Books Fantasy Reads

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Red Sister
- Mark Lawrence

Book start with... said:
“IT IS IMPORTANT, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size. For Sister Thorn of the Sweet Mercy Convent Lano Tacsis brought two hundred men.
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Very good read. A story of a convent which trains "sisters" who are deadly in combat and versatile in magic and feared everywhere. A very refreshing read though book 1 is more on the 'training' part. The pace is a bit uneven and drops for a page and then sweeps through in the next, but that only a minor criticism in a otherwise a very good book. Could have been 25 pages shorter to make it ,more crisp but still makes me want to five into the next book immediately.

8/10
 
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Grey Sister
- Mark Lawrence

Book 2 after Red Sister which continues the story of magical warrior nuns. Author blends a good mix of fantasy, hints of magic and political intrigue. Though the concept of young girls beating up bunch of soldiers takes some digesting, it still is a refreshing read.

8/10

Now to wait for the Holy Sister to come out later this month and finish the trilogy.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
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Grey Sister
- Mark Lawrence

Book 2 after Red Sister which continues the story of magical warrior nuns. Author blends a good mix of fantasy, hints of magic and political intrigue. Though the concept of young girls beating up bunch of soldiers takes some digesting, it still is a refreshing read.

8/10

Now to wait for the Holy Sister to come out later this month and finish the trilogy.
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Thanks I didn't know about these this could be my holiday reading this year. Sounds very vaguely like the premise of The Left Hand of God perhaps (without the falling off a cliff hopefully).
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
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Grey Sister
- Mark Lawrence

Book 2 after Red Sister which continues the story of magical warrior nuns. Author blends a good mix of fantasy, hints of magic and political intrigue. Though the concept of young girls beating up bunch of soldiers takes some digesting, it still is a refreshing read.

8/10

Now to wait for the Holy Sister to come out later this month and finish the trilogy.
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Just started listening to the audiobook for this. Seems good so far. Prefer his first person writing but clearly can write 3rd well enough.
 
Kellenvad's Reach finally released for us North American folk, am enjoying it so far. Though, it's getting a bit heavy on the giving every single random character a tiny backstory.

To be honest, if I were making recommendations to someone new I'd say start with these 3 before the main body of work.
 
The Cat said:
I think he's playing everyone now. It will come out in some kind of synch with the tv adaptation I bet.
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Quite possibly. I think he's had a similar problem as Martin in that the anticipation for the books has been so high the ending had been theorised countless times by fans and now feels he can't provide an ending that will justify what's gone before it.
 
The Cat said:
I think he's playing everyone now. It will come out in some kind of synch with the tv adaptation I bet.
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ivaldo said:
Quite possibly. I think he's had a similar problem as Martin in that the anticipation for the books has been so high the ending had been theorised countless times by fans and now feels he can't provide an ending that will justify what's gone before it.
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He really had some personal problems/mental issues which seem to be sorted out now.

Hope we get the book alone and not some bad TV version.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Finished? Boy, oh boy...that was a looong read.
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Oh yeah. Found it alright, but a step down from the previous one. For the first time though, it is looking closer to a climax, which I don't understand how it can be solved in one book. I mean, we still don't even know whom are the bad guys.

Talking about that, I always had the impression that 'the antagonists' were more like some viruses on steroids or whatever and somehow destroyed the protomolecule creators despite that they were more powerful (essentially being able to explode stars). However, it looks more complicated than that, and those entities seem to be an even more advanced civilization (God-like in power), who likely one shot the protomolecule creators in each system. After the human behaviour in the last book, where they essentially started fighting them by throwing antimatter bombs at them, it seems that the situation has gone past the point of no-return, and just cannot see humans having a chance, unless we get a deus-ex-machina resolution which would suck.

Wouldn't be funny if actually human civilization gets destroyed in the end of next book?

Also, Ava dying off screen sucked. Bobbie though :(
 
Revan said:
Oh yeah. Found it alright, but a step down from the previous one. For the first time though, it is looking closer to a climax, which I don't understand how it can be solved in one book. I mean, we still don't even know whom are the bad guys.

Talking about that, I always had the impression that 'the antagonists' were more like some viruses on steroids or whatever and somehow destroyed the protomolecule creators despite that they were more powerful (essentially being able to explode stars). However, it looks more complicated than that, and those entities seem to be an even more advanced civilization (God-like in power), who likely one shot the protomolecule creators in each system. After the human behaviour in the last book, where they essentially started fighting them by throwing antimatter bombs at them, it seems that the situation has gone past the point of no-return, and just cannot see humans having a chance, unless we get a deus-ex-machina resolution which would suck.

Wouldn't be funny if actually human civilization gets destroyed in the end of next book?

Also, Ava dying off screen sucked. Bobbie though :(
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Agree that Nemesis Games is still the book to beat and this one falls slightly short of that mark.

I think we have a good chance as the attack that killed the protomolecule only had minutes of time loss for us. We are either hardier or their old weapon doesn't work on us. And they are also experimenting on killing us, so they are not there yet. Probably they operate in different phases of reality/dimensions that us. And the rings interfere in their way of life so we probably know their weakness too.

I have not see them to be technologically advanced, despite being called god-like. Are there any examples of their tech in previous books? I can't recall any.

I also felt the book had some plot holes. Duarte knew they killed the protomolecule builders, yet he loads himself with the same protomolecule and then goes to war. with the same enemy who wiped them out in first place. How does that even make sense? And the whole jingo on "we hurt them more to show we are serious" is just bonkers. For one bomb, they destroyed 2 gates, killed a bunch of ships including their own super-ship in ring space and they want to go another round? wtf?

Lots to cover in next book, but this book neatly tied the big arcs. Laconia is dealt with and both them and Holden are looking forward to new threat.

Ava's death was expected but still left a big hole. Probably the best written character in the books.

Hate Bobbie Draper's death, but it was the right thing. They way they took her character last book pissed me off. She was a big-time ass kicker, pure and simple. They made her captain and then let us know of her failures and so forth...not really good development. Felt really bad at her death but rather this than more ruining her persona. I'll still remember her from earlier books fondly.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Agree that Nemesis Games is still the book to beat and this one falls slightly short of that mark.

I think we have a good chance as the attack that killed the protomolecule only had minutes of time loss for us. We are either hardier or their old weapon doesn't work on us. And they are also experimenting on killing us, so they are not there yet. Probably they operate in different phases of reality/dimensions that us. And the rings interfere in their way of life so we probably know their weakness too.

I have not see them to be technologically advanced, despite being called god-like. Are there any examples of their tech in previous books? I can't recall any.

I also felt the book had some plot holes. Duarte knew they killed the protomolecule builders, yet he loads himself with the same protomolecule and then goes to war. with the same enemy who wiped them out in first place. How does that even make sense? And the whole jingo on "we hurt them more to show we are serious" is just bonkers. For one bomb, they destroyed 2 gates, killed a bunch of ships including their own super-ship in ring space and they want to go another round? wtf?

Lots to cover in next book, but this book neatly tied the big arcs. Laconia is dealt with and both them and Holden are looking forward to new threat.

Ava's death was expected but still left a big hole. Probably the best written character in the books.

Hate Bobbie Draper's death, but it was the right thing. They way they took her character last book pissed me off. She was a big-time ass kicker, pure and simple. They made her captain and then let us know of her failures and so forth...not really good development. Felt really bad at her death but rather this than more ruining her persona. I'll still remember her from earlier books fondly.
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Yeah, the tit for tat did not make sense for humans, considering that those weird entities were actually playing tit for tat in the first place, as in, when humans used many ships to pass the wormholes, they just ate a ship or two. Now that humans went to war, they also went to full scale and did all that damage.

We don't know their technology, but we know that they destroyed a far more advanced civilization than us, and we saw how easily they destroyed Medina Station and that big ship, and two rings.

I think that the end will be with humanity understanding this and not continuing to use the rings, which means that there will be 1400 human worlds not being able to communicate with each other.

Duarte didn't know that they destroyed the Romans by fecking up their brains.

I think that Bonnie's death was done good. [\spoiler]
 
Part way through Grey Sister after finishing Red Sister and thoroughly enjoying it. Mark Lawrence is such a polished writer.
 
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As Fires is to Gold

A really good book from a new author. The writing is polished and the plot is quire novel. He weaves a intriguing plot mixing drama, action, politics and treachery intelligently. On the negative side, the book seems to be a scene setter and pace is a bit slow. Still a good read.
 
harshad said:
Re-reading A Gathering Storm and i had forgotten how bad Egwene is as a character. Has to be the worst good character of all time.
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Worse than Nynaeve?

I've abandoned the series. I really liked the earlier books, but I couldn't take any more descriptions of Aiel customs. Shame, but I tried too many times to go on with it and every time ended up bored and not liking too many characters.
 
Art Vandelay said:
Worse than Nynaeve?

I've abandoned the series. I really liked the earlier books, but I couldn't take any more descriptions of Aiel customs. Shame, but I tried too many times to go on with it and every time ended up bored and not liking too many characters.
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Nynaeve is awesome.

At what stage did you abandon the books?
 
harshad said:
Re-reading A Gathering Storm and i had forgotten how bad Egwene is as a character. Has to be the worst good character of all time.
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WTF? Thought that she was brilliant in that book. I also thought that it is the best book written by Sanderson.
 
Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Agreed. Gathering Storm, Towers and Midnight and Memory of Light are all very good books! Egwene post becoming Amyrlin becomes quite mature and a different character from earlier books.
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Didn't like Towers, but the other two are great. Only Fires of Heaven is better in the series. Egwene is annoying in midbooks, but like Rand becomes good late in the series IMO.
 
Revan said:
WTF? Thought that she was brilliant in that book. I also thought that it is the best book written by Sanderson.
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Edgar Allan Pillow said:
Agreed. Gathering Storm, Towers and Midnight and Memory of Light are all very good books! Egwene post becoming Amyrlin becomes quite mature and a different character from earlier books.
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In the same chapter she is livid that Rand got AS to swear fealty to him and later chastises Beonin about breaking her vows to serve Egwene.... She is insufferable
 
Art Vandelay said:
Book 6 Lord of Chaos. I even tried the audiobooks, but it was just listening to long descriptions of how great Aiel are and all their customs.
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Lord of Chaos was great. The story goes slows down a bit after that but still good books.... Only ever found Crossroad of Twilight to be bad pacing wise....

Guess the books just arent for you
 
harshad said:
In the same chapter she is livid that Rand got AS to swear fealty to him and later chastises Beonin about breaking her vows to serve Egwene.... She is insufferable
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You can say that of all women in the series, but that's another discussion. Still, Egwene's character improves as you read on.

Revan said:
Egwene is annoying in midbooks, but like Rand becomes good late in the series IMO.
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She was annoying from Book 1.
 
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Fid's Crusade - David H Reiss

How bad can the do-good heroes feck things up that we finally need a smart-mouth super-villain to save the planet?

Probably the most fun book I've read recently. It's like Iron Man, Despicable Me and the Incredibles all rolled into a single book. Super heroes, super villains, aliens, mind control...everything blended in spectacularly smoothly. The black humorous writing style makes this villain-noir book a refreshing take on the genre.

A splendid gem of a read! Highly recommended!

Diving right into the next book of the series.
 
I just finished the second Gentleman Bastards book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although not as good as the first and some stuff I saw coming a mile away, still very enjoyable. I'll continue with the series later in the year.

I started Red Sister this morning and I'm very much enjoying it so far.
 
Now I'm considering giving up on Red Sister. I really like the writing style and the opening was great, but I'm really not liking all the Christianity and them being a bit too close to actual nuns. I've lived in Northern Ireland my whole life, I'd prefer my fantasy not to remind me of the boring nonsense that permeates everything here. I did see nuns in the description, but I didn't expect it to be so.... nunny.
 
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