Too bad that MWT isn't available in the UK, AJ! That's very odd. ...are you needing a NW express delivery of Thick as Thieves then? (Hope you can find it somehow!)

The other books are available from some places, but they're not on any bookstore shelves. I asked my local bookshop if they could find Thick as Thieves. They contacted the UK branch of the publisher but because they didn't publish it, the US branch did, they can't source it. So I'll probably end up buying it through an Amazon reseller. Thanks for the suggestion but I think the postage will make any NW delivery rather expensive!

When I was in Canada there were several UK authors whose books weren't published over there. It's interesting how different the markets are. Another author I struggle to find here is Robin McKinley. When I was at school Beauty and Spindle's End were published. I fell in love with Beauty but was disappointed in the other (at that time; I've since reread it and enjoyed it). It took me many years to discover she'd written anything else. Again, during a trip to the States I was able to source a copy of The Blue Sword which is now one of my favourite books ever. Over the last few years I've bought many of her other books though resellers and AbeBooks and places like that. I love The Door in the Hedge and I also really like Rose Daughter, because even though it's the story of Beauty and the Beast again it's a completely different take on the tale. Deerskin was a difficult read, but very powerful. Funnily enough, some of her more recent books are now published here. However I read one, Shadows, and I was very disappointed in it. There were some fun elements to the story - I like the world it was set in, and the reason for the title. But the book never felt full of depth and real emotion and danger like The Blue Sword.

If you loved The Blue Sword, I hope you can find the prequel, The Hero and the Crown. Its fantastic! (Its the story of the legendary Aerin and how she fought dragons).

Finished Dandelion Fire, the second 100 Cupboards book, today. I liked it better than the first, but overall i'm not terribly impressed.

There's just so much going on that isn't explained. Names of people, places, and concepts are thrown around a lot, but despite their implied importance, the book never explains why it's so important that Henry hasn't been christened, or that he's

Most of the problems i have with this book can be tied to that lack of understanding, really. Without a working knowledge of the magic system, the villain doesn't feel like a real threat, the peril of the good guys can't be measured, and whatever way is used to secure victory doesn't feel meaningful. Without depth to the characters, there's no investment in them, no worry about their safety or relief in their survival. Without enough world-building, these other places don't feel real, and what happens to them is of no concern.

A different problem i have is excessive characters. The new villain was threatening for not even the first half of the book, then he became nothing more than the weapon through which the main villain was threatening the characters. Zeke, Richard, and the police sergeant had their moments of usefulness, but on the whole didn't do much for the main plot. It would have been nice to spend more time with other characters, ones more important to the plot who hadn't been developed enough for me to care about them.

Like the first book, i started losing interest once the major action began, and for the same reason: too many characters, many of whom were not developed enough to be cared about, against a villain of unclear power, and action that i couldn't picture. Some of that is no doubt my own fault, as i have a bad tendency to skim-read when things start picking up, but if i'm truly invested in what's happening then i go back and re-read to make sure that i'm following what's going on. That wasn't the case here.

I still plan on reading the third book. It would be unrealistic to expect it to make up for everything i didn't like in the first two, but perhaps it can end on a reasonably solid note.

I just finished The Song of Glory and Ghost myself, SA! It's a very exciting read, though I think it doesn't have the multiple layers that make Ashtown Burials or 100 Cupboards so appealing. I was rather surprised when I found I'd reached the final third already; I'd been expecting all the adventures so far to be set-up (which they were) but not as many twists and turns as usual. My favorite bits were the parts with Cindy and Speck and the two second description of the lady with chandelier earrings.

Also, I picked up A Match of Wits by Jen Turano after you mentioned the author... I grinned pretty much the whole way through and am looking forward to reading others in the series. It's a nice change of pace from my usual fare of heavy drama.

Arwenel, re: Dandelion Fire: For me, a lot of the appeal of the series is that it's more of an intuitive read instead of a logical one. It takes expectations of certain storylines or types and spins them slightly off-kilter but never explains. (This being so, I'm curious as to what you'll think of the ending

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especially since there are more characters popping up and I thought the secondary villain in the third installment should have had a bigger role. (And Monmouth should have had a bigger role. So should Caleb. )

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not being christened, I believe it's a call-back to Irish fairy tales, where being given a name wards against evil. It's that intuitive thing again... I can see that there IS a connection but I can't spell it out for you. Same with the seventh son of the seventh son--it's a fairy tale convention that's taken and used here to explain and limit the workings of the magic; ie if you're not a seventh son, you're a Muggle or a thief or a non-human with different rules.

Again, during a trip to the States I was able to source a copy of The Blue Sword which is now one of my favourite books ever.

Blue Sword is one of my favorites as well; probably tied with Outlaws of Sherwood. The prose sketches such vivid pictures with only a few words. (I would like Hero and the Crown even better except I read Blue Sword first and wanted more recognition/page time for Tor, and I find the ending to be severely anticlimactic after the fight with Maur. But the first half is all my favorite things rolled into a very neat and tidy package.

Valia, I think it's the style and pacing in Grey Ghost that remind me of Buchan; there were a few Wodehousian moments with the characters... it'll be interesting to see how the series develops since that was the first one.

If you loved The Blue Sword, I hope you can find the prequel, The Hero and the Crown. Its fantastic! (Its the story of the legendary Aerin and how she fought dragons).

I did manage to find it, and have read it! I much prefer The Blue Sword, though. I think I loved the world of Damar that I discovered in it so much I was disappointed that the prequel was so different in tone and landscape and culture. Also, I love the way McKinley describes how Harry discovers and falls in love with Damar, which can't easily be replicated in another tale. Perhaps I just enjoyed the first one so much that anything slightly different was a let-down.

Meltintalle, Outlaws of Sherwood was good fun, and a different take on the tale, but I was frustrated by the ending. I felt it built up and built up and then ended without fully resolving anything. Other than that I can't actually remember very much about it.

Meltintalle - the "intuitive vs. logical" is an interesting way of looking at it.

I don't mind the callback to folklore and mythology like that, but in my opinion, you can't treat those references as self-explanatory. It would be like naming your villain Darth Vader, and then never showing him doing anything evil, just assuming that your readers will know it's the same guy from the Star Wars movies and accept that as enough reason for the hero to defeat him.

As for my thoughts on The Chestnut King --

This book was about what i expected after the first two. Same problems as before: too many characters, too little world-building, not enough information or depth to care much about what happened.

I know i'm highlighting the negative in these reviews, but the books were a mostly enjoyable read. I'm just not sure what i found enjoyable.

Meltintalle - the "intuitive vs. logical" is an interesting way of looking at it.

I know i'm highlighting the negative in these reviews, but the books were a mostly enjoyable read. I'm just not sure what i found enjoyable.

Mel explained the 100 Cupboards working ethos quite well, I think. In the end, it works for some readers and not for others; my sister tried the series and fell more in line with your opinion, while I can see how it's a bit odd but enjoyed it immensely. Your ending comment is great - I can definitely relate to that with other books but have never quite put that situation into words.

I just finished Beyond the Wall by Tanya Landman. It has a beautiful cover which first attracted me to it, and then then fact it was a Roman Britain-set piece meant I had to buy it. I've enjoyed reading some of Rosemary Sutcliff's books recently and this had some of that feel. I liked the characters and the twists in the story, and I'll be looking out for the author's other books.

You've sold me, that sounds straight up my alley! Beyond the Wall is going on the to-read list immediately.

I'm a few chapters from the end of Thick as Thieves!! I'd agree that in some ways it is definitely most comparable to The Thief.

To be honest, while it's a very fast-paced story I've had trouble being as interested in the plot as I've been with the preceding books. This might be because

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they've arrived in Attolia and details are being revealed. What a crushing update about Irene and Gen!

Outlaws of Sherwood was good fun, and a different take on the tale, but I was frustrated by the ending. I felt it built up and built up and then ended without fully resolving anything.

ValiantArcher had the same reaction when I finally convinced her to read this version. But for whatever reason the ending appeals to me.

Meltintalle - the "intuitive vs. logical" is an interesting way of looking at it.

It's interesting that you mention Brandon Sanderson, since he's my go-to example of a 'logical' author.

I don't mind the callback to folklore and mythology like that, but in my opinion, you can't treat those references as self-explanatory.

Rather like how, at the beginning of Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones throws in a comment about how fairy tale conventions like seven league boots and the luck of youngest children exist in this place and then moves on with the story?

In the end, [100 Cupboards] works for some readers and not for others...

This is very true--I convinced the rest of my family to read the series with me about the time Dandelion Fire came out, and while everyone was more or less interested when Chestnut King came out, the shorthand reference to it is "that weird series". I don't know why it didn't tickle their fancy--I would have thought it'd appeal immensely after Gammage Cup and Phantom Tollbooth.

To be honest, while it's a very fast-paced story I've had trouble being as interested in the plot as I've been with the preceding books.

That was hard for me at first too. I think the biggest difference between Thick as Thieves and the previous books is that it's more about the characters than the plot.

My copy of Beren and Luthien arrived a few days ago. I glanced through the illustrations (so pretty!) and the preface, but I started reading Terry Pratchett's Snuff last week and I think I'm going to finish that first.

It's interesting that you mention Brandon Sanderson, since he's my go-to example of a 'logical' author.

Ha, i can agree with that.

Rather like how, at the beginning of Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones throws in a comment about how fairy tale conventions like seven league boots and the luck of youngest children exist in this place and then moves on with the story?

More or less. I mentioned Sanderson's First Law earlier, and that basically sums it up -- if something is going to be an important part of your story, you need to explain it to your readers, even if it's based off of something pre-existing. Basing a plot element or a character in some other story can be a fun bonus for those who recognize it, or even add some depth or meaning that a reader who doesn't get the reference will miss out on, but you can't build a major plot element on the strength of a reference alone.

Too bad about not being able to order TaT directly, AJ! But I know things work that way sometimes; my family has had to order things the other direction before (including books by a Canadian author!).
What authors did you have trouble finding in Canada? I know there were some books that we read and enjoyed while in the UK that can't be found here...
And Mel's right - I liked a number of things about The Outlaws of Sherwood but the ending, not so much.

Re: McKinley's The Hero and the Crown: I'm in the minority as I read The Hero and the Crown and hated it so much that I never picked up The Blue Sword. AJ, I think you might be the first person I've come across who disliked it too (though for different reasons, it sounds like).

*reads with interest Arwenel's and Mel's discussion on logical vs. intuitive storytelling* I think you all have clarified something that perhaps gave me pause on 100 Cupboards, so thank you. Mel, do you think Ashtown is more logical, or is still rather intuitive?

Mel, you'll have to let me know how the Miss Silver series progresses; a mix of Buchan and Wodehouse sounds delightful! It looks like I can get at least some of the books from the library - but only as e-books, so that may be no good. :/

Arwenel, it's been ages since I read The Chesnut King but I think you've nailed down some of the same things that bugged me about it. I wasn't really a fan of the epilogue, either. :/

*waves to Adeona* Still waiting for a family copy to free up (and time, though now that I've finished the tome that is Words of Radiance, there's a bit more time), but I'll be curious to see if TaT falls above or below ACoK (my current least favourite).

OOOOH, DOT! Enjoy Beren and Luthien! I'll have to look into getting it at some point, but for now I need to work my way through some more unread-books-I-own, including some more Tolkien.

I mentioned Sanderson's First Law earlier, and that basically sums it up -- if something is going to be an important part of your story, you need to explain it to your readers, even if it's based off of something pre-existing.

OH. That makes sense, in light of some things I've read in his series that seem important but I don't have the info to make connections. The stories and characters still make sense, there's just a sense that I'm missing something.

I finished Words of Radiance. Overall, I liked it; there were some moments that I really loved and some I rather didn't, but that's about par for the course.
SO, a question now for anyone who knows: Can I read the collection of Cosmere short stories without having read the other series (besides the two Mistborn series)? And is Mistborn: The Secret History a short story collection or something else (I would think one of the three libraries/library systems I have access to would have it!)?
Edit: Or is Secret History in the Cosmere collection?

I'm currently reading The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy L. Sayers and so far it's good. I know it's supposed to be a reflection/discussion about God by comparison to writers and the act of creation in writing, but I must confess I've been a bit more focused on what it illuminates about authors and how a story is created.

Not sure yet what else I'll be reading. I looked into a local library reading program and was shocked to discover you only had to read 4 books to complete the adult level. o_O My mom reminded me that that's a good challenge for a lot of adults but I can't help comparing it against the children/teen reading programs I did growing up, where you didn't get entered into prize drawings until you'd read at least 5-10 hours (or 500-1000 pages, depending on which way they were tracking that year) and you only completed a program when it was finished. I signed up anyway and have challenged myself to: only count new books, only count adult (no YA or children's) books, and to only count books I started after I signed up (so, The Mind of the Maker is out because I read the preface before I started, and so is WoR because I started a day or two before the program did). We'll see how it goes.

SO, a question now for anyone who knows: Can I read the collection of Cosmere short stories without having read the other series (besides the two Mistborn series)? And is Mistborn: The Secret History a short story collection or something else (I would think one of the three libraries/library systems I have access to would have it!)?
Edit: Or is Secret History in the Cosmere collection?

Out of all the short stories in the Cosmere Collection I think the only you shouldn't read is The Hope of Elantris (unless you've read Elantris?). Secret History is in the Cosmere. I think it might have been released online by itself before the book was published??? Loved your thoughts on WoR.

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The Kaladin-Shallan team-up was definitely one of my favorite things. And Adolin and Dalinar are easily my least favorites.

Finished Snuff last night. It was good (as everything featuring Sam Vimes is), but I made myself sad because I finished the last Night Watch novel.

Dot, thanks for the answer! I haven't read Elantris (or Warbreaker - anything else in Cosmere?), so I'll skip The Hope of Elantris for now. It looks like all three libraries/library systems have hard copies of Arcanum Unbounded, so chances are good of me being able to find a copy soon! Chances are best at the uni library - provided someone actually shelves it properly. (Words of Radiance has supposedly been shelved for months and yet it is never on the shelf, nor on the to-be-shelved shelf, nor even on the overflow shelves (I don't technically know if you're allowed in that area, but there's no keep-out sign and no door on the hinges, and as long as no one is in there, I'll brave it for search of books...)).
And I'm glad to know we've had similar thoughts on characters/bits in WoR. Pleased also that my thoughts were amusing and/or interesting or something.

Is Snuff the last Pratchett book?

Still reading The Mind of the Maker - Sayers' commentary on trying to force characters to a plot and plot to characters is hilarious.

What authors did you have trouble finding in Canada? I know there were some books that we read and enjoyed while in the UK that can't be found here...

I don't remember seeing Cornelia Funke, or any of the other authors who are published by Chicken House in the UK. I don't remember seeing Eoin Colfer. I think what struck me so much was how different the range was. I don't remember Arthur Ransome, Beatrix Potter - the standard British children's authors, I suppose. In terms of actually sourcing books I think I either waited until Christmas, when I went home for a couple of weeks, or bought them on Kindle ... (I've just checked my Amazon orders from back then, and yes I did buy books on Kindle - a book of Scottish myths and legends, The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt, and Nicking Time by T Traynor.)

Re: McKinley's The Hero and the Crown: I'm in the minority as I read The Hero and the Crown and hated it so much that I never picked up The Blue Sword. AJ, I think you might be the first person I've come across who disliked it too (though for different reasons, it sounds like).

Yet though I dislike it, I LOVE The Blue Sword. I hope you give it a chance!

The Mind of the Maker sounds really interesting. I will put it on my growing list of books to read ...

After not liking The Colour of Magic a friend told me to read The Thief of Time and Going Postal, both which I loved. Another friend then made me read the Night Watch books. I've read Making Money and Wyrd Sisters too, now. Any other Pratchett recommendations? Or are the rest all good, and it's just the first couple that aren't?

I've only read The Colour of Magic (which I enjoyed though it was a bit rougher to read) and Hogfather (which I adored) of Pratchett's Discworld books. I have several more I've been meaning to read. Definitely pick up Hogfather some time!