Friday Reads November 16, 2018

Hello! Another crazy week is coming to a close and I managed to finish Ash Princess and The Name of the Wind this week bringing my yearly reading total to 98 books! While I expected to be growing sick of fantasy after reading seven in a row but that is not the case and my obsession is continuing on into this weekend.

Below you can check out the fantasy book I plan on reading this weekend, a book I might get to, and
another that I'm seriously considering picking up at the bookstore soon.

As far as upcoming posts, I was able to finish my expanded review covering my opinions on the romances present in Throne of Glass. You can check that out here. I am also going to be posting my Goodreads notes with an expanded explanation this weekend and finishing up my mini essay covering how much this series has grown over seven books.

Upcoming videos over on my channel include my reading vlog from last week going up on Sunday and then my Tuesday video may be a book Bachelor video inspired by A Dash of Ash's video which you can watch here.

Happy reading!

Title: Malice
Author: John Gwynne
Page Count: 628
Progress: 131
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: Giants, Greed, Murder
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A black sun is rising …

Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.

High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.

My thoughts so far:

This is not for the casual fantasy reader. This is for the dedicated fantasy reader looking for the classic medieval European inspired high fantasy novel with multiple perspectives and names so similar you won't know who you're reading about. I love the genre so I am used to pushing through the first hundred pages of confusion before settling into what is proving to be a good tale, but I could see someone unfamiliar with the genre being pushed away by its features.

Title: Blood Song
Author: Anthony Ryan
Page Count: 591
Progress: 8
Format Read: Kindle
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: Epic, Reputation, Rage
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm.”

Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order.

Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the unified realm. Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright and dropped at the doorstep of the Sixth Order like a foundling knows no bounds. He cherishes the memory of his mother, and what he will come to learn of her at the Order will confound him. His father, too, has motives that Vaelin will come to understand. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the realm, but the world.

My thoughts so far:

First couple of pages have been good so far. Definitely felt more readable than Malice did at the start.

Title: The Winter Road
Author: Adrian Selby
Page Count: 496
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: War, Mercenaries, Travel
Kid Appropriate: Teens and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A gritty and epic adventure to appeal to fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski and Joe Abercrombie – The Winter Road is a fantasy novel which remembers that battles leave all kinds of scars.

The greatest empire of them all began with a road.

The Circle – a thousand miles of perilous forests and warring clans. No one has ever tamed such treacherous territory before, but ex-soldier Teyr Amondsen, veteran of a hundred battles, is determined to try.

With a merchant caravan protected by a crew of skilled mercenaries, Amondsen embarks on a dangerous mission to forge a road across the untamed wilderness that was once her home. But a warlord rises in the wilds of the Circle, uniting its clans and terrorising its people. Teyr’s battles may not be over yet . . .

All roads lead back to war.