Sun Eater series has been great. Started slow but midway through book 3 and can't put them down.

krosch11 said:

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Sun Eater series has been great. Started slow but midway through book 3 and can't put them down.

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This may be my next series after Eisenhorn and 4th wing

I finished The King of Diamonds just the other day.

It looks at the case of a string of diamond/jewelry thefts in Dallas during the 50s and 60s. It was almost more about social society in Dallas during that time and it's importantance in America. Anyone who has lived in Dallas for a bit will recognize the main players. Pretty interesting overall.

I just started Peter Benchley's Jaws. I'm only a few chapters in and wow, some of the language and terms don't really stand the test of time

SpreadsheetAg said:

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Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

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It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

Planning on a Dresden Files reread to get ready for 12 months. There are a couple of novellas I never got around to reading so those will be new for me too.

Got my eye on the dungeon crawler carl series, too, after everyone talking about it in the other thread.

SpreadsheetAg said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

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Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

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You're reading a romantasy book. What were you expecting?

As far as the romance aspect of it, it's also pretty tame.

nai06 said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

You're reading a romantasy book. What were you expecting?

As far as the romance aspect of it, it's also pretty tame.

---

It's awkward and misplaced. It adds ZERO to the plot or storyline, it happens every book of the series and lasts about a chapter midway. It's almost like it is in her contract that she has to have X amount of pages of porn to get paid. It can remain "Romantasy" without forcing an explicit pornographic "love" scene. If you enjoy it...okay I guess. If I want porn, I'll go to the inter webs. I don't need to read it/hear about it in what would be a much more enjoyable novel without it. But that is just me and maybe Spreadsheet. The point could be made much less explicitly.

Another observation, I'm not sure why there is a need for a genre called "Romantasy", nearly every Fantasy book has some sort of undertone of a romantic relationship, even Harry Potter.

13B said:

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nai06 said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Backyard Gator said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

You're reading a romantasy book. What were you expecting?

As far as the romance aspect of it, it's also pretty tame.

---

It's awkward and misplaced. It adds ZERO to the plot or storyline, it happens every book of the series and lasts about a chapter midway. It's almost like it is in her contract that she has to have X amount of pages of porn to get paid. It can remain "Romantasy" without forcing an explicit pornographic "love" scene. If you enjoy it...okay I guess. If I want porn, I'll go to the inter webs. I don't need to read it/hear about it in what would be a much more enjoyable novel without it. But that is just me and maybe Spreadsheet. The point could be made much less explicitly.

Another observation, I'm not sure why there is a need for a genre called "Romantasy", nearly every Fantasy book has some sort of undertone of a romantic relationship, even Harry Potter.

---

It's not just that there is a romantic relationship. It's that it's often the focus of the book. Romantasy is fairly new as a genre but its best if you view it as a romance book that has a heavy dose of fantasy. Romantasy bools are Romance books first and foremost.

Love scenes like the ones in Fourth Wing are pretty much the hallmark of a Romance book. There are closed door romance books that don't describe in detail the sex that occurs but they are out numbered by more explicit open door romance books.

I caught up with the author on Murderbot, either late last year or early this year.

I read a huge compilation of Arthur C Clarke's stuff, available on Kindle Unlimited if not elsewhere. He wrote some really cool stories, and definitely had a style. Not unlike Philip K Dick, but not too much like him, either.

Then I read all the Dungeon Crawler Carl books. Fun stuff, particularly since I'm not one to obsess over details and i can just take the action for what it is. If I wanted to geek out on the different spells/buffs/debuffs and the like, it would certainly present a deeper challenge. For those that want that, have at it. I just cruise along with the story and go "oh yeah" or "um, okay" as unexpected stuff happens.

Looking forward to the next installment of Murderbot or DCC.

In the meantime, I'm reading a Robert E Howard compilation, again from Kindle Unlimited. It's a bunch of short Conan stories. I used to read all the Conan books I could find back when I was thirteen-ish. I followed Conan's "career" from young, wild barbarian to King of Aquilonia. These stories are all across his life, but so far are heavy to the "King Conan" or at least "mature Conan" days.

edit - FWIW, the Kindle book is called "Conan the Barbarian: The Complete Collection (Bauer Classics) (All Time Best Writers Book 5)". I can't find the AC Clarke book in my Kindle history. Maybe I checked it out from an e-library?

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Backyard Gator said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

10 pages? I've been shortchanged!!! Damn kindle unlimited ripping me off!

I think you need to look for the 'cozy romantasy' books, they're adult characters, but the romance is implied, usually at the end of a scene/chapter. Then they wake up the next morning and move on with the story.

nai06 said:

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13B said:

---

nai06 said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Backyard Gator said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

You're reading a romantasy book. What were you expecting?

As far as the romance aspect of it, it's also pretty tame.

---

It's awkward and misplaced. It adds ZERO to the plot or storyline, it happens every book of the series and lasts about a chapter midway. It's almost like it is in her contract that she has to have X amount of pages of porn to get paid. It can remain "Romantasy" without forcing an explicit pornographic "love" scene. If you enjoy it...okay I guess. If I want porn, I'll go to the inter webs. I don't need to read it/hear about it in what would be a much more enjoyable novel without it. But that is just me and maybe Spreadsheet. The point could be made much less explicitly.

Another observation, I'm not sure why there is a need for a genre called "Romantasy", nearly every Fantasy book has some sort of undertone of a romantic relationship, even Harry Potter.

---

It's not just that there is a romantic relationship. It's that it's often the focus of the book. Romantasy is fairly new as a genre but its best if you view it as a romance book that has a heavy dose of fantasy. Romantasy bools are Romance books first and foremost.

Love scenes like the ones in Fourth Wing are pretty much the hallmark of a Romance book. There are closed door romance books that don't describe in detail the sex that occurs but they are out numbered by more explicit open door romance books.

---

And if it is a trilogy, there is a formula where they find the love of their life in book 1, ending up together; some conflict/betrayal in book 2 drives them apart, and they're both miserable for most of the book, realizing they can't live without the other at the end of the book; finale/live happily ever after in book 3. It's formulaic and predictable, but if the story is good enough, you don't care, because it is worth it.

Backyard Gator said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Backyard Gator said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

10 pages? I've been shortchanged!!! Damn kindle unlimited ripping me off!

I think you need to look for the 'cozy romantasy' books, they're adult characters, but the romance is implied, usually at the end of a scene/chapter. Then they wake up the next morning and move on with the story.

---

If anyone is looking for something like that, you should look for closed door" romance. Thats what it's called

Backyard Gator said:

---

nai06 said:

---

13B said:

---

nai06 said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Backyard Gator said:

---

SpreadsheetAg said:

---

Finished 4th Wing Book 2: Iron Flame

Better than the first in my opinion; and way less "smut"

---

It's honestly mystifying that some of y'all can't handle any sexual content whatsoever in books. Aren't we all adults here?

---

Don't mind sexual content; but dedicating 10 pages to how good his throbbing ****** felt inside her walls ; is a bit over the top

---

You're reading a romantasy book. What were you expecting?

As far as the romance aspect of it, it's also pretty tame.

---

It's awkward and misplaced. It adds ZERO to the plot or storyline, it happens every book of the series and lasts about a chapter midway. It's almost like it is in her contract that she has to have X amount of pages of porn to get paid. It can remain "Romantasy" without forcing an explicit pornographic "love" scene. If you enjoy it...okay I guess. If I want porn, I'll go to the inter webs. I don't need to read it/hear about it in what would be a much more enjoyable novel without it. But that is just me and maybe Spreadsheet. The point could be made much less explicitly.

Another observation, I'm not sure why there is a need for a genre called "Romantasy", nearly every Fantasy book has some sort of undertone of a romantic relationship, even Harry Potter.

---

It's not just that there is a romantic relationship. It's that it's often the focus of the book. Romantasy is fairly new as a genre but its best if you view it as a romance book that has a heavy dose of fantasy. Romantasy bools are Romance books first and foremost.

Love scenes like the ones in Fourth Wing are pretty much the hallmark of a Romance book. There are closed door romance books that don't describe in detail the sex that occurs but they are out numbered by more explicit open door romance books.

---

And if it is a trilogy, there is a formula where they find the love of their life in book 1, ending up together; some conflict/betrayal in book 2 drives them apart, and they're both miserable for most of the book, realizing they can't live without the other at the end of the book; finale/live happily ever after in book 3. It's formulaic and predictable, but if the story is good enough, you don't care, because it is worth it.

---

All stories follow formulas (but sure, some certainly do more than others).

But overall, there's no such thing as new. Only fresh.

krosch11 said:

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Sun Eater series has been great. Started slow but midway through book 3 and can't put them down.

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lol i literally clicked this thread to see if anyone mentioned Sun Eater and was glad this was at the top. I'm currently reading Book 6 and this series is just...perfect?

Anyone who enjoyed Dune, should read the Sun Eater series. The world building, the prose, the epic conflict...it's all so so so good and scratching every itch I have for a fiction novel.

If you want to read more of Robert E. Howard, Kindle has a compilation of his works called The Robert E. Howard Omnibus, and another one called The Collected Fiction of Rober E. Howard. There is some crossover, but each have stories the other doesn't. Both books are free.

I haven't updated since July 24. In that time, I finished three more of the Frontiersman books; The Trail to Rebellion, The Trail to Reservation and The Trail to Reclamation, books 6, 7, and 8. I guess I'll just try to finish the compilation before starting something else.

Finished book 1 of Farseer Trilogy (Assassin Apprentice). So far so good, a bit of a slow burn but have heard its worth it and part of the character development that ends up being amazing. Enjoying the lore so far. Started the second book a d still reading Boy's Life in parallel. I need to get back to Red Rising at some point and start book 4. One day will read Sun Eater but have to get through some of these longer series I've already been vested in.

:Books 2025
Read:
1. The Innocent- David Baldacci. Book 1. Will Robie
2. The Hit- David Baldacci. Book 2. Will Robie
3. Forever, Interrupted -Taylor Jenkins Reid
4. Split Second- David Baldacci. Book 1. King & Maxwell
5. An Affair of Spies: Ronald Balson
6. Agent to the Stars: John Scalzi
7. After I do: Taylor Jenkins Reid
8. Traitors Gate:Jeffrey Archer William Warwick book 6
9. Lucky: Marissa Staple
10. When the Moon Hits your Eye: John Scalzi
11. Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts: Jeremy Egner
12. The women: Kristin Hannah
13. Strangers in Time: David Baldacci
14. South of Nowhere: Jeffrey Deaver
15. James: inc
16. Maybe in Another Life: Taylor Jenkins Reed
17. Unlocked: John Scalzi
18. An Eye for an Eye. Jeffery Archer. Book 5. William Warwick.
19. The Goddess of Warsaw
20. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
21. The Long way to a small angry planet: Becky Chambers -in progress

Listened:
1. Over my dead body: Jeffery Archer. Book 4 Willam Warwick
2. Next in Line: Jeffrey Archer. Book 5. William Warwick
3. Long Road: Stephen Hyden
4. Slay book 3. Scott Sigler (in progress-serial)
5. The Target: David Baldacci. Will Robie book 3
6. The Guilty: David Baldacci Will Robie book 4
7. The End: David Baldacci Will Robie book 5
8. Hour Fame: David Baldacci: King and Maxwell book 2.
9. Zero Day: David Baldacci. King and Maxwell Book 3
10. First Family: David Baldacci. King and Maxwell book 4.
11. Sixth man. David Baldacci King and Maxwell book 5.
12. Atmosphere: Taylor Jenkins Reid -in progress
13. Project Hail Mary: re-listen, may take a year

Just started Red Rising and liking it so far

I was talked into reading ACOTAR and it wasn't half bad

krosch11 said:

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Red rising only gets better by book, buckle up

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Ruin(The Faithful and the Fallen book 3) by John Gwynne. I am really enjoying this series; it's very well done. Constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat. Can't wait to finish book 4 and see how everything shakes out.

krosch11 said:

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Red rising only gets better by book, buckle up

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Yea, I'm so motivated to finish Boys Life so I can start Iron Gold. I took a break after Morning Star to read Blacktop Wasteland, Recursion, Dark Matter, Sing Backwards and Weep, Martyr, Assassins Apprentice, and a Boys Life as a palette cleanser. Think I went off on a tangent. Time to get back into it!

StinkyPinky said:

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krosch11 said:

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Red rising only gets better by book, buckle up

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Yea, I'm so motivated to finish Boys Life so I can start Iron Gold. I took a break after Morning Star to read Blacktop Wasteland, Recursion, Dark Matter, Sing Backwards and Weep, Martyr, Assassins Apprentice, and a Boys Life as a palette cleanser. Think I went off on a tangent. Time to get back into it!

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I gave up on the series, but enjoyed the first 3-4 books.

I'm about halfway through Morning Star at the moment.

Also planning a bit of a break and think I'll do Jurassic park next.

Rudyjax said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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krosch11 said:

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Red rising only gets better by book, buckle up

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Yea, I'm so motivated to finish Boys Life so I can start Iron Gold. I took a break after Morning Star to read Blacktop Wasteland, Recursion, Dark Matter, Sing Backwards and Weep, Martyr, Assassins Apprentice, and a Boys Life as a palette cleanser. Think I went off on a tangent. Time to get back into it!

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I gave up on the series, but enjoyed the first 3-4 books.

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Interesting

krosch11 said:

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Red rising only gets better by book, buckle up

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I'm halfway through the first book. Chapters 1-3: okay cool. Chapter 4: oh my god. Chapter 5: OH MY GOD.

Dr. Mephisto said:

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Finished House of Assassins by Correia and Pines, vol. 1 of Wayward Pines Trilogy.

House of Assassins was a good follow up to Sone of the Black Sword. The action is good and the fantasy elements are all there. Correia has a good sense of humor, which creates a nice break in the narrative. I think the story was not quite as good as SOTBS, but still entertaining. I did bog down in the middle for a while, but when I picked it up, I smoked through the rest. I'd give it a B.

Pines was original and interesting and compelling from the start. I picked it up because of recommendations in this thread, too. It's an easy read (~300 pgs), and the mystery upon which the book is set is a good one. I liked the flawed protagonist as it made him more real and relatable. The book took some interesting turns often, which I liked. Overall, it made me want to keep going. I'd give it an A.

Picked up Billy Summers. 30 pgs in. Will keep you posted.

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I just finished book 3 of the Correia series based on your rec and it's been entertaining. The character development stalled out in the third book and I started losing interest. I'm going to start Sun Eater and then maybe get back into book 4 to give myself a change of pace.

Finished Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Read her other two books (Sharp Objects and Dark Places) earlier this year. This one was fantastic. Unfortunately, I've seen the movie…so I was an aware of the big twist midway through. I can't imagine how much I would have enjoyed reading this one cold.

Books read in 2025:

January
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut (re-read)
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (re-read)
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
Project Hail Mary - Andy Wier
Pines - Blake Crouch
Wayward - Blake Crouch

February
The Last Town - Blake Crouch

March
Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

April
Red Rising - Pierce Brown
Golden Son - Pierce Brown

May
Morning Star - Pierce Brown
Echos of Reckoning - Ron Shaw

June
Dune - Frank Herbert
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
Still Alice - Lisa Genova
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton

July
The Lost World - Michael Crichton
Sphere - Michael Crichton
The Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton
Pet Sematary - Stephen King
The Martian - Andy Wier

August
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

I've read all but the Blake Crouch.

Highly recommend Blake Crouch!

Wayward Pines trilogy
Dark Matter
Recursion

All well written and easy to read. All in the ~300 page range.

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Highly recommend Blake Crouch!

Wayward Pines trilogy
Dark Matter
Recursion

All well written and easy to read. All in the ~300 page range.

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I'm going to give a go on them soon.