Where are you in Fantasyland? September, 2022

Still slowly making my way thru Into the Narrowdark by Tad Williams.

I'm back in Deverry with Katharine Kerr's A time of exile, the first book in the Westlands tetralogy.

In Dubai preparing for the games in Blazewrath Games.

I'm still in space with Harrow the Ninth. This is one odd read.

I finished The Last Argument of Kings and therefore the First Law trilogy. It met my high expectations (but did not exceed them.) Joe Abercrombie's ability to craft deep, complex characters and also his use of humor in what is a VERY bleak world is outstanding. Sometimes the pacing would get a little choppy, because he would spend a full page on descriptions or an internal monologue (which would be very similar to an internal monologue 50 pages prior). That is just a minor quibble, and I will join with everybody else on the internet and recommend this series.

I moved to a non-fiction book, and will probably be leaving Abercrombie's world for a while as I dig through my long backlog of other authors.

I am travelling with The blacktongue thief.

Quick trip to the Discworld with The Light Fantastic.

Well I had a very hectic but enjoyable journey with The blacktongue thief. I recommend this not-too-dark fantasy.

In Oxford with the Translation students who learn at Babel. I only stopped reading because I was falling asleep.

>9 karenb: Oh I really want to read that one!

>9 karenb:, >10 ScarletBea: Me too!

I didn't know anything about it, but this buzz is getting my attention.

I am on Cradle for Reaper.

Finished a quick, pleasant read of Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

I think I'm going to move on to Tyrant's Throne and wrap up the Greatcoats series.

I just started a re-read of The Hobbit. The tentative plan is to read the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, then finish with The Silmarillion. It's literally been 40 years since I've read any of them, although I saw the movies and am currently watching the Rings of Power on Amazon (which is "ok.") I also recently listened to a great two-part podcast on the life of J.R.R. Tolkien by the folks at The Rest is History.

>15 drmamm:, and don't miss the recent biopic "Tolkien", which I believe is still on Netflix.

I started watching HBO’s House of the Dragon and found a copy of Fire and Blood staring at me in the grocery store so it had to come home.

I'm running around in Bezim with the Notorious Sorcerer in this amazing debut.

I'm in New York City with The Golem and her Jinni - The Hidden Palace is the sequel and so far is doing a decent job of living up to the first one.

>17 varielle:, I was able to resist in that instance, but I know that feeling and outcome very well!

Finished Into the Narrowdark by Tad Williams. Excellent read. Added Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia to my rotation.

>21 seitherin:, I've so much on the shelf to read, I'm actually trying not to get tempted into the new Williams series but ... all this nothing-but-praise is wearing me down. I did read The Heart of What Was Lost and it was excellent.

I spent some time mostly in and around China with Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, plus three other emperors, a couple of poets, and other Chinese myths and legends. Fun adventure, YA or middle grade I think (12-year old protagonist), with a cliffhanger ending that is sad mainly because this one just came out and the next one isn't scheduled yet. By Xiran Jay Zhao, author of Iron Widow, but less violent because not during a war.

>22 Cecrow: There's still one more book in the series to come. Save the new ones until it comes out and do a binge. ;-)

I am back in Elendel for Shadows of Self.

>19 Darth-Heather: I just started on The Hidden Palace, too. :)

>26 Niko: I hope you enjoy it! I just finished and I like where the author took this story, although there's one part of the ending that I don't quite like (it has to do with Sophia, let me know what you think when you get there) but it seems like maybe the author got this character into a tough spot and then wasn't sure how to resolve it. Although its possible that maybe she's setting up for a third book?

I'm in Arun, with The Northern Girl . Rereading this series has been just as good as the first time, way back whenever.

Liked Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Zhao, the author of Iron Widow. Contemporary fantasy based around 12-year-old gamers plus many spirits, especially ancient Chinese emperors. In the Acknowledgements, the author calls it a bonkers book, but it's bonkers in such good ways.

Back in Deverry in A time of omens.

October thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/344849

>27 Darth-Heather: Finished the book, and I really loved it. Maybe more than the first one... but that might be because it was dealing so much with consequences of things that felt like they were left hanging a bit in the last book.

I didn't mind Sophia's outcome too much. It leaves things open that there is another chapter to her (and Dima's) story... just as there is for Chava and Ahmad... whether the author gives us more or its left to our imagination. Definitely loved the book massively, either way. :)