[Abyss]

A.
TONNE.

[Chance]

Finished the Unspoken Name and after a rather unengaging start it really took of and was a fairly good read. It would have been nice to see/hear more of the worlds not just the bits the author needed for the story which make the multiverse/planescape thing he got going seem a bit small but that is nitpicking. A solid but not outstanding book all in all with a real ending with threads hanging but really rather self contained.

End of Disc One, on 29 July 2020 - 08:48 PM, said:

Everyone says the books get better on a reread, and I wish I could relate. I've never read a book that got better on a reread, except possibly Deadhouse Gates which I didn't really enjoy the first time. I think a lot of my enjoyment comes from imagining the potential of where the story might go, and that's all gone on a reread.

The enjoyment of a Malazan re-read is seeing how all those small things fit together, how what seemed unimportant flavour was actually not or at least is an interesting part of a larger puzzle. Really few series of books rewards that as much as the Malazan series, I really should do a re-read again not tried it since 2017-2018 and I never started the Crippled God that time.

[T77]

Agreed, as I read GotM I keep thinking how does a first time reader keep track of all of the tribes, characters, warrens, gods, etc. I know I didn't, but I knew I loved it and I could see the brilliance.

[End of Disc One]

T77, on 30 July 2020 - 02:05 PM, said:

Agreed, as I read GotM I keep thinking how does a first time reader keep track of all of the tribes, characters, warrens, gods, etc. I know I didn't, but I knew I loved it and I could see the brilliance.

It was tough, but I just read very slowly and kept looking back at the appendix and character list. I sometimes consulted the forums for questions, mostly at the end when there's so much shit going on i.e. Azath.

And I understand what people are saying about picking up on the foreshadowing when you reread. That is satisfying, but for me it's just not enough to outweigh the joy of reading the series for the first time. It was like there was a sense of discovery and charting unknown territory.

[Abyss]

End of Disc One, on 30 July 2020 - 03:20 PM, said:

...
And I understand what people are saying about picking up on the foreshadowing when you reread. That is satisfying, but for me it's just not enough to outweigh the joy of reading the series for the first time. It was like there was a sense of discovery and charting unknown territory.

FWIW, the reread provided, for me, a similar sense of discovery... arguably moreso..., because there is so much (seriously, SO MUCH) that the reader cannot catch or recall until they've gone through the whole series and come back again. Little refs, minor mentions, those italicized chapter openers... my first reread post HoC was MIND BLOWING. My first complete reread post TCG was brilliant. The six or so rereads in between... OK FINE I HAVE A PROBLEM

[Chance]

After having no clue what to read next after The Unspoken Name I suddenly found that The Black Song is available now I know what I'm doing until its finished.

[Mercury]

Had a nice summer outing with my auntie today garage hopping. I made out like a bandit getting some new ink to read and I have already started One for the Money as well as getting both Two for the Dough, Three to get Deadly by Janet Evanovich.

This post has been edited by Mercury: 31 July 2020 - 07:58 PM

[Andorion]

Started The Hidden City by Michelle West
Its an excellent read so far

[Cyphon]

Andorion, on 01 August 2020 - 05:57 PM, said:

Started The Hidden City by Michelle West
Its an excellent read so far

Intrigued to hear the final verdict. Have you read other books in that world. I was put off picking this off because I heard mixed things on where to start.

[Andorion]

Cyphon, on 01 August 2020 - 06:45 PM, said:

Andorion, on 01 August 2020 - 05:57 PM, said:

Started The Hidden City by Michelle West
Its an excellent read so far

Intrigued to hear the final verdict. Have you read other books in that world. I was put off picking this off because I heard mixed things on where to start.

3 chapters in, I really love it so far.
yeah its a very complicated reading order for the entire series which encompasses 3 different series but I found a reading order from some one who had done it all.

Michelle West: Essalieyan Series Reading Order


House War

• The Hidden City
• City of Night
• "Warlord" (short story)
• House Name

Sacred Hunt

• Hunter's Oath
• Hunter's Death
• Huntbrother (novella)

Sun Sword

• The Broken Crown
• The Uncrowned King
• The Shining Court
• Sea of Sorrows
• "Echoes" (short story)
• Riven Shield
• The Sun Sword
• The Black Ospreys (novella)

House War Continued

• Skirmish
• Battle
• Oracle
• Firstborn
• War

In-Universe Short Stories Not Connected to Book Timeline

• "The Weapon"
• "Memory of Stone"

[T77]

Finished my reread of GotM, which was incredible. I then looked at my TBR pile and thought, should I read something other than Malazan, which will probably be mediocre, or move on to DG. Very easy decision.

[Morgoth]

I very much enjoyed Kate Elliot's Unconquerable Sun. It's spectacular and ridiculous space opera at its best.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished reread of Storm Front and started Fool Moon.

Ahhhhhh...

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 03 August 2020 - 02:12 PM, said:

Finished reread of Storm Front and started Fool Moon.

Ahhhhhh...

Dresdencrack ahoy!

I'm finishing a re-read of The Silmarillion and then will proceed to re-read Warlords. After all your excellent updates about them I think I have to!

[Macros]

I'm back on site full time now, I'd say I'll struggle to keep with the Malaz reread let alone anything else.

Strongly considering dropping the reread of TtH, DoD and CG, I disliked them so much

[Aptorian]

Weakling!

[Chance]

Nearly done with The Black Song and while good, it was kind of what was expected and not that holy shit that was awesome unexpected that makes can make a book great.

Macros, on 03 August 2020 - 04:00 PM, said:

I'm back on site full time now, I'd say I'll struggle to keep with the Malaz reread let alone anything else.

Strongly considering dropping the reread of TtH, DoD and CG, I disliked them so much

Have had the same femling about DoD and CG since they arrived DoD was better than I remember when I finally got through it. Still havent re-read CG.

[Tiste Simeon]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 03 August 2020 - 03:58 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 03 August 2020 - 02:12 PM, said:

Finished reread of Storm Front and started Fool Moon.

Ahhhhhh...

Dresdencrack ahoy!

I'm finishing a re-read of The Silmarillion and then will proceed to re-read Warlords. After all your excellent updates about them I think I have to!

Haha I look forward to frequent rages about Lancelot coming my way!

Macros I disliked DoD and a chunk of TCG first time around but man they hold up so well on reread. Like, seriously well!

[Macros]

oh fuck you tiste

FINE! i'll put myself through it.

[Mentalist]

I'm slowly resuming reading (Went for a few months without touching a book, I think). Staring at a screen all day, reading, and no commute to give me that mandatory down time means I muchly preferred gaming for the past few months. And once summer started, being outside whenever possible.

But now I'm chipping away at The Mad Ship again, about 3/4 done now. Hobb writes really well, but her pacing always leaves me struggling to stay interested. I can see why GRRM was such a fan, there's a lot of similarities at how glacially paced the story tends to be with both.