Cephalopod Coffeehouse Chat - Fool's Assassin

From the ArmChair Squid: “The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same. In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.”

Join the club here.

I began reading Robin Hobb's epic fantasy books in June and, boy howdy, was I ever pulled into her world. The first book, Assassin’s Apprentice, begins with six-year-old Fitz and his journey from lonely bastard to acknowledged royalty. Death awaits him by the hands of those who hate the Farseer line but he is a quick learner. And few know about his ability to use Wit and Skill. At least, not until it is too late. 

Ms. Hobb started her series in 1995 and gave us six books about Fitz. This month, she released the seventh book about the Farseers in Fool’s Assassin. Fool is a character rich in background and mysterious beyond belief. He reminds me of the kind of secondary that takes over a manuscript, kicks the outline to the curb, and says, “I’m in charge now.” But I’m only guessing.

If you like epic fantasy, try Assassin's Apprentice. I guarantee you'll have enough reading material for weeks afterwards.

Five-stars for making me care about her world, Fitz, and Fool. 

Can't wait for the next one.

A to Z Blogging Challenge - V and Cephalopod Coffeehouse Chat - Blood Song

Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2014

Guess the movie!

"A silver stake? A crucifix? What, did you think we haven't tried everything before? We've shot him, stabbed him, clubbed him, sprayed him with holy water, staked him through the heart, and STILL he lives! Do you understand? No-one knows how to kill Dracula!" 

"Well, I could have used that information a little earlier."

Highlight below for the answer:

Van Helsing
* * * *
Cephalopod Coffeehouse Chat - Blood Song

From the ArmChair Squid: “The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same. In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers."

“I hate waiting.” – Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

Either my taste has changed over the years, my patience has thinned, or there are a lot of blah books out there anymore.

So when I started a new book, I skimmed the first paragraph, the first page, and started the next.

Then I screeched to a halt in the middle of the second page and turned back to the first sentence.

I made a sound. Like a sigh or a gasp, I don’t remember. But a person makes this kind of sound when the waiting is over. Not just for a good book but to fill the time with something close to The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. Mr. Rothfuss wrote one of the best epic fantasy series ever beginning with The Name of the Wind. Now I’m waiting, waiting, waiting for the third and final in the series.

And what to do with my time but look for a book that equals that pinnacle of fantasy.

I found it. Blood Song by Anthony Ryan:

Vaelin al Sorna faces death for years of apparent misdeeds. According to the people of the country he invaded at his king’s command, he has much to answer for. But no one’s heard his side of the story, a tale of his beginnings, of fear and hardship.

Vaelin doesn’t care if you forgive him or not. Sympathy has no place in his world.

These days, with Borders closed down and Barnes and Noble apparently about to, I buy e-books. Sad, I know but that’s how it is. I download a sample, read it through, and then decide whether to buy the digital version.

But sometimes, a strange thing happens. I read a page or two of the sample then, without reading further, buy the book.

Sometimes, even stranger, the book is so good that I buy the glue-and-paper kind too.

That phenomenon has happened twice. First time with The Name of the Wind. And now with Blood Song.

If epic fantasy is your oxygen, this book is for you.

Amazon

Don’t delay. Buy it.

Sign up for the Cephalopod Coffeehouse Chat Room.

Cephalopod Coffeehouse Chat - Warm Bodies

From the ArmChair Squid: 
“The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.  In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.”

"I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it."

So begins Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. If the title sounds familiar, that’s because Hollywood made it into a cool movie.

He calls himself R because he can’t remember his name let alone how he lived and died. But, what do you expect? He’s zombie for Pete’s sake. Still, he has friends, goals, and a bit of glamour about his position. He isn’t a complete waste of skin. Or at least said skin hasn’t deteriorated too badly yet.

When R meets a living, breathing girl under less than ideal circumstances, he is draw to her. He saves her after confronting his friends who look at her as a meal. His mercy awakens his buried humanity and ignites a revolution among his zombie brethren and Julie’s humans.

Warm Bodies is an easy read. It drew me in immediately and held me captive, but some scenes are difficult. If you’ve seen the movie, don’t think this is quite as sweet. The reason for R’s decision to save Julie is quite detailed and rather disgusting. There is blood and gore, dead people and a lot of screaming.

It isn’t one of my usual books in other words.
I loved it.

Give it a whirl. Well-written, an excellent storyline and a new take on the current zombie-craze.

And I did not clue into the reference to R-omeo and Julie-t until way later.