Top reads…top reads, ok let me think about the few books I actually managed to read throughout this year amongst my ever-growing pile of things I needed to do for;
A: my day job
B: my family
C: my physical and mental health
D: my own fledgling author journey
E: the world as it crumbles around me!
Ok, this is clearly turning into a post all about me! So, before I fail my contractual obligations to Fanfiaddict let’s do the books, and if you want to know my thoughts on other things, keep reading!
As already stated, my reading list has been short and very picky, so if a book made it to my list, you better believe it’s worth buying! There are many, many books half-digested and wailing for attention around my house and many of these are awesome but unfinished. Maybe these will bathe in my guilt-ridden spotlight at another time…I can only apologise to the fine authors and promise to do better.
Ok, this year’s top reads, in no particular order are:
a fabulous and engaging book that yanks the spine out of World War 2, hurls it through a fantasy portal where it is eventually smashed to pieces by fierce yet relatable women on the edge of despair.
For my full review click here!
Where to start! This book has both cutting edge fantasy world building and a homage to early Sci-fi TV shows such as Doctor Who, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, wonderfully blended into something so fresh it will never leave you.
It may be just me, but the interdimensional themes in this book, and the cyclic nature of the stories that weave through it seem, themselves, to be a clue to the fact that Mr Lawrence actually translated this ancient story from relics he found on a dimension slipping sabbatical while researching his next straight up fantasy novel.
There is a moment when one of Lawrence’s previous books is mentioned by name…I can’t explain the joy this simple device gave me! Anyhoo, Mark Lawrence is actually a Timelord… and I’m on to him!
This is a big book!
Both in door-stopping physical magnitude and in its wielding of two close but separate worlds and the spices, flavours and characters that permeate each.
This is one of those rare books that Ive been able to read episodically, coming back after brief holidays to still retain the details of where the story is and why I love it.
There is a pace to it that doesn’t break any necks but will twist, splinter and eventually shatter your spine none the less.
Visceral, ugly, mechanical, organic, despairing biblical, action packed, mountain of spent shells of a book!
This thing is now inside me, arrogantly poking my innards, waiting to tell me “I told you so” when the world is finally broken.
It’s not an easy read. It’s not a quick adventure to give you fun dreams, but the investment in this book is worth every word.
So far I’ve been too scared to pick up its sequel, All of our Sins, but I assure you I will!
I absolutely adored this book!
The characters, the sardonic sneering of dialogue, the filthy and buetiful prose (see what I did there?) this dark, desperate and grimy story will hook the most stoic reader and plunge them into a world with little light but new levels of strangled hope, giving this sword and sorcery novel a special place in their hearts.
For my full review click here!
And that is it!! Yes, as above, I’ve read lots of chunks of other great books that will spew forth from me when ready, but these are the books that coloured my year and made my mountain of challenges that little bit more scalable.
Speaking of challenges, and feel free to move on if you don’t want to read my ramblings!
Things have got hard in recent years. I see governments come, go, fail, thrive, ignore and abuse. I see people feeding off each other, worshiping greed and other old gods that we all thought may have retreated to the depths by now. I see enforced division around every corner, consumerism, addiction, lack of personal responsibility, an excess of gluttonous elitism and fear of anything we cannot squeeze down into the boxes we are told we must align with to thrive as a community.
I don’t want to sound like I have the power or wisdom to tell anyone what to do, but I would like to share some simple thoughts.
Whether we agree or not, whether we are the same or not and wherever we believe we came from, we HAVE to share, and look after our planet.
Conflict and hatred WILL bring destruction on whatever scale it is relied upon.
And now the good news…
I am new to this community. I have taken my vows to write books and infiltrate this world in order to share my work, help fellow humans and become inspired.
I would like to celebrate and report that during my arduous journey to learn, create and understand this market and this way of living. During my personal battles with my own Imposter demons, and all they effect. Naysayers and the envious, poisonous critics and gatekeepers have NOT been present in this incredible community!
The people I have met on the way and how they have helped me along, offered a nod or a word of advice, how they have encouraged and supported has been life changing!
I have seen authors and reviewers burn out and fall, only to be picked up by this community and be listened to, supported, and understood. This is not something that typical communities are good at, especially online.
Long may this spirit continue and long may this community grow and shape the world it can affect.
If you’ve read this till the end, I thank you, and I apologise for my brief soapbox ranting, but I stand by what I say and if you are ever in trouble and there is something I can do to help, please get in touch and I will do all I can to make a difference.
DB Rook
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