Wars), which sees him once again writing in Fantasy-infused Alt-history...this time it's humble French metallurgy against the demonic alchemy of the Dutch, in a story set in the early 1900s. And so far it's GREAT! I flat our adored his Milkweed Triptych (it's one of my all-time fave trilogies ever), so seeing him back in the alt-history milieu is great!

Also decided to start a non-fic read I've always wanted to check out. Erik Larsen's THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: MURDER, MAGIC, AND MADNESS AT THE FAIR THAT CHANGED AMERICA. Which is the simultaneous story of the Chicago Worlds Fair, its fabled architects, and the incumbent masses of people who came to see it, juxtaposed against this is the young doctor who would become one of the most notorious serial killers ever to bear the name, H.H. Holmes. It's as completely engrossing as a Larsen non-fic read usually is.

[Mentalist]

I read "bitter seeds" and it didn't really feel mind-blowing, so I mentally slotted it way back towards the bottom of the to read pile.

I particularly felt the

Spoiler

doom-child

trope was a terrible cliche.

Does the series improve significantly w/ book 2?

[QuickTidal]

Mentalist, on 05 February 2016 - 03:04 PM, said:

I read "bitter seeds" and it didn't really feel mind-blowing, so I mentally slotted it way back towards the bottom of the to read pile.

I particularly felt the

Spoiler

doom-child

trope was a terrible cliche.

Does the series improve significantly w/ book 2?

I think the thing about the Milkweed Triptych that should be noted, is that BITTER SEEDS is a lot of setup, and there are payoffs in book 2 and 3 that were setup without you knowing in the first book. So while it seems like Book 1 is pretty straightforward, it's completely not. I'd say Book 2 is the best, and the third brings it home strongly (if not perfectly).

There's a moment in Book 1 that passed by me without notice...that after I reached a part on Book 2 (I think) that concerns it, I actually went back and read the passage from Book 1 and realized the level of planning that Tregillis employed.

But yeah, overall I say the series gets better and better. But also almost irreparably dark.

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2016 - 02:05 PM, said:

Finished CAREER OF EVIL on my day off, and quite enjoyed it. JK has a penchant for penning good, if gruesome, crime/detective fiction.

Started two books.

THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis (Book 1 of the Alchemy Wars), which sees him once again writing in Fantasy-infused Alt-history...this time it's humble French metallurgy against the demonic alchemy of the Dutch, in a story set in the early 1900s. And so far it's GREAT! I flat our adored his Milkweed Triptych (it's one of my all-time fave trilogies ever), so seeing him back in the alt-history milieu is great!

Also decided to start a non-fic read I've always wanted to check out. Erik Larsen's THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: MURDER, MAGIC, AND MADNESS AT THE FAIR THAT CHANGED AMERICA. Which is the simultaneous story of the Chicago Worlds Fair, its fabled architects, and the incumbent masses of people who came to see it, juxtaposed against this is the young doctor who would become one of the most notorious serial killers ever to bear the name, H.H. Holmes. It's as completely engrossing as a Larsen non-fic read usually is.

The Mechanical is really excellent. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel The Rising

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2016 - 02:05 PM, said:

...

THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis (Book 1 of the Alchemy Wars), which sees him once again writing in Fantasy-infused Alt-history...this time it's humble French metallurgy against the demonic alchemy of the Dutch, in a story set in the early 1900s. And so far it's GREAT! I flat our adored his Milkweed Triptych (it's one of my all-time fave trilogies ever), so seeing him back in the alt-history milieu is great!
...

I'm all over this once bk 3 is out. I want to read the whole thing back to back. MILKWEED was really strong that way.

[Mentalist]

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2016 - 03:08 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 05 February 2016 - 03:04 PM, said:

I read "bitter seeds" and it didn't really feel mind-blowing, so I mentally slotted it way back towards the bottom of the to read pile.

I particularly felt the

Spoiler

doom-child

trope was a terrible cliche.

Does the series improve significantly w/ book 2?

I think the thing about the Milkweed Triptych that should be noted, is that BITTER SEEDS is a lot of setup, and there are payoffs in book 2 and 3 that were setup without you knowing in the first book. So while it seems like Book 1 is pretty straightforward, it's completely not. I'd say Book 2 is the best, and the third brings it home strongly (if not perfectly).

There's a moment in Book 1 that passed by me without notice...that after I reached a part on Book 2 (I think) that concerns it, I actually went back and read the passage from Book 1 and realized the level of planning that Tregillis employed.

But yeah, overall I say the series gets better and better. But also almost irreparably dark.

Interesting. I'll have to put in an order for 2 next time I'm buying off Book Depository.

[amphibian]

Maark, on 05 February 2016 - 08:32 AM, said:

Started TWOK and Kaladin is already a fraud. Where's his bloody bubblehearth?

NO SOBBERS!

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 05 February 2016 - 03:35 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2016 - 02:05 PM, said:

...

THE MECHANICAL by Ian Tregillis (Book 1 of the Alchemy Wars), which sees him once again writing in Fantasy-infused Alt-history...this time it's humble French metallurgy against the demonic alchemy of the Dutch, in a story set in the early 1900s. And so far it's GREAT! I flat our adored his Milkweed Triptych (it's one of my all-time fave trilogies ever), so seeing him back in the alt-history milieu is great!
...

I'm all over this once bk 3 is out. I want to read the whole thing back to back. MILKWEED was really strong that way.

Mentalist, on 05 February 2016 - 04:33 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 February 2016 - 03:08 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 05 February 2016 - 03:04 PM, said:

I read "bitter seeds" and it didn't really feel mind-blowing, so I mentally slotted it way back towards the bottom of the to read pile.

I particularly felt the

Spoiler

doom-child

trope was a terrible cliche.

Does the series improve significantly w/ book 2?

I think the thing about the Milkweed Triptych that should be noted, is that BITTER SEEDS is a lot of setup, and there are payoffs in book 2 and 3 that were setup without you knowing in the first book. So while it seems like Book 1 is pretty straightforward, it's completely not. I'd say Book 2 is the best, and the third brings it home strongly (if not perfectly).

There's a moment in Book 1 that passed by me without notice...that after I reached a part on Book 2 (I think) that concerns it, I actually went back and read the passage from Book 1 and realized the level of planning that Tregillis employed.

But yeah, overall I say the series gets better and better. But also almost irreparably dark.

Interesting. I'll have to put in an order for 2 next time I'm buying off Book Depository.

And hence my rationale for wanting to read this next trilo in one swoop. Tregillis is one of those authors who seems to read better that way.
I enjoyed the hell out of MILKWEED but i suspect a year's pause between books may have diluted that.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 05 February 2016 - 06:30 PM, said:

Maark, on 05 February 2016 - 08:32 AM, said:

Started TWOK and Kaladin is already a fraud. Where's his bloody bubblehearth?

NO SOBBERS!

Kaladin wins for Best Massively Whiny Character Ever To Kick Ass In A Fantasy Novel.

[Maark Abbott]

Abyss, on 05 February 2016 - 09:34 PM, said:

amphibian, on 05 February 2016 - 06:30 PM, said:

Maark, on 05 February 2016 - 08:32 AM, said:

Started TWOK and Kaladin is already a fraud. Where's his bloody bubblehearth?

NO SOBBERS!

Kaladin wins for Best Massively Whiny Character Ever To Kick Ass In A Fantasy Novel.

I have to say the setting and worldbuilding is stellar as always. I have found what feels like an unfinished sentence up near the top of page 64 (I think - something about clangourous bells) but otherwise it's been great thus far.

[Traveller]

Had a reread of Prince of Fools, now into Liars Key.

Really enjoyed the first one, even a second time around.

Second one.. well, it needs a bit less travelling about maybe. I'm still waiting for something to happen that doesn't include vomiting in the bottom of a boat!

Love Jal though, he is Flashman reborn.

[Mentalist]

Abyss, on 05 February 2016 - 09:34 PM, said:

amphibian, on 05 February 2016 - 06:30 PM, said:

Maark, on 05 February 2016 - 08:32 AM, said:

Started TWOK and Kaladin is already a fraud. Where's his bloody bubblehearth?

NO SOBBERS!

Kaladin wins for Best Massively Whiny Character Ever To Kick Ass In A Fantasy Novel.

Oddly enough, I was ok with his arc and flashbacks in TWOK. Shallan felt way more shallow.

"Warriors of God" REALLY picks up after the initial 4 chapters. I'm over half-way through, and put the book down around 2 AM last night.

[acesn8s]

Finished Air War. It was a lot of fun, and different from the rest of the books in the series, IMO.

Now I have a decision to make.

• Buy The War Masters Gate
  
• Read The Color of Magic (picked it up during the $1.99 sale the other week)
  
• Reread The Shadow of the Torturer

I'm leaning towards finishing off The Shadows of the Apt, just to complete the series before devoting myself to something else.

This post has been edited by acesn8s: 08 February 2016 - 05:35 PM

[Andorion]

acesn8s, on 08 February 2016 - 01:20 PM, said:

Finished Air War. It was a lot of fun, unlike the rest of the books in the series, IMO.

Now I have a decision to make.

• Buy The War Masters Gate
• Read The Color of Magic (picked it up during the $1.99 sale the other week)
• Reread The Shadow of the Torturer

I'm leaning towards finishing off The Shadows of the Apt, just to complete the series before devoting myself to something else.

Finish the series. The last two books are excellent as well

[End of Disc One]

How did you get to book 8 if you didn't enjoy the previous books?