James Barclay

Lizzy · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:39 am Post subject:

Before they are hanged, Joe Abercrombie. The second book in the First Law trilogy. Basically picks up where the first book finishes and is three different stories intermingled. Inquisitor Glokta has to find a traitor and defend a city from an attack; Ninefingers, Ferro, Jezal and Bayaz go on a quest; and Dogman, Threetress and West have to fight Bethod's army.

It all works well and the style of writing (third person limited) allows you to get right inside the character's head.

Ferro and Ninefingers are probably my favourite characters now.

I look forward to reading the final book later this month.
_________________

Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

Alia · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 246

Have just finished book two of the Polish fantasy series that I've been reading, and now I'm probably going to move on to Pratchett's "Night watch". Or perhaps Kay's "Song for Arbonne".

TheJovialGnome · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 295 Location: Boston

Alia · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 246

There is also one book that I really want to read, and I even have it on my shelf. It's "L?d" by Jacek Dukaj, probably the best contemporary s-f writer in Poland. The problem is, it's hardcover and about 1600 pages long, so it would be difficult to put it in my bag and read on the bus. So it will probably wait until my holidays.

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

Just finished reading Russell Whitfield's 'Gladiatrix', the book version of 'Gladiator' but with women in it! It's a very entertaining read although some of the fight scenes (of which there are loads) did drag on a bit and become almost cartoonish. There's also a heavy emphasis on women... err... spending quality time in the company of other women and this really detracts from the story itself, almost to the point where I was wondering what kind of book I was reading... Still worth checking out though if you're a fan of historical fiction from authors such as Simon Scarrow or Conn Iggulden. My full review is over Here.
I fancy something quick and easy next so it's Derek Gunn's 'Vampire Apocalypse, A World Torn Asunder' up next, weighs in at 215 pages although I'm really not sure about the name... Dunno what to read after that, Joel Shepherd's 'Breakaway' looks good but so does Brian Ruckley's 'Bloodheir'...
_________________
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Wulfa_Coldheart · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 97 Location: United Kingdom

Really loving Mark Chadbourn's Age of Misrule. In to the second book now and can't put it down for long.

Just off to read a chapter or two now before bed in fact!
_________________
"You know what Jack Burton always says... what the hell?"

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

I've just finished reading Kelley Armstrong's 'Personal Demon'; a tale of revenge, supernatural gang warfare and a half-demon's attempts to make sense of it all. I found this to be really engaging stuff with plenty to think about and an ending that caught me by surprise. Having said that though, the switching between character perspectives could be confusing at times and I did feel that the author missed a trick by choosing not to stretch the main character and take the story off in different directions... Have a look at my review over Here. I had a great time reading Joel Shepherd's 'Crossover' so 'Breakaway' (the sequel) is up next.
_________________
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Mark D · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Yeovil, Somerset

The High Lord - Trudi Canavan

The first two were brilliant and i'm completely hooked on this book now. I've resorted to reading it in my English lessons!
_________________

Lizzy · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject:

Wulfa - glad you are enjoying AoM, you've just over a month to read the Dark Age trilogy and Jack of Ravens before his next in the sequence comes out - The Burning Man is due out on 17th April.

Mark D - The High Lord is an excellent book in an excellent trilogy. Akkarin is just brilliant in it.

Sadly I didn't rate her Priestess of the White books nearly so highly, in fact I still have the last book in that series to read.

Currently I'm reading Red seas under red skies by Scott Lynch. It's started off at a fine pace and I'm really enjoying it.
_________________

Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

TheJovialGnome · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 295 Location: Boston

Glad to hear Red Seas under Red Skies is good, it's next on my list! Laughing

Currently reading The Crow Road by Iain Banks - it hasn't grabbed me quite as I'd hoped it would, finding it quite disjointed and thus slow going but I will persevere as it comes highly recommended! Laughing

_________________
"Constant Vigilance!"

Selik · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 1524 Location: South Shields

I've never managed to get into Iain Banks (or M. Banks for that matter). The Wasp Factory was the exception, but remains the only one of his books i've ever really managed to keep an interest in.
_________________
"I sit on my arse, not my head." - Baron Gresse.

Alia · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 246

I really loved "The Crow Road" (but then, I'm a fan of Banks, with or without M.). The first sentence just grabbed me and before I really learnt what it meant, the book had me hooked. "Complicity" is another of his so-to-say crime novels that I would recommend. As for s-f, "Use of Weapons" and "Feersum Endjinn" are my favourites.
After reading "The Wasp Factory", I felt physically sick for a couple of days.

Mark D · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Yeovil, Somerset

Kerela · Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 372 Location: Germany

I never really got into the Trudi Cavanan-books Confused

Kai Meyer - Traumvater
_________________
The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I, or the others crazy?
Albert Einstein

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

For some reason I woke up at 4am this morning, and couldn't get back to sleep (grumblegrumble), so I ended up finishing off Joel Shepherd's 'Breakaway'. It's very much a 'middle book in a trilogy' and as a result it does feel like there's a lot of stuff left hanging and unanswered. Still good fun to read though and I'm looking forward to picking up 'Killswitch' (the last book in the series) very soon. A full review is over Here.
In the meantime, I'm reading Mark Henry's 'Happy Hour of the Damned'...
_________________
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!