Reading in May 2009

[NickeeCoco]

Astra,

Oh, fantasy comes into play, let me assure you.

 

[Trinuviel]

I've been trying to read the Twilight Saga to see what all the fuss was about. I made it through both Twilight, which was half decent, and New Moon, which I found too histronic for my tastes - and I've just thrown Eclipse across the room after only 200 pages. Suffice it to say that I'm deeply disturbed by Mrs. Meyer's twisted and unhealthy depiction of love and romance and that I find it appaling that Bella and Edward's unhealthy relationship (co-dependant and emotionally abusive) has been so enthusiastically received by teenage girls. Bella, who only longs for death so she can be with her undead boyfriend forever, is undoubtedly the worst possible role-model for young girls today!

 

[BrightStar]

Picked Alan Campbell's Iron Angel off of my to read list, so I'm going to read this next. Been really, really looking forwards to getting to read this book, since I utterly loved the first one. I hope I'm not dissapointed. My only concern is that it's been a long time since I read the first, so I hope I haven't forgotten any of the necessary plot details, etc.

 

[Siberian]

I'm continuing with Empire of Ivory, and the dryness of Novik's style is starting to get to me. I don't know why, it didn't happen before with the first three books.

 

[Gilgamesh]

I've been trying to read the Twilight Saga to see what all the fuss was about.

I was very opinionated about her books. Now I know that I wouldn't like them at all. I think I'd read Goodkind rather than these books . Having said that, this is just my opinion... De gustibus non est disputandum...

 

[suciul]

I finished City and the City by C. Mieville and I am mixed; great first part, complete let down in the second part, though beautiful prose kept me interested to the end

My mini-review (full rv on FBC next week)

Beautiful prose, empty book; an act of prestidigitation by enormous talent Mieville, keeps the balls juggling but barely.

The setup - modern world with all cultural references, except for a superposed dual city whose citizens "unsee" each other except when officially visiting and with an all powerful Breach that keeps the order - is barely credible from the start and only the talent of Mr. Mieville keeps it from being utterly preposterous; even so and the act falters from time to time, while the book itself - a police investigation - is ultimately empty;

I loved the first half of the book, it was new, fresh and the magisterial way Mr. Mieville managed to keep the act in place and make me believe in Beszel and Ul Quoma, the unseeing and all was breathtaking, but the second part in which explanation are coming, villains are unmasked, chases and shootouts happen was a complete let-down and the book came up as empty and I could not care less about the narrator or the cities since they just faded into unreality, squiggles on paper, not living cities I can imagine visiting.

Wait, maybe I am in Breach

Recommended for the prose and for police procedural lovers, but it is far, far away from Scar or PSS.

 

[Seak]

I was very opinionated about her books. Now I know that I wouldn't like them at all. I think I'd read Goodkind rather than these books . Having said that, this is just my opinion... De gustibus non est disputandum...

I have a friend who's mom read Twilight and he would make fun of it. That is until she said, "What if I made fun of Lord of the Rings without ever reading it." So, he proceeded to read the series just to be able to make fun of it. He ended up liking it a lot though. I just thought that was funny .

 

[Apathy]

I read a lot of good books lately so let me start telling you of them

1) The Night Watch, The Day Watch, and The Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. What seemed to be a typical "vampire/werewolves, light mages vs dark mages" book in the first 150-200 pages turned out to be something different and more enjoyable. The Night Watch and the Day Watch are two organizations that can be thought of as the Light Mages and the Dark Mages respectively. Due to a treaty, the two opposing groups are supposed to exist in harmony and peace to achieve a balance. However, both sides are constantly striving to defeat the other. I found the ambiguous morality of both groups to be very interesting, since both groups are willing to bend any rule, and sacrifice anyone to achieve their goals. I REALLY want to spoil something for you but I will resist. I will say that I find the premise very unique for exactly how far he has taken it...

I also really liked how it has a flavor of Russia I guess you could say. The translator does not seem to have dolled things up for English speakers ( but I cannot be sure since I cannot read it in Russian). Anyone else get this impression?

I still have the final book The Last Watch and I will get to it eventually. Quite a good worthwhile series, with a dark outlook that is strangely optimistic.

2) I also read The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, and The Undead Kama Sutra, and Jailbait Zombie by Mario Acevado. I missed X-rated Bloodsuckers simply out of carelessness but I will read it later. Well, let me tell you that asking a stern-faced middle-aged woman where I can find "the Nymphos of Rocky Flats" is not an experience I wish to repeat, but the books are worth the embarrassment. I think the first sentence on the back of the first book will give you are starting point for the book. "Back home in the States, the reluctantly undead former infantryman pays penance for his war-time sins-making a living as a [PI] able to unravel mysteries that baffle his mortal counterparts." Just to set the record clear, this is NOT some type of playboy vampire sexual adventures book. If it was such a thing there would be no way I could take the books seriously. The books have plently of conspiracies (gotta love conspiracies!), action, comedy, and some romance. Each book gives you a bigger picture of what is going on in this world (and out of it).

It is definitely a good solid series worth reading.

3) Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews and it very enjoyable. It is the 3rd installment of the Kate Daniels series. It has everything I like in a story. Lots of action, comedy, great character-interaction (a bunch of dynamic characters in this series, always like seeing that). I am surprised that no one has commented about the series here in the forums. So I recommend this author to anyone interested in something that is fun and leaves you with a good aftertaste. Lots of depressing books being read here...so this series/book is a good break from those types.

4) Child of a Dead God by Barb & J. C. Hendee is I think the final of this series. I think I saw a book that starts a continues this story in a new series, but I am not sure. Anyway, this final book gives a more competent-impression than the first three of this series, the fourth and fifth got the series back on its feet after that nasty third book. I think it is safe to say that the authors are now experienced, and I look forward to reading more from them. Always pleasing to notice improvement in books...I hate stagnation.

 

[Gilgamesh]

I have a friend who's mom read Twilight and he would make fun of it. That is until she said, "What if I made fun of Lord of the Rings without ever reading it." So, he proceeded to read the series just to be able to make fun of it. He ended up liking it a lot though. I just thought that was funny .

It's just that I'm not that young anymore (I'm probably younger than your friend's mom, though). So I totally respect people's tastes and understand and don't judge . But all this tsunami of Twilightesque novels makes me smile. I love vampire stories... I love werevolwes... But I don't know who's idea it was to make them share the same world and oppose each other but it fails miserable on me... without talking about juvenile love stories... even though I like romance in fantasy books, romance à la G.G. Kay or R. Hobb...

 

[BrightStar]

But all this tsunami of Twilightesque novels makes me smile. I love vampire stories... I love werevolwes... But I don't know who's idea it was to make them share the same world and oppose each other but it fails miserable on me...

I've been tempted to give the Twilight series a go, just to see what all the fuss is about. I don't usually go for vampire/werewolf stories. But my brother's girlfriend has just gotten into the series, and apparently can't put it down.

I read the first chapter of Iron Angel last night. Thought it was good, though it is a long time since I read the first book, and it's a bit frustrating having to remember names and the sort that are so dim in my memory now.

I even thought of re-reading Scar Night, since I know I loved that book and I don't want Iron Angel to be spoiled by my poor memory. Unfortunately, because my familiy have been packing up in readiness to move house, many of my books are now stacked away in boxes in the garage, completely out of reach. I fear Scar Night is amongst them.

Though we'll be moved in August, so maybe I should wait until then. I'll be able to unpack Scar Night once I move, read that, and then enjoy Iron Angel more.

I figured I'd give Iron Angel a few more chapters though, just to see if it helps my memory any. This is always the problem with me though, I have such a terrible, terrible memory that I tend to forget most of everything I read barely a few weeks after I read it! I guess it's great for re-reading, but makes following a series a bit of a pain.

Maybe there's a really good summary of Scar Night that I could read, to remind me of what happened in the first book so I can follow the second a bit easier. Anyone know of any good ones?

 

[Gilgamesh]

Scar Night has been on my Planning to read shelf for a while. How did you find it?

 

[BrightStar]

Scar Night has been on my Planning to read shelf for a while. How did you find it?

I made a post about it in the Alan Campbell topic, not long after I finished the book:

I loved it, though I suspect I'm a bit biassed because anything with gods, angels and a religious theme used in the way Scar Night does will always have me craving more. I love that kinda thing.

Aside from my own personal near-obsessive love of angels, gods and the sort, there's a lot about Scar Night to praise. I loved the slightly dark humour of the characters, never overly done, never feeling out-of-place or spoiling the tension. Felt very natural, and made me laugh out loud. There were times when these minor moments of humour made a forgettable scene quite memorable.

Atmosphere was brilliant, I was totally hyped by the ending. Campbell is a very talented writer, possessing a tremendous ability to really describe and capture the atmosphere of what's going on. I loved how dark the atmosphere was.

The ending of the book felt very, very rushed to me. Somehow, I felt it could have been much better (though I can't quite explain how).

I edited out a few spoiler-ish type comments for the quote here, since I figured you wouldn't want to read those having not read the book. I'd definitely give Scar Night a recommendation. re-reading my own words about the book has really made me enthused to read Iron Angel.

 

[PeterWilliam]

I read a lot of good books lately so let me start telling you of them

1) The Night Watch, The Day Watch, and The Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. What seemed to be a typical "vampire/werewolves, light mages vs dark mages" book in the first 150-200 pages turned out to be something different and more enjoyable. The Night Watch and the Day Watch are two organizations that can be thought of as the Light Mages and the Dark Mages respectively. Due to a treaty, the two opposing groups are supposed to exist in harmony and peace to achieve a balance. However, both sides are constantly striving to defeat the other. I found the ambiguous morality of both groups to be very interesting, since both groups are willing to bend any rule, and sacrifice anyone to achieve their goals. I REALLY want to spoil something for you but I will resist. I will say that I find the premise very unique for exactly how far he has taken it...

I also really liked how it has a flavor of Russia I guess you could say. The translator does not seem to have dolled things up for English speakers ( but I cannot be sure since I cannot read it in Russian). Anyone else get this impression?

I still have the final book The Last Watch and I will get to it eventually. Quite a good worthwhile series, with a dark outlook that is strangely optimistic.

I keep seeing the name Lukyanenko. I'm convinced enough to at least add it to the wishlist.

 

[TheEvilKing]

Iron Angel is a fun read, my friend, you won't be disappointed. I found Scar Night enjoyable but had some problems. The second book is much more epic and badass.

I finished the Engineer Trilogy by KJ Parker, which I thought was really very cool, despite the rather bleak ending.

I've started The Chosen by Ricardo Pinto and a re-read of Prince of Nothing.

 

[BrightStar]

Iron Angel is a fun read, my friend, you won't be disappointed. I found Scar Night enjoyable but had some problems. The second book is much more epic and badass.

Yes, I'm already getting some of that "this is really cool!" feeling, and I only read a little bit so far. I just love the dark atmosphere of this book (it's as good as the previous, so far).

I do wish I had a summary of what happened in Scar Night, but so far I'm managing to follow what's going on. At least my memory of it is coming back, even if its very slowly.

I've started The Chosen by Ricardo Pinto

I'm afraid to say that I found The Chosen to be a slow and tedious read, which unfortunately only gets worse as the series goes on. I barely managed to find the energy to get through the second book, (The Standing Dead) and decided that it wasn't worth my effort to read the third. A major dissapointment for me, unfortunately.

 

[Cranky Hamster]

Picked up the first of Dave Duncan's Alchemist books. I haven't seen a lot of discussion about this on the board, and I've never read Duncan, so I get to approach this book with the extremely unusual circumstance that I have no idea what to expect.

Well, no, that's not true. Whenever a book hasn't been mentioned at all around here, I tend to assume it is more-likely-than-not pretty crap. Not always, but probably about 65% of the time. So I'm bracing myself for that possibility.

But maybe this one will prove to be the exception...

 

[JCD]

Just finished Abercrombie's First Law trilogy last week. I found it to be a rather entertaining read. Better than expected but not all what I wanted it to be, after having read a few reviews and opinions throughout the net. It certainly ranks higher than anything else I've read over the last few months, though.

Yesterday, I finished The Accidental Sorceror by K. E. Mills which apparently is a pseudonym Karen Miller uses for her Rogue Agent series. Looked like some lighthearted, humorous fantasy but it took a turn into darkness somewhere around the middle of the book. There's a lot of screaming and whining involved. Things often just happen, there's no subtlety involved. I don't know yet what to think about it.

Until the next Amazon delivery arrives I'm going to read the last book my unread 'pile' is made of: David Weber's In Fury Born. I'm only five pages in so there's not really much to say about it.

 

[Hellions]

4) Child of a Dead God by Barb & J. C. Hendee is I think the final of this series. I think I saw a book that starts a continues this story in a new series, but I am not sure. Anyway, this final book gives a more competent-impression than the first three of this series, the fourth and fifth got the series back on its feet after that nasty third book. I think it is safe to say that the authors are now experienced, and I look forward to reading more from them. Always pleasing to notice improvement in books...I hate stagnation.

Good to hear, especially as I really enjoyed the first two books and have the others buried somewhere in my TBR pile.

And yes, the second Noble Dead series has been launched in January with In Shade And Shadows. Go get it and tell me how good it is

 

[Rob B]

And yes, the second Noble Dead series has been launched in January with In Shade And Shadows. Go get it and tell me how good it is

I've got a copy (well, I've had it since January) but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'd like to get into it soon, though.

 

[Apathy]

Yesterday, I finished The Accidental Sorceror by K. E. Mills which apparently is a pseudonym Karen Miller uses for her Rogue Agent series. Looked like some lighthearted, humorous fantasy but it took a turn into darkness somewhere around the middle of the book. There's a lot of screaming and whining involved. Things often just happen, there's no subtlety involved.

The same thing happened in the Innocent Mage books, first half I was enjoying a lot, then it took a dark turn. Pretty much out of the blue, and al the comedy disappeared, AND the series had a dark ending. NO IDEA why the author made the beginning seem one way and then turn into into something else that I dislike.