Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) It's a bit late in the year but I thought I'd start a reading log. Since we're already nearing the back-end of September I've limited my short-term TBR Tower to books I think I can realistically manage to get through before New Year. I've crossed a couple of my list in the last couple of weeks and so will also be posting those reviews below. So, my what-remains-of-2013 TBR: The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss Prince of Thorns - Mark Lawrence (re-read) King of Thorns - Mark Lawrence (re-read) Emperor of Thorns - Mark Lawrence Shadows in the Sand - Michael Diack Hope's End - Brian McClellan The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch (re-read) Red Seas Under Red Skies - Scott Lynch (re-read) The Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay Theft of Swords - Michael J Sullivan Rise of Empire - Michael J Sullivan Beyond the Shadows - Brent Weeks The Curse of the Mistwraith - Janny Wurts Some of you will already know that I'm a fantasy nut; the rest of you know now. I'll also post a list below of all the books I currently have on my shelves, just in case anyone's interested. They're in alphabetical order and everything . . . Edited October 26, 2013 by Signor Finzione Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 So, on my fantasy/SF/YA bookshelves: Joe Abercrombie – The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie – Before They Are Hanged Joe Abercrombie – Last Argument of Kings Joe Abercrombie – Best Served Cold Joe Abercrombie – The Heroes Joe Abercrombie – Red Country Daniel Abraham – The Dragon’s Path James Barclay – Shout for the Dead Peter V Brett – The Painted Man Peter V Brett – The Desert Spear Max Brooks – The Zombie Survival Guide Max Brooks – World War Z Terry Brooks – First King of Shannara Terry Brooks – The Sword of Shannara Terry Brooks – The Elfstones of Shannara Terry Brooks – The Wishsong of Shannara Terry Brooks – Armageddon’s Children Terry Brooks – A Princess of Landover Miles Cameron – The Red Knight Trudi Canavan – The Magician’s Guild Trudi Canavan - Rogue Cassandra Clare – City of Bones Cassandra Clare – City of Ashes Cassandra Clare – City of Glass Cassandra Clare – City of Fallen Angels Cassandra Clare – Clockwork Angel Cassandra Clare – Clockwork Prince Susanna Clarke – Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell Suzanne Collins – The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins – Catching Fire Suzanne Collins – Mockingjay Glen Cook – The Black Company Glen Cook – Shadows Linger Glen Cook – The White Rose Glen Cook – Dreams of Steel Glen Cook – The Silver Spike Stephen Donaldson – Lord Foul’s Bane Stephen Donaldson – The Illearth War Stephen Donaldson – The Power that Preserves Stephen Donaldson – The Wounded Land Stephen Donaldson – The One Tree Stephen Donaldson – White Gold Wielder David Anthony Durham – Acacia David Anthony Durham – The Other Lands Steven Erikson – Gardens of the Moon Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates Steven Erikson – Memories of Ice Steven Erikson – House of Chains Steven Erikson – Midnight Tides Steven Erikson – The Bonehunters Steven Erikson – Reaper’s Gale Steven Erikson – Toll the Hounds Steven Erikson – Dust of Dreams Steven Erikson – The Crippled God Steven Erikson – Forge of Darkness Steven Erikson – The Devil Delivered Ian C Esslemont – Night of Knives Ian C Esslemont – Return of the Crimson Guard Ian C Esslemont – Stonewielder Raymond E Feist – Magician Raymond E Feist – Silverthorn Raymond E Feist – A Darkness at Sethanon Raymond E Feist – Rage of a Demon King Raymond E Feist – Shards of a Broken Crown Raymond E Feist – Talon of the Silver Hawk Raymond E Feist – King of Foxes Raymond E Feist – Flight of the Night Hawks Raymond E Feist – Into A Dark Realm Raymond E Feist – Wrath of a Mad God Raymond E Feist – A Kingdom Beseiged Raymond E Feist; Janny Wurts – Daughter of the Empire Raymond E Feist; Janny Wurts – Servant of the Empire Raymond E Feist; Janny Wurts – Mistress of the Empire David Gemmell – Waylander William Goldman – The Princess Bride John Gwynne - Malice Deborah Harkness – Shadow of Night Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Apprentice Robin Hobb – Royal Assassin Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Quest Douglas Hulick – Among Thieves Conn Iggulden – Emperor: The Gates of Rome Conn Iggulden – Emperor: The Gods of War Conn Iggulden – Bones of the Hills Stephen R Lawhead - Tuck Mark Lawrence – Prince of Thorns Mark Lawrence – King of Thorns H P Lovecraft – The Call of Cthulhu H P Lovecraft – The Whisperer in Darkness Anne Lyle – The Alchemist of Souls Scott Lynch – The Lies of Locke Lamore Scott Lynch – Red Seas under Red Skies Gail Z Martin – Ice Forged George R R Martin – A Game of Thrones George R R Martin – A Clash of Kings George R R Martin – A Storm of Swords George R R Martin – A Feast for Crows George R R Martin – A Dance with Dragons Brian McClellan – Promise of Blood Fiona McIntosh – Odalisque Fiona McIntosh – BetrayalFiona McIntosh – Revenge Fiona McIntosh – Destiny Fiona McIntosh – Royal Exile Karen Miller – Blight of Mages Karen Miller – The Awakened Mage Mark Charan Newton – Nights of Villjamur Stan Nicholls – Orcs: Army of Shadows Garth Nix – Sabriel Garth Nix – Lirael Garth Nix - Abhorsen Christopher Paolini – Eragon Christopher Paolini – Eldest Christopher Paolini – Brisingr Terry Pratchett – The Colour of Magic Terry Pratchett – The Light Fantastic Terry Pratchett – Equal Rites Terry Pratchett – Mort Terry Pratchett – Sourcery Terry Pratchett – Wyrd Sisters Terry Pratchett – Pyramids Terry Pratchett – Guards! Guards! Terry Pratchett – Eric Terry Pratchett – Going Postal Terry Pratchett – Hogfather Terry Pratchett – Lords and Ladies Terry Pratchett – Witches Abroad Terry Pratchett – Thief of Time Terry Pratchett – The Truth Terry Pratchett – Night Watch Justin Richards – The Death Collector Anthony Riches – Empire: The Leopard Sword Anthony Riches – Empire: Arrows of Fury George A Romero – Dawn of the Dead Patrick Rothfuss – The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss – The Wise Man’s Fear J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J K Rowling – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them J K Rowling – Quidditch Through the Ages Brian Ruckley – The Edinburgh Dead Brian Ruckley – Winterbirth Brian Ruckley – Bloodheir Brian Ruckley – Fall of Thanes R A Salvatore – Homeland R A Salvatore – Exile R A Salvatore - Sojourn Brandon Sanderson – The Rithmatist Andrej Sapkowski – The Last Wish Simon Scarrow – Praetorian Simon Scarrow – The Gladiator Luke Scull – The Grim Company Maria V Snyder – Poison Study Maria V Snyder – Magic Study Maria V Snyder – Fire Study Mary Stewart – The Crystal Cave Mary Stewart – The Hollow Hills Mary Stewart – The Last Enchantment Mary Stewart – The Wicked Day Mary Stewart – The Prince and the Pilgrim Michael J Sullivan – Theft of Swords Michael J Sullivan – Rise of Empire Laini Taylor – Days of Blood and Starlight J R R Tolkien – The Silmarillion J R R Tolkien – The Hobbit J R R Tolkien – The Fellowship of the Ring J R R Tolkien – The Two Towers J R R Tolkien – The Return of the King Brent Weeks – The Way of Shadows Brent Weeks – Shadow’s Edge Brent Weeks – The Black Prism Janny Wurts – The Curse of the Mistwraith David Zindell – Black Jade I haven't read all of them, but for some reason can't seem to stop buying them . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 And on my classic fiction/other bookshelves (most of these were acquired during the course of my Lit degree): Monica Ali – Brick Lane Eric Ambler – Uncommon Danger Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake Margaret Atwood – The Year of the Flood Margaret Atwood – MaddAddam Jane Austen – Emma Jane Austen – Mansfield Park Jane Austen – Northanger Abbey Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice William Blake – Songs of Innocence and Experience Jorge Luis Borges – Doctor Brodie’s Report Mary Elizabeth Braddon – Lady Audley’s Secret Richard Brautigan – Trout Fishing in America Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte - Villette Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights John Buchan – The Thirty-Nine Steps Katherine Burdekin – Swastika Night Edmund Burke – Reflections on the Revolution in France A S Byatt – Little Black Book of Stories Lord Byron – The Major Works Italo Calvino – If On a Winter’s Night a Traveller Lewis Carroll – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Angela Carter – Nights at the Circus Angela Carter – The Bloody Chamber Angela Carter – Wise Children Margaret Cavendish – The Blazing World Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales Arthur Conan Doyle – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Arthur Conan Doyle – The Hound of the Baskervilles Joseph Conrad – Nostromo Joseph Conrad – Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad – The Secret Agent Dante – Inferno Dante – Purgatorio Dante – Paradiso Daniel Defoe – Moll Flanders Charles Dickens – Great Expectations Charles Dickens – Sketches by Boz Charles Dickens – Our Mutual Friend Charles Dickens – Bleak House Charles Dickens – Oliver Twist Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities Alexandre Dumas – The Three Musketeers Alexandre Dumas – The Count of Monte Cristo George Eliot – Adam Bede George Eliot – The Mill on the Floss George Eliot – Middlemarch Elizabeth Gaskell – North and South Elizabeth Gaskell – Mary Barton Charlotte Perkins Gilman – The Yellow Wallpaper William Godwin – Caleb Williams William Godwin – Enquiry Concerning Political Justice Alasdair Gray – Poor Things Graham Greene – A Gun for Sale Thomas Hardy – Tess of the d’Urbervilles Thomas Hardy – Under the Greenwood Tree Mary Hays – Memoirs of Emma Courtney Homer – The Iliad Homer – The Odyssey Victor Hugo – The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Aldous Huxley – Brave New World Christopher Isherwood – Mr Norris Changes Trains Storm Jameson – In the Second Year B S Johnson – Christie Malry’s Own Double-Entry James Joyce – Ulysses James Joyce – Dubliners D H Lawrence – Women in Love Matthew Lewis – The Monk Niccolo Machiavelli – The Prince Daphne du Maurier - Rebecca Cormac McCarthy – The Road Herman Melville – Moby Dick David Mitchell – Cloud Atlas Thomas More – Utopia William Morris – News from Nowhere Arthur Morrison – A Child of the Jago Toni Morrison – Love George Orwell – Homage to Catalonia George Orwell – Nineteen Eighty-Four George Orwell – Animal Farm George Orwell – The Road to Wigan Pier Thomas Paine – The Rights of Man Thomas Paine – Common Sense Edgar Allen Poe – Tales of Mystery and Imagination Thomas de Quincey – Confessions of an English Opium Eater Ann Radcliffe – The Italian Jean-Jacques Rousseau – The Social Contract Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Arundhati Roy – The God of Small Things Mary Shelley - Frankenstein John Sommerfield – May Day Gertrude Stein – The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas Robert Louis Stevenson – Treasure Island Bram Stoker – Dracula Bram Stoker – The Lair of the White Worm Dacre Stoker – Dracula: The Un-Dead Graham Swift – Waterland Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels Tacitus – The Complete Works William Thackeray – Vanity Fair D M Thomas – The White Hotel Henry David Thoreau – Walden and Civil Disobedience Sun Tzu – The Art of War Jules Verne – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Virgil – The Aeneid Kurt Vonnegut – Breakfast of Champions Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse 5 Horace Walpole – The Castle of Otranto Marina Warner – The Leto Bundle Sarah Waters – Affinity Sarah Waters – The Night Watch H G Wells – A Modern Utopia Oscar Wilde – The Picture of Dorian Grey Jeanette Winterson – Sexing the Cherry Virginia Woolf – Mrs Dalloway Virginia Woolf – Orlando It goes without saying that I haven't read every single one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 And here are the reviews for my two most recent reads. Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss “My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me.” The Name of the Wind is the debut novel of American fantasy writer Patrick Rothfuss. It’s the first in a projected trilogy of fantasy novels known as The Kingkiller Chronicle, wherein each book represents one day of autobiographical first-person storytelling by the main character, Kvothe. This first instalment of the trilogy follows Kvothe’s early life, beginning with his childhood amongst the Edema Ruh travelling performers, including his mother, father and mentor, Abenthy, who first introduces him to the world of the arcane. This idyllic life cannot last, however, and a devastating event plunges the young Kvothe into a life of hardship in which he is forced to use the only tools he has at hand – mainly his wits and the skills he learned as a child – to survive. During the course of the tale we find out the truth behind some of the legends that have come to surround him – for example, how he earned the nickname ‘Kvothe the Bloodless’ – and witness the first stage of his development: from gifted child to self-reliant university student.Let me start by saying that this book has everything I look for in a fantasy novel: an entertaining narrative voice, a well-built world with a wonderfully extensive lore, and an original magic system, as well as a generous mixture of humour, action, intrigue, rivalry and tragedy. At the centre of it all, however, are the incredible characters; and chief among them is our rebellious flame-haired protagonist, Kvothe. My first impression of Kvothe was based solely on the extract given as part of the blurb: ‘I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.’ Although intriguing, these accomplishments are not why the reader comes to admire Kvothe. The everyday obstacles he continually has to overcome as part of life – usually his age, lack of money, or talent for acquiring spiteful rivals – serve to make him a much more sympathetic character than ‘heroes’ from other tales. We are given the impression that although, with the right resources, Kvothe would probably have become the most powerful man alive, his lack of these resources means that he grows and develops more as a character. It also means that we as readers celebrate his achievements – however small – all the more because he has not only worked hard for them, but needs them in order to survive. Kvothe is an immensely likeable protagonist; and even though it’s clear he is something of a child prodigy, he is never quite as annoyingly precocious as you might expect. The author has shaped his voice to be dry and humorous, as well as frequently poignant and moving; and it is always, always entertaining. We are regularly reminded that Kvothe spent much of his childhood amongst travelling performers: much of the prose is very poetic, often self-consciously so. For example, our protagonist preludes his tale with the following words: “Do not presume to change a word of what I say. If I seem to wander, if I seem to stray, remember that true stories seldom take the straightest way.” It’s not just the occasional rhyme that makes the language entertaining. The descriptions of Kvothe’s music are beautiful and often genuinely moving, and serve as a reminder of the character’s sensitivity in spite of his otherwise self-assured and over-confident demeanour. I really came to empathise with Kvothe, particularly during the moments of tension in his story: I found myself with white knuckles and bated breath while he was being interviewed for the university, when he attended his first disciplinary meeting, during his performance at the Eolian . . . I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed the frame narrative/flashback format of the novel. I had expected the regular interludes to become annoying; however, the easy banter between Kvothe and his mysterious apprentice, Bast, provides pleasant intervals of comic relief, and the events at the inn piqued my curiosity by raising even more questions that I wanted answers to. These interludes do not detract from the story: they are suitably brief, and serve to gradually build a picture of events that are occurring in the present day, events that I look forward to seeing developed further in the rest of the trilogy. My rating: 5/5 An extra two pennies' worth: Favourite character: Kvothe (obviously), although Denna and Elodin come joint-second. Favourite place: The University: a lovely combination of Pratchett and Rowling, but with its own uniquely dark aspects. Favourite moment: The draccus. I could see the scene on the hilltop playing out in front of my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Review: Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence “The thorns taught me the game . . . You can only win the game when you understand that it is a game. Let a man play chess, and tell him that every pawn is his friend. Let him think both bishops holy. Let him remember happy days in the shadows of his castles. Let him love his queen. Watch him lose them all.” Jorg Ancrath has been transformed from privileged prince to dangerous rogue. He has been witness to terrible atrocities and become the perpetrator of worse. Now he has to overcome childhood horrors in order to begin his fight for dominance over the broken empire. Prince of Thorns is the first instalment in dark fantasy trilogy The Broken Empire, and it’s not for the faint hearted: be prepared for dark humour and macabre violence from the start. In the first few pages we are introduced to our not-so-heroic protagonist and treated to a brief account of a typical day in his life and that of his band of unscrupulous ‘Brothers’. Since this involves the looting and burning of a village – as well as the rape/murder of its simple inhabitants – there are many readers who have not found this merry tale to their liking.Personally, I loved it. The Praise The striking beginning is a daring attempt by the author to both shock and hook the reader, and it works perfectly. My expectations of what to expect from the protagonist were shattered almost immediately, and I was ready to burst with questions: Who exactly is Jorg? What happened to make him this way? How did he fall in with this group of men? Why are they burning villages? To some extent these questions were answered by the end of the book, although never quite in a way I expected. Being coerced into feeling both admiration and sympathy for Jorg was probably the most unexpected result of having these questions answered!The character of Jorg is developed nicely through the first-person narrative. His voice is distinctive and captivating, but also conflicted: sometimes cold and hard, at other times sarcastic and humorous. He seems inhumanly detached from most emotions, and is able to observe tragedy without dwelling on it. However, I also got the sense that this is more of a persona than a personality. Lawrence writes this cleverly: while Jorg is clearly ignorant of what is happening to him emotionally, we as readers are able to recognise and appreciate the gradual emergence of compunction and sympathy. (It’s a subtle development, but one which helps explain the ‘personality change’ others have remarked upon in the sequel). The flashbacks in the story are used to provide insights into events and characters at relevant moments in the plot. Gradually learning about Jorg’s childhood is a great way to develop the character and provoke conflicting responses amongst readers. The flashbacks can occasionally be disorienting, but on the whole they are used effectively to flesh out the story with details that illuminate how the present situation came into being. I also love the bits and pieces that hint about the world of the ‘broken empire’ and the ‘Builders’. The Grumble I don't really like applying the term ‘unrealistic’ to anything within the fantasy genre, but have found myself giving thought to questions such as: would battle-hardened criminals (such as Rike) really follow such a young boy so willingly? And, even taking into account his extensive royal education in history and tactical warfare, would this boy really be capable of accomplishing so much? I’ve decided that the latter can be explained by the 'guiding hand', while the former may simply be a result of the Brothers’ brutal 'wolf pack' mentality: Jorg becomes the leader by defeating the group’s existing alpha male. But accomplishing all this between the age of ten and fourteen? Really?Just one more minor gripe: I wish there had been a bit more backstory for some of the Brothers rather than just the occasional anecdote or one-liner between chapters. Jorg might not care much about them, but I wanted to know more. The Verdict This is a dark novel, though not as dark as others would have you believe. The characters are entertaining, the world is fascinating, and some of the imagery (the Leucrota, the necromancer and the ‘Builder’s sun’ spring to mind) is staggering. Many readers were alienated by the beginning. . . I read right to the very end and wanted more. My rating: 4.5/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 You have a lot of books on your shelves that I have too (either read or to be read)! Some great reads in there . You pile of what-remains-of-your-TBR, are you going to read those in the order you posted them or will you pick your next read depending on what you feel like reading at that specific moment? @ your two reviews Great reviews, very detailed! I have both of those books on my wishlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 You have a lot of books on your shelves that I have too (either read or to be read)! Some great reads in there . You pile of what-remains-of-your-TBR, are you going to read those in the order you posted them or will you pick your next read depending on what you feel like reading at that specific moment? @ your two reviews Great reviews, very detailed! I have both of those books on my wishlist. I was inspired to post the whole list after reading yours! Although I have to say yours is a ridiculously (in a good way) huge collection - where do you live? A castle? That's the order I plan to read them in. Plans will undoubtedly change, but I do prefer to read books by the same author in succession - do you? I also like to do the re-reads just in time for the new releases in a series, hence the Lawrence and the Lynch: Emperor of Thorns is on its way to me, and Republic of Thieves is due to be released next month, and I want to have re-read the previous ones just in time for their arrival through my letterbox. Thanks for the positive feedback on my reviews! You should definitely buy both books, but especially The Name of the Wind. Most of it's set in a magical university - it's like Harry Potter for adults, and it's ace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Welcome to the party Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Never too late to start your reading blog! No Jack Vance in your fantasy list.... a serious omission sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Cheers Steve! Never too late to start your reading blog! No Jack Vance in your fantasy list.... a serious omission sir George R R Martin's name once tricked me into starting Songs of the Dying Earth once . . . does that count? What would you recommend starting with? I'm sure there'll be plenty of room for him on the 2014 TBR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I was inspired to post the whole list after reading yours! Although I have to say yours is a ridiculously (in a good way) huge collection - where do you live? A castle? x We live at a farm and most of my shelves are double stacked. My children's books are in boxes. In a while I'll buy more bookcases and have more space, though a while after that, presumably, my boyfriend and I will move into our own house and I won't have much space at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Hey, welcome to the forum. Some great books on your lists, looking forward to reading more reviews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 Thanks Timstar! I look forward to writing them. We live at a farm and most of my shelves are double stacked. My children's books are in boxes. In a while I'll buy more bookcases and have more space, though a while after that, presumably, my boyfriend and I will move into our own house and I won't have much space at all. Living on a farm sounds awesome, though when you get your house you could always tile the walls with your books . My boyfriend (now husband) and I moved into our own place last Christmas - it's only a small house, and the spare bedroom is gradually transforming into a mini-library. Not sure what I'll do once I run out of space for new bookshelves . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Cheers Steve! George R R Martin's name once tricked me into starting Songs of the Dying Earth once . . . does that count? What would you recommend starting with? I'm sure there'll be plenty of room for him on the 2014 TBR. As you are more fantasy oriented I would start with the Lyonesse trilogy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 As you are more fantasy oriented I would start with the Lyonesse trilogy Ooooh, I did actually have a look at that in Waterstones last week . . . BUT it was in hardback and was expensive. I've just had a nosy on Amazon and bought Suldrun's Garden for £0.01, but it'll probably be next year by the time I actually get to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Living on a farm sounds awesome, though when you get your house you could always tile the walls with your books . My boyfriend (now husband) and I moved into our own place last Christmas - it's only a small house, and the spare bedroom is gradually transforming into a mini-library. Not sure what I'll do once I run out of space for new bookshelves . . .x How are you enjoying your new place? I'm not sure either what I'd do if when that happens. Is there a library near where you live (I live in the Netherlands and there's almost no English books at the library ><)? Or perhaps there's space elsewhere in the house, to keep the books perhaps in a box of some kind? I hope you're having fun at your own place though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 x How are you enjoying your new place? I'm not sure either what I'd do if when that happens. Is there a library near where you live (I live in the Netherlands and there's almost no English books at the library ><)? Or perhaps there's space elsewhere in the house, to keep the books perhaps in a box of some kind? I hope you're having fun at your own place though . I love it! We'd lived with my parents for nearly 4 years prior to moving out, so it was great to finally have our own space. It's a bit crowded now since we got the cats, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I don't really use libraries (the ones near me don't have many fantasy books anyway): I tend to buy them either on Amazon, or second-hand off people on Ebay (I recently ordered about 20 and it cost me just under £40, including delivery). This is mainly because I like to have the books on the shelves - I'm very proud of my little collection! We do have an attic, but I can't bear to think of my poor books up there all cold any lonely and at the mercy of the spiders. I suppose when I run out of book room we'll have to get a bigger house. I've been debating whether or not to get a Kindle lately - I'm guessing you don't have one either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 (edited) Review: King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence (Broken Empire #2) “I made mock of the dying at Mabberton and now their ghosts watched me burn. Take the pain, I said, and I will be a good man. Or if not that, a better man. We all become weasels with enough hurt on us. But I think a small part of it was more than that. A small part was that terrible two-edged sword called experience, cutting away at the cruel child I was, carving out whatever man might be yet to come. I promised a better one. Though I have been known to lie.” King of Thorns is the second instalment in Mark Lawrence’s post-apocalyptic dark fantasy trilogy The Broken Empire. It’s commonly held that the middle part in any trilogy is usually the weakest, functioning mostly as mere filler between books one and three, a tiresome interlude between the start and the big finish. Not so with King of Thorns: it’s fast-paced, tense, action-packed, and has several thrilling plotlines that make for a more exhilarating read than the trilogy’s first instalment. No wonder it’s been nominated for the 2013 David Gemmell Legend Award. King of Thorns once again follows the story of Jorg Ancrath, taking place four years after the main events of Prince. Jorg is now King of Renar, but must defend his position against popular leader Prince Orrin of Arrow. However, due to earlier events Jorg has had certain memories removed from his mind. These memories are revealed gradually - to both Jorg and the reader - through a series of flashbacks in a style similar to that of the novel’s predecessor, but much more cleverly and intricately crafted. The ‘present day’ plot of the novel is centred on Jorg’s plan for defeating the Prince of Arrow, a plan which is progressively revealed throughout the story and leads us with ever-increasing momentum towards the adrenaline-filled finish.I’ll be honest: the first time I read this book I had two major issues with it, the first being the flashbacks. There are four (I think) different time frames/points of view, and I initially felt these to be chaotic, distracting and occasionally repetitive. I felt that they detracted from my enjoyment of the main story by disrupting my sense of time and place. I got that they were being strategically placed to build towards the big reveal, but felt that there was too much back and forth within the narrative. Having read this book a second time, I find it difficult to reconcile my initial response with what I’ve just read. For a start, I realise that the sense of dislocation is deliberately evoked in order to create an empathic link with Jorg: we feel but a tiny fraction of what it must be like to be suddenly hit by a memory you have no recollection of having lived through. Secondly, the ordering of the flashbacks is anything but chaotic. The narrative is artfully constructed so as to reveal crucial plot points at strategic moments, as well as to both shock and tease the reader; and what I had at first thought to be random revealed itself instead to be a complex web of memories cunningly fashioned by the author in a way to make one gape with admiration.My other initial problem with the book was that I didn’t enjoy the ‘Katherine’ chapters. I found the saga of her diary entries to be an unnecessarily dull counterpoint to Jorg’s narrative, and found myself wishing her journal pages had never been found. Of course, reading the novel again made me realise why her chapters are a vital part of the on-going Sageous plotline, and her sad words resonated far more poignantly because I was aware of how it was going to end. It's also nice to have a female voice present in the story, and I’m much more willing now to accept Katherine as a necessary part of Jorg’s tale.Prince Orrin is everything we’ve come to expect from a traditional epic hero: he is handsome and moral, gracious and brave, and above all he wishes to secure peace and prosperity for the empire . . . and we spend the entire novel rooting against him (well, I did). I really like the fact that the author has managed to deconstruct traditional fantasy archetypes to such an extent that ‘good’ and ‘evil’ become merely a matter of perspective. Orrin is the golden fairy-tale prince, and yet somehow our Little Jorgy – severely flawed and of dubious morality – manages to emerge as the closest thing to a hero the author will allow.I’ll admit: there were parts of this book that I found difficult to read, and which I know have caused outrage amongst readers elsewhere on the web. A scene which I’ll refer to only as the Justice of King Olidan actually hurt me to read, even more so the second time because I knew it was coming and was powerless to stop it; and yet, I found myself elated that Jorg was able to re-live the memory and re-evaluate the lessons he thought he’s learned from the experience. The fact that the reader is made to experience such anguish is a testament to the author’s ability to create characters and situations he can feel strongly about, and to write in a way that makes others feel this way too. On a similar note, King of Thorns feels a lot more personal than Prince, perhaps because scenes such as the one I just mentioned allow the reader to connect more with the protagonist: Jorg has stabilised a little and matured emotionally, and we live through this transformation as much as he does. There is also a lot more focus on his internal struggle with the way he has lived so far – here’s a powerful example:“I told Coddin that stubbornness led me to climb, and perhaps it did, but there’s more to it. Mountains have no memory, no judgments to offer. There’s a purity in the struggle to reach a peak. You leave your world behind and take only what you need. For a creature like me there is nothing closer to redemption.” I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that this is some kind of sappy coming-of-age drama, by the way. I mentioned in my review of Prince of Thorns how the first book came under fire by those who were outraged by the immoral actions of the central character within the first few pages; if those same people have decided to read King of Thorns I’m guessing they’re currently rolling in their graves after choking on their own moral indignation. There’s some dark stuff here, darker than the first book, with enough creepy situations and haunting images to give you nightmares for a month. There’s battle-action – lots of battle-action! – and the flashbacks are written in the present tense, which really draws you into the moment and uses the “elephant of surprise” to keep you on the edge of your seat, right up to the eventual reveal of the final heart-breaking secret.I’m hopeful that the final instalment in the trilogy, Emperor of Thorns, will prove to be as good as this one. What with the subtle transformation of Jorg’s character, the driving themes of memory and destiny, and the intriguing foreshadowing of the Dead King, I can’t wait to read it. According to Jorg, “A time of terror comes. A dark time. The graves continue to open and the Dead King prepares to sail. But the world holds worse things than dead men. A dark time comes. My time. If it offends you. Stop me.” How can anyone read that without a shiver of anticipation? My rating: 5/5 Edited September 24, 2013 by Signor Finzione Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I love it! We'd lived with my parents for nearly 4 years prior to moving out, so it was great to finally have our own space. It's a bit crowded now since we got the cats, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I don't really use libraries (the ones near me don't have many fantasy books anyway): I tend to buy them either on Amazon, or second-hand off people on Ebay (I recently ordered about 20 and it cost me just under £40, including delivery). This is mainly because I like to have the books on the shelves - I'm very proud of my little collection! We do have an attic, but I can't bear to think of my poor books up there all cold any lonely and at the mercy of the spiders. I suppose when I run out of book room we'll have to get a bigger house. I've been debating whether or not to get a Kindle lately - I'm guessing you don't have one either? x I'm glad you're enjoying your own space . That's pretty cheap for 20 used books! In the Netherlands most of the books sold on Ebay are more expensive (and most of them are Dutch), for some reason (so I buy quite a few at the charity shop instead which is a lot cheaper). No, I can imagine you don't want your books up the attic! A bigger house sounds nice, if you can afford it. I have a Kindle but I mainly use it to read free books or non-fiction (it's easy to mark things). I do have some fiction on it that I paid for, but I find I much prefer paper books, to have them on my shelves, to hold them, to look at them.. I mainly bought a Kindle because it's so much easier when one has to travel. I used to carry around books, which could be heavy sometimes, and they take up space in my bag or suitcase. @ the review just posted Great review ! I have the first of the series on my wishlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I won't read your review of King of Thorns until next week, after I've read it, but I'm liking the score Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 x I'm glad you're enjoying your own space . That's pretty cheap for 20 used books! In the Netherlands most of the books sold on Ebay are more expensive (and most of them are Dutch), for some reason (so I buy quite a few at the charity shop instead which is a lot cheaper). No, I can imagine you don't want your books up the attic! A bigger house sounds nice, if you can afford it. I have a Kindle but I mainly use it to read free books or non-fiction (it's easy to mark things). I do have some fiction on it that I paid for, but I find I much prefer paper books, to have them on my shelves, to hold them, to look at them.. I mainly bought a Kindle because it's so much easier when one has to travel. I used to carry around books, which could be heavy sometimes, and they take up space in my bag or suitcase. @ the review just posted Great review ! I have the first of the series on my wishlist. It's a shame Dutch Ebay is so expensive (and Dutch!). You should move to the UK: we could pool our resources and set up our own library! Except that it would probably be more of a museum, since we wouldn't want our books being man-handled by strangers. I won't read your review of King of Thorns until next week, after I've read it, but I'm liking the score In the words of God from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "Get on with it!!!" Honestly, it's brilliant, but my only worry is: what score will I give Emperor if I like it even more? 6/5? (Although I can't read it yet - another author has sent me a book to review so I'll be doing that first. I'm loving these free stories! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 In the words of God from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "Get on with it!!!" Honestly, it's brilliant, but my only worry is: what score will I give Emperor if I like it even more? 6/5? (Although I can't read it yet - another author has sent me a book to review so I'll be doing that first. I'm loving these free stories! ). I will get on with it - as soon as I finish The Sunne in Splendour . . . You should bear in mind that you're not allowed to give full marks to a book unless it's absolutely perfect. I'm not sure who decrees whether something is perfect or not, but I'm sure someone on SFF Chronicles will be happy to tell you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 It's a shame Dutch Ebay is so expensive (and Dutch!). You should move to the UK: we could pool our resources and set up our own library! Except that it would probably be more of a museum, since we wouldn't want our books being man-handled by strangers. x I agree, it is a shame. If I had to pick any country to live in other than the Netherlands, I think it would be the UK. There's so many great things about it (including my boyfriend ). But my family lives here and I have the things here that I'm used to. And no, I wouldn't want that for my books either! I'm already very hesitant about letting people borrow them, because the few times I've done so, people didn't return the book or returned it in a bad condition a few months later, unless I know that the person borrowing a book treats books well like I do. I hope your free book is fun! It's great to see some more fantasy being read here on the forum . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signor Finzione Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 I will get on with it - as soon as I finish The Sunne in Splendour . . . You should bear in mind that you're not allowed to give full marks to a book unless it's absolutely perfect. I'm not sure who decrees whether something is perfect or not, but I'm sure someone on SFF Chronicles will be happy to tell you I'm just kidding, I know you're reading a hefty tome at the moment. And anyone who tries to dictate how I rate my books can kiss my . . . erm . . . well, they can just go away. x I agree, it is a shame. If I had to pick any country to live in other than the Netherlands, I think it would be the UK. There's so many great things about it (including my boyfriend ). But my family lives here and I have the things here that I'm used to. And no, I wouldn't want that for my books either! I'm already very hesitant about letting people borrow them, because the few times I've done so, people didn't return the book or returned it in a bad condition a few months later, unless I know that the person borrowing a book treats books well like I do. I hope your free book is fun! It's great to see some more fantasy being read here on the forum . I know what you mean - when you've lived somewhere your whole life it's hard to think about such a huge upheaval like moving countries. (Probably why I'm still living less than a mile away from my parents!). Also, it makes me cross when people don't show respect for books, especially when they belong to someone else. Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes! It's great to be in a place where other people read fantasy. (My husband just gets this glazed look on his face whenever I try and tell him about what I'm reading . . . although at the moment that may be down to the fact that he's permanently glued to GTA V ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I'm just kidding, I know you're reading a hefty tome at the moment. And anyone who tries to dictate how I rate my books can kiss my . . . erm . . . well, they can just go away. But . . . But . . . Oh, you meant 'butt', didn't you? Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes! It's great to be in a place where other people read fantasy. (My husband just gets this glazed look on his face whenever I try and tell him about what I'm reading . . . although at the moment that may be down to the fact that he's permanently glued to GTA V ) I might be joining him in a day or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.