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Please tell us what you are reading, or plan to read, in July.

Well, since I finished Midnight Tides yesterday, I have a non-Malazan list for little while. Starting with Cain His Brother, a mystery by Anne Perry, and the second book in the Recluce series (in order of publication), The Towers of the Sunset. Not sure after that.

I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, but it isn't really getting to me. It's making the book seem more quaint, although I don't mean that patronisingly. I'm surprised how big the plot is.

I'm also just about to finish my audiobook of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers! I've had a great time listening to it. My first Mary Roach, and I'm finding her to be a lot of fun.

Next up, it's going to be Uprooted - finally! - with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell as a side read, reading about 125 pages a week for July and August to get through it (unless I really get into it, of course). Then for audiobook, I'll be listening to Terms of Enlistment, which I keep hearing good things about.

Here is my review of 2nd book in the Gormenghast trilogy.

Reading a little non-SFF currently with The Whole-Brain Child and The Price of Blood (so far, better than the already-good first book). Then it'll be back to fantasy as I finish up Spirit Gate.

I finished Range of Ghosts and have the sequel on my bookshelf. Today I've finished Golden Son which I definitely enjoyed despite its cliffhanger ending (my library doesn't have the final book??)

Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, but it isn't really getting to me. It's m..."

Enjoy the book! After a while I got weary of the phone issue because too many scenes were hinged on the fact, but I really liked the past timeline, felt so vivid and researched!

Uprooted is a gripping fairytale, I would absolutely recommend it. Not sure, but I have a feeling if you are linking the atmosphere of Doomsday Book you'll like Uprooted too, though of course the stories are completely different.

Started the month with The Table of Less Valued Knights a Monty python-esque adventure about a knight from Camelot and his motley gang. Very humorous but also clever, the plot has a clear direction.

Just finished World After, the third book in the Penryn & the End of Days series. YA paranormal post apocalyptic fantasy with romance. Not my usual genre at all, but all things considered, I read until the end and quickly at that, the plot and rhythm never let me get bored. Very dark and bloody.

Currently reading a standalone, Scriber, with a historian as protagonist, looks very promising.

Cracked, The Shining Girls, Station Eleven

Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, but it isn't really getting ..."

I enjoyed Scriber.

Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, but it isn't really getting ..."

Luckily I didn't grow tired of that (oh, how tempted after just having finished to write "I grew not tired of it"), it hardly bothered me at all! Maybe because my friends and I are all terrible at getting through to each other, so it didn't seem unlikely.

Anyway, it's definitely going down as a favourite for me! I'm going to have to read To Say Nothing of the Dog very, very soon, since I'm sad to have left this universe behind, which felt huge because of how Willis wrote it.

I'm guessing then Uprooted is a slow tale too? I do like slow, slightly meandering books that don't rush to get to the point, or feel the need to keep you in suspense at every turn!

I also finished Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers last night, which was very enjoyable.

Stiff has been sitting on my shelf for years. Still havent gotten around to reading it. Maybe next....

@Christine Station Eleven is one of the best books I have read in a while. If you look around here we also read it for one of the group reads, I beleive last Feb.

So far, Burning Alexandria(though that might have been June) Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell and I've almost finished The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend

I just started The Sirens of Titan and am very excited to read it.

Lulu wrote: "Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, but it isn't ..."

That's great then! I'm happy it worked better for you. I have not read other books of the Oxford series but heard nice things about to say nothing of the dog.
Uprooted is not slow, if it may be of interest I've written a short non spoiler review here /review/show...
It is the atmosphere which drew me to accost the books, because as in doomsday past timeline, there is the darkness, a forest, the fear of an unseen enemy and uncertainty for the protagonist. Would have not thought of it if I had not read your post, just a feeling anyway! Hope you will enjoy the fairytale.

@Helen I'm enjoying Scriber!

I just finished The Iron Trial and can't decide if I shall pick up Red Rising or Ancillary Justice next.

Lulu wrote: "Anyway, it's definitely going down as a favourite for me! I'm going to have to read To Say Nothing of the Dog very, very soon, since I'm sad to have left this universe behind, which felt huge because of how Willis wrote it."

Read Three Men in a Boat first, so you can catch all of the references :) It's a fun, light read!

I didnt pick up either of the ones I mentioned above, listening to Cinder and starting The Crown Conspiracy tomorrow on audio too.

Ken wrote: "Stiff has been sitting on my shelf for years. Still havent gotten around to reading it. Maybe next....

@Christine Station Eleven is one of the best books I have read in a while. If you look around..."

I really enjoy Station Eleven, the more time I spend with the characters the more I like it :) I found the thread too, thanks

Christine wrote: "I finished Range of Ghosts and have the sequel on my bookshelf. Today I've finished Golden Son which I definitely enjoyed despite its cliffhanger ending (my library doesn't have the final book??) "

Christine, Morning Star, the third book in the Red Rising trilogy is scheduled for publication January 12, 2016, so you will have to wait along with the rest of us to see how that awful cliffhanger gets resolved! :)

I just finished The Tyrant's Law thinking that I was spreading out my reading of The Dagger and the Coin series enough to coincide with the last book coming out in January. The latest news is that The Spider's War will now not be coming out until March of 2016, so that is kind of a disappointment.

This month I am planning to read the BOTM picks and also start another (happily completed) Abraham series, The Long Price Quartet. The other book I am definitely planning to read in July is Queen of Fire, which comes out tomorrow. I just have to figure out which one to start with.

Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes on throughout, ..."

Thanks for the linking the review! It definitely gave me a better idea of what I was getting into, actually. I know what you mean about a similar atmosphere - I think it was something of the claustrophobic sense of the Wood vs. the town, the corruption vs. the diseases. The kissing scene also took me by surprise! I was not prepared for the sudden raunchiness, aha.

And @Shel, I keep hearing about that being still hilarious to this day, and given it is so short, I guess I will heed your advice! Thanks for the head's up :)


I finished Uprooted actually, today. I read the first chapter yesterday, and then the other 370ish pages today! Phew. I just fell completely in love with it. Any criticisms are overshadowed by my complete enjoyment. It was just a delight. It reminded me a tiny bit of Holly Black's Valiant, but I read that 10ish years ago, so I might be misremembering it.

Going to start Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell tomorrow!

Then possibly a non-SF read of The Bluest Eye, as I've been meaning to try some Morrison for a while. Also, it's been a lot of SF lately, and I have a lot more I want to read over summer, and I find myself dulled to it if I binge too hard. I need a break for a book or two.

Lulu wrote: "Going to start Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell tomorrow!"

About halfway through it myself. A great read.

Lulu wrote: "Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I'm on Doomsday Book at the moment, which I'm really enjoying. Someone pointed out to me the missed phone call action that goes ..."

Glad you liked Uprooted! I devoured it too, and it was a delight, not a complex read nor a fluffy one. Nice balance indeed.

I finished reading Scriber, which I would highly recommend to any fan of classic quest fantasy, or anyone who is looking for a pleasant read with unusual protagonists about the importance of books.
Currently reading The Way Into Chaos, and it's very very good. The plot is evolving around a mystery/quest and the protagonists vary in age and experiences. The worldbuilding/magic system is interesting. I'll probably keep reading the series till the end.

Then, I've finally got Stormwarden by Janny Wurts, the first book in The Cycle of Fire trilogy, I was waiting for a good moment to start it, I plan to savor it fully. After reading The Complete Empire Trilogy and many Wurts' solo works I'm totally curious about it, because the story outline/characters are yet again different from her other books'.

Currently re-enjoying The Ships of Merior, /topic/show/..., /topic/show/... all are welcome!

Alissa wrote: "Glad you liked Uprooted! I devoured it too, and it was a delight, not a complex read nor a fluffy one. Nice balance indeed.

Currently reading The Way Into Chaos, and it's very very good. The plot is evolving around a mystery/quest and the protagonists vary in age and experiences. The worldbuilding/magic system is interesting. I'll probably keep reading the series till the end."

Uprooted was solid fun. I don't usually like fairy tale type fantasy but really loved that one, enough to convince both of my IRL book clubs to read it.

I was a Kickstarter backer for The Way Into Chaos and its sequels, happy to hear you're enjoying it. It's on my TBR ebooks list but haven't gotten to it yet. Hopefully soon, as I'm taking only my ereader and no physical books on my travels this summer.

Almost done with The Price of Blood and wow, is it a seriously good book! It's historical fiction but has its mystical elements... I would still highly recommend it to fantasy readers. Some truly excellent character work.

Finished The Long Run last night. Vast improvment over his previous book Emerald Eyes.

Started Assassins' Dawn

I finished Life During Wartime, and I am so glad that was a BOTM, because I thought it was a great book that I never would have picked up on my own. Lucius Shepard is an amazing writer. I'm now reading Three Parts Dead.

Here is my review of Heroes die.

Justine wrote: "I finished Life During Wartime, and I am so glad that was a BOTM, because I thought it was a great book that I never would have picked up on my own. Lucius Shepard is an amazing write..."

I'm very interested in Three Parts Dead, from blurb and opinions, I don't usually read urban fantasy, and I would very much like to find a story of the genre to read. looking forward to hearing your opinion.

@Lindsey: absolutely! And thanks for The Price of Blood, I'll look into the series. I love historical fiction, too.

I am currently reading The Way Into Darkness, the final book of this trilogy, and I am really enjoying the series, it is an unusual blend of sword&sorcery and military fantasy, but character-driven, with nice worldbuilding/magic system (I would not call it original but it is very engrossing), mysteries and quests without a sprawly plot, nicely written. book 2 was very fine too, even though it is the middle book and it shows, book 3 is very pacey so far. If there are no slips on the finish line, it is a solid 4- stars series for me.

Justine wrote: "I just finished The Tyrant's Law thinking that I was spreading out my reading of The Dagger and the Coin series enough to coincide with the last book coming out in January. The late..."

I loved that Abraham series, we read it in a group recently.

Uk sci-fi fans: Ancillary Justice, Ender's Game and something else are 99p in kindle daily offer today.

Ken wrote: "Stiff has been sitting on my shelf for years. Still havent gotten around to reading it. Maybe next....

@Christine Station Eleven is one of the best books I have read in a while. If you look around..."


Station Eleven was amazing. Does anyone know if the rumors of a sequel are true?

Finished The Price of Blood (sadly, no sequel date yet) and decided to launch into The Way Into Chaos. Past the free preview I'd read months ago, so far it's solid.

So far in July I've read First Among Sequels and Ready Player One. Both very light but enjoyable reads before I get back into Malazan with Deadhouse Gates!

David wrote: "So far in July I've read First Among Sequels and Ready Player One. Both very light but enjoyable reads before I get back into Malazan with Deadhouse Gates!"

I love the Thursday Next books :)

I'm about to start Deerskin, which I somehow have never read despite being a Robin McKinley fan.

I finished Three Parts Dead...I liked the second half of the book better than the first. I'm now reading Queen of Fire, which is the final book in the Raven's Song trilogy by Anthony Ryan.

Lindsey wrote: "Finished The Price of Blood (sadly, no sequel date yet) and decided to launch into The Way Into Chaos. Past the free preview I'd read months ago, so far it's solid."

I was very satisfied, kind of classic fantasy with a twist, have fun!

@Justine Would you recommend Three Parts Dead? I've been thinking I should try some adult urban fantasy, but since it's not my usual genre, I need to pick carefully, and this series seems interesting though I'm undecided.

I've been reading a whole bunch of comics this month and I'm loving it. My current audio book (my first Audible) is Armada and I'm loving it. If you liked Ready Player One, this is a must read.

Alissa wrote: "@Justine Would you recommend Three Parts Dead? I've been thinking I should try some adult urban fantasy, but since it's not my usual genre, I need to pick carefully, and this series seems interesting though I'm undecided.


Hmmm...it's OK. I didn't completely love the first half of the book, but I enjoyed the second. Did you read City of Stairs? Because it reminded me a lot of that in terms of style. I do read a lot of urban fantasy and this is a bit different so it depends on the elements that you like to have in the story. Ultimately I rated this up to 4 stars, but it wasn't my favourite urban fantasy read. In fact, I'm not totally sure I would call it urban fantasy, but I don't really know what to call it...I'm not so good at categorizing that way. Anyway, I did like it enough that I will carry on with the series.

Ah, thank you, yes I loved City of Stairs. I usually cringe at gunpowder for being too modern, but from time to time I like to explore other settings. Probably "different" may be my thing, what I look for are deep characters and deep motivations and/or an unpredictable but well structured plot, with the right tension. I'm not big on romance.

I'm currently reading Stormwarden and it's very gripping, so different! It looks like traditional fantasy but there are several sci-fi elements and even though the protagonists are young, it's not YA in outlook. I'm really liking it so far.

For anyone interested in the ebook version, The Great Way Trilogy is currently part of the new Humble Book Bundle , there are several books for 9.78 USD including Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan, which I enjoyed very much.

Alissa wrote: "Ah, thank you, yes I loved City of Stairs. I usually cringe at gunpowder for being too modern, but from time to time I like to explore other settings. Probably "different" may be my thing, what I l..."

You should try this one then, Alissa. There is no romance element at all, which is perfect for the setting of the book. My issues with the first half are purely personal. The book itself is really well written and it has a good story. :)

Here is my review of white night 9th book in Dresden files series.The review is spoilerish so don't read if you haven't read the book.

Renee wrote: "Station Eleven was amazing. Does anyone know if the rumors of a sequel are true? "

I havent heard anything but I did read an interview and the impression I got was no sequel. She does not come out and shout no sequel but how she talked about the whole thing gave me the feeling she was done and moving on to something else. I could be totally wrong though

Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Book 1 in the Old Man's War trilogy. I'm actually on the second book, The Ghost Brigades. I bought the 3-book bundle for Nook. Highly recommended.

Didnt finish Assassin's Dawn, it's a collection of the three book in the series. I read the first one. Slow Fall to Dawn. It was ok but it wasnt keeping my interest. I would read a couple pages and fall asleep or check my phone. Interesting ideas but not quite all there. Will pick it up later in Aug.
Started reading Supergods

Ha, I changed my mind this morning. Went with some SF, Culture SF to be specific
Reading The Player Of Games

I've been in the midst of a move and starting a new job, so reading has been a low priority, but I'm slowly working on The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic. I like it a lot so far, but the reviews seem to indicate that the ending is a disappointment, so I am proceeding suitably forewarned. :)

I'm almost finished Queen of Fire, which is really good, but I don't think is going to work out well for everyone by the end of the book. Then I'm going to start A Shadow in Summer and also The Bonehunters for the Malazan group read.

Jenny wrote: "I've been reading a whole bunch of comics this month and I'm loving it. My current audio book (my first Audible) is Armada and I'm loving it. If you liked [book:Ready Player One|996..."

I so want to read this...just have to find the time to fit it in!!!

I just finished Deerskin, which I somehow had never read despite being a big Robin McKinley fan. So good. Difficult subject matter, tempered by PUPPIES :)

My library loan for Go Set a Watchman just came in as the book was released - I'd requested it before it was published and the library must've gotten a ton of copies because the loan came through right away. I'm a little worried that it might mess with my undying love for To Kill a Mockingbird to know what happens when Scout grows up, but I'm too curious to skip it. So that's next. And I have Station Eleven lined up to read afterwards.

Shel wrote: "My library loan for Go Set a Watchman just came in as the book was released - I'd requested it before it was published and the library must've gotten a ton of copies because the loan came through right away. I'm a little worried that it might mess with my undying love for To Kill a Mockingbird to know what happens when Scout grows up, but I'm too curious to skip it."

I just started it, too, with the same worry. It's different but so far in a good way. I may have to reread To Kill a Mockingbird once I'm done to be sure.

I've heard such disturbing comments about Go Set a Watchman! Looking forward to hear what you think!

I've recently finished Stormwarden and I would hugely recommend it to all fans of deceptively classic fantasy, because it's very surprising! And I appreciated it having younger protagonists without being YA. I knew I loved Janny Wurts for a reason! Going to finish the trilogy soon.

After that I read two R.A.Salvatore's Drizzt books, last being Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf (the title is not to be taken literally) and I enjoyed it a lot. After the Neverwinter quartet I was starting to despair, but the author's latest twist has been impeccable indeed! Truly how to rekindle the spark for a series that should have ended long ago. Pure sword&sorcery fantasy with some philosophical musings.

I'm currently reading a fairytale retelling, Bitter Greens.