What Are You Reading? January 2012

scubachick420 · Post by **scubachick420** » Fri January 20th, 2012, 12:27 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""]I really enjoyed this one. Literally just finished the sequel, which is OK but not as good.[/quote]

The first one is a page-turner. I'm disappointed to hear about the sequel, but i will give it a try anyway. I think there are 4 in the series so far. The 4th one is coming out in April.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Fri January 20th, 2012, 12:42 pm

The sequel is OK, I thought the plot was a bit convoluted and it just felt over-written - by the time I was halfway through I felt as if I had read a whole book! But it does get gripping in the last 3rd or so, and the next one - Island of Bones - looks promising. She's a good writer but I felt the second book could have done with a bit of editing. It does get quite sad towards the end too!

scubachick420 · Post by **scubachick420** » Fri January 20th, 2012, 8:02 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""]The sequel is OK, I thought the plot was a bit convoluted and it just felt over-written - by the time I was halfway through I felt as if I had read a whole book! But it does get gripping in the last 3rd or so, and the next one - Island of Bones - looks promising. She's a good writer but I felt the second book could have done with a bit of editing. It does get quite sad towards the end too![/quote]

Thanks for the warning! My library only had the first one, so i will have to purchase the others at Amazon.

lauragill · Post by **lauragill** » Fri January 20th, 2012, 8:09 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]I've read the whole series and still have the hardbacks on my "show" shelf. Like many series, it gets worse as it continues. The prequel (written after MoA) is good, but the rest gradually tail off.[/quote]

At some point, MZB died and her friend Diana Paxson continued with the books. Paxson can be good when she writes her own material, but when she's working with MZB's world, it doesn't work so well.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Fri January 20th, 2012, 8:21 pm

Just started Ahab's Wife. Good so far.

Nefret · Post by **Nefret** » Sat January 21st, 2012, 12:39 am

[quote=""lauragill""]At some point, MZB died and her friend Diana Paxson continued with the books. Paxson can be good when she writes her own material, but when she's working with MZB's world, it doesn't work so well.[/quote]

I have not read any of her books. I want to, if I can find them.

I would like something to go with the Firebrand.

lauragill · Post by **lauragill** » Sat January 21st, 2012, 3:09 am

[quote=""Nefret""]I have not read any of her books. I want to, if I can find them.

I would like something to go with the Firebrand.[/quote]

Try Colleen McCollough's Song of Troy.

javagirl · Post by **javagirl** » Sat January 21st, 2012, 4:30 am

Finished The Fiery Cross a couple days ago. Loved it.

Now reading Stephen Lawhead's Hood (King Raven Trilogy #1) and enjoying it.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Sat January 21st, 2012, 3:15 pm

[quote=""Nefret""]I have not read any of her books. I want to, if I can find them.[/quote]

I found MZB through her SF/F books. She was a prolific genre writer with a huge backlist before she broke through to the mainstream with Mists of Avalon. She was probably best known for her Darkover series about the descendants of a lost human colony ship that landed on a mysterious planet and developed a medieval type society with special a psi-powers. She also edited one of my favorite anthology series Sword and Sorceress for us girls who wanted to wield a sword and cast spells with the big boys.

Her MoA series is probably in the library. Since her SF/F books were primarily market paperbacks, check the library and the used books stores.

Update: Just checked Amazon to see if they had anything from her backlist and there are several of her books free or cheap on Kindle. Also some paperbacks. OMG Sword and Sorceress XXVI is out! I might indulge in some nostalgia.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Sat January 21st, 2012, 6:20 pm

In addition to reading the 2nd Nigel Tranter Bruce book (upstairs read), I'm reading Watermark by Vanitha Sankaran. Good read!