[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 21 March 2025 - 12:11 AM, said:

The Warden, by Daniel M. Ford, first in the likewise-named series. About a necromancer guardian type who is sent to what seems to be a quite posting in the middle of nowhere on what seems to be a quiet, nothing posting but of course turns out not to be.


It's a funny one coz it sets up like a cozy fantasy- in fact the opening is nearly identical to Emily Wilde's Enyclopedia of Faeries- but (as the profession implies) proves to be much more of an adventure-fantasy of the swords-and-sorcery stripe (not that Emily Wilde is action free). With a sideline in recovering from post-war trauma, since the area is in the aftermath of one. But it still keeps those cozy-fantasy genes too- there's a lot about friendship, and earning trust, and all that kind of thing. Honestly, it's one of the most charming things I've read in ages. Only slightly put out that Ford felt the need to end it on a cliffhanger- but since the second book is already out and the third due in a month, it's not that big of a deal.


Really excellent, highly recommended.

Sounds Neat!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 21 March 2025 - 11:23 AM

[Chance]

Started a Tide of Black Steel unknowingly that it took place in the same world as Covenant of Steel, so I returned to that instead finding The Martyr and especially The Traitor to be a large step up from the first book which I found kinda boring when I read them when it came out. Its not Bloodsong level of awesomeness but some solid grimdark adjacent fantasy.

So once more on to Tide of Black Steel.

This post has been edited by Chance: 24 March 2025 - 05:29 PM

[QuickTidal]

Black Library are FINALLY re-printing the RAVENOR omnibus this summer, so after preordering it I decided to restart EISENHORN so that I'll line up with the release and then after that I can FINALLY read the two Bequin novels (which I've owned in hardcover for a few years now) because apparently they take place or fit in after RAVENOR.


100pages into XENOS and I'm freshly reminded what a great intro to WH40K this has always been, and what a cold badass Gregor is. That said, Bequin is and will always remain my fave character from these books.

[Macros]

Finished up Excalibur, that's the Author trilogy wrapped up.
I enjoy historical fiction, especially takes on heavily mythologised stuff (border line fantasy to start with).
I don't know very much about the Authurian legends (read the mabiogion once but it was very dense to get through) so don't know how cute Cornwell was being in places but did love his take on the few bits and pieces I did know of.
Character wise. Merlin is a fantastic bastard, Arthur a romantic and frustrating oathbound fool, Derfel is another version of every Cornwell lead, Guinivere is superbly realised, Lancelot an absolute bastard and there rest of the cast is actually very well filled out with decent motivations for their....ultimately bastardyness (bar sacramor and Culwich, they're awesome)

Enjoyed thoroughly.
As fun as Gemmells Troy on the myth/history pomp? No, but part of that likely driven by me getting all of references and a little part of me that sometimes bumps off the old man first person narrating back a tale

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Macros, on 26 March 2025 - 05:51 AM, said:

Finished up Excalibur, that's the Author trilogy wrapped up.
I enjoy historical fiction, especially takes on heavily mythologised stuff (border line fantasy to start with).
I don't know very much about the Authurian legends (read the mabiogion once but it was very dense to get through) so don't know how cute Cornwell was being in places but did love his take on the few bits and pieces I did know of.
Character wise. Merlin is a fantastic bastard, Arthur a romantic and frustrating oathbound fool, Derfel is another version of every Cornwell lead, Guinivere is superbly realised, Lancelot an absolute bastard and there rest of the cast is actually very well filled out with decent motivations for their....ultimately bastardyness (bar sacramor and Culwich, they're awesome)

Enjoyed thoroughly.
As fun as Gemmells Troy on the myth/history pomp? No, but part of that likely driven by me getting all of references and a little part of me that sometimes bumps off the old man first person narrating back a tale

Really pleased you enjoyed it! Merlin and Guinevere are my favourite aspects of the books.

[Tiste Simeon]

 TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 26 March 2025 - 07:39 AM, said:

 Macros, on 26 March 2025 - 05:51 AM, said:

Finished up Excalibur, that's the Author trilogy wrapped up.
I enjoy historical fiction, especially takes on heavily mythologised stuff (border line fantasy to start with).
I don't know very much about the Authurian legends (read the mabiogion once but it was very dense to get through) so don't know how cute Cornwell was being in places but did love his take on the few bits and pieces I did know of.
Character wise. Merlin is a fantastic bastard, Arthur a romantic and frustrating oathbound fool, Derfel is another version of every Cornwell lead, Guinivere is superbly realised, Lancelot an absolute bastard and there rest of the cast is actually very well filled out with decent motivations for their....ultimately bastardyness (bar sacramor and Culwich, they're awesome)

Enjoyed thoroughly.
As fun as Gemmells Troy on the myth/history pomp? No, but part of that likely driven by me getting all of references and a little part of me that sometimes bumps off the old man first person narrating back a tale

Really pleased you enjoyed it! Merlin and Guinevere are my favourite aspects of the books.

Your pernicious "Winter King" influence continues to grow TRB 😎

[Macros]

Have you read Gemmells Troy trilogy yet Tiste?

[Tiste Simeon]

 Macros, on 26 March 2025 - 08:56 AM, said:

Have you read Gemmells Troy trilogy yet Tiste?

Yeah man I read it a few years back it was great!

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 26 March 2025 - 08:56 AM, said:

Have you read Gemmells Troy trilogy yet Tiste?

I think I read that the first time on your recco, and I have revisited it every few years since as it's such a great re-read too.

[Chance]

Finished up A Tide of Black Steel which was pretty boring for more than half off it then exploded into actions closer to the end. Not sure I really like it but it was an awesome book for the last 20% or so which will probably make me pick up the next one.

Starting up Ninefox Gambit haven't read it in several years and I wanted something delightfully bizarre.

This post has been edited by Chance: 27 March 2025 - 08:38 PM

[polishgenius]

Tore through 'Idolfire' by Grace Curtis, a road-trip romance* fantasy about two women from opposite ends of what used to be Basically Rome (one from Basically Sumer and one from Basically Britain, albeit with an out-of-place Basically Nineveh there too), travelling to the fallen capital for... reasons they have. And end up travelling together, obviously.


It's really good. Her previous book, Floating Hotel (a sci-fi about, well, a space hotel) was fun but its somewhat experimental structure made it a little tricky to fully engage with any particular character. Was more of a puzzlebox tease about working out the plot. This is much more straightforward, and much more engaging- I really felt the two leads. And the writing is lovely.


*When I say romance, it is a literal one, but it's not, like, Fourth Wing or anything. Whimsical, like, and the road trip is the focus.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 14 March 2025 - 06:20 PM, said:

Just finished Rachel Aaron's LEGEND OF ELI MONPRESS bk 2 SPIRIT EATER. This went surprisingly dark at moments, had a great escape story, and did wonders w the supporting cast. Went directly into/finished bk 3, SPIRIT REBELLION, which set up a heist again but also serious gamechangers for the supporting cast who by this point are effectively protagonists as much as the titular Eli, and honestly, great fun to read. None of this is 'sophisticated', but it's well written, fast paced, the magic and fantasy elements are well thought through and if not quite original, definitely engaging. The aftermath of 3 propelled me directly into bk 4, SPIRIT WAR... credit where due, the author restrained her worldbuilding to this point, and now, after 3 books building up the characters, when the rest of the events around them start to tie together it REALLY works well on pulling the reader along for the ride. Everything is escalating and it utterly works.

Also, the author's action writing has steadily levelled up... bk 4 has a sequence i had to listen to thrice in a row, once to be sure i hadn't missed anything, then again for the sheer ott joy of what i was ear'ing. In Malazan terms... imagine Cutter breaking into a K'chain mountain to bust Apsalar out, imagine them running for their lives while a pissed off Kchain matron detonates chunks of mountain trying to get them, and imagine when all seems lost Cutter calls in Blind for help and then Apsalar shadowdances just for a little extra holyfuckdidijustreadthat? moment. It was like that. Very enjoying this series.

...from 4 directly into bk 5, SPIRIT'S END, and now Just Finished.

Great fun series, totally sticks the landing. The steady build from capers in bks 1-3 to much bigger scope for 4-5 is done well, and everything, absolutely everything, is tied together at the end in ways that flow logically from the story. And really, the title is misleading because three of the characters have as much POV protagonist time as Eli himself and all are compelling and endearing. I can't really explain much without spoiling some genuinely fun character development arcs, but as much fun as Eli is as dashing rogue and unusual wizard, swordsman Josef, girl-with-a-secret Niko, and crusading wizard Miranda (and her absolutely awesome giant dog) are just as engaging to read and all bounce off each other very well.

So yah, enjoyed this, worth the time/money. Earbook narrator Luke Daniels, always solid, is flawless here, does a range of voices masterfully.

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 05:37 PM, said:

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

There's never a BAD time to start Christopher Ruocchio's Sun Eater series, I mean EMPIRE OF SILENCE is RIGHT there man....

[worry]

I can think of a bad time to read Sun Eater...at night!

[polishgenius]

Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 05:37 PM, said:

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

Chance, on 27 March 2025 - 08:36 PM, said:

Starting up Ninefox Gambit haven't read it in several years and I wanted something delightfully bizarre.

Chance giving you advice clairvoyantly before you even posted.


Also: I need to reread Empire of Silence and get into the rest of the series.

This post has been edited by polishgenius: Today, 06:00 PM

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 31 March 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

Also: I need to reread Suneater and get into the rest of the series.

First book is the weakest and even that I enjoyed for MOST of it (there's a tiny lag in the middle but it last maybe 5 short chapters before it was off to the races again), I've heard that the rest of the series just gets better and better. I have a good friend who said that books 3 and 4 had him in an absolutely chokehold.

[Abyss]

polishgenius, on 31 March 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 05:37 PM, said:

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

Chance, on 27 March 2025 - 08:36 PM, said:

Starting up Ninefox Gambit haven't read it in several years and I wanted something delightfully bizarre.

Chance giving you advice clairvoyantly before you even posted.
...

...free w Audible+.... weeeEEEEEeeeeeellllll thennnnnn.....

[JPK]

 Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 07:30 PM, said:

 polishgenius, on 31 March 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

 Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 05:37 PM, said:

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

 Chance, on 27 March 2025 - 08:36 PM, said:

Starting up Ninefox Gambit haven't read it in several years and I wanted something delightfully bizarre.

Chance giving you advice clairvoyantly before you even posted.
...

...free w Audible+.... weeeEEEEEeeeeeellllll thennnnnn.....

I just finished the trilogy and can confirm that this is indeed what you want to be starting right now. Enjoy!

[polishgenius]

JPK, on 31 March 2025 - 07:41 PM, said:

Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 07:30 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 31 March 2025 - 05:55 PM, said:

Abyss, on 31 March 2025 - 05:37 PM, said:

Next up... not sure... maybe feeling some scifi.

Chance, on 27 March 2025 - 08:36 PM, said:

Starting up Ninefox Gambit haven't read it in several years and I wanted something delightfully bizarre.

Chance giving you advice clairvoyantly before you even posted.
...

...free w Audible+.... weeeEEEEEeeeeeellllll thennnnnn.....

I just finished the trilogy and can confirm that this is indeed what you want to be starting right now. Enjoy!

PSA: The trilogy stands on its own, it's not a 'the ending to Revelation Space only makes sense if you've read an obscure short story' situation, but the Hexarchate Stories short story collection contains a sequel novella that's... really good and worth reading for a few extra things.