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)