[Macros]

Just finished Wrath of Empire, by McClellen

If you enjoyed Sins, you'll enjoy wrath.

Only quibble

Spoiler

Taniel must be Thor level power now considering the damage Vlora can dish out by the end of the novel.
Sure she went full gung ho and should have died but...that was a serious power jump over what she has been shown to be capable of before

[Macros]

Starting The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Think its purchased was based off one of wedge reviews? Possibly a reco in here or the I just bought.
Basically one of you bastards made me buy it so we'll see how it goes

[Tiste Simeon]

Macros, on 01 July 2018 - 09:58 PM, said:

Starting The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Think its purchased was based off one of wedge reviews? Possibly a reco in here or the I just bought.
Basically one of you bastards made me buy it so we'll see how it goes

If unsure, blame Brood.

[champ]

Abyss, on 29 June 2018 - 07:36 PM, said:

champ, on 29 June 2018 - 01:43 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 28 June 2018 - 12:47 PM, said:

Abyss, on 28 June 2018 - 04:21 AM, said:

amphibian, on 28 June 2018 - 02:31 AM, said:

End of Disc One, on 27 June 2018 - 07:53 PM, said:

Briar King, on 27 June 2018 - 07:16 PM, said:

Read the 1st book of his 1st trilogy and I really enjoyed it. One day I will buy and finish it.

Hate to say it but I'd stop there. Blood Song is a great book. However book 2 did not hold my interest for the most part, and most people were very disappointed by book 3.

I liked where he took it. I think expecting the whole series to be carried by Valin is an unfair expectation and he did well, especially at expanding the sympathetic character list.

Seconded. I thought the series improved as he expanded the povs.

Thirded. Books 2 and 3 really expanded what he was doing, and I was impressed.

Totally disagree.

I had no problem with the expanding POVs, I actually enjoyed seeing more of the world but what he did with Vaelin was a travesety. He went from fast becoming one of my all time favourite characters to what the hell?! Just give him...

Spoiler

His fucking Blood Song back... problem solved... but no, his character got totally ruined and it spoiled the series for me.

On a positive note, just finished reading Ready Player One and I really enjoyed the book. I liked how it was so different from the film.

Re Blood Song....

Spoiler

It's strange to me that the majority of people who dislike books 2 n 3 seem to focus on the point that Vaseline didn't stay exactly the same as he was in book 1.It's subjective opinion of course and I don't deny anyone theirs (except for apt and maybe tiste), but to my way of thinking, a story that doesn't let the characters change/grow doesn't go anywhere. I just don't see how the author's choices re Vaelin diminished the character or the series.

Re: Blood Song

Spoiler

I think we're just going to have different subjective opinions when it comes to this book.

Vaelin went from a kick ass lead character in book one to a back seat emo character by book three. It was the character of Vaelin that bought me into the series and i just couldn't get by with the change. It was like Ryan wanted to remove everything good about the character...

I've got no argument with characters evolving, we see it quite often, a lead character built up, broken down and rebuilt again... I just didn't enjoy the way Vaelin was rebuilt and pushed to the side.

And don't get me started on Revas magically materialising skills levels...

Also it is only recently that I have realised how my mood phases effect my reading...
I can start a series with a "high-mood" phase, loving and living every word of the book and finish the series in a "low-mood" phase where it is an effort to read every word... it really does colour my opinions when reading...

[champ]

Briar King, on 02 July 2018 - 04:13 PM, said:

Are you still writing your journal? I haven’t went in that forum in months.

I moved to writing on a "blog" though it hasn't been updated in a while, fortunately I've not felt the need for that release lately!

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Just finished Tiassa, which was refreshing for a Taltos novel. I'd sort of felt the plotting was getting a bit stale during the previous two books — some mystery catches Vlad's attention, he wanders around a bit to find out more, unearths the nuggets of a plan, meets up with Morrolan/Sethra/Kragar/Daymar/etc, "Shut up, Loiosh.", gets beaten, comes up with a final plan, and carries it out. Don't get me wrong — it's fun every time. Still, Brust changing up the viewpoints and playing with some meta-storytelling techniques enlivened my experience.

Just ordered Hawk, and was going to order Vallista...until I saw it's only out in hardback. Reading a series and then catching up before it's done can be quite trying!

I guess I'll be waiting until the paperback release.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 03 July 2018 - 12:46 AM

[amphibian]

I've really enjoyed the later stage Taltos books. They absolutely did get a bit "my friends are so conveniently available" in the middle, then Brust figured out some very inventive problems to stick Taltos in while moving him forwards emotionally as well. I more firmly connect to what Taltos wants now, rather than his somewhat aimless "make money, eat well" thing before.

[acesn8s]

Finished Nemesis Games, on to Babylon's Ashes.

[Andorion]

Reading The Scar by China Mieville.

Its really really good, though I think it falls slightly short of PSS.

[amphibian]

Andorion, on 04 July 2018 - 05:01 PM, said:

Reading The Scar by China Mieville.

Its really really good, though I think it falls slightly short of PSS.

Wait till you're done before you start talking about ratings.

[End of Disc One]

Andorion, on 04 July 2018 - 05:01 PM, said:

Reading The Scar by China Mieville.

Its really really good, though I think it falls slightly short of PSS.

I agree so far at about 20% in (sorry amph). I’d be surprised if I end up ranking this above PSS, but that’s just how much I loved PSS and its setting. Still, this is quite good.

This post has been edited by End of Disc One: 04 July 2018 - 09:19 PM

[Macros]

Finished the Poppy War by Kuang last night.

I did not really like this book much. Which disappointed me so much as it was a purchase of the back of a pretty solid review from Wert

Things that only seemed a minor annoyance to Wert really bugged me.

Where to start, it tries, does try, to take the old story of orphan makes it into super special school, is ridiculed and ostracised bla bla bla, and make it fresh.

And you know what, this section of the book is well enough done, a few things are phoned in (see spoilers below) but on the whole I'd put it easily above Kvothe the wonder kids schooling.* note kvothe mention in spoilers*

after that unfortunately the whole thing falls rapidly apart. This book has such major tone and pacing issues its ridiculous. It's as if the author sat down and started writing the bits they wanted to see or scenes/ideas they had dreamed up in their head and really couldn't be arsed bridging them properly.

Hard to elaborate further without spoilers, I WILL say, for those who had put it on their TRP, notch it down to a Paperback price purchase or second hand, really, I was annoyed at shelling out hardback price (even on a bit of an offer) for this.

Spoiler

Jiang was such a ring in for Elodian I almost did a double take at it.
was obvious fairly straight out the gate where the gatekeeper had vanished to.

the idea of the saltpetre bomb with the sugar delivery was ace, but again seemed like a great scene the author had dreamed up and is just fudged into the siege.
the siege fairly sucked as well

one thing I WILL say for this. the last 20/30 pages lifts the narrative nearly enough to salvage it. which is so fucking frustrating. The message of humans using the Gods and Fate etc as an excuse for being horrific bastards and the idea of an eye for an eye is very well done. And Rins rapid desent into hate is ctually well enough handled, her decision to say fuck it and burn Mugen, knowing the Empress was to blame, was a nice fold to take away from the orphan came good hero story. This is not a book about heros, it was never meant to be. Which would have been awesome had it been handled better.

bah, Liked the setting (mapping and distance/population nonsenses which always bug me aside) it was a handy? route to set up hashing eastern Asia into a semi new shape and fudging the big parts together (the exams for positions etc)

in short, wert gave this 4 stars and I can't go any further than 2.5, and thats really only because it was a relatively short read and as in spoilers said, the last 20/30 pages was actually pretty solid and should be handed to every wanker in the world who uses religion to justify any action

This post has been edited by Macros: 04 July 2018 - 08:51 PM

[Tiste Simeon]

amphibian, on 04 July 2018 - 05:09 PM, said:

Andorion, on 04 July 2018 - 05:01 PM, said:

Reading The Scar by China Mieville.

Its really really good, though I think it falls slightly short of PSS.

Wait till you're done before you start talking about ratings.

I've not read PSS but I did enjoy The Scar.

Spoiler

That infinity sword or whatever it's called is flipping sweet and I loved the guy who wielded it...

However I do remember being a bit disappointed with the ending though I can't remember why...

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 05 July 2018 - 06:26 AM

[Macros]

spoiler tag fail tiste

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Tiste Simeon, on 04 July 2018 - 09:29 PM, said:

amphibian, on 04 July 2018 - 05:09 PM, said:

Andorion, on 04 July 2018 - 05:01 PM, said:

Reading The Scar by China Mieville.

Its really really good, though I think it falls slightly short of PSS.

Wait till you're done before you start talking about ratings.

I've not read PSS but I did enjoy The Scar.
That infinity sword or whatever it's called is flipping sweet and I loved the guy who wielded it...

However I do remember being a bit disappointed with the ending though I can't remember why...

Spoiler

A non-stereotypical, well-developed vampire fighting against a renegade slave wielding a sword that projects every potential move and rewards impulsive, inaccurate attacks because they create more possible strikes?

Yes please.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 05 July 2018 - 03:26 AM

[Tiste Simeon]

Macros, on 04 July 2018 - 10:06 PM, said:

spoiler tag fail tiste

Whoops haha edited.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Just getting up to the end of Dead Beat in Dresdencrack reread.

For the sake of anyone who hasn't read them/that far yet:

Spoiler

BAHAHAHAHAHA I completely forgot about Zombie T-Rex. I mean, seriously. ZOMBIE T-REX.

[Puck]

Briar King, on 08 July 2018 - 01:43 AM, said:

Now I’m still not wanting the next to happen but I have been expecting it to come up since bk 3.

Spoiler

im so not wanting the Fool to be a woman and they bone happily ever after...ugh To many things are pointing to this though: not taking his shirt off when he is injured, Amber, Ash/Spark telling him he/she will help him with “that other situation”, and now the latest is Fitz finding Bee’s dream book saying the beggar/Fool in bk 7 was a woman.

I don’t want this! It would be stupid on so many levels considering Fitz brings the Fool back from death/body swapping in bk 6 (you’d think he could tell something was missing down there and be aware of breast) not to mention the extensive healing sessions Fitz gives him in the beginning bits of bk 8...

Ya know, I'm fully prepared for Hobb to do just that after what she pulled in Tawny Man and I can assure everyone that I will never touch a book by her ever again should she do that (big threat, I know). The Fool is one of my favourite characters ever and the only reason I'm willing to keep reading Hobb, but she's slowly chipping away at that. The only way she could get out of the hole she's digging elegantly (only a spoiler if you haven't read Tawny Man)..

Spoiler

...would be to stay with the interpretation she's hinted at that the Fool changes gender (but not sex) when changing personalities, which makes pefect sense for him and explains Amber. I, for one, am a HUUUGE fan of Amber as well as the Fool (Lord Golden not so much), but I am definitely NOT a fan of Amber x Fitz. Hobb went to great lengths to drive home the point that love is possible without sex, so for her to backpaddle on that would be both typical for her AND disappointing nonetheless. And also insulting.

Also, I always interpreted the Fool's 'not wanting to take his shirt off' in the Farseer trilogy as not wanting anyone to see the dragon tattoo on his back, what with it being a mark of shame for him and stuff.

In fact, I am very annoyed by all the bait and switch she's trying to pull to please a certain tumblr-esque crowd.

Though, to be fair, I haven't read the latest trilogy yet, simply because I'm waiting for the ridiculous prices to go down here. Hobb's books have a particular problem with high prices that make me go 'nope, maybe in a few years'. Besides, I have to make my way through the Rainwild Chronicles first. Ugh.

This post has been edited by Puck: 08 July 2018 - 01:19 PM

[Andorion]

So I had my first foray into Jacqueline Carey - I read Starless and Naamah's Kiss, and it was ok, I guess?
Starless was honestly, very mediocre - the book felt like a short trilogy squeezed into a single volume. It was very rushed, superficial and random.

Naamah's Kiss was better, especially the second half.

[End of Disc One]

Isn’t Naamah’s Kiss book 7 of the Kushiel’s Legacy series?