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New Review: Shadows Linger
April 26, 2009 (3:30 PM) ( link ) Added a review of Glen Cook's Shadows Linger (recommended).
That's the second book of the Black Company trilogy. I've actually finished the third, but I'm still trying to settle my thoughts on it.
It's odd what a little distance does to your opinions. I finished Shadows Linger maybe two weeks ago, and I remember liking it quite a bit. Loking back now, I realize it didn't make quite as much of an impression as I had thought, though the reasons for its diminished power are unclear to me.
New Review: The Well of Ascension
April 25, 2009 (2:34 AM) ( link ) Added a review of Brandon Sanderson's The Well of Ascension (recommended).
I've now begun C.J. Sansom's newest Shardlake mystery, Revelation. Unsurprisingly, it's good. I also have Benjamin Black's The Silver Swan, which is the sequel to Christine Falls.
I've really enjoyed my reading the last two months. Given the books in my queue, I think this trend will continue for at least another few weeks.
Updated Review: The Black Company
April 22, 2009 (11:01 PM) ( link ) Updated the review of Glen Cook's The Black Company (still recommended).
I'm actually pretty close to finishing the entire trilogy. It's been very entertaining. I find it hard to believe that Cook came out with The Black Company at the same time as Terry Brooks's Shannara series, which was apparently more popular. Two more diametrically opposed representatives of fantasy would be hard to invent.
New Review: Mistborn: The Final Empire
April 21, 2009 (11:17 PM) ( link ) Added a review of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire (recommended).
Sanderson has been busy lately finishing the last volume (make that three volumes) of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. On his blog, he has a very thoughtful explanation of the split. Quite aside from the merits of this decision (I'm pretty sure it was more profit-driven than anything else), I approve of this kind of transparency.
New Review: Owly
April 14, 2009 (11:37 PM) ( link ) Added a review of Andy Runton's Owly (highly recommended).
This marks my first review with pictures! Truly a momentous occasion.
Notwithstanding my earlier comments, I have indeed begun rereading Glen Cook's The Black Company, with an eye toward finishing the entire trilogy, since the second Mistborn book has not yet arrived at my public library branch. I have to say that Cook's series is much better the second time around, especially with my discovery of a wiki for the series, which keeps tabs of the ever-shifting cast of characters.
New Review: Christine Falls
April 13, 2009 (11:50 PM) ( link ) Added a review of Benjamin Black's Christine Falls (highly recommended).
I'm enjoying a lot more of my reading recently. Not sure why that's the case. Better selection probably has something to do with it. But a lot, as well, can be attributed to my surroundings. I read on my commute, which these days means one uninterrupted hour each way on the subway. For some reason, I've been able to focus on my reading even when I'm standing. And that sustained concentration has really made getting into books -- even mediocre books -- a lot easier.
New Review: The Fourth Bear
April 9, 2009 (2:16 AM) ( link ) Added a new review of Jasper Fforde's The Fourth Bear (recommended).
Mistborn: The Final Empire keeps getting better and better. Maybe I've stayed away from long-form fantasy for too long. But then again, maybe some distance has given the usual conventions a freshness that they had lost (at least for me).
I had planned on continuing Glen Cook's Black Company series after The Final Empire, but I have a feeling I'll be finishing Sanderson's trilogy first.
New Review: Chinatown Beat
April 8, 2009 (12:47 AM) ( link ) Added a review of Henry Chang's Chinatown Beat (mildly recommended).
I've read Uzodinma Iweala's Beasts of No Nation, but I won't review it since I know the author (although we haven't spoken in years). I've recently started Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire, which is surprisingly good -- I expect I'll finish the whole trilogy.
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