[onionroach]

Soz, I agree. The love triangle in First Rider's Call, to me, seems uneeded. But oh well.

I can't stop talking about The Scar. I really do like that book. I'm almost fnished with it but I'm trying to drag it out which is hard because I'm keep getting caught up in the momentum of the story but since I know what happens I can wait, but since I know what happens I also want to hurry up and get there as well.

I also picked up to start reading again, Peter and the Star Catchers and War For the Oaks. I hate when library due dates start approaching because then my non-library books get set aside. I'm also thinking that I probably have to pick up the book form of Thud because I keep falling asleep in the middle of the CDs.

[Soz]

I'm still looking forward to reading The High King's Tomb, but not as much as I was before I read First Rider's Call.

I finished Ally and wow! Karen Traviss is so amazing that I might go back to reading Star Wars books just to read all of her books. Her Wess'Har Wars series (her non-Star Wars books) is so great. I can't believe there's only one book left and I'm pondering how she can possibly wrap it all up in just one more book.

Now I'm reading Fortune's Fool by Mercedes Lackey and it's cute. There's finally some female unicorns, who I am finding very amusing.

I've been getting so many fantasy books in trades lately that I can't possibly list them all, but here's some of the authors: Diana Pharaoh Francis, Fiona Patton (Tanya Huff's wife/partner), Rosemary Kirstein, Joanne Bertin, Sharon Shinn, Tanya Huff, Laurie J. Marks, Juliet Marillier, and a ton of Mercedes Lackey books.

[onionroach]

I've been on a reading kick. I finished Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. I like it. At first I thought it was going to turn out to be so very angsty and kind of Anita Blake-ish but the ending was not happy and satisfying...kind of, because it wasn't. I picked up the sequel and can't wait to start that. I also finished Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur. The main character reminds me of Anita Blake, but I like the ongoing mystery so I'm going to read the sequel and decide from there.

I'm on my third Dresden book. I'm so reading that series out of order. I have Fool's Fortune to pick up from the library, along with Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede.

[Soz]

The new Lackey is cute and fun so far, but I've been so darned tired that I haven't had much time to read it- but still, I'm surprised at how far I've gotten into the book.

Sorcery and Cecelia is such a fun book. I really must read the sequels.

[onionroach]

I can't wait to start Sorcery and Cecelia. I also picked up Melusine and Shadows in the Darkness. I've started Melusine and it's looks to be dark and interesting...kind of like Anne Bishop's Jewels trilogy. I have my fingers crossed.

[TheAngel]

A friend just let me borrow Her Majesty's Wizard by Christopher Stasheff. I've never read it or heard of it before but it seems to be very interesting. I haven't been able to start it yet but I should soon. I'll let you know what I think of it then.

[thescoobygang]

Originally Posted by onionroach (View Post) I've been on a reading kick. I finished Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. I like it. At first I thought it was going to turn out to be so very angsty and kind of Anita Blake-ish but the ending was not happy and satisfying...kind of, because it wasn't. I picked up the sequel and can't wait to start that. I also finished Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur. The main character reminds me of Anita Blake, but I like the ongoing mystery so I'm going to read the sequel and decide from there.

I didn't care for Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Someone sent me the sequel through trade so I'll try reading that and see if I change my mind about the series. Full Moon Rising was good...but a bit too sexed up. I have the next 2 books in the Riley series but I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading them. Have you read the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow? Her writing falls into that same urban fantasy/female hunter genre so you might like it.

I am cutting back on buying hardcovers(no shelf space!) so I had to choose between shelling out for Rebel Fay by Barb & J.C. Hendee or Kim Harrison's latest Dead book. I am already behind on Kim's series so Rebel Fay won out. I think it was the right choice. I started reading Rebel Fay on the weekend and it really sucks you into the story fast. According to the authors there is only one book left in the initial Noble Dead series so I can't wait to see how it all ends next year!

[onionroach]

Originally Posted by thescoobygang (View Post) I didn't care for Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Someone sent me the sequel through trade so I'll try reading that and see if I change my mind about the series. Full Moon Rising was good...but a bit too sexed up. I have the next 2 books in the Riley series but I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading them. Have you read the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow? Her writing falls into that same urban fantasy/female hunter genre so you might like it. I am cutting back on buying hardcovers(no shelf space!) so I had to choose between shelling out for Rebel Fay by Barb & J.C. Hendee or Kim Harrison's latest Dead book. I am already behind on Kim's series so Rebel Fay won out. I think it was the right choice. I started reading Rebel Fay on the weekend and it really sucks you into the story fast. According to the authors there is only one book left in the initial Noble Dead series so I can't wait to see how it all ends next year!

There was way too much sex in Full Moon Rising, but the actual mystery is interesting. I've heard about the Dante Valentine series. I might try it out later when I have nothing to read. As for the Kim Harrison series, I had to force myself to finish the last book. But I'm going to read the next one in the series.

I'm waiting on the library to get Belladonna by Anne Bishop.

[Soz]

Angel, I saw on the 50 Book Challenge thread that you read The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell. How was it? I really liked her book Navohar, which I think is her only SF book and her only adult book.

I finished Fortune's Fool and it was okay, but I'm either getting sick of this series or it's going downhill. I also think Lackey needs to stop writing love scenes right now!

I'm going to be starting the next in Tanya Huff's Quarters series after I finish up some library books.

[onionroach]

I finished Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs. It's starting to go the way of Anita Blake with all the men and angst. I'm kind of sad. But I'll still read the next one. I also finished Melusine by Sarah Monette. I really, really like it. It's dark and twisted and kind of sad. I can't wait to read the next book. I really hope there is a next book.

I'm in the middle of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin. I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I love her sci-fi.

[Soz]

Melusine is the start of a four book series and book two, The Virtu, is already out. Book three comes out this summer and book four comes out next year. (I read the author's Live Journal). Monette is near the top of my must acquire her books by any means necessary list because she writes about a lot of themes I love. I will probably start with her story in The Queen in Winter (I don't know if it's part of the series or not) since I'm going to be reading that anyway for the Sharon Shinn story.

[onionroach]

I'll have to check that out. I saw on amazon.com that she had two books out in the series and a third coming out later. I just really like Melusine. It's a breath of fresh air from all the urban fantasy I've been reading. I've requested The Virtu so, hopefully, I'll get it sometime next week. I'm going Shadows In the Darkness by Elaine Cunningham. We'll see how that goes.

I noticed that my library has Alpha by Catherine Asaro. I'm thinking of picking that one up eventually as well.

[thescoobygang]

Originally Posted by onionroach (View Post) I'm going Shadows In the Darkness by Elaine Cunningham. We'll see how that goes.

I think I have that book. But as usual I have not read it yet.

Regarding the Urban Fantasy...I think most of the urban fantasy/romance I'm seeing now is becoming way too repetitive. A lot of these authors(both new and old) are borrowing heavily from the old Anita Blake whether they want to admit or not. Almost every story I read is about a tough female supernatural investigating a supernatural crime while attracting the unwanted attention of rival Alpha males (usually leaders of vamps or shapeshifters). The protagonist is usually physically scarred, lonely, has a chip on her shoulder, isn't liked by cops and has a 'secret' past and hidden ability. It's obvious that publishers are telling their clients that this formula sells because I keep seeing so many on the new release shelves. I enjoy these books to a point but I think it may be time for this genre to start moving onto a new theme.

[onionroach]

Originally Posted by thescoobygang (View Post) I think I have that book. But as usual I have not read it yet. Regarding the Urban Fantasy...I think most of the urban fantasy/romance I'm seeing now is becoming way too repetitive. A lot of these authors(both new and old) are borrowing heavily from the old Anita Blake whether they want to admit or not. Almost every story I read is about a tough female supernatural investigating a supernatural crime while attracting the unwanted attention of rival Alpha males (usually leaders of vamps or shapeshifters). The protagonist is usually physically scarred, lonely, has a chip on her shoulder, isn't liked by cops and has a 'secret' past and hidden ability. It's obvious that publishers are telling their clients that this formula sells because I keep seeing so many on the new release shelves. I enjoy these books to a point but I think it may be time for this genre to start moving onto a new theme.

I so agree. And it's so hard to find an original though all the mediocre mess. I do like the Mercy Thompson series. That's interesting, even though the cover art just really, really annoys me. What is up with the cover art for these books? Can't we get something that might have something to do with the story of the book? I think I'm kind of getting tired of the genre, though. We'll see. What makes it worse, I think, is that so many romances are turning into urban fantasies as well. Oh well.

[TheAngel]

Originally Posted by Soz (View Post) Angel, I saw on the 50 Book Challenge thread that you read The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell. How was it? I really liked her book Navohar, which I think is her only SF book and her only adult book.

I really enjoyed it. When I bought the book at my local used bookstore I didn't realize that it was a YA book. So I was surprised when I started reading it. But, at the same time, the characters, the politics, the things that both main characters were going through were very mature. The characters were 17 and 18 in the book, although the girl started out at about 9 when the book started, so it made for much more mature, much more interesting situations. The interactions with the goblins were humorous and heartfelt. All in all I thought it was a really good book. It was a quick read, but full of a lot of action and character development so if you get the chance to read it I would recommend it.
I haven't read any of her other books. I may have to check them out though, since I liked this one quite a bit.