I keep forgetting that almost all modern fantasy is just Tolkien fan fiction, and as I get farther into a book - well, I'd rather be re-reading Lord oI keep forgetting that almost all modern fantasy is just Tolkien fan fiction, and as I get farther into a book - well, I'd rather be re-reading Lord of the Rings. Nothing original to see here.
(And Tasslehoff Burrfoot's obsession with his "wife," OMG I wanted to strangle him. Give it a rest. Also, who even is that on the cover?)
Books 1 and 3 of this prequel series, meh, books 2 and 4, good. I really enjoyed the growth of the relationship between Hadrian and Royce in this one.Books 1 and 3 of this prequel series, meh, books 2 and 4, good. I really enjoyed the growth of the relationship between Hadrian and Royce in this one.
It would be fun to reread this series straight through starting with the prequel series. Maybe when I'm retired. Would also be great to see this as a TV series. ...more
I keep hearing what a great writer Terry Pratchett is, but so far I have not been overwhelmed by his Discworld novels. They are supposed to be so funnI keep hearing what a great writer Terry Pratchett is, but so far I have not been overwhelmed by his Discworld novels. They are supposed to be so funny, and I just don’t find them funny. Maybe I just don't *get* his humor.
The Wee Free Men is in the adult collection of my library, but it’s not even a young adult book – it’s a kids book. Lots of humor for kids (“the weewee men” – heh heh heh *eyeroll). It didn’t strike me as overly original. I wish I loved Terry Pratchett because there are all those books to read. This book was ... fine? But it doesn't inspire me to read the next one.
Book discussion tonight. We'll see how that goes....more
The Last Smile in Sunder City by Australian actor Luke Arnold treads some familiar territory. It reminded me of Shrek, of Ever After High, of Who FramThe Last Smile in Sunder City by Australian actor Luke Arnold treads some familiar territory. It reminded me of Shrek, of Ever After High, of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Humans managed to destroy all the magic in the world, and main character Fetch Phillips, a human, is trying to work off his guilt. Vampires, werewolves, elves, gnomes, and all other manner of magical creatures now mingle and try to live without what made them special.
Fetch was raised in a walled, nonmagical city of humans. He didn’t realize the wonders of the world until he left the city and struck out on his own. Fetch is the stereotyped cynical, world-weary private eye down to the last degree. He can take a beating and fully expects to when he wanders into shady bars seeking answers. In fact, his guilt makes him almost welcome the pain. His friends are few. An old injury causes him chronic pain, so he self-medicates and is usually high, drunk, or both.
This book does not take itself seriously. There are no messages to puzzle over. It’s just a fun romp through tropes we know and love. In this first book in the series, Fetch is hired by a school principal to find a missing vampire, an ancient and beloved teacher at the school. As we follow Fetch around Sunder City as he seeks clues, he spins out his backstory and the backstory of the missing magic. We learn about the woman he loved, and how he received each of his four tattoos. (I found the tattoo stories the most effective and interesting part of the narrative.)
The Last Smile in Sunder City isn’t going to win any awards, but I can definitely imagine it being made into a TV or movie series (perhaps starring its actor author). The second book, Dead Man in a Ditch, came out in 2020, and the third book is due out in 2022.
Geralt's adventures reminded me very much of the adventures of R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt, not surprising since both are based on games. However, Drizzt Geralt's adventures reminded me very much of the adventures of R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt, not surprising since both are based on games. However, Drizzt is the more interesting character, at least so far as I can tell from reading one Witcher book.
I enjoyed The Last Wish in the same mindless way as the Drizzt stories. I was surprised it wasn't more graphically violent and sexual based on what little I've seen/read about the Netflix series. (Although there ARE a lot of naked and half-naked women in this book; not so many naked men.) It's actually quite childish, in that it is a book of fractured fairy tales.
After hearing a lame prophecy, the Witcher says, "Nonsense. ... it doesn't rhyme. All decent predictions rhyme." (p. 96) That pretty much says it all about the modus operandi of The Last Wish.
My favorite book ever, what can I say? I first read it in 7th grade. Can't count how many times I've re-read it since.My favorite book ever, what can I say? I first read it in 7th grade. Can't count how many times I've re-read it since....more
I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was in junior high. If this book had been available then, I would probably have eagerly devoured it. But reaI first read The Lord of the Rings when I was in junior high. If this book had been available then, I would probably have eagerly devoured it. But reading it now as an adult – hoo boy! A Lord of the Rings wanna be without the humor, character development, depth, and genius of The Lord of the Rings. The songs were particularly painful to read. Of Tolkien’s races, hobbits (“kender”) get the short end of the stick from Weis and Hickman.
Every characters is a cardboard stereotype. I imagined each one as one of the actors from the Lord of the Rings movies. Maybe it's better if you play Dungeons and Dragons?
I’ve actually read a fair number of R.A. Salvatore’s Drizzt books. The early books at least have something Dragons of Autumn Twilight does not – an interesting main character.
This book was requested by members of my sci-fi / fantasy book group. Not sure what we’ll talk about at our discussion meeting. (“Wow, how much of a Lord of the Rings rip-off IS this?")
Still, I’m not sorry I read Dragons of Autumn Twilight as I’ve heard about it and it is a foundational work of high fantasy, although a terrible one. It is an easy read, I will also admit that. There is a lot of Plot and Action.
I read much of this while spending the night in the Minneapolis Airport during a freezing cold snap. It did help keep my mind off things....more
Not as good as the first. It got kind of draggy in the middle, plus there was some repetitive stuff that got old. The heroine's nun friend kept going Not as good as the first. It got kind of draggy in the middle, plus there was some repetitive stuff that got old. The heroine's nun friend kept going on about being ravished by pirates long after it was clear the pirates were the good guys. Plus Brigitta is given a hard time about being overly dramatic, and I don't know whether it was intentional or a find and replace gone wrong, but every time the words overly dramatic appeared they were in italics, which got super annoying. A running joke about the heroine wrapping her legs around the hero and squeezing also wore out its welcome.
OK, I'll read book 3, but I hope it's better than book 2....more
A light-hearted bit of paranormal romance fluff. There was a bit of religious weirdness toward the end, and the love scenes were a bit cringe-worthy aA light-hearted bit of paranormal romance fluff. There was a bit of religious weirdness toward the end, and the love scenes were a bit cringe-worthy at times, but I found it diverting. And at least there was no artificial barrier or misunderstanding keeping the hero and heroine apart. On to book two....more
I am a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, and the Lord of the Rings, and I greatly admire Christopher Tolkien's efforts to decipher his father'I am a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, and the Lord of the Rings, and I greatly admire Christopher Tolkien's efforts to decipher his father's scritchy handwriting and provide more material and insight on Tolkien's world for fans.
And so I read each book as it comes out, and I never really get anything out of them. I guess I am just a Tolkien fan, not a Tolkien scholar. (The greatest comment I ever read about The Silmarillion is this one - "It's like reading a phone book written in elvish.")
Tolkien was a genius, but I just don't find I need to know about different drafts of his Middle-earth backstories....more
A surprisingly complete happily ever after fantasy romance given that it is only 50 pages (in the Instafreebie epub version, anyway). I would recommenA surprisingly complete happily ever after fantasy romance given that it is only 50 pages (in the Instafreebie epub version, anyway). I would recommend to the author that she flesh it out and turn it into a novel or at least a novella. I was sorry it ended so soon....more
I hadn’t planned to read the Fantastic Beasts screenplay, but I had a hard time understanding Eddie Redmayne some of the time in the movie. In one insI hadn’t planned to read the Fantastic Beasts screenplay, but I had a hard time understanding Eddie Redmayne some of the time in the movie. In one instance I thought he used a spell that didn’t make sense. Plus I read a review of the screenplay that said you can pick up some things from the notes that you don’t pick up watching the movie.
This proved to be true. For example, one note says that Queenie reads Jacob’s mind and “her expression changes to one of wonderment and tenderness as she sees what he went through in the war.” I got the wonderment and tenderness, but not that she was comparing the danger they were presently in with what Jacob saw in the Great War.
The illustrations are wonderful so it is worth flipping through the book just for that. It’s a quick read. I wouldn’t recommend reading it before seeing the movie though.
Oh, and when I thought Newt/Eddie Redmayne said “Obliviate” he actually said “Revelio,” which made a lot more sense.
The publisher had no business putting Drizzt on the cover of this book, since he's in it for about five minutes. My usual complaint of recent SalvatorThe publisher had no business putting Drizzt on the cover of this book, since he's in it for about five minutes. My usual complaint of recent Salvatore books - not enough Drizzt!
The companions are really only of interest as they relate to Drizzt, so I did not find the many many many chapters of their growing from babies to the age of 21 after being reincarnated as themselves to be engaging. They could have each been given one chapter, followed by a reunion, followed by a real story.
Not sure I'll ever read another Drizzt book, although I've said that before. I just keep hoping....more
I read a lot of romance novels, but I'm straight and up until now I've only read straight romance novels. However, I've been buying books from RiptideI read a lot of romance novels, but I'm straight and up until now I've only read straight romance novels. However, I've been buying books from Riptide Publishing (which specializes in LGBTQ fiction) for my library's collection, and the plot of Looking for Group intrigued me (a teenaged boy becomes interested in a girl he meets in an online roleplaying game, then learns “she” is a boy). I figured it was time for me to read a title from Riptide.
This is a sweet sweet coming of age/first love story. I don’t like graphic sex in my romance novels, and this book would be perfect for someone looking for a book about same sex romance, not same sex sex. At least it would be perfect if the person is into gaming or at least doesn’t mind the gaming framework.
Although I'm not a gamer, I think in different circumstances I could easily have been one. I enjoy a lot of fandoms and other aspects of pop culture, especially Tolkien, and I loved the book Ready Player One. Looking for Group was a lot game-ier than I expected. There was a lot of stuff I didn't really get, but it didn't bother me. I understood that online role-playing banter was taking place even if I didn't get all the jokes. My biggest complaint was that the online gaming font was hard to read!
And about halfway through I discovered there is a glossary at the back! Which I wish I realized earlier but it was still quite helpful. Honestly, the unfamiliar vocabulary didn’t seem that different to me from made up words in other works of fantasy. And even if I don’t play online role-playing games, I do have online friends that I rarely if ever meet in real life, so I totally got that aspect of the plot.
This is very much a published-in-2016 book of cultural references. It pokes fun at modern culture even while making fun of it. (“[In Drew’s] experience, dates were things you paid for. Unless you dated Tinuviel, apparently, because something something patriarchal assumptions something something commodity model of sex something something.” (p. 189)) (Yes, there is a character named Tinuviel, more bonus points!) But it also harkens back to a more romantic time, as in this exchange after Drew apologizes to Kit/Solace by giving him a hard-to-achieve online gift: [Solace] whispers: I’m having a magnificent grounds at Pemberley moment To [Solace]: ??? [Solace] whispers: Just I’ll feel totally mercenary if I forgive you now
Looking for Group contains nice depictions of friendship, both virtual and real life, clever dialog, unremarkable romantic/sexual relationships that are not all one man/one woman, and lots and lots of gamer lingo. And it’s a straightforward third person narrative, yay! A definite recommend for the right reader. ...more
Tinker and the rest of this series by Wen Spencer have some of the worst fantasy covers I have ever seen. (Seriously! Look at the cover of Wood SpriteTinker and the rest of this series by Wen Spencer have some of the worst fantasy covers I have ever seen. (Seriously! Look at the cover of Wood Sprites!) I stumbled across Tinker when I was weeding the fiction collection at my library. I thought the blurb sounded ridiculous and the cover was terrible. But then I saw how high Tinker’s Goodreads rating was and I was intrigued. I decided I needed to read it for myself.
This book is a delightful mix of high and urban fantasy. Elves right out of Tolkien, a heroine from Pittsburgh. It opens with a bang and has a lot of action and some pretty entertaining dialog.
Tinker is kind of like a well written Twilight with a strong female lead, with most of the story condensed into one book. Windwolf is an elf, rather than a vampire like Edward, but he is 200 years older than Tinker and she is only 18. And when she asks if he loves her, he says, “Love is such a small word to carry what I feel.” However, there is that thing about Pittsburgh existing in an elf realm while still connected to Earth, and the wargs, oni, and Tengu, and all that magic. Oh, and the science and math!
There was a bit of torture and rape towards the end that I could have done without, and I found much of the last 70 pages or so a bit slow, but on the whole I was very pleasantly surprised by Tinker. (And I will not be weeding it from the fiction collection.)...more
The Elf King’s Lady’s beautiful cover ensnared me and convinced me to read it. Although I enjoy both romance novels and high fantasy, this combinationThe Elf King’s Lady’s beautiful cover ensnared me and convinced me to read it. Although I enjoy both romance novels and high fantasy, this combination of the two genres just didn’t quite work for me.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, and I assume that the adversarial relationship between the hero and heroine of this entry is introduced there. I felt like I jumped into this book in the middle of a story. I didn’t feel any chemistry. The overall plot moved too slowly while the development from adversaries to heated lovers moved too quickly.
For me, The Elf King’s Lady contains too much genre romance sex for high fantasy and too much political intrigue and fantasy world building for genre romance. The combination just didn’t work for me (and the language was overblown even for genre romance, e.g., “‘Make love to me, Kain,’ Alique said. ‘I yearn to be one with you.’” (p. 207 of the advance reader copy).
I read an advance reader copy of The Elf King’s Lady. ...more
I really loved the first book in the Shattered Sea series, the second two not as much. They are all well written gritty fantasy, but I wasn't as engagI really loved the first book in the Shattered Sea series, the second two not as much. They are all well written gritty fantasy, but I wasn't as engaged, and Father Yarvi, who I loved so much in the first book, just got less and less likable. The world building is great throughout the series, but the first book is definitely the best. Still, I'm glad I finished the series.
(I did find the resemblance of the elf weapons to our own a little alarming - I was afraid it was going to end up being dystopian.)...more
I really loved the original six Riyria books but haven't loved the prequels quite as much. I described one of the earlier books (as published, not chrI really loved the original six Riyria books but haven't loved the prequels quite as much. I described one of the earlier books (as published, not chronologically) as a rollicking good time, and I didn't quite feel that with The Death of Dulgath. The prequels just somehow feel meaner, and the relationship between Hadrian and Royce (far and away the best part about these books) isn't quite as developed. I felt especially bad about the deaths of two minor characters.
It has been 8 years since I read the previous book, and this is definitely a series that is helped by reading them one after another. Also, the time of Covid is probably affecting my enjoyment. I do recommend the series to fantasy lovers. Maybe it would help to start with the prequels and go from there.
I received a free ebook copy of The Death of Dulgath from Michael J. Sullivan and it's much appreciated. ...more