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After a rather lengthy discussion regarding a recent NY Times article regarding the supposed lack of appeal of fantasy to women, a few of my lady friends decided to start our own book club. Welcome.

As we gather a few more members, I'd love to pick out a book we can all ready and discuss together. I'll start a new thread tomorrow asking for suggestions and after we get a few, I'll set up a poll to decide on our first book to read.

Maybe the NY Times talked to the wrong women. I love fantasy. The Sword of Truth novels feature strong women who can wield a sword if need be and kick butt. I love it.

I love Sword of Truth. I love Game of Thrones. I read alot of Mercedes Lackey and she had many strong female characters in fantasy. Tamora Pierce does too. I don't think I would be willing to read the book if it didn't have at least one strong female character. I considered myself a bard/storyteller who likes to kick some ass every now and then. (ex takes karate) I am glad to see there are a good number of us. So I raise my bo staff high!

this is awesome. That article made me irritated. I'v been reading fantasy most of my life(started with the Hobbit at age 12 and never looked back), even when I didn't even care if there was romance involved. I'll be inviting my fantasy-loving female friends here. :D

Wonderful, Jessieee! I'm so glad you decided to join us, and definitely invite as many of your fantasy-loving female friends as you can. I think it'd be great if we can start picking a book to read each month together and discussing it.

I'm excited at the idea of reading a new book each month. Books are my crack.

Yep mine too. :)

Hooray! As soon as we get a few more suggestions, I will set up the poll so we can pick our first few books. :D

I absolutely love fantasy! Terry Goodkind, RA Salvatore, Robert Aspirin, all Dragonlance, Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, GRRM, John Dechancie...I could go on and on!

I love Raymond E Feist. He was my first fantasy.

Count me in as another who has been reading fantasy all her life. A romance every once in awhile is nice, but really, all the plots are the same. Girl has no/wrong man in her life, Mr. Right comes along, stuff happens, they get together - the end.

I don't care for the explicit sex scenes in romance novels.

I would rather go through the development of a strong romantic relationship than endure tons of explicit sex scenes. It's one of the reasons I can't read Laurell K. Hamilton.

Jenny, if you like that kind of relationship development, you should really read the Sword of Truth series. The love between Kahlan and Richard is beautiful. And there's no explicit sex scenes. It's just a well-written, detailed-filled series.

I agree.

I will have to add them to my list then. :D

YAY! I've only been trying to convince you for how many years. *shakes head*

I have yet to read them but because of Legend of the Seeker. I want to read them now.

I must warn you that LoTS strayed pretty heavily from the books. I was at first a bit irritated by that since I love the books so much. It didn't take long, though, for me to realize they were both great.

*shrug* I stopped comparing the books with the movies/shows. People get way too nit picky.

I agree. Like I said, at first I was irritated, but then I learned to appreciate the show for what it was. It was beautifully done. I think it would have done better, though, had they had it on at a time other than 3pm EST on Saturdays. I don't think that was a very fair timeslot.

Nicole wrote: "...had they had it on at a time other than 3pm EST on Saturdays. I don't think that was a very fair timeslot. "
You had a better time slot than me. 3 AM on Sunday morning, and it was never officially listed so my Tivo wouldn't pick it up. I had to manually schedule it and hope it didn't change. :(

I didn't even discover the show until a few months ago when I picked it up at the library. The Save Our Seeker campaign donated a bunch of copies. We're at #31 on the waitlist for Season 2 after 3 months of waiting. But Kahlan of the books is even more badass than in the show. For example, one tiny difference I noticed is that in the show whenever they kiss or even explore feelings it's usually Richard who leads or brings it up. But in the book Kahlan doesn't wait around if she feels like taking what she wants (spirit house apple scene). The relationship between the two of them is the backbone of the story but that's not what the series is about.

I seem to stumble on legend of the seeker when I stay up super late and am trying to avoid late night poker shows. Always enjoy watching their adventures didn't even know it was a book till I joined the group! I think it would be fun to read and sounds like a lot of ladies here are into them.

I knew it was a book. I was really excited to see the books were turned into a series. It is the whole reason I watched the show and I am so bummed it isn't on anymore. I liked Richard, Kahlan and I really liked Zed. Zed is DA MAN!

I'll re-read wizard's first rule for the 3rd time! I was about to start Stone of Tears (book 2) but I'll gladly read book 1 again.

I posted in the other thread about Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I haven't read it but my friend says I would love it and she knows the types of books I read. Fire is book 2 and book 3 should be coming out later this year. I'm not usually a fantasy reader but I love a good strong female character. I also like that the author is a woman and she's writing about a badass kickass chick.

Graceling looks very good. I usually don't choose anything with a romance element but I may change my mind. The romance fantasy authors are getting good.

The friend who recommended the books to me said that while there is some romance in the story line, it's not the ordinary "love trumps all" tack.

It isn't, I read it.

very cool

I don't think you can have a fantasy novel without some of the other story elements like romance.

RA Salvatore and Dragon Lance are just two examples without romance. I love those adventure fantasy novels.

It has adventure. I found that fantasy has a little bit of everything and I prefer books that have a little bit of everything.

Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series has veeerrry little romance and what there is of it, is subtle and minimal. That's how I like romance in my fantasy. Not a main event, but a quiet affair on the side.... which probably isn't the best phrasing when talking about love ;)

that sounds good, I'm going to check that out ;-)

it's my second favorite series, after ASoIaF. There are a lot of characters and in jumps right in, but it is so worth reading.

Marijan wrote: "RA Salvatore and Dragon Lance are just two examples without romance. I love those adventure fantasy novels."

But there was some romance in Dragonlance, especially the early novels, like the romance between Tanis and Laurana and Tanis and Kitiara, as well as the romance between Caramon and Tika. The best part was that it didn't dominate the plot, but worked beside it so effectively the relationships were real and believable. At least that's how it felt when I read the books the first time. I also liked the undercurrent of romance with Raistlin in the second trilogy was very well done.

You are right, of course. I suppose that I was so engrossed in the other elements of those epic fantasies that the coupling and romantic emotions didn't resonate. It's the HEA romance that I am not into and the first thing I think of when I hear "romance". Big mistake on my part, I know. ;-)

BTW, I loved that tension between Raistlin and Crysania!

Jennifer wrote: "Marijan wrote: "RA Salvatore and Dragon Lance are just two examples without romance. I love those adventure fantasy novels."

But there was some romance in Dragonlance, especially the early novels..."

YES! The tension between Raistlin and Crysania was skillfully crafted. I was SO glad they didn't cave to give him a romance because his character just wasn't designed for love. You could love him all you wanted, but he'd never give it back. Now... Dalamar... he can have a romance with *cough* me. :) I was so happy they branched off with his character in the Ravenloft realm.

Marijan wrote: "You are right, of course. I suppose that I was so engrossed in the other elements of those epic fantasies that the coupling and romantic emotions didn't resonate. It's the HEA romance that I am n..."

apparently I need to read Dragonlance.

Jessie wrote: "apparently I need to read Dragonlance.

I read them over two decades ago and LOVED them so much. The characters felt like old friends every time I finished one of the books.

Marijan, did you read The Brothers Majere prequels?

Yes I did. I enjoyed them but I really loved the Dragonlance Legends trilogy.

Has anybody read Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series? It's been like ten years since I read them but they will always be a fav for me. I love Anthony and read like 15 of the Xanth series..LOL, even though he seriously needs to hang that up, just my opinion..LOL

I liked the Xanth books when I was a kid. That reminds me! I should introduce them to my children. I think they would love the wordplay.

Jennifer--

I absolutely agree. A part of me wanted to see the romance betweem Raistlin and Crysania blossom, but only a very small part. If it had I would have been disappointed because, as you said, this does not fit his character.
And love Dalamar..have a thing for elves, even drow..LOL!

Marijan wrote: "Jennifer--

I absolutely agree. A part of me wanted to see the romance betweem Raistlin and Crysania blossom, but only a very small part. If it had I would have been disappointed because, as yo..."

Dalamar was so wicked it made him delicious.

Ooooh boy. Is it bad when I can't make it through to the end of the thread to say hello before my TBR list is already growing :-P. Jenny, thanks for the invite. I grew up on McCaffrey, Bradley, and Lackey. Lots of the others, too, but those have always been my three faves. So glad to find this group! And way to scared to cast the deciding vote in the poll :).

Hi Debora! I'm glad you joined us. Don't be afraid on casting your vote. Either way, we'll read the second place book after the first place book. :)

OK, I did. I voted for Mistborn, since I already read MoA more than once. Haven't read Oathbound yet either.

Oathbound is good. :)