2012 Reading list
Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey. Book 2 of our favourite sacred prostitute's adventures amid the game of thrones. Another thoroughly entertaining read.
Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey. The final volume of the trilogy is more of a quest story than lots of plotting and intrigue but fantastic nonetheless. Probably the darkest of the 3 with some really quite disturbing stuff in the middle but very well written with wonderful world building and emotion.
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold. An entertaining enough story, not a highlight of the series as it's most memorable for the off-screen developments in the overall series.
The Maker's Mask - Book 1 of Requite by Ankaret Wells (RE-READ). A perfect comfort read, I adore the characters and second time round I spotted so many lovely little world building details that I missed the first time.
The Hawkwood War - Book 2 of Requite b Ankaret Wells (RE-READ). Have I mentioned how much I love these books enough yet? ;)
Principles of Angels by Jaine Fenn. Random SF recommendation from an old uni friend. Entertaining thriller-esque story with engaging characters and an interesting setting. In a future space city where democracy means politicans who get it wrong get publically assassinated for their crimes, a young male prostitute and a visiting singer get caught up in what seems like a plot to kill a state assassin but turns out to be something far stranger.
Generation A by Douglas Coupland. The bees are gone until 5 seemingly random people around the world get stung. Mad, strange and thought-provoking story about stories and society. Classic Coupland with a twist of Pattern Recognition but without the emotional depth of Hey Nostradamus or Eleanor Rigby.
Scales of Gold - The House of Niccolo book 4 by Dorothy Dunnett. Our hero sets off to find gold in Africa and finds rather more than he set out to, but old feuds die hard and while he thinks he's made peace with his past, not everyone agrees.
The Unicorn Hunt - House of Niccolo book 5 by Dorothy Dunnett. Ensconced in Scotland, Niccolo is busy wrecking his revenge on Simon until the death of a friend drags him back to Bruges before he is ready. He ends up returning to the sites of his greatest heartbreak but will he find his son, and does the child even exist?
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Engaging and very readable but deeply creepy story about identity. Having read this, I am even more of the opinion that The Time Traveller's Wife is intended to be really rather disturbing.
Anno Dracula: the Bloody Red Baron by Kim Newman. 1st World War alternative history/fantasy mash-up with added vampires. Good stuff but not as enjoyable as the 1st in the series for me as war stories really aren't my thing.
Anno Dracula 1923: Vampire Romance by Kim Newman. 1920s country house murder mystery with added vampires, including Genevieve, is much more my thing. A fun romp.
To Lie with Lions - the House of Niccolo book 6 by Dorothy Dunnett. The war between Nicholas and his wife reaches a stunning conclusion - Nicholas can't go as far as playing the game of thrones, or can he?
Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. Swashbuckling in 17th Century Spain - fun romp
Witch Light by Susan Fletcher. More 17th Century, this time set in Scotland. A witch witnesses a massacre but will her knowledge save her? Love the description of what it means to be a witch at the beginning, chimes very true with me. Further comment here on my LJ
The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner (RE-READ). Perfect comfort reading - swashbuckling, intrigue, angst, sexual awakening and a happy ending!
Purity of Blood (Captain Alatriste book 2) by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Swords of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. John Carter hijinx - good fun if you can manage to judge its treatment of the female characters by the time it was written in. Slightly bizarre pacing.
Jack Cloudie by Stephen Hunt. Another madcap steampunk novel, shame about the new covers which don't match my existing collection!
The City & The City by China Mieville. Intriguing SF thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed - the plot is tight and gripping, and the setting is fascinating. I started off thinking maybe only the characters let it down a bit but by the end I was emotionally engaged too.
Firebrand by Ankaret Wells. Wonderful steampunk romance with great characters and intriguing world-building. Can't wait for the xmas freebie story set in the same world on www.ankaretwells.wordpress.com
Currently reading:
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. A classic for the holidays, A Christmas Carol would have been a step too far!
Naked City edited by Ellen Datlow. Urban fantasy short story collection