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Please let us know if you have read, are reading, or are planning to read A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham and any initial impressions.

No spoilers in this thread, please!

I have read A Shadow in Summer and the next two books in the series. I really enjoyed them. Enough so that I have picked up A Shadow in Summer at the library, so that if I can fit it in (so many books, so little time, as we all know!), I will be able to jump in with the discussion. If I had a better memory, I probably wouldn't need a reread, but! It wasn't too long ago, though, so I may remember more than I think.

I've got a copy from my local library and will be starting it in the next couple of days. I am reading on a provisional basis: If it can sufficiently grab my attention, I'll finish the book and jump in to the discussion. If it doesn't really do it for me after a fair chunk of chapters, I'll be abandoning it, as I am not much of a series reader to begin with, so I'd prefer not to spend time with a series book that doesn't spur me on to a rare full-series completion.

I found this at a dollar store two years ago, tried to read the book, even though I nominated the book, did not like the book, never have finished more than a 100 pages into the book.

I've been wanting to read this forever, after having it recommended to me by quite a few people whose taste I trust, but I doubt I'll get to it on time, given what else I need to read this month. Shame!

I started it and read the prologue

Kevin wrote: "I found this at a dollar store two years ago, tried to read the book, even though I nominated the book, did not like the book, never have finished more than a 100 pages into the book."

Wow....

I have this and will probably be joining the read later this month, I have a couple other books to finish up first!

I tried reading it when it came out and gave up, although now I can't remember why.

Ah, I found my review on Library Thing, which says I loved the idea, but wasn't caught by the characters and gave up about a third through.

I had kind of hoped to try again with the group read, but I'm focussing on The Wars of Light and Shadow at the moment and I don't think that will leave time for much else.

I liked the world, but the characters were a little off to me.

I read it last year (and the rest of the series). Overall, I think The Long Price Quartet is one of the best Fantasy series of recent years, but it's definitely a series that improves steadily in each book, the last two in particularly were excellent. That's not to say that I didn't think the first book was good as well, but although I thought the plot was reasonably interesting, when judged as a stand-alone it's maybe nothing special in terms of the story and it's nowhere near as compelling as "An Autumn War" or "The Price of Spring" would be later in the series. I liked the distinctive world-building, the world does a feel very unlike the typical fantasy world, and the Andat are a fantastic concept.

I'm enjoying this so far. In general, I am not much of a fantasy reader (other than weird/new weird and surrealist fantasy.) I don't gravitate to worlds peopled by elves or fae, with magic and warring armies and good-vs-evil. When I get "into" fantasy, it's usually in a truly strange world that avoids many of the very conventions many fantasy readers love so about the genre.

So I was skeptical about A Shadow in Summer. But it's managed to capture my interest by focusing on trade and political intrigue, and the andat are unusual and interesting. I like the philosophy and the moral ambiguity. The last time I was really enchanted by a pure fantasy world was The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (other than Catherynne M. Valente, with her atypical fantasy settings, and China Miéville with his.) Come to think of it, I've found myself reminded of Jemisin's world several times while reading this. (It's a subtle feeling with no real specific triggers.)

Anyhow, it's nice to know I can still become caught up in a sprawling fantasy world now and again. I'll post over in the spoilery thread once I'm finished.

I've read the prolog and the first chapter. First impressions:
(1) so far, no females in the story, only males (that's OK, not every story has to have both sexes represented, though most do)
(2) I keep thinking of the characters as having Asian appearances (even after one is described as "fair-skinned!!!!). The reason: the teacher-student, respect and discipline aspects of the school in the prolog remind me of kung-fu or karate schools. Of course, the geography (so far) is other-than-earth's.
(3) I like the non-verbal communication via "a pose" as in "take a pose of acceptance and leave-taking" or "held a pose of greeting".

Interesting enough for me to keep reading; any further comments will be in the spoilers thread.

Deedee wrote: "I've read the prolog and the first chapter. First impressions:
(1) so far, no females in the story, only males (that's OK, not every story has to have both sexes represented, though most do)."

This changes quickly.

Deedee wrote: "(2) I keep thinking of the characters as having Asian appearances (even after one is described as "fair-skinned!!!!). The reason: the teacher-student, respect and discipline aspects of the school in the prolog remind me of kung-fu or karate schools. Of course, the geography (so far) is other-than-earth's."

The main culture in the books does have a heavy East Asian influence. As Candiss said, there are several female characters who play a major role in the story once you get past the early chapters.