Just finished re-reading The Dragon Reborn, from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I'm glad I finished it before school started, because I will probably not have any time to read until December!
If I do have time, however, I am thinking of now re-reading New Spring before continuing with any more of the WoT series. But I think I will re-read the New Spring short story; what I've heard about the expanded novella doesn't sound that great.
If you liked Drawing of the Dark you should also try Tim Powers' On Stranger Tides. This book has been out of print for around twenty years which is difficult to understand since it's probably the best historical pirate fantasy you'll ever read. Now there's a new trade paperback out. Not a cheap edition but worth the price !
For now I am on to Venhiss Underground by Jeff Vandermeer. The second person narrative voice is certainly interesting, and unique, but the Jury is still out on that book, I'm only about 50 pages into it.
I've just started Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue with this one. It's a massive book and after the first few chapters I'm more annoyed with the author than anything else.
I loved that book. I found it to be one of the best books I've read in far too long a time. I love books that allow you to just lose yourself in them, deepening the mystery with each page.
As for me, just finishing off Deadhouse Gates by Steve Erikson. Highly recommended for those who don't sleep with a nightlight.
Well, I've been reading Donna Gillespie's The Light Bearer and it's sequel Lady of the Light, which she wrote 15 years or so after Bearer. Ostensibly, these are classed as historical fiction - Ancient Rome in fact - but there's enough fantasy elements in them that I can't help but say they feel more like genre reads to me.
I love The Light Bearer. I absolutely love it. A young Germanic tribesgirl comes of age, and is possessed of both spiritual and warrior-like talents. As the Holy Nine of her people predict 'she comes into her fate' and her fate is one hell of a strong one. She gets carted off to Rome, and forced, along with some of her people, into 'performing' as a gladiator in the arena. The book spans the reign of Nero, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. It's well researched, and sticks to its facts, while allowing poetic licensing in terms of story-telling. Auriane is your ultimate strong female lead. And so multi-dimensional. Gillespie's prose nearly makes me cry, it's so beautiful in places.
So when I discovered there was a sequel I was really excited. I finished Lady of the Light and now I'm not so excited. In fact, I'm sad. I feel that the integrity of The Light Bearer has been compromised. Perhaps it's that the scope of the story isn't so broad. Perhaps it's the 15 year gap between books. But something is missing. In the first book the scope was huge: from emperors, to the war between legions and the Germanic tribes, to the arena. In the sequel it feels as if the whole world is out to get Auriane and her family. She trips over new enemies everywhere she goes, and sometimes it just feels contrived. As if Gillespie thought to herself 'must make conflict! Conflict now' - I can almost see her grinding away at the conflict mill. The quality of the prose was still there. Auriane was still Auriane. But, somehow, it was just...less. I found myself enjoying the last half of the book, but I had to fight not to give up during the first half. I'd still recommend both of them, realising that it's likely my great love of The Light Bearer that has lead to my disappointment.
Oh, editing to add what I'd forgotten to write - the whole thing feels unfinished as well. The Light Bearer ended concisely. The sequel just seems to stop. Auriane's family has been torn apart with no resolution, and it really feels like the second book in a trilogy.
Her Roman partner, Marcus, apparently dies, but Auriane's last thought is something along the lines of 'I will see you again, I feel it'. Given that she is, in fact, a seeress, I have no idea if this is foretelling, or the desperate longing of a widow.
I can't find anything out if there is another sequel planned, but it seems as if these two books were a labour of love, so I'm not certain she'd be willing to write a third (given how long it took to write the second!). Bah, I've read a lot of books lately where I'm left with more questions than answers, and I find myself wanting to read a nice standalone that just ends. Hey Werthead, I need your research skills!
Funny you should mention it, because that was exactly what I did after I finished the book.
That was really cool that the author joined the discussion. Too bad I was about two years late in reading that one.
I really enjoyed the book. The pacing was pretty quick, and I read through it pretty fast, maybe too fast, because upon reading the discussion on the forum there were a few tidbits I kinda missed. (like the fact that parts 1 and 2 took place during part 3). I think this had a lot to do with the fact that I got pretty caught up in the characters and what their motovations were,that I missed out on some other aspects.
Shadrach was great. I loved that he was basically a one man wrecking crew, and a pretty brutal one at that.
Tonight I think I'll start on The Lies of Locke Lamora. I just recently bought this and immediately bumped it up to the top of my to read pile. Hopefully it lives up to the hype and accolades, and I've rarely been led astray by reccomendations from this site.
I loved that book. I found it to be one of the best books I've read in far too long a time. I love books that allow you to just lose yourself in them, deepening the mystery with each page.
So far this month I have finshed reading Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan. Good Trilogy but the ending was a bit of a let down, a bit rushed. But at this moment in time I am reading Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson. The first two in the series were great but this one is building up to be even better. I did get it spoilt a bit by reading a few forums (couldn't resist!!!)
Carrie! Great! I read that this spring. Loved it. King is ruddy brilliant, schlockmeister that he is.
I'm about finished with "Lies of Locke Lamora" and after that, have a bunch of research to do in the Equine world before returning to my stack of Wassner, Pratchet, Martin, Hobb, and a few others that are escaping me right now.
Recently, I had a $25 gift card to Borders. Lo and behold, when I walked into the store, there was Winterbirth and The Blade Itself!
I just finished Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley. It was a pretty enjoyable story, all in all. Interesting world and history. Some military action, court intrigue, etc. All the things I like in my epic fantasy. My one issue is that I didn't really connect with any of the characters.
I don't know if it's considered fantasy, but I'm reading Parable of the Sower, a post-apocalypse novel by Octavia Butler.
It's given me nightmares two nights running. The book isn't terribly graphic, so maybe the nightmares are because the events in the book are so very possible.
I don't know if it's considered fantasy, but I'm reading Parable of the Sower, a post-apocalypse novel by Octavia Butler.
It's given me nightmares two nights running. The book isn't terribly graphic, so maybe the nightmares are because the events in the book are so very possible.
Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents are two of my favorite books. The books are scary because the situation the characters are in is very believable.
I read and loved The Jaguar Hunter, a collection of Lucius Shepard's stories. I've been hunting down and buying everything I can find written by him. I wish I'd heard of him a long time ago.
As a change of pace I'm reading You Suck, by Christopher Moore. So far it's fun, but I think I liked Bloodsucking Fiends a little bit better. It's also fun to see the same events that occurred in A Dirty Job through the eyes of characters from You Suck.
I've decided not to read Harry Potter beyond #3 where I left off. It was kind of a "should read" for me. I'm done "shoulding myself" in my reading. I guess I'm beginning to realize that I'm not 30 anymore, with unlimited time ahead of me. Auntie Pam said it better somewhere, something like: I'm getting older and I don't want to waste my limited time reading books I don't enjoy.
I'm reading Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" right now. I just started it earlier on today and love it so far. I was surprised that I was able to find it in my school library. Typically most of the fantasy books in our library shelves are YA fantasy. Afterwards I'll probably take out "Anansi Boys". The library also has basically every volume of the "Sandman" series which I have been reading as well. The librarian is a big Gaiman fan.
Then I'll read "Red Seas Under Red Skies", which I intended to read a month ago, but plans change.
I'm currently reading Winterbirth, which I'm reasonably enjoying. Interesting world and historical background, though the story itself isn't the most riveting I've read recently. I'm about 3/4 of the way through and not an awful lot has really happened, though it is likely that things are being set up for the rest of the series.
I neglected my Fantasy reading whilst on holiday to read the Bourne Books So having dirtied myself decided to make up for it.
Picked up some cheap Moorcock whilst on holiday so have read the first two books in The History of the Runestaff. I enjoyed it to a point, but I couldn't read all four books in one go. He's brimming with ideas but his style is very and then this happened, and then this happened and then this happened. Quite repetetive. But I think just picking it up for one book at a time would be quite enjoyable, they are easy and quick to read, in between the epics I still have on my shelf.
Now reading A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay. I picked up a strange old copy which doesn't have a synopsis on the back. So I have no idea where it's going to go, which is quite exciting.
So having dirtied myself decided to make up for it.
