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I finished Physik, so now I'm onto Queste. I will finish the series at another time; I'm just not into them right now.

I just finished Wool Omnibus for the Sword and Laser Book Club.

I get this month's picks from the library yesterday, so I just started Poison Princess.

Just finished: Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Just started: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Keith wrote: "Just finished: Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire and enjoyed it thoroughly.


Is it anything like her October Daye books?

xenu01 wrote: "Keith wrote: "Just finished: Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire and enjoyed it thoroughly.


Is it anything like her October Daye books?"

I've not read any of the October Daye books yet (they're on the list), but I would guess probably. I hate that all urban fantasy writers are cursed with being compared to Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Dresden Files, but...well...sometimes the lazy comparison works well.

I liked Discount Armageddon for a number of reasons, chief among them the New York setting (because I live there), the wit, and the fact that an intolerant monster hunter grows and questions his beliefs in a realistic way (as someone who holds LGBT rights very close to his heart, it was particularly effective). It was a light and fun read, and it has urban fantasy grit without going all "grimdark."

I just finished The Orchid Affair and am just about to start The Summer Prince.

I've been on a total reading spree this month. Finished the VF & Sword and Laser picks pretty quickly and have now moved on to Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey, the sequel to Leviathan Wakes. Next up will be N.K. Jemisin's The Killing Moon.

Poison Princess done! That was a slog for me. I didn't get into it until close to the end.

Now, onto Shadow's Claim.

Finished Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook a couple days ago and loved it!!!! So much better (to me) than The Iron Duke. The copy I read also included the novella Tethered, which was a nice steamy little follow up to Heart of Steel. As soon as I finish this month's picks I have the 3rd book, Riveted waiting for me - Iceland! trolls! Mysterious men with mechanical eyes!

I just finished Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn which is the first book in her Chintz n' China series. I thought it was Eh, even with all the rave reviews I've had on the series from friends who have read them. I don't think I will actively search out the rest of the books in the series, but I wouldn't be adverse to reading them if i do stumble across them.

It was definitely different from her Otherworld books!

I'm stepping back in time and reading some X-files tie in fiction I got off of bookmooch this past winter.

I just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It was an interesting read - sloggy in the beginning and too dripping with pop culture references for my taste but picked up in the middle and end. It seemed at times that the author relied too heavily on pop culture (which was, to be fair, the main plot point) in place of actual story and writing skill. Still, the resolution was satisfactory and the characters eventually had enough depth to make one care whether or not the main goal is achieved. Worth picking up.

I just finished American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. It was my first Gaiman novel, and I thought it was awesome!

Now I'm starting The Fifth Sacred Thing, by Starhawk. It's a post-apocalyptic fantasy with witches and magic and awesomeness. They're making a movie out of it, apparently.

Just finished reading Dark Light and The Dark Prince straight though...Loved every word.

In May I read Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison, the 17th Stephanie Plum book Smokin' Seventeen, Fool Moon (the 2nd Dresden Files book), Dead Ever After (the final Sookie Stackhouse book), Life Itself by Roger Ebert, and the two VagFan books for this month.

Lord's Fall wasn't all that great, and the Sookie book is also just somewhat alright. It was nice to finally wrap up that series, though. I really enjoyed Ebert's book, and so far I'm loving the Dresden Files. I love that James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) is the narrator for the audiobooks for this series! I am still enjoying the Stephanie Plum books as well, they never fail to make me laugh out loud!

I just started Wool Omnibus, and so far it's really interesting.

Julie wrote: " and so far I'm loving the Dresden Files. I love that James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) is the narrator for the audiobooks for this series!"


He doesn't read all of the books, John Glover reads book 13. But he does a great job as well.

Now I've finally got some time off I've been re-reading the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs on my kindle.
I just love being able to come back to this very well fleshed out world that has compelling characters and it standing up just as well on the second read through.
Highly recommend the series if you're looking for a strong female lead who doesn't compromise herself in the romantic side of the story.

I just finished reading Jaye Wells' Sabina Kane series and it was just fanTAStic!

I've got the first two of Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series waiting for me, but I'm trying (and doing pretty well, I might add) to wait until I've got the rest of the series to read them.

I "just" finished reading or rather this is my reading list since I last posted here in January.

Wool Omnibus I really enjoyed it and Shift Omnibus Edition is waiting on my e-reader.

Mark of the Demon I thought it was great and plan on reading the rest of the series.

Poison Princess I liked it but I'm not waiting for the sequel to come out.

The Silver Linings Playbook This book surprised me and I really enjoyed it. Haven't seen the movie but picked up the book because of it.

Song of Scarabaeus I liked it but not planning on reading the next book.

Consider Phlebas It was an interesting book and I really liked it.

Into the Looking Glass The beginning was promising but overall it was just ok.

Ghost Planet This book had so much potential and the concept was great but the writing was lazy and sloppy. Still I liked it and not because of the main characters.

The Forever War What a brilliant book. As I kept reading I just loved it more and more.

Amaryllis I really enjoyed this book. Fast fun read.

Divergent I really liked this book. Will read the rest when/if I can get through my TR list.

Monster Hunter International I really liked this book. Want to read the rest of the series.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone This one was just ok, to much left unexplained.

Kushiel's Avatar and Kushiel's Chosen One of my favorite series, I love these books.

Naked in Death, Glory in Death and Immortal in Death I liked the books but not so much I need to read the rest.

Touched by an Alien I really liked it and want to read the rest.

I'm on the last pages of The Fire Lord's Lover and I really like it. Lord of the Fading Lands is next.

Note to self: Post more frequently in this thread so as not to create such a long list and it is a "just finished" thread.

Just finished reading Gone Girl - it was one of those books where I immediately had to read an old favorite light and happy book after it to clear out the creepiness. Creepy! But still gave it 4 stars for keeping me guessing what would happen next.

Now onto the 2 VF books for June :)

Just finished one that would definitely be a good pick for a fantasy romance month - Wildest Dreams by Kirsten Ashley. On the longer side, and maybe could use a stronger editing hand, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Basically, there is a more medieval world parallel to ours, where everyone has a twin. The heroine trades places with her alt-world twin (who happens to be a princess) minutes before her wedding to the Viking/highwayman type hero and misunderstanding, adventure and sexytimes ensue.

I also just read Caressed By Ice #3 in the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh. Sped through this one and really liked the main pairing. You learned more about how the changeling packs and the Psy council operated, and the characters from previous books continue through this one. More of a guilty pleasure series, and the covers make me very glad I have a Kindle.

Just finished Written in Red by Anne Bishop. Wow I loved it. Totally different world than the dark erotic world of her Black Jewels series, but equally enthralling.

Just read a bunch of Ilona Andrews including all the Kate Daniels books and a couple of Edge books. Love her characters and the fact that tension is not driven by stupid misunderstandings much. Unfortunately too much fade to black, but otherwise quite enjoyable!

Just finished two of Nalini Singh's Angel series. I've read one or two of her Psy-Changeling series, and I actually liked this one a lot better.

I've also been working my way through the "In Death" series, which I feel has gotten better as it's gone along. I also tried the Stephanie Plum series, but I found the first male love interest too annyoing. I understand that in romances men are supposed to be dominant, but why do they have to show their dominance by insulting the heroine? I don't get that.

Right now I'm reading Wolf Hall, which is incredible. I've been waiting for it to be returned to the library and it's been well worth the wait.

Anna wrote: "Just read a bunch of Ilona Andrews including all the Kate Daniels books and a couple of Edge books. Love her characters and the fact that tension is not driven by stupid misunderstandings much."

I love the Kate Daniel books! Magic Rises is coming out at the end of next month- so excited.

Reading Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett. A wizard who works as a bartender in a tiki bar that caters to demons? My kinda high concept.

I just finished The Other Typist. Dying for everyone to read it so we can talk about it!

xenu01 wrote: "I just finished The Other Typist. Dying for everyone to read it so we can talk about it!"

That's on my to read list but I'm starting Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

I just finished Cherry Adair's Undertow. I really liked it and it's like she has the ability to do the perfect combination of hot romance packed into a mystery.

I plan to start reading Beauty by Sophie Oaks next.

I finished the main and alt pick for June and found them entertaining.

I also just finished Summer Knight , Working Stiff , Master of Crows and Feed. I liked them all.

Right now I'm reading A Brush of Darkness.

I seem to be in the mood for some kind of dystopia and zombie books right now. It would be great if anyone could recommend any good ones.

Just finished read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I'm reading The Sea of Monsters next!

Just discovered Debora Geary and read through her witch central series and have just moved onto her witchlight series. Can't praise them highly enough, read most of the first series in a week.

This month I read Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1), the S&L pick of Among Others, the two VagFan books for this month, Foodist: Using Real Food and Real Science to Lose Weight Without Dieting, Heart of Obsidian (#12 in the Psy-Changeling series), Deeply Odd, Dark Lover, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, and Redshirts. It was a very reading-heavy month for me!

I thoroughly enjoyed most of these picks, and I found Quiet to be one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommend it. Wool was really well written and a good story. Among Others was terrible (just really boring IMO). Foodist was very interesting and I was a fan of Darya's blog so I wanted to see how her book was. Heart of Obsidian and Dark Lover were both excellent romance books. Deeply Odd is part of Koontz's Odd Thomas series and it was fantastic as well. I just finished Redshirts tonight and absolutely loved it. I am sort of surprised by how many books turned out to be great reads for me this month! The only books I really disliked were the VagFan picks and Among Others!

I just finished Prodigy and The Scorch Trials. I'm currently enjoying Siege and Storm by Leigh Barduco while listening to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein. Both are really great so far!

I am reading by Julia Crane next.

Currently enjoying and

I started reading as it was on the Vaginal Fantasy reading list, and since then I have read the entire series. And I must say I was quite surprised. Possibly the best Fantasy Romance Series I've read thus far. The plot and story are really well done. And I found myself wanting to read them not only for the Romance, but also, if not more so, for the actual story!

I really liked the characters, and some parts were extremely funny or chuckle-worthy. And I'd definitely recommend the Dragon Kin Series to anyone [who enjoys the Romance Genre].


So now I'm reading, , of the Pride Series by the same Author, although under a [different] pen-name. And I'm liking it so far, but it's no where near as good as the Dragon Kin novels were. The writing style is different, though that can be because of the Modern setting as opposed to a Fantasy one, and they are "Steamier." Less about story and more about, well, you know.. Sex. :P

But then again, in a Modern setting, there really isn't much aside from relationships and the drama that ensues from them, is there?

Just finished Definitely Dead from the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I enjoyed it very much. I actually like the book series more than the TV show (though I discovered the series through True Blood). Looking forward to get the next book !

I am now reading Among Others as the Sword & Laser pick from last month (I am so behind in my book club picks ...). I am curious about it, given the very different opinion I read about this book.

Just finished A Stolen Heart. I love how Candace writes her characters which makes the same old romance tension sometimes easier to bare.

I'm finishing up The Lord of Illusion and then I will move on to Kill the Dead.

Being new to the group I'm also still catching up so I need to get to the library to borrow Kushiel's Dart.

Just finished An Abundance of Katherines by John Green and Heartless by Gail Carriger, about to start Swordspoint for VF.

I'm recently started reading Cold Magic but I think I'm going to have to shelve it for a bit. While I'm really enjoying it thusfar, its a bit heavier than I think I can deal with right now- in that I'm mid-dissertation and have no brain power and really just need fluff for before I go to bed. Cold Magic seems likes it needs a bit more brainpower than I can give it right now =(

I just finished reading Laurell K. Hamilton's newest, Affliction. And although one of the founding ladies gave up on the series because of the harem aspect, I find her latest books have taken to being less and less "harem-y" and more plain awesome. I'm also reading Geekomancy and the Sword and Laser books: Ringworld and Reshirts.

Where to start...

I just finished J.R. Ward's Fallen Angel series books 1-4. I believe the next is due out this fall.
It occurs in the same universe and in fact the same town as the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Basically the last chance for the human race stands on the shoulders of one man/angel. He has to convince 7souls to choose the proper path. If he fails all humanity and all the souls in Heaven revert to Hell. If he wins all humanity and all the souls in Hell revert to Heaven.
The books are titled : Covet, Crave, Envy, and Rapture.

Before those I read all seven book in the Guardians of Ascension series by Caris Roane. Don't really know how to describe that series. Good but kinda strange. Winged vampires, multiple earths, elite warriors with destined mates.
Titles are, in no particular order: Brink of Eternity, Ascension, Burning Skies, Wings of Fire, Born of Ashes, Obsidian Flame, and Gates of Rapture

I read the book version of Marvel Comics Civil War by Stuart Moore. Cap and Ironman go head to head and rip the superhero world in half.

Had a book recommended to me as a character study of sociopaths entitled I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells Kinda disturbing. Some parts of the story was superfluous but over all not bad.

I re-read Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card, to refresh myself before the movie comes out. Why I don't know. Just means the movie will disappoint. Also read Ender in Exile, not bad; Ender's Shadow, really good; and Shadows in Flight, meh.

Picked up an el-cheapo book to take on holiday called Heart of Change by Robin D. Owens. Didn't expect much. Really enjoyed it. Magic, swords and romance. What could go wrong? I think I might have read another book in this universe because it seemed really familiar.

Oh, and lest we forget, The Silent Stars Go By, a Doctor Who novel by Dan Abnett. The 11th Doctor missed Christmas again and he, Amy, and Rory are in it deep against the Ice Warriors.

Ok, I think we're all caught up.

I finished Redshirts by John Scalzi this morning, and I should begin Ringworld by Larry Niven tonight. I've stopped reading Among Others for the moment, since I'm also reading Le Théâtre Indien by Sylvain Lévi for a paper, and two books at the same time is enough for me. I can't wait to get back to it though !

France wrote: "I finished Redshirts by John Scalzi this morning, and I should begin Ringworld by Larry Niven tonight."

Ringworld is a fantastic sci-fi novel. Hope you enjoy it.

Currently reading "Harbour" by John Ajvide Lindqvist, who is a great horror author and I've just finished "The Blade Itself" by Joe Abercrombie .

Just blew through Kresley Cole's entire Immortals After Dark series.

LOVED IT! Can't wait for more! One of the few series that got better as it went on...

France wrote: "...Ringworld by Larry Niven..."
I enjoyed this book, but I thought the idea of rishathra a bit silly. Routinely sealing a deal by having sex with the other party? Please! What if you find them repulsive? Likely, if they are another species. What if they're not your preferred sex? If you just aren't in the mood?

However, I loved the way Ivanova handled it in B5!

Enchantress

I would like to suggest this book for people to read.
I think this has to be one of my most favorite books I have read in a very long while and it surprised me that it is so low profile.

The mythology in it is well explained and makes sense! The author is a Computer Scientist so instead of saying that something acts in a way because it is magic, he looks at a more mathematical approach to everything.

There are several mild sexy scenes that are more focused on the romance of intimacy rather than the actual nasty.

I personally would describe it as a mixture of Harry Potter (the whole learning experience of magic) and Lord of the Rings (with its epic battles). Maybe it is not so epic as the 2 above, but it is definitely a fun read. Instead of magic the whole world revolves around runes.

Another good thing is the ebook is currently free on Amazon, but I loved it so much I am going to buy hard copies of it to keep myself a nice reminder.

@curly, if you like hard fantasy like that (where the magic has more of a scientific or systemic style that has to be internally consistent with the parameters of the world defined by the author) I recommend Spellwight by Blake Carlton. I just noticed the sequel is now out too, which I'm excited about reading.

Sorry, that was Blake Charlton.

Playing catch up since the last post!

Rivetedby Meljean Brooks - can't get enough of this world. This installment definitely had less "heat" than the previous installment, but I think it was very true to the characters who are the focus of this one. Also, I really want to visit Iceland now.

Read both of last month's picks and intend to go forward with the C.L. Wilson series. I know it's kind of silly (cat dragons!) but I can't help but like it.

Finished Mine to Possess, Visions of Heat and Hostage to Pleasurein the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh. Good guilty pleasure books and I'm glad my library has them all available in e-book form. I also read the first in her Guild Hunter series and will be continuing with that when I have time!

Finally got around to reading Tiger Magic, the latest in the Shifters Unbound series. I didn't like it as much as previous installments. I am looking forward to the next full-length novel, and hoping that Rebecca gets a novella at least.

I purchased all of Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove ebooks when they were on sale for the Kindle (they might still be?) and have enjoyed the first novel
A Night to Surrender and the two novellas I've read. HR is my palate-cleansing genre, especially when I want something light and fluffy and quick to match the summer heat.

Almost last, I read The Gamble by Kirsten Ashley. Just a contemporary romance, but I enjoyed it. I'm reading the second in that series now, and while I can still see the appeal in it, similarities in characters and writing are starting to become a little annoying. It's set in a macho biker town, but the hero is alpha beyond belief. And there are pages of the heroine saying his name over and over, trying to start a sentence, and he just keeps cutting her off. Let a woman speak!

On the other hand, I very much enjoyed Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha. It's billed as dystopian erotica and doesn't disappoint in either category. There is actual believable plot that supports the sexytimes, but also drew me in and built a good sense of place - the main characters are part of a whisky-running gang in charge of one of a number of sectors outside of a "perfect" city. While they are all a little rough around the edges, in contrast to the Ashley book, I didn't feel like their alpha-ness was over the top. The women in the O'Kane gang have as much, if not more, power than the men, and both parties know it. The main female character is a defector from the city and the book is very much about her sexual awakening and discovering what she is into(BDSM, m/f/f/m, etc), but it never feels gross, or like the plot is there to move the sex scenes on.

There is a sequel and a free novelette out now, with a third due before the end of the year. All feature characters you meet in the first book, and in particular I can't wait for the 3rd to come out, as I feel like they could end up becoming my favorite couple.


Long post is long.

I just read the first few chapters of Red Plenty - a novel . I'm really enjoying it so far.