Current Reads

Well, I've been going through books fairly rapidly recently, and I thought, why not up and discuss what I like and dislike about them here, in the event anyone was looking for a good read. So here goes:

Recently Read:

The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss

So I finished this pretty recently, and I had read online that it was supposed to be like one of the best books ever. Apparently the internet and I have some differing opinions on what is considered excellence in the realm of fantasy writing. Rothfuss does create a very interesting world and all, however, I believe that there are better things to be had. The bulk of the novel entails a man recalling a life and something of a legacy that he left behind. I won't say more for risk of spoiling the story, it's an interesting story, however, it's not quite the thing that I really look for. The protagonist tends towards those that are incredibly lucky and/or overly capable to do anything and everything that is set before him. The narrative is good, it maintains a good flow, however, it's nothing that I would go out of my way for. Likely something I would finish in terms of the story and the other books in the forthcoming series, however, I wouldn't consider it a must have in your library.

The Obsidian Chronicles
Dragon Weather
Dragon Society
Dragon Venom
Lawrence Watt-Evans

I recently finished this sereis and have to say, that Watt-Evans is one of the more pleasant finds I've come across recently, his narrative and story development are interesting. The worlds that he builds, in this case, specifically the world known as the Lands of Man, are believable and he wanders with some intriguing ideas as to what a fantastical world should look like and operate. I thoroughly enjoyed this series, again, something of a quick read, not one to keep through the years in your collection.

Annals of the Chosen
The Wizard Lord
The Ninth Talisman
Lawrence Watt-Evans

I think this is the first series of Watt-Evans that I stumbled upon, or rather I stumbled upon The Wizard Lord specifically. It's an interesting concept and a fun story to read through, despite the one-dimensionality of almost all of the characters. There are more interesting ideas to be had here, Watt-Evans I believe is one of the more imaginative authors I've come across recently.

Currently Reading:
The Jackal of Nar
John Marco

The story seemed interesting enough through the first half of the novel. Now I'm slogging through the second half, and honestly, my assessment of the novel continues to drop. It's not a bad write, and I'm hoping that his other works are a little more original. To me it's like a 750 page written remake of the musical Ms. Saigon in a fantasy world, and it's losing me by the page.