Currently reading: The Prophecy Con, sequel to The Palace Job. If you like humorous fantasy and don't care that characters can get the occasional cappuccino or check their message crystal, this is the book for you. It's a fantasy heist novel, combining two of my favorite genres.
Wake of the Bloody Angel, by Alex Bledsoe. Eddie LaCrosse, sword jockey for hire, solver of crimes for pay, is hired by one of his oldest friends to find out what happened to her first lover: the infamous pirate Black Edward Tew.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. One of the best books I've read this year. Interestingly enough, this is the pseudonym of Sarah Monette, whose new publishing company insisted she use a pseudonym. I read two of her first four novels, Melusine ,and The Virtu (Doctrine of Labyrinths), which featured two of the most angst-ridden unlikeable characters it's ever been my displeaure to read about. I don't think I even managed to finish the second book. Which may explain her new publisher's position. But her newest work is simply amazing, everything from the world-building to the characters to the dialog, etc. Too bad there are no plans for a direct sequel but I can see her point: Maia's story is, effectively, told within the single volume.
The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1) - John A. Flanagan - First book of a something like 14-book series, it's a by-the-book training- and coming-of-age story. Not all that bad, but nothing to really write home about in the first book.
Blood and Iron (The Book of the Black Earth), Jon Sprunk - Fairly good fantasy where a young man from a quasi-Age of Discovery european-analog country winds up washed ashore of a quasi-Egyptian-analog country. His country has just declared war on this one, so he winds up as a slave. However, he finds out he has the gift of magic, which immediately makes him a member of their aristocracy by unbreakable law and tradition. So he's freed and becomes a pawn for the queen of one city, who is facing a takeover by their chief religious sect. Some pretty interesting intrigue and magic, but I'm not certain I want to read more in the series.
