BEST FANTASY COVERS VOL. 9

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Bookwraiths

cover lover collage 1

It’s that time again! Time to highlight some of my favorite fantasy covers!

This time I’m just highlighting a few covers which caught my attention recently.  No real theme. I just really liked these covers when I saw them. In fact, several of the books are from series I’m familiar with and have no interest in reading, but I still need to give them love for the great eye-candy.

If anyone has read any of these book, let us know, because I’d sure we’d all love to know if they are actually worth giving a try.

10. The Nine

the nine

9. Empire Asunder

empire asunder

8. The Slaves of the Horned Gods

slaves of the horned gods

7. The Hidden Face the hidden face

6. Knee-Deep in Grit

kneedeep in grit

5. Child of a Mad God

child of a mad god

 

4. The Fall of Dragons

fall of dragons

3. The Mongrel Mage

mongrel mage

 

2. A Time of Dread

time of dread

1. Blade and Bone 

blade and bone

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: THE WILL TO BATTLE

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Bookwraiths

waiting-on-wednesday
Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to let readers share their excitement for books coming out soon, and the novel I’m eagerly awaiting is . . .

the will to liveThe Will to Battle by Ada Palmer

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Terra Ignota #3 

Publisher: Tor Books (December 5, 2017)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 368 pages

The long years of near-utopia have come to an abrupt end.

Peace and order are now figments of the past. Corruption, deception, and insurgency hum within the once steadfast leadership of the Hives, nations without fixed location.

The heartbreaking truth is that for decades, even centuries, the leaders of the great Hives bought the world’s stability with a trickle of secret murders, mathematically planned. So that no faction could ever dominate. So that the balance held.

The Hives’ façade of solidity is the only hope they have for maintaining a semblance of order, for preventing the public from succumbing to the savagery and bloodlust of wars past. But as the great secret becomes more and more widely known, that façade is slipping away.

Just days earlier, the world was a pinnacle of human civilization. Now everyone—Hives and hiveless, Utopians and sensayers, emperors and the downtrodden, warriors and saints—scrambles to prepare for the seemingly inevitable war.

Purchase at Amazon

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TOP TEN TUESDAY

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Bookwraiths

TOP TEN TUESDAYS

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

This week we have a great topic to explore …

TOP TEN BOOKS ON MY WINTER TBR LIST

Great topic and an easy one for me, since I always have far too many books lying around that I need to read.  Just to make it harder though, I’ve decided this winter while I’m sitting nice and snug in my house in front of the heater (I’d prefer a fireplace, but my home does not have one.) I am going to be focusing — though exclusively — on reading some older series I need to finish or give a try.

the red knight10. The Red Knight – Miles Cameron

Having purchased this novel on the recommendation of a friend who said it was just my kind of fantasy, I suppose it isn’t ridiculous that I’ve allowed it to sit on my bookshelf staring at me every day for ages.  Now, though, it is finally time to pull this one down and put that recommendation to the test, see how well my friend really knows me.

Purchase The Red Knight at Amazon.  

FALLEN GODS9. Fallen Gods – James A. Moore

As most of you will know, I’m an admirer of Mr. Moore’s sword and sorcery offerings, which deliver all the fast-paced pulp fun of ages past with a delightful dose of old-fashioned horror.  After enjoying The Last Sacrifice, I can’t wait to see what Mr. Moore has in store with readers with this second installment of The Tides of War series.

Purchase Fallen Gods at Amazon.

trial-of-intentions8. Trial of Intentions – Peter Orullian

Most people didn’t love The Unremembered.  I did, however, enjoy the Author’s Definite Edition, which fixed many of the problems people had with the initial edition.  Once I began this book though some changes in the tone and plot caused me to loose interest, but I really want to see where this story goes.

Purchase Trial of Intentions at Amazon. 

SHADOWLINE7. Shadowline – Glen Cook

As a self-professed fan of anything writen by Glen Cook, it is great sorrow I admit never having found time to read this book (or the Shadowfishers series it spawns).  What makes it worse is that I own the whole series, look at them on my bookshelf every day.  Well, this winter I’m going to get started reading them.

Purchase Shadowline at Amazon.

the last mortal bond6. The Last Mortal Bond – Brian Staveley

After enjoying The Emperor’s Blades and its follow-up The Providence of Fire, I was anxious to begin the conclusion to this trilogy.  Heck, I even got on Amazon and purchased a brand new, hardcover edition.  Then I got busy reading other novels and never found my way back to this one, so I think it is fitting I finish it up soon.

Purchase The Last Mortal Bond at Amazon.

the wheel of osheim5. The Wheel of Osheim – Mark Lawrence

Nope, The Red Queen’s War isn’t as amazingly grim as Mark Lawrence Broken Empire trilogy, but I still enjoyed the majority of the first two books.  Why I’ve never gotten around to reading the concluding installment I don’t know.  There is no better time than the present to rectify that though.

Purchase The Wheel of Osheim at Amazon.

against all things ending4. Against All Things Ending – Stephen R. Donaldson

Can’t express how excited I was when The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant was released.  Hell, I devoured The Runes of the Earth and Fatal Revenant faults and all.  But I couldn’t muster any excitement for this book, but since I’m a completionist, its time to pull this one off the bookshelf and finish this series already.

Purchase Against All Things Ending at Amazon.

house atreides3. Prelude to Dune – Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

As a lover of all things Dune, I buy all the books.  Are these novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson as good as the originals?  Nope.  Why do I read them then?  Because I’m a Dune lover, and I have to have my fix of Dune ever so often, which is why its time to read this.

Purchase House Atreides at Amazon.

before they are hanged2. Before They Are Hanged – Joe Abercrombie   

Honestly, I didn’t love The Blade Itself, but I’m not sure if that was because the book wasn’t for me or my expectations were set to high.  To determine this question once and for all, I need to muster up the effort, read the rest of The First Law series, and decide is Abercrombie for me or not.

Purchase Before They Are Hanged at Amazon.

well fo ascension1. Mistborn: The Wheel of Ascension – Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson is an author I’m gradually growing to love as I read more of his writing, but when I picked up Mistborn: The Final Empire, he and I had never met before, and while I enjoyed our first read together, The Well of Ascension just did not do anything for me.  Time to try again, because I need a bit more Sanderson after Oathbringer.

Purchase The Well of Ascension at Amazon. 

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OATHBRINGER

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Bookwraiths

oathbringerOathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: The Stormlight Archive #3

Publisher: Tor Books (November 14, 2017)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 1233 pages

My Rating: 5 stars

Having recently finished a binge read of the first three novels in The Stormlight Archive, I can honestly say my mind is filled with this intricately detailed, amazingly epic story, so much so that I am finding it difficult to put into words my feelings for this series and, specifically, its third installment: Oathbringer. Mainly, this is due to the distinct originality and uniqueness of this book, which is hard to adequately describe. The world of Roshar far different from Tolkien’s LoTR, Martin’s ASoIF, or even Jordan’s WoT yet still terribly familiar. Roshar’s characters seemingly the normal standard bearers of legendary epics until Brandon Sanderson’s molds them into very different configurations. The plot here following the tried-and-true fantasy tropes only to turn them upside down, sending a reader flailing about in delightful ignorance of what is coming next. And due to all this, I believe the best way for me to summarize my feelings about Oathbringer is to merely say it is one of the most magnificent fantasy books I’ve ever read and leave it at that.

For those unfamiliar with The Stormlight Archive, it – like so many epic fantasy series – is centered upon the coming end of the world, as the cyclical Desolation Event comes upon the world of Roshar once again. The heralds of this cataclysm (the Voidbringers) having appeared along with the forces of Odium, and our band of “heroes” called upon to somehow, someway hold back the end of the world. Dalinar Kholin, Kaladin the Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, and Adolin Kholin finding themselves in far over their heads, no matter their pedigree and experience.

Where The Way of Kings was centered upon Kaladin and Words of Radiance focused on Shallan, Oathbringer’s main character is Dalinar. This novel spending a great deal of time comparing and contrasting the Dalinar of the present with the Dalinar of the past. The honorable, noble and principled would-be savior of Roshar revealed to have been a far different, more ruthless individual in the past; this history going a long way in explaining the reaction of so many people to Dalinar’s attempts to make of them allies in his crusade against the Desolation.

This focus on Dalinar does not mean the other characters of the series are left out in the cold however. In fact, Brandon Sanderson finds page time to weave compelling stories for Kaladin, Shallan, Adolin and many more. Each of these individuals dealing with new roles, emotional issues, and tough choices with long term repercussions. Some characters embrace their new identities, dealing with depression and addiction, but there are others who can’t or won’t, which causes them to have to deal with the pain of failure and fumble around to find other ways to change and grow as the world around them forces them to adapt to the evolving circumstances. All of this character development very raw, very real, and even more poignant and compelling due to this realism.

As for the world building in Oathbringer, it is just as superb as you’d expect from Sanderson. The world of Roshar, its people, its places, and its secrets mesmerizing in the extreme. The author finding new twists to add to the mix, revealing even more epic places, and adding to the legends and lore of this immense world. There is even time spent continuing to evolve the nature of the Desolations, the Heralds, the Oathpact, and everything else touched upon in the tale up to this point, leaving readers with the firm assurance that there is still much they do not know about Roshar.

Without a doubt, Oathbringer has raised the bar even higher for the already amazing Stormlight Archive, making me desperately wish I had the next installment of the series sitting before me so I could dive into its pages right now. Yes, there has been some tense moments, epic struggles, and riveting reveals in the series up to this point, and maybe I need a break from it, but I do not wish for one, since I know there is still a long ways to go before this ride ends and many more amazing things to come.  So everyone out there who hasn’t read this series yet, trust me, it is time to go ahead and begin your reading journey with The Stormlight Archive, because you do not want to miss out on this epic fantasy masterpiece!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 4 Stars, Epic, Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

FUNDAY MONDAY, OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL HELP ME SURVIVE THE WEEK AHEAD (NOVEMBER 27, 2017)

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Bookwraiths

funday-monday

Another week begins.  I quickly slip into my business suit and head back into the office to save a few innocent people. But while I try to fool myself into being excited about the promise of a new year and the continuation of the regular grind, deep down, I’m not, so I’m going to escape dreary reality by reading some great books.

Well, I’ve done a lot of reading the last couple of weeks, caught up on a backlog of books and even descended upon a huge electronic proverbial pile of graphic novels I’d been collecting for a while, but I’ve fallen behind on my reviews.  So this week I’m going to be focusing on finishing those overdue book reviews, diving into Deadhouse Landing, and attempting to find time to start a new arrival.  Wish me luck!

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deadhouse landingDeadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: Path to Ascendancy #2

Publisher: Tor Books (November 14, 2017)

Author Information: Website 

Length: 400 pages

After the disappointments of Li Heng, Dancer and Kellanved wash up on a small insignificant island named Malaz. Immediately, of course, Kellanved plans to take it over. To do so they join forces with a small band of Napans who have fled a civil war on their own home island. The plan, however, soon goes awry as Kellanved develops a strange and dangerous fascination for a mysterious ancient structure found on the island.

The chaos in the region extends to the metaphysical planes also as a young priest of D’rek starts to question the rot at the heart of the worship of the god of decay. And back in Li Heng, Dassem, now the proclaimed Sword of Hood, finds himself being blamed for a plague which leads him to a crisis of faith – and searching for answers.

During all this, war with the neighbouring island of Nap threatens, recruited allies wonder at Kellanved’s sanity, and powerful entities take more of an interest in the little mage from Dal Hon. Dancer faces a hard choice: should he give up on his partnership? Especially when the fellow’s obsession with shadows and ancient artefacts brings the both of them alarmingly close to death and destruction.

After all, who in his right mind would actually wish to enter an Elder mystery known to everyone as the ‘Deadhouse’?

Purchase the book at Amazon

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moon huntMoon Hunt by W. Michael Gear & Kathleen Gear

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: North America’s Forgotten Past #24

Publisher: Forge Books (November 21, 2017)

Author Information: Website

Length: 416 pages

Whispering Dawn has come to Cahokia as the bride of the living god Morning Star. She brings with her dark secrets. Political intrigue. And deadly magic.

When Morning Star drinks her poisoned nectar, the Night Moth carries his souls off to the Underworld to be slowly sucked into oblivion.

Cahokia is shaken to the roots by Whispering Dawn’s betrayal, and as the empire teeters on the verge of civil war, the immortal god’s human sister Night Shadow Star realizes that only she–intimately tied to the Underworld–can make the journey into the dark realms to retrieve Morning Star’s captured souls. To do so, she and Fire Cat must descend into the Sacred Cave’s terrifying depths where, beset by soul-devouring monsters, it may come down to Fire Cat to save the man, city, and people he once despised.

Moon Hunt is the third epic tale in the Morning Star series by New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear. Against the intricate majesty that was America’s greatest pre-Columbian city, the Gears have once again woven the latest archaeological data into a painstakingly accurate reconstruction of Cahokia and provide a rare look into the mystical underpinnings of Native American culture.

Purchase the book at Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: THE HIDDEN FACE

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Bookwraiths

the hidden faceThe Hidden Face by S.C. Flynn

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: Fifth Unmasking #1

Publisher: The Hive (November 25, 2017)

Author Information: Website | FB | Twitter 

Length: 350 pages

A face without a face – an unmasking that leaves the mask.

Once every few hundred years the sun god, the Akhen, takes on human form and descends to earth. Each Unmasking of the Face of the Akhen ends one era and begins another; the last one created the Faustian Empire. Where and when will the Face next appear, and who will he – or she – be?

Dayraven, son of a great hero, returns to Faustia after years as a hostage of their rivals, the Magians. Those years have changed him, but Faustia has changed as well; the emperor Calvo now seems eccentric and is controlled by one of Dayraven’s old enemies. Following the brutal death of his old teacher, Dayraven is drawn, together with a warrior woman named Sunniva, into the search for an ancient secret that would change the fate of empires.

Powerful enemies want the secret as well, including a dynasty of magician-kings who were thought to have died out long ago, a mad, murderous hunchback and a beautiful, deadly woman who is never seen. Sunniva and Dayraven fight to survive and to solve the mystery while their own pasts come back to life and the attraction between them deepens.

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Special Guest Review of The Hidden Face!

Today’s post is written by Astolf, high priest of Axo. Here is his first meeting Dayraven, the main character of The Hidden Face:

Dayraven waited for the next swing and then charged. His first punch took Astolf in the guts and the next somewhere on that skinny face. Astolf swung the elephant stick again and Dayraven wrenched it out of his hands and swung it at Astolf’s chest. He felt the metal bite and Astolf screamed and fell back, a red line breaking through his clothes across the chest. Dayraven threw away the stick and followed up, hitting again.

‘Get him!’ Astolf shouted through his bloodied mouth.

Dayraven looked around, but none of Astolf’s gang had moved. Dayraven hit him again and he lay back. The brown earth was stained with blood.

Dayraven raised his fist again. ‘What was my father?’

Astolf glared back and tried to swing a punch, but Dayraven blocked it.

‘That’s not the answer. I’m going to ask you once more, then next time you won’t be able to answer, I promise you.’

‘A cow -’ Astolf’s eyes flicked to the fist and then turned away. ‘A hero.’

 Dayraven. Always Dayraven. This book has an obsession with Dayraven, my old enemy. From the very first pages, the author focuses mostly on his return to Faustia and his adventures there, rather than on my strategies.

The bias in favour of Dayraven is evident in the above description of our first meeting and combat when we were boys. My challenge to him – when I was armed and backed by a group of followers, while Dayraven was alone and unarmed – is presented as cowardly bullying, rather than what it really was: clever tactical use of advantage to establish ascendancy over a rival. My unlucky defeat in that first fight is shown as a victory for Dayraven, rather than a betrayal by my followers, who stood and watched and then even sided with my opponent from then on.

Similarly, the death in the past of Dayraven’s father – the so-called hero – is made out to be the result of treachery on the part of my father, rather than what it really was: the astute elimination of a rival.

This entire book stinks of such misrepresentations. I am shown as a pawn manipulated by more powerful figures, rather than the manipulator that I really was, or thought I was. My position as high priest is shown as a cynical ploy for power, but who would not do the same if they could?

I have no doubt that the book ends with my final triumph, but I was unable to finish it.

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S. C. FlynnAUTHOR INFO:  S. C. Flynn was born in a small town in South West Western Australia. He has lived in Europe for a long time; first the United Kingdom, then Italy and currently Ireland, the home of his ancestors. He still speaks English with an Australian accent, and fluent Italian.

He reads everything, revises his writing obsessively and plays jazz. His wife Claudia shares his passions and always encourages him.

S. C. Flynn has written for as long as he can remember and has worked seriously towards becoming a writer for many years.

The Hidden Face is his second novel and the first book in the Fifth Unmasking series.

S.C. Flynn blogs at www.scflynn.com. He is on Twitter @scyflynn and on Facebook.

Join his email list to receive exclusive advance notice of new releases and offers.

Purchase the book

Only $.99 the first week!

Amazon
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Posted in Author Spotlights, Epic, Fantasy, Guest Post | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

BOOK TRAVELING THURSDAY: A BOOK I’M THANKFUL I READ THIS YEAR

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Bookwraiths

booktravelingthursdays5Book Traveling Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Catia and Danielle.  Each week everyone picks a book related to that week’s theme, then you write a blog post explaining explain why you choose that book and spotlight all the different covers from different countries. To find out more check out about BTT go to the Goodreads group!

This week’s theme is: A BOOK I’M THANKFUL I READ THIS YEAR!  

Happy Thanksgiving fellow readers in the USA!  Hope you have many, many things to be thankful for this year.

Today, I’m going to feature a book I picked up in a used book store, sat it on my t-b-r shelf for a year or more, finally reading it because I was cleaning off said bookshelf and decided I’d get rid of this novel first.  To my surprise, I really enjoyed the book, loved the second novel in the ongoing series, and continue to read it even as I type this.  The book I’m speaking of is Farlander by Col Buchanan.

ORIGINAL COVER 

farlander 1

The UK edition of this novel was published in May of 2010.  The US edition was to hit shelves the next year.

FAVORITE COVERS

 

I like everything about the cover on the left except the glaring sun in the background.  It is far too distracting for my tastes.  As for the cover on the right, it is stunning except for the fact that the main character is a young white man, which isn’t accurate at all since Ash is clearly a dark skinned man of advanced middle age.

LEAST FAVORITE COVERS

 

I admit disliking all these covers immensely.  Each one of them just fails to capture the nature of this book, is fairly generic looking, and could be the cover to any fantasy out there. Total failure on every level for me personally.

So what do you think.  Agree?  Disagree?

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INDIE WEDNESDAY: GRYPHON’S EYE

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Bookwraiths

Indie-WednesdayAlong my reading journey, I’ve made a conscious decision to include self-published and small press works in my reading schedule.  But it is difficult to know where to start: So many new authors and books to examine to find the perfect fit for my tastes.  And to help others with this same problem, I’ve decided to talk about any indie/small press books which I have recently been enjoying.

This time out I’ll be reviewing an entertaining fantasy offering from Kevin Weston!

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gryphon's eyeGryphon’s Eye by Kevin Weston

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Casting Shadows #1

Publisher: Wave Train Books (October 22, 2017)

Author Information: Website

Length: 439 pages

My Rating: 3 stars

Gryphon’s Eye is the first book of the Casting Shadows series by Kevin Weston, and after reading the description of this classic fantasy adventure, I had to take the author up on his offer for a review copy. I’m glad I did, because this novel delivered a nice heaping dose of classic fantasy with a strong female lead and an interesting world built around magic users and their familiars.

In the Kingdom of Fyngree, Princess Jessalyn Suntold has grown up the beloved daughter of King Owyn, but now her lack of magic ability is a constant frustration, driving her to irrational feelings of failure.  Her father’s lack of anger, his continued optimism that the next vile potion or sorcerous ritual will somehow, someway, ignite her “thread” of magical talents, causing Jess not to feel better but much worse.

The only place Jess finds any contentment is with her mentor, Percy Mucenmast, who is a pamphleteer and convicted criminal.  This “journalist” embracing Jess’s innate curiosity and desire to uncover the truth of the world.  Percy’s friendship and timely advice aiding our young princess in dealing with an uncertain future.

Complicating matters is the growing tension between Fyngree and Rojenhold.  Thylus Whytewender refusing to journey into Fyngree anymore, cutting off all ties with his neighbor, and sending spies into King Onwyn’s land to hunt down the familiars of Fyngree’s casters, thereby killing his enemies magic users.  This undeclared war needing only a spark to ignite it.  A spark which finally occurs, thrusting Jess off into the world to uncover her land’s hidden enemies!

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into Gryphon’s Eye.  The first hundred pages or so quite slow, spending a great deal of time introducing and developing the main characters as well as laying the groundwork for the ongoing plot lines.  Things did eventually heat up, as all the characters took their place upon the stage, and soon this world, its casters, their hidden familiars, and the clash of kingdoms filled the pages with excitement.

The only criticism I’d level at the novel is a tendency (especially toward the beginning of the book) for the author to spend far too much time telling rather than showing.  Much of this was info dumps to develop the world, its magic, and the history of the kingdoms, but it was a bit much at times, and the story would have been better served with less of these interludes.

Overall, I enjoyed my time spent with Gryphon’s Eye.  It is definitely a classic fantasy tale, but my patience with the slow start eventually paid off with a nice adventure story and several interesting characters.  Definitely looking forward to see where Weston takes this tale from here.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Purchase the book at Amazon

Posted in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Indie Wednesday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: FALLEN GODS

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Bookwraiths

waiting-on-wednesday
Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to let readers share their excitement for books coming out soon, and the novel I’m eagerly awaiting is . . .

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FALLEN GODSFallen Gods by James A. Moore

Genre: Fantasy — Sword and Sorcery

Series: The Tides of War #2

Publisher: Angry Robot (January 2, 2018)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 400 pages

The gods are angry and only one man can fend off their apocalypse in the brutal sequel to The Last Sacrifice.

Brogan McTyre and his compatriots are wanted, dead or alive. Preferably alive, so they can be sacrificed to the raging gods. All they can do is hire more mercenaries and turn them into a fearsome army. But warriors aren’t enough when the gods bring Armageddon to the world, unleashing storms and madness, and ceaseless attacks on Brogan’s men by increasingly demonic foes.

Deep in the heart of the Broken Blades Mountains lies a sword containing the heart of a god slain in immortal combat, the one thing that might give Brogan an edge against the gods, but finding it isn’t going to be easy…

Purchase Fallen Gods: Tides of War Book II at Amazon

Posted in Waiting on Wednesday | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

TOP TEN TUESDAY

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Bookwraiths

TOP TEN TUESDAYS

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

This week we have a great topic to explore …

TOP TEN BOOKS I’M THANKFUL I READ 

Okay, another “Thankful” topic because it is going to be Thanksgiving Day in the USA later this week.  Nothing wrong with that, but I’ve decided to spice my picks up by focusing on books I’m glad I read even though I didn’t wind up really liking them.

deeds of Paksenarrion10. The Deed of Paksenarrion – Elizabeth Moon

This series had great reviews and many fans when it was released decades ago.  In fact, I couldn’t have a conversation with any of my fantasy loving friends without being told I had to pick this series up.  Eventually, I did.  It was realistic, emotional, and told from the view of a skilled woman warrior.  Definitely, a decent story, which just wasn’t for me. It did teach me that it is okay not to agree with your friends though.

daggerspell9. Daggerspell – Katharine Kerr

Hailed as one of the best fantasy series ever written by many people, Daggerspell (and the Deverrey series it began) was one I tried to immerse myself in over and over again.  I managed to get through this book on a couple occasions, but I would always lose interest quickly and set it aside for months and years before returning.  Not sure why this fantasy and I didn’t connect, but I’m thankful I read it, since I realized it is okay to just admit when you don’t like something.

HALF A WAR8. Half a War – Joe Abercrombie

I have to admit forcing myself to read this concluding volume of Abercrombie’s Shattered Sea grimwhine trilogy.  To say I wasn’t enamored of the first two books would be an understatement, but I was determined to finish this trilogy, no matter what.  Naturally, though, this novel was probably my least favorite of the trio, making me fondly recall book one, but, at least, I’m thankful I can now tell people I have tried Abercrombie at last.

RED SISTER7. Red Sister – Mark Lawrence 

As a huge fan of Mark Lawrence, I couldn’t wait to begin a series where he promised to dazzle everyone with his kickass take on nuns.  (Yeah, fighting nuns.  I’m not kidding.)  Unfotuantely, the book didn’t work for me, too slow paced and filled with characters I never warmed up to, but I am thankful I gave it a try, since I now know that fighting nuns are just not as cool as they sound.

a crown for cold silver6. A Crown for Cold Silver – Alex Marshall

The blurb for this book sounded amazing to me, and I enjoyed the opening chapters of it. After a promising start, the narrative went downhill for me, mired in an ever growing cascade of issues such as poor characterization, ridiculous plots, and too many fantasy tropes.  What I’m thankful for here is that I finally learned to trust other reviewers who tried to warn me that this novel just wasn’t  as good as it sounded.

THE SUMMER TREE5. The Fionavar Tapestry – Guy Gavriel Kay

This is a series I had literally owned for thirty years and never read.  Obviously, all the glowing praise by the big names of fantasy literature for this grand tale and Kay’s immeasurable writing skill is what led me to purchase the trilogy in the first place, but whenever I dived in I’d never get interested.  Well, I finally read the series a few years ago, enjoyed it moderately, and thankfully learned that just because a book is suppose to be a classic doesn’t mean I’m going to enjoy it.

the mirror empire4. The Mirror Empire – Kameron Hurley

I was expecting greatness when I picked up this book.  After hearing so much praise for the author, learning about all her writing awards, and enjoying her non-fiction, she was one of the authors I was determined I had to give a try.  Well, I did with this book, and though it didn’t work out for many, many reasons, I am thankful I realized I’m just not the target audience for Kameron Hurley’s works.

brokedown palace3. Brokedown Palace – Steven Brust 

When I was growing up, I loved Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series; the early books among my very favorite fantasy ever published.  So, naturally, I always read anything written by Brust, expecting another amazing story, and I even convinced myself I’d enjoy this fable extolling the virtues of Marxism.  Well, I hated the book, but it did teach me a valuable lesson: you and your favorite authors are not alike and probably do not share any of the same ethics or beliefs.

the dragonbone chair2. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn – Tad Williams

I can’t tell you the number of beautiful covers which have turned my reading eye, convinced me to purchase a novel in the mistaken belief the written words underneath would match the stunning image on the outside.  Eventually, I learned that beauty on the outside doesn’t always equate with beauty on the inside, and I am so thankful this book taught me that valuable reading lesson.

the dark tower1.  The Dark Tower Book VII – Stephen King

I had been spoiled rotten over the years by the stunning conclusions to my favorite fantasy series.  The Lord of the Rings probably being the best of the group.  So whenever I adored a series I just assumed the ending would do justice to the journey, but this book taught me differently, showing me that you should be thankful for the trip because you might not like where it ends!

 

Well, that is my unique twist on the thankful list.  Hopefully, you enjoy my dark humor as much as I enjoyed typing it.  Please feel free to add some more books to my short list.  Novels which you are thankfully you read, because they taught you some valuable reading lesson.

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