[HiddenOne]

I started last night on A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall, and it seems to be really good. I've had trouble leaving it alone. Good characters, cultures are familiar but changed enough to be interesting, people getting high on bugs, magic system based on devils and witches - overall a good time.

If it is still available on Kindle for $1.99, I suggest some of you would be well pleased to own it.

[polishgenius]

amphibian, on 19 March 2016 - 12:09 PM, said:

Felt like Abraham was really going for something subtle and couldn't quite figure it out on the page. I think Ty Franck pushes Abraham in the right ways (and vice versa) for the Corey Expanse books.

I dunno if you've read Long Price, but that's far less neat and tidy. It seems that it was a deliberate choice here to go that way, and when we had the selfsame discussion on the asoiaf forums, someone highlighted a moment in the very first book (from a troupe performance) that pretty much predicted this is what would happen - a comment that got a confirmatory note from Abraham. So I'm pretty sure he was going for something in line with old-school, trad-fantasy happy endings on purpose.

But when tied onto the much more complex goings-on that he'd been building up, it did indeed feel a little disappointing.

[Stalker]

Reading Ex-Isle by Clines. Seems like more of the same so far, but when that's superheroes vs. zombies what's there to complain about.

And speaking of Clines, really have to recommend the audiobook version of The Fold. Ray Porter did a great job narrating it and it's a great story.

[Macros]

Just finished Warriors of the Storm.
Cornwells latest offering in the Uthred series.
Uthred and Finnan are fast approaching a Sharpe and Harper level of love from myself, just brilliant popcorn fun. A right proper bastard when they want to be, but cool as you like when under pressure.
Want more.

Will probably start guns of dawn or dawn of guns or whatever its called tomorrow, have a birthday party to attend now

[acesn8s]

Finished The Color of Magic. It was an enjoyable read. I got a smile when he had a run at the typical Fantasy tropes and franchises. So my question is Rake vs. Luggage?

[Baco Xtath]

acesn8s, on 20 March 2016 - 01:18 AM, said:

Finished The Color of Magic. It was an enjoyable read. I got a smile when he had a run at the typical Fantasy tropes and franchises. So my question is Rake vs. Luggage?

Granny Weatherwax vs. Rake
Luggage vs. the Shrike

[Mentalist]

Bout 2/3s into "Grace of Kings". Liu took this in a a direction I didn't quite expect. Starting to get a "Wars of Light and Shadow" vibe. Which means I'm getting more intrigued.

Oh, and I also discovered that Panov wrote the 20th (EDIT: actually, 25th!) "Secret City" book already. It's now official, once I'm done with the Moorcock collection, I'm getting an e-reader.

and beyond that, my TRP continues growing as I'm back-reading the thread.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 21 March 2016 - 01:04 AM

[polishgenius]

Baco Xtath, on 20 March 2016 - 03:08 AM, said:

Granny Weatherwax vs. Rake

Oh come now that just isn't fair.


Also: Lord Vetinari vs Shadowthrone and Cotillion.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Macros, on 19 March 2016 - 07:49 PM, said:

Just finished Warriors of the Storm.
Cornwells latest offering in the Uthred series.
Uthred and Finnan are fast approaching a Sharpe and Harper level of love from myself, just brilliant popcorn fun. A right proper bastard when they want to be, but cool as you like when under pressure.
Want more.

Me too! Really looking forward to the TV adaption returning for a second series at some point as well.

[Macros]

acesn8s, on 20 March 2016 - 01:18 AM, said:

Finished The Color of Magic. It was an enjoyable read. I got a smile when he had a run at the typical Fantasy tropes and franchises. So my question is Rake vs. Luggage?

Immovable object verses unstoppable force.
You're dividing by zero here.

If you enjoyed the colour of magic you should love the majority of the discworld, Pratchett's only getting into his stride with colour

[polishgenius]

Macros, on 20 March 2016 - 11:42 AM, said:

Immovable object verses unstoppable force.

The luggage, surely, is an unstoppable object?

[Macros]

Indeed, and rake surely will not yield

[Macros]

Ah, I see what you mean, yes should have reversed my descriptives

[JPK]

I finished MARKET FORCES last night. I'm really glad you talked me into keeping with it Abyss.

Spoiler

Chris' complete meltdown into politically-driven sociopath was fantastically done. I don't think I've ever been as ok with it to read/hear about an old man being beaten to death with a baseball bat as I was when he took out the old cartel leader. Morgan is a master of hyper-masculine violence.

Next up I'm jumping into THE FIFTH SEASON by N.K. Jemisin. I've seen the name pop up here often enough with nothing but good things being said that it really caught my attention.

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 20 March 2016 - 08:16 AM, said:

Baco Xtath, on 20 March 2016 - 03:08 AM, said:

Granny Weatherwax vs. Rake

Oh come now that just isn't fair.


Also: Lord Vetinari vs Shadowthrone and Cotillion.

I really can't see them fighting. They will have a quiet little talk and then Granny will adjust Rake's back to help out with the pain he gets from Dragnipur. He will then leave with an enigmatic smile, which will last exactly until Nanny Ogg propositions him at which point we will see the fastest Soletaken transformation in known history and Rake breaking the sound barrier

[Mentalist]

Finished "Grace of Kings". Will definitely be picking up sequels.

Once it gets going, it ramps up nicely. it's truly tragic in that all sides are somewhat likeable, and you keep hoping for a happy ending. Some nice, imaginative twists, too.

Also, the gods are awesome. I have no idea where the series will go from here, but "Grace of kings" has a bunch of really imaginative moments, and if the penchant for making dark, almost GRRM-esque turns in the plot keeps up, this could be a really good series.

[Puck]

Finished Downfall yesterday, and even after a whole day, I still think this book must've been written by a trained monkey instead of Rob Thurman. My rant can be found in the dedicated thread.

So naturally, looking for more pain, I started book 10, Nevermore. This better be back on track. The prologue's already much better. Cal forgot the pizza, shit went 'splody. Good times. Hopefully.

[Chance]

Going through Ascendant Stars by Cobley it isn't top notch space opera but it very much is reminiscent of a crazier Culture story. Very much enjoying it after reading a few less enjoyable books recently.

About the Grace of Kings being read by a few above, last years most underwhelming book by far. Just had to vent some vitrol on it, it was underwhelming enough that mentions of it builds rage.

[Esa1996]

Mentalist, on 20 March 2016 - 04:42 AM, said:

Bout 2/3s into "Grace of Kings". Liu took this in a a direction I didn't quite expect. Starting to get a "Wars of Light and Shadow" vibe. Which means I'm getting more intrigued.

Oh, and I also discovered that Panov wrote the 20th "Secret City" book already. It's now official, once I'm done with the Moorcock collection, I'm getting an e-reader.

and beyond that, my TRP continues growing as I'm back-reading the thread.

You've read WOLAS? I just finished the first book. I like the plot and the world (And, finally, near the end I came to like some of the characters too), but I really dislike the way the narration is not strictly limited to one POV at a time and the overly fancy language. Anything you can say about book two (No spoilers though )?

[JPK]

Esa1996, on 20 March 2016 - 11:21 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 20 March 2016 - 04:42 AM, said:

Bout 2/3s into "Grace of Kings". Liu took this in a a direction I didn't quite expect. Starting to get a "Wars of Light and Shadow" vibe. Which means I'm getting more intrigued.

Oh, and I also discovered that Panov wrote the 20th "Secret City" book already. It's now official, once I'm done with the Moorcock collection, I'm getting an e-reader.

and beyond that, my TRP continues growing as I'm back-reading the thread.

You've read WOLAS? I just finished the first book. I like the plot and the world (And, finally, near the end I came to like some of the characters too), but I really dislike the way the narration is not strictly limited to one POV at a time and the overly fancy language. Anything you can say about book two (No spoilers though )?

Book two is actually books two and three depending on the format that you read it in. SHIPS OF MERIOR and WARHOST OF VASTMARK were actually released as a single book in hardcover, so that's how I always think of them. You'll want to pay close attention to a birth prophecy in the beginning of SHIPS, and remember that Janny is rarely ever straightforward with ANYTHING in these books.