Open Thread for Readers for September 2019
Misc / Need A Rec!book-pimp / Open Thread / Promotion18 Comments
Got a book you want to talk about? Frustrated with a book or series? In love with a new one? Found a buried treasure? An issue that keeps popping up in the books you are reading? Just want to chat about stuff in general?
My recent reading includes Ilona Andrews’ Sapphire Flames and Someone to Remember by Mary Balogh. I enjoyed both but Sapphire Flames was the stronger of the two. With Someone to Remember I expected a full-length book, so when I reached the end before the two-thirds mark and the rest was excerpts, it was startling and made the end feel abrupt.
What is everyone else reading? I’d love to hear about it.
@Janine: I hear you on the surprise of a book ending abruptly; it’s as though someone took the last cookie! Sometimes when reading a paperback, I’ll look ahead and mark where the story actually ends.
Recent reads here ~
— Roomies by Christina Lauren which I enjoyed. It was a fun contemporary romance that had me laughing from time to time.
— Fortune’s Fool (Eterean Empire Book 1) by Angela Boord; it is a debut fantasy novel that impressed me. If you decide to read the book, be prepared to invest some time as it’s over 700 pages.
— Honor Among Thieves (Honors Book 1) by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre is a young adult science fiction novel which I also enjoyed; I’ve read each of these authors separately but this is the first co-authored book I’ve read by them. I will happily read more in this series.
@Janine: I am counting the hours until Sapphire Flames arrives. Have been rereading the previous Hidden Legacy series books to tide myself over. Delighted to hear you enjoyed it. I’m hoping my favorite cameo players make appearances—Sgt. Teddy and Zeus the blue monster tiger.
@Kareni: I love your cookie metaphor! I’ve had that frustration with other books too, but it was particularly bad in this case because there were over a hundred pages of excerpts.
I’ve hard good things about Christina Lauren and would like to try a Lauren book sometime. Re. the Boord—I’m usually intimidated by 700 page books. There is one in my TBR pile that I really, really want to read but have not made time for.
@Mzcue: They do, but the cameos are tiny.
@Janine: Ah well. “Always leave ’em wanting more.
I have high hopes for the new GA Aiken, The Blacksmith Queen, due out tomorrow as well.
I am most looking forward to GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir, which is due in September. Fingers crossed this book lives up to all the hype and that great cover.
The Starz series of THE ROOK by Daniel O’Malley was beyond horrible. Perhaps my joy in the book colored my perception of the show, but I couldn’t separate the glory of the one from the travesty of the other. When it turned out Gestalt might be a love interest, I stopped watching. Anyone else read/watch?
Over on SBTB, I asked if anyone in their Watcha Reading? topic had read Craig Schaefer’s books. I stumbled into SWORN TO THE NIGHT, which I loved beyond all reason, the first in his Wisdom’s Grave trilogy. Witches, dark magic, detectives, evil: this whole soup of a world has me fascinated. I’m almost afraid to read more of his, you know; can they all be that good? What if everything falls apart and I’m left sobbing in a corner? Any other Schaefer readers out here?
For book club, we read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens. It’s beautifully written, parts of it heartbreaking, and I get why it’s so popular. A friend lent me her old Kindle to read it because at the library, I was–no lie–882nd in line on 46 digital copies.
@Darlynne:
I’ve never read Sworn to the Night or even heard of it, but you sure are selling it! :)
@Janine: Hear, hear!
Are the Schaefer books scary, @Darlynne? I’m a wimp.
@Janine: @Kareni: Parts are dark and violent, I don’t *think* particularly scary, and I am also a wimp. The dialog is really sharp/lively, which is what lured me in to begin with; each character sounds unique, no small feat. The Witch is coming into her tremendous power with the unseen help of other witches, and her Knight is a female detective who will not rest when other women are in danger. They could lose everything and they go for it anyway. I quite literally hung on every word and I’ve never read a book that didn’t let me down even once. YMMV. Schaefer’s books are KU, by the way, if that helps you decide. Honestly? I’d like to burn through each of his series, but am making myself slow down.
@Darlynne: Is it gory? (I know this is close to Kareni’s question, but it’s not exactly the same).
@Janine: Thinking. About as much as a contemporary crime novel. Violent for certain, but Schaefer doesn’t wallow in it or over-describe, and I automatically skip over violence anyway. An animal sacrifice that may or may not have happened. I’m probably not being much help. I’d be happy to lend the book to you through Amazon, if you’d like.
I just want to tell all the authors out there – PLEASE update your websites, or rather, keep your websites updated. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to websites looking for the next book and found old books being listed as the next, or something similar. You may be working on new books and have no news to report and I don’t find fault in that, but at least, keep the website updated as far as what you’ve done.
Rant over, but boy do I feel better.
My pre-order of SAPPHIRE FLAMES landed this morning, so it’s probably next on my list!
September releases I’m excited about: Not strictly romance, but I’m really excited about Seanan McGuire’s latest Toby Daye book THE UNKINDEST TIDE and Rainbow Rowell’s YA fantasy WAYWARD SON (it’s a direct sequel to CARRY ON, which I adored). And then there’s Sherry Thomas’s Mulan retelling THE MAGNOLIA SWORD, which sounds amazing but the ebook is a bit on the pricey side. Oh, and Juliet Marillier’s new fantasy THE HARP OF KINGS, which doesn’t have a UK ebook release sadly.
@Darlynne: You’ve sold me, I’ve Kindle Unlimited so have downloaded the first book to try!
@Li: No pressure, right? O_o I feel as though I should roll out a sheaf of disclaimers in large type in case it goes sideways for you.
@Darlynne: Ha! I don’t think I’m the only person who has one-clicked based on your rec… it’s KU so no downside for me really. I’ve discovered some great authors via their KU backlists, totally glommed Mary Burchell’s books (who was also a DA rec!) for instance.
@Darlynne: Thanks for the added detail! I’ve downloaded a sample to try.
@Darlynne: Thanks! And thank you so much for your offer! :) I’m so tempted to jump on it but I have a boatload of review commitments at the moment… Can I get back to you when I have fewer? Feel welcome to shoot me an email. Janine Ballard at gmail dot com.
@Persephone: I have noticed the same thing. So annoying. A lot of authors do their updates via social media these days and forget that not all of us want to be on social media.
@Li: I can’t review Seanan McGuire’s books due to a conflict of interest but I’m super excited about The Unkindest Tide as well. I can’t wait to see what happens with the Luidaeg an the selkies; I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book forever. And that was before Gillian was in the mix.
Sherry Thomas is my critique partner and The Magnolia Sword is, I think, my favorite manuscript of hers since The Luckiest Lady in London. I have not yet read the final version.