So far this week I have only finished one book – Republic of Thieves – on which I have already written and posted a review. Short version: I loved it. Added to my library this week: As I mentioned in my last reading roundup, several books were released this week about which I was very excited. Emperor of Thorns, Codex Born and Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns were added to my library this week in Kindle format. It was disappointing though that Audible didn’t have Emperor of Thorns available on release day. I have been absorbed in the story, and I would have liked the professional narration to help it along. I will, of course, be reviewing these books in due course. I have had Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones, the first book of The Mortal Instruments series, in my Audible library for some time, but I have had difficulty getting into it. However, as soon as I listened to the first few minutes of Jennifer Ehle’s narration of The Clockwork Angel, the first book of the Infernal Devices trilogy, I knew I was hooked. I immediately bought all three books in both Kindle and Audible formats. Sadly, Ms…
I received a free copy of The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch for review. This is the third book in Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastards series and I was very much looking forward to reading it. In the way that Red Seas Under Red Skies explored Locke’s relationship with Jean through flashbacks and a present day narrative, Republic of Thieves explores our hero’s relationship with the mysterious Sabetha in a similar manner. This book also deepens our knowledge of the Bondsmagi and gives some possible hints about what to expect next for Locke. What I liked Lynch’s writing style. I really enjoyed the witty. light banter of the previous two books, and this one continues the trend. Many times I found myself giggling out loud at a particularly funny turn of phrase. Character relationships. Lynch clearly has a knack for writing relationships. In Red Seas Under Red Skies the Locke/Jean relationship reminded me of a Hope/Crosby Road to… movie while Republic of Thieves is more like a well-written rom-com. Their fears, hopes and misunderstandings seem very real. The Bondsmagi. In this book we get to learn a lot more about them and how they work. The storyline takes us deep into…
In my reading roundup for 2nd August I read Mark Lawrence’s King of Thorns, which I read on Kindle and listened to on Audible. As I mentioned last week, I’d been convinced to give this series another try despite not really being engaged in the first book, and I’m very glad I did. I think it helped that I both read and listened to it. James Clamp is competent as a narrator (check out a sample), but I suspect I perhaps missed a lot in the first book (which I only listened to on Audible) due to my dislike of the main character. Yes, Jorg is still a bloodthirsty, vengeful character, but he is maturing and is capable of thinking of others from time to time. The concept of the “memory box” and what I means for Jorg as well as the part it plays in the story is very well done. I gave King of Thorns four stars out of five. This is an improvement on the three stars I gave the first book Prince of Thorns. Perhaps Emperor of Thorns will make five stars. I also was fascinated by the references to our own world. I’m not…