[worry]

Dang I typed something up and then closed the tab before hitting Post! Anyway I finished How Long 'til Black Future Month? and it's pretty good. Better back half than front. Not much high fantasy (there are non-canon precursors to both Dreamblood and Broken Earth), but it's mostly sci-fi, dystopian, magic realism, etc. Even some cyberpunk (which were actually some of the best stories imo). Like most such collections it's a mixed bag, but nothing outright bad (aside from maybe a couple endings) and a few stories that are quite great. 3.8 out of 5.

Now I'm reading A Winter's Promise due to polishgenius's rave review!

This post has been edited by worry: 15 December 2018 - 08:55 PM

[Mentalist]

Finished "City of Ice". Things really pick up towards the end, I'm contemplating jumping right into "The Brass God".

But I think I'll hold off on that. End of year is coming, I'll probably be doing some splurging soon, so may as well check out a new author.

So I'll toss "The Alchemists Loom" by Elise Kova as my next commute book.

And I'll probably start the second Traitor Son book, "The Fell Sword" as my at-home read. I have a very real suspicion I might just grab the remaining 3 books during the holidays., if this lives up to the quality of Book 1.

[Zetubal]

Finally started Black Company (the very first, original one). Odd style but sufficiently intriguing start. I'm curious.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

My friend just told me he's going to start reading Malazan! I guess it's my duty (and pleasure) to begin reread number 4 in support?

I guess my TRP can wait a year!

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 19 December 2018 - 04:10 AM

[Abyss]

Briar King, on 20 December 2018 - 05:01 AM, said:

Holy shit what a simple and powerful explanation of something in BE3 that really hit me in the feels. Others may have looked this over but I hope not. Pg 230

Spoiler

finds Essun/Castrima in the desert and instead of describing the full extent of the hardships of it Jemisin through Hoa's narration to Essun purposely glosses over the rest of the desert journey to spare her the retelling and then asked her if that was to fast before going on to tell her some of the things HE did behind the scenes to help her/them along in a few events that were described in the chapter that took up all of less then one page(if it would have been on the same pg anyway) just to get the point across to her that he was/is a human being. Powerful stuff there especially him going back to comfort the dying Potter that decides to stop walking and die alone

Very curious to see if others shared my feelings when they hit this part.

Yep. Loved that bit.Really crystallized a few things.
...heehee, see what I did there?

[Macros]

stop talking about books I haven't read

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Chambers' Record Of A Spaceborn Few

[Zetubal]

Finished the eponymous first novel of Black Company yesterday. Decent book but nothing to write home about. I imagine that it must've been somewhat revolutionary back when it came out though. Croaker is intriguing enough as a protagonist, and I liked the fact that his narration skips over much of what I'd say would've been mere action fluff in favor of detailing the more personal stories. Most other characters don't go beyond "quirky" in terms of their characterization. The main plot of the novel is surprisingly derivative (as in: I expected more of such a widely praised novel) - I enjoyed it for what is was, but I can't exactly say that it feels like the beginning of an epic memorable series.

That said, I've already started Shadows Linger and it's off to a good start.

[Mentalist]

Finished "Alchemists of Loom". Cool worldbuilding, good pacing, decent action. One drawback is that characterization feels kinda YA-ish.

I'll read the sequels, but I'll probably ebook rather then buy the rest of the trilogy in dead tree.

[Abyss]

Belcher’s BROTHERHOOD OF THE WHEEL 2:KING OF THE ROAD.
Opens with one hell of a strong start.

[Dadding]

Finished the last Fitz and the Fool book Assassin's Fate. What an amazing series. Easily in my top three right up there with Black Company and Malazan. There were tears.

Now I'm going to try to tackle Lord of the Rings for the 5th time. Maybe this time I'll get past the first book.

[worry]

Finished A Winter's Promise. I wouldn't say my enthusiasm is as high as pg's, but I liked it pretty good. This is one of those stories where the protagonist is thrust into an unfamiliar society, so you're learning and navigating things right along with her (she's a young adult, though, not a kid, so she catches onto some things pretty quick -- you're not left waiting for her to catch up to you the reader that often). If you're in the mood for that kind of thing this is a pretty unique, rather engaging take. And pg is absolutely right, the political world she's thrust into is absolutely savage (though, as a breath of fresh air, this is not a medieval setting). And the hinted at backstory of this world seems like things are even darker.

I can't think of anything I'd describe as flaws, just in-the-mood-for warnings. A few problems get resolved fairly quickly and conveniently, though I'll leave that up to you to decide if it's satisfying or not. I personally had no problem with these things not being dragged out. The protag is a bit passive for much of it, but not for lack of thoughtfulness or self-preservation instincts. Circumstantially and personality-wise it makes sense. And it's definitely 1/4 of a story, rather than a self-contained thing set in a larger narrative (so not like Malazan or Harry Potter). But it also ends exactly where it should, imo. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 sandglasses. Also it might be the first YA novel I've read to feature the word 'erotic'.


Now I'm reading The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt, a graphic novel/history text about French colonialism in Indochina, as embodied by a certain 'modernization' project. Anyone else read any of the "Graphic History Series" of graphic novels? Seems like a neat idea, at least.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Finished Spaceborn Few — enjoyable and character-driven, but not as good as the first two Wayfarer books.

Attanasio's Solis up next.

[Slow Ben]

Finally made it to Oathbringer in my TRP. Decided to do a re-read first. So Way of Kings it is!

[polishgenius]

worry, on 29 December 2018 - 08:16 PM, said:

Finished A Winter's Promise. I wouldn't say my enthusiasm is as high as pg's, but I liked it pretty good.

Glad you enjoyed it. It was always likely my particularly besotted take was based on things that specifically pushed my buttons as a reader (plus the protagonist being very, very like me helped) so it's nice to see that people who aren't taken in quite the same way still enjoy it.

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 29 December 2018 - 10:02 PM, said:

I've been reading Malazan longer then I did Safehold. Should hit 2 yrs easily. Will find out come April I suppose.

Speaking of Safehold I have wonderful news! Not only is the next book coming in a few days but 7 others seem to be planned to finish it off.

Wait 7 more? That would make it 16+ books in total!

[JPK]

Briar King, on 30 December 2018 - 04:58 AM, said:

Yep.

This one and 7 more. Let’s hope the info dumps/tech lectures are kept to a minimum for these last 8.

There are still 2 arcs to get through during these.

Spoiler

the defeat of the Archangels and then the Gababa

That second thing sounds like it was named by a one year old. Say it out loud and try to tell me I'm wrong. I dare you.

As for myself, I'm about 200 pages away from finishing the last Rain Wilds book. BK, you should really read both Liveship Traders and these. You're missing a huge part of the Elderlings story by skipping them.

[worry]

Go read on the toilet.

[worry]

I never said you had to poop.

[worry]

I never stopped believing!