In the last 3 and a half months, I finished reading all of Jack Whyte's *Camulod Chronicles* series. There are 9 books in the series, and I read 7 of those because  I had read Book 1 and Book 3 in previous years.

They are about the legend of King Arthur, beginning with his great-grandparents in Roman Britain, and do not include the "magic" elements we normally associate with the story. Overall I liked them, and I do like the "Bildungsroman" type of story that follows a lot of the characters through childhood, their education and growth.

During this time, I even managed to align my TV shows watched and crafts completed into the "historical fiction" theme by renting *Camelot* and *Game of Thrones*, and finishing off a few celtic knot designs I've been working on for ages.  I have to say I liked Whyte's take on the storyline way better than *Camelot*, and would have rather have seen a TV show based on Whyte's books. And I swear I kept hearing the *Game of Thrones* theme while I was reading.

By the end of the last book, though, I was getting bored with the writing style. I think this is my personal reason why I don't wait until a whole series is published before reading them all straight through.

I need a break now from all the sword and sandal stuff, so I picked up an SF book.  I'm almost finished with Frederick Pohl's *Man Plus*. I'm not really enjoying it.

Gosh, nobody reading but me?

I finished The Dirty Streets of Heaven. Loved it. I've also finished Hounded by Kevin Hearne. Light read. And I've started The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund.

I am! Slowly... lol

Finished up TDSOH last week and started up on Shadowheart. I feel like I only had a short gap in between 'rise and 'heart, but the things I've said "Oh yeahhhhh that DID happen, I forgot," are amazing. *sigh*

Not sure what to go onto after I'm done with the Shadowmarch series. I started "The Judas Gate" by Jack Higgins over at fiancee's parent's house, so I'll probably actually borrow that one and finish it up in a couple days. I've got a couple David Baldacci books laying around, and I have some free Kindle books on my tablet, but I kind of have a hankering for another epic series, which means I'll have to buy something. I could really use a re-read of Otherland as well as MS&T, but I've also got Game of Thrones sitting on my wishlist, and my friend recommended the Divergent series to me... AUG decisions.

Thoughts? Opinions? Recommendations?

Olaf wrote:

@Ad1tu You should definitely read GAME OF THRONES. It`s beyond awesome.

What Olaf said ... but then you wont stop getting the others as well. Be warned.

Finished The Postcard Killers and started Lords of Rainbow by Vera Nazarian.

And I'll add my vote for reading The Game of Thrones, Ad1tu. But, if you like it, make sure you have the rest of the books that are out so you can keep going.

Finished Vera Nazarian's Lords of Rainbow. I liked the notion of the story but I didn't care for the execution. I dug out The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip so I could read it.

Finished The Bards of Bone Plain by McKillip. Really like her stuff. Started Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey.

Ad1tu wrote:

*I was really sad when the mysterious hooded robed person turned out to be NOT who I really hoped it was. I mean, it was good! That came out of nowhere (and is kinda creepy..), but I really hoped it was someone else...

I think Tad had us all fooled with that one! Because I hoped/thought the same thing, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one.

I really need to buy some new books. I haven't read anything in ages. Which would be excusable if I were writing instead, but I'm not making any progress with that either.

*jumps for joy*

My books came in! I always get so excited, it's like Christmas, teehee. Took a pic and put it on FB :P

Just finished Steven Erikson's Forge of Darkness.

Strong beginning. Even stronger middle. But a somewhat weaker and anticlimactic ending. For all of its flaws, still a fascinating read for Malazan fans.

Check out the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Finished Banewreaker and started Godslayer. I actually like the bad guys better than the good guys. Also started Exodus by Leon Uris. That's a re-read. Been quite a few years since I read it last and the mood struck a couple of nights ago so I dug into it.

"The House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski. Really an adventure of a book and quite a challenge. I am halfway though. Hard work sometimes, especially chapter 9, in which the characters get lost in a labyrinth in which the reader gets lost in a labyrinth of footnotes and references. Amazing. I understand the criticism against this book by some readers, but I am simply mesmerized by all the creative experiments of the author. They work for me, even if they might not work for others. Give it a try, but be prepared to get lost in the "leaves" of the book.