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I'm currently banging the gong for Master Assassins by Robert Reddick, which is a far more sophisticated book than either the title or the cover indicate.

As ever I am championing Senlin Ascends and the excellent Books of Babel series, truly wonderful work by Josiah Bancroft, one of the best discoveries to come out of the SPFBO.

Recently I've read and very much enjoyed Ready Player One and The Night Circus.

Grimdark fans will want to watch out for The Grey Bastards, last year's SPFBO winner and out this week, and Priest of Bones coming out later this year. Both exciting reads.

I’m finally getting around to the Malazan books. I loved the Black Company so this is the perfect fit.

Besides that I’m also getting around to Inheritance trilogy by N. K. Jemisin. I’m really loving the world here!

And lastly I’m having a nice read with A Natural History of Dragons, a fun book that discusses Victorian sexism without ever becoming depressing. Plus DRAGONS!

I recently finished (and LOVED) Paternus by Dyrk Ashton. It's a glorious battle of the gods with a style of writing that just shouldn't work... but Dyrk MAKES it work.

Just finished Grey Sister and cannot wait for Holy Sister!

Currently reading Sea of Rust, an Arthur C. Clarke Award 2018 nominee as it is my local bookclub book of the month.

Also working through Raymond Feist Riftwar Series.

Next book on the shelf is The Tiger and the Wolf

Rob wrote: "I recently finished (and LOVED) Paternus by Dyrk Ashton. It's a glorious battle of the gods with a style of writing that just shouldn't work... but Dyrk MAKES it work."

I liked Paternus: Rise of Gods a lot too. Some very good writing, and although there was a ton of info dumping it was somehow done in a very entertaining way.

I'm currently reading a historical fiction Wolf's Head, will read I Was a Teenage Weredeer over the weekend and plan to read this year's SPFBO winner Where Loyalties Lie next week.

What I read in the last few weeks and happily recommend to anyone is a debut author's novel: Kingshold and a grimdark anthology that will be published later this month: Knee-Deep in Grit: Two Bloody Years of Grimdark Fiction. Mark might have some things to do with this one ;)

Oh and David Hambling's Harry Stubbs series too!

I'm on the last 100 pages of Robin Hobbs Assassin's fate so far it's been emotional

I'm on two anthologies from a small press:
Terra Nullius

Infinite Dysmorphia

I'm finding the latter particularly intriguing

The Poppy War. Amazing but so so Brutal.

Reading the Low Town series. Finished the first book on audiobook. Shame the second book doesn't have a audiobook version.

currently reading An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa tahir and i'm loving ; can't wait to read her next book.

I finished Oathbringer from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson and reading My Life by Edith Piaf as a light read. Will read Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson next. After that I plan to read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.

Mark wrote: "Rob wrote: "I recently finished (and LOVED) Paternus by Dyrk Ashton. It's a glorious battle of the gods with a style of writing that just shouldn't work... but Dyrk MAKES it work."

I liked [book:P..."

Usually info dumping pulls me right out of the flow, but Dyrk somehow managed to make it unobtrusive. Which is impressive as some of the dumps were pretty much history lessons. :D

Just finished Witch's Legacy by one of my favourite YA authors, Katrina Cope. Not straight fantasy and the prelude to a new series. Top notch as always

Next book? No idea whatever is next on my R&R list on the eReader

Not SFF but the last book I read which impressed me was The Slap by Cristos Tsiolkas. Not a book that will appeal to everyone, but one you are unlikely to feel indifferent to. As to SFF, I have recently re-read the Flight Over Fire series by Jenny M. Jones. I enjoyed it all over again, it seemed an original take on the genre at the time, although I don't know if it would make the same impression on a new reader.

I was quite impressed with Richard Nell's Kings of Paradise. Amazing book.

Currently reading The Seven, last book of the Vagrant Trilogy from Peter Newman. It is really good, with strange but memorable characters and a unique prose. Also thanks for the Grey Bastards recommendation, it seems pretty unique and I always love some grimdark stories.

Brett wrote: "I'm on the last 100 pages of Robin Hobbs Assassin's fate so far it's been emotional"

It's going to get MUCH MORE emotional. You may need counselling.

Brett wrote: "I'm on the last 100 pages of Robin Hobbs Assassin's fate so far it's been emotional"

You have a full box of tissues with you, right? Oh and stay hydrated.

I have had some heavy things going on in my life recently so I have needed some lite and frivolous reading to help distract me. I've been reading some Urban Fantasies, in the likeness of Harry Dresden, by Indie authors.

I've been plowing through the Dresden Files audiobooks, which are a delight.

The standout books from the last 15 or so books (which to be fair are all great) for me are The Curse of Chalion and Arm of the Sphinx.

I'm reading Deadhouse Gates (#2 Malazan) by Steven Erikson. This is my second read through, so that I can start Forge of Darkness and understand what's going on. So it should keep me going for the rest of the year!

Before that I was reading Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. I'd seen reviews saying that it's overly wordy so I was surprised to find I really liked it! I usually get bored with a lot of description.

I've just finished Embers of War (still to put up a review!) but am currently reading the new Stephen Lawhead book In the Region of the Summer Stars

Also waiting for Master Assassins to arrive, but my TBR pile is filled with most of the books previously mentioned above :) :) :)

Just finished Sufficiently Advanced Magic and King of Ashes and started Wrath of Empire

I'm listening to an audiobook by this guy? I think it's called prince of fools or something?

I tore through the whole GREATCOATS series. I loved it for the comradery, witty banter, and action.

Currently reading The Fifth Season, my first book from N.K. Jemisin.
It struck me as having extraordinary prose and form and hooked me to read the entire series.

I also wrote a song the other day inspired from a character in Kings of the Wyld, which seems to be the exact opposite of The Fifth Season. The setting is almost cliche, introducing the usual ingredients of fantasy like knights and wizards and a horde of monsters. But the characters are so thoroughly colourful that the book rocks.

I recently enjoyed reading Faithless - Graham Austin King and before that I was really taken by The Heart of Stone - Ben Galley.

I just finished The Spider's War, last in the Dagger and the Coin series. It was an excellent ending to the series. While it wasn't the most fast-paced, action-packed set of books, they were very well done and quite enjoyable.

I'm currently reading City of Stairs. About 100 pages in and so far enjoying it.

Currently reading the Russian sci-fi classic “Roadside Picnic�� and it’s fantastic.

Other great ones from this year include The Poppy War, the Sol’s Harvest series, Master Assassins, the Manifest Delusions series, and Phil Tucker’s LitRPG trilogy.

Michael wrote: "I tore through the whole GREATCOATS series. I loved it for the comradery, witty banter, and action."

I enjoyed the first one a lot, but I'm so behind on my reading that I rarely go past book 1 of any series.

Om wrote: "I finished Oathbringer from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson and reading My Life by Edith Piaf as a light read. Will read Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson next. After that I plan to..."
The Mistborn series is one of my faves! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

My favorites this year have been Senlin Ascens/Arm of the Sphinx (Bancroft), Heart of Stone (Galley), Kings of the Wyld (Eames), Name of the Wind/Wise Man's Fear (Rothfuss), Kings of Paradise (Nell), Prince of Fools (Lawrence), Sir Thomas the Hesitant (Perrin).

Thanks to this thread, my TBR has gone *tilt*.

I am currently reading The Silver Chair and listening to Hard Times. I only 'discovered' Charles Dickens last year as I had always imagined that his works would be stuffy, old fashioned and boring but upon recommendation I gave Great Expectations a reluctant go and LOVED it and so am now working my way through them all.
I am planning on reading some Robin Hobb next as the books have always been on my radar but I haven't got round to reading them.
I am trying to fill in the gaps by reading some of the fantasy classics, so feel free to recommend any to me!

I’ve been reading Mythos by Steven Fry lately. I don’t know where actual mythology and fantasy novels intersect, but it’s a brilliantly told series of stories full of humour, drama and great footnotes on how the Greek myths influenced our own language and culture. 5/5 - would recommend 👌

I'm doing a whole First Law Read from Joe Abercrombie. I originally read the books 5-6 years ago and absolutely hated them. However, reading them after some life experience has changed my opinion of the books when I read them now. Loved the original trilogy and recently finished Best Served Cold. It was good but I preferred the trilogy. I really pumped up to read Heroes, as I've heard its one the best in Abercrombie's work

Just finished The Crippled God by Steven Erikson and man am I emotionally drained. I just feel sucked dry. Can't think of what next to read, need something smaller not belonging to a large series. Fantasy or really good sf, but no weirdness (like mieville) and no ugly monsters or aliens? Any recommendations for a burnt out comrade?

I'll go with something that isn't on my ŷ������ page: I'm reading Frankenstein in Baghdad. It's eerie and haunting and I'm loving it.

Search wrote: "Just finished The Crippled God by Steven Erikson and man am I emotionally drained. I just feel sucked dry. Can't think of what next to read, need something smaller not belonging to a large series. ..."

I felt that way after reading each of the Malazan books. Needing something light and fluffy to bounce back. Have you read Erikson's Willful Child? It's sci-fi and has alot of humor in it (although it seems pretty dividing on whether people like it or not). Either way, it's a complete change of style from him. I also found Scalzi's books a great change of pace and style.

Swagat wrote: "Reading the Low Town series. Finished the first book on audiobook. Shame the second book doesn't have a audiobook version."

Snap! I heard about Daniel Palonskys Low Town trilogy on a Facebook Fantasy Forum. After the first book, which I loved, I can’t stop. Just finishing the 3rd now.
As with a lot of Grimdark it’s hard to say the lead character is a Hero, as he is a sort of scumbag too. But he’s complicated, he has a core of decency for those he likes, and you do root for him.
If you can, finish the series!

Currently reading Orconomics: A Satire which is a fun read with a real Pratchett feel.

Ellie wrote: "I am currently reading The Silver Chair and listening to Hard Times. I only 'discovered' Charles Dickens last year as I had always imagined that his works would be stuffy, ..."

I read a lot of Dickens in my teens and really enjoyed them. Hard Times and Great Expectations are fine examples.

Steve wrote: "Swagat wrote: "Reading the Low Town series. Finished the first book on audiobook. Shame the second book doesn't have a audiobook version."

Snap! I heard about Daniel Palonskys Low Town trilogy on ..."

The Low Town trilogy is a great read!

I'm with Mark. SENLIN ASCENDS was terrific. I'm on ARM OF THE SPHINX right now.

Because Night's Master was the monthly pick in Sword & Laser last month, I decided it was finally time to revisit it and the rest of Tanith Lee's Flat Earth books for the first time in probably 15 years -- currently in Night's Sorceries (sadly, the last in the series) and they remain in my top three or five favorite series of all time.

Just finshed The Incorruptibles John Hornor Jacobs. Loved the trilogy. It really transports you to a strange but somehow familiar place.

Now reading The Changeling by Victor LaValle, and I'm about 100 pages in and its getting weird.

Finished recently Song of Sorcery series by Guy Antibes and loved it!
Also finished Curse of Sekhmet in the Casters of Syndrial series by Rain Oxford. What can I say, both authors books are always on my list to get when new ones come out.

Thanks everyone for sharing so many books. My TBR file is massive!

C.W. wrote: "I'm finally getting around to Osten Ard with Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Hugely influential, yes.

But I'm only about 250pp into the first book, and I feel l..."

It's been probably a decade since I read the series but I definitely remember it having a slow start and it was pretty slow going through the entire series. Overall I remember enjoying it but it was early on in my fantasy reading career. Not sure how I would feel about it now, especially knowing how many other good books are out there waiting for me.

Reading an ARC of The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan. It's got hints of Polansky's Low Town and is looking like an early contender for Best Read of 2018. I think it's due out Jan 2019.

C.W. wrote: "I'm finally getting around to Osten Ard with Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Hugely influential, yes.

But I'm only about 250pp into the first book, and I feel l..."

Part of it, I think, is that what we expect from the genre has changed.