2016 Reading list
Tremontaine episode 10: Shadowroot by Joe Derfner & Ellen Kushner. I thought this guy was the weakest of the ensemble writers after his first couple of episodes but this one was much better actually. [kindle]
Tremontaine episode 11: Go And Tell The Morning Star by Alaya Dawn Johnson & Ellen Kushner. A secret is revealed and Kaab chooses between her family and her friends. Great stuff, a really good episode for seeing into the characters heads and hearts.[kindle]
Dark Eden by Chris Beckett. Random recommendation from a work colleague. Lost colony SF with some really lovely world building and interesting musings on how society develops when the tribe gets too big to stay one happy family.
Tremontaine episode 12: A Tale of Two Ladies by Malinda Lo & Ellen Kushner. Ooooh, cannot wait for the final part now, the battle of wits between Kaab and Diane is marvellous.[kindle]
The Wicked and the Divine: The Faust Act (volume 1) by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson and Cowles. [re-read]
The Wicked and the Divine: Fandemonium (volume 2) by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson and Cowles. Cliff-hanger!! Did not see that coming.
Tremontaine episode 13: Departures by Ellen Kushner. Season 1 finale. Great stuff![kindle]
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie. I couldn't imagine this guy writing YA but the reviews are glowing so I thought I'd give it a go. Turns out there is less violence and no sex but it's still very much Abercrombie. I didn't see where it was going at all and rather enjoyed that but I think I'm more excited about the other two in the series which have female POV characters.
Ash by Malinda Lo. Charming retelling of Cinderella complete with inscrutable fairies and the heroine saving herself and finding belonging, perfect sickbed reading.[kindle]
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Great little graphic novel based on a web comic. I had a tear in my eye when I finished it, really lovely character piece.
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold. A very grown up Vorkosigan book about mortality, duty and legacy. I sniffled a fair few times.
The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett. Lymond is sent to help the Knights of St John against the Turks, putting into the path of Graham Mallett, known as Gabriel, but who is the angel and who is the demon? As usual in Dunnett books, some people are very much not who they seem and secret agendas will only gradually be revealed.
The Wicked and the Divine volume 3: Commercial Suicide by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson, Cowles et al. I'm really not sure where they're going with this and am slightly concerned they are going to end up with no characters I actually like left but it continues to be a thought-provoking read. Some of the guest artists are more successful than others.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Finally bought this at xmas having been planning to read it for years. Kind of sad I didn't read it as a teenager because teenage-me would have adored it. I did still really enjoy it, but I was aware, especially once she fell in love, that it would have meant so much more to me at that age.
Saga volume 2 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples. Mostly enjoying this although it still has points where it make me go 'hmmm'.
The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman, J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart. Very good and very pretty. I want to re-read the rest of Sandman now, really must complete my collection!
The Traitor by Seth Dickinson. A griping read, I ended up staying up til 1am to finish it. The best sort of SF - a thought-provoking read (a commentary on Imperialism and colonialism in this case) combined with a great character story that takes you on an emotional journey. [Kindle]
Saga volume 3 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples. I just wish they would stop using misogynistic slurs. That aside, I'm rather enjoying it.
Rat Queens volume 1: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch. Gory, irreverent and very funny.
A long way to a small, angry planet by Becky Chambers. Character-driven space opera, not quite Bujold or the Liaden Universe but a satisfying read.[Kindle]
Runaways volume 1: Pride & Joy [Re-read]
Runaways volume 2: Teenage Wasteland [Re-read]
Phonogram: Rue Britannia by Gillen & McKelvie. Recognisably the same team as The Wicked and the Divine but I think their writing has come on since and my 'Unknown Armies' issues may not help its case. So, not really my thing.
False Colours by Georgette Heyer.
Rat Queens volume 2
Rat Queens volume 3
Pawn in Frankincense by Dorothy Dunnett. Well, that's a chess game I'm never going to forget.
Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie. A master class in writing fantasy short stories.
Trade Secret by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb. The story of how Wit magic came to be stigmatised in the Six Duchies. Unfortunately now I've started noticing how she treats her female characters, I keep being disappointed by it.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Utterly charming, Victoriana magical realism. Quite lovely.
Saga volume 4 by Brian Vaughan & Fiona Staples. Sadly, I think I might give up on this here - I know it's intended to be offensive but really, the rest of it is creative, why do the trolls have to use such graphic sexist language?
Half the World by Joe Abercrombie. I would never have thought when I was struggling through 'The Blade Itself' that Abercrombie would become one of my favourite fantasy authors but he has - this is full of great female characters
Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The main Korval storyline of the Liaden Universe continues - we get a bit of Daav but this is mostly The Dutiful Passage and the AIs, and happily no Theo ;)
Fables collected 1-10 "Legends in Exile" and "Animal Farm" by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton. Somehow I'd never got around to this before but it's definitely worth a read if exiled fairytale characters trying to make their way in New York sounds like your sort of thing.
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Fun alternate world fantasy set in a Victorian London full of vampires and fae.
Half a War by Joe Abercrombie.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 1: Convocation by Ellen Kushner. Kindle.
Rivers of London:Body of Work
Whitehall season 1 episode 1:Embarkations by Liz Duffy Adams and Delia Sherman. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 2: Old in Mischief by Tessa Gratton. kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 3: Fireworks by Mary Anne Mohanraj. kindle
Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 4: All that glitters by Joe Derfner. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 5: Alive, and home here by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Kindle.
The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett.
The Hanging Tree (Rivers of London 6) by Ben Aaronovitch.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 6: Blood and Silk by Mary Anne Mohanraj. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 7: The Duchess Gambit by Joe Derfner. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 8: A Rushing of wings by Paul Witcover and Racheline Maltese. Kindle.
The Mazarinette and the Musketeer by Heather Rose Jones. (short story) Kindle.
Mother of Souls by Heather Rose Jones. I do love this series but the problem with trying to continue the two existing storylines plus add another one and two new narrators is that this ends up feeling very bitty indeed in places, like she's shoved odd bits of a different book into it because the events are all on the same timeline. Kindle
Tremontaine season 2 episode 9: The Heart a Liability by Tessa Gratton. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 10: The Coming Night by Joel Derfner. Kindle.
Currently reading:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.
To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix.
Anno Dracula: Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman
Tremontaine episode 11: Go And Tell The Morning Star by Alaya Dawn Johnson & Ellen Kushner. A secret is revealed and Kaab chooses between her family and her friends. Great stuff, a really good episode for seeing into the characters heads and hearts.[kindle]
Dark Eden by Chris Beckett. Random recommendation from a work colleague. Lost colony SF with some really lovely world building and interesting musings on how society develops when the tribe gets too big to stay one happy family.
Tremontaine episode 12: A Tale of Two Ladies by Malinda Lo & Ellen Kushner. Ooooh, cannot wait for the final part now, the battle of wits between Kaab and Diane is marvellous.[kindle]
The Wicked and the Divine: The Faust Act (volume 1) by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson and Cowles. [re-read]
The Wicked and the Divine: Fandemonium (volume 2) by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson and Cowles. Cliff-hanger!! Did not see that coming.
Tremontaine episode 13: Departures by Ellen Kushner. Season 1 finale. Great stuff![kindle]
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie. I couldn't imagine this guy writing YA but the reviews are glowing so I thought I'd give it a go. Turns out there is less violence and no sex but it's still very much Abercrombie. I didn't see where it was going at all and rather enjoyed that but I think I'm more excited about the other two in the series which have female POV characters.
Ash by Malinda Lo. Charming retelling of Cinderella complete with inscrutable fairies and the heroine saving herself and finding belonging, perfect sickbed reading.[kindle]
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Great little graphic novel based on a web comic. I had a tear in my eye when I finished it, really lovely character piece.
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold. A very grown up Vorkosigan book about mortality, duty and legacy. I sniffled a fair few times.
The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett. Lymond is sent to help the Knights of St John against the Turks, putting into the path of Graham Mallett, known as Gabriel, but who is the angel and who is the demon? As usual in Dunnett books, some people are very much not who they seem and secret agendas will only gradually be revealed.
The Wicked and the Divine volume 3: Commercial Suicide by Gillen, McKelvie, Wilson, Cowles et al. I'm really not sure where they're going with this and am slightly concerned they are going to end up with no characters I actually like left but it continues to be a thought-provoking read. Some of the guest artists are more successful than others.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Finally bought this at xmas having been planning to read it for years. Kind of sad I didn't read it as a teenager because teenage-me would have adored it. I did still really enjoy it, but I was aware, especially once she fell in love, that it would have meant so much more to me at that age.
Saga volume 2 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples. Mostly enjoying this although it still has points where it make me go 'hmmm'.
The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman, J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart. Very good and very pretty. I want to re-read the rest of Sandman now, really must complete my collection!
The Traitor by Seth Dickinson. A griping read, I ended up staying up til 1am to finish it. The best sort of SF - a thought-provoking read (a commentary on Imperialism and colonialism in this case) combined with a great character story that takes you on an emotional journey. [Kindle]
Saga volume 3 by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples. I just wish they would stop using misogynistic slurs. That aside, I'm rather enjoying it.
Rat Queens volume 1: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch. Gory, irreverent and very funny.
A long way to a small, angry planet by Becky Chambers. Character-driven space opera, not quite Bujold or the Liaden Universe but a satisfying read.[Kindle]
Runaways volume 1: Pride & Joy [Re-read]
Runaways volume 2: Teenage Wasteland [Re-read]
Phonogram: Rue Britannia by Gillen & McKelvie. Recognisably the same team as The Wicked and the Divine but I think their writing has come on since and my 'Unknown Armies' issues may not help its case. So, not really my thing.
False Colours by Georgette Heyer.
Rat Queens volume 2
Rat Queens volume 3
Pawn in Frankincense by Dorothy Dunnett. Well, that's a chess game I'm never going to forget.
Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie. A master class in writing fantasy short stories.
Trade Secret by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb. The story of how Wit magic came to be stigmatised in the Six Duchies. Unfortunately now I've started noticing how she treats her female characters, I keep being disappointed by it.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Utterly charming, Victoriana magical realism. Quite lovely.
Saga volume 4 by Brian Vaughan & Fiona Staples. Sadly, I think I might give up on this here - I know it's intended to be offensive but really, the rest of it is creative, why do the trolls have to use such graphic sexist language?
Half the World by Joe Abercrombie. I would never have thought when I was struggling through 'The Blade Itself' that Abercrombie would become one of my favourite fantasy authors but he has - this is full of great female characters
Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The main Korval storyline of the Liaden Universe continues - we get a bit of Daav but this is mostly The Dutiful Passage and the AIs, and happily no Theo ;)
Fables collected 1-10 "Legends in Exile" and "Animal Farm" by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton. Somehow I'd never got around to this before but it's definitely worth a read if exiled fairytale characters trying to make their way in New York sounds like your sort of thing.
The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. Fun alternate world fantasy set in a Victorian London full of vampires and fae.
Half a War by Joe Abercrombie.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 1: Convocation by Ellen Kushner. Kindle.
Rivers of London:Body of Work
Whitehall season 1 episode 1:Embarkations by Liz Duffy Adams and Delia Sherman. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 2: Old in Mischief by Tessa Gratton. kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 3: Fireworks by Mary Anne Mohanraj. kindle
Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 4: All that glitters by Joe Derfner. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 5: Alive, and home here by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Kindle.
The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett.
The Hanging Tree (Rivers of London 6) by Ben Aaronovitch.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 6: Blood and Silk by Mary Anne Mohanraj. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 7: The Duchess Gambit by Joe Derfner. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 8: A Rushing of wings by Paul Witcover and Racheline Maltese. Kindle.
The Mazarinette and the Musketeer by Heather Rose Jones. (short story) Kindle.
Mother of Souls by Heather Rose Jones. I do love this series but the problem with trying to continue the two existing storylines plus add another one and two new narrators is that this ends up feeling very bitty indeed in places, like she's shoved odd bits of a different book into it because the events are all on the same timeline. Kindle
Tremontaine season 2 episode 9: The Heart a Liability by Tessa Gratton. Kindle.
Tremontaine season 2 episode 10: The Coming Night by Joel Derfner. Kindle.
Currently reading:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.
To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix.
Anno Dracula: Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman