[Chance]

Finished up Fall of Kings the last troy book and while it suffered a bit from a slow middle part the last quarter or so of the book was really good. Perhaps not as good overall as the first or second book but very interesting take on several legends.

On to Brief Cases and then I am going to tackle what remains of The Crippled God re-read no clue where the drive to finish it went but it serious stalled a bit back.

Andorion, on 14 June 2018 - 03:04 AM, said:

Given the general acclaim for this series, I may need to revise my initial impression and actually reread the first book.

It is certainly worth it giving the books a chance some of the best fantasy stuff recently.

[Macros]

Chance, on 14 June 2018 - 10:40 AM, said:

Finished up Fall of Kings the last troy book and while it suffered a bit from a slow middle part the last quarter or so of the book was really good. Perhaps not as good overall as the first or second book but very interesting take on several legends.

I think it's worth bearing in mind that David passed away whilst writing book three and Stella finished it.
Now Stella is a solid author herself (I really enjoyed The City and it's sequel Immortal Throne) and had acted as Editor and researcher for for several of his books but I have always been curious how much of Fall of Kings was Stella, how much David and how much a mix of the two.
I can't pick out any point of obvious transition in the style or quality mind

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Stalled on re-reading Malazan. I have never, ever felt on any previous re-read that the philosophising was annoying, but it's irritating me a lot this time round (two thirds through Bonehunters and I would dearly love to brain Scillara in particular) so concluded I'm not in the mood and need something lighter.

Is that Dresdencrack I see on the horizon?

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Andorion, on 14 June 2018 - 03:04 AM, said:

Mentalist, on 14 June 2018 - 02:45 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 June 2018 - 12:43 AM, said:

amphibian, on 13 June 2018 - 10:56 PM, said:

The way Marshall takes the series after that is unexpected and terrific. So much butts and comedy, yet big action scenes.

The direction of the scene I mentioned really woke me up itself! I was expecting it to go the traditional fantasy route.

I ordered book 3 today.

Book 3 is AWESOME

Given the general acclaim for this series, I may need to revise my initial impression and actually reread the first book.

What was your first impression?

[Andorion]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 June 2018 - 11:51 AM, said:

Andorion, on 14 June 2018 - 03:04 AM, said:

Mentalist, on 14 June 2018 - 02:45 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 June 2018 - 12:43 AM, said:

amphibian, on 13 June 2018 - 10:56 PM, said:

The way Marshall takes the series after that is unexpected and terrific. So much butts and comedy, yet big action scenes.

The direction of the scene I mentioned really woke me up itself! I was expecting it to go the traditional fantasy route.

I ordered book 3 today.

Book 3 is AWESOME

Given the general acclaim for this series, I may need to revise my initial impression and actually reread the first book.

What was your first impression?

I don't have a concrete answer. I remember dropping the first book because I felt like it was trying too hard or something.

[Macros]

I really didn't like the first book.
All the praise is making me curious, but it's from people who liked the first book

[Mentalist]

To be fair, a lot hinges on liking Marshall's brand of humor. Book 2 basically relies on that, because there's not a whole lot happening until near the end of the book.

[Hammerhead88]

Finished Dresden 9....straight onto 10 (Small Favour).

[Andorion]

I am in as deep a reading rut as I can remember. Literally nothing appeals.

Considering looking for something short, sharp and funny to turn things around

[QuickTidal]

BRIEF CASES, which is already awesome!

[acesn8s]

Cibola Burn is pretty cool. the New Terra/Ilous angle is a lot of fun.

"Fayez whistled low. "That is not dead which can eternal lie. Or, y'know, whatever.""

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 15 June 2018 - 04:21 PM, said:

BRIEF CASES, which is already awesome!

SO MUCH AWESOME!!!!! ... ahhh, the dresdencrack....the shakes have stopped, i can breath steady again, no longer yelling FORZARE! at the top of my lungs every time i honk my car's horn at someone. Ive actually read a lot of the stories in this before, but they're short and fun enough to just let the earbook roll. Just finished 'JURY DUTY', which i had not read before and really enjoyed.EVEN HAND remains epic Marcone goodness, and COLD CASE still messes with my head. The BIGFOOT stuff is all fun


And now, some backlog to clear out...

DANDELION DYNASTY: GRACE OF KINGS and WALL OF STORMS. I enjoyed both of these. The asia-based setting, the pace, the characters, there was a lot to enjoy in this duology. The fantastic elements were well intro'd, the airships used frugally but well, the gods were fun, the more fantasy'esque critters in the second book well done. If i had a critique it was that once per book the author resorted to some painfully hamhanded writing that stood out for its sheer badness...

Spoiler

in Grace, the sword-dancing assassination attempt, which i was told was based on an actualhistorical event, but which just frankly made no sense and read stupid, and in WALL, the first diplomat giving away massive military 'secrets' to intimidate the barbarians... firstly, the so called secrets were about as sophisticated as a game of Connect-4, and second, the scene was so base level dumb that if i had been reading it in dead tree i'm pretty sure i would have thrown the book against the wall.

...but really, those bits stood out for how much they contrasted with what were otherwise interesting, fun, enjoyable reads. Worth the time and dollars. Solid earbook narrators if you're so inclined.

HELL DIVERS THREE: DELIVERANCE - loo, if you read the first two and enjoyed them, its more of the same thinly plotted well written near video-game-like action story. I did, and i did, it it was fun. The trilo is now done so if you were thinking about it, now you know the story is complete.

[Abyss]

I am the Bachelorette, on 15 June 2018 - 05:59 PM, said:

I don't think you would have went through with throwing the book! It's some quality binding with a silky smooth cover that feels so good to hold. Bright white crisp and stout pages.

Fuckit, that scene was still stupid. There's a principle involved.

[stone monkey]

Just finished City of Stairs and I feel like I'm a bit late to the party - the trilogy is already completed (which I suppose means I don't have to wait for them... ). Good writing, fascinating worldbuilding, slightly underwritten characters; but there's two more of these things so there's a way to go yet. The central mystery was a bit obvious, but I'm rather too good at picking these things apart, I'm told. I think I'll be catching up with a few more of Bennett's books when I have the leisure.

This post has been edited by stone monkey: 16 June 2018 - 10:59 PM

[Abyss]

Also finished Sarah Gailey’s RIVER OF TEETH and sequel, TASTE OF MARROW.
Wild west with hippos instead of horses, great characters, fun action pieces, and nicely short and to the point (tusk) stories.
Worth your eyetime and money.

[Aptorian]

Finally decided to try out Crimson Empire after all the praise I've seen on here for the series.

About 6% in, this is a fun book. Not particularly deep but there's also not a lot of fat and the author writes great scenes.

[Chance]

Started up the Grey Bastards mostly because it was a birthday gift and I at least use to try to read those and I was in the mood for a real book not just listening or screen reading. Finished it damn quickly and it reads like Sons of Anarchy mixed with D&D perhaps not the deepest book I've read recently but a pretty decent read and a very easy one.

Now back to the Crippled God looking accusingly at me for not reading those last 50% but I'll probably look for something else in the to read pile.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Alternative Goose, on 17 June 2018 - 09:01 AM, said:

Finally decided to try out Crimson Empire after all the praise I've seen on here for the series.

About 6% in, this is a fun book. Not particularly deep but there's also not a lot of fat and the au[¿¿ great scenes.

I'm now starting A War In Crimson Embers.

[Maark Abbott]

Andorion, on 15 June 2018 - 04:21 PM, said:

I am in as deep a reading rut as I can remember. Literally nothing appeals.

Considering looking for something short, sharp and funny to turn things around

Same. I'm halfway through Kings of the Wyld but I'm struggling to find motivation to read at all. And it's not specifically this book (though it's not lived up to the hype train for me at all) - I've not got motivation to read anything presently.

[Macros]

Finished ShadowBlack last night.

Took a long time to read such a short book because work, weddings, life and stuff meant I had very little reading time.

I'd say it's en par with the first book, average YA fare with an interesting enough world and cast that I'll come back for book 3 if I see it on used cheap.
As the last book, take a slightly darker turn towards the end by I can't help feeling that the storyand world deserves a bit more maturity than the the YA tag will allow