LunaticDruid 2016 - Kindlemanjaro

New year, new possibilities!

It's been a busy start of the year but real life seems to settle down a bit now. Time to catch up!

Goals for 2016:

- Read 20 or more books. Last year i ended up on 16. I'm not a fast reader as I tend to make a "real time" movie in my mind as I read. It wouldn't do if the big baddie suddently sounded like a smurf because I was reading to fast... Also, I have started to read aloud so I can practice speaking English, not just reading.
- Read books by Norwegian/Scandinavian authors. I read none last year!
- Unlurk a lot more on LT! I tried this in 2015 and failed miserably.
- Try writing something on my own, just to practice.

Book 1 2016

Heirs of the Blade by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book 7 of the "Shadows of the Apt" series.





I started reading this in December 2015 but just finished it a couple of days ago.

This time we leave Stenwold Maker for the time being and follow Tynisa on her personal quest to find Salmas family in the Dragonfly Principalities. Things soon takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Che tries to track Tynisa down, scared for what her half sister might end up doing once she no longer has a purpose to persue.

Once again, I like visiting the world Tchaikovsky has created. I almost wish someone had made this into a high-budget TV series just because it feels so different. You got this war looming in the near future, at the same time there is this clash between the old forgotten magic that seem to resurface and giant leaps in technology. The plot could have been a bit stronger, but the action felt spot on.

Book 2 2016

Architects of Destiny by Amy DuBoff
Book 1 of the "Cadicle" series.



Labled as "An Epic Space Opera Series" (I am unfamiliar with that term), but it is set in space and I anticipates some drama maybe??

Chris is a 16 year old boy, son and heir to one of the six major dynasties that controll "Teraria" and has minor telepathic abileties. Feeling unappreciated he decides to run away from home and try to find his own way in the galaxy.

It is a very short book (168 pages) but it is free for the Kindle at Amazon.com at the moment. I'm about halfway through and the plot is just about to pick up it seems.

Oh, to finish the catching up bit... On December 29th I had my 5th Thingaversary. I hope the delay in reporting the 5+1 mandatory book purchases won't add penalties. If it does I might have to cook soup on tree bark and newspaper for dinner the next month :S

1: Bloodline by Conn Iggulden
Book 3 of the "Wars of the Roses" series.

Final book in this trilogy. Looking forward to read this!

2: The Air War by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book 8 of the "Shadows of the Apt" series.

To continue one of my ongoing series.

3: Marius' Mules III: Gallia Invicta by S.J.A. Turney
Book 3 of the "Marius' Mules" series.

Again, to continue one of my ongoing series.

4: The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson
Book 4 of the "Mistborn" series.

Decided by Random.org and my "wishlist spreadsheet"

5: The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Book 1 of the "Kingmaker, Kingbreaker" series.

Decided by Random.org and my "wishlist spreadsheet"

+1 (to grow on): Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts
Book 1 of the "Wars of Light and Shadow" series.

Decided by Random.org and my "wishlist spreadsheet"

I hope to read all these books before summer!

Now, I just need to catch up on the last couple of hundred posts at The Green Dragon I missed during my hiatus in December (Just 46 threads left to go!)

Wishing you well in 2016, may you have many happy hours of reading ahead of you (and I'm sure that will be with such an interesting list ahead of you - several of which are either on my list of 'ones to get to; or on my 'track this down as you already have some of its sequels' list). I shall lurk along waiting to see how you get on with the Brandon Sanderson, Karen Miller and Janny Wurts titles in particular.

I like your thread title. I also have a goal to not lurk as much.

One quick question for you though, what do the smaller covers under the book signify? Just curious is all.

Best. thread. title. ever.

Starred and lurking!

The reading aloud is a good idea. I should do that to try and bring back some of my highschool French and German. (Not that I ever spoke either of them proficiently.)

I hope you are all snug in your druid house for the winter!

By way of encouragement, allow me to offer this picture of Kili, taken from the plane on the way home from Nairobi a few years before there was a LT.

Thank you all. You make me feel al warm and fuzzy inside (and that is not just because of the cocoa i just drank).

>2 Peace2: Random.org did a great job of picking books this time around.

>3 heathn: The smaller books is the graphics for my ratings. One book equals one star, and a scroll is half a star.

>4 Marissa_Doyle: I spent about two hours to decide on a title, then this one just slid in from nowhere! Can't wait until I get to name my own book, it will only take about 10 years :S

>5 SylviaC: The days are short and the snow is deep, so I'm spending a lot of time in front of a warm and cozy fireplace at the moment.

>6 hfglen: I really hope to see Kilimanjaro in real life some time. Thank you for sharing the picture!

Good luck conquering the mountain this year, and with your other goals! I loved Alloy of law, much more than I did Mistborn. And Curse of the mistwraith is the start of an amazing series.

Delurking to squee about the name of your thread. I love Kindlemanjaro!! I can so relate!

Book 2 2016

Architects of Destiny by Amy DuBoff
Book 1 of the "Cadicle" series.





Well. This fell a bit flat on its face. It started good, but soon felt more of a "try to reach some kind of future plot" book. The book is devided into three parts that can shortly be described as:

1. Running away from home.
- Jump 9 monts forward in time to:
2. Chris goes to school (basically recruitment and training)
- Skip three more years and enter:
3. Romance Galore! Including "instalove" and "I know I should have told you earlier".

The writing isn't bad, but feels a bit inexperienced and superficial. For me, it needs more character developement and fleshed out plot. I think most of the developement here happened during the years the author skipped...

Well, I got it for free and it was a short quick read so I can't complain too mutch even though I almost sprained my eyes (can you do that?? It feels like you could) from all the eye rolling I did during the last part.

Weeeell, on to the next book.... How to decide, how to decide...

Love seeing you here, whenever you appear. :) As many others have mentioned, your thread title is terrific!

>9 mamzel: and >11 MrsLee: Thank you! I am very satisfied with the title.

After thinking a bit I really felt like traveling back in time to the Roman Era again so...

Book 3 2016

Marius' Mules III: Gallia Invicta by S.J.A. Turney
Book 3 of the "Marius' Mules" series.


I have enjoyed the first two books in this series. The author is great at describing battles. You feel the weight of the enemy pressing against you shield. I do struggle to connect with the characters, but it is not too bad. It might just be some weird preferences of mine that hinders me.

I stopped by a book store after work today, I had a giftcard i had to use before it expired. I got the following books:

Odinsbarn

and Råta

by Siri Pettersen. It is the first two books in a series called "Ravneringene" (The raven rings). It is a story based on Norse mythology that have gotten a lot of praise here in Norway. Not sure if it has been translated to something other than Swedish.

I also got Før jeg brenner ned by Gaute Heivoll

This is a book about a pyromaniac that burned down several houses near where I live now in the late 70's. From the toutchstones it looks like it has been translated to several languages (Before I Burn in English).

I hope to mix these in amongst the books to read this year to blend in some Norwegian books also.

Your Norwegian books look very interesting, though to be honest, I wouldn't have that last one in my home at any price.

>13 MrsLee: I met the author of Before I Burn around the time this book got published (he is married into my mothers family). My mom has read the book and told me it was very good, but at times quite dark. I might say that I am curious but at the same time a bit apprehensive.

Spent way to much time catching up on "The Shannara Chronicles" and season two of "Galavant" today...

Just wanted to let you know that I will follow anyone clever enough to come up with such a good thread title. Kindlemanjaro. Indeed. I will be lurking about.

*chortles in delight*

>15 jillmwo: Glad you liked it!

At great peril to myself I have been practicing my lurking skills to catch up on all the different topics I fell behind on during last December. I went too far and almost ended up as a lurker in my own thread! I have now caught up and need to shift my focus to unlurking.

This year I have decided to follow all of the personal reading journals in The Green Dragon, so I've been busy throwing stars around (the nice "follow this topic" stars, not the ninja ones). I'm a bit scared of what this might do to my wishlist, but I think it will be worth it.

Today I hope to finish Marius' Mules III: Gallia Invicta by S.J.A. Turney, not sure what I feel like reading next. There is just too much goodness waiting for me. Oh random.org what would I do without you...

Book 3 2016

Marius' Mules III: Gallia Invicta by S.J.A. Turney
Book 3 of the "Marius' Mules" series.




We are once again brought to Gaul. After two years of campaigning, Gaul has successfully been conquered by Rome, but the Romans will soon learn that conquered doesn't necessarily mean subdued. In this book we get to join the legions as they split up to quash several rebellions that are rising all over Gaul.

Again, S.J.A. Turney does a great job by describing the battles. Not just on the gritty soldier-to-soldier level but on the overall battle. It is easy to visualize the movement of the different units during the battle. Marcus Falerius Fronto is again in the center of most of this book, still being his grumpy old self, often partly intoxicated on whine (that he sees as a miracle cure for most hurts and ills). Fortunately, Fronto is surrounded by friends that ads a little positivety (and a lot of banter) to the mix.

3 1/2 star rating (or three books and a scroll).

Book 4 2016

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson
Book 4 of the "Mistborn" series.


I had a hard time choosing my next read. I got five books I really wanted to start right now, but as my brain just can handle one book at a time I had to make a choice. After sleeping on it I finally found that I was too curious about The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson.

Woo! Floored. Hope you enjoy the book!!

Book 4 2016

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson
Book 4 of the "Mistborn" series.




Wow... That was so mutch fun! (Full score!)

The events in this book takes place about 300 years after the original Mistborn trilogy. Wax is a lawman and a gunslinger, he is also a "twinborn" having both an allomantic power witch allows him to "push on nearby sources of metal", and a feruchemical power that allows him to make himself lighter or heavier.

I loved the combination of the old magic and the modernized world in this story. It felt like a perfect match! And the short newpaper snippets! I can't wait to meet up with Wax, Wayne, Marasi and Steris again.

My only complaint is that I finished this book way faster than I thought I would. My plan was to have a kindle read I could chip away at next weekend when I got to travel to Oslo for my work.

I will definitely continue this series, but sadly I can't afford Shadows of Self at the moment. I will snatch it up once I do!

>20 LunaticDruid: That is a book which I have had since it came out, but not cracked open yet. I know I will love it, so am saving it for the "right" time. That time may be coming soon.

>20 LunaticDruid: I've read the original trilogy a while ago and enjoyed it. Looks like I should continue with the series at some point. I have a couple of other books of his on the tbr shelves though so might get to one of those first.

>21 MrsLee: I think that was one of the reasons I liked the book so mutch. I didn't know it when I started, but it was absolutely "the right time" for me to read it!

>22 AHS-Wolfy: It has been a couple of years since I read the original trilogy. Having a basic knowledge of the magic system definitely helped to understand everything that happened even though everything got a quick explenation in the book.

Book 5 2016

Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts
Book 1 of the "Wars of Light and Shadow" series.


Next up, some Epic fantasy! I added this to my wishlist after reading about it in several threads the last couple of years.

I must admit I'm a bit nervous starting this as I know >19 JannyWurts: is lurking, hehe.

>24 LunaticDruid: Don't worry, she is one of the nicest folks around and understands that not everyone has the same reading tastes. Spoken from experience. :) Her writing is always good, whether you enjoy the tale or not.

>20 LunaticDruid: The allow of law is still on my shelves as well. It's been a while since I read the Mistborn series though, so I wonder if it will be too difficult to follow? I've forgotten a lot of details.

>26 zjakkelien: I read Mistborn and then skipped the rest of the trilogy to read Alloy of law. Other than not knowing where the other magic system came from, I didn't feel as though I'd missed anything. Because there are a few centuries (I think?) between them you can almost pretend it's a completely new series.

>26 zjakkelien: I don't think you would have too much trouble jumping into The alloy of law. It has been many years since I read the original trilogy and I just needed a reminder of how "feruchemy" worked.

>27 Sakerfalcon: >28 LunaticDruid: Thanks guys! Then I won't feel obliged to reread the Mistborn trilogy

Please don't worry - I don't interfere with readers, or their discussions. Won't say a word, unless you directly ask me. Been around long enough to have seen the gamut, too, so no worries, there.

So totally, your experience is your own. I think there are readers here who can verify that.

Have fun.

>30 JannyWurts: My experience so far is good. As usual I find that I need some time to ajust to the new setting/world and the authors style, but I'm getting into the groove now (finally settled on how I will pronounce s'Ffalenn).

As a side note... I'm practicing my Druidcraft an are currently conjuring some thyme!



Ok, so I seeded them on Sunday, but they are already growing!

>31 LunaticDruid: Well done there! Now you will have thyme for as much reading as you want ;)

>32 hfglen: Oh yes. I might even have to buy Thyme of Death that tardis added to my wishlist some time ago.

>31 LunaticDruid: Mmmm, fresh thyme is the only kind worth using IMO. Good growing to you! The dried stuff always has a moldy taste to me.

>34 MrsLee: I totally agree, fresh is loads better than dried, but I rarely find it in the stores here. I plan on growing a whole bunch of other herbs and foodplants this year. Hopefully some of it might even end up edible...

Book 5 2016

Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts
Book 1 of the "Wars of Light and Shadow" series.




Finished Curse of the Mistwraith last weekend. It was a good but looong read.

I got the feeling that despite this being such a tome that it is mostly placing the pieces to a much larger story. I like the struggle between the half brothers and how this evolves throughout the book and how the curse of the mistwraith takes completely over if they get close enough to each other.

The language was a bit advanced to me. I kept bumping into new words I didn't know the meaning of (43 in total!). It brought me out of the story and disrupted my “reading flow”. But the good thing about this is that I now have a whole new selection of words in my kindles “vocabulary builder”!

Book 6 2016

Før jeg brenner ned (Before I burn) by Gaute Heivoll




My first read in Norwegian this year.

The year is 1978, the place is Finsland, a small village near Kristiansand, Norway (45 min. drive from where I live now). The author Gaute Heivoll is 2 months old. It wasn't until he was older that Gaute realized the stories he was told when he grew up were true. The story about the pyromaniac...

Gaute Heivoll tells the tragic story of the pyromaniac that terrorized his home village in 1978 burning down several buildings. He also writes about meeting the people caught in the middle of it. People he knew growing up. In addition Gaute tells his own story. How a small comment given when he was a child stayed in the back of his head. How one can loose oneself in times of hardship. How a small lie can bring so much regret.

It was a good book based on a true story. A hard, and tragic book. One that will stay in my thoughts for a long time.

The parts about the pyromaniac is currently being made into a movie. The first trailer was released a short time ago. Here is the link if anybody is interrested: https://youtu.be/WYyPphpsQRE . Trailer is in Norwegian. No english subtitles unfortunately, but the trailer catches the mood of the book perfectly.

Tonight I feel pensive, a bit uneasy and mildly amused...

It is just a couple of weeks since I finished Before I Burn by Gaute Heilvoll. A book about a pyromaniac that in a short periode 30 years ago, started several fires in his home village Finsland, a 45 minute drive from where I live now. Tonight I took this picture:



This is the burning remains of a barn just five og six hundred meters from my house. The police has informed the media that the barn did not contain any animals or people, but two houses got evacuated. I know it probably is a «normal» fire that started in a «normal» firery way. But one thing that the brain is incredible at, is to jump to conclusions however wrong that conclusion might be.

My brain connected the dots immediately. Fire – Barn – Book – Pyromaniac (this is the pensive and uneasy part). To my surprise my brain wasn't done there. It did a backflip and started a new train of thought. Book – My life – Reality (this brings me to the mildly amused part). I am now sitting at home contemplating of how best to entertain and handle the army of brittish knights that surely will pass through in a couple of weeks. Will I need to make a moat around my house??

Currently reading Bloodline by Conn Iggulden
Book 3 of the "Wars of the Roses" series.

A moat sounds as if it would have dual benefits. First, it might add to general curb appeal, that thing that makes prospective buyers become intrigued with a property. Secondly, it might also serve as a fire break against any lurking pyromaniacs. (Let's be honest, though. What are the chances of either a band of knights or pyromaniacs deciding that they want to visit you? And have you enough in the cupboard to feed a crowd?)

Which government department handles moat permits?

Get crumpets. Crumpets are a necessity for entertaining bands of British knights. And you can toast them over the arsonist's fire.

>39 jillmwo: I don't think my cupboards will be of much help to me, they are mostly empty at the moment. I could send some knighs out hunting for deer or moose. I would give them a warning not to cross any high fences or they might end up in the bellies of the lions at the zoo...

>40 suitable1: The defense department maybe? Or I need to convince the government that my moat is a natural habitat for salamanders (even before it got built...)

>41 SylviaC: Crumpets I can do I think! I would try to keep the arsonist busy setting fire to the arrows used in the archery contest, but then I need a fireproof target... Planning this thing is hard!

>38 LunaticDruid: My brain connected the dots immediately. Fire – Barn – Book – Pyromaniac

Wow! One would almost think that it was like somebody doing copycat burning! You know, like someone was reading a book about the past events and subconsciously imitating the past proceedings...

Oops!

Tip toes silently away hoping nobody has noticed.

>43 pgmcc: The thought have crossed me. I'll make sure to stay in the bushes acting all natural like if there are any more fires.

Come to think of it. The movie for the book I read is premiering april 20th. Some really bad PR stunt gone wrong maybe?

>44 LunaticDruid: If people are talking about it did the stunt go wrong?

>45 pgmcc: It has been quiet in the media so....

I hope to finish Wars of the Roses: Bloodline this weekend. My phone keeps telling me to "be more active" and I hate to say it, but I agree. My plan is to take a little hike on Sunday and read the last few chapters on the edge of a small lake.

>46 LunaticDruid: My phone says that too, I think it is just trying to get me to carry it with me at all times because it is lonely and needy. When it says that, I tell it to get a life, it can't have mine. ;)

>47 MrsLee: I think you might be right. I think I'll end up buying a sportswatch with bluetooth, pedometer and heart rate monitor to make my phone shut up.

OK, I'm just looking for an exuse to buy a sportswatch...

Those sports watches are the biggest nags around. My husband has one. He'll run 12 Km at lunchtime and after dinner it will tell him to MOVE.

>49 tardis: I hope he doesn't have to run 12 Km every time!

I probably need the nagging. I hope I can set my own alarm so it plays the following tune:

"Get up, get out, you lazy lout
Get into your working clothes
Up to your knees in oil and grease
With the grindstone to your nose"

>50 LunaticDruid: That watch does NOT need to nag him. He runs 5 days a week. About 12 k at lunchtime on Tuesday and Thursday, Run Club on Wednesday evening (usually features hill repeats), both Saturday (10-20K) and Sunday morning Run Club (whatever the marathon or half-marathon group is doing). Plus right now he's leading a half-marathon clinic on Tuesday evenings, so he's running then, too. He's planning to run a marathon next week. I don't mind running, and I go out three or four times a week (3-5 km, usually), but I think he's gone a bit overboard :)

Breaking in to say that I want to borrow LunaticDruid's song (#50 above). Never heard that one before...

>51 tardis: Sounds like you and your husband will be ready when The Doctor comes and takes you away in the T.A.R.D.I.S. for adventures!

Just saw this on my Twitter feed:



I hope this means a continuation of "The Children of the White Lions" is in the works!

>54 LunaticDruid: I hope so too!

Sooo... I kinda fell of the earth for a while. Work has been draining. Combine that with the “negative thought-warper” (anxiety) I haven’t felt too sociable. I have now started a three-week vacation to recharge my mental batteries. Two days in and I already feel much better, I even went on a short 40-minute hike today! I bought one of those pesky sports-watches I needed to try out (I hope it helps me to be a bit more active).

Now, time to do some catching up…

Book 7 2016

Bloodline by Conn Iggulden
Book 3 of the "Wars of the Roses" series.




It’s been a while since I finished this, so instead of spending a whole lot of time to make a short non spoilery summary I will copy it from the book cover. I will spoiler tag it as it does reveal things that happened in the earlier books in the series.

Book blurb:

Winter 1461

Richard, Duke of York is dead, his ambitions in ruins, his head spiked on the walls of the city.

King Henry VI is still held prisoner. His Lancastrian queen rides south with an army of victorious Northerners, accompanied by painted warriors from the Scottish Highlands. With the death of York, Margaret and her army seem unstoppable.

Yet killing the father, Margaret has unleashed the sons.
Edward of March, now Duke of York, proclaims himself England’s rightful king. Factions form and tear apart as snow falls. Through blood and treason, through broken men and vengeful women, brother shall confront brother, king shall face king.

Two men can always claim a crown. Only one can keep it.

I continue to love this series (and the cover!). I knew nothing of the “Wars of the Roses” before starting this series (History class is terrible in Norway if you want to learn about anything other than WW2). Now I know a lot more. The book seems well researched, but as it is historical fiction the author has taken some liberties, these are explained in the “Historical Notes” at the end of the book.

I was a bit surprised of how much the alliances shifted during this time. It just shows how unstable the situation was at the time. It makes for a great read. I’m really looking forward the read the fourth and last book of the series (Ravenspur) soon.

Now, I'm of to bed...

Edited to correct touchstone and minor errors...

I hope your vacation leaves you feeling refreshed and recharged!

>57 SylviaC: Thank you, I feel I'm on the right track.

Book 8 2016

The Air War by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book 8 of the " Shadows of the Apt " series.




Once again the Wasps are on the move, this time with new technology and strategy. With new long-range “greatshotters” (cannons) the wasps can bombard the city from a huge distance and still be precise. The new six-legged “Sentinels” are fast and deadly, able to withstand even the most powerful weapon. But the biggest change is in the sky. Gone are the short ranged clockwork orthopters. Now the engine-powered “Farsphex” rule the skies.

With the giant leaps the wasps have done in technology, can the Lowlands once again repel the Empire?

I like this series. It delivers just what I expect it to. Maker is getting grumpier by the book; you can almost feel how tired he is of all this unrest. There is plenty of action (not to graphic) and twists and turns (most of them predictable). I am getting near the end of the series, just two more books to go.

Have a great holiday. Battery recharging is very important.

Inspired by Bookmarque, I have decided to start taking pictures again, so yesterday I dug up my old “Canon 350D” and went for a little walk in my garden. I am a bit rusty but I took a lot of pictures, most of them of decent quality (but not great), but I got a few I was happy with.


This is a flower that popped up in the gravel outside my house. I have no idea what kind it is or from where it came.


I was lucky enough to get a small bumblebee in this photo, just wished I had a faster shutter speed to get more details.


Red beetle on the flowers of ground elder (skvallerkål). The plant is a weed that has invaded my whole garden, but I like the tiny white flowers.


Oh, and I caught these insects being naughty…

Lovely photos! I love when people pick up their cameras and give us a glimpse of their view.

Is it just me? In the last picture, almost half way down on the left side; one of those plant pods looks like a furry face with its mouth open in a buck-toothed guffaw. What is that furry plant?

>61 MrsLee: Haha, I can see it to when you pointed it out!

The furry pods you see is the seedpods of a Lupine.

>60 LunaticDruid: The first one looks like some kind of Geranium (storksbill). (It also looks like some tropical species of Hibiscus, which seems unlikely for Norway!)

The insects look similar to the ones that were doing exactly the same thing on my windshield this morning. I was all for leaving them alone, but my son swished them away with the wipers. I thought it was very rude of him to interrupt.

>63 hfglen: It could have been a Hibiscus, after all, I live in the “tropical-southern” part of Norway. We even had an extended period of sun this year!

I think you’re right. When I google Geranium I find several that looks very similar. It has probably escaped from a nearby garden.

>64 SylviaC: Yeah, I'm not sure they liked me sneaking up on them like a paparazzi with no zoom.

Great pictures. Lovely flowers and insect porn. What more could one ask for. ;-)

>66 pgmcc: Thank you. I enjoy finding the details that often are overlooked, even if it intrudes on the privacy of insects...

I wish I had a macro lens to get even closer to the flowers.

>60 LunaticDruid: - Nice pictures! I think the first flower might be some kind of lavatera or mallow. With a quick online search I found some wild mallows native to Norway, such as this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_sylvestris
although that doesn't look quite like yours.

This one looks more like it, if those are its leaves I can see in the background:
http://www.ediblewildfood.com/vervain-mallow.aspx

>60 LunaticDruid: Great photos! Thank you for sharing them with us.

>68 NorthernStar: I saw a Lavatera that was really close when googling, only it was white in the middle and the leaves didn’t match (to broad). I took a few more pictures of it and has posted on a couple of Norwegian garden forums to see if anyone there recognize it.

>69 Sakerfalcon: Thank you! Glad you liked them.

>68 NorthernStar: Getting closer! It is probably a variant of "Malva moschata alba" (white form of Musk Mallow). It was the first suggestion on both the forums I posted on.

Now, back to books!

Book 9 2016

Conspiracy of Eagles by S.J.A. Turney
Book 4 of the "Marius' Mules" series.




Returning to Rome and Legate Fronto. Ceasar once again drags his legions to Gaul. This time to support the Belgic tribes push back the Germanic tribes once again. This is the start of a campaign that will take Fronto and his 10th all the way to soggy Britannia. If warring with the barbarian tribes wasn’t enough, supporters of Caesar start to show up dead, killed by Roman weaponry.

Even though I enjoyed reading the book, I didn’t find it as good as the previous books in the series. It is still dirty and gritty, but doesn’t make you feel the battle as god as before. The murder mysteries felt like it was added just to add a bit more drama, and action and not to strengthen the story.

Still I am curious to see where the series takes the aging Fronto.

Book 10 2016

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
Book 2 of the "Mistborn Adventures" series.





This continues the story of Waxillium from the book The Alloy of Law. Once again a greatly entertaining read with lots of action and a good chunk of humor. We start of traveling back in time to a younger Wax and an even younger Wayne doing some bounty hunting in the roughs before being transported back to the “present time” where new troubles arise. Other than some minor parts the story is a standalone with its own start and ending.

I Would recommend that you have read the original Mistborn Trillogy to better understand the magic system and races of the world.

I was surprised of how much I liked Sterris this time around. She is the same calculating and dry lady as in the first book, but still, she manages to show how she ticks in the scenes she is in. Even so, Wayne is still my favorite.

Book 11 2016

Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors by Conn Iggulden

Book 4 of the "Wars of the Roses" series.



I am now reading the fourth and last book of the “Wars of the Roses” series. 150 pages in and I am enjoying it immensely. There are too many people named Richard, Henry or Edward in the series, but Iggulden does a great job of helping us to remember who is who.

I also pre-ordered a signed copy of The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks from Barnes and Noble. It is the 4th of the five books in what should have been the Lightbringer “trillogy” (Ehh, does that make it a Quintology? Or a Pentology perhaps?). I am really looking forward to get my hands on this!

I really want to read Shadows of self but my library doesn't have it. They do have Bands of mourning though. I don't know how they make their purchasing decisions!

>74 Sakerfalcon: You would think the libraries had some sort of way to check if a book belonges to a series or not, and maybe some sort of... I don't know... A numbered system to show where the book is compared to the other books in the same series...

I'm sad to say I don't use the library in Norway anymore. Not only do I struggle to find books I want to read but the road toll I got to pay to get there (and again on the way back) is almost the cost of purchasing the books on my Kindle.

Time to catch up once again. It’s been way too long since my last post. I have finished two books.

Book 11 2016

Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors by Conn Iggulden
Book 4 of the "Wars of the Roses" series.





King Edward IV is on one of his many “hunting trips” (more an excuse to get away from his wife and gorge himself in food and alcohol), when a small army appears and forces him to flee England with his brother. Once again England is torn between rivaling factions fighting for the crown.

This was a good finish to the series. It picks of not too long after the last book and take us through all the big turning points during the last few years of the Wars of the Roses. The author does a great job of guiding us through a chaotic period (not to mention helping us keep track of all the Edwards, Richards and Henrys of the time). Having little knowledge of the Wars of the Roses, I feel like I learned a lot from this series even though it is fiction (the “Authors Notes” at the end of the book are great). At least it sparked an interest to learn more of European history from this period.

Book 12 2016

War master’s Gate by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book 9 of the "Shadows of the Apt" series.





Once again I returned to Collegium, still under threat from the wasp army “The Gears”. Having destroyed most of the enemy fliers, Collegium for once have the upper hand in at least one area. The combined strength of the Wasps and the Spiders still outnumber the defenders of Collegium by a great deal. If Collegiums walls are breached the city is lost.

At the same time, Che, a beetle girl is trying to stop the Wasp Empress Seda who are searching for a powerful source of magic hidden deep in the Mantis forest.

Again, I enjoy these trips to the weird fantasy world filled with insect people. The technology race is still ongoing and the weapons are getting quite modern. At the same time magic I reintroduced to the world through Seda and Che. I am curious to see what happens in the final book in this series.

Book 13 2016

Hades' Gate by S.J. A. Turney
Book 5 of the "Marius' Mules" series.



And then I’m back in Rome with Fronto who is currently getting married. He is no longer a part of Caesars army, but the Gallic and Germanic Druids are still working to rid themselves of the Roman invasion.

Book 13 2016

Hades' Gate by S.J. A. Turney
Book 5 of the "Marius' Mules" series.





Marcus Falerius Fronto is no longer a military man. He has turned his back on Caesar and returned to Rome where he is to be married to the beautiful Lucilia, but will he be able to settle down to a life outside of the military? At the same time Caesar is determined to make another attempt to invade Britannia, at the same time Priscus is sure there will be another uprising in Gaul…

Another action filled book. I liked that even though Fronto is the main character we still spend quite a lot of time with the Roman forces in Gaul and Britannia. The fighting is quite grisly and messy (it is war after all). There were some torture scenes I did not enjoy. These are still too grisly for my taste. I will return to this series later, but the next time I am in ancient Rome it is probably on my computer playing Rome II: Total War.

Book 14 2016

The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks (Signed)
Book 4 of the "Lightbringer" “trilogy”.



One of my favorite authors is out with a new book! I will squeeze this “little” tome into my reading order. I can’t wait to be baffled by the twists and turns this book will provide.

Trying to get some reading done, but keep getting distracted by all the tits outside my window.

Ehm, that would be the “Great tit” (Parus major) and the “Eurasian blue tit” (Cyanistes caeruleus), not the ladybump kind… (I’m sorry, getting too influenced by Brent Weeks’ writing).

>78 LunaticDruid: Glad you clarified that!

>78 LunaticDruid: - lovely tits! ; ) I had to look them up on the internet as we don't get them here, they are beautiful birds.

>80 NorthernStar: They are very beautiful. The “Great tit” are quite common in Norway and there seems to be a lot of them this year. During the spring and summer season I had a couple living in a nesting box in my garden (I haven’t checked if they still live there or have moved on).

I hope to put up more feeding stations as the one I got seems a bit crowded at times. I also hope to get hold of a camera with better lenses so I can get better pictures.

>81 LunaticDruid: You do pretty well with what you have, looking forward to more photos. :)

>78 LunaticDruid: I love watching birds and it's great to have a feeder by the window. Blue and great tits are common here in the UK too and they are such pretty birds. Your photo captures them really well.

>82 MrsLee: and >83 Sakerfalcon: Thank you! With a better camera lens, I might have gotten a clearer picture of the one in the air. The lenses I got are not too good in poor lighting. I hope for more visitors during the winter, I’m now up to four different species (not counting the magpie that made a clumsy attempt the other day). Hope to get some more pictures soon.

Now a smooth segue to another bird related service; Twitter.

One of my favorite authors of historical fiction posted this today:



I knew he had a fantasy trilogy in the works (his first, not counting an earlier book for children), but I did not know he was finishing a new historical fiction as well! I might need to pre-order both as part of my thingaversary at the end of the year.

*Edit: Spelling...

Book 14 2016

The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks (Signed)
Book 4 of the "Lightbringer" “trilogy”.





Once again, a brilliant and different story. There were some unexpected twists and turns in the last third of the book, but they weren’t as impactful as the ones in the previous books. Still this book contained some of the best scenes I have read this year. Even though I hate the character I love every page where Andross Guile make an appearance. Be warned; the book contains a bit of cursing and some really awkward sex scenes. Can’t wait for the fifth and final book in the series!

>85 LunaticDruid: I bought the first in this series (The Black Prism for those who are unfamiliar with it) because it was recommended to me by a family member. I just haven't gotten to it yet. Might move it closer to the top of the pile for next year, though. So, does it count as a book bullet if I already own it? I can't remember...

>86 clamairy: In this case I think the book bullet was from your family member, maybe my post was the metal detector that made you aware of the book bullet buried in Mount TBR??

I hope you’ll enjoy The Black Prism as much as I did when I first read it a couple of years ago. I am waiting for a new copy of the book to arrive in the mail as I never got back the one I lended to a colleague. (For those interested you can buy a signed copy from the authors web shop (https://the-brent-weeks-store.myshopify.com/).

Edited to fix grammar.

>87 LunaticDruid: Or your post drove it in closer to the bone. :o)

>85 LunaticDruid: I’m really looking forward to this series. It’s high on my list once the fifth book gets published.

I read his Night Angel trilogy several years ago and I remember enjoying it a lot, but my memory of the story has faded. I kind of wanted to re-read it, but I didn’t want to take precious reading time away from new-to-me books, so last year I decided to try the audiobooks as a compromise. I’m not a good audiobook listener to begin with, and the narrator was so melodramatic that I couldn’t stomach it. I think I gave up about 6 or 7 hours in.

>88 clamairy:

Where's the like button when you need it?

>89 YouKneeK: I’m also planning a re-read of the Night Angel series and a couple of other books. Haven’t decided how to fit it in my reading schedule yet. Audio book is sadly a no go for me. Too hard for brain to stay focused.

>88 clamairy: Hey, wait a minute. If I'm able to push a BB closer to the bone, does that make me a Coinshot??

(Currently reading The Bands of Mourning: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson)

>92 LunaticDruid: I think it might! LOL

(Currently reading The Hero of Ages, coincidentally!!!)

>93 clamairy: That one is also on my to-be-re-read-when-I-find-the-time list. If only I was able to burn some bendalloy to create a speed bouble to fit in some extra reading.

>94 LunaticDruid: This is my first time through. I'm waaaay behind the curve, I know.

>95 clamairy: Yeah, I know the feeling, I still need to get to the books about Harry Dresden and everything by Terry Pratchett! The Mistborn trilogy is one of the few I got to early, just after The Hero of Ages was released in paperback. It was recommended to me by a friend. If I remember correctly he even gave me the first book in the series (Mistborn: The Final Empire).

>96 LunaticDruid: I read The Final Empire 2011. The first Sanderson I read was Elantris which a bunch of us read together. And Brandon himself took part in our group read. Not sure if folks realize he found LibraryThing by googling himself. He found us discussing him and then joined the site. LOL

Here is his first ever LT post: http://www.librarything.com/topic/9713#99749

>97 clamairy: Thank you for the link to the Green Dragon time machine! I love it when the authors join in on conversations and discussions (even if it turns me into a nervous mess trying to formulate a response).

Book 15 2016

The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
Book 3 of the "Mistborn Adventures" series.





Finished The Bands of Mourning yesterday. I stayed up way past my bedtime, but when I am nearing the end of a great book I always find it hard not to power through to the end.

Wow, what a ride! As usual, the book starts with a younger Wax, this time from before he went out to “the Roughs”. We are then taken back to the “present day”. It picks of six months after the events of Shadow of Self, on the day Wax and Steris are to be married. That shouldn’t stop him from helping the constables rounding up a band of criminals, should it?

A greatly entertaining read and just what I needed. The gunslinger western-style setting is wonderful combined with the magic system from the Mistborn trilogy. I think it might be near the top of my list of favorite fantasy settings. It does also help that I love so many of the characters. Wax is the down-to-earth (when he is not “steelpushing” his way through the air) hero who you always can count on doing the right thing. Wayne, the one who always manages to brighten the mood. MeLaan who are getting more bada$$ every moment. And then there is Steris… Regular, boring Steris … She is delightful! I didn’t like her in the first book, but now she is one of my favorites.

Now, the painful wait for The Lost Metal…

I think this was the last book I managed to finish this year. I have started reading Seal of the Worm which is the tenth and final book of the " Shadows of the Apt " series by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Also I need to prepare for my 6th Thingaversary on the 29th. I wonder if I am able to decide on the 6+1 books or if I need the help of Random.org this year as well.

>99 LunaticDruid: I loved The bands of mourning and seeing Steris develop as a character was great! It certainly will be a painful wait for the last book.

>100 Sakerfalcon: Yeah, according to a post on his website (http://brandonsanderson.com/state-of-the-sanderson-2016/), the fourth and final book in Wax and Wayne series is set for a release in the fall of 2018. I think I smell a full Mistborn series reread coming my way in 2018.

Yesterday was my sixth Thingaversary. Work and visiting friends kept me from reporting in, but I’ll try to get it all in this post before I head to bed.

I went through my wishlist and picked four books I have wanted to read for a long time. The last two (+ the one extra) was chosen by Random.org.

-1-
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett


I have wanted to read the Discworld books for quite a while now, and I have decided now is the time. I plan to read them in the order they were released and see this as a long-term project.

-2-
Storm Front by Jim Butcher


Talk in the pub has made me curious of this Harry Dresden character. As a TV-series it apparently takes a couple of episodes (books) to really get going, but I’m ready to give it a try.

-3-
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson


I have enjoyed every book I have read by Sanderson (I even felt he improved on “The wheel of Time” series and felt the need to add another of his books to my collection.

-4-
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett


Another book I have wanted to try for a long time. Apparently Random.org agree as it picked the book twice out of 187 options after I had already decided to add it to my thingaversary list.

-5-
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb


Another book I have had my eyes on for a long time. I think Random.org chose well.

-6-
The Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan


This is an omnibus of the first two books in “The Riyria Revelations” series (The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha). I don’t remember what made me add this to my wishlist (it might have been an Amazon recommendation), but I’m excited to give it a go.

-+1-
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay


Another book that many in the Green Dragon seem to enjoy. I feel this is another strong pick by Random.org.

Now I am ready for 2017!

what a great list! I hope you get a lot of enjoyment of them. I was challenged to read Assassin's Apprentice this year, and absolutely loved it, but had to move immediately on to the other two books of the trilogy to get the whole story. The first one leaves off in a bad spot...

>102 LunaticDruid: Those look like great choices! I’ll be interested to learn what you think of Discworld. I’m a little less than halfway through my first read-through of the series. It’s very silly, but that makes for a nice change of pace sometimes.

Robin Hobb’s books are some of my all-time favorites, and everything else you listed are books I hope to read eventually.

You've got several of my favorites on there. Enjoy! :o)

>102 LunaticDruid: Happy Thingaversary. Looks like you celebrated in style with a great haul of books.

>102 LunaticDruid: Happy Thingie! And you picked up a great list of books.

>103 Darth-Heather: >104 YouKneeK: >105 clamairy: >106 AHS-Wolfy: >107 majkia: Thank you! This is the reason I love to honor the unwritten (?) yet heavily enforced acquisition rule of the Green Dragon Thingaversary (GDT). I think the next round of PGGBs are on me!

I plan to spend the next three or four hours reading The Seal of the Worm and do some catching up on all the topics I have fallen behind on LT. Also, I need to come up with a title for my 2017 talk… I doubt I will find anything as creative as this year, but I must come up with something!

>108 LunaticDruid:

The rule-book is read aloud at each annual meeting in the Pub, by the secretary who is not supposed to partake of the PGGBs. However it's been years since a volunteer has come forward, so we all have to share what we remember.

Come to think of it, I don't remember when the last annual meeting was held. I think it was before the last remodeling which was some time ago.

>102 LunaticDruid: Happy Thingaversary! I will be reading through Discworld this year in published order (previously read by character arcs). Love them.

Also, the Dresden novels don't hit their stride until book 3, although the first two are still fun.

Have a wonderful year of reading!

>109 suitable1: That’s weird, I never heard… *Starts plugging ears with cheese as soon as someone start to speak with authority*. Hey, It's not like I'm doing it on purpose!

>110 MrsLee: Thank you! Yeah, I have seen that both the Dresden and Discworld series might need a couple of books to really get going.

By the way… New thread for 2017 up an running, misspelled title and all! " LunaricDruid - Getting Booked in 2017".