Slacker reader :P
Why yes, I have been reading. But living life has gotten in the way of sharing what those books were. Until today, when I was so moved I had to share.
I finished up the (to date published) Prism series by Brent Weeks. I had read somewhere how Mary Robinette Kowal had helped Mr. Weeks with editing and suggestions. At the end of the second book (which I was very glad to have bought at the same time as the first) I was so overcome with "What must happen next? I don't care, I HAVE to go out and buy the next book now." Luckily, the third book was published, if only in hard cover. I couldn't wait to order it online for delivery and went to a nearby brick and mortar to pick it up. I was not disappointed! Well, I was, because it was following a nice traditional trilogy curve, that about half way through the third book Ms. Kowal's fingerprints showed up and BOOM EPIC SERIES! BWUHAHAHA!! Not only are you left with OMGWTFBBQ!!!111 of feels swirling and "where the heck can this even go, but it will and HOLY MOTHER OF GOODNESS what a cliff hanger... and the 4th book comes out in ...August. Take my money now, I want that on the day it comes out. No, don't say a word, take my money. Just gimme the damn book. NOA."
Then I jumped back into Laura Anne Gilman's Cosa books. I have been wibbly wobbly reading them, which has been to my detriment, sorta. I jumped into the COSA with the PSI series, and after books 1&2 took a breather. I loved them and planned to come back, at some point. I totes bought the novella Sylvan Investigations when it came available in print - and learned that it doesn't matter what Ms. Gilman does, I must support it. I may be ify on many factors, but no more second guessing myself and whether or not to support a kick starter (or wait on any of her books.) DO EET NOA. Alas, the Sylvan Investigations spoiled me when I went back to finish books 3 & 4 in the PSI series. Luckily, enough time had passed that I remembered /someone/ important had died, just not which of two characters. So I spent the entirety of both books going, "Oh, is s/he the one that dies? Is this what does it?" And damnit if it was the very end of the 4th book and in a way that shows Ms. Gilman is bloody amazing in her twists. *bows to the genius of LAG*
At some point during this run I used giftcards and dove into Ms. Gilman's backlog and started the Retriever series. I was sadly disappointed in the first book because the world of the Cosa and Ms. Gilman's writing style that I so loved was not evident and were so... hampered that I felt like my best friend had gotten a labotomy! (Note: While I've had the pleasure of meeting Ms Gilman, I do not in any way assume I know her at all (despite online stalking) nor would I even dream of being considered her friend.) One of the reasons I plugged on and gave her a lot of salt because it was her first book EVER. I can well imagine that the publisher and editors hampered a lot of it, as well as she was gaining her book legs. I knew things gelled and I would find her, it was just a question of when in the six book series would that be?
Onward, into book 2 - Curse the Dark. It is this book which I finished less than two hours ago which gave me so many feels that I had to sit down and write about it right this moment. About halfway through (damn near exactly half based on page numbering) Ms. Gilman's voice woke up and proclaimed itself. It said, "I'm here and no more shackles! Hear my roar!" I then proceeded to have many fits of giggles and gasps that I have come to expect from her books. There was a love scene - which I am not against - it just felt... out of place and put the book off balance. I kept reminding myself that romance editing and such was part of Ms. Gilman's CV and readers dig that thing, and hey it DID work for the characters and story so quit my bitchin'. It was just a bit of extra gravy to an already decadent meal.
At around the 3/4 mark of the book it gripped me and it was hard to put it down - to work, sleep, mow the lawn, etc. :P It was nice to see things starting to come together, even with the neat labyrinthine twists which are a hallmark of Ms. Gilman. The climax had me glued and I cried, unashamed, at the potential loss of one character and the loss of another. (Also confused by one thing that happened (grounding in a demon?), and wondering something else that happened on the periphery (why said grounding snapped and whatever happened to PB?) that just never got explained and I wish had. Or I'm just too dense to get it the first time around. :P)
It's been long while since a book moved me to actual, physical tears. And for a secondary character no less! That is power. That is skill. That is Laura Anne Gilman showing you what a rock star she is in the publishing world and you best sit up and take notice, give her awards and well paid contracts. :P That is why you make her your world famous, amazing brownies of goodness and sin. That is why you must write NOA about all the feels her book elicits, despite a rumbling tummy and list of things to do a mile long. :P
Now I'm sitting, squirming, cursing myself for not having ordered or tracked down copies of the rest of the Retriever series like I have been meaning to for the past four months. :P Take my money, I want them. Yeah, ignore that over the credit limit credit card... I'll figure out a way. (I need to hunt down my new to me since I moved local library, though I'd rather give money to help support Ms. Gilman. :P)
I have a stack of books in my to read pile, and I'm at a loss as to which one to dive into next. If it is good, I'll let you know. ;)
I finished up the (to date published) Prism series by Brent Weeks. I had read somewhere how Mary Robinette Kowal had helped Mr. Weeks with editing and suggestions. At the end of the second book (which I was very glad to have bought at the same time as the first) I was so overcome with "What must happen next? I don't care, I HAVE to go out and buy the next book now." Luckily, the third book was published, if only in hard cover. I couldn't wait to order it online for delivery and went to a nearby brick and mortar to pick it up. I was not disappointed! Well, I was, because it was following a nice traditional trilogy curve, that about half way through the third book Ms. Kowal's fingerprints showed up and BOOM EPIC SERIES! BWUHAHAHA!! Not only are you left with OMGWTFBBQ!!!111 of feels swirling and "where the heck can this even go, but it will and HOLY MOTHER OF GOODNESS what a cliff hanger... and the 4th book comes out in ...August. Take my money now, I want that on the day it comes out. No, don't say a word, take my money. Just gimme the damn book. NOA."
Then I jumped back into Laura Anne Gilman's Cosa books. I have been wibbly wobbly reading them, which has been to my detriment, sorta. I jumped into the COSA with the PSI series, and after books 1&2 took a breather. I loved them and planned to come back, at some point. I totes bought the novella Sylvan Investigations when it came available in print - and learned that it doesn't matter what Ms. Gilman does, I must support it. I may be ify on many factors, but no more second guessing myself and whether or not to support a kick starter (or wait on any of her books.) DO EET NOA. Alas, the Sylvan Investigations spoiled me when I went back to finish books 3 & 4 in the PSI series. Luckily, enough time had passed that I remembered /someone/ important had died, just not which of two characters. So I spent the entirety of both books going, "Oh, is s/he the one that dies? Is this what does it?" And damnit if it was the very end of the 4th book and in a way that shows Ms. Gilman is bloody amazing in her twists. *bows to the genius of LAG*
At some point during this run I used giftcards and dove into Ms. Gilman's backlog and started the Retriever series. I was sadly disappointed in the first book because the world of the Cosa and Ms. Gilman's writing style that I so loved was not evident and were so... hampered that I felt like my best friend had gotten a labotomy! (Note: While I've had the pleasure of meeting Ms Gilman, I do not in any way assume I know her at all (despite online stalking) nor would I even dream of being considered her friend.) One of the reasons I plugged on and gave her a lot of salt because it was her first book EVER. I can well imagine that the publisher and editors hampered a lot of it, as well as she was gaining her book legs. I knew things gelled and I would find her, it was just a question of when in the six book series would that be?
Onward, into book 2 - Curse the Dark. It is this book which I finished less than two hours ago which gave me so many feels that I had to sit down and write about it right this moment. About halfway through (damn near exactly half based on page numbering) Ms. Gilman's voice woke up and proclaimed itself. It said, "I'm here and no more shackles! Hear my roar!" I then proceeded to have many fits of giggles and gasps that I have come to expect from her books. There was a love scene - which I am not against - it just felt... out of place and put the book off balance. I kept reminding myself that romance editing and such was part of Ms. Gilman's CV and readers dig that thing, and hey it DID work for the characters and story so quit my bitchin'. It was just a bit of extra gravy to an already decadent meal.
At around the 3/4 mark of the book it gripped me and it was hard to put it down - to work, sleep, mow the lawn, etc. :P It was nice to see things starting to come together, even with the neat labyrinthine twists which are a hallmark of Ms. Gilman. The climax had me glued and I cried, unashamed, at the potential loss of one character and the loss of another. (Also confused by one thing that happened (grounding in a demon?), and wondering something else that happened on the periphery (why said grounding snapped and whatever happened to PB?) that just never got explained and I wish had. Or I'm just too dense to get it the first time around. :P)
It's been long while since a book moved me to actual, physical tears. And for a secondary character no less! That is power. That is skill. That is Laura Anne Gilman showing you what a rock star she is in the publishing world and you best sit up and take notice, give her awards and well paid contracts. :P That is why you make her your world famous, amazing brownies of goodness and sin. That is why you must write NOA about all the feels her book elicits, despite a rumbling tummy and list of things to do a mile long. :P
Now I'm sitting, squirming, cursing myself for not having ordered or tracked down copies of the rest of the Retriever series like I have been meaning to for the past four months. :P Take my money, I want them. Yeah, ignore that over the credit limit credit card... I'll figure out a way. (I need to hunt down my new to me since I moved local library, though I'd rather give money to help support Ms. Gilman. :P)
I have a stack of books in my to read pile, and I'm at a loss as to which one to dive into next. If it is good, I'll let you know. ;)