Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[tilia]

Finished Shadow Chaser by Serena Glass, urban fantasy. It had a lot of the expected elements: a protagonist with unusual powers, unknown origins, a parent-figure/guardian dies early in the story, she's in opposition to the organisation/authorities she work with, but has a few trusted, very loyal friends. Started out a bit slow, but overall it was entertaining, and I liked the inclusion of Egyptian mythology.

Now I'm reading Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. Long overdue. Love it so far.

[jgaiser]

Just finished the second book in Dan Abnett's "Gaunt's Ghosts" series, Ghostmaker. This one is actually a group of short stories strung together with an interspersed story that gets concluded at the end. Overall, good back stories for all the main characters, though some weaker than others. And one heck of a finish.

I'm really enjoying Abnett's writing and have already got book 3, Necropolis, loaded on the Kindle and will start it next.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by fantasyfan

The Greater Trumps is by Charles W.S.Williams, a close friend of C.S.Lewis. He too was a member of The Inklings and he Lewis and Tolkien formed a triumvirate which has given memorable fantasy novels. Unlike the other two, Williams sets his novels in the everyday world and subjects his characters to an invasion of the Supernatural. In The Greater Trumps he deals with the Tarot and its religious and supernatural power.

His writing is impassioned, subtle, and powerfully subtle in tone--sometimes poetic in beauty. His characterisation is more uneven and I don't think that some of his main characters are particularly sympathetic--though he intends them to be so. TGT is the fifth of his seven major novels and the next one, Descent into Hell, is considered his masterpiece, but TGT is well worth reading.

Interesting - thanks for that.

[jersysman]

I'm now reading a non-fiction book on The Civil War - Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson.

[wyndslash]

Cloud Atlas and the fall of the Kings

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

F&SF, January/February 2013 by Spilogale Authors

An average issue for F&SF for me. One or two stories I really like, and one or two I didn't care for.

Next up was Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold.

Excellent. The story is centred on Ivan, and is set between Diplomatic Immunity and Croburn. But you don't need to have ready any of her other books to enjoy this one.

Next up: Man-Kzin Wars XIII created by Larry Niven.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

An average issue for F&SF for me. One or two stories I really like, and one or two I didn't care for.

Next up was Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold.

Excellent. The story is centred on Ivan, and is set between Diplomatic Immunity and Croburn. But you don't need to have ready any of her other books to enjoy this one.

Next up: Man-Kzin Wars XIII created by Larry Niven.

Yes, I very much enjoyed CVA. Finally, "that idiot Ivan" gets his own book.

Currently reading the full set of short Liaden Universe works. And enjoying, of course.

[Latinandgreek]

I'm reading "The Golden Mean".

[shakeitsalome]

I've been having the "January Blahs" so I've been reading tons to improve my mood. Currently in the midst of a Historical Romance binge (I've read 17 since the start of the year). Mostly series, mainly Regency era.

Just finished a Lorraine Heath's "London's Greatest Lovers" series. Started Miranda Neville's "Burgundy Club" series tonight after dinner. The Heath series was rather meh but still enjoyable.

[Lynx-lynx]

My current fiction read is Thus was Adonis Murdered, Sarah Caudwell; and it's a wonderfully humorous shot at the English legal fraternity. Caudwell was a Barrister herself and clearly drew on her fellow practitioners for the caricature types who are the cause for uproarious hilarity at their inability to live within the confines of the law.

Next on my fiction list is Nine Days, Toni Jordan.

[TheSacredSoul]

Currently reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. First book on my Paperwhite. Couldn't have chosen better. Only about 20% in but already loving the book. I am also personally attached to the novel now since a paragraph was almost word for word of what happened to me.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...ow_of_the_Wind

[John F]

Currently reading: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
On deck: Jingo by Terry Pratchett

[Quake1028]

I've been sick and unable to read so I still haven't polished off the last 50 pages of Casino Royale. Tonight it shall be done.

[gmw]

I don't post here about every book I read, but having spent three weeks getting through "A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin I thought I'd share my reaction...

That has to be the longest introduction to a story that I've ever read. The end arrived just as I was thinking the real story was about to start. I was disappointed that the book resolves very little of what it starts, despite its length. I thought I had read that there was supposed to be some sort of surprise or twist at the end, but maybe that comes in a later book.

It wasn't boring, but I found it hard to get involved. I'd just start to get (re)interested in what was happening to a character and the chapter would end, and since it was going to be another hundred pages before I saw that character again (or so it seemed), I'd put the book down to go on with something else.

It is a beautifully crafted story, I can see that, but there was too much distance between the threads for me to care much when GRRM started to get careless with his characters (whoops! there goes another one). I can see how it might work as a TV series, a sort of "Days of our Lives" in a fantasy world.

Are the next books done the same way? Or do they start to get better?

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

The quote at the top is the one I mentioned above and is from another thread. It got me interested in Pines.

I finished Pines and was blown away by it!! So suspenseful. A great book! And it's going to be a 2014 fox miniseries called Wayward Pines directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Just started Soul Identity by Dennis Batchelder. I downloaded it as a freebie [it still is a freebie] from Amazon over a year ago. I found a website called AuthorGraph where you can request a personalized page of any ebook you have from any registered author. I searched and found Dennis Batchelder, so I requested one from him. Here it is:

In his short personal message he thanked me for reading it, so I thought I'd better read it soon, like now!

Soul Identity was an interesting story with interesting characters, and also included a neat mystery. I'll get the sequel, Soul Intent and add it to my TBR list.

There were a lot of folks talking about the release of the 5th Iron Druid novel back at the end of November. And I'd never heard of it, so with some Amazon gift Cards I got for Christmas I picked up the 1st one, Hounded by Kevin Hearne and I've just begun reading it.