Reading Diary #09: WebGenii's Reads

This is WebGenii, with another installment from my "Reading Diary".  So what have I been reading lately?

First up, "Blood Spirits" by Sherwood Smith, published by DAW. This is the sequel to "Coronets and Steel".  I mentioned in my review of "Coronets and Steel" that there can be such a thing as too much wish fulfillment. But that it was our heroine's down to earth voice that lets us relate to her.  At the end of "Coronets and Steel" our heroine gives up her chance with the hero she's come to love in order to do what is right by the country she has also come to love. And that is where "Blood Spirits" begins, because what if your heroic sacrifice was kind of a dumb idea? And you’ve actually made things worse in addition to hurting people you care about. I think this series is destined to become a classic comfort read, the characters and plot and pacing are so enjoyable. Recommended.

Next, I was given an ARC of "Ganymede", the sequel to "Dreadnought" and "Boneshaker".  I raved about "Dreadnought" in my last reading diary and it should come as no surprise that I adore "Ganymede" as well. It has a different feel than "Dreadnought", which only makes sense since this time we aren't on a train. Rather we are in the New Orleans of Boneshaker's world.  This time one of the characters from "Boneshaker" has come to New Orleans to pilot the mysterious invention Ganymede and retrieve it in time to change the balance of the Civil War. I don't think that Cherie Priest has exhausted the storytelling possibilities of her world yet. Recommended.

And I knew I shouldn't have done it, but I just couldn't resist. I read Robin McKinley's "Pegasus", published by Putnam. Why shouldn't I?  Because the sequel "Pegasus II" will not be out until 2014.  And I'll be waiting on tenterhooks until then. In my review of Ms. McKinley’s previous book "Chalice", I went on record saying how she is one of my favourite fantasy authors. I found "Chalice" to be a really adult fantasy novel, centering on the concerns of an adult woman who is moving into a different phase in her life. "Pegasus" turns all of that on its' head. Starting with a prepubescent girl who bonds with not just a horse, but a horse with wings. A horse with wings who can talk intelligently. But just to her. Because she is so special. We can all see how this could all go very wrong.  Of course, since it's Robin McKinley it is going very right. We see our heroine growing as a person and growing into her role in society. Until... until there is a great big cliff hanger that we have to wait until 2014 to find out what happends next. Recommended -– depending on your cliff-hanger tolerance.

Finally, I indulged myself in the latest Tim Powers. "Hide Me Among the Graves" has just been published by William Morrow. I heard Mr Powers talk about the research that inspired this novel at World Fantasy 2011. This panel is online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrU88-cx7uw  

As always, I find his work very compelling although I think I'm developing a preference for his stories set in a more modern period. If you read "The Bible Repairman and Other Stories" you have been introduced to Edward Trelawny. Trelawany appears here, as a major character.  The book is a sequel of sorts to "The Stress of Her Regard". Once again, many of the characters have to choose between an artistic brilliance fostered by the 'regard' of the immortal nephilim, and a more ordinary life without genius. The downside of the regard of the nephilim is that their jealousy puts loved ones in terrible, fatal danger.

And look at what I'm taking with me to read on holidays. "Cinder" by Marissa Meyer, published by Feiwel and Friends. "A Perfect Blood" by Kim Harrison, published by Harper Voyager.

Just to recap, the books that I mentioned today were:

• "Blood Spirits" and "Coronets and Steel" by Sherwood Smith, published by DAW.
• "Ganymede", "Dreadnought" and "Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest, published by TOR.
• "Pegasus" and "Chalice" by Robin McKinley, published by Putnam.
• "Hide Me Among the Graves" by Tim Powers, published by William Morrow.
• "The Bible Repairman and Other Stories", by Tim Powers, published by Tachyon.
• "Cinder" by Marissa Meyer, published by Feiwel and Friends.
• "A Perfect Blood" by Kim Harrison, published by Harper Voyager.

This has been WebGenii letting you know what is on my reading list.

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