Have Book, Will Read #1

So, this is something new I thought I’d try out. A reading log! I’ll try to do sporadically regular (is that a thing? Can it be a thing? Please?) versions, depending on how many books I’ve eaten for breakfast each month.

Recent Reads: Lately life has been all about Vikings and the Vikingesque. But that’s all good and fine because I do loves me some decent weaponry action.

First up was Blood Will Follow, Book 2 in Snorri Kristjánsson‘s Valhalla Saga. It was great to dive back into the world of the Norse gods and meet up again with Ulfar and Audun, the Riggs and Murtaugh of the North. In this sequel to Swords of Good Men (such awesome titles!) Kristjánsson gives us a deeper look at the threads entangling his blood-drenched heroes and the puppet-masters who would shape their destiny.

Next, another sequel, Half the World. This is Book 2 in Joe Abercrombie‘s Shattered Sea trilogy, told this time from the perspective of warrior-girl Thorn and her former training partner and now oar-mate Brand. We still get to keep Yarvi, but this time we see him through other’s eyes, an interesting plot device as it puts readers in a position where they know more than the main characters. Thorn and Brand are fantastic creations and a great addition to the tale.

Now Reading: Magic, math and demons, oh my!

I recently discovered the delights of Charles Stross‘s Laundry Files, and am now devouring the second in the series (another book 2; sensing a theme here!). So far, The Jennifer Morgue is a fast-paced and fun read. Good stuff.

To Read: A little bit of this, a little bit of that.

First up, and burning a hole in my Kindle, is Book 2 (heh, what do you know? Another second…) in Brian Staveley‘s Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy, The Providence of Fire. I thoroughly enjoyed his first novel, The Emperor’s Blades, so I’m looking forward to this one.

Also on my list is Jo Zebedee‘s debut, the first in her space opera Inheritance Trilogy, Abendau’s Heir. Abendau’s release isn’t due until the very end of the month, but I’m very excited for this one as I was lucky enough to be an enthusiastic (if not very competent) beta reader for Jo. I know Abendau has been through a lot of edits since then, so I’m curious to see what the final result is. Bring on those sexy space pilots! (And, er, all the suffering and devastation too, of course.)