The Fantasy Review - Part One

My favourite genres for reading have always been fantasy and science fiction. I think science fiction probably came first, but as I have gotten older I have also added fantasy to the mix. Fantasy has sort of taken over as the dominant genre, but science fiction was always my first love. I think I started reading sci-fi when I started to notice I was quite a big fan of Star Trek on television. I also used to read a lot of Star Wars books. Ten years ago, I sort of moved away from the television-related science fiction and started to read some of the big name authors. I think this coincides with reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I probably read other sci-fi novels before that, but that is the one that stands out. For fantasy, I think the book that really started me on that path was Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I have always loved both genres, though, I did read Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger, and those are two of my favourite series. A lot of why it took me so long to develop my reading interests was because I tried to be the 'cool' kid in school, but halfway through junior high I gave up caring and in many ways finally became me.

That is my long-winded intro to my post on reading fantasy and science-fiction in 2007.

So, in 2007 I started out my year with a brandnew book by a brandnew author: Colleen Gleason. This required me browsing the romance section, something that I never do, so it shows you how much I wanted to support her! The Rest Falls Away may not be high-brow literature, but she is much better than many of the other paranormal authors I have read. The author is a very nice woman, the romance is not too over-powering, and there is suspense. Works for me!

Next up, I FINALLY read Juliet Marillier. Wildwood Dancing is a fairy-tale retelling, and while not the best book ever and not everyones cup of tea, I found it enjoyable.

One Good Knight is the sequel to The Fairy Godmother, which I read the year before. It was good, but I enjoyed The Fairy Godmother much more. I hope to read the third book this year, if it ever decides when it is coming out in paperback! It was originally February, but when I went to order it with my Christmas money, it had been pushed back.

New Moon was another author that I had read before and decided to read the sequel to. Twilight was enjoyable, I read it last year, but I am finding Bella more and more annoying. It was good, but I have a hard time getting into the books in the series.

Another really good paranormal author is Patricia Briggs. I had read Moon Called by her in 2006, so I was very excited for the sequel in 2007. Just like I am very excited for book 3 in 2008. Mercedes Thompson is one of my favourite female fictional characters, and so far no trashy sex! Yay! (I am thinking Laurell K. Hamilton here.) Great series. Mercedes is a very strong woman who gets the job done, and while she is in all the books, the other focus paranormal group changes from book to book. One of my favs of 2007.

Lisa Tuttle's The Silver Bough was a fun book. I really must try her again sometime. Too bad it is not a real place, I wouldn't mind visiting there!

O.R. Melling has a fabulous series that I really must read the fourth book to this year. Then, I plan to back track and reread the books again because she has rereleased them with added things, and I want to see what is added! The Summer King and The Light-Bearer's Daughter are the two I read in 2007.

One of my favourite new authors of 2007 was Robin Hobb. I just decided it was time to read her and dug one of her books off my TBR pile. I just adore her writing style. She currently holds the place for my favourite fantasy author after reading Fool's Errand. Her books are long, but they do not feel long.

Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop is one of the books in her Black Jewels series. I want to love this series, but I am having a hard time with it. I will have to see what book 3 brings with it. I hopefully will read it this year.

The Eagle's Brood is a Jack Whyte novel. I am shocked at myself for only reading one book by him 2007! I really love this series, so I plan to try and read more than one book by him this year. I ended at such a bad time, too, because all the characters from the Arthurian legends have been set up, and I want to know what happens next! Maybe I will try and squeeze him in for January. One of my favs of 2007.

Holly Black's Valiant disappointed me. I have not decided yet if I want to read her next book.

I am so happy that I finally read Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I adore Tas, and I mean ADORE him. He is one of my favourite literary characters ever, and I look forward to reading more from this series this year. Dragons of the Autumn Twilight was the first time I have ever read Dragonlance, but it is very embarassing to admit how long the book was on my TBR pile. One of my favs from 2007.

Storm Front is the first book in Jim Butcher's Dresdan Files. I plan to read the whole series, and while I like it, it is also not my favourite series ever. I'll read one or two this year, no big rush.

I read a bit of Neil Gaiman this year. First up was Coraline by him. I have had this book for a couple years, so I am glad that I finally read it! While I enjoy him as an author, only Good Omens has ever super impressed me. I wonder what would have happened if I had read another book first... Well, Carl raves on about him, so I probably would have read the ones I have anyways. I did like Stardust, but he just doesn't blow me away.

I read a few books from Shannon Hale this year, as well. The Goose Girl, the first one I read, was probably my favourite. She is almost as good as Libba Bray, but Bray remains my favourite for the moment. And, no one can knock Madeleine L'Engle off my top spot, I am very loyal to her.

Then I read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I really love the idea of this book. I can't wait to get to the sequel this year. Totally a favourite of 2007.

Flight of the Nighthawks is my first attempt at reading Raymond Feist. I am glad I started with this one, I like the characters grown up. I am finding myself getting more and more fed up with many books written about children. It is likely just a stage I am going through, but if I had started with a different book, I am afraid I would not have liked it as much.

I decided to start off with Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampire series instead of her adult books, I am not even totally sure why. Glass Houses was enjoyable. If I didn't finish the series, I would not be totally disappointed, but I like it. I plan to stick with it, and have book 3 ordered... actually, that did not come when I got my books last week. I must check that.

I read three Kelley Armstrong books in a row: Bitten, Stolen, and Dime Store Magic. I probably would have read more, but Dime Store Magic annoyed me. I needed to take a break after that. Stolen is probably my favourite right now, and if I had to choose, would be my favourite of 2007 in terms of her.

Greg Keyes is interesting. Sometimes his writing style really annoyed me, but The Briar King really stuck with me. It's surpring, frankly. I think I would have to call it a favourite of 2007, even if it annoyed me at times. I am excited to read the next book, but book 4 is only coming out in hardcover this year, which means I have to wait until 2009 for the paperback, so I am not rushing things.

Magician: Apprentice was Raymond Feist again. Like I said above, I like the characters when they are older better, but I plan to read all of his books eventually.

The Dream-Maker's Magic was the last book in a young adult trilogy by Sharon Shinn. The only Shinn I read this year, which is bad, considering I own all her books except the ones only out in hardcover... bad me! Good book, though.

Frank Beddor's debut, The Looking-Glass Wars was interesting. I liked it better than the original, but I have never really liked Carroll.

Thanks to Buy a Friend a Book week, I now own all of Roger Zelazny's Amber series. I really liked Nine Princes in Amber and The Guns of Avalon, so I look forward to more in the series this year!

Okay, that's enough recap for now! The other half I will post tomorrow. I read more fantasy than I thought I did!