I hadn’t even known about that short story collection by Janny Wurts - I hope you’ll enjoy it, Josh. And thank you for including the audiobook of The Way of Edan in your plans. It should be out any day now. Audible says it can take 10 days after the files are uploaded for approval, and it’s been a week now. Hopefully soon!
I too am getting ready to read The Gypsy. Like you, I've been going through Megan Lindholm's books. Great stuff! The books that stood out for me were Cloven Hooves, Alien Earth, and the Reindeer People duology.
Really excited for you to continue your Malazan journey and finally start Sun Eater, both could be considered my own personal white whales on my TBR hahaha. Also sooo excited for the Way of Edan audiobook, I can't wait to hear Allen's narration! Happy reading, Josh!
I think you will be like me with the book guards guards. I can understand it intellectually and appreciate what he’s doing in discworld, but I don’t love them and they never touch my heart. Also, I have read every single raymond Feist book ever published and the one that you’re getting ready to read is my all-time favorite. I’m so excited to hear what you thought of it. Looks like you have a lot of good books coming up, enjoy the rest of the year reading.
Guards, Guards is a good place to start. I’m not a Pratchett fan, his humor is a hit or miss for me, but Vimes is a great character. I’m so excited to try Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day. It would be interesting to see his take on historical fiction. After finishing Gone Baby Gone, Lehane is officially on my favorite authors of all time list. He is an incredible writer.
You will love Guards! Guards! then pick up Wyrds Sisters! I have tried several Pratchett and these so far are the only ones I adore/love!! They are special!!!
I just finished House of Chains and am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. I too stayed away from Discworld as I wanted "serious" fantasy. I've now been reading it for 2 years and am up to 27. It's become a favourite for the clever, witty writing the satire and commentary on human nature. I think you may be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy your reading!
So excited for your Suneater journey, as well as The Way Of Edan audiobook!! I’ve only read the first one, and may try the second one audio, though I always have trouble concentrating in comparison to a physical copy . Suneater continues to get better imo. Love these seasonal TBR’s man!
Great plans Josh! I wasn’t aware that Janny Wurts had an Arthurian book. Guards! Guards! Was good for me, but in general Terry Pratchett has been hit or miss for me.
Sounds like it's going to be a good quarter. I think you'll be fine with Guards Guards, yes there's the comic element but that often overshadows just how much more is going on in that book, and series, in general.
You've got some good books to look forward to! I'm currently reading the Silmarillion for the second time and loving it, i also feel like my appreciation grows whenever i read Tolkien and I'm gonna go for a deep dive over the next year or two
Holy cow, you've got to read more Steven Brust. His Jherg series is just amazing. His humor and characters just sweep you a long. Vlad Taltos is one of my all time favorite characters.
Steven Brust wrote a really cool series of books about an assassin named Vlad Taltos. They're worth your time if you happen to run across them. I'm stoked you're reading "The Last Light of the Sun." Its probably my favorite GGK novel. Its not his best but the setting and that ending get me every time. You've got some fantastic reading ahead of you!
I plan to reread The Way of Edan on audiobook, too! Hopefully I'll be reading the Sarentine Mosaic in Oct or Nov. I can't ever predict what someone will think of Discworld. You just have to try it for yourself and find out. Discworld has a similar vibe to Good Omens, but they're definitely different. I really enjoyed the City Watch and the Death books and Going Postal.
Great plans! I tried to read Good Omens and DNF'd it, although I plan to try again. I do love Discworld though. Hopefully you enjoy Guards! Guards! Vimes is one of my favourite characters.
I just finished Night Shift last night week, my first time doing a collection cover to cover, and it was awesome. My top 5 were: 1. The Man Who Loved Flowers 2. The Last Rung on the Ladder 3. The Boogeyman 4. Strawberry Spring 5. The Mangler Liked all but a 1 or 2 of them though. The Woman in the Room probably belongs above but I had to skim read parts of it to get through it. That one was heavy
From a big Pratchett fan - Good Omens was just ok for me. Guards Guards is amazing and has plenty of social and political commentary in it to keep those not so interested in comedy going. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
I am looking forward to reading The Gypsy with you! I was going to say that, as someone who doesn't like humorous fantasy for the sake of the humor, Terry Pratchett's humor in the DIscworld series (so far) as been so witty and not at all the focus--the humor is secondary, maybe even tertiary, to the plot and characters. I haven't read Good Omens so I can't compare, but I hope you love Guards! Guards!
Yes, «Sun Eater» ! 🙌 While I do think «Last Light of the Sun» had deserved a tighter story, there are some fantastic lines and characters in it I will cherish to my grave (also, some fun references/parallels/contrasts to «The Lions of Al-Rassan» and (especially the openings) «Under Heaven»)! Also hope you will get to the «Edan»-Trilogy and «Guards! Guards!»(one of the funniest novels I have ever read: Carrot and Nobbs is such an excellent comedy duo!🤣). had quite a hefty Summer: I read both the «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn» Trilogy by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, big inspiration for George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice and Fire») and the «Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, «Dune» & the Silmarillion), as well as «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Medieval and Renaissance Mercenary Wars of Italy), «Tiamat’s Wrath» by James S.A. Corey (The «Expanse» series #8 of 9, Space Opera) and «Warlord of the Air» (#1 in the «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock, Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅)! This Autumn I am going a bit more mood-reading and shorter novels: In September I have read three Rosemary Sutcliffe novels: 2 YA Historical Fiction Novels, «The Silver Branch» & «The Lantern Bearers» (set in Ancient Britain during the Late Roman and the Roman Withdrawal & Saxon Invasions, respectively) and an Arthurian historical fiction novel, «Sword at Sunset», all loosely connectied to each other following a family over generations, with the POV character of «The Lantern Bearers» as a mentor figure and his son one of Arthur’s companions in «Sword at Sunset». I also finished «Sword in the Storm» («Rigante» series #1) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions) and «The Eternal Champion» by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse S&S/(Anti-?)Heroic Fantasy). Currently I am reading «Lustrum» (US: «Conspirata», «Cicero»-Trilogy #2) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Statesman)! On the rest of my tentative Autumn TBR I have: «The Doom of Destiny» (Book #3 in the «Sundered Nation» Trilogy, Epic/Historical Fantasy inspired by the Germanic Goths’ Civil Wars & Wars with the Huns and the Romans, with a dash of «Dune» with its warning against prophecy) by Vaughn Roycroft «The Fury of the Gods» (Book #3 in the «Bloodsworn Saga» Trilogy, Epic Fantasy inspired by Norse Myth) by John Gwynne The final two novels in the «City of Victory» Trilogy by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns) The final two novels in «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅) «Midnight Falcon» («Rigante» #2) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions) I plan to start on the «Boudicca» Series by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction, about the famous Celtic Queen and her rebellion seeking revenge on the Romans) and the «Gael Song» series by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set during the Viking Invasions of Ireland), also «The Power Broker» by Robert A. Caro (Political Biography/Investigative Journalism Classic, catching up with the «99% Invisible» Podcast year-long readalong)! Cheers! 😊
I’m the same with Malazan and breaking it up but it still feels like such a priority for me. Stoked to see when you get these in! I like the format of breaking up the reads in the order into definitely probably and maybes. Such a great concept
Hey Josh, like you I also have a mixed reaction to humurous comedy. I didn't like Good Omens either and unfortunately my first first into Discworld with Guards Guards last year was kind of a flop, too. It started well but I became exhausted. But I hope you have a different experience! Go in with light expectations and just take it lightly, I'd say. Good luck 🤞!
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on Empire of Silence. I have looked at it numerous times and haven’t pulled the trigger. Wondering if those books are worth the hype.
The best place to start with Michael Connelly are with the Bosch books, the first one being "The Black Echo" but I'll warn you now he'll spoil you for all other writers. He's simply the best with only one exception and that is Dennis Lehane. Definitely tune in for the Lehane review because his writing is exquisite.
@jasminreyes15 There are three really logical starting points, depending on what kind of crime fiction you may want to read. If you want one with an LAPD detective, start with a Harry Bosch book: The Black Echo is the first, although you don't have to necessarily start there as they are all stand alone; if you want a legal thriller following an unorthodox lawyer, pick up The Lincoln Lawyer; if you want to follow a journalist on the hunt for a serial killer, pick up The Poet. You can't go wrong as he is so consistent.
What a great selection of books to look forward to. And yes, Connelly is the best!
I hadn’t even known about that short story collection by Janny Wurts - I hope you’ll enjoy it, Josh. And thank you for including the audiobook of The Way of Edan in your plans. It should be out any day now. Audible says it can take 10 days after the files are uploaded for approval, and it’s been a week now. Hopefully soon!
Best of luck with the release of the audiobook!
I think you will enjoy Suneater- particularly from book 2 where it gets more philosophical
Ruocchio, Hobb, Stormlight, Erikson, GGK, Gemmell-what a stacked TBR!!
Indeed! Ending the year strong!
Shaping of Middle Earth has some really interesting stuff in it
I too am getting ready to read The Gypsy. Like you, I've been going through Megan Lindholm's books. Great stuff! The books that stood out for me were Cloven Hooves, Alien Earth, and the Reindeer People duology.
I hope to squeeze in Cloven Hooves sometime by the end of 4th year too!
Emperor of Silence is on my TBR too! I look forward to hearing your take on it! Also, I just started The Farseer Trilogy and I’m really enjoying it.
Glad to hear you're reading Farseer! I hope you love it!
Really excited for you to continue your Malazan journey and finally start Sun Eater, both could be considered my own personal white whales on my TBR hahaha. Also sooo excited for the Way of Edan audiobook, I can't wait to hear Allen's narration! Happy reading, Josh!
Thanks, Esmay! I can't wait to hear Allen's narration!
Im eager to get back to Riftwar, nice to see you going through them. I’m sure Sun Eater will deliver from all I’ve heard. It’s on my list
I think you will be like me with the book guards guards. I can understand it intellectually and appreciate what he’s doing in discworld, but I don’t love them and they never touch my heart. Also, I have read every single raymond Feist book ever published and the one that you’re getting ready to read is my all-time favorite. I’m so excited to hear what you thought of it. Looks like you have a lot of good books coming up, enjoy the rest of the year reading.
Glad to hear that about the rest of the Serpentwar Saga!
Looking forward to your Sun Eater thoughts as you progress through it. I'm starting House of Chains on Tuesday!
Nice! I hope you enjoy House of Chains!
Guards, Guards is a good place to start. I’m not a Pratchett fan, his humor is a hit or miss for me, but Vimes is a great character. I’m so excited to try Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day. It would be interesting to see his take on historical fiction. After finishing Gone Baby Gone, Lehane is officially on my favorite authors of all time list. He is an incredible writer.
Good to know about Guards, Guards! Gone Baby Gone is one of my favorite by Lehane, but The Given Day IS my favorite by Lehane. I hope you enjoy it!
You will love Guards! Guards! then pick up Wyrds Sisters! I have tried several Pratchett and these so far are the only ones I adore/love!! They are special!!!
Good to know - thanks!
I think you'll like Guards Guards, and I say that as someone who didn't.
Empire of silence!!
Great to know, Kyle! I'm excited to read Empire of Silence starting later this week!
I just finished House of Chains and am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. I too stayed away from Discworld as I wanted "serious" fantasy. I've now been reading it for 2 years and am up to 27. It's become a favourite for the clever, witty writing the satire and commentary on human nature. I think you may be pleasantly surprised.
Enjoy your reading!
That's great to know about Discworld, Kathi. I hope I have the same experience with it!
So excited for your Suneater journey, as well as The Way Of Edan audiobook!! I’ve only read the first one, and may try the second one audio, though I always have trouble concentrating in comparison to a physical copy . Suneater continues to get better imo. Love these seasonal TBR’s man!
I can't wait to catch up on Sun eater to talk with people about them!
Excellent variety, a bit envious really 😂
Haha thanks!
Great plans Josh! I wasn’t aware that Janny Wurts had an Arthurian book. Guards! Guards! Was good for me, but in general Terry Pratchett has been hit or miss for me.
It may not be for you but Guards! Guards! Is just so funny 😊
Sounds like it's going to be a good quarter. I think you'll be fine with Guards Guards, yes there's the comic element but that often overshadows just how much more is going on in that book, and series, in general.
Oh great to know about Guards, Guards - thanks!
You've got some good books to look forward to! I'm currently reading the Silmarillion for the second time and loving it, i also feel like my appreciation grows whenever i read Tolkien and I'm gonna go for a deep dive over the next year or two
Nice! The Silmarillion is really a beautiful book for people that take their time with it.
Holy cow, you've got to read more Steven Brust. His Jherg series is just amazing. His humor and characters just sweep you a long. Vlad Taltos is one of my all time favorite characters.
Thank you! A couple of you commented about the Brust series so I'll have to check it out!
Steven Brust wrote a really cool series of books about an assassin named Vlad Taltos. They're worth your time if you happen to run across them. I'm stoked you're reading "The Last Light of the Sun." Its probably my favorite GGK novel. Its not his best but the setting and that ending get me every time. You've got some fantastic reading ahead of you!
Great to know! A couple comments have mentioned Brust's series. I'm starting The Last Light of the Sun tonight and am excited!
Guards Guards or Going Postal are good starting points for Pratchet. Once you get familiar with his writing style then the Death series is a breeze.
Great to know - thanks!
I plan to reread The Way of Edan on audiobook, too! Hopefully I'll be reading the Sarentine Mosaic in Oct or Nov.
I can't ever predict what someone will think of Discworld. You just have to try it for yourself and find out. Discworld has a similar vibe to Good Omens, but they're definitely different. I really enjoyed the City Watch and the Death books and Going Postal.
I hope you enjoy the Sarantine Mosaic! And I think we're all looking forward to Allen's narration!
Great plans! I tried to read Good Omens and DNF'd it, although I plan to try again. I do love Discworld though. Hopefully you enjoy Guards! Guards! Vimes is one of my favourite characters.
Thanks! I hope it works for me!
I've read the first 2 books of Sun Eater. Definitely a lot to talk about there, really looking forward to your opinion on them...
I just finished Night Shift last night week, my first time doing a collection cover to cover, and it was awesome. My top 5 were:
1. The Man Who Loved Flowers
2. The Last Rung on the Ladder
3. The Boogeyman
4. Strawberry Spring
5. The Mangler
Liked all but a 1 or 2 of them though. The Woman in the Room probably belongs above but I had to skim read parts of it to get through it. That one was heavy
Oh we'll have to compare when I'm done! My favorite so far is probably The Ledge or Jerusalem's Lot, but I haven't gotten to your top two yet!
From a big Pratchett fan - Good Omens was just ok for me. Guards Guards is amazing and has plenty of social and political commentary in it to keep those not so interested in comedy going. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
This is great to know - thank you!
I am looking forward to reading The Gypsy with you!
I was going to say that, as someone who doesn't like humorous fantasy for the sake of the humor, Terry Pratchett's humor in the DIscworld series (so far) as been so witty and not at all the focus--the humor is secondary, maybe even tertiary, to the plot and characters. I haven't read Good Omens so I can't compare, but I hope you love Guards! Guards!
That's great to know about Guards, Guards, thanks! I'm looking forward to the Gypsy!
Yes, «Sun Eater» ! 🙌 While I do think «Last Light of the Sun» had deserved a tighter story, there are some fantastic lines and characters in it I will cherish to my grave (also, some fun references/parallels/contrasts to «The Lions of Al-Rassan» and (especially the openings) «Under Heaven»)! Also hope you will get to the «Edan»-Trilogy and «Guards! Guards!»(one of the funniest novels I have ever read: Carrot and Nobbs is such an excellent comedy duo!🤣).
had quite a hefty Summer: I read both the «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn» Trilogy by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, big inspiration for George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice and Fire») and the «Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, «Dune» & the Silmarillion), as well as «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Medieval and Renaissance Mercenary Wars of Italy), «Tiamat’s Wrath» by James S.A. Corey (The «Expanse» series #8 of 9, Space Opera) and «Warlord of the Air» (#1 in the «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock, Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅)!
This Autumn I am going a bit more mood-reading and shorter novels: In September I have read three Rosemary Sutcliffe novels: 2 YA Historical Fiction Novels, «The Silver Branch» & «The Lantern Bearers» (set in Ancient Britain during the Late Roman and the Roman Withdrawal & Saxon Invasions, respectively) and an Arthurian historical fiction novel, «Sword at Sunset», all loosely connectied to each other following a family over generations, with the POV character of «The Lantern Bearers» as a mentor figure and his son one of Arthur’s companions in «Sword at Sunset». I also finished «Sword in the Storm» («Rigante» series #1) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions) and «The Eternal Champion» by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse S&S/(Anti-?)Heroic Fantasy). Currently I am reading «Lustrum» (US: «Conspirata», «Cicero»-Trilogy #2) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Statesman)!
On the rest of my tentative Autumn TBR I have:
«The Doom of Destiny» (Book #3 in the «Sundered Nation» Trilogy, Epic/Historical Fantasy inspired by the Germanic Goths’ Civil Wars & Wars with the Huns and the Romans, with a dash of «Dune» with its warning against prophecy) by Vaughn Roycroft
«The Fury of the Gods» (Book #3 in the «Bloodsworn Saga» Trilogy, Epic Fantasy inspired by Norse Myth) by John Gwynne
The final two novels in the «City of Victory» Trilogy by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns)
The final two novels in «A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅)
«Midnight Falcon» («Rigante» #2) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions)
I plan to start on the «Boudicca» Series by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction, about the famous Celtic Queen and her rebellion seeking revenge on the Romans) and the «Gael Song» series by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set during the Viking Invasions of Ireland), also «The Power Broker» by Robert A. Caro (Political Biography/Investigative Journalism Classic, catching up with the «99% Invisible» Podcast year-long readalong)!
Cheers! 😊
Hefty summer indeed! I'm starting The Last Light of the Sun tonight! :)
I’m the same with Malazan and breaking it up but it still feels like such a priority for me. Stoked to see when you get these in! I like the format of breaking up the reads in the order into definitely probably and maybes. Such a great concept
Hey Josh, like you I also have a mixed reaction to humurous comedy. I didn't like Good Omens either and unfortunately my first first into Discworld with Guards Guards last year was kind of a flop, too. It started well but I became exhausted. But I hope you have a different experience! Go in with light expectations and just take it lightly, I'd say. Good luck 🤞!
I'm definitely going in with tempered expectations! Fingers crossed...
The Last Light of the Sun is underrated imo.
I'm starting tonight!
@@RedFuryBooks Excellent. That first chapter is one of my favourite starts to his books.
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on Empire of Silence. I have looked at it numerous times and haven’t pulled the trigger. Wondering if those books are worth the hype.
I plan on starting Empire of Silence at the end of the week so we shall see!
How many books are you typically reading at once?
Usually three books at once: a main novel, an audiobook and a short story collection that I read between the main novels.
I’ve never read a Michael Connelly book, where do you suggest I start?
The best place to start with Michael Connelly are with the Bosch books, the first one being "The Black Echo" but I'll warn you now he'll spoil you for all other writers. He's simply the best with only one exception and that is Dennis Lehane. Definitely tune in for the Lehane review because his writing is exquisite.
@jasminreyes15 There are three really logical starting points, depending on what kind of crime fiction you may want to read. If you want one with an LAPD detective, start with a Harry Bosch book: The Black Echo is the first, although you don't have to necessarily start there as they are all stand alone; if you want a legal thriller following an unorthodox lawyer, pick up The Lincoln Lawyer; if you want to follow a journalist on the hunt for a serial killer, pick up The Poet. You can't go wrong as he is so consistent.
@@DaisyMae0929 okay thanks!
@@RedFuryBooks i’ll check them out! Thanks!