TIFFIN'S First for 2019

This is a continuation from the last thread of 2018: https://www.librarything.com/topic/294545



The winter sky over my woods.

Happy reading, everyone, and a new year full of laughter, love, and good health. I'm still caring for an oldster who is just about 99. We lost our 100 year old at the end of November. So I am still heavily committed elsewhere and my visiting other threads will continue to be limited. You are always welcome here, however, with all visits gratefully received.

I'm happy to see your 2019 thread, Tui. What a beautiful thread-topping photo, too.

Hi Laura, and thanks!

I can't believe it's finally, finally over. 2019 can not be more welcome anywhere than it is by me.

Happy reading!

That is a stunning photo at the top Tui.

Just setting down my cushion.

Welcome back!

Happy New Year, Tui!

Hello fellow 75ers! Here we go again.
Richard, I hope 2019 IS better.
Caro, thanks chum.
Jim, thanks for doing it all again. How many years is it now?
Stasia, and to you. Good health this year, you hear?

>8 tiffin: I will do my darnedest! Who would dare disobey? *snaps off smart salute*

Happy New Thread & New Year, Tui!

>1 tiffin: My mother is 97 today and it’s clear that we will also be needing to provide much more support going forward. At this point it would be a lot easier if she lived closer.

>1 tiffin:

A lovely coincidence - my daughter, living just south of Madison, Wisconsin, just called to tell me that it looks like
"...the clouds are carrying the red sun!" My cat, Victoria, and I immediately went to the back porch and saw
a near duplicate of your beautiful photograph.

Thank you.

>10 SandDune:: That was how old Mom was when she fell and broke her hip, Rhian. She was living in her own apartment until then (supported living with meals provided). It sure changed fast for us.

>11 m.belljackson:: Thank you, m.belljackson.

Happy New Year Tui!

Happy reading in 2019, Tui!

Thanks, Rachel.
Same to you, Anita.

I wish you from my heart a healthy 2019 filled with happiness, satisfaction, laughter and lots of good books.

*waves* Hiya, Tui!

Thanks, Barbara!
Hiya, Laura!

Happy 2019
A year full of books
A year full of friends
A year full of all your wishes realised

I look forward to keeping up with you, Tui, this year.

Happy New Year, Tui! I also love that opening photo.

Thanks, Paul!
Thanks, Darryl!

1: The Fall of Io by Wesley Chu

Kindle edition/ entered in library



The 2nd book in the series. It looks as though this might only be a two book series.

2: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition. Entered in library.



Winner of the Hugo Award 2016. The first of a series. Some interesting concepts here, using flashbacks to tell the story. Interested enough to check out the 2nd book.

3: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition. Entered in library.



Winner of Hugo Award 2017. This is a really good story! On to the third in the series.

Sounds like you have hit a good series to start the year Tui.

4: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

Kindle edition. Entered in Library.



Winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards for 2018.

We have a winner here, folks! What a story teller this woman is.

I'm loving the covers Tui.

It was a really creative story, Caro. I think Em might like it, if she hasn't already read it.

I'll ask her Tui.

>23 tiffin: Obviously a series I need to check out! Thanks for the recommendation, Tui.

>26 tiffin: Yay! I'm so pleased that you liked the books as well, Tui. I was gobsmacked at Jemisin's great and complex world.

Hiya! I'm still trying to find all the new 2019 threads I want to follow.

N. K. Jemisin was on my long list for the American Authors Challenge this year, but she didn't get enough support to make the final cut. But if you think she's a great story-teller, I'm going to keep her in mind for next year. Not my usual thing, but that's what challenges are ABOUT...

5: Lady of Devices, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book One of the Magnificent Devices series by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition. Entered in Library



Great good fun!

6: Her Own Devices, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book Two of the Magnificent Devices series by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition



Racing through this series!

7: Magnificent Devices, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book Three of the Magnificent Devices series by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition



Yup, we're having fun here!

8: Brilliant Devices, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book Four of the Magnificent Devices series by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition



Oh boy, the series continues. Onward!

Wow, you are racing through that series! I will have to check it out.

9: A Lady of Resources, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book Five of the Magnificent Devices Series by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition



Onward!

10: A Lady of Spirit, A Steampunk Adventure Novel, Book Six of the Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina

Kindle edition



More onward!

Pure escapism, Stasia, but I love Steampunk novels.

>33 tiffin: It's free on the Kindle! So yes, I had to procure it, but you don't get charged (so to speak) with Reckless Endangerment of the Budget by Book-Bulleting.

Plus I found out that the author teaches Genre Fiction writing at Seton Hill University in PA, which was really interesting to me. I didn't know there were universities so savvy as to prepare writers to be the next George RR Martin instead of the next Margaret Atwood.

oooh I had to pay for it, Richard. Lucky you! That's interesting re her bona fides.

>28 tiffin: I checked with Em, and she hadn't heard of Jemisin, Tui. So she will put the series on her list.

>41 richardderus:: A slight caveat, Richard: I have no idea whether or not this is a YA series or not. It might lack in sophistication for you? I just love the *equipment* and the getting into and out of fixes.

A further caveat: I deal with SAD a bit in January into February, so I read for pure escapism during this period. My mind can't grapple with anything too heavy at this time, so please don't expect anything too high end or mentally challenging from my reads at this time.

11, 12, 13, 14: Devices Brightly Shining, Fields of Air, Fields of Iron, Fields of Gold, by Shelley Adina

All Kindle editions









I think even I have finally wound down on this series, although there are more offshoots. I've burned my eyeballs out on a lit screen so need to read hard copy books for a while. Adina has quite the imagination and provides a good escapist romp of a tale.

...!!...

TEN books and you're still not tired of them! I am astonished. I fully understand about the tree-book respite. I am not expecting much out of the reads except entertainment. I got a book from the library today by CanLit monadnock David Helwig, whose obit on Wikipedia made me aware of him. The King's Evil posits that King Charles I wasn't beheaded but died in a cabin near Niagara. Hm.

Fight the good fight against SAD! *smooch* I'm just glad there are things that will help you keep an even keel.

hahahaha That cracked me up, Richard (Charles in a cabin near Niagara).

I get such a kick out of steampunk equipment set in the Victorian era.

15: Blood of Requiem by Daniel Arenson
16: Tears of Requiem by Daniel Arenson
17: Light of Requiem by Daniel Arenson

Kindle edition



Meh.

18: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Kindle edition



Pretty gory during battle and war parts but if you can hack it, the story itself is an interesting one involving the Pantheon of gods, warring nations set in 12th century China, replete with vengeance, betrayal, and all that good stuff. The main character, Rin, is well crafted.

Book 2 being published soon.

>48 tiffin: shame about the 'meh' Tui. Impressed you gave it three strikes before it was out! I don't have that patience now. It's rare I don't finish something, but once in a while...

I'm a completist, Caro. It was *meh* because it didn't pull me in to the story or absorb me by it. Gobs of cruelty and gore, although some of the gore was imaginative (the Mimics). It was just mountains of unrelenting misery for the last of the dragons, although things did end sommat on a note of hope. I didn't really connect with any of the characters so was several steps removed from all of it, ergo *meh*.

>48 tiffin: Shame about that, but the cover art's gorgeous.

>49 tiffin: Thank goodness it's already TBR'd.

19: Cloaks, Book 1 of the Cloaks series by F.A. Fisher

Kindle edition



Not bad.

20: Pandir Decloaked, Book 2 of the Cloaks series by F.A. Fisher

Kindle edition



This series has more books to it but I think I've had enough of it for now. It isn't pulling me to carry on. I'll wishlist the next book if I'm ever desperate for a fast read.

21: A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White

Kindle edition



Lots of fun.

22: A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy by Alex White, Book 2 in the Scavangers series

Kindle edition



I have a sinking feeling that the third book hasn't been published yet. Rats!

23: Clear Sky, Book 1 of Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante

Kindle edition

24: Blood Moon, Book 2 of Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante

Kindle edition

25: Light in the Darkness, Book 3 of Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante

Kindle edition

26: Pure Jade, Book 4 of Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante

Kindle edition



Although the story bogs down in overly technical details of raising one's qi, the techniques of expanding one's various levels, etc., underneath it all Laplante is telling a very creative and interesting story of the Song world, its struggles, the conflicts and alliances with demon animals and humans, in a classic good vs. evil struggle. He began writing as a way of working his way out of ptsd--I'm not sure if he was a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan or just what. So I stuck with him through four books, with one pending at the end of the month, to see where he was going to take the whole adventure. He has some great ideas, some interesting characters. He has a bit of trouble with over description, and occasionally using the wrong form of a word but he's getting his story out, and I'm liking the characters he's creating. His writing has improved over the four books too.

I haven't been here all year???? What have I been doing????????
Hope all is well with you, Tui. My 97 year-old ma has had another compression fracture (doc really can't tell if there's a new one from x-ray any longer because she's had so many) or something. She's not as bad as she was in '16, but it's bad enough. She's lost her characteristic stoicism, but we're making it.
I'm off to look at Shelley Adina, and I see that I have Poppy War. Have you tried The Clockwork Boys? I've been reading Cherryh, but will get back to the #1 *CB*, which feels a lot like Bujold - always a good thing.
Take care!

Hiya Peggy! That's rough about your mom. My mom has trouble being stoic about things now--understandable at 99. All we can do is surround them with caring and safety. The personally fitted wheelchair was a godsend for Mom because she simply can't stand any more, nor can she walk. Their bones are so frail. Anyway, glad you dropped by.

27: The Pursuit of the Unicorn, The Renaissance Sojourner Series Book 4, by Kristin Gleeson

Kindle edition



The conclusion of a series I started last year. It felt a bit rushed.

28: Mockingbird by Walter Tevis

Kindle edition



A brilliant dystopia. A nearly 5 star read for me.

29: Stormdancer, The Lotus War Book 1, by Jay Kristoff

Kindle edition



Japanese steampunk set in a cruel society poisoned by its addiction to and reliance on the lotus flower. People were poisoned its smoke, its production done with the blood of innocents whom its cruel Shogun conquers and feeds into its production. Mythical creatures, resistance movements, mechanical samurai, a dystopia of an ecological disaster careening towards its end - this story has it all. I definitely have to get the 2nd and 3rd books.

I really ought to explore some Steampunk Tui. What is your recommendation for a first adventure?

I'll think about this, Caro. Your reading is often so deep and serious that I'm not coming up with a steampunk Great Gatsby right off the bat.

>67 tiffin: Tee hee.

>64 tiffin: "In the vast and cluttered factory room where he was brought into awareness his dark eyes looked around him with excitement and life. He was on a stretcher when he first experienced the power of consciousness enveloping his nascent being like a wave, becoming his being."

Wow. Tevis could really design a scene.

30: Kinslayer, The Lotus War Book Two by Jay Kristoff

Kindle edition



Kristoff tells a heck of a story. On to book three.

31: Endsinger, The Lotus War Book Three by Jay Kristoff

Kindle edition



This series kept me reading hard until it was done. An imaginative tour de force about a society brought to the brink of extinction by greed, madness, and how the misfits and outcasts fought back. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even brought to tears at one point (no spoilers here). Good stuff, wonderful characters.

32: Snobbery with Violence: An Edwardian Murder Mystery by M.C. Beaton

Kindle edition



Okay enough.

34: Absolution by Murder: A Sister Fidelma Mystery by Peter Tremayne

Kindle edition



Now this is more like it!

35: Shroud for the Archbishop: A Sister Fidelma Mystery by Peter Tremayne

Kindle edition



I'm going to enjoy this series. Ancient Ireland, Rome, the Celt world, early Christianity, and an intelligent, educated, smart main character in the figure of Sister Fidelma.

36: The Subtle Serpent: A Sister Fidelma Mystery by Peter Tremayne

Kindle edition



I missed the 3rd one somehow but there are over 27 of them so I'm not too concerned.

>74 tiffin: I recently read Absolution by murder and also liked it. Not in a hurry to read the others, as it is always good to know there are good reads left for someday ;-)
Sadly the Dutch translations only go to #17.

I was fascinated by his knowledge of things like Brehon law and how ancient Irish society was so fair to women. I'm in a hiatus from them too but like you, Anita, I know there are some good rainy day reads there.

37: Tantamount, Free Lanes Book One by Thomas J. Radford

Kindle edition



This was marked as not read on my Kindle but once I started, I realised that I had read it a while ago. It was still enjoyable and very creative. I don't think I've read Book Two....

38: The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

Kindle edition



This was an exquisite story, beautifully written, beautifully imagined.

>80 tiffin: that gets added to my list cart Tui. Love the cover too.

>80 tiffin: I have several of her books, including that one, but I haven't read any yet. I'm glad to hear it's so lovely.

I think I will seek out more of her books, Linda. Caro, I hope you like it.

>80 tiffin: I'm another who will keep a look-out for that one, Tui.

Have a great Sunday.

Hi Paul! Thank you, and you too.

39: Karen Memery by Elizabeth Bear

Kindle edition



The cover spells it "Memory" but all through the book it's spelled Memery. Another steampunk easy read, this one set in Oregon during the time when the American west was being settled. Set in a whore house but with a good cast of characters.

>80 tiffin: I really enjoyed The Samurai's Garden Tui.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/303498#6795165

I'm glad, Caro!

Happy Easter weekend, Tui.

Oh hi, Barbara! Thank you! I'm only just seeing this, apologies.

40: The Emperor's Blades: Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Book One, by Brian Staveley

Kindle edition



Pretty darn good. On to the second book. More than I usually spend for Kindle books but well worth it, I think.

41: The Providence of Fire: Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Book Two, by Brian Staveley

Kindle edition



Gritty and compelling. A good yarn.

42: The Last Mortal Bond: Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Book Three, by Brian Staveley

Kindle edition



The cover image is a bit big but it nicely shows how the birds were used.

This series might be too gritty for some, with its vivid depictions of battles, sword and knife fights, etc. Kind of Games of Thrones use of warfare and violence. But the story held me. Give me a good dose of immortals and gods mucking about with the fate of humanity and individual humans, all set in a somewhat feudal setting with stony castles, desolate mountains, vast tribes of horse riding people, walled town dwelling city folk, and excellent characters, well, you have me.

Humans are being manipulated and toyed with by the remnants of the immortal Csestriim who originally created the humans as they are, but these immortals vie with the old and new gods for humanity's loyalty and affection. And humans themselves have many sub-groups: the Urghul, the Istien, the Annurians, the Aedolians, the Ketterel (the tough warriors who fly the ketterel birds), etc.. Within those groups are others: monks, murderers, pirates, thieves, prostitutes, priestesses, leaches, you name it. Staveley has woven them together in a hard-hitting tale full of intrigue, skullduggery, action, a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, with that keep reading flow that had me reading a bit too fast at times so I'd have to double back to reread.

If you don't mind a tale that's harrowing at times, as anything with swords and arrows tend to be, I can recommend this as a good story.

"Well worth it" nudged me Kindleward; the bird image being representative of the way the story uses birds sealed the deal. The series looks good, thanks Tui!

I think you'd like this one, Richard. He writes his characters really well.

I'm looking forward to it!

43: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

Kindle edition



This was a wonderful story, particularly for a first novel. When the half goblin son of the elfin emperor inherits the throne quite unexpectedly, he is thrown into a world he barely understands and for which he certainly wasn't trained. This is the story of his growth into that role, of a kind young man whose compassion towards others wins in the end. Addison has created a unique world which kept me intrigued from the start. Very much recommended.

I loved it too! And am hoping for a follow-on.

Me too, Jim! I think we're starved for kindness and respectfulness.

44: Space Team: The Hunt for Reduk Topa, by Barry J. Hutchison

Kindle edition



The latest of the Space Team craziness. I was finding Cal irritating at the start but once I got past the first three or four chapters, I was ok.

Number TWELVE in the series?! Wow. That's got some legs, that does.

45: The City, Not Long After, by Pat Murphy

Kindle edition



Excellent!

One of the only books I've ever read that gets San Francisco right. (I was born & lived there until 1967.)

It felt pretty right.

2 BBs for me, Tui. Thanks!
Hope you are well and that everything is going well with you.

46: The Storyteller's Secret, by Sejal Badani

Kindle edition



Not my usual fare but an interesting story. Spanning the years from the Raj to today, it tells the story of Jamal, her mother Lena, and her grandmother Amisha. At times a history, at others a love story, and yet others a social commentary, the three women's lives are unfolded and explained by Ravi, an Untouchable befriended by Amisha who repays her friendship by giving her daughter's and granddaughter's stories back to them.

>105 LizzieD:: Chugging along here, Peggy, thanks. Hopefully getting into gardening season here, if Spring would ever truly arrive.

>106 tiffin: That sounds very interesting. I'll check the library for it.

Might be too much about miscarriages, angst, and romance for you, Richard. I dunno....

>109 tiffin: Ew, girl cooties, ewewewewww

:-D

Something like that, yup.

47: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Harper Collins paperback



I haven't read a book in a long time which aroused such a violent range of emotions in me, few of them good: disbelief, intense fury, frustration, horror, helplessness. There were times that the story Tara Westover was telling of her family's acute dysfunctional life under the relentless force of her delusional, paranoid, superstitious, probably mentally ill father, had me slamming the book shut, unable to read on. The damage and pain he inflicted on his whole family was beyond belief, only partially atoned for later in the book.

I think what appalled me the most was the ignorance and superstition, not to mention the overweening arrogance of the man. I can't remember his first name, so I'll call him Tara Westover's father. The deadly combination of mental illness with fundamental Christianity produced a nightmare of a man who tried to rule his family with an iron fist. A couple of her siblings escaped but they were left scarred and damaged by him.

In documenting her family's frequently nightmarish struggles, I hope that Tara Westover achieved some degree of peace for herself. She surely deserved it. I don't know if I'm glad that I read this memoir or not. I usually prefer to keep such nightmarish lives at a distance. I know they're out there; I know people are living them. But I do not want to have this degree of anger raging in me while I read about them.

>112 tiffin: I've had that on the shelf for a while Tui. I've been waiting for the right moment to dive in.

I have to gear up to finish my review of it. Trying not to put in spoilers so I need to edit a bit.

I found that book very difficult to read as well, but I also loved it. A weird feeling.

<112 I've waffled over whether I want to read that one...so much dysfunction, ignorance and arrogance floating around already.

48: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Kindle edition



This was kind of fun.

49: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Kindle edition



2nd book of the Caraval series.

50: Finale by Stephanie Garber

Kindle edition



I didn't enjoy the last book as much as the first one. It got too 15 year old love storyish for me, to be honest. I could see a young teen loving the highly descriptive kissing and much running around in magical gowns.

51: Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan

Kindle edition



I enjoyed this but then I do like stories set in Japan.

>119 tiffin: I was all set to dive in to that trilogy but a series of reviews like yours has saved me the trouble. I'd be very, very unhappy with a last-book sag-n-wobble.

Try the first book, Richard, to see if you are curious enough to keep going. She has a great imagination--the world of Carnaval is well created--but it is, at heart, a romance in me 'umble opinion. Just a bit fraught at times.

>122 tiffin: I'm afraid straight-people romance plots are a combination of kryptonite and ipecac for me, so knowing where we're headed stops me from wanting to board the train.

Hi tui, it's been forever since I've stopped in here -- I love that when you like a series you plunge in totally. Lots for my WL and to consider trying here.

Hope things are going ok for you.

52: The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston

Kindle edition



It was ok.

>124 sibylline:: Hi Lucy! Thanks for dropping by.

53: Illusion by Stephanie Elmas

Kindle edition



I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. Unfortunately the sequel isn't out until November but I have preordered it.

>127 tiffin: It is a book that rouses passions, I see. Another friend blenched at the mention of it and was most vigorously dissuasive of my interest inn reading it! At $2.99, the risk is acceptable.

54: Crime in Lepers' Hollow, Book 7 in the Inspector Littlejohn series, by George Ballairs

Kindle edition



I like Bellairs and Inspector Littlejohn.

You got me with Illusion, Tui, and I can afford it for Kindle, so on it goes.
Hope you and your mother are enjoying warmer days. I and mine tick along at the same pace as before. That's a good thing!

55: Drawn from Memory, No. 44, Slightly Foxed Editions, by Ernest H. Shepard

Hard bound

The first book in a pair of Ernest Shepard's memoirs. Full of his delightful drawings which many will know as the illustrator for Winnie the Pooh. An enjoyable look at the Victorian era around Victoria's Centennial, replete with horse drawn trams, gas lights, five spinster aunts, visits to the seaside or hops farms. Shepard's memory for names and dates is remarkable.

>131 tiffin: Mmm...I've had my eye on those.

56: Drawn From Life, No. 45, Slightly Foxed Editions, by Ernest H. Shepard

Hard bound

A charming memoir covering the era of my grandparents' lives, so interesting to me from that perspective.

57: Murder on the Marshes, by Clare Chase

Kindle edition



I always enjoy mysteries during humid hot mosquito season (and in blustery January).

>134 tiffin: And for 99¢ a bargain!

58: Death on the River, by Clare Chase

Kindle edition



Well, you know how I love a series.

59: Broken Glass, Book one of the Glass Complex Trilogy, by John Hindmarch

Kindle edition



His ideas are good but his writing is a bit too simplistic for me.

60: Murder in the Fens, by Clare Chase

Kindle edition



I skipped to book four because it's pretty formulaic, with the books best read in order, and I wanted to know where things had got to without ploughing through book three.

>138 tiffin: Do you feel compelled to pick up that dropped stitch?

61: Child of the Ghosts, Book I of the Ghosts saga, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Not bad.

62: Blade of the Ghosts, Book II of the Ghosts saga, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



It came in an omnibus of four books.

63: Ghost in the Blood, Book III of the Ghosts saga, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition

64: Ghost in the Flames, of the Ghosts saga, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



This isn't the second book of the series, so I'm not sure what's going on with the Amazon numbering.

65: Ghost in the Storm, the Kyracian saga, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



He left certain threads dangling, so being a completist.....

66: Ghost in the Stone, Book 5, the Kyracian stories, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



And there are more to come!

67: Ghost in the Forge, Book 6, the Kyracian stories, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



I don't know if I'm going to keep going with this series. It's pure escapism, for sure. The books as published on Kindle sure need some editing. This Kyracian batch came in an omnibus as well--there's one more little dangler story in this group. Then it goes on to a few more. Makes for good bathroom or waiting for the rice to cook reading, however.

>143 tiffin:, >144 tiffin: Are these separate books, as in a two-part story? Or simply a misnumbering boo-boo?

I got mine in two omnibuses but they can be bought separately. I think what he does is writes little half stories, so a kind of 6.5 story, rather than a full 7.

Oh! That's more and more popular among authors.

>142 tiffin: >143 tiffin: Both book #63, Tui?

Thanks, Anita. For some reason LT kept duplicating the post too, so I just had to delete one of them. I hope it's sorted out now.

>152 tiffin: Yes, Tui, the book numbers are following a locigal order again ;-)

68: Ghost in the Ashes, The Ghosts Book 7, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



I think this is enough of this series for now.

69: Nevernight, Book 1 of the Nevernight Chronicle, by Jay Kristoff

Kindle edition



This was pretty good. The next books are a bit more pricey, however, so I don't know if I'll carry on with them just now. The third and final book is a pre-order for September as well.

70: Lady Helena Investigates, Book One of the Scott-De Quincy Mysteries

Kindle edition

71: Ghost in the Cowl, Book I of Ghost Exile series, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Hopped on to the next series without finishing the first Ghost series because I could see where was going and I didn't feel like seeing certain character dying. I wanted to see where he was taking things next. Hey, they're inexpensive and don't tax my brain much.

72: Ghost in the Maze, Book II of Ghost Exile series, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition

73: Ghost in the Hunt, Book III of Ghost Exile series, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Still hanging on. Mostly gardening and watching the Tour de France these days.

Almost to the magic 75! And what about Lady Helena Investigates? Anything noteworthy there?

That is so weird! Here I have been chuffing merrily along thinking I was a member of 75/2019, and it turns out I wasn't! I just joined now. How on earth did I do that?

74: Ghost in the Razor, Ghost Exile #4, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Move along folks, nothing to see here. Same old series, just chuffing along.

75: Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost Exile # 5, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Wouldn't you know it? My 75th book is this series. Och weel.....

CONGA RATS ON REACHING 75!!

Thanks, Richard!

>161 tiffin: You can start a thread in the group without actually joining the group. Don't think joining makes much actual difference, except your name will now appear in the list of members, and the group will show up as one you're part of on your profile.

Congrats!

Yay, good job Tui.

>164 richardderus: tee hee

Welcome to the group, Tui, LOL. I'm sure your certificate and membership card are already in the mail.

Thanks, Jim!

Hah, Laura!

>163 tiffin: Congratulations on reaching 75, Tui!

Thanks, Anita. A lot of really light reading here!

So nice to know you're official, Tui!
And Congratulations on your 75! (*sigh*)

76: Ghost in the Seal, Ghost Exile # 6, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition

77: Ghost in the Throne, Ghost Exile # 7, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition

78: Ghost in the Pact, Ghost Exile #8, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition

79: Ghost in the Winds, Ghost Exile # 9, by Jonathan Moeller

Kindle edition



Well, I finished the Ghost Exile portion of Moeller's Ghost books. First, the criticisms:
1. He repeats himself terribly. I think the series could have been done quite nicely in 5 books, not 9. Too much detail in the battle or fight scenes, with the same actions repeated over and over. I sped read over these. People's eyes are frequently bloodshot. Kylon makes his knife into an icicle to finish his enemies off with a sword. Etc., etc.
2. These books are in serious need of editing. Words are often left out--I could infer them but it was still annoying at times. Hasty typing, I suspect. However, his vocabulary and grammar were quite presentable.

Good qualities:
1. Moeller tells a good epic tale, linking things together very well.
2. His characters are interesting and at times are even compelling.
3. He has a terrific imagination, which is why I kept reading them. I did want to know how things got resolved.

Was it worth the $ I spent on them? Probably not, overall. But for extremely hot weather reading when I was forced indoors more than usual, well, it kept me from going stir crazy--also kept me up too late at night on occasion, so hey!

Cripes, he is carrying the series on in yet another set of instalments: Ghost Night. Maybe not just yet.

>177 tiffin: Oh dear...the repetitious battle stuff is a serious deal-fracturer for me. I got it, they're fighting, move on please. Which likely explains why Tolkien and I didn't get on at all.

>178 tiffin: Maybe next year.

I adore Tolkien, the Master of the saga. His mastery of language was simply the best, and his incredible creation of an entire world, perfect in every detail while waging an epic good vs evil battle, well.....which is probably why I could slog on to the end of the Ghost series. I have to KNOW, you know?

Given those parameters, it would be completely worrisomely out of character for you to give up and move on. Much as it would be for me to start!

I do think I've had enough for a good long time now though. Perhaps for eternity.

The gauge reads "F" for "faugh!"

80: A Spark of White Fire, by Sangu Mandanna

Kindle edition



Pretty good, but the 2nd book of the trilogy won't be out until the end of September. Sucked in again.

I love the cover of that one!

Me too, Jim. I think Science Fiction covers are among the best when they're done right.

81: Godsgrave, Book Two of the Nevernight chronicle, by Jay Kristoff

Kindle edition. Entered in Library.



I sure hope the third book is out because this one left me dangling. ETA: Not until September 3rd!

82: Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac

Kindle edition. Entered in Library.



A good English cosy.

Series books I'm waiting for:

1: "Salvage", Peridot Shift Book 2, R.J. Theodore, 3 September 2019
2: "Darkdawn", Nevernight Chronicle Book 3, 3 September 2019
3: "The Monstrous Citadel", Chronicles of Amicae book 2, 5 November 2019
4: "The City We Became", N.K. Jemisin, 24 March 2020
5: The next in the Cormorant Strike series by Robert Galbraith
6: "The Burning White", Lightbringer Book 5, Brent Weeks, 22 October 2019
7: "House of Rage and Sorrow", Celestial Trilogy Book 2, Sangu Mandanna, 17 September 2019

83: Accident by Design, by E.C.R. Lorac

Kindle edition



One I neglected to enter a while ago.

>189 tiffin: I don't know why, but I'm not as much into series as many LTers are. There have been the odd crime series, Poldark when I was in my late teens. I can't really think of any others at the moment Tui.

>189 tiffin: when you say the "next in the Cormoran Strike series", do you mean the last one published, or the one she hasn't written yet? I don't think I'll bother if there is another one. I thought the last one was bloated and not nearly as much fun as it should have been.

>192 laytonwoman3rd: I agree with you about the most recently-published Cormoran Strike. I just couldn't get into it. And IIRC, it was loooong, the same way the HP books just got longer and longer (although I still enjoyed those).

>192 laytonwoman3rd:: The next one she hasn't published yet. I agree the last one wasn't top drawer but I think what she's really writing about is the relationship, not the mystery so much, so it got away on her.

>191 Caroline_McElwee:: Caro, I find myself reading more and more for entertainment and distraction, so I like to not have to think about what book I'm going to pick up next. Sometimes I really like the world being created, so am glad not to have to leave it right away. I like trilogies that wrap things up fairly quickly but these 10 book things can be a bit irritating as you know they could have wrapped things up much faster.

>194 tiffin: The relationship parts were what annoyed me most, until the last bit of the "suspense" part, which was such an over-used plot device it made me groan. Very unworthy of Rowling.

It was a bit overwrought, wasn't it! I wonder if she feels compelled to churn these things out? I sure couldn't write with a lash at my back.

84: The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

Kindle edition



I found this in the archives of my Kindle--no idea how long it had been there. So I read it.

Funnily enough Tui, last night I moved a Heyer novel, Charity Girl and a biography of her, The Private World of Georgette Heyer, closer to my reading chair, as prospects for next week. Coincidence.

>197 tiffin: I can't imagine why she would feel any compulsion. She's certainly set for money, and could thumb her nose at everyone if she chose to. I think it's more that no one is going to edit her stringently these days.

>200 laytonwoman3rd: I agree about the editing Linda. For me that applies to Stephen King too. I've loved some of his books, but wished someone would take the blue pencil too them (ducking).

True enough, Linda.

So glad to be among the Heyerish.

Re: editing, there's no doubt that financial considerations mean authors have more space. Look at Stephen King's and Anne Rice's bloated later works, or Danielle Steel's utterly ignored (and pretty bad) children's books. Make the company a pile of shekels, get stroked and coddled instead of edited.

>201 Caroline_McElwee: No need to duck around me, Caroline. I have an editor's heart, so it's a constant affliction when I'm reading...my mental red (or blue) pencil is waving wildly much of the time.

85: Death in the Dark Walk, by Deryn Lake. A John Rawlings murder mystery.

Kindle edition



This was fun! 1700s England.

>205 tiffin: Ooooo.... that one has me intrigued.

I'm always delighted to find a good period English mystery.

>205 tiffin: Book-bulleted for 99¢ and worth it!

86: Death at the Beggar's Opera, by Deryn Lake

Kindle edition



And there are more to come! This is fun: with Prime, I can read one for free, hand it back and read the next in line without spending a dime.