[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

[QuickTidal]

Finished OF BLOOD AND FIRE by. Ryan Cahill. Had an absolute blast. Lots of somewhat tropey stuff that mimics existing media (WOT, DEMON WARS, ect.) but often goes in directions Iw as not expecting. Cahill very much likes to let you settle into a tropey scene and then yank the rug last minute and go off in a new direction. Which made it feel fresh, while also feeling familiar. Is it the best? No, but as a first book in a series I had so much fun, and I've heard the sequels are leaps and bounds better in terms of story and where everything goes. I have two of the next books, so I will definitely be reading them.

Also finished Patrick O'Brian's REVERSE OF THE MEDAL (Aubrey & Maturin Book 11), which puts me at JUST over halfway done this series. Still as good as ever. I'm not SUPER into the back half of this book with stock market swindles and shit happening on land....but Aubrey and his cohorts on land DOES always lend itself to really funny stuff because they are all so lost on land (barring Maturin obvs), and the ending sets up a DOOZY for Book 12.

Now onto INTO THE NARROWDARK by Tad Williams (Book 3 of The Last King of Osten Ard), as I have the 4th book on my Xmas list, so I figured I'm close enough to that books' release to finally start this one.

[Macros]

QuickTidal, on 28 November 2024 - 01:24 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

No, but he said he's going to post me that

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 28 November 2024 - 06:28 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 28 November 2024 - 01:24 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 November 2024 - 07:50 PM, said:

Finally getting to the book that wouldn't burn

Is it the Limited Locked Tomb Edition signed by Mark?

Just asking.

No, but he said he's going to post me that

[JPK]

Tiste Simeon, on 27 November 2024 - 05:54 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 27 November 2024 - 05:44 PM, said:

JPK, on 27 November 2024 - 05:01 PM, said:

I'll post some thoughts on EXCALIBUR later today after I've had a bit more time to process just how awesome that book was.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes....

As long as "Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering" is in there somewhere.

Ok, slightly late here but better than never.

I'll start by saying that I loved this trilogy and I'm disappointed I let it sit in the (audio) trp for so long. Cornwell writes this time period so well and his battles, while appropriately gruesome, are typically a pleasure to read and Mynydd Baddon was no exception.

A bit more spoilery territory:

Spoiler

First things first: Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering. That aside, his death was glorious. Finding him covered in filth and on the run after he had abandoned yet another battlefield, to be unceremoniously hung like a commoner. Just beautiful. Even if it wasn't the "woman's death" he deserved.

Next up is Guinevere. While I no longer wanted her death by the end of the events of Mynnyd Baddon, she was by no means redeemed for me. Saving Derfel's forces and assisting in the battle by no means makes up for her role in what was unquestionably open treason and betrayal in the previous book. I'll admit that that her scene when she helps the young queen leave the gold behind was really good though.

Merlin and Nimue make this book for me though. Nimue stepping into what is eventually Morgan's traditional role worked really well and her motives for really well with her overall characterization throughout the series of being willing to sacrifice anything for the goal of bringing back The Gods. The lengths she goes to when deciding to curse
Ceinwyn. I do wish that had been slightly different though as pretty much everything up to that point questioned whether magic was real or the cunning of the druids. With that point, I feel like it shifted to a certainty that magic was real, though perhaps rare.

Merlin was by far my favorite part of this book. From his rambling old lunatic act to the edges of his cunning, he stole every scene he appeared in. I have no words for how amazing his death scene was and everything involving him and Gawain was simultaneously amazing and horrifying. The images of Gawain's corpse riding during Mynnyd Baddon are right up there with Lancelot's wedding in the previous book. I really love how horrific the Druidic Rituals were in this series.

My only real criticism of the trilogy is that too often Derfel just felt like I was reading Uhtred again.

I'll stop now because I could keep going for ages but I'm on moving and don't want to accidently refresh and lose everything I've gotten down.

Thank you again for the recommendations on this one. It's among the best I've read this year.

[Abyss]

Semi off topic but if ( any of ) you want to read an interesting/different take on Lancelot (and Arthurian myths generally), Kieron Gillen/Dan Mora's ONCE AND FUTURE is absolutely worth a read.

Just finished Martha Wells' Raksura bk 4, EDGE OF WORLDS. Solid, sticks the landing despite the hooks set for bk 5. The cast ends up in a sort of dungeon crawl but since the cast are bipedal flying monkey lizard people that opens up all kinds of fun. Started bk 5 HARBORS OF THE SUN, it's fairly fast for the first third, builds to a fairly major plot point. Coming right off bk 4 i enjoyed it but felt like a break, so took advantage of the nice people at SPOTIFY raising prices but throwing a bunch of free earbooks at me to try ALIENS: BISHOP by TR Napper (never heard of him but he's got a few books out before this). It's a fast short read at 10hrs and about an hour in it feels very much like an 'ALIENS story', with our pov Colonial Marine character defrosting, assessing her new squadmates and getting into a fight w the smartgunner. Fun nod, her CO is the older brother of Sgt Apone from the ALIENS movie, and the story is - of course - about a mission to retrieve the Bishop android from the movie.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 29 November 2024 - 02:45 PM, said:

Semi off topic but if ( any of ) you want to read an interesting/different take on Lancelot (and Arthurian myths generally), Kieron Gillen/Dan Mora's ONCE AND FUTURE is absolutely worth a read.

And if you want a fancy deluxe hardcover slipcase edition of it, it's only $28 on Bookoutlet.ca! I own this, and can recommend it.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 29 November 2024 - 04:00 PM, said:

Abyss, on 29 November 2024 - 02:45 PM, said:

Semi off topic but if ( any of ) you want to read an interesting/different take on Lancelot (and Arthurian myths generally), Kieron Gillen/Dan Mora's ONCE AND FUTURE is absolutely worth a read.

And if you want a fancy deluxe hardcover slipcase edition of it, it's only $28 on Bookoutlet.ca! I own this, and can recommend it.

eeeeeeevil.

[Tiste Simeon]

JPK, on 28 November 2024 - 10:35 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 27 November 2024 - 05:54 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 27 November 2024 - 05:44 PM, said:

JPK, on 27 November 2024 - 05:01 PM, said:

I'll post some thoughts on EXCALIBUR later today after I've had a bit more time to process just how awesome that book was.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes....

As long as "Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering" is in there somewhere.

Ok, slightly late here but better than never.

I'll start by saying that I loved this trilogy and I'm disappointed I let it sit in the (audio) trp for so long. Cornwell writes this time period so well and his battles, while appropriately gruesome, are typically a pleasure to read and Mynydd Baddon was no exception.

A bit more spoilery territory:

Spoiler

First things first: Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering. That aside, his death was glorious. Finding him covered in filth and on the run after he had abandoned yet another battlefield, to be unceremoniously hung like a commoner. Just beautiful. Even if it wasn't the "woman's death" he deserved.

Next up is Guinevere. While I no longer wanted her death by the end of the events of Mynnyd Baddon, she was by no means redeemed for me. Saving Derfel's forces and assisting in the battle by no means makes up for her role in what was unquestionably open treason and betrayal in the previous book. I'll admit that that her scene when she helps the young queen leave the gold behind was really good though.

Merlin and Nimue make this book for me though. Nimue stepping into what is eventually Morgan's traditional role worked really well and her motives for really well with her overall characterization throughout the series of being willing to sacrifice anything for the goal of bringing back The Gods. The lengths she goes to when deciding to curse
Ceinwyn. I do wish that had been slightly different though as pretty much everything up to that point questioned whether magic was real or the cunning of the druids. With that point, I feel like it shifted to a certainty that magic was real, though perhaps rare.

Merlin was by far my favorite part of this book. From his rambling old lunatic act to the edges of his cunning, he stole every scene he appeared in. I have no words for how amazing his death scene was and everything involving him and Gawain was simultaneously amazing and horrifying. The images of Gawain's corpse riding during Mynnyd Baddon are right up there with Lancelot's wedding in the previous book. I really love how horrific the Druidic Rituals were in this series.

My only real criticism of the trilogy is that too often Derfel just felt like I was reading Uhtred again.

I'll stop now because I could keep going for ages but I'm on moving and don't want to accidently refresh and lose everything I've gotten down.

Thank you again for the recommendations on this one. It's among the best I've read this year.

An excellent summary!

[Mentalist]

Since I went and picked up a few more books during Black Friday, figured I need to read at least some of the ones i've had lying around from last time.

So spent the day today going thru "The wisdom of the Crowds". A very interesting take for me, considering I read Carlyle's "History of the French Revolution" earlier this year.

Need a bit of time to think what's next.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 29 November 2024 - 05:58 PM, said:

JPK, on 28 November 2024 - 10:35 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 27 November 2024 - 05:54 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 27 November 2024 - 05:44 PM, said:

JPK, on 27 November 2024 - 05:01 PM, said:

I'll post some thoughts on EXCALIBUR later today after I've had a bit more time to process just how awesome that book was.

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes....

As long as "Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering" is in there somewhere.

Ok, slightly late here but better than never.

I'll start by saying that I loved this trilogy and I'm disappointed I let it sit in the (audio) trp for so long. Cornwell writes this time period so well and his battles, while appropriately gruesome, are typically a pleasure to read and Mynydd Baddon was no exception.

A bit more spoilery territory:

Spoiler

First things first: Lancelot is the worst and I wish him nothing but pain and suffering. That aside, his death was glorious. Finding him covered in filth and on the run after he had abandoned yet another battlefield, to be unceremoniously hung like a commoner. Just beautiful. Even if it wasn't the "woman's death" he deserved.

Next up is Guinevere. While I no longer wanted her death by the end of the events of Mynnyd Baddon, she was by no means redeemed for me. Saving Derfel's forces and assisting in the battle by no means makes up for her role in what was unquestionably open treason and betrayal in the previous book. I'll admit that that her scene when she helps the young queen leave the gold behind was really good though.

Merlin and Nimue make this book for me though. Nimue stepping into what is eventually Morgan's traditional role worked really well and her motives for really well with her overall characterization throughout the series of being willing to sacrifice anything for the goal of bringing back The Gods. The lengths she goes to when deciding to curse
Ceinwyn. I do wish that had been slightly different though as pretty much everything up to that point questioned whether magic was real or the cunning of the druids. With that point, I feel like it shifted to a certainty that magic was real, though perhaps rare.

Merlin was by far my favorite part of this book. From his rambling old lunatic act to the edges of his cunning, he stole every scene he appeared in. I have no words for how amazing his death scene was and everything involving him and Gawain was simultaneously amazing and horrifying. The images of Gawain's corpse riding during Mynnyd Baddon are right up there with Lancelot's wedding in the previous book. I really love how horrific the Druidic Rituals were in this series.

My only real criticism of the trilogy is that too often Derfel just felt like I was reading Uhtred again.

I'll stop now because I could keep going for ages but I'm on moving and don't want to accidently refresh and lose everything I've gotten down.

Thank you again for the recommendations on this one. It's among the best I've read this year.

An excellent summary!

Agreed, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it

Guinevere:

Spoiler

Completely get it. I think I like her so much because she's that rare thing (at least amongst my reading) in that she's a woman who's allowed to be and remain not entirely likeable - "redemption" doesn't occur although she does get that incredible moment at Mynydd Baddon. She just feels real to me in a way a lot of female characters don't - I'd say the same for Nimue as well, she's allowed the full ruthless horror of what she becomes without the need to ever "redeem" her.

He tries for the same notes with Brida in the Uhtred books and whilst I appreciate the character I don't think she reaches quite the same heights. I enjoyed the Brida of the TV adaption more.

Also, I read these first and then the Uhtred books - so I have the opposite problem in that Uhtred will do something Uhtredy and my brain goes "Hello Derfel, nice to see you again."

[JPK]

I just finished up NINEFOX GAMBIT. Very enjoyable, if a touch predictable.

Spoiler

It would have been nice if he actually was crazy.

Next up I've decided to listen to A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I wasn't going to until I spotted it narrated by Tim Curry in the Plus catalog. It doesn't get much better than free Tim Curry.

[HoosierDaddy]

Continuing on the LitRPG after the Cradle series with Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Just LOL. These popcorn books are great to get me reading again.

[QuickTidal]

HoosierDaddy, on 04 December 2024 - 04:18 PM, said:

Continuing on the LitRPG after the Cradle series with Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Just LOL. These popcorn books are great to get me reading again.

I keep hearing about these, and I wonder if I should try them. Note: I like Cradle because it's giving me a Legend of the Condor Heroes with a western tinge vibe....would I like DCC?

[HoosierDaddy]

QuickTidal, on 04 December 2024 - 04:27 PM, said:

HoosierDaddy, on 04 December 2024 - 04:18 PM, said:

Continuing on the LitRPG after the Cradle series with Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Just LOL. These popcorn books are great to get me reading again.

I keep hearing about these, and I wonder if I should try them. Note: I like Cradle because it's giving me a Legend of the Condor Heroes with a western tinge vibe....would I like DCC?

Quite different. Cradle is more serious. DCC is much more ludicrous scenario given life and written entertainingly enough for me to wonder how much more ludicrous it is going to get. And when I say ludicrous, I mean it. All of it is ludicrous, from scenario to environment to characters, to language used.

[worry]

Dang I was just about to ask about the DCC books! They seem to have made a big splash in the last year or two. LitRPG doesn't generally appeal to me, but these ones have a talking cat, so you know. Worth a looksee.

[HoosierDaddy]

worry, on 04 December 2024 - 06:36 PM, said:

Dang I was just about to ask about the DCC books! They seem to have made a big splash in the last year or two. LitRPG doesn't generally appeal to me, but these ones have a talking cat, so you know. Worth a looksee.

The talking cat is the second main character. No POV from Princess Donut yet and I'm nearly finished with the 3rd book. It stays strictly with Carl as the POV through them.

It's good fun.

[amphibian]

My favorites of that general book dynamics: 12 Miles Below, The Immortal Great Souls, The Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, SSS Class Suicide Hunter.

These specific books have a wide cast of characters that do unexpected things, decent to very good pacing, and attach real emotions to what's happening.

[Briar King]

Ok I got my ass up to BAM at like 8 pm and looked all over that damn place for Wind and Truth with no luck finding a copy. I was pretty pissed off after that waste of time and gas and as I was getting up to the counter with Licanus 3 I asked where W&T was..it turned out to be completely sold out. However I was charming enough I guess that the manager gal went behind the counter and grabbed a copy that was on hold. That person probably going to be pissed off when they get up there and it’s not waiting on them lol.

So I’ve started it. Hope it doesn’t turn into Queef and Beans! 1300+ pg book what a behemoth!

On pg 526 of Hidden City. Still boring as all kinds of fucksause.

Ugh could be a grueling multi read in store for me.

[Abyss]

Briar King, on 07 December 2024 - 05:13 AM, said:

Ok I got my ass up to BAM at like 8 pm and looked all over that damn place for Wind and Truth with no luck finding a copy. I was pretty pissed off after that waste of time and gas and as I was getting up to the counter with Licanus 3 I asked where W&T was..it turned out to be completely sold out. However I was charming enough I guess that the manager gal went behind the counter and grabbed a copy that was on hold. That person probably going to be pissed off when they get up there and it's not waiting on them lol.

So I've started it. Hope it doesn't turn into Queef and Beans! 1300+ pg book what a behemoth!

On pg 526 of Hidden City. Still boring as all kinds of fucksause.

Ugh could be a grueling multi read in store for me.

hateread!
hateread!
hateread!