<–The State of the Reader: 6/21/17 The State of the Reader: 7/5/17–>
A weekly post updated every Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and where I am with them in addition to what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list. Title links go to Goodreads to make it easier for interested parties to add any books that might strike their fancy. I attempt to use the covers for the edition I’m reading, and I’ll mention if this is not the case. If you have a Goodreads account feel free to friend me! I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.
Samples Read This Week
- Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden: Kept – There’s a Harry Potter vibe to this story with the orphanage being a combination of Hogwarts and Privet Drive, and the dourness of that extends to the mien. There are some really bad “people” after the protagonist.
- Cracked by Eliza Crewe: Kept – I’m a sucker for just dessert stories (I wouldn’t have written about an assassin who only kills the most reprehensible if I wasn’t), and that’s exactly what this is. The main character has the Dexter like desire to kill, but only focuses it on those who deserve it.
- The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan: Kept – Books like this are the reason there’s no hard and fast rule about prologues. Sometimes they’re integral in setting not only the scene and mien, but also more subtle revelations about the world of the book. Humans have found a way to exploit dragons for their literally blood, and what we’ve done to them is frankly horrifying. This is all revealed in a report about a terrible accident involved massive loss of life. However, it’s revealed more in the clinical details about the happening, reported as mere facets of information that upon rumination are quite disturbing. Terms are sanitized: calling dragon blood “product’ as it is “harvested” for a corporation, and when the dragon manages to escape, there is mention of the cauterized stumps of its wings and how it was robbed of its ability to breathe fire. Stories like this set up a reckoning that humanity is never prepared to answer.
- Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare: Kept/Library – I was pleasantly surprised by this was, though the person who recommended it did tell me it was a bit different from The Mortal Instrument Series, which I couldn’t stand. It takes place in the same world, but Clare’s work seems to have matured. I’m genuinely interested in where this one’s going and the main character Kit’s involvement in it.
- Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt: Kept (RWTR) – Tell me a good story and you’ll instantly draw me in. Keturah’s stories are certainly worthy of Death’s attention, and the reason why he spared her is exceedingly clear. The sample for this ended far too soon for my liking and is currently on my to-buy-next shelf.
- Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon: Kept – First book in The Deed of Paksenarrion series, and I’m very impressed. I love Paks’s character, and I’m curious what she did to cause her father to change his tune about her as plainly shown in the far future prologue. She refuses to accept the choice her father made for her (against her say so) to be married to a pig farmer, so she up and leaves, walking 30 miles in a day to join a military unit that accepts women. I like that the man who becomes her commanding officer doesn’t seem to care a wit that she’s female. He’s impressed that she walked 30 miles in a day to join up, is strong, knows how to march, and follows orders. He also doesn’t take nonsense from any man in his unit that attempts to shame or vocally leer at her because of her gender. I think I’m going to enjoy this novel/series.
- The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton: Kept – This is one of those books I saw for years in bookstores, but it never caught my interest then. Now, it’s both disturbing and intriguing. The beginning is so vague and yet so horrifying in partially explaining how the ill-made mute became that way. He’s not really ill-made at least naturally, and I don’t think he was always a mute.
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence: Passed – Reprehensible protagonists just aren’t my thing. I’m assuming he becomes more sympathetic later on in the story, but the leader of a band that murders villagers and rapes their daughters just doesn’t do it for me even if there is a major Heel Face Turn at some point.
- The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias: Kept – I love creepy, religious centered fantasy where people sell their souls or make a deal with the devil.
Books Purchased This Week: 0
Books Finished This Week: 2
Title: Saga, Volume 6
Series Title: Saga
Authors: Brian K. Vaughn & Fiona Staples
Date Added: June 11, 2017
Date Started: June 17, 2017
Date Finished: June 22, 2017
Reading Duration: 5 days
The epic continues, but I’m not sure how I will when I finished the 7th and last one that’s currently out. It’s a long time until January 2018.
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 