Just finished The Long Mars by Prachett and Baxter, and it was better than the second novel in the series, but it isn't amazing. It's good enough though that I enjoyed it and was kept interested.
I've just finished reading Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings, which I enjoyed. I find the series interesting and the story well developed. The characters have complexity that is revealed as the series unfolds. Some parts of the book, however, were a bit plodding - very much along the road they go, minor event/distraction and on they keep going until the next fight/obstacle/town comes along. I have just started the next book in the series.
I am also reading What Masie Knew by Henry James, which is fascinating. James' ability to convey what a child understands (and doesn't), feels about and turns to her benefit as she is exposed to parental disputes and adult conversations is amazing and creates an insightful story.
I've never been into urban fantasy being put off by the whole generic and shallowness of paranormal fantasy books.. but someone introduced me to the Kate Daniels series and I am finding myself obsessed and unable to put the books down! I am up to the third book in the series called Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (a married couple who co-write the series). I've never been so into such a genre, but the writing is good, the narrative and dialogue is snappy and fast paced. I feel invested in the characters. It's been a long while since I found a book I really like!
I'd just like to pipe up to say that urban and paranormal fantasy really do not need to be the same thing at all! :) Glad you're enjoying your current series, but I think Ilona Andrews is still considered PNR, so after you finish with her, I encourage you to look further afield for examples of the wider genre that are quite different. Lev Grossman, for example, although he's quite dark.
@Sionann, I just noticed your comment on Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I felt exactly the same when I first read it but the second and third books in the trilogy definitely fulfil the original potential.
Urban and Paranormal fantasies are completely different! There are plenty of authors who crossover with the two genres (e.g. Devon Monk, Jeaniene Frost, Richelle Mead write such crossover pieces, whereas Seanan McGuire, Jim Butcher, Chuck Wendig write straight up urban, I don't have a heap of experience with paranormal but I'm guessing Laurel K Hamilton?)
I'm about to start a re-read of the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead before I get stuck in to the final book in the series.
I'm working my way through the Liveship Traders books by Robin Hobb and damn they are amazing! I didn't particularly like them first time around, and I can't imagine why!
Most of the way through Short: An International Anthology of Five Centuries of Short-Short Stories, Prose Poems, Brief Essays, and Other Short Prose Forms edited by Alan Ziegler. The full title is longer than quite a few of the pieces! ;)
In terms of quality: anthologies are usually so-so, and this one is no exception in that sense. However, the range of short writing showcased is inspiring, and as a result I think I've finally found my place in the literary world. :)
I'm rereading The Lunar Chronicles since Winter is due out soon and I should also probably get my hands on Fairest. As far as YA goes, they are a bit better than most trash flooding the genre, but even though I am a sucker for fairy tail retellings, I actually think these stories would have been a lot better if they dropped the fairy tale archetypes. The world and concepts are interesting enough, and I would have liked to have seen more emphasis on them rather than moulding it all around to fit the fairy tale themes. I mean c'mon mind controlling moon people. I don't need Cinderella and Red Riding Hood and Rupunzel when there are mind controlling moon people.
I'm also reading The Etymologicon because I am a big nerd.
I've been reading a bunch of books lately, The Passage, the inheritance cycle, The history of middle earth books (silmarillion etc) and a bunch of manga. I need to reread obernewtyn though, I still haven't read the sending yet...
Still haven't read The Sending? And I thought I was bad not reading it for 2 or so years since it came it!
As for what I've been reading, I've read We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach, which was really good (it's coming up very soon, YAY for book blogging perks). Had four switching teenage perspectives about an asteroid which threatens to end the world.
And continuing the apocalyptic theme, I read The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, about a slowing Earth (so the day increases), which was pretty good, but not quite to my taste.
And I read The Girl With All The Gifts by Carey, which again was really good. About zombies, and there being a group of sentient zombies. Really nice.
I've moved on to catching up on a bunch of manga I'd fallen behind on, such as Fairy tail, Ratman and UQ holder.
The worst part is I've owned the Sending since about a week after it was released, and last year I actually went to go read all the books, and burnt myself out by reading to the end of TSK within 4 days and just didn't feel like reading another at that time. I'll go for a more paced attempt in a month or so when I have the time...
wow it's been a while since I've updated here;
I recently read All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven which was a DEVASTATINGLY BEAUTIFUL account of mental illness.
I finished Unwanted by Amanda Holohan the other day. I picked it up because she is an aussie and I feel the need to support . . . and also there were birds on the cover and I am easily swayed.
The writing was pretty meh and accordingly the characters had about zero personality, but for a YA dystopian story it was actually pretty creepy and unique enough that I will be reading any subsequent books when they come out. Also lacking romance (though it was hinted at) so that was a nice break.
I'm fairly meh on dystopia as a whole I think... although the Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina is EXCELLENT.
Speaking of supporting Australian authors; I'm currently re-reading Every Word by Ellie Marney, which is book two of a trilogy about teen sleuths in Melbourne and is absolutely fantastic. There is a lot of reference to Sherlock Holmes as well but without saturating it and ruining the story. I highly recommend it. (first book is called Every Breath, the third Every Move has just been released)
Just finished The World of Ice and Fire, which was pretty interesting, but disappointing and a little dull in some places.
Now I'm reading Resonance by Celine Kiernan and so far it is really intriguing me, so it looks promising
Well it was more disappointing than promising in the end. The beginning was good, but then it went downhill from there.
I'm reading Harry Potter Et Le Prince De Sang-Mele (6th Harry Potter in French) which is a fascinating experience, with my not all that great French. But I understand the gist of what's happening, perhaps more because of the number of times I've read the book more than my actual French skills!
I hate when books do that.
I read 'For the Forest of a Bird' the other day which was a nice short and simple story.
I just finished reading the Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig which gave me a similar vibe to Obernewtyn... the plot is quite different but it's got that same post-apoc 'machines are evil' atmosphere to it.
Almost halfway through The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Dr Clare Wright. It's an excellent 'people's history' book, and does a great job of presenting the gold rush in Ballarat in a broader perspective.
The maze runner series love it by James Dashner
And the Old Kingdom/Abhorsen series by garth Nix was too good
I'm re-reading Sabriel at the moment, actually! So good.
Recently finished 'Red Queen' by Victoria Aveyard... Haven't read much in the way of fantasy in awhile so it was a nice change of pace... Now I just need my best friend to read it so that I have someone to talk about it to ðŸ˜
Started reading 'Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality' by Eliezer Yudkowsky... Haven't tried fan fiction before and I'm not sure how I feel about a diabolical Harry (I haven't yet got to the part where he gets sorted) shall persevere for a little longer (it's over a 1000 pages, not sure if I'll make it to the end)
Finished The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (the second in the maze runner series). I'm somewhat conflicted because it's not the best writing, and some things really made me sigh, but at the same time I really want to know what is going on!
9 years ago
Sun May 10 2015, 08:40pmSionainn
I'm half-way through Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman at the moment (the second in the Seraphina series). It's getting into a lot of mind linking and power stuff that is reminding me a little of the OC, so it's definitely a series I'd recommend to anyone here.