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It’s hot out there—find a cool spot and read! Let us know what you’re reading this month and what you think!

All genres welcome here!

I finally get to read The Prey of Gods for a group. I have no idea whether I'll like it, or even finish it, but it keeps getting pushed to me, so soon I'll get to find out.

I’m finishing up some audiobook short stories and an out of genre read (that I think I may have read before), The Wild Irish by Robin Maxwell. Next up will be The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang for our group and Red Sister by Mark Lawrence for a different Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ group.

Fall of the King Saber by J.F. Lee

I read the whole Imperial Radch trilogy by Ann Leckie, in preparation for the group's read of Translation State. I wanted to be familiar with the Radch universe first. And I'm so glad I did - I don't know why it took me so long to read these books that everyone raves about! Anyway I do have Translation State on hand, but first I'm going to read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which I've been waiting for at the library for a while. People seem to love it so I'm looking forward to it.

I did start reading All the Lies They Did Not Tell: The True Story of Satanic Panic in an Italian Community by Pablo Trincia, which I got as a free Kindle First read, but I couldn't get into it. It may be that it was poorly translated - the original is in Italian - but I was confused about what was happening, plus it was about very disturbing stuff. I usually like a good true crime book but I doubt I will finish this one.

Shel wrote: "I did start reading All the Lies They Did Not Tell: The True Story of Satanic Panic in an Italian Community by Pablo Trincia, which I got as a free Kindle First read,"

I chose this one, too, as a free Kindle First Read, but haven’t looked at it. It will be interesting to see if I can get into when I decide to give it a try.

I started reading the Honor Harrington series, started with On Basilisk Station. I'm not a huge fan of military scifi, but I know that these books have a devoted following and wanted to give them a try. On the whole, I find that I'm really enjoying them!

Chris wrote: "I started reading the Honor Harrington series, started with On Basilisk Station. I'm not a huge fan of military scifi, but I know that these books have a devoted following and wanted t..."

The group did a series read of these books back in 2011-2013. Discussions are available in our folder for past series reads.
/topic/group...

My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 by Akumi Agitogi

I really enjoyed On the Edge of Gone and am recommending it widely. Yes, it's YA, but mostly it's near future adventure about a variety of diverse people facing an external threat to our world (a comet; there are no actual villains).

My Happy Marriage, Volume 2 by Akumi Agitogi

Since I last posted I read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and enjoyed it as much as everyone said I would. Next up was historical fiction, Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, which was just gorgeous. I just downloaded the sequel to my kindle. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi for the monthly discussion - I loved it and already posted my thoughts on the spoiler thread - and finally I immediately snapped up Gryphon in Light by Mercedes Lackey from the library the minute it was published. I will never get sick of Valdemar books!

Picking up The Poppy War next, since I have a hardcover copy from the library, and then I've got a lot of good stuff downloaded to my kindle to take with me when we head out in a few days to visit family for the second half of the month.

The Apothecary Diaries 09 by Nekokurage

Finished Saints of the Shadow Bible. Another good John Rebus book.
Also finished Five Hundred Years After
It was as good and I remember it

Started a Doctor Who EDA Doctor Who: The Turing Test

It's been an unusually slow reading month for me. I've finished A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. I also started Witch King by Martha Wells for my online book club (I'm about 1/4 through it and loving it!) and Violeta by Isabel Allende for my IRL book club.

I'm also in the middle of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (Sanderson), Nightborn: Coldfire Rising (Friedman), and The Splinter in the Sky (Ashing-Giwa), which might explain why I haven't finished much... being pulled in too many good directions!

Nightland Racer by Fenton Wood

Real life has me more than busy, but I managed to finish The Wild Irish by Robin Maxwell, 7.5/10. Grace O’Malley’s story, overlooked by most historians, is fascinating and important. Maxwell’s book brings her to life against the backdrop of the 16th century Irish Rebellion, a period of endless conniving, fighting, raiding, atrocities, and betrayal among the Irish and between the Irish and the English. Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, play significant roles in both Grace’s life and the events of the times, and the book tells their tales as well. I would have appreciated a printed cast of characters as several are variously referred to by first names, last names, and titles. For example, Robert, Robin, Devereaux, and Essex all refer to the same person. A map of Ireland from that time period would also have enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the book. The most striking feelings I had upon finishing the book: a profound sadness at the misery inflicted on the Irish people by the English and by their fellow Irishmen/women; a bitter weariness at yet another strong, influential, and consequential woman of history being ignored by historians; and a deep respect for the courage of women who defied convention to follow their convictions and become leaders.

I also read and enjoyed Red Sister by Mark Lawrence, 8/10. An interesting fantasy world, nearly ice-covered but for a narrow corridor in which most of the population lives. An intriguing main character—flawed, stubborn, gifted. A varied supporting cast. Some mysteries solved and questions answered, others left unresolved, but I think the plot could have been more layered and complex. A hint of science fiction underlying things. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.

I'm almost halfway through The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and am enjoying it immensely

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke