Reading List Update: #58-61

[jedibuttercup]

Four more books since I last posted, August 26.

I was hoping a reread of Deathly Hallows would be among them-- since "Back Again, Harry?" won the finishathon-- but alas, Dad borrowed it. So: two fantasies, a thriller, and a vampire novel.

58. The Wizard Lord by Lawrence Watt-Evans. Paperback, 358pp. 1st of the Annals of the Chosen. The typical peasant boy becomes a hero plot, done in a nontypical way; there's no grand Destiny here, just a boy with a bit of talent who makes a choice. And must thereafter continue choosing to do the right thing, even when it's not terribly obvious what that might be. The rest of the "heroic party" are very human as well, the world is reasonably unique and decently drawn, and while the story concludes properly there's plenty of fertile ground for future stories. Which I'll definitely read.

59. The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Hardcover, 385pp. Frankly, I was a little disappointed in this one. It was very well written, of course-- everything they collaborate on is-- but I'm getting sick of Pendergast. My favorite novels of theirs were Riptide and Thunderhead, published back before they got obsessed with their recurring Sherlock of an FBI agent with his privileged background and inhuman intelligence and/or experience regarding every subject. There's also the way the authors flirt with the supernatural-- cursed paintings, tulpas, and prophecies in this one alone-- and then try to claim that there's a scientific explanation for all of it, really there is. Gak.

60. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Paperback, 292pp. 1st of the Southern Vampire novels. Frankly? I could take or leave this one. The Southern culture bits were appreciated, I was highly amused about Bubba, I wondered if the nice Dean that Sookie met in a bookstore could make for crossover fodder, and I thought Sookie's general description resembled a nonSlayer Buffy who'd always had that "aspect of the demon" thing. But it wasn't gripping, and it really did make me think of "Anita Blake lite", so I won't be running out to pick up the next one.

61. D'Shai by Joel Rosenberg. Paperback, 327pp. 1st of the D'Shai series. Reread. The official description of this one is: a lightly humorous mystery set in an Asian-influenced fantasy world with very strict cultural standards and etiquette. It's-- unique. The hero was born into the acrobat caste, but has none of the in-born magical talent for that career; mysteries and tragedies happen during a visit to a noble seat, and he discovers his actual magical talent (that of a detective) along the way. I have a weakness for mysteries, and this one engaged the imagination; I liked it a lot.

Next up: Hour of the Octopus, by Joel Rosenberg. 2nd of the D'Shai series. I hadn't actually known this was a series until I spotted this book at the used book store, and am looking forward to further acquaintance with this world.
~

Comments

[kerravonsen]

Hmm, the D'Shai series sounds interesting.

You've confirmed my suspicions about the "Southern Vampire" series -- it didn't look at all appealing to me.

[catherinecookmn.livejournal.com]

RE: Anita Blake -- L. K. Hamilton's stuff used to be a compelling read, but then she got to be Too Big To Be Edited. I'd stick to the fanficktion by people such as mhalachaiswords. (Mhal does an incredible HP/AB crossover that actually makes sense and has the characters acting in character -- sometimes so much so, you wonder why they haven't killed each other yet from the infighting!)