The Lost Tribe

Finished the Deverry series... very sad now. I feel she ended the series rather well all things considered it was 15 books. I always thought the ending would be Jill and Nevyn getting re-incarnated but not to be! Its sad that an era has gone by-I grew up with those books! Which bits of the book were you uncomfortable with John?

Well initially the Dragon family with the "Lick your face clean " and the father son advise session etc seemed to trivialise and be a trifle twee to me although at the end the rest of the population still were in awe and thought of them as cold heartless creatures which I much preferred so will allow that one or two . In general everything seemed ...... Rushed ...... compared to most of the predecessors .
Neb and Branna were Nevyn and Jill re-incarnate you must have been rushing Fae .
When in a couple of years I read the whole series again I will wonder what I was quibbling about
As a whole a bloody brilliantly weaved tapestry that I would DEFINITELY recommend to any lover of Celtic storytelling and worlds.

Spoilers on The Silver Mage below:

I initially held my breath when Rhodry "woke up", and thought she was, for a moment, going to end the whole thing with "it was a dream", oh god, that would have been the worst ending!
I didn't mind the whole dragon thing, I just supposed it showed how much of a dragon he had become. Scanning the dragon mage series again-I had forgotten a lot of what went on in previous books. I suppose the Jill/Rhodry/Nevyn stories are my favourite and stick in the mind more. It did seem a bit... rushed... and I did wonder at how the crystal ultimately did pretty much nothing... though there was a whole backstory to it. I liked it how she put how Harn Maen was made though. Agree with you, John, bloody good series, fantastically complicated and well woven, I am in admiration of how she kept track of those past lives so well!

Reading: Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill, a Canadian author I believe.

Its about life on the streets, Baby, who is the main character, lives with her father, Jules, a heroin addict. Its really well written and very compeliing.

Finally finished The Dispossessed - I really liked it but was just not in a reading mood the last month or so.

Started Daniel Abraham's first two books (omnibus) in The Long Price quartet. Tough that might be put on hold over the Christmas break as I read The Magician by Lev Grossman that I am giving to my brother for Xmas...

I've wanted the second Long Price for a long time, but can't seem to find it locally.

Fae, I've started on the 3rd and 4th Long Price - they're only coming out in omnibus editions, got mine on BookDep for $6.46 though looks like it's doubled in price to $12.16.

I'm reading Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (another Precious Ramotswe book), the Obama book (Dreams from my Father), new Jasper Fforde (something about gray?), the new Sue Grafton alphabet series (U is for Undertow, I think) and have bought the new Audrey Niffenegger book.

I've also just re-read some of my Mercedes Lackey - needed the brain fluff

Wow thats a lot of books Dee! Jebus, what do you think of the other Long Price novels? Worth the money?

Reading 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' now, really good at the moment.

Fae have you only read the first one or first two? I reckon they're worth it as they've extremely well written plus having them in omnibus and all published means no waiting.

fae: I always seem to read several at once Not sure why...

Finished the Precious Ramotswe book, and actually have Jay reading them! I love that series Almost finished the undertow book, Kinsey Milhone will be missed when Z rolls around. Yet to start the Niffenegger, the Jasper Fforde book is taking some getting used to (nowhere near as big a fan as the Next series', and still don't understand this universe).

Need to find something good to take away with me!

J-read the first one, and really enjoyed it too. Thanks for the review.

I haven't read it, but have heard that the new Jasper Fforde is really good...

Finished Abraham's Long Price quartet and totally loved it.

Started Steven Erikson's Crack'd Pot Trail novella his morning.

I finished the Book Thief and Fall of Ossard this week. It took ages to finish both, but that is not a commentary on the quality of either! My mind just couldn't cope with either of them for many a long week, but this week, I was definitely stable enough to deal with darkness on the page

Corey, you've done very well. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment. I was particularly taken by Juvela's lack of inner struggle about taking the souls - that can only end in tears. And I was not expecting her little miracle at the end... nice twist.

I'm currently reading book 4 of the Temeraire books by Naomi Novak and quite enjoying them for the rollicking tales of harrowing adventure that they are. I especially like Novak's authenticity. They are similar to Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell in that they've taken historical fiction and inserted something unexpected - in the case of Novak's books, Dragons and Jonathan Strange it's English Magic.

In recent months I've read Her Fearful Symmetry, and though enjoyable, it didn't grab me like Time Traveller's Wife which I count as one of the best books ever. It kinda felt like she was writing it for the Olsen Twins.

I was also lent a book called New Wilderness by Canadian writer, Brian S Matthews. It's set 10 years after a strange phenomenon occurred where all of the animals (insects included) turned on mankind and practically wiped them out. The story follows one particular settlement that remains. It's an awesome book with a great story and interesting characters. Plus it's not all that hard to imagine the family pet deciding it's had one bath too many. *shudder* There is a second book in the series in print (City on the Currents) and a third on the way.

Hi Mae,

Thanks for the comments on Ossard - glad you liked it.

Her Fearful Symmetry has had lukewarm reviews, but I'm not sure anyone has put it as succinctly as you did (Olsen Twins).

New Wilderness sounds interesting, I'll look into it.

I've finally figured out what's up with Shades of Grey (the new Jasper Fforde book) - not sure if anyone's ever read Jack Vance's Cadwal Chronicles (Araminta Station, Ecce and Old Earth, Throy) but they are in a very similar vein. The characters react with the same detachment and oddness, with social structure very alien to ours. It's not as inviting as the Vance books, maybe a little too strange and less of the quirky... I am really struggling to get through it, which is disappointing to me as I love his Thursday Next books.

I've got Fearful Symmetry sitting at home waiting for me: I'm hesitant to read it in my current "blah" state.

Working my way through Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe series and fearful of finally running out of titles.

I'm probably going to pick up Durham's Acacia today as it has a good buzz around it and is a common combined buy with Ossard on Amazon. Anyone read it?

Might also give Larsson's Girl with a Dragon Tattoo a go, though I'm far from usually a crime reader.

And the search continues for me to find other interesting books to use my staff discount on before Friday...

I am going through a really "blergh" time with reading right now - nothing has captured my attention for the last couple of months. I need good authors!

Could it be possible? The new Patrick Rothfuss seems to be out!

Dee, you might like the Naomi Novik books. Like Patrick O'Brien but with Dragons.

Hi fae,

I'm pretty confident in saying Rothfuss #2 is still in editorial. He's just sent of the second draft (as in about a week ago). It was suppose to be released this year, but the fact that he's still reviewing it means that's unlikely.

He is a perfectionist, a readers curse!

Mae: Read them, love them

I think that it might be time just for a short break from reading - I find every couple of years I need some time off to bring back the enjoyment... Mind you, it won't stop me from buying the new Anne Bishop as soon as it gets here!

That's a kid's book he did. Corey is right that the second draft of Wise Man's Fear was only just turned in.

Scott Lynch's next one is with the editors at least.

Finished Crack'd Pot Trail and didn't really like it all that much, had its moments.

Started the fourth Shadows of the apt, Salute The Dark, by Tchaikobsky and powering through that.

The new Robin Hobb is in the Kmart and BigW catalogues this week.

I'm reading the Crimson Petal and the White. So far, interesting. The style was a bit annoying at first - the author guiding the reader through the streets of London- but it settles after awhile. For anyone who hasn't read it, Wiki pedia has this to say:

I am working my way through the bookcases and am on book two of the " Serpent War Saga " Ray Feist at the moment, enjoying once again.

Yeah I heard from Infinitas people that the publishing date has been pushed back. Damn! Got so excited!

Fred- Re-reading some John Dies at the End. I always forget how crazy it gets right off bat.

Fred: I am just about to order that book! I hope it's good

Going on a bit of a reading hiatus. I'm picking one up now and then, but focusing on artwork for the moment...