I have read the first two books in the trilogy by Steig Larrson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who played with Fire. Looking forward to the last book in the series. I am getting read to read Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl. I would also recommend South of Broad by Pat Conroy.
I just finished the first four books in Naomi Novik's series which takes place during the Napoleonic wars, in an alternate world. The first book is His Majesty's Dragon.
All the major characters are there - Napoleon, Wellington. But they have an airforce, a dragon airforce and she makes it all seem so normal.
I got pulled right in; I have to know if Will Laurence will redeem himself. There are two more books out and I'm trying to limit myself - really I am. I am!
I received a care package (thank you Lori, we're turning into a real lending library!), so I'm going to sit back with Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I loved her Garden Spells, so this will be a nice change. And after that - Loretta!! *grin*. Don't Tempt Me.
Am in a funk: fiction just isn't entertaining me lately. I've retreated to nonfiction, but I'm hoping this doesn't last long. I'm used to gobbling romance novels with cheesy abandon. Suggestions welcome!
I don't know if there are genres you don't like, Vivien, but I highly recommend the Warprize trilogy by Elizabeth Vaughan. It's fantasy with great world building and a wonderful romance.
They've also reissued an older SEP - Glitter Baby - which I enjoyed.
Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly takes place in Hollywood and Venice just after World War I, and has romantic elements. I'd read anything by Barbara Hambly, wouldn't even need to know the plot, lol. A wonderful writer. :-)
I'm about halfway through "the Hollow Hills", the second story in the trilogy/quintet of books by Mary Stewart.
They're about Merlin (the magician) and his life, from a boy to an old man. Although I love all this sort of stuff I've never really read anything like it and am enjoying it immensely. I watch the show Merlin on tele but this is not like that.
Some of hte names are the same but in the book they don't match with the same characters. Mind you, the tv series is just a newer interpretaion so I suppose the books are closer to the legend etc. I wonder if there are any dragons...
I love all that stuff - dragons, magic, nobility, the long girly dresses, castles etc. I guess that's the English/Welsh side of my history coming forth lol
Thanks for the heads up on the other books ladies. I'll add them to the list of books to investigate once I'm done here. Or I might read a Jackie Collins, just to clear the head and read something that I don't have to think about.
:)
Oh, PS... did either of you get a chance to read the book I sent, and what did you think? Was it as bad as the Vegemite? LOL
HeavenLea, I vaguely remember the Mary Stewart Merlin series and liked it a lot. Stephen Lawhead's series was very enjoyable, too. Have you read Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon books? Same story, basically, but with a girl-power slant.
Carolyn and Lori: thank you for the Bride of the Rat God rec! I will hunt that one down. I read Barbara Hambly's New Orleans books ("Fever Season" was one, but I forget the other titles) a while back and thought she was pretty brilliant.
I read Mary Stewart's Merlin years ago and I still have the books. She made it seem all so real.
You're very welcome,Vivien. If you like fantasy, Hambly also wrote the Darwath Trilogy: Time of the Dark, Walls of Air and Armies of Daylight. Unfortunately they're OOP now, but I checked Amazon and they're selling used for a penny. I have my original copies of this trilogy also - what can I say? I hoard, lol.
You know how heroes and heroines suffer in fantasy? Bad weather, bad villains - they're always in pain. Well, I was never so cold as when reading Hambly's world. Good lord, it was cold!
Ya gotta be tuff to star in a fantasy - and to read it sometimes. ;-)
I love, love, love Crocodile on the Sandbanks. I've read it so often that I'm on my third copy. I've been rereading Barbara Michaels books (the author is also Elizabeth Peters). I just read The Crying Child again and it was literally falling apart in my hands, I've read it so often. Thank the Benevolent Being that she remains in print! The Barbara Michaels books are "gothicky" contemporary ghost stories, often with a ghostly element. She also wrote some period stories too.
I also just reread Mary Stewart's Airs Above the Ground and My Brother Michael. Another older author who remains in print.
I have read the first two books in the trilogy by Steig Larrson - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who played with Fire. Looking forward to the last book in the series. I am getting read to read Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl. I would also recommend South of Broad by Pat Conroy.
ReplyDeleteI just finished the first four books in Naomi Novik's series which takes place during the Napoleonic wars, in an alternate world. The first book is His Majesty's Dragon.
ReplyDeleteAll the major characters are there - Napoleon, Wellington. But they have an airforce, a dragon airforce and she makes it all seem so normal.
I got pulled right in; I have to know if Will Laurence will redeem himself. There are two more books out and I'm trying to limit myself - really I am. I am!
I received a care package (thank you Lori, we're turning into a real lending library!), so I'm going to sit back with Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I loved her Garden Spells, so this will be a nice change. And after that - Loretta!! *grin*. Don't Tempt Me.
You hear that, Naomi??
Am in a funk: fiction just isn't entertaining me lately. I've retreated to nonfiction, but I'm hoping this doesn't last long. I'm used to gobbling romance novels with cheesy abandon. Suggestions welcome!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there are genres you don't like, Vivien, but I highly recommend the Warprize trilogy by Elizabeth Vaughan. It's fantasy with great world building and a wonderful romance.
ReplyDeleteThey've also reissued an older SEP - Glitter Baby - which I enjoyed.
Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly takes place in Hollywood and Venice just after World War I, and has romantic elements. I'd read anything by Barbara Hambly, wouldn't even need to know the plot, lol. A wonderful writer. :-)
Bride of the Rat God was wonderful. I loved that it was based in old Hollywood which is a time frame I love with the fledging film industry.
ReplyDeleteHambly is a great writer. Another one I can thank Carolyn for.
I'm about halfway through "the Hollow Hills", the second story in the trilogy/quintet of books by Mary Stewart.
ReplyDeleteThey're about Merlin (the magician) and his life, from a boy to an old man. Although I love all this sort of stuff I've never really read anything like it and am enjoying it immensely. I watch the show Merlin on tele but this is not like that.
Some of hte names are the same but in the book they don't match with the same characters. Mind you, the tv series is just a newer interpretaion so I suppose the books are closer to the legend etc. I wonder if there are any dragons...
I love all that stuff - dragons, magic, nobility, the long girly dresses, castles etc. I guess that's the English/Welsh side of my history coming forth lol
Thanks for the heads up on the other books ladies. I'll add them to the list of books to investigate once I'm done here. Or I might read a Jackie Collins, just to clear the head and read something that I don't have to think about.
:)
Oh, PS... did either of you get a chance to read the book I sent, and what did you think? Was it as bad as the Vegemite? LOL
HeavenLea, I vaguely remember the Mary Stewart Merlin series and liked it a lot. Stephen Lawhead's series was very enjoyable, too. Have you read Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon books? Same story, basically, but with a girl-power slant.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn and Lori: thank you for the Bride of the Rat God rec! I will hunt that one down. I read Barbara Hambly's New Orleans books ("Fever Season" was one, but I forget the other titles) a while back and thought she was pretty brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI read Mary Stewart's Merlin years ago and I still have the books. She made it seem all so real.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome,Vivien. If you like fantasy, Hambly also wrote the Darwath Trilogy: Time of the Dark, Walls of Air and Armies of Daylight. Unfortunately they're OOP now, but I checked Amazon and they're selling used for a penny. I have my original copies of this trilogy also - what can I say? I hoard, lol.
You know how heroes and heroines suffer in fantasy? Bad weather, bad villains - they're always in pain. Well, I was never so cold as when reading Hambly's world. Good lord, it was cold!
Ya gotta be tuff to star in a fantasy - and to read it sometimes. ;-)
Vivian, I haven't read Marion's books or Stephen's. But I will add to the list of potentials.
ReplyDeletethanks much :)
I love, love, love Crocodile on the Sandbanks. I've read it so often that I'm on my third copy.
ReplyDeleteI've been rereading Barbara Michaels books (the author is also Elizabeth Peters). I just read The Crying Child again and it was literally falling apart in my hands, I've read it so often. Thank the Benevolent Being that she remains in print! The Barbara Michaels books are "gothicky" contemporary ghost stories, often with a ghostly element. She also wrote some period stories too.
I also just reread Mary Stewart's Airs Above the Ground and My Brother Michael. Another older author who remains in print.
Connie