Reading List - 2016

Okay - Here I am starting year #7. I am surprised I've been able to keep up with this, but here we go again. As always, anything listed as [re-read] is either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2016:
Currently Reading

• The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #3)
• Area X:The Southern Reach Trilogy (audiobook) by Jeff Vandermeer
• [re-read] Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (Revelation Space, #1)
• [re-read] Dark Sleeper by Jeffrey Barlough (Western Lights, #1)

Started But On-hold

• Hell's Foundations Quiver by David Weber (Safehold, #8)
• The Dinosaur Lords by Victor Milán
• Trial of Intentions by Peter Orullian (The Vault of Heaven, #2)

Started and Abandoned (either I didn't like it or found something more interesting)

• The United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas

Completed

1. [re-read] The Lady of the Sorrows by Cecelia Dart-Thornton (The Bitterbynde, #2)
2. [re-read] The Battle of Evernight by Cecelia Dart-Thornton (The Bitterbynde, #3)
3. [re-read] The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley
4. The Good, the Bad, and the Infernal by Guy Adams (Heaven's Gate, #1)
5. The Builders by Daniel Polansky
6. [re-read] A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway (The Baskerville Affair, #1)
7. [re-read] The Enceladus Crisis by Michael J. Martinez (Daedalus, #2)
8. [re-read] A Study in Darkness by Emma Jane Holloway (The Baskerville Affair, #2)
9. [re-read] A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway (The Baskerville Affair, #3)
10. [re-read] The Shadow Revolution by Clay and Susan Griffith (Crown & Key, #1)
11. [re-read] The Undying Legion by Clay and Susan Griffith (Crown & Key, #2)
12. The Venusian Gambit by Michael J. Martinez (Daedalus, #3)
13. [re-read] The Conquering Dark by Clay and Susan Griffith (Crown & Key, #3)
14. [re-read] The Well-Favored Man by Elizabeth Willey (Argylle, #1)
15. [re-read] A Sorcerer and a Gentleman by Elizabeth Willey (Argylle, #2)
16. The Price of Blood and Honor by Elizabeth Willey (Argylle, #3)
17. The Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan (A Natural History of Dragons, #3)
18. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
19. [re-read] The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison
20. [re-read] The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
21. [re-read] A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer
22. Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #4)
23. [Re-read] Alien Taste by Wen Spencer [Ukiah Oregon, #1)
24. [Re-read] Tainted Trail by Wen Spencer [Ukiah Oregon, #2)
25. [Re-read] Bitter Waters by Wen Spencer [Ukiah Oregon, #3)
26. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
27. Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #5)
28. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty, #1)
29. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
30. [re-read] Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #1)
31. The Thousand Names by Django Wexler (The Shadow Campaigns, #1)
32. [re-read] The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Thursday Next, #1)
33. [re-read] The Unremembered by Peter Orullian (The Vault of Heaven, #1)
34. The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #2)
35. Galactic North by Alastair Reynolds

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2016
The Builders by Daniel Polansky I am glad I said "Reads" above and not "Books" as this was ... what do you call it? At only 220 pages ... a novella? I don't usually go in for shorter fiction and, truth be told, I didn't realize when I ordered it that it was a novella. Nevertheless, this was definitely an outstanding read, by an author unknown to me. I had seen the cover reveal on one of the book lists I am subscribed to, and it was what really hooked me - that and what I call the book-flap blurb. It certainly lived up to its hype, no question. If I had to categorize it, I would say that it is a cross between Redwall/Watership Down and Joe Abercrombie's "First Law" trilogy. Let me see, there's a term for this stuff - grimdark? Someone else categorized it as Redwall meets "The Unforgiven", which might be more accurate. A mouse Captain, bringing all his motley (and defeated/betrayed) team together to make one final attempt to finish a previous job gone wrong. I know the one reviewer said "The Unforgiven" but it reminded me more of Abercrombie's Best Served Cold, a tale of betrayal and revenge. The only down side to this novella is it was a novella, not long enough for me. I loved it, I want more of the story, and I will not hesitate to get a prequel or even a sequel if one ever came about. Definitely $10 well spent.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2015
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
2015 Honorable Mention: The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2014
The Black Dawn Series by Joseph D'Lacey

1. Black Feathers
2. The Book of the Crowman

2014 Honorable Mention: The Bannon & Clare Series by Lilith Saintcrow

1. The Iron Wyrm Affair
2. The Red Plague Affair
3. The Ripper Affair

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2013
The Daedalus Series by Michael J. Martinez

1. The Daedalus Incident
2. The Enceladus Crisis
3. The Venusian Gambit

2013 Honorable mentions:

• Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #1) - excellent straight SF/Space Opera novel.
• Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson (Thieftaker Chronicles, #1) - captivating alternate history/fantasy.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2012
The "Mrs. Quent" trilogy by Galen Beckett

1. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
2. The House on Durrow Street
3. The Master of Heathcrest Hall

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2011 - TIE
The "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding

1. Retribution Falls
2. The Black Lung Captain
3. The Iron Jackal
4. The Ace of Skulls

The "Vampire Earth" series by Clay and Susan Griffith

1. The Greyfriar
2. The Rift Walker
3. The Kingmakers

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The "Clockwork Century" series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
2. Clementine
3. Dreadnought
4. Ganymede
5. Inexplicables
6. Fiddlehead
7. Jacaranda (forthcoming Spring 2015)

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The "Western Lights" series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper (2000)
2. The House in the High Wood (2001)
3. Strange Cargo (2004)
4. Bertram of Butter Cross (2007)
5. Anchorwick (2008)
6. A Tangle in Slops (2011)
7. What I Found at Hoole (2012)
8. The Cobbler of Riddingham (2014)
9. Where the Time Goes (2016)

Reading List - 2015

Okay - Here I am starting year #6. That's pretty damned good for me, so here we go again. As always, anything listed as [re-read] is either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2015:
Currently Reading

• [re-read] The Lady of the Sorrows by Cecelia Dart-Thornton (The Bitterbynde, #2)
• Hell's Foundations Quiver by David Weber (Safehold, #8)
• The Dinosaur Lords by Victor Milán
• [re-read] The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

Started But On-hold

• Empire State by Adam Christopher
• House of Chains by Steve Erikson (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, #4)
• The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #2)

Started and Abandoned (either I didn't like it or found something more interesting)

• Unnatural History by Jonathan Green (Pax Britannia, #1)

Completed

1. Maplecroft by Cherie M. Priest (The Borden Dispatches, #1)
2. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (October Daye, #8)
3. [re-read] The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett ( Mrs. Quent Trilogy, #1)
4. [re-read] A Soldier's Duty by Jean Johnson (Theirs Not To Reason Why, #1)
5. [re-read] An Officer's Duty by Jean Johnson (Theirs Not To Reason Why, #2)
6. Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #1)
7. On Basilisk Station by David Weber (Honor Harrington, #1)
8. Hellfire by Jean Johnson (Theirs Not To Reason Why, #3)
9. The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles, sidebar)
10. [re-read] The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett (Mrs. Quent Trilogy, #2)
11. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
12. Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks (The Culture, #4)
13. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
14. [re-read] A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Lady Trent, #1)
15. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Martian Trilogy, #1)
16. [re-read] The Master of Heathcrest Hall by Galen Beckett (Mrs. Quent Trilogy, #3)
17. [re-read] The Affinity Bridge by George Mann (Newbury & Hobbes, #1)
18. The Unremembered by Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven, #1)
19. The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith (Crown & Key, #1)
20. The Undying Legion by Clay Griffith (Crown & Key, #2)
21. [re-read] The Osirus Ritual by George Mann (Newbury & Hobbes, #2)
22. The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman (Navajo Mysteries, #6)
23. The Conquering Dark by Clay Griffith (Crown & Key, #3)
24. [re-read]Bloodshot by Cherie Priest (Cheshire Red, #1)
25. Grunt Life by Weston Ochse (Task Force OMBRA, #1, #3)
26. The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan (Lady Trent, #2)
27. Legion of the Damned by William Deitz (Legion of the Damned, #1)
28. [re-read]Hellbent by Cherie Priest (Cheshire Red, #2)
29. American Craftsman by Tom Doyle (Craftsman, #1)
30. Liberty: 1784 by Robert Conroy
31. A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire (October Daye, #9)
32. Gallow: The Fateguard Trilogy by Nathan Hawke
33. Chapelwood by Cherie M. Priest (The Borden Dispatches, #2)
34. [re-read] The Ill-Made Mute by Cecelia Dart-Thornton (The Bitterbynde, #1)
35. Chasing the Lantern by Jonathan Burgess (The Dawnhawk Trilogy, #1)

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2014
The Black Dawn Series by Joseph D'Lacey

1. Black Feathers
2. The Book of the Crowman

Good storyline, very nice premise. A number of blurbs on the back cover and the first few interior pages tout D'Lacey as an author of horror. Personally, I really didn't find anything particularly horrific in this first volume. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that D'Lacey is a big Neil Gaiman fan. There were numerous times throughout the novel where instead of seeing Gordon Black, Megan, Skelton & Pike, I was seeing Richard Mayhew, Door, and Croup & Vandemar. So, if you are a fan of Gaiman's Neverwhere, you should like this novel. Best I can describe it - it's an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel with an ecological bent. Instead of London Below, we wander Britain above with Gordon and Megan as Richard and Door with their roles sort of reversed.
2014 Honorable Mention: The Bannon & Clare Series by Lilith Saintcrow

1. The Iron Wyrm Affair
2. The Red Plague Affair
3. The Ripper Affair

An excellent blend of steampunk, magic, and Holmesian fantasy starring Emma Bannon as a sorceress in service to Britain's queen, and Archibald Clare, a mentath or human logic engine. Excellent secondary and tertiary characters with plenty of unrevealed stories that leave plenty of room for more books in the series. While the third volume could mark an ending, I sincerely hope Ms. Saintcrow revisits this world often ... and soon.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2013
The Daedalus Series by Michael J. Martinez

1. The Daedalus Incident
2. The Enceladus Crisis

In what appears to be the first 2 of at least three(3) novels, this series is an intriguing mix of science fiction/fantasy and seafaring derring-do. Half of the books are along the lines of something like a Horatio Hornblower in Space while the other half is a contemporary space exploration story of Mars and Saturn. The two story lines progress well individually and inevitably converge in the final chapters. While I would not necessarily call the one half of this steampunk, it has that kind of flavor to it. While the first is a brilliant stand-alone, you really need the first to understand what's happening in the second and any subsequent novels.
2013 Honorable mentions:

• Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #1) - excellent straight SF/Space Opera novel.
• Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson (Thieftaker Chronicles, #1) - captivating alternate history/fantasy.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2012
The "Mrs. Quent" trilogy by Galen Beckett

1. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
2. The House on Durrow Street
3. The Master of Heathcrest Hall

I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of literature the likes of Emily Bronte or Jane Austen. The closest I ever got to this is probably Little Women and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, or Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Now I can sit and watch things like "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Great Expectations", or "Downton Abbey", as well as those listed above, all day on television or in a movie theater but I would not crack the book to save my life. Galen Beckett, a.k.a. Mark Anthony, has added a fantastical element to the Austen/Bronte-ish genre with his Mrs. Quent series. Basically, he has placed a whole Austen-type story in the land of Altania, which the current characters' ancestors literally carved out of a forest wilderness - a sentient forest known as the Wyrdwood. This sentient forest and a group of ancestral magicians were instrumental in the defense of the realm against an earlier alien/demonic invasion. Following this historical war, magic and magicians have fallen out of favor over succeeding generations, while the forests have been deemed dangerous and all but destroyed. At the time of this trilogy the forests have been reduced to a scattering of walled-up enclaves and preserves, magicians are basically stylish fops or an affectation for the amusement of polite society, and witches are hunted down and burned. However, hundreds of years have passed, wandering planets are beginning to re-align, and the threat of invasion is returning. The above is a rather condensed overview of the fantasy elements of the story. In fact, Beckett has basically taken an Austen-type trilogy, ground up the above fantastical elements, and applied a very light dusting of this across the entire trilogy of novels. I have really enjoyed this series, both the main characters and the three main story lines we are following (even though I am just beginning the final book in the series.) The only thing, so far, that has eluded me is the part the Illusionists play. Mrs. Quent, the Wyrdwood, and the magicians have, so far, been instrumental in coming out ahead in the several skirmishes so far, but I have yet to see the Illusionists role in the the final confrontation.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2011 - TIE
The "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding

1. Retribution Falls
2. The Black Lung Captain
3. The Iron Jackal
4. The Ace of Skulls

This series has been pure fun to read. Lots of action and intrigue, plenty of mystery as we learn bits and pieces of the past of the Ketty Jay's crew, sliding under and around the authorities, and a little bit of a steampunk flavor. I'll tell you what this series is ... it's Joss Whedon's "Firefly" meets Microsoft's "Crimson Skies". I was a little leery at first, but found it to be an excellent series. Time for me to pick up book #3.
The "Vampire Earth" series by Clay and Susan Griffith

1. The Greyfriar
2. The Rift Walker
3. The Kingmakers

What Cherie M. Priest's "Clockwork Century" did for zombies, Clay and Susan have done for vampires. While it seems that just everybody has to do something about vampiric (even David Weber and Out of the Dark, I found this series quite refreshing, from the conflict between the tropical-dwelling humans and northern-dwelling vampires to the politics of the vampire hierarchy. I could probably live without Senator Clarke of the American Republic, but I understand the alliance required to accomplish the Reconquest of the north, taking the fight back to the vampires who drove the surviving humans out during The Great Killing. The Greyfriar himself makes for a great hero.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The "Clockwork Century" series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
2. Clementine
3. Dreadnought
4. Ganymede
5. Inexplicables
6. Fiddlehead
7. Jacaranda (forthcoming Spring 2015)

In a year that has seen a flood of "steampunk" novels hitting the market (thanks to Tor's Oct. 2009 Steampunk month), Cherie M. Priest's new Clockwork Century series stand out. The series excels, as evidenced by the fact that the first novel in the series, Boneshaker, was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee this year. One of the more interesting aspects of this series is the fact that we have supporting characters playing major roles in the subsequent novels. Although I was hesitant to delve into this series, primarily due to the whole "zombie" thing (she calls them rotters), Ms. Priest's explanation of their coming into existence was quite plausible and they did not play a major role in the initial novel. The second novel, Clementine is a bit more difficult to acquire as it was only offered through the (thrice-damned) Subterranean Press. Even so, it was an enjoyable read as one of the side characters from novel #1 played a more substantial role here as the action shifts from the west coast to the east and the on-going Civil War. The third (so far) novel in the series, Dreadnought sees the action shift, yet again, from the Civil War in the east back toward the west coast. This was an even more exciting book than the previous two. Truth to tell, I was physically drained by the time I got through the chapter where the "Dreadnought" finally meets it's Northern equivalent outside Salt Lake City. I highly recommend this series, and while each stands well on its own I found that you really need to have read Boneshaker to understand the interconnecting thread of the gas and "rotters" introduced in the first book.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The "Western Lights" series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper
2. The House in the High Wood
3. Strange Cargo
4. Anchorwick
5. Bertram of Butter Cross
6. A Tangle in Slops
7. What I Found at Hoole

Jeffrey Barlough's "Western Lights" series was a pleasure and a surprise. Although the setting was intriguing enough to cause me to acquire these novels, the characters are what really drives them home. Barlough has a wonderful way of portraying both his main characters as well as incidental sub-characters. You end up caring about every one of them as if they were old friends and acquaintances and the descriptive settings make you feel like you'd actually been there.

Reading List - 2014

Year #5 !!! Again - anything listed as [re-read] is either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2014. Truth is - I read more books than are listed below. There was a brief period where I went through a bunch of re-reads and didn't remember to update this listing. I didn't average a book a week, but the final tally is more than indicated.And so ...

Currently Reading

• Unnatural History by Jonathan Green
• Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage, #1)

Started but On-hold

• Empire State by Adam Christopher
• House of Chains by Steve Erikson (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, #4)
• Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks (The Culture, #4)

Started and Abandoned (either I didn't like it or found something more interesting)

Completed

1. Ancilliary Justice by Ann Leckie
2. Anchorwick by Jeffrey E. Barlough (Western Lights, #4)
3. Sherlock Holmes: The Stuff of Nightmares by James Lovegrove
4. A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway (Baskerville Affair, #3)
5. re-read The Cobra Trilogy by Timothy Zahn
6. Fiddlehead by Cherie M. Priest (The Clockwork Century, #6)
7. One Second After by William Forstchen
8. Black Feathers by Joseph D'Lacey (Black Dawn, #1)
9. Like A Mighty Army by David Weber (Safehold, #7)
10. Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl by David Barnett
11. The Book of the Crowman by Joseph D'Lacey (Black Dawn, #2)
12. Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole (Shadow Ops, #1)
13. re-read Sixty-one Nails by Mike Shevdon (The Courts of Feyre, #1)
14. re-read Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson (Thieftaker Chronicles, #1)
15. re-read The Road to Bedlam by Mike Shevdon (The Courts of Feyre, #2)
16. Strangeness and Charm by Mike Shevdon (The Courts of Feyre, #3)
17. re-read Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #1)
18. At the Queen's Command by Michael Stackpole (The Crown Colonies, #1)
19. The Eighth Court by Mike Shevdon (The Courts of Feyre, #4)
20. Of Limited Loyaty by Michael Stackpole (The Crown Colonies, #2)
21. A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Lady Trent, #1)
22. The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter (The Long Earth, #1)
23. New Earth by Ben Bova
24. Existance by David Brin
25. Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #2)
26. re-read The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez
27. re-read Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson
28. Thieves' Quarry by D.B. Jackson
29. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
30. Abbadon's Gate by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #3)
31. The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe (Tufa, #1)
32. The Enceladus Crisis by Michael J. Martinez (Daedalus, #2)
33. re-read The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow (Bannon & Clare, #1)
34. Hooded Man: An Omnibus of Post-Apocalyptic Novels by Paul Kane (The Afterblight Chronicles)
35. re-read The Red Plague Affair by Lilith Saintcrow (Bannon & Clare, #2)
36. The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow (Bannon & Clare, #3)

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2014
My top pick for the 2013 year of reading is: The Black Dawn Series by Joseph D'Lacey

1. Black Feathers
2. The Book of the Crowman

Good storyline, very nice premise. A number of blurbs on the back cover and the first few interior pages tout D'Lacey as an author of horror. Personally, I really didn't find anything particularly horrific in this first volume. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that D'Lacey is a big Neil Gaiman fan. There were numerous times throughout the novel where instead of seeing Gordon Black, Megan, Skelton & Pike, I was seeing Richard Mayhew, Door, and Croup & Vandemar. So, if you are a fan of Gaiman's Neverwhere, you should like this novel. Best I can describe it - it's an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novel with an ecological bent. Instead of London Below, we wander Britain above with Gordon and Megan as Richard and Door with their roles sort of reversed.

2014 Honorable Mention: The Bannon & Clare Series by Lilith Saintcrow

1. The Iron Wyrm Affair
2. The Red Plague Affair
3. The Ripper Affair

An excellent blend of steampunk, magic, and Holmesian fantasy starring Emma Bannon as a sorceress in service to Britain's queen, and Archibald Clare, a mentath or human logic engine. Excellent secondary and tertiary characters with plenty of unrevealed stories that leave plenty of room for more books in the series. While the third volume could mark an ending, I sincerely hope Ms. Saintcrow revisits this world often ... and soon.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2013: The Daedalus Series by Michael J. Martinez

1. The Daedalus Incident
2. The Enceladus Crisis

In what appears to be the first 2 of at least three(3) novels, this series is an intriguing mix of science fiction/fantasy and seafaring derring-do. Half of the books are along the lines of something like a Horatio Hornblower in Space while the other half is a contemporary space exploration story of Mars and Saturn. The two story lines progress well individually and inevitably converge in the final chapters. While I would not necessarily call the one half of this steampunk, it has that kind of flavor to it. While the first is a brilliant stand-alone, you really need the first to understand what's happening in the second and any subsequent novels.

2013 Honorable mentions:

• Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse, #1) - excellent straight SF/Space Opera novel.
• Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson (Thieftaker Chronicles, #1) - captivating alternate history/fantasy.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2012: The "Mrs. Quent" trilogy by Galen Beckett

1. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
2. The House on Durrow Street
3. The Master of Heathcrest Hall

I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of literature the likes of Emily Bronte or Jane Austen. The closest I ever got to this is probably Little Women and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, or Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Now I can sit and watch things like "Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Great Expectations", or "Downton Abbey", as well as those listed above, all day on television or in a movie theater but I would not crack the book to save my life. Galen Beckett, a.k.a. Mark Anthony, has added a fantastical element to the Austen/Bronte-ish genre with his Mrs. Quent series. Basically, he has placed a whole Austen-type story in the land of Altania, which the current characters' ancestors literally carved out of a forest wilderness - a sentient forest known as the Wyrdwood. This sentient forest and a group of ancestral magicians were instrumental in the defense of the realm against an earlier alien/demonic invasion. Following this historical war, magic and magicians have fallen out of favor over succeeding generations, while the forests have been deemed dangerous and all but destroyed. At the time of this trilogy the forests have been reduced to a scattering of walled-up enclaves and preserves, magicians are basically stylish fops or an affectation for the amusement of polite society, and witches are hunted down and burned. However, hundreds of years have passed, wandering planets are beginning to re-align, and the threat of invasion is returning. The above is a rather condensed overview of the fantasy elements of the story. In fact, Beckett has basically taken an Austen-type trilogy, ground up the above fantastical elements, and applied a very light dusting of this across the entire trilogy of novels. I have really enjoyed this series, both the main characters and the three main story lines we are following (even though I am just beginning the final book in the series.) The only thing, so far, that has eluded me is the part the Illusionists play. Mrs. Quent, the Wyrdwood, and the magicians have, so far, been instrumental in coming out ahead in the several skirmishes so far, but I have yet to see the Illusionists role in the the final confrontation.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2011 - TIE
The "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding

1. Retribution Falls
2. The Black Lung Captain
3. The Iron Jackal
4. The Ace of Skulls

This series has been pure fun to read. Lots of action and intrigue, plenty of mystery as we learn bits and pieces of the past of the Ketty Jay's crew, sliding under and around the authorities, and a little bit of a steampunk flavor. I'll tell you what this series is ... it's Joss Whedon's "Firefly" meets Microsoft's "Crimson Skies". I was a little leery at first, but found it to be an excellent series. Time for me to pick up book #3.
The "Vampire Earth" series by Clay and Susan Griffith

1. The Greyfriar
2. The Rift Walker
3. The Kingmakers

What Cherie M. Priest's "Clockwork Century" did for zombies, Clay and Susan have done for vampires. While it seems that just everybody has to do something about vampiric (even David Weber and Out of the Dark, I found this series quite refreshing, from the conflict between the tropical-dwelling humans and northern-dwelling vampires to the politics of the vampire hierarchy. I could probably live without Senator Clarke of the American Republic, but I understand the alliance required to accomplish the Reconquest of the north, taking the fight back to the vampires who drove the surviving humans out during The Great Killing. The Greyfriar himself makes for a great hero.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The "Clockwork Century" series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
2. Clementine
3. Dreadnought
4. Ganymede
5. Inexplicables
6. Fiddlehead
7. Jacaranda (forthcoming Spring 2015)

In a year that has seen a flood of "steampunk" novels hitting the market (thanks to Tor's Oct. 2009 Steampunk month), Cherie M. Priest's new Clockwork Century series stand out. The series excels, as evidenced by the fact that the first novel in the series, Boneshaker, was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee this year. One of the more interesting aspects of this series is the fact that we have supporting characters playing major roles in the subsequent novels. Although I was hesitant to delve into this series, primarily due to the whole "zombie" thing (she calls them rotters), Ms. Priest's explanation of their coming into existence was quite plausible and they did not play a major role in the initial novel. The second novel, Clementine is a bit more difficult to acquire as it was only offered through the (thrice-damned) Subterranean Press. Even so, it was an enjoyable read as one of the side characters from novel #1 played a more substantial role here as the action shifts from the west coast to the east and the on-going Civil War. The third (so far) novel in the series, Dreadnought sees the action shift, yet again, from the Civil War in the east back toward the west coast. This was an even more exciting book than the previous two. Truth to tell, I was physically drained by the time I got through the chapter where the "Dreadnought" finally meets it's Northern equivalent outside Salt Lake City. I highly recommend this series, and while each stands well on its own I found that you really need to have read Boneshaker to understand the interconnecting thread of the gas and "rotters" introduced in the first book.
Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The "Western Lights" series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper
2. The House in the High Wood
3. Strange Cargo
4. Anchorwick
5. Bertram of Butter Cross
6. A Tangle in Slops
7. What I Found at Hoole

Jeffrey Barlough's "Western Lights" series was a pleasure and a surprise. Although the setting was intriguing enough to cause me to acquire these novels, the characters are what really drives them home. Barlough has a wonderful way of portraying both his main characters as well as incidental sub-characters. You end up caring about every one of them as if they were old friends and acquaintances and the descriptive settings make you feel like you'd actually been there.

Reading List - 2012

Having successfully updated this to keep it current on a book-by-book basis for two(2) years running, I better continue the habit. As usual, anything listed as [re-read] is either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2012:


Currently Reading

• A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)
  
• [re-read] Land of Mist and Snow by Debra Doyle and James Macdonald (#1 of 2 set in the same Alternate History, before Lincoln's Sword)
  
• [re-read] Sixty-one Nails by Mike Shevdon (Courts of the Feyre, #1)

Started and Abandoned
(either I didn't like it or found something more interesting)

• The Passage by Justin Cronin
  
• Way of the Wolf by E.E. Knight (The Vampire Earth[B], #1)
  

Completed

1. One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire (October Daye, #5)
   
2. Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
   
3. Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon by Mark Hodder (Burton & Swinburne, #3)
   
4. [re-read] Vampire Earth: The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith (Vampire Earth[A], #1)
   
5. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
   
6. [re-read] The Name of the Wind, The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day 1 by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles, #1)
   
7. The Wise Man's Fear, The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day 2 by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles, #2)
   
8. [re-read] Changer by Jane Lindskold
   
9. Vampire Earth: The Rift Walker by Clay and Susan Griffith (Vampire Earth[A], #2)
   
10. The Mark of Ran by Paul Kearney (The Sea Beggars, #1)
    
11. [re-read] A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
    
12. How Firm a Foundation by David Weber (Safehold, #5)

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2011
First let me mention that Cherie M. Priest's Ganymede has been added to the Best of 2010 review listing below. Her "Clockwork Century" series continues expand and delight with each new volume written. She still ranks #1 overall. Having said that, this year I also pick the following:

The "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding

1. Retribution Falls
   
2. The Black Lung Captain

This series has been pure fun to read. Lots of action and intrigue, plenty of mystery as we learn bits and pieces of the past of the Ketty Jay's crew, sliding under and around the authorities, and a little bit of a steampunk flavor. I'll tell you what this series is ... it's Joss Whedon's "Firefly" meets Microsoft's "Crimson Skies". I was a little leery at first, but found it to be an excellent series. Time for me to pick up book #3.

The "Vampire Earth" series by Clay and Susan Griffith

1. The Greyfriar
   
2. The Rift Walker

What Cherie M. Priest's "Clockwork Century" did for zombies, Clay and Susan have done for vampires. While it seems that just everybody has to do something about vampiric (even David Weber and Out of the Dark, I found this series quite refreshing, from the conflict between the tropical-dwelling humans and northern-dwelling vampires to the politics of the vampire hierarchy. I could probably live without Senator Clarke of the American Republic, but I understand the alliance required to accomplish the Reconquest of the north, taking the fight back to the vampires who drove the surviving humans out during The Great Killing. The Greyfriar himself makes for a great hero.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The "Clockwork Century" series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
   
2. Clementine
   
3. Dreadnought
   
4. Ganymede
   
5. Inexplicables (forthcoming 2012)
   
6. Fiddlehead (forthcoming Fall 2013)

In a year that has seen a flood of "steampunk" novels hitting the market (thanks to Tor's Oct. 2009 Steampunk month), Cherie M. Priest's new Clockwork Century series stand out. The series excels, as evidenced by the fact that the first novel in the series, Boneshaker, was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee this year. One of the more interesting aspects of this series is the fact that we have supporting characters playing major roles in the subsequent novels. Although I was hesitant to delve into this series, primarily due to the whole "zombie" thing (she calls them rotters), Ms. Priest's explanation of their coming into existence was quite plausible and they did not play a major role in the initial novel. The second novel, Clementine is a bit more difficult to acquire as it was only offered through the (thrice-damned) Subterranean Press. Even so, it was an enjoyable read as one of the side characters from novel #1 played a more substantial role here as the action shifts from the west coast to the east and the on-going Civil War. The third (so far) novel in the series, Dreadnought sees the action shift, yet again, from the Civil War in the east back toward the west coast. This was an even more exciting book than the previous two. Truth to tell, I was physically drained by the time I got through the chapter where the "Dreadnought" finally meets it's Northern equivalent outside Salt Lake City. I highly recommend this series, and while each stands well on its own I found that you really need to have read Boneshaker to understand the interconnecting thread of the gas and "rotters" introduced in the first book.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The "Western Lights" series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper
   
2. The House in the High Wood
   
3. Strange Cargo

Jeffrey Barlough's "Western Lights" series was a pleasure and a surprise. Although the setting was intriguing enough to cause me to acquire these novels, the characters are what really drives them home. Barlough has a wonderful way of portraying both his main characters as well as incidental sub-characters. You end up caring about every one of them as if they were old friends and acquaintances and the descriptive settings make you feel like you'd actually been there.

Reading List - 2011

Having successfully participated in this activity last year, I figured I'd continue. Again, anything listed as [re-read] is either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2011:

Currently Reading

• Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon by Mark Hodder (Burton & Swinburne , #3)
  
• One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire (October Daye, #5)
  
• The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett

Started and Abandoned (either I didn't like it or found something more interesting)

• Bitterwood by James Maxey
  
• Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon (via iPhone Kindle)
  
• [re-read] The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Gentlemen Bastards, #1)
  
• Opening Atlantis by Harry Turtledove
  
• The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Vol. 1 by Gordon Dahlquist

Completed

1. Patriots by David Drake
   
2. Recursion by Tony Ballantyne
   
3. The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder (Burton & Swinburne, #1)
   
4. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
   
5. Death Day by William C. Deitz
   
6. [re-read] Mars by Ben Bova
   
7. A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski
   
8. The Buntline Special by Mike Resnick
   
9. Return to Mars by Ben Bova
   
10. Dancing on the Head of a Pin by Thomas E. Sniegoski
    
11. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
    
12. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovich
    
13. Where Angels Fear to Tread by Thomas E. Sniegoski
    
14. Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
    
15. Bloodshot by Cherie Priest (Cheshire Red, #1)
    
16. Play Dead by John Levitt
    
17. Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire (October Daye, #4)
    
18. Vampire Earth: The Greyfriar by Clay and Susan Griffith (Vampire Earth #1)
    
19. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law trilogy, #1)
    
20. [re-read] Soulless by Gail Carrigar
    
21. Crossover: A Cassandra Kresnov Novel by Joel Shepherd
    
22. [re-read] Covenants by Lorna Freeman (The Borderlands, #1)
    
23. [re-read] The King's Own by Lorna Freeman (The Borderlands, #2)
    
24. Shadows Past by Lorna Freeman (The Borderlands, #3)
    
25. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law trilogy, #2)
    
26. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law trilogy, #3)
    
27. Changeless by Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate, #2)
    
28. [re-read] The Battle at the Moons of Hell by Graham Sharp Paul
    
29. Sixty-One Nails by Mike Shevdon (Courts of the Feyre, #1)
    
30. [re-read] The Battle of the Hammer Worlds by Graham Sharp Paul (Helfort's War, #2)
    
31. Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick (Tales of the Kin, #1)
    
32. The Battle of Devastation Reef by Graham Sharp Paul (Helfort's War, #3)
    
33. The Battle for Commitment Planet by Graham Sharp Paul (Helfort's War, #4)
    
34. [re-read] Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson (Childe Cycle, #1)
    
35. Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #1)
    
36. [re-read] St. Patrick's Gargoyle by Katherine Kurtz
    
37. [re-read] Unshapely Things by Mark del Franco (Connor Grey, #1)
    
38. [re-read] Unquiet Dreams by Mark del Franco (Connor Grey, #2)
    
39. Unfallen Dead by Mark del Franco (Connor Grey, #3)
    
40. A Soldier's Duty by Jean Johnson (Theirs Not to Reason Why #1)
    
41. Unperfect Souls by Mark del Franco (Connor Grey, #4)
    
42. Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim #1)
    
43. The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder (Burton & Swinburne, #2)
    
44. Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
    
45. The Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #2)
    
46. Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling (Island in the Sea of Time, #1)
    
47. [re-read] Bloodshot by Cherie Priest (Cheshire Red, #1)
    
48. Hellbent by Cherie Priest (Cheshire Red, #2)
    
49. Against the Tide of Years by S.M. Stirling (Island in the Sea of Time, #2)
    
50. The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers
    
51. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan, #3)
    
52. Dead Iron by Devon Monk
    
53. On the Oceans of Eternity by S.M. Stirling (Island in the Sea of Time, #3)
    
54. War Machine by Andy Remic (Combat-K #1)
    
55. The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay (Charlie Madigan #1)
    
56. Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero by Dan Abnett
    
57. Ganymede by Cherie Priest (Clockwork Century, #4)

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2011
First let me mention that Cherie M. Priest's Ganymede has been added to the Best of 2010 review listing below. Her "Clockwork Century" series continues expand and delight with each new volume written. She still ranks #1 overall. Having said that, this year I also pick the following:

The "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding

1. Retribution Falls
   
2. The Black Lung Captain

This series has been pure fun to read. Lots of action and intrigue, plenty of mystery as we learn bits and pieces of the past of the Ketty Jay's crew, sliding under and around the authorities, and a little bit of a steampunk flavor. I'll tell you what this series is ... it's Joss Whedon's "Firefly" meets Microsoft's "Crimson Skies". I was a little leery at first, but found it to be an excellent series. Time for me to pick up book #3.

The "Vampire Earth" series by Clay and Susan Griffith

1. The Greyfriar
   
2. The Rift Walker

What Cherie M. Priest's "Clockwork Century" did for zombies, Clay and Susan have done for vampires. While it seems that just everybody has to do something about vampiric (even David Weber and Out of the Dark, I found this series quite refreshing, from the conflict between the tropical-dwelling humans and northern-dwelling vampires to the politics of the vampire hierarchy. I could probably live without Senator Clarke of the American Republic, but I understand the alliance required to accomplish the Reconquest of the north, taking the fight back to the vampires who drove the surviving humans out during The Great Killing. The Greyfriar himself makes for a great hero.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The "Clockwork Century" series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
   
2. Clementine
   
3. Dreadnought
   
4. Ganymede
   
5. Inexplicables (forthcoming 2012)
   
6. Fiddlehead (forthcoming Fall 2013)

In a year that has seen a flood of "steampunk" novels hitting the market (thanks to Tor's Oct. 2009 Steampunk month), Cherie M. Priest's new Clockwork Century series stand out. The series excels, as evidenced by the fact that the first novel in the series, Boneshaker, was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee this year. One of the more interesting aspects of this series is the fact that we have supporting characters playing major roles in the subsequent novels. Although I was hesitant to delve into this series, primarily due to the whole "zombie" thing (she calls them rotters), Ms. Priest's explanation of their coming into existence was quite plausible and they did not play a major role in the initial novel. The second novel, Clementine is a bit more difficult to acquire as it was only offered through the (thrice-damned) Subterranean Press. Even so, it was an enjoyable read as one of the side characters from novel #1 played a more substantial role here as the action shifts from the west coast to the east and the on-going Civil War. The third (so far) novel in the series, Dreadnought sees the action shift, yet again, from the Civil War in the east back toward the west coast. This was an even more exciting book than the previous two. Truth to tell, I was physically drained by the time I got through the chapter where the "Dreadnought" finally meets it's Northern equivalent outside Salt Lake City. I highly recommend this series, and while each stands well on its own I found that you really need to have read Boneshaker to understand the interconnecting thread of the gas and "rotters" introduced in the first book.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The "Western Lights" series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper
   
2. The House in the High Wood
   
3. Strange Cargo

Jeffrey Barlough's "Western Lights" series was a pleasure and a surprise. Although the setting was intriguing enough to cause me to acquire these novels, the characters are what really drives them home. Barlough has a wonderful way of portraying both his main characters as well as incidental sub-characters. You end up caring about every one of them as if they were old friends and acquaintances and the descriptive settings make you feel like you'd actually been there.

Reading List - 2010

I see a number of my friends do this every year so I thought I would give it a try myself and see if I can make this thing work - plus seeing what putting it at a future date will do. Anything listed as (re-read) are either in preparation for the next book in a series or for my own pleasure 'cause it was a good read. So, my reading list for 2010:

Currently Reading

• Patriots by David Drake
  
• Recursion by Tony Ballantyne
  
• The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder
  
• Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon (via iPhone Kindle)
  

Started and Abandoned

• The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives by James Blaylock
  
• The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice by Catherynne M. Valente
  
• Walking by Henry David Thoreau (via iPhone Kindle)
  
• Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (via iPhone Kindle)
  

Completed

1. New Tricks by John Levitt (re-read)
   
2. Unleashed by John Levitt
   
3. The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
   
4. The Peshawar Lancers by S.M. Stirling (re-read)
   
5. Boneshaker by Cherie M. Priest
   
6. Dragon's of the Cuyahoga by S. Andrew Swann (re-read)
   
7. The Dwarves of Whiskey Island by S. Andrew Swann (re-read)
   
8. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
   
9. One Day On Mars by Travis S. Taylor
   
10. The Apocalypse Troll by David Weber (re-read)
    
11. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
    
12. The Adept by Katherine Kurtz (re-read)
    
13. Lodge of the Lynx by Katherine Kurtz (re-read)
    
14. New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear
    
15. The Templar Treasure by Katherine Kurtz (re-read)
    
16. The Martian General's Daughter by Theodore Judson
    
17. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (re-read)
    
18. The Tau Ceti Agenda by Travis S. Taylor
    
19. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
    
20. Roadkill by Rob Thurman
    
21. A Mighty Fortress by David Weber
    
22. Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco
    
23. Unquiet Dreams by Mark Del Franco
    
24. Soulless by Gail Carriger
    
25. The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
    
26. Chimera by Rob Thurman
    
27. The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Reddick
    
28. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (re-read)
    
29. Thomas Riley by Nick Valentino
    
30. The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint
    
31. Orphanage by Robert Buettner
    
32. A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer (re-read)
    
33. Consider Phlebas by Ian M. Banks
    
34. Alien Taste by Wen Spencer (re-read)
    
35. Clementine by Cherie M. Priest
    
36. Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson
    
37. Tainted Trail by Wen Spencer (re-read)
    
38. The Osirus Ritual by George Mann
    
39. Bitter Waters by Wen Spencer (re-read)
    
40. Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye
    
41. Dog Warrior by Wen Spencer
    
42. The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw
    
43. The Native Star by M.K. Hobson
    
44. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (re-read)
    
45. Dreadnought by Cherie M. Priest
    
46. The Grimrose Path by Rob Thurman
    
47. Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
    
48. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
    
49. Out of the Dark by David Weber
    
50. Excession by Ian M. Banks
    
51. The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2010
The Clockwork Century series by Cherie M. Priest

1. Boneshaker
   
2. Clementine
   
3. Dreadnought
   

In a year that has seen a flood of "steampunk" novels hitting the market (thanks to Tor's Oct. 2009 Steampunk month), Cherie M. Priest's new Clockwork Century series stand out. That it excels is reinforced by the fact that the first novel in the series, Boneshaker, was a Hugo and Nebula award nominee this year. One of the more interesting aspects of this series is the fact that we have supporting characters playing major roles in the subsequent novels. Although I was hesitant to delve into this series, primarily due to the whole "zombie" thing (she calls them rotters), Ms. Priest's explanation of their coming into existence was quite plausible and they did not play a major role in the initial novel. The second novel, Clementine is a bit more difficult to acquire as it was only offered through the (thrice-damned) Subterranean Press. Even so, it was an enjoyable read as one of the side characters from novel #1 played a more substantial role here as the action shifts from the west coast to the east and the on-going Civil War. The third (so far) novel in the series, Dreadnought sees the action shift, yet again, from the Civil War in the east back toward the west coast. This was an even more exciting book than the previous two. Truth to tell, I was physically drained by the time I got through the chapter where the "Dreadnought" finally meets it's Northern equivalent outside Salt Lake City. I highly recommend this series, and while each stands well on its own I found that you really need to have read Boneshaker to understand the interconnecting thread of the gas and "rotters" introduced in the first book.

Outstanding (& Very Highly Recommended) Reads from 2009
The Western Lights series by Jeffrey Barlough

1. Dark Sleeper
   
2. The House in the High Wood
   
3. Strange Cargo
   

Jeffrey Barlough's "Western Lights" series was a pleasure and a surprise. Although the setting was intriguing enough to cause me to acquire these novels, the characters are what really drives them home. Barlough has a wonderful way of portraying both his main characters as well as incidental sub-characters. You end up caring about every one of them as if they were old friends and acquaintances and the descriptive settings make you feel like you'd actually been there.