Reading Amnesty post - the Romance edition

I actually started this post back in February but things (okay, my mental health) kind of went all over the place. Unemployment does not seem to be agreeing with me too well, and a lot of things are falling by the wayside because of it. With blogging, it's certainly not helped by the reading slumps and splurges meaning that I've either nothing to talk about or too much to talk about. Turns out neither is good for me.

I'm trying to get things back on an even keel so instead of feeling overwhelmed by the fact it's been so long since I posted, I'm saying screw it and declaring amnesty posts with what I've finished reading since the beginning of the year. There will be another post after this (hopefully next week) with the fantasy books. In the meantime, the romance or romance-ish books I've finished are:


Brotherhood in death by J D Robb.
This series is something of a comfort read for me, and I'll admit I'm more interested in the relationships than the cases at this point. For me this was one of the better books (although I really, really wish sexual violence, especially towards women, wasn't such a focus) with a couple of Eve and Peabody moments that I loved. By far the best though were the Eve and Mr Mira scenes, which I thought were all completely adorable and loved. I even outright grinned at a few of them which is rare for me these days.


A Duchess in Name by Amanda Weaver.
I raced through this book, liked it a lot, and loved both the main characters. (I will admit thought that the tropes (marriage of convenience, letter writing, discovering each other after marriage, competent women) were a bit like catnip that had my name all over them so that may have influenced things.) The only thing that held back my full love for the book was that there felt like there was too much of a time gap between some of the scenes, and I felt like I didn't really see the a lot of the changes in the characters. I definitely felt that lack, but overall, I can see why it was so well reviewed everywhere and I think it might go on my to reread pile at some point. 




I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm, A Good Rogue is Hard to Find, and You're the Earl That I Want by Kelly Bowen.
I devoured these in one weekend and I loved every moment I was reading them (the sort of love where I hated every time I was pulled away from them). I don't think any of the characters stood out as my favourite, but that was more because I loved them all rather than anything else. I think my absolute favourite part of the trilogy is the long running joke about chickens, and I laughed out loud at more than a few bits involving them. It's definitely a series that I'll be rereading and I will be reading more by Bowen. My only complaint is that I want Eleanor to have her own book (or novella, I would be happy with that) and a happy ending.


One Tempting Proposal by Christy Carlyle.
I was a bit meh about this one. Whilst I liked the book enough to finish it, I never really engaged with any of the characters and none of what I read stuck with me. It hasn't put me off Carlyle as an author but at the same time I won't be actively seeking her out again.

What I'm reading

It's been a long time since I've done one of these so I'm having a fresh start from the beginning of 2016. I'm also trying out links and cover images for the books so please let me know if the images are too small or you would prefer different links.

What I've read

I've not finished anything since the start of the year as I've been in a bit of a slump for the last few months. I'm coming out of what turned out to be a general life slump though so I'm hoping to finish something soon.

What I'm reading


I am in the middle of Susan Murray's The Waterborne Blade. Admittedly this did fall victim to the slump but it wasn't the book's fault at all as I had been enjoying the book immensely. I'm looking forward to getting back into it.





I've also started a reread of Aralorn by Patricia Briggs. I adored both books in the omnibus the first time I read them, and after I received my own copy for Christmas I couldn't resist a reread.


What I'm reading next

I've got quite a few books in my pile but The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley is due back at the library soon so I'll see how I get on with it. 

What I'm Reading

What I've read
Fire Study by Maria V Snyder. I finished my reread of this, and I enjoyed it just as much as the previous two. This time around I could see the set up for the Opal trilogy (which never really stuck on me for a variety of reasons), but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book at all as I still like Opal as a character.

Now I've finished rereading all three books, I can definitely say it’s been lovely to revisit them all and see the changes as the series progresses. I’ll definitely be rereading these again at some point in the future, and I've just discovered that there is going to be a fourth book out next year, which perked me up considerably when I found out.

Blood Games by Chloe Neill. I didn't quite like this so much as the previous books, mainly for the reason it read like two books badly whittled down to one. It felt like one story line too many which diminished all of them which was a shame as the all had a lot more potential. Saying that, I did enjoy curling up reading it as I suspected, but overall I ended up feeling frustrated that it could have been more. I will carry on reading this series because the characters and the world-building are still great but this definitely wasn't the best of the series.

Shattered by Kevin Hearne. This series has lost a lot of its initial appeal for me now, but I'm invested enough in some characters and interested in the endgame enough to carry on reading. That said, I did like this book a little more than the last one, (politics and investigations will do that to me) but it did feel rather disjointed as the POV's felt out of sync time wise. Overall, I thought it was an all right read, but not one that will stick with me or that I’ll reread.

Earth Flight by Janet Edwards. Some books you can anticipate so much that the actual book never lives up to your expectations. Earth Flight was not one of those books. I loved it every bit as much as the first two, and as well as being a great book on its own, it felt like a fantastic end to the trilogy. There was a lot packed into this book, and it wasn't as involved with the dig site course as the previous two, but neither felt like a drawback to me. In fact it felt necessary to wrap up the trilogy nicely, and I really liked the way certain things had been foreshadowed in the first two books. Basically I loved everything about this book, not limited to the character, world and political development.

I still want to read more about everyone and the worlds, but I read the last page and felt completely satisfied. That, and the fact I that have already reread it, sums up both the book and the whole trilogy for me really.

What I'm reading
A reread of Earth Flight is really the only thing I'm actively reading at the moment, partly because it’s been that sort of week, but mainly just because I loved it that much.

What I'm reading next
I would like to carry on with The Queen of the Tearling again as I'm still intrigued and feeling in the mood for high fantasy again, and Jaye Well’s Cursed Moon should be ready to pick up from the library in the next couple of days. Other than that I would like to make a dent in my TBR pile before term starts so possibly either Child of a Hidden Sea by AM Dellamonica or The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler.

Reading Friday

I heard back about my application for the Masters course. I got accepted!!! I’m over the moon about it, but I feel like I'm living in a bit of a whirlwind at the moment as I make some big changes to get ready for it.

Some things are constant though, so on to what I'm reading. 

What I finished reading
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. I was a bit disappointed with this. The pacing felt off in bits, and perhaps it was just because I was reading it on my phone, but the ending felt a touch anti-climactic. It makes sense thinking about it, as there doesn’t seem to be anyway Kate could fight Roland and win, but I’m left wondering if that will really be the end of the matter, and not in an anticipatory way given the authors have suggested this was to be the end of that arc. I’m finding the very end and the set up for the next book in the series a little hard to believe, but I will read the next one to see how it goes. That’s not to say there weren’t good points in the book, there were some scenes I absolutely loved and a lot of character background that I really enjoyed, which made the sense of disappointment more annoying.

Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards. I loved these just as much as first time round, possibly even more. I don’t really have anything else coherent to say about them, except that this won’t be my last reread of them.

Magic Study by Maria V Snyder. I spent an enjoyable wet Sunday afternoon curled up with this, and I really liked rereading it.

What I'm reading
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I’m about 90 pages in and so far I think it’s a decent debut, but I’m not really in the mood for high fantasy at the moment so it got pushed to the side a little.

Fire Study by Maria V Snyder. I’m about halfway through my reread, and I’m enjoying it as much as the previous books.

Earth Flight by Janet Edwards. Okay, I’ve only just got a hold of it, but I know what I’ll be doing tonight!

What I'll be reading next
Blood Games by Chloe Neill has just come in for me and that should be good for spending Saturday curled up with tea. Possibly The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter if I feel in a crime mood.

Reading what ever day of the week it is...

Between applying to go back to university, my wee sister passing all her highers, and my wee brother getting engaged, it's been a whirlwind of a week. A good one, but hectic all the same, and I'm finding it hard to believe it's Sunday night already so let's get on with the reading!

What I've finished reading
I ended up DNFing God's War by Kameron Hurley and Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke. Both were well written and full of interesting ideas. In the case of God’s War, it just wasn’t my cup of tea (I really should know by now that anything described as gritty or dark just isn’t for me.) As for Lascar’s Dagger, there was a lot of worldbuilding and character traits that I normally love, but I just couldn’t get into it. I think it was a case of good book, wrong time. I’ll definitely try one of Larke’s other books at some point.

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron. The day Aaron writes something that doesn’t completely hit all my buttons and make me grin in glee is the day hell freezes over. By which I mean I completely loved it, and I cannot wait for the next one. I love the worldbuilding in this but more than that, I love the main two characters to bits, and I could have read about them all day. Plus, the vast majority of supporting characters, good, bad and not entirely sure yet, feel well rounded and appropriately scary in places. Definitely one I’m going to reread, and I'm looking forward to the promised paper edition coming out.

The Hangman's Song and Dead Men's Bones by James Oswald. I raced through both of these this weekend, and I really enjoyed them. I like the mix of crime and supernatural, and the way there could be a rational explanation for all the events but there probably isn't. I like the way the threads and loose ends are running through the series now, and I'm loving the whole cast of characters, even Duguid. Long story short, I like Oswald's writing, he had me laughing a couple of times and these held my interest all the way through, unlike all the other crime novels I've tried recently.  I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the next in the series.

What I'm reading
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. I'm about a third of the way through it and enjoying it so far. I'm looking forward to reading the ending, but I can definitely agree with the reviews I've seen that the pacing is a little off. It's not enough to stop me reading, but I do think it has leeched some of the (admittedly rather large) enthusiasm I had for the book. 

What I'm reading next
Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen has just come in for me on short loan, and I've heard reports it's not bad so I'm eager to see for myself. I also plan on rereading Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards as Earth Flight comes out next week.

Reading Wednesday Thursday Friday.

If's been a while since I've done one of these but it's not been for a lack of reading!

What I've finished reading
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. I thought it managed to hold up the atmosphere and uneasiness factor the whole way through, and I was definitely intrigued by the biologist, though I was a little unsure about the Crawler scene. I'm not sure I'll reread this, but I'm glad I read it and I'll be reading the next book in the Trilogy, Authority, as I'm even more curious about Area X now.

The Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill. I spent about a fortnight reading these and they were exactly what I needed them to be: fast, enjoyable reads that distracted me. I was a little disappointed that I didn't love the rest of the books as much as I loved the first one, but not enough to stop me adoring certain characters or carry on reading. I will be reading new books in the series as they come out, but I think they will be library only books.

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder. I first read this years ago and though I hadn't really planned on rereading it, it crossed my desk at work and it really appealed to the mood I was in. I really enjoyed reading it again even if it did feel a little clunkier in some places than I remember. The main romance seemed a lot less sudden for me this time, but I think this is just that I have become better at reading subtext since then rather than I was expecting it. I plan on catching up with the other two in the trilogy sometime soon.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. As with the first one, my main reaction was ROBIN! and this time around I really appreciated Strike a lot more. I definitely agree with those who say the locations are a bit over described, but that didn't stop me enjoying it and after a while I stopped noticing as the book completely sucked me in. My overall reaction is the same as the first one as well; really enjoyed it, don’t particularly plan on rereading it, but I’m looking forward to the next one.

I DNF'd Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon. I finally admitted it just wasn't doing anything for me so off to the charity shop it goes.


What I'm reading
The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler. Well, I've only just started this but it is shaping up to be full of political intrigue and I've really liked what I've read so far.

Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan. It's hard to tell if its me or the book, but I've lost a lot of my initial enthusiasm for this. I did skim ahead though and it seems like I will like it later on so I'll carry on with this next week when I've had a chance to relax and get some enthusiasm back.

What' I'm reading next
I've got a pile of books I plan to read on my week off: Authority, The Martian by Andy Weir, The Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke, and Girls, Goddesses and Giants by Lari Don.

My words have gone awondering...

It's been a hard couple of weeks for me, both physically and mentally, and as a result my words seem to have dried up completely outside essential situations such as the day job.

I've finally managed to start taking baby steps again though, and one of those has been going over to the park across from us and talking to the dog as she has her after-dinner sniff about. It's light enough now that I can see where my feet are and close enough to home that it isn't too taxing for me. I can still really only go out on my days off, but baby steps are still steps and who can resist that cute face? 

What I've finished reading
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. I loved it, and was completely invested in all the characters. I did feel it lost a little momentum towards the end when it became one viewpoint, but that wasn't enough to put me off, and I found it a little easier to read (less brain required).  Looking forward to the next one.
  
Volume three of Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples.  Repeat what I said for the first two volumes. Absolutely loved it!!

Cross and Burn by Val McDermid. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, and not just because of my lowered expectations either. I do think this is a better book than The Retribution - it didn't feel like plotlines were competing for space on the page, and the character reactions felt a lot more natural this time around. I am quite looking forward to the next in the series now.

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs. I ended up with a physical copy and I couldn't help rereading it. I loved it just as much second time around

What I'm reading
I'm reading Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon. I am enjoying it, but I'm kind of blah on a lot of things at the moment so it's not getting the full attention it deserves.

Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach arrived for me yesterday. I've read the first couple of chapters already, but I think I am going to leave it to this coming long weekend so it doesn't suffer from the blah effect. Which is incredibly hard, but I know I will enjoy it more (especially as the blahs are starting to fade a little).

What I'm reading next
I want to get Trading in Danger finished, as well as picking up Knife Sworn by Marzarkis Williams again. I've also borrowed How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott in the hope it jump starts something.

What I'm reading

What I've finished reading
Masques and Wolfsbane (the Aralorn duology) by Patricia Briggs. It was noticeable in Masques that it was Briggs' first book, but I have to say I love the characters and both books anyway. I'll be adding copies to my to buy list as I'll definitely be rereading them again. (And that takes me to the last of Briggs' back catalogue that I can easily get my hands on. :( )

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts. It felt rather contrived and convenient in a lot of places, but I liked it enough to keep reading anyway. It was ideal for curling up when with a cup of tea and the rain pounding on the window.
  
Volumes one and two of Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples. I don't really have anything other to say than I absolutely loved it, and I laughed out loud and nearly cried at several points. I'm waiting not so patiently for volume 3! Definitely another one for the reread pile.

What I'm reading
After a bit of a break (my boss requested the copy I was reading), I'm back to Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, and I'm still enjoying it. It seems to be coming together nicely now, and I'm getting thoroughly intrigued.

What I'm reading next
I know I've said this before, but I really want to get Cross and Burn read this time.

I've not read quite as much this time, mainly because I've been busy focusing on painting this:

It's been years since I painted and I'm really, really pleased at how it turned out. It's recognisably a peony rose bud! I'm not sure my paintbrushes will be something I'll be picking up regularly again though, but I enjoyed stretching my muscles and having a go as well as the end result.

What I'm reading

What I've finished reading: (aka why I've been awfully quiet lately)

Honour's Knight by Rachel Bach. Like the first, this hit all my favourite spots, though possibly even more so. Badass mercenary who keeps on going when she's frightened or incredibly angry? Descriptions that have me on the edge of my seat (quarry scenes is all I'm going to say). Romance with proper problems but they actually talk to each other? Space politics and scary odds? Sold! Plus the fight scenes are fantastic. I'm not one for them normally but Bach writes them brilliantly, and I love Devi's armour. In short, I'm once again waiting impatiently for the next one.

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. (Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed, Silver Borne, River Marked, Frost Burned and Night Broken.) I am rather fussy about the urban fantasy that I read, even more so about those involving werewolves, but when I fall for a series I fall hard. This series is a perfect example. I raced through the books, loving every second and annoyed when I had to put them down to do something else. I love the whole world buildings, all the characters and Brigg's writing. Can't wait for there to be more in the series!

I also read Fair Game by Patricia Briggs. I was going to wait and read that series in order as well, but Fair Game came in first and I couldn't resist. Supernatural crime with a bit of established romantic angst (but not too much) and awesome women - three of my favourite things in one book. Of course I loved it and I'm waiting not so patiently for the first two books.

What I'm reading:

I'm about a quarter of the way through Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie now, and I can see why everyone was talking about it so much. I am liking it a lot, but I'm finding I have to have enough brain space to settle into reading it. It's more a statement on my brain at the moment than the book though. I'mm looking forward to finishing it.

What I'm reading next:

The other two books in the Alpha and Omega series once I get them, and I have the Aralorn ombinus by Briggs lined up as well.

What I'm reading

What did you recently finish reading?
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach. I don't really think I can be objective about this book as it hit every one of my favourite spots and hit them extremely well. I will say that it was worth the wait, and I agree with everyone else who says they love it. Roll on the next book!

Django Wexler’s The Thousand Names. I'm glad I carried on reading because I rather enjoyed the ending. There was enough in the book that I liked (both character wise and world building wise) that carrying on didn't feel like a chore despite the military heavy bits not being quite my cup of tea. I certainly liked it enough  to read the next one when it comes out, and I'm quite looking forward to it actually.

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells. Another one I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it much more than Well's last series, and I seriously love the worldbuilding that is going on in this series. I like most of the characters too, even the ones I don't like I don't mind reading about which is rare for me, and I'm quite eager to read the next one. 

Concealed in Death by JD Robb. The story wasn't the greatest, but I loved, loved, loved the character interactions in this book. Perfect for curling up with on a winter's day. 

What are you currently reading?
I've just started both Cross and Burn by Val McDermid and Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie but I'm not really far enough in in either to have formed a solid opinion yet.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Your Camera Loves you by Khara Plicanic. Well starting it at least as I suspect I'll be dipping in and out of it for a while. 

What I'm reading

What did you recently finish reading?
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I whizzed through the rest of the book and loved it just as much as the first part. I love Lawson's writing, and her ability to make the truly heartbreaking readable without descending into outright misery. That said, I'm pretty sure I welled up at a few bits, but I would definitely reread it again at some point.

Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards. I first heard of these through fantasybookcafe, and I'm so glad I did. Once I got through the first page or two (I'm not a huge fan of the character talking to you), I absolutely loved both of them. Gloss over any imperfections, don't want to stop reading to eat my dinner, and making me utterly gleeful kind of absolutely loving. I'll definitely be getting my own copies to reread, and what do you mean I have to wait to August for the next one??

What are you currently reading?
Despite bringing it home to try and settle into it, I haven't picked up Knife Sworn by Mazarkis Williams in a wee while. I've simply not been in the mood for it.

I've started dipping into Django Wexler’s The Thousand Names again and I'm enjoying it, but not with the same urgency that I've read others with lately. I still plan on finishing it though.

What do you think you’ll read next?
Val McDermid's Cross and Burn arrived for me on short loan so definitely that. I might rummage around my TBR pile and see what else I feel like during my days off.

What I'm reading

I love going to knitting group on Wednesdays, but it does seem to make the day seem very short!

What did you recently finish reading?
The Emperor’s Knife by Mazarkis Williams. I loved reading it. It felt beautifully lyrical, sucked me completely in and made me eager to read the next one.It wasn’t perfect but the characters and the descriptions were enough to carry me through, though I suspect it’s one of those books you either love or hate.

I DNF’d Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. I got to the stage where it was annoying me too much.I can see what everyone means by it needs a good edit - very tiny bit characters were given overblown descriptions, then a whole fight scene was given the same size of description. I could skim over that for a while, but then I got to the start of the Italian section where random Italian words were thrown in willy-nilly and it started to annoy me intensely. I flicked to the end to see if it was worth carrying on and I skimmed through the interesting bits. I liked a lot of the character interaction between Havers and Lynley but that wasn’t enough to overcome my annoyance with the book, and I thought life was too short to make myself finish it properly.

What are you currently reading?
Knife Sworn by Mazarkis Williams. It’s got the same feel to it as the first book, but I think it might be a case of too much, too quickly as it’s annoying me a little here. That might be because I’m reading it in short chunks during my breaks ,and I couldn’t really settle into it, so I’m taking it home with me to curl up with it and see if it’s me or the book. 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I’m finding this really funny, but only in small doses so it’s an ideal break time read. That said, I only picked it up yesterday and although I’m only reading a chapter or so at a time, I seem to pick it up every time I pass it, and I’m more than halfway through. Always a good sign.

What do you think you’ll read next?
I would really like to get the Wexler’s The Thousand Names finished (finally!)

What I'm reading

I found these posts definitely helped me keep track of the books I read last year, so I'm going to do the same again, although this year they are going to be fortnightly instead of weekly.

Just a reminder, these posts aren't really reviews, just some quick thoughts on the books I'm reading.

What are you currently reading?

The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams. I am enjoying this so much that the only reason I haven't already finished it is because of a combination of sinus headache and tonsillitis.

The Magic of Shetland Lace knitting by Elizabeth Lovick. I'm more dipping in and out of this book, but it is absolutely lovely. I'm going to talk about it more later so I'll leave it at that just now.

Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. It's definitely an improvement on her last few books, and I'm finding it does have some of her old ability to suck you back in. When I'm reading it I don't want to put it down, but that same compunction isn't there in the gap between me putting it down and picking it back up again. I think I'm actually going to finish this one though.

What did you recently finish reading?

Just before the close of 2013, I finished Chosen by Benedict Jacka. It's the fourth in the series, and I don't really think it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it enough, but I wouldn't have read it had I not read the rest of the series. It was nice to catch up with the characters and see some background, as well as the set up for the next book. I think I will be reading the next one, but I won't be rushing out to get it.

The latest The Broons. My traditional New Year read, and I loved it as always.

What do you think you’ll read next?

If I get Emperor's Knife finished, I'll be finding the next in the trilogy pretty sharpish!

Three things

My health has been not the best this last wee while, but wee things have made life a lot better.

1. I have actually achieved some reading. I finished Elizabeth May's The Falconer, and I enjoyed it. It's a nice light YA fantasy set in Edinburgh, and I'll be looking out for the sequel when it appears.

2. I knitted a chewing gum cosy. Seriously.

This is amusing me much more than it should, but doesn't that just bring a smile to your face?

3. Gingerbread syrup. Okay, I haven't actually made this yet, but I have everything together, and I have free time on Saturday. This stuff is completely yummy in coffee, and I'm looking forward to it a ridiculous amount.

What I'm reading 16/11/13

A short one this week as the last couple of weeks have been hectic with birthdays, vet and hospital visits (everyone is fine but stress levels are still high), and a job interview (I think it went okay, I was certainly less nervous than the last one). Oh and being sucked down the rabbit hole of watching Arrow. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed something so much, and I can't wait to see the second season.

What are you currently reading?

I'm not sure if it still counts given I haven't really gone much further, but I'm still in the middle of The Thousand Names. I've started The Falconer by Elizabeth May, and it's a quick enjoyable read so far. I've also started a reread of Broken Blade by Kelly McCullough, and I'm enjoying it as much second time around.

What did you recently finish reading?

I went ahead and DNF'd Jeffery Deaver's XO. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The new Lynley book, Just One Evil Act, has just come in for me at the library, and a skim test makes me think I might actually finish this one.

What I'm reading (the two month edition)

I didn't mean to take such a long break from posting, but my health took an unexpected turn and started kicking my backside. I'm definitely on the mend now though, and I have quite a few posts lined up to share. First though, it's time to catch up with what I've been reading. 


What are you currently reading?

I'm still in the middle of The Thousand Names by Django Wexler which continues to be more enjoyable than I thought I would find it given that is it mainly military based fantasy at the moment. The description of a fantasy version of Sharpe seems very accurate, but Wexler writes well enough and has created characters that keep me wanting to read on despite that. (Nothing wrong with Sharpe, it just isn't usually my cup of tea.)

Technically I'm still in the middle of Jeffery Deaver's XO but I've stalled. It's rather mehish and I've no real desire to go back. I suspect this might be a DNF.

What did you recently finish reading?

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs. It was the reading equivalent of comfy old slippers. Not brilliant and much the same feel as her previous ones but enjoyable and good to curl up to. Then there was Bones Are Forever which was much the same, except for one bit where I want to shake one of the characters or throw the book across the room. Ryan really should have known better (especially with what is revealed later on), and I can't quite believe Reichs did that. I'm not too sure if I'll read the latest one yet.

Oor Wullie. It made me giggle, and again like comfy old slippers, but ones that were my favourite to start with for a reason.

Thankless in Death - J.D. Robb. I really enjoyed the character interactions in this one, which is pretty much the only reason I'm keeping reading this series. It was great to curl up with on a wet afternoon when I was stuffed with the cold. 
   
Uncommon Criminals, Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story, Perfect Scoundrels - Ally Carter. Reasonably light-hearted teenage thief shenanigans? All over it. I have such a soft spot for this series, even if it does require a bit of suspension of disbelief at times. I finished the last one disappointed there wasn't more which is a big change from most of the books I've read recently.
       
Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts. It could have been any one of her recent standalones, but it was a all right enough read especially as I was in the mood to know exactly what to expect. 
       
Magic Rises - Ilona Andrews. I really enjoyed it. I raced through reading it, and I can't wait to read the next one.

Red-Headed Stepchild, The Mage in Black - Jaye Wells. Red-headed Stepchild read like a first book, a little info dumpy and clunky in places, but I liked it enough to carry on reading. The second in the series read a little better, but I was quickly growing tired of the just about all the characters. I flicked through the other books in the series and that convinced me I really didn't want to carry on reading. I can see why they would appeal to people, but I just didn't like them enough to read any more.

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson. I absolutely loved it! Definitely going on my to buy pile.

The Thief's Gamble, The Swordsman's Oath, The Gambler's Fortune, The Warrior's Bond and The Assassin's Edge by Juliet E McKenna. I'm absolutely head over heels for this series. It was a reread for me, but it's been such a while since I originally read them that I didn't care at all. I sort of resented the fact I had to put the books down to go to work or do other necessary things, and I savoured every word.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Not sure really. I just want to get The Thousand Names finished, but I suspect I will be buying and reading A Few Further Tales of Einarinn by McKenna as well.

What I'm reading 3/8/13

Last week was rather hectic so I ended up smooshing two posts into one.

What are you currently reading?

I'm in the middle of Kathy Reich's which is a fast, comfy read perfect for break times. I'm enjoying it, but there is a reason it's languished in the TBR pile for nearly 2 years (I like the characters enough, I'm just a little bored of the 'read one read them all feeling' that I've started to get during the last couple of books.)

What did you recently finish reading?

Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold. I loved it - it's exactly my sort of scifi, and it wasn't so Miles-centric that it dragged for me. (I like Miles, I just like other characters more.)

Book of Souls by James Oswald. I wasn't as charmed by this one as his first one, mainly I think because I had been looking forward to it whereas the first in the series caught me by surprise. There were a few moments where it seemed a little repetitive, and I think the main plot would have worked better a book or two further into the series, but the characters were all just as engaging and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (and not just because of the hanging thread at the end of the book!).

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch. I raced through it and loved it. There were bits that made me laugh out loud, a tall order given the way I was feeling, and though I knew there was a twist coming, I was still shocked as hell by it. I can't wait for the next one!

The Thirteenth Sacrifice by Debbie Viguie. I thought it was a quick, enjoyable read and liked it enough to go looking for the next book in the trilogy. The second book, The Last Grave, got a bit weird for my liking and I ending up just skimming. After reading the preview chapter of the last book I don't think I'm too bothered about reading it. I'm actually quite disappointed since it seemed intriguing to start with, but I'm honestly not engaged enough to care about which way the story goes.

I started but didn't finish London Falling by Paul Cornell and The Corpse-Rat King by Lee Battersby. Both were nicely written but boiled down to not my cup of tea so there was no point forcing myself to keep reading.

I read the preview for the next Inspector Lynley book up on Elizabeth George's website. Aside from how badly it was formatted, I don't think I've ever gotten whiplash from reading something so short before. It reinforced the fact I am actually going to read the next book, but also the fact that I really should stay away from it as well because clearly it is not good for me (how can you keep on writing about a character you so obviously hate??)

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler came in on short loan for me so that, and possibly Kathy Reich's Bones are Forever. Oh and last year's Oor Wullie annual as I realised I never did get around to it, shock horror.

What I'm reading 17/7/13

What are you currently reading?

I'm a few pages further along in Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold (and still enjoying it), and I've just started flicking through Managing Ehler Danlos (type 3) Hypermobility Syndrome by Isobel Knight. It's rather more in depth than her last book, though still very readable, and I suspect I will be dipping in and out of it for a while.

What did you recently finish reading?

It's been a mainly disappointing week for books.

I ended up DNF'ing The Aylesford Skull by James P Blaylock. It was all right enough to dip in and out of as a break time read, but I tried to read it for more than ten minutes at a time, and I found I just didn't care. I liked some of the characters, just not enough to finish the book.

Hunted by Kevin Hearne. It was all right I suppose. It wasn't bad, but I found myself skimming passages, and I really only carried on reading because I'm reasonably invested with the characters at this point. I'll read the next book because I want to see where it goes from here, but this book felt like it was just filler

What do you think you’ll read next?

Book of Souls by James Oswald has just come in for me, and I can't wait to read it.

What I'm reading 12/7/13

Hello again! It's seems like forever since I've managed to blog, but then I remember it's because I was busy surviving and recovering from a holiday with my siblings. It actually wasn't as bad as I feared, and I actually enjoyed myself (although it was hard to tell what was scarier: the rides or my siblings arguing over who got to push me!). I'm starting to get back into the swing of things so expect more updates soon. 

What are you currently reading?

At the minute, I'm only in the middle of The Aylesford Skull by James P Blaylock. I am dipping in and out of it as my breaktime read, but I'm not too sure about it. I'm intrigued enough to keep reading but I'm not exactly excited by it.

What did you recently finish reading?

I DNF'd Val McDermid's Place of Execution after I finally admitted I had lost all interest in it. I'm not sure why exactly, especially after the first part sucked me in so well, but I was just past the halfway point and the thought of reading the rest was just plain tiring.

Laidlaw by William McIlvanney. This one felt a little odd to me. I mean, I can see why it is such a recommended book, and how it set off the Scottish crime writing scene, and I did enjoy it, but I have no desire to either reread it or go on and read the other two in the series. I think it was the amount of different POV's that did it - I couldn't really latch onto anyone long enough to properly care about reading more. I'm glad I read it though.

Blade Reforged by Kelly McCullough. It was definitely worth the wait to read this one. I love the slow unveiling of the worldbuilding that keeps taking place, and the development of all the main characters is still fantastic. I said when I first started it that it was like rolling yourself up in your favourite quilt, and that feeling lasted through the whole book. There are throwbacks to previous books, some interesting new characters are introduced and things get a little political as well (always one of my favourite aspects). The whole book is littered with fantastic little details that make the world seem alive, and it feels like coming full circle from the first book. At the same time, new questions and plot threads are introduced so it feels like . The only criticism I would have was the absence of Faran felt a little odd, and perhaps a little forced, but that was my only quibble in what is an otherwise great book.

According to McCullough's website, there are going to be at least two more in the series, but it's going to be at December 2014 before the next one. I'm extremely pleased there is going to be more, but I can wait. The end of this one feels like a natural stopping point in the series, and whilst I'm still very eager for more, it's not quite as urgent as it was at the end of the last one. In the meanwhile, I'll definitely be rereading the series so far.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I'd really like to finish Bujold's Komarr as it sort of fell by the wayside, and Kevin Hearne's Hunted just came in at the library for me.

What I'm reading 26/6/13

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, between my wee brother graduating uni, getting reading for holidays and various other bits and bobs. It certainly doesn't feel like a fortnight since I did the last reading Wednesday.

What are you currently reading?

I'm two thirds of the way through Laidlaw by William McIlvanney, and enjoying it so far. I've just started Blade Reforged by Kelly McCullough, and it's like rolling yourself up in your favourite quilt by which I mean I love it, and I had to hold myself back from reading it when it arrived this morning as there was this pesky thing called work I had to go to.

What did you recently finish reading?

Last week there was only a quick reread of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold due to brain-space issues, and I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time.

This week, I raced through Natural Causes by James Oswald. It was another one of these hyped books that I thought lived up to the hype. It was incredibly easy to read, one of those books that you almost just sink into and look up later to find hours have gone by and you've read most of the book without being aware of time. There were a couple of moments where I laughed out loud, and I enjoyed both the characters and the plot. llI'll definitely be reading the next one when it's out in a week or two.

I also read The Mad Duke's Bride by Loretta Chase after seeing it recommended on Dear Author. I greatly enjoyed it, though I wish it would have been longer - it's a novella, and I do think it works at that length, but I quite adored the main characters and would have liked to have seen a little more past where it ended. I think I'll give Chase another go when I come across another one of her books. 

What do you think you’ll read next?

I really need to finish Laidlaw ASAP. After that I'm on holiday next week so I think it's going to be finishing Blade Reforged, and rereads of The Thief's Gamble by Juliet E McKenna and The Barbed Coil by J V Jones while I'm away and trying not to kill either my brother or sister.