I’m hoping I can add one or two more books to this list before the end of the
year, but am really pleased that I discovered these. Thank you VERY much to all
the authors!
I don’t include any spoilers, nor are the books in any best-of order. As always
for me, they’re both in the Fantasy genre & available in ebook format. As I finished
this post, I realized that all of the books are series which pleases me for a reason
I can’t place my finger on. Last, but not least, they weren’t all published
in 2009, but that’s when I got to them!
Flesh and Fire: Book One of The Vineart War by Laura Anne Gilman- This book was
so unexpected. New magic is really hard to find. Nothing against our current world
that builds on the ‘Tolkien-esque’ magic-verse–its just nice to get something new.
And when it comes accompanied by solid world-building and sublime & descriptive
writing, you can’t ask for more. I am very much looking forward to subsequent books
in this series. My only complaint about this (as well as other series books) is
that it is not a stand-alone book; the ending makes it clear that there is much
more to follow.
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett – This book started off as a good and fast-paced
Epic Fantasy. The plot and characterization seemed pretty straightforward. Somewhere
along the line a darker element along with unusual plot twists elevated this out
of the good book and into the great book category.
Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund – I have to admit, there is tons of good YA Fantasy out there, many
times better than some of the stuff pushed in the ‘adult’ aisles. This was one of
them. Comparing it to some of my other reads–this seemed like Percy Jackson for
smart people. That’s really snobbish and I should probably come up with something
else, but not being as gifted as any of the writers on this list–I’ll just leave
it and hope you take it in the spirit its given.
Back to the book–it was just fun. I didn’t expect most of what happened here, and
at one pointI had to go look at the page count (608) because a LOT of stuff waas
going on in this book. Don’t get me wrong, its not a air-quotes-happy book; there
is plenty of conflict–this was just a fast and fun read and I encountered a few
familiar but mostly brand new characters.
The Casting Trilogy by Pamela Freeman- Oh we love our Aussie brothers and sisters!
Such good stuff comes out of them. I picked up this book as a sample, but never
quite got to it. The only good that I consider to come out of that sorry fact is
that it meant when I was done with the 1st book it was a little closer to the release
date of the second installment. This book has a lot of classic elements in the cultures–enough
to make you settle in comfortably before taking off on tangents and around unexpected
corners. It has a classical Fantasy feel too it in a very classy, not old way.
The third installment is due out for the Kindle on 11/12/09.
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – This was the last paperback that I purchased before I got my
1st Kindle. Since I hadn’t started the book yet, it got given away with my other
DTB. That may have been my lamest move ever because it kept me from reading the
book til this year. There are so many accolades for this book and it’s successors,
that if I was the author the pressure would keep me from ever writing again. He
deserves every bit of it though. I got the same feeling reading this one as I did
the 1st time reading The Belgariad, Interview with a Vampire or The Gunslinger.
As I pause to calm down, don’t just take my word for it–google it.
The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks – This book reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean
movie. It’s raucous, rough and surprisingly entertaining. The action never stopped,
some obvious plot twists but still enjoyable. Deep enough to stay out of the trash
category and fun enough to last thru 3 (or more) books. When I was done all I could
think about was how much I had just enjoyed it. The writing got a little rough in
spots, but I always consider some of that to be the fault of the publisher/editor.
Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire – I must say, this is the best urban fantasy book I’ve read this
year-hands down.
It is a true Urban Fantasy despite a female protagonist, which many times indicates
a Paranormal Romance. Much to my relief, the main character, October Daye, while
flawed, does not exhibit the stupid, single-minded aggressiveness that passes as
‘I’m a bad-ass’ in so many other Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance characters.
Just a moment for my soapbox–Why are so many female characters in these books so
one dimensional? They don’t seem to think anything out, stay angry for the sake
of anger, never compromise even when they see the wiser course and seem to be slaves
to their libido or a perennial victim of a ‘shattered past’–bleh… October is the
antithesis of those characters, while still remaining a flawed, funny and very likable
character. She remains true to herself throughout the book. Seanan McGuire writes
a clean, well written, very enjoyable book that I hope is the 1st of many.
