What Are You Reading, Part 2

[Winds Alight she/her]

Started "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr yesterday. Can't say yet if I'll like it.

[Tyson]

Finshed The Emperors Blades. Amazing. Has easily found a spot in my top 5 and one of the only books that has ever brought me close to tears (i'm not the crying sort of guy). Starting the second book Providence of Fire.

 

 

After that:

 

1. Grapes of Wrath 

2. Anancy Boys

3. The Dinosaur Lords

 

Does anybody recommend the Powder Mage series? Again, i've read too many conflicting reviews to warrant a purchase.

[StormingTexan he/him]

I'm about half way in to the first Powder Mage book and so far I really like it. It is for sure one of the better Non-Brandon books I have read so far this year.

[Briar King]

Tyson.

Powder 1 is indeed a fun treat. I've just not had time to read others.

[Left he/him]

Been on a trip to the beach so I've been able to get a Lot of reading done, to wit, David and Goliath: the story of misfits and underdogs(or something) by Malcom Gladwell, The One Eyed Man by Modesitt, reread Foundation by Asimov.

Read the first half or so of Heretics of Dune....sigh. I knew it was supposed to come back closer to the levels of books two and three, but I was really hoping that'd it'd at least be almost as good as God Emperor....I got sick of it eventually and just put it down.

On a better note The Night Watch (Pratchett) was excellent, although those of you who have payed attention to the order in which I've been reading Discworld are probably going into hysterics at how out of order I've been going. I've really been doing the chaotic version of Argent's marathon through the books, although at a slightly slower pace I think.

Currently working on Gravity Dreams by Modesitt, and then going to go to the library tomorrow and will probably get more Pratchett's and see if there's a Gladwell book I haven't read yet.

[KamorianKandra he/him]

I'm currently reading Wheel of Time. Not too far in, but I'm really enjoying it.

Other books I've heard are good are Kingkiller, Reckoners, His Dark Materials, Discworld, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Shanarra, Powder Mage trilogy, Dresden Files, Codex Alera, Realm of the Elderlings, Malazan, and A Song of Ice and Fire.

Wow... That's going to take me a long time.

I will probably read Kingkiller Chronicles next, and so was wondering if someone would give me a quick non-spoilery review about the "pros and cons" of the book. Is it worth reading?

Edited May 27, 2015 by KamorianKandra

[Dunkum he/him]

A bit hard to give pros and cons without knowing your interests, but I'll give it a shot, though not in chart/list format.  For me the main draw to Kingkiller Chronicles is the mythos, sort of.  Rothfuss focuses a lot on storytelling, so you get a fair amount of myths and stories thrown about, some of which contradict each other, or supplement each other in fun ways, and it makes it interesting to try to piece together the mythic history.  I may be misusing that term, but mean to refer to the actual history of what happened in myhtological times; like trying to piece together a history of the trojan war from the illiad and odyssey and the aeneid.  To me, this is the most interesting part, and what he does best in that series.  Next: I find the characters interesting, for the most part, though it is not too much of a stretch to find the main character insufferable, as some of my friends do.  For example, he tends to be pretty good at almost anything he tries, which can get annoying at times.  Also, for me personally, the character who seems to be the main love interest is kind of annoying, and I cant find myself getting behind that relationship (usually I am pretty ambivalent about these things, whereas here I am actually more or less against it).  I suspect the biggest con is the rather gratuitous portion of book 2, which amounts to something like 100 pages that are practically full of sex.  that or Rothfuss's writing speed, which is on the level with Martin.  The third book in the series is supposed to come out sometime in the next couple years, and that should end "this portion" of it, but my understanding is there may be more to come after that

[KamorianKandra he/him]

A bit hard to give pros and cons without knowing your

interests, but I'll give it a shot, though not in chart/list format.  For me the main draw to Kingkiller Chronicles is the mythos, sort of.  Rothfuss focuses a lot on storytelling, so you get a fair amount of myths and stories thrown about, some of which contradict each other, or supplement each other in fun ways, and it makes it interesting to try to piece together the mythic history.  I may be misusing that term, but mean to refer to the actual history of what happened in myhtological times; like trying to piece together a history of the trojan war from the illiad and odyssey and the aeneid.  To me, this is the most interesting part, and what he does best in that series.  Next: I find the characters interesting, for the most part, though it is not too much of a stretch to find the main character insufferable, as some of my friends do.  For example, he tends to be pretty good at almost anything he tries, which can get annoying at times.  Also, for me personally, the character who seems to be the main love interest is kind of annoying, and I cant find myself getting behind that relationship (usually I am pretty ambivalent about these things, whereas here I am actually more or less against it).  I suspect the biggest con is the rather gratuitous portion of book 2, which amounts to something like 100 pages that are practically full of sex.  that or Rothfuss's writing speed, which is on the level with Martin.  The third book in the series is supposed to come out sometime in the next couple years, and that should end "this portion" of it, but my understanding is there may be more to come after that

Thanks a lot for the review. It was very helpful.

I think I will read it, as it sounds interesting.

Not looking forward to the slow writing though. Especially after reading Brandon's books.

Thanks again for the help.

[StormingTexan he/him]

I really liked the first Kingkiller book but the second was a train wreck for me. Even with that Rothfuss is a really good story teller and because of that many may be able to overlook the flaws I found in the second book. Not that the first one didn't have flaws but overall I found it a lot better.

I'm almost 75% through the first Powder Mage book and man it's good. Lots of action and interesting magic. Kinda reminds me of Mistborn to an extent. Only thing I feel like I'm missing is a real connection with any of the particular characters although several are very interesting. I'll be going straight in to book 2 when I finish.

[Axies he/him]

Now I'm reading Dust of Dreams (book 9 of Malazan Book of the Fallen).

I've to say to all the "I don't like Gardens of the Moon, not gonna read Deadhouse gates" guys (I work on a book shop and there's a lot of hate against Malaz. Don't know why)... I get you. I had to read the first 80-150 pages 2 times just to start to get into the book but after that... I love magic on a book. Powerful magic. And MBotF has it since the battle of Pale in the first 50-80 pages. But is not only that... the book is full of "easter eggs" you will get in time (or with a reread). This is, "theoricraftingly" speaking, so similar to the Cosmere... Erikson puts there a lot to info for you to find.
 

"Worldbuildingwise"... Gardens of the Moon... yeees and no. It builds the little world of the empire of Malaz and the city of Darujhistan. The saga? Yes... has the best worldbuilding I've found in ages. Not only the world. The cultures, the religions, the diferent armies, magics, gods, races, characters (some of them are older than the world itself so they have a lot of history)...

I'd say... you've read GotM and you didn't quite liked it? Try Deadhouse Gates... it's the first book I've read that, even 7 books later, someone talks about what happened there and I start to cry.

“Very well permit me, if you will, on this night. To break your hearts once more. This is the story of the Chain of Dogs. Of Coltaine of the Crow Clan , newly come fist to the 7th Army …”

Edited May 27, 2015 by Axies

[-Deleted-]

I'd say... you've read GotM and you didn't quite liked it? Try Deadhouse Gates... it's the first book I've read that, even 7 books later, someone talks about what happened there and I start to cry.

 

Gardens of the Moon had an amazing opening. And I loved the first hundred pages. The next 700 were not nearly as interesting, and i read it twice to assure myself, to double-check. it was very disappointing, because this is considered a crowning achievement in the fantasy genre, and it wasn't very impressive. I don't know, maybe I'll read Deadhouse Gates and see how I feel about it.

[Axies he/him]

Gardens of the Moon had an amazing opening. And I loved the first hundred pages. The next 700 were not nearly as interesting, and i read it twice to assure myself, to double-check. it was very disappointing, because this is considered a crowning achievement in the fantasy genre, and it wasn't very impressive. I don't know, maybe I'll read Deadhouse Gates and see how I feel about it.

Try it, trust me. It's a bit slow in the begining, but... it's a heartbreaking tale. The problem with the "crowning achivement in the fantasy genre" is that the achivement is the whole saga, not the first book. I have to say that I prefer 1 first book bad an 9 really good that the Goerge R.R. Martin problem with 1-3 books great, years later 4 boring, even more years later 5 boring...

[Redbird he/him]

So I just started the Ables by Jeremy Scott, and it is pretty good so far. Also, it is interesting to have the main POV be a blind person.

[Dunkum he/him]

Try it, trust me. It's a bit slow in the begining, but... it's a heartbreaking tale. The problem with the "crowning achivement in the fantasy genre" is that the achivement is the whole saga, not the first book. I have to say that I prefer 1 first book bad an 9 really good that the Goerge R.R. Martin problem with 1-3 books great, years later 4 boring, even more years later 5 boring...

Bah.  Feast is possibly the most interesting book in the series, though I would be willing to concede Storm as better overall.  Dance is terrible.

 

And that reminds me a bit of Wheel of Time.  I hate the first two books in that series, but book 3 is great, and the next 2 or 3 are pretty good.  then lull, then really good for the final 4ish.

[Briar King]

I always tell on the fencers of Gardens of the Moon to stick with Malazan till bk 3 before they pass. It's a big commitment to read 3 books to decide yay or ney but Malazan rocks imo

[themovement he/him]

hey new here some books I like

Sword of Truth series

Dune series only frank so far maybe ever

Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy

Stormlight Archive well duh

stronghold serious

Harry Dresden files

vampire Earth ahh I think

Carpathian novels opps

Christopher Moore just because he's hilarious

I'm sure I'm forgotten some

[Argent he/him]

Source code. These days I am mostly reading source code... =\

[Gabriele she/her]

I loved Gardens of the Moon. 

 

Yeah, the rest of the series, too. Malazan even kicked out A Song of Ice and Fire from the second spot of my Favourite Fantasy list. (The first is taken by Lord of the Rings ever since I first read that.)

[Gabriele she/her]

Anyone read Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series? Any good?

I loved the first trilogy. But be warned, under that 'coming of age veering into an epic plot with all sorts of intrigues and some war'-story lurks a fair bit of bdsm/sex. I don't mind sex if it's well written and significant to the story, which is the case here since the MC is a courtesan, but if you're uncomfortable with on screen sex, even tastefully described, I'd not recommend the books.  

Edited May 30, 2015 by Gabriele

[Briar King]

Cool. I don't mind reading hardcore sex if there is an overall story to what I'm reading and it's not there just cause the author wants to get their jollies off like some seem to do.

[Argent he/him]

Finally finished Unseen Academicals. Disappointingly bad. I think I'll need to take a break from Pratchett for a bit after this...

[sanderfuss he/him]

Has anybody read any Chris Wooding?

[Left he/him]

Currently chugging through Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I'm enjoying it, and it provides a wonderful contrast to The West Wing and other books that I enjoy.

Also been continuing my Pratchett marathon and got two books for summer reading for my AP Human Geography class next year, Jihad vs Mccworld and Confucius Lives Next Door.

[DanTheSeamonster he/him]

Finally finished First Lord's Fury! Really quite good although I do have one or two issues with it, but those are just personal things

Mainly, no one died. Honestly, six books and no one but old Sextus and (very) minor characters? I'm a fan of happy endings and all, but the Vord Queen could have killed someone important.

 so if anyone is looking into the series I would definitely recommend it.

 

I'm now reading Elvenblood by Lackey and Norton, The King's Buccaneer by Feist, and The Innocent Mage by Miller. I'm trying to decide between starting Lords and Ladies by Pratchet or The Eye of the World by Jordan. 

[Briar King]

Yes Alera is one of my fav series. I read all 6 yrs before I picked up a Dresden book. You should read those if you haven't. Be warned that bks 1-3 are no where on the epic level the other 12 have been.