Books I Am Reading

     It's not often I set down a book without finishing it - especially if I like it. And it's rarer that I pick a book back I already set down. I am, however, currently in a highly unusual situation of being in the middle of three books I intend to finish. I won't go into how it happened, but I like all three.

     There may be spoilers, but I will try to keep them to a minimum. Don't worry, I can't give away the ending.


The Alloy of Law, Brandon Sanderson

     This stand-alone book is set in the Mistborn world. In that world, there are several of forms of magic; all deal with metal and have their rules. The rules are strict and well laid out; I recommend reading the Mistborn Trilogy first, which will get you a deeper understanding of this world. The original Trilogy is three larger books set in a fantasy world in a late medieval, almost colonial time.

     The Alloy of Law draws inspiration from the American old west: lawmen, guns and train heists, for example. The main character, a skilled lawman, is called back to the city he long ago left, and has to try to mix in with 'civilization'. But his lawkeeping skills from the wilds are needed to solve a growing mystery and rescue hostages taken by a group of bandits. I left with him and his allies on the chase.


The Name of The Wind, Patrick Rothfuss

     The first in The Kingkiller Chronicles, this world has conflicting ancient stories with tantalizing similarities I am trying to figure out. Strange spider creatures show up near a town, attacking people. A man shows up, seeking a story from the mysterious bartender who seems to be connected with these creatures.

     I am enjoying the greater story within the story, and I'm eager to figure out or learn the 'truth' of their stories. The last I left off, the main character had earned his "bloodless" title, and he was on the edge of being thrown out of the university where he's studying magic.


Magic's Price, Mercedes Lackey

     The third in The Last Herald Mage Trilogy. They are set in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar Kingdom and center around a young man named Vanyel. He is not the masculine boy his father wants him to be. He is, and it's obvious to readers from fairly early on, gay. It's not the most complex of stories, and the endings of the first two books are barely tied to the main story, which center's on the main character's personal growth.

     Anyway, in the third book, the character has somehow become even more powerful than in the first two, and there is more plot development taking place besides what is happening in the main character's own head. So, I'm interested to see where it goes. Last I left off, he had chewed his father yet again for assuming the worst of him, and was attempting to avoid a series of social/political landmines on his way to bed.