mageprincess
Squire
books, books books!!!
Posts: 1,133
Gender: Female
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Post by mageprincess on Aug 4, 2021 16:34:56 GMT 10
Not much book reading happening here unless you count an inordinate amount off M/M romance novels (which I totally do!). Two of my friends released their latest books in that genre recently and I am so proud of both of them. Plus it’s great fun to put ideas in their heads about their supporting characters!
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Post by MythicMistress on Oct 26, 2021 6:57:54 GMT 10
I recently finished The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker, sequel to The Golem and the Jinni. I didn't really have any expectations coming in, it was an okay read.
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Post by mistrali on Nov 5, 2021 14:27:16 GMT 10
Reading The Widows of Malabar Hill and loving it so far. It’s set in 1920s Mumbai with a female (and very feminist) Parsi protagonist.
Reminds me a lot of Tammy’s books, obviously, in that it centres on a woman going against the grain by studying law.
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Post by Rosie on Nov 17, 2021 21:11:27 GMT 10
I've read some really great fantasy this year - primarily The Priory of the Orange Tree (I liked it so much that I 'encouraged' Lisa and Kypriotha to read it too), but I also love Naomi Novik's Scholomance series - has anyone else read it? Guess it files under 'dark academia', but it's a fun magic school, puts me very much in mind of Percy Jackson. I'm on 114 books read this year, equals my total for last year but I've still got a little work to do to catch up to the page count (like finishing A Suitable Boy)
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Post by Kypriotha on Nov 22, 2021 16:26:05 GMT 10
I continued my desire for comfort re-reads with the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch and Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. Then, just as I was feeling like I was sick of re-reads and wanted to go back to new material, I received some 'encouragement' from Rosie and read The Priory of the Orange Tree. It was amazing and reminded me why my true literary love is still fantasy (when it's well written - even better when it's feminist and queer!). Now feminist fantasy is all I feel like reading. In the middle of my Peter Grant re-read, I read The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor, which was a really sweet middle grade fantasy based on a real bookshop in Melbourne in the late 1800s.
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Post by Rosie on Nov 22, 2021 20:48:49 GMT 10
I continued my desire for comfort re-reads with the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch and Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. Then, just as I was feeling like I was sick of re-reads and wanted to go back to new material, I received some 'encouragement' from Rosie and read The Priory of the Orange Tree. It was amazing and reminded me why my true literary love is still fantasy (when it's well written - even better when it's feminist and queer!). Now feminist fantasy is all I feel like reading.In the middle of my Peter Grant re-read, I read The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor, which was a really sweet middle grade fantasy based on a real bookshop in Melbourne in the late 1800s. I'm so pleased you picked up on my hints, sometimes I wonder if I can be too subtle. I'm on a real fantasy-bent as well, my next fix is a traded recommendation with Lisa (I'm playing nice and reading a book she has suggested so I can foist a book with a cliffhanger on her and suffer together) - Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, which sounds like exactly the kind of book for me.
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Post by wordy on Nov 23, 2021 19:29:20 GMT 10
I'm on a real fantasy-bent as well, my next fix is a traded recommendation with Lisa (I'm playing nice and reading a book she has suggested so I can foist a book with a cliffhanger on her and suffer together) - Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, which sounds like exactly the kind of book for me.
I liked the worldbuilding in Black Sun but overall the book didn't really grab me. I enjoyed The Priory of the Orange Tree.
The last few books I've read were: - The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson. Love this series, can't wait for book 4.
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - this was a reread, because I'd read Harrow the Ninth the month before for the first time and then I was in such a Mood that I decided I needed to revisit Gideon. It also started me listening to a lot of themed playlists. Love this series too.
- Chasing Graves by Ben Galley. I got this one as a freebie via reddit I think, the whole trilogy, and I'm glad I did get the whole trilogy because the first book ends very abruptly and feels more like part of a serialised work than a legitimate standalone novel. I did enjoy it though - good writing, good concepts/wolrdbuilding, good characters - so I'm reading the second book at the moment.
- The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. I didn't know much about this one except that it was historical science fiction. It was fine - she's a good writer, which I already knew, but it's not something I'd ordinarily seek out to read for myself.
In addition to Grim Solace by Ben Galley (book 2 of Chasing Graves) I'm also halfway through The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams and...not loving it. This novel gets so much hype, particularly on reddit, but it's honestly just your typical poor-special-servant-boy-discovers-magic-and-gets-caught-up-in-plots-threatening-the-kingdom. It's sort of trying to be Lord of the Rings? It's just boring. But I'm determined to finish it (some day...) in case there are any redeeming qualities.
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Post by mistrali on Nov 23, 2021 22:15:28 GMT 10
Been on a crime kick lately - I finished most of the Perveen Mistry books and moved on to Abir Mukherjee’s Sam Wyndham books. Same era, but I’m not enjoying Mukherjee’s books as much.
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Post by devilinthedetails on Nov 28, 2021 12:00:34 GMT 10
Been awhile since I posted here. I'm on 159 books read so far this year. Hoping to bump that up to 160 by the end of the month.
Recent reads and listens include:
"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua-I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by the author herself. I think hearing the author definitely added to the experience and tone of the work. I could definitely see why it was a controversial book. An interesting read exploring differences in "Chinese" versus "Western" parenting. Not sure I agree with everything, but certainly an interesting listen.
"A Little Hope" by Ethan Joella-A nice read focused on a variety of characters in a small New England town. The chapters are basically short stories told from the perspectives of different townspeople and it is cool to sort of put together their stories and perspectives to form one larger narrative like pieces in a puzzle. Also has some touching themes of gratitude and appreciating the little things in life as well as some moving explorations of loss.
"Everything We Didn't Say" by Nicole Barat-A fairly well-written thriller set in a rural Midwestern town told in a mixture of past/present and first person/third person point of view.
"Halloween Party" by Agatha Christie-I listened to Hugh Fraser narrate this one. Not my favorite Agatha Christie book but a fun Halloween murder mystery.
"Beautiful Country" by Qian Julie Wang-A moving memoir about the author's experience immigrating to America as a child. The author is really able to capture that child's perspective very well.
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Post by Seek on Nov 30, 2021 2:50:27 GMT 10
I'm on a real fantasy-bent as well, my next fix is a traded recommendation with Lisa (I'm playing nice and reading a book she has suggested so I can foist a book with a cliffhanger on her and suffer together) - Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, which sounds like exactly the kind of book for me. I liked the worldbuilding in Black Sun but overall the book didn't really grab me. I enjoyed The Priory of the Orange Tree. The last few books I've read were: - The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson. Love this series, can't wait for book 4.
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - this was a reread, because I'd read Harrow the Ninth the month before for the first time and then I was in such a Mood that I decided I needed to revisit Gideon. It also started me listening to a lot of themed playlists. Love this series too.
- Chasing Graves by Ben Galley. I got this one as a freebie via reddit I think, the whole trilogy, and I'm glad I did get the whole trilogy because the first book ends very abruptly and feels more like part of a serialised work than a legitimate standalone novel. I did enjoy it though - good writing, good concepts/wolrdbuilding, good characters - so I'm reading the second book at the moment.
- The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. I didn't know much about this one except that it was historical science fiction. It was fine - she's a good writer, which I already knew, but it's not something I'd ordinarily seek out to read for myself.
In addition to Grim Solace by Ben Galley (book 2 of Chasing Graves) I'm also halfway through The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams and...not loving it. This novel gets so much hype, particularly on reddit, but it's honestly just your typical poor-special-servant-boy-discovers-magic-and-gets-caught-up-in-plots-threatening-the-kingdom. It's sort of trying to be Lord of the Rings? It's just boring. But I'm determined to finish it (some day...) in case there are any redeeming qualities.
I'm both stunned and excited because I can't believe there's a fourth book coming, I need to pay more attention Monster Baru Cormorant has been on my to-read list for a while now, I just hadn't the time to get around to it! I've just finished Ari and Dante #2. It's fine, it's very much a coming of age, and very clear about being set in a particular period. I feel like it pales next to the original book but these things happen.
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Post by Kypriotha on Dec 22, 2021 14:40:11 GMT 10
Read Paula Hawkin's newest book A Slow Fire Burning in less than one day. It's been a while since I've read her other books, but I think this one was definitely closer to The Girl On The Train than Into The Water, in terms of how much I got into it and how fast I read it and how well I could guess things. I really liked how there were lots of people who could have done it, but it didn't feel like it was just setting people up as a "maybe it's this person? or maybe it's this person? wait it's actually this person, psych!" I felt the relationships and clues were revealed in ways that made sense and my thoughts/guesses changed in a way that flowed naturally with the story.
My favourite thing about it, however, is that I think there are some questions left open at the end. I'd be really interested to hear from anyone else who has read the book about whether they also think those questions are open to interpretation or if they think the book was setting up certain answers.
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Post by MythicMistress on Feb 12, 2022 7:51:01 GMT 10
I decided "what the heck, I'll read this anyway" and went ahead and read the third Fowl Twins book. I ended up getting a pleasant surprise for one chapter (Minerva Paradizo, a character that I'm in the minority of not hating her, appeared without being bashed).
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Post by Rosie on Feb 15, 2022 7:47:04 GMT 10
Has anybody read She Who Became the Sun? I’m halfway through, and it’s compelling (but also I keep feeling like it’s going to break my heart and I’m not sure I’m ready for that right now). It’s a Mulan-style tale, lots of musing on gender, which is really interesting.
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Post by devilinthedetails on Feb 16, 2022 11:06:30 GMT 10
Has anybody read She Who Became the Sun? I’m halfway through, and it’s compelling (but also I keep feeling like it’s going to break my heart and I’m not sure I’m ready for that right now). It’s a Mulan-style tale, lots of musing on gender, which is really interesting. Haven't read it yet, but it's on my TBR list. I have a copy on my Kindle. Just waiting to actually get around to reading it. But I heard some great things about it from some review changes I follow on YoutTube, and I'm really optimistic that I'll love it when I get around to it. It seems like something that could really appeal to my tastes. Some of my recent 2022 listens and reads: Brothers of the Wind by Tad Williams--Prequel set hundreds of years before the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. I liked the backstory it provided and had Tad's distinctive writing style, which I enjoy. I still recommend starting the world of Osten Ard with the Dragonbone Chair however. Re-read First Test and Page. Currently re-reading Squire. Fills me with nostalgia. Tammy books (especially the Kel ones) can be real comfort reads to me. Factory Grils from Village to City in a Changing China interesting non-fiction book but almost felt like it could be two books: one about the factory girls in China, and one about the author's family. Wounds of the Father a pretty painful memoir look at the impact of addiction and abuse. Star Wars High Republic Fallen Star and Mission to Disaster were fun sci-fi titles. I like the Star Wars High Republic era because of how much it focuses on the Jedi, who are like my favorite part of Star Wars. Cinderella is Dead middle of the pack YA book with some cool exploring of the concept of what would happen centuries after Cinderella died and a myth sprung up about her finding her Prince Charming. Not amazing but not bad. Half Sick of Shadows prose was quite lovely, but filled with too many liberties taken with history and with Arthurian legend to be my favorite take on Arthurian lore. Also felt like a book that could've been better developed as a series. Bit disappointing overall. Girl in the Tower love this historical fantasy series set in medieval Russia. Perfect winter time read or listen. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy and historical fiction or those interested in Russiasn culture. Daughters of the Grail a historical fiction take on the Albigenisian Cruscade in France by Elizabeth Chadwick, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Haven't read a book by her yet that I've disliked. She does great character work and seems to really do her research to make her depiction of the era ring true. Somebody's Daughtera really moving memoir told with wit and honesty. Would definitely recommend. China's Long March very quick read with some interesting anecdotes about Mao and Communist soldiers. The Magna Cartaby James Daughtery. A bit dated since it was published in the 1950's but not as dry as I expected, and it was a quick, fairly informative read. So, yeah, I've read 14 books in 2022 so far. Not bad progress toward my goal of 100 for 2022.
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Post by Rosie on Feb 17, 2022 0:23:33 GMT 10
devilinthedetails, I loved the Winternight trilogy! The third was my favourite. That reminds me that I read Legendborn a few weeks ago, and it was stunning. Confess that I drifted a little during some of the Arthurian-heavy parts but I pre-ordered the sequel as soon as I'd finished.
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Post by Kypriotha on Feb 21, 2022 13:40:47 GMT 10
Rosie, did you tell me that Legendborn had a sequel? Still waiting to clear my current library requests before getting it, but would I be better off waiting until the sequel is released? Also one of my best friends has read She Who Became The Sun and liked it so much she is now making her work bookclub read it. So I've moved it higher up my to-read list. I started 2022 with The Yield by Tara June Winch and it was really good - such an interesting exploration about continuing connection to land, culture and language for Aboriginal Australians. I'm definitely going to read Swallow the Air at some point. Then I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, which I read because fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree seemed to like it. It does have the best and most accurate front cover book blurb: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space." It was more sci fi than I had realised when I requested it from the library, and the ending used one of my least favourite devices in writing, but I still read it quickly and obsessively and will read at least Harrow the Ninth. Other notable mentions are My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, which other people have mentioned and which I liked but didn't love, and a re-read of Northanger Abbey.
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Post by Rosie on Feb 22, 2022 12:01:09 GMT 10
Rosie , did you tell me that Legendborn had a sequel? Still waiting to clear my current library requests before getting it, but would I be better off waiting until the sequel is released? Also one of my best friends has read She Who Became The Sun and liked it so much she is now making her work bookclub read it. So I've moved it higher up my to-read list. I started 2022 with The Yield by Tara June Winch and it was really good - such an interesting exploration about continuing connection to land, culture and language for Aboriginal Australians. I'm definitely going to read Swallow the Air at some point. Then I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, which I read because fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree seemed to like it. It does have the best and most accurate front cover book blurb: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space." It was more sci fi than I had realised when I requested it from the library, and the ending used one of my least favourite devices in writing, but I still read it quickly and obsessively and will read at least Harrow the Ninth. Other notable mentions are My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, which other people have mentioned and which I liked but didn't love, and a re-read of Northanger Abbey. I am relatively certain I did! Sequel is out in November but there’s no cliffhanger if that’s a concern?
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Post by Kypriotha on Feb 25, 2022 12:39:01 GMT 10
Rosie , did you tell me that Legendborn had a sequel? Still waiting to clear my current library requests before getting it, but would I be better off waiting until the sequel is released? Also one of my best friends has read She Who Became The Sun and liked it so much she is now making her work bookclub read it. So I've moved it higher up my to-read list. I started 2022 with The Yield by Tara June Winch and it was really good - such an interesting exploration about continuing connection to land, culture and language for Aboriginal Australians. I'm definitely going to read Swallow the Air at some point. Then I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, which I read because fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree seemed to like it. It does have the best and most accurate front cover book blurb: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space." It was more sci fi than I had realised when I requested it from the library, and the ending used one of my least favourite devices in writing, but I still read it quickly and obsessively and will read at least Harrow the Ninth. Other notable mentions are My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, which other people have mentioned and which I liked but didn't love, and a re-read of Northanger Abbey. I am relatively certain I did! Sequel is out in November but there’s no cliffhanger if that’s a concern? Oh maybe you did then. You are always very good at telling me if there is or isn't a cliffhanger. Still waiting on The Bear and the Nightingale and A Deadly Education from the library though, so Legendborn may have to stay lower down the list for a little bit. Just finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, which was really good, though didn't quite hit the 5 star vibe for me (but a very solid 4.5). I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and I wish we'd seen a bit more of Stella and Kennedy.
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Post by Rosie on Feb 26, 2022 3:53:37 GMT 10
Did another book rec post on fiefg if anyone is looking for new reads! I think She Who Became the Sun broke me, in a good way. I am relatively certain I did! Sequel is out in November but there’s no cliffhanger if that’s a concern? Oh maybe you did then. You are always very good at telling me if there is or isn't a cliffhanger. Still waiting on The Bear and the Nightingale and A Deadly Education from the library though, so Legendborn may have to stay lower down the list for a little bit. Just finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, which was really good, though didn't quite hit the 5 star vibe for me (but a very solid 4.5). I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and I wish we'd seen a bit more of Stella and Kennedy. Vanishing Half explored a lot of really interesting concepts for me, I think that's why it was a 5 for me. Interesting to read alongside Nella Larsen's Passing if anyone is so inclined!
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Post by wordy on Feb 27, 2022 18:53:00 GMT 10
Then I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, which I read because fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree seemed to like it. It does have the best and most accurate front cover book blurb: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space." It was more sci fi than I had realised when I requested it from the library, and the ending used one of my least favourite devices in writing, but I still read it quickly and obsessively and will read at least Harrow the Ninth. I love Gideon, but feel it's my duty to warn you that Harrow is a very different book. And confusing. Like, you probably won't understand much of what's happening and/or you'll be frustrated with some of the characters a good way into the book. Personally, I still loved it even though it was a bit of a slog. (Muir's books are just so fun and dramatic and emo, and her writing is gorgeous.)
I'd also recommend reading Harrow while Gideon is still fairly fresh in your mind - I do regret not doing that myself, because it probably didn't help my confusion, and after I read Harrow I ended up going back and rereading Gideon anyway because (1) I was now in A Mood and (2) I wanted to check details that I'd forgotten.
I'm absolutely looking forward to reading Nona when it's released, but am very aware that, again, it will be a very different book to the first two.
Currently, I'm up to A Time of Justice, which is book 8 out of 16 in my Deverry read/reread. I'm making great progress on this series and hopefully won't get bogged down too much now that my uni studies are starting up again for the year.
I'm also half-heartedly (i.e. when I remember) listening to the audiobook of The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. I can see why people rave about this book - it's very creative, and fun, and the author's narration is fantastic - but I think it feels more like a serialised story or D&D adventure, if that makes sense, than a traditional fantasy novel. Which would be fine, but since I'm listening to it on audiobook I'm not really giving it the attention it deserves and whenever I come back to it, it seems like oh, okay they're now (somewhere completely different) and having an encounter with (these people/creatures). So we'll see how it goes.
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Post by Kypriotha on Feb 28, 2022 15:13:24 GMT 10
Then I read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, which I read because fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree seemed to like it. It does have the best and most accurate front cover book blurb: "Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space." It was more sci fi than I had realised when I requested it from the library, and the ending used one of my least favourite devices in writing, but I still read it quickly and obsessively and will read at least Harrow the Ninth. I love Gideon, but feel it's my duty to warn you that Harrow is a very different book. And confusing. Like, you probably won't understand much of what's happening and/or you'll be frustrated with some of the characters a good way into the book. Personally, I still loved it even though it was a bit of a slog. (Muir's books are just so fun and dramatic and emo, and her writing is gorgeous.)
I'd also recommend reading Harrow while Gideon is still fairly fresh in your mind - I do regret not doing that myself, because it probably didn't help my confusion, and after I read Harrow I ended up going back and rereading Gideon anyway because (1) I was now in A Mood and (2) I wanted to check details that I'd forgotten.
I'm absolutely looking forward to reading Nona when it's released, but am very aware that, again, it will be a very different book to the first two.
Thanks, I had picked up that Harrow is very different (and possibly written partly in second person?), so I'm trying to go in with no expectations (other than it'll be different). I've requested it from the library, but I'll see how long it takes to come in (I'm 3rd of 3 requests).
Have hit a slight lull in my library requests, in that I know that one is in transit for me (but not yet ready for pick up*), but I've finished the last of the others. Tried to fill the gap by just browsing shelf ends at the library and borrowing what took my fancy, which I haven't done in a long time, but the two books I read through this method were thoroughly underwhelming and I'm currently swearing to never read another book that at least one friend, reputable reviewer or author I trust has not endorsed.
*I just checked my reservations for the purposes of writing this and apparently the book is now waiting for me, but wasn't when I checked about 5-6 hours ago
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mageprincess
Squire
books, books books!!!
Posts: 1,133
Gender: Female
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Post by mageprincess on Mar 31, 2022 19:55:36 GMT 10
Currently reading Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (vol 1), which is a Chinese BL novel series that has spawned many spin-offs and is ridiculously adorable.
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Post by Kypriotha on Apr 11, 2022 11:16:29 GMT 10
Finally got A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik from the library and LOVED it! Apparently it was the Dark Academia I'd been waiting for. Had to buy the second book, The Last Graduate, because it wasn't going to come into the library fast enough. It was great, learned more about the Scholomance, though I didn't love it quite as much as the first. Waiting with baited breath for the third to be released later this year. Highly recommend these books - just have the second one on hand immediately after finishing the first!
Just finished Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and I have so many feelings that I'm going to create a separate thread.
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Post by Tamari on May 6, 2022 0:45:17 GMT 10
I finally read Gideon the Ninth, after all y'all, but I haven't grabbed Harrow from the library yet. I normally go for things a little... lighter... than GtN, but it was an interesting read for sure.
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Post by wordy on May 13, 2022 22:29:45 GMT 10
I'm now halfway through The Spirit Stone, which is book (*counts on fingers*) 13 out of 16 in my Deverry read/reread. Making good progress! Even though this series is basically all about reincarnated characters, I still got a tad sad when one of the main characters finally died, but the nice thing about this series is that it jumps back and forth in time so I can still read about my favourite characters! Though seeing this particular character reincarnate for the first time was...odd, but his new version is growing on me. Hopefully I'll be finished with this series soon!
I recently read Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey and really enjoyed it. It's sort of a romance, but also scifi. It involves two characters who keep meeting each other in different lives.
I'm almost finished listening to the audiobook of The Unbroken by C. L. Clark. Sadly this one just didn't grab me.
A little while ago I also listened to The long way to a small angry planet by Becky Chambers and was honestly underwhelmed. I guess I didn't realise it would be more of a personal/low-stakes sort of scifi? And after hearing so many people hype up this book it just didn't meet my expectations. I was expecting to be blown away and it was just sort of average for me. Found family and alien cultures, if you like that sort of thing.
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Post by MythicMistress on Jun 28, 2022 8:43:13 GMT 10
I've been working my way through The Books of the Raksura series by Martha Wells. They're just OK in my opinion.
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mageprincess
Squire
books, books books!!!
Posts: 1,133
Gender: Female
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Post by mageprincess on Jul 2, 2022 20:56:17 GMT 10
Made my way through Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation vol 1 and am now working my way through vol 2. It is equal parts adorable and so, so sad. its really a 'pull at your heartstrings' kind of story. Once I finish this I think vol 3 won't be out for a couple of months, so I'll read one of the author's other series while I wait for new volumes to drop.
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Post by devilinthedetails on Jul 5, 2022 2:06:08 GMT 10
Some of my recent reads:
Normal People: I liked this piece of literary fiction by Sally Rooney, and the audiobook narrator had a lovely Irish accent that made it a treat to listen to.
A Pocket Full of Rye: A mystery by Agatha Christie. You can never go too wrong with an Agatha Christie book!
The Winter Mantle: Another wonderful work of historical fiction by Elizabeth Chadwick set after the Norman Invasion of England. Chadwick is probably my current favorite historical fiction writer at this point. Love her books!
Us Against You: Great sequel to Beartown. Backman is a gem!
The Inheritance of Orquieda Divina: Magical realism with a Latin American flavor and flare. Fun and spicy read!
The House on the Strand: Classic with historical fiction and time travel appeal.
The Ninth Rain: Interesting fantasy/sci-fi cross prominently featuring vampire elves.
Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix: YA retelling of Snow White set in a fantasy world inspired by imperial China with mythology and quest elements.
The Bright Ages: New non-fiction book exploring how the medieval era wasn't the Dark Ages after all.
Castles in Their Bones: Excellent YA fantasy for anyone who loves political intrigue. Also, the narrator of the audiobook does a brilliant job.
I'm up to 53 books read this year! Not bad since my goal is 100!
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Post by wordy on Jul 26, 2022 18:47:22 GMT 10
I've been working my way through The Books of the Raksura series by Martha Wells. They're just OK in my opinion. I read the first book last year and felt the same way - not sure if I would have enjoyed it more in print instead of audio. People really rave about that series on reddit. *shrug* I've read some amazing books, some meh books, and a couple rereads of classics since I last posted. Standouts that I really enjoyed: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley. Military science fiction with time travel.
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I'd seen the movie once, years ago, so although I couldn't help picturing the characters as those actors, I didn't have any real recollection of the plot otherwise.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Science fiction with both human and non-human civilisations.
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. A hidden society, creepy alchemy, time travel.
Gunmetal Gods by Zamil Akhtar. Lovecraftian gods and worldbuilding inspired by Indian and Persian mythology.
...and right now I'm halfway through The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu. 'Silkpunk' epic fantasy. I'm enjoying it so far. The fourth book's recently been published and I always hear people rave about this series (including Kate Elliott, one of my favourite authors) so I figured it was about time I gave it a try.
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mageprincess
Squire
books, books books!!!
Posts: 1,133
Gender: Female
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Post by mageprincess on Oct 1, 2022 10:02:17 GMT 10
I need a moment to gush about one of my favourite topics: Rick Riordan and the Percy Jackson universe.
There was a cover reveal for the latest book, which is about one of the story's queer couples. Uncle Rick opted to co-write this book with a queer author.
Guys, that author is Mark Oshiro of "Mark Reads" fame. I am so damn excited for this book.
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