Reading in Fantasy and Horror April 2015

[Ryan Mueller]

Finished The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley. This was a great book. I think I enjoyed it even more than I did The Emperor's Blades. In this one, the pace goes along a bit faster, and there are interesting revelations galore. I'm really excited to see where it goes from here.

 

[Westy]

Bought the Signed Limited Edition Books of Blood by Clive Barker a little while ago, just finished the first volume.

This is a re-read from many years ago but they are still brilliant, original horror short stories. The Yattering and Jack and In the Hills, The Cities would still have to be two of my all-time top 10 short stories.

Will read the rest at a leisurely pace between novels over the next few months.

 

[Surt]

Ouch. We really disagree on this one, Surt. Here's a link to a review I posted a couple of years back,
http://www.sffworld.com/forum/threads/countdown-to-halloween-2012.36886/page-5#post-702688

Anyway, I found it a nuanced and interesting addition to the developing 21st century library of Lovecraftian novels that I've come across (mainly Caitlin Kiernan's The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl and Laird Barron's The Croning).

At least we can agree on the collection. I've read several of the stories in it and thought they were terrific, not least the title story. I need to pull this out and finish it.

Randy M.

When it comes to horror, I've read very few full length novels that I like. Neither The Croning nor The Ceremonies did anything for me, although Barron and Klein are both favorites of mine. For me, short stories are more powerful and better at maintaining an oppressive atmosphere better than full length novels.

Langan is actually one of the few writers who manage to write longer stories (in 'The Wide...') and still keep me interested.

 

[Hobbit]

When it comes to horror, I've read very few full length novels that I like. Neither The Croning nor The Ceremonies did anything for me, although Barron and Klein are both favorites of mine. For me, short stories are more powerful and better at maintaining an oppressive atmosphere better than full length novels.

Langan is actually one of the few writers who manage to write longer stories (in 'The Wide...') and still keep me interested.

Similarly, Surt, I've loved most of Joe Hill's short stories, but been disappointed by his novels (Horns being particularly disappointing.) I did really like NOS4R2, but that is more like his Dad's writing (deliberately, I'm sure) than his previous novels.

 

[Contrarius]

I finished Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Ehh. I didn't think it stood out in any way, really. I might give the second volume a try, on the general principle that series often take awhile to get going, but so far it seems very run-of-the-mill.

Started The Many-Colored Land by Julian May. I think I read this many many years ago, but I don't remember it. I had to laugh at one point, where characters are looking at "the symmetrical cone of Mt. St. Helens" -- written before the eruption.

 

[Luke_B]

Finished A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab a few nights ago. A light and fun read with some nice world building and charming characters. Maybe a little too cartoonish for my tastes, ultimately.

About 40 pages from finishing Unwrapped Sky by Australian author Rjurik Davidson, released by Tor and Tor UK last year. It's very good and unfortunately underrated in my opinion. It's basically a New Weird fantasy epic and should have a wide appeal to many posters here looking for something a bit different. Strong Mièville influence but with its own unique touches — a bit more of an epic fantasy vibe than China. I will do a full review for the site one I've finished. The sequel is being released later this year and will be called Stars Askew. Always happy to see a fellow Australian producing such quality work.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Feel better soon, Nicky!

Thanks, Contrarius.

I finished Echoes of Betrayal and Limits of Power by Elizabeth Moon. I cried during Limits of Power. Thus far, it's my favourite book of the series.

I just started the fifth and final book of Paladin's Legacy, Crown of Renewal. I'm only on page nine, and my goodness, it certainly starts with a punch in the face. I had a feeling this book would end up darker, due to both events that happened in the previous book, and the inevitable clash (because, what's a good fantasy novel without a clash?), but this opening certainly sets the tone.

 

[cgw]

Reading Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. I think it is her one adult book. Barely.
I have only previously seen an animated Howl's Moving Castle (one too-lazy-to-get-off-the-couch afternoon). The book is the same semi-chaos that I remember from the movie.

 

[Randy M.]

When it comes to horror, I've read very few full length novels that I like. Neither The Croning nor The Ceremonies did anything for me, although Barron and Klein are both favorites of mine. For me, short stories are more powerful and better at maintaining an oppressive atmosphere better than full length novels.

Langan is actually one of the few writers who manage to write longer stories (in 'The Wide...') and still keep me interested.

I agree that short stories and novellas are the best length for horror, allowing the development of mood and idea, and minimizing the chance of bogging down in other novelistic concerns and so attenuating the power of the story.

I'm usually surprised when I find novel-length horror effective. House of Windows worked for me, as did Kiernan's novels (The Red Tree more so than The Drowning Girl) and to a lesser extent, The Croning, but I've noticed that novel-length horror works best for me when there are few attempts at the big "BOO!" and it's woven in with something else -- s.f. (Richard Matheson), fantasy (Kiernan), or something more mainstream (King's novels have been described as horror melded with Peyton Place -- that's a clumsy paraphrase). Even at novel length, I usually find shorter best (The Haunting of Hill House, for instance).

Which is all just to say, I get it. I'm more likely to reread short horror than novels and that has as much or more to do with effectiveness than with time commitment.


Randy M.

 

[bard`s song]

I finished Sworn Sword (highly recommended to all Cornwell fans) and I am already halfway through "The King`s Blood" by Abraham.
"Dagger and Coin" is already in my alltime top 5 Fantasy series. Brilliant.

 

[Corporal Blues]

I finished up Red Seas Under Red Skies. I thought it was quite good, but the way things wrapped up in the end felt a little too clean for my tastes.

Spoiler

I felt like Lynch wrote himself into a corner and then pulled that family who was part of the Priori out of no where (at least I didn't remember them being mentioned previously in the book). This magically created family which REALLY helped out Locke and Jean felt a little cheap to me.

I'm still enjoying the series though and I'm eager to read Republic of Thieves.

Now I'm reading Glenda Larke's The Dagger's Path. Much like the first in the series, this one is really good, and I like that there's a couple new POV characters in there to mix things up.

 

[Contrarius]

I just started The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. So far, it's very appealing. And surprise bonus, the audio has one of my favorite narrators of all time (George Guidall), which just pleases me no end.

I didn't know anything about the story, but the setup basically involves immigrants (one Jewish, one Syrian) to late-1800s New York City. Not exactly typical for fantasy, and very interesting so far!

 

[Ryan Mueller]

Finished A Warrior's Path by Davis Ashura (who's a member here). Overall, it was an enjoyable book. It would probably appeal to some fans of Brandon Sanderson. Ashura did a good job of integrating his world's magic with the society he created.

There were a few minor editing issues, but nothing that distracted me from the story. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

 

[Takoren]

I'm considering myself finished with the Deepgate Codex. I read the first two books. The first was good, but not great. The second had moments of greatness but was far, far short of the mark. The third just doubled-down on everything that made the second one harder to get through than the first. I began to realize that I had ceased to care what was happening, or who it was happening to. I had no motivation to care about the characters, especially considering that nothing anyone did seemed to matter. I gave up after 55 pages.

Next up: Broken Empire #1: Prince of Thorns.

 

[chris777]

Reading Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan. I like it a lot so far. I think after I finish this trilogy I will attempt The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson. I've been forever inching towards a reread of Malazan Book of the Fallen. I may get there by the time I read these two. And if not I am hoping Anthony Ryan, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Bakker, and JV Jones have just finished their series so I can jump in that world for awhile.

 

[Ryan Mueller]

And if not I am hoping Anthony Ryan, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Bakker, and JV Jones have just finished their series so I can jump in that world for awhile.

Is Jones actually going to finish the Sword of Shadows series? I've been waiting awhile on that one.

 

[NickeeCoco]

I just started The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. So far, it's very appealing. And surprise bonus, the audio has one of my favorite narrators of all time (George Guidall), which just pleases me no end.

I didn't know anything about the story, but the setup basically involves immigrants (one Jewish, one Syrian) to late-1800s New York City. Not exactly typical for fantasy, and very interesting so far!

I liked that book. Slow moving, but interesting.

 

[bard`s song]

Reading Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan. I like it a lot so far. I think after I finish this trilogy I will attempt The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson. I've been forever inching towards a reread of Malazan Book of the Fallen. I may get there by the time I read these two. And if not I am hoping Anthony Ryan, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Bakker, and JV Jones have just finished their series so I can jump in that world for awhile.

So you are only reading finished series? Sounds like a clever idea.

I have finished "King`s Blood" in less than a week and have started the last book of Stackpole`s "Age of Discovery" trilogy.

 

[Contrarius]

I liked that book. Slow moving, but interesting.

I won't be able to be objective about it, since I would literally listen to George Guidall read the phone book, but I'm still enjoying it.

Incidentally, it strikes me that Wecker's publisher must have had a ton of faith in the book. Guidall is one of the biggest names in the audiobook business, and he must have cost a ton. So they were really pushing this book to success by hiring him. (Some people hate him -- I love him. He has a very distinctive style and rhythm that some folks find annoying, but it invariably draws me in and makes me want to listen more.)

 

[chris777]

Is Jones actually going to finish the Sword of Shadows series? I've been waiting awhile on that one.

Last year I did a little research and the latest rumors were by end of 2015 for JV Jones. Problem is she hasn't said a word in like 10years about it! It seems like she isn't interested in finishing it, which is a shame(I have not read but heard it's good). We'll see I guess, I would not hold my breath though.

So you are only reading finished series? Sounds like a clever idea.

I have finished "King`s Blood" in less than a week and have started the last book of Stackpole`s "Age of Discovery" trilogy.

For the most part that is my one hard and fast rule. I don't want to wait and forget. I like to just devour an entire series back to back. I make exceptions sometimes, and also some books don't have a set end to a series.

I have Dagger and Coin pretty high on my to-read list. I take it you liked it?