[amphibian]

I forgot the second half of my response:

The Goblin Emperor doesn't become more than what it is by the midpoint. That general vibe of court intrigue plus the main character seeking warmness is what it always brings. I haven't read the related book (not a sequel, as it features different characters) at this point.

I did enjoy Goblin Emperor, but it kinda felt like a "good time" book rather than something more memorable.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

amphibian, on 08 March 2022 - 02:17 PM, said:

I forgot the second half of my response:

The Goblin Emperor doesn't become more than what it is by the midpoint. That general vibe of court intrigue plus the main character seeking warmness is what it always brings. I haven't read the related book (not a sequel, as it features different characters) at this point.

I did enjoy Goblin Emperor, but it kinda felt like a "good time" book rather than something more memorable.

Dadding, on 08 March 2022 - 07:42 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 06 March 2022 - 06:59 PM, said:

I started and am about halfway through Addison's The Goblin Emperor. It's...boring. Does it get any better? Is it just Maia being moved from meeting to meeting with no idea what's going on, like flotsam on the tides, for the entire book? I thought this book was highly reviewed...

Finished it earlier this year and it's probably the worst book I've read since Mistborn. Boring political drama that's not very complex at all, main character is the only enlightened character in a sea of flimsy two-dimensional antagonists, uninspired worldbuilding with no purpose.

I'm glad I wasn't missing something. I'll probably toss this back on the shelf and read it when I've read every other good book out there...

Finishing up the last 1/4th of Jacka's Risen.

[Salt-Man Z]

worry, on 06 March 2022 - 04:53 AM, said:

On the personal front -- I finished Piranesi. Pretty good! Wouldn't be on my faves list or anything, but no major complaints.

I actually just started reading this myself a few days ago. It's been enjoyably weird, and I'd been waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. It finally did last night when I got to "The Prophet"...

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

Just finished The Library at Mount Char. That was a fantastic read and a bit bonkers at times.

Finished The Red Knight (book one of the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron) about a week ago. Took me a bit to get into as I'm generally not a huge fan of Arthurian settings, but once I got past that it was a good read as well. Couldn't decide on whether to dive into reading the rest of Max Gladstone's "Craft Sequence" or the Traitor Son, so I picked up the next two books in both.

I tried The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu and really got stuck with it. I found the way tense is used, particularly in descriptions of people, to be really off putting and couldn't get into it. There were other things about the writing style that bugged me too, just can't put my finger on them right now. Might try reading that again another day.

[Tiste Simeon]

Gwynn ap Nudd, on 11 March 2022 - 05:29 AM, said:

Just finished The Library at Mount Char. That was a fantastic read and a bit bonkers at times.

A hilariously brutal book, I love it so much!

[Imperial Historian]

Tiste Simeon, on 11 March 2022 - 09:18 AM, said:

Gwynn ap Nudd, on 11 March 2022 - 05:29 AM, said:

Just finished The Library at Mount Char. That was a fantastic read and a bit bonkers at times.

A hilariously brutal book, I love it so much!

One of my favourite books. Can't believe it's taken nearly 7 years to find a UK publisher

[QuickTidal]

Since I can't haul RoW hardback around on the transit, and considering AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is dropping in April, I have decided to dive back into the Peter Grant series....and of course I'm behind in the series and I completely forget what happened in FOXGLOVE SUMMER (the last one I read), so I'm re-reading it so I can start catching up and move onto the next three.

Always loved this world, and I think some Urb-Fant is just what the doctor ordered.

Has anyone read the comics? Would be interested if they were any good.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 11 March 2022 - 01:22 PM

[Tsundoku]

QuickTidal, on 11 March 2022 - 01:22 PM, said:

Has anyone read the comics? Would be interested if they were any good.

I have and they are very good. It helps to have read the novels around when the comics are set though, otherwise you miss a bit.

[QuickTidal]

Tsundoku, on 11 March 2022 - 03:30 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 11 March 2022 - 01:22 PM, said:

Has anyone read the comics? Would be interested if they were any good.

I have and they are very good. It helps to have read the novels around when the comics are set though, otherwise you miss a bit.

So finish the novels first and then check out the comics. Cool. Thanks!

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 11 March 2022 - 03:41 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 11 March 2022 - 03:30 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 11 March 2022 - 01:22 PM, said:

Has anyone read the comics? Would be interested if they were any good.

I have and they are very good. It helps to have read the novels around when the comics are set though, otherwise you miss a bit.

So finish the novels first and then check out the comics. Cool. Thanks!

I second the comics reco, they're great. Aaronovich writes them himself, the art is always solid, and they are absolutely canon to the story, albeit in a way that adds but doesnt require.

If you're up to FOXGLOVE you can dive right in. None of the comics happen later or spoil later books.

[Aptorian]

Reading Escape from Yokai Land by Charles Stross. It's not, as I'd thought, a full length Laundry book but rather a novella about what Bob was up to during his separation from Mo, before the New Management took over.

I was initially a bit miffed I payed 13 dollars for a short story but then I started reading and like always Stross writing is great and I missed Bob Howard.

[JPK]

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 03:06 AM, said:

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

Watch out for the maarkness that comes during!

[JPK]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2022 - 01:52 PM, said:

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 03:06 AM, said:

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

Watch out for the maarkness that comes during!

1 hour in. A new rash has formed. It itches when I look at the fantasy bestseller list and burns a little whenever I look at a Sanderson novel...

[Maark Abbott]

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 03:06 AM, said:

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

Excellent choice.

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2022 - 01:52 PM, said:

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 03:06 AM, said:

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

Watch out for the maarkness that comes during!

:AmeliaNut:

If you know that emote be VERY FUCKING ASHAMED INDEED (I'm not though).

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 02:51 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2022 - 01:52 PM, said:

JPK, on 14 March 2022 - 03:06 AM, said:

Well here goes nothing. I'm starting THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. Cue Maark in 3...2...

Watch out for the maarkness that comes during!

1 hour in. A new rash has formed. It itches when I look at the fantasy bestseller list and burns a little whenever I look at a Sanderson novel...

Three hours in and you'll become uncontrollably horny when looking at diacritics.

[Salt-Man Z]

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

[Tiste Simeon]

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

I have all 4 of these books, really looking forward to reading them.

[QuickTidal]

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

Tiste Simeon, on 16 March 2022 - 08:22 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

I have all 4 of these books, really looking forward to reading them.

I can only vouch for the first one, but I enjoyed it for EXACTLY the reasons Salt Man says. It's WILDY wholesome stuff. Slice of Life Space stuff. I'm definitely going to be reading the rest of them for that reason.


----------


On my end, I've finished FOXGLOVE SUMMER (really enjoyed seeing Peter largely on his own in the country solving the situation, with Nightingale at only arms length for advice and help). Will roll onto THE HANGING TREE after my next read.

Properly started THE SCARLET TIDES by David Hair (Moontide Quartet #2), and holy hell it's good. The first book had a LOT of table setting, so it had a slow first half and a much more rollicking second half...but with that table setting out of the way, Book 2 gets right into the good stuff and I'm already glued to the page. Not sure why this series doesn't get more play, it's really enjoyable.

[Tiste Simeon]

QuickTidal, on 17 March 2022 - 12:23 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

Tiste Simeon, on 16 March 2022 - 08:22 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

I have all 4 of these books, really looking forward to reading them.

I can only vouch for the first one, but I enjoyed it for EXACTLY the reasons Salt Man says. It's WILDY wholesome stuff. Slice of Life Space stuff. I'm definitely going to be reading the rest of them for that reason.

It was TRB who originally recommended them and I've wanted to read for a while.

[Macros]

QuickTidal, on 17 March 2022 - 12:23 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

Tiste Simeon, on 16 March 2022 - 08:22 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 16 March 2022 - 07:38 PM, said:

I'm about 3/4 through Becker Chambers' fourth Wayfarers book, THE GALAXY, AND THE GROUND WITHIN. The story is surprisingly refreshing: a handful of aliens of varying species are stranded at a family-run rest stop when the planet's satellite system goes down. Everyone tries to be the best person they can be to everyone else, and... that's kind of it? There's a tiny bit of drama around "now how will I make it to ___ on time?" and so on, but otherwise it's mostly just all these very different sentient beings getting to know each other and trying to be kind. It's all incredibly wholesome but still quite riveting.

I have all 4 of these books, really looking forward to reading them.

I can only vouch for the first one, but I enjoyed it for EXACTLY the reasons Salt Man says. It's WILDY wholesome stuff. Slice of Life Space stuff. I'm definitely going to be reading the rest of them for that reason.


----------


On my end, I've finished FOXGLOVE SUMMER (really enjoyed seeing Peter largely on his own in the country solving the situation, with Nightingale at only arms length for advice and help). Will roll onto THE HANGING TREE after my next read.

Properly started THE SCARLET TIDES by David Hair (Moontide Quartet #2), and holy hell it's good. The first book had a LOT of table setting, so it had a slow first half and a much more rollicking second half...but with that table setting out of the way, Book 2 gets right into the good stuff and I'm already glued to the page. Not sure why this series doesn't get more play, it's really enjoyable.

I think I have the whole series lying about somewhere, but book one started soooooo slow I didn't finish as far as I recall. May have to revisit