dresden

I just finished Death Masks by Jim Butcher, 5th book of The Dresden Files. Really enjoying the series.

What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening?

Finished Chloe Marr by A. A. Milne. I liked the book, but it's very much product of it's time, the way men and women act. Also, if you can get the literary and pop-culture (of that time) references, you'll enjoy it a lot more. As it is, even though I enjoyed reading it, when I wasn't reading it, I didn't feel too much like picking it up.

Read Jujitsu Kaisen Vol. 3. Continuing my 1 volume per month for JJK. Same as The Dresden Files. Don't want to finish all the published work and wait for new ones. So, once a month will keep me supplied for quite a while.

Read Meet the Maliks - Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit by Zanib Mian. Got it for my kid, felt a little bit like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but more about muslim family and kids. Read it to see how it is, and I enjoyed it. It's first in the series though, the author has also written Planet Omar series, may try those for kid next.

Starting Death Masks by Jim Butcher.

What about all of you? What have all of you been reading and listening?

Some summary:

• Author got $20,000/- from publisher. $10,000 on sign up, and $10,000/- after delivering the final manuscript. After 10% cut of agent, author was left with $18,000/- for two years of writing and editing.
• They say it's good money (for independent press), their previous 3 books got them 4 digit advance (so, less than 10K).
• They sold 650 books to end up number 85 on USA bestsellers list.
• About 5000 books are also ordered by bookshops / sellers, so they are half out of 10,000 copies first print.
• Bookshops can return the books if not sold.
• Authors don't get any royalties until they have paid off the advance they get in the beginning. So in this case, until they have paid off the initial $20K, they won't get any money from the book.

It's the new urban fantasy series by Benedi Jacka, author of Alex Verus urban fantasy series.

Early reviews (from author's blog): https://benedictjacka.co.uk/2023/10/06/inheritance-of-magic-early-reviews/

Not much from my side. I am still reading Chloe Marr by A. A. Milne. It's an interesting book, even though I am missing every "pop reference" of plays etc. Someone who get those references would probably enjoy it a lot more.

What about all of you? What have you been reading (or listening) lately?

Finished Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King. I enjoyed the novel, going to try more of his work, but it was too long so probably not right away.

Wanted something quick after such a big novel, so went with Jujitsu Kaisen Vol.2. It's a manga, so was a pretty quick read. It's still the start so we are learning about the world and powers of different people. It was fun.

After that, read (and finished) graphic novel Starport by George R. R. Martin (basically a graphic novel adaptation of his novella). I saw it on discount in the shop, didn't even know about the novella, but got it because of GRRM. The story was and the art was good. It was a fun read, though I couldn't get into the seriousness of the mystery because of the colourful and jubilant art. Still a fun read though.

Finished The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths. Her first book in Ruth Galloway mystery series. Don't really read much crime / mystery novels, recently read The Thursday Murder Club and now this. It was a quick read, and I liked the book, even though I wasn't the fan of how she portrayed all the relationships. I have got next 5-6 books in the series, will read them in-between different books.

Currently reading Chloe Marr by A. A. Milne. The author of Winnie the Pooh! It's about a young socialite in early 1900s. I have just started it though.

Phew that was a lot of books this week. Though, I was near the end of 1 last week, and 2 were comics/manga which are very quick to read, so not that much when you actually get down to it.

What about you all? What have you been reading or listening?

Still reading Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King. I am a little over 4/7th of the book (almost 400 pages out of 700 pages). The book wasn't what I thought it was. It isn't about the world after all the women fell asleep, it's about when they stated to fall asleep, with some supernatural stuff mixed in, which I think is present in most of King's books.

I am enjoying the book, and going to read more of his work. Maybe not right after this though.

What about you all? What are you guys reading?

Only digital releases yet:

• E-book from Aamazon
• Audiobook from audible (Narrated by Euan Morton)

As for physical books:

There will be an edition from Subterranean Press. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Haven't heard of Benedict Jacka before, just came across the mention of his Alex Verus series today. Has anyone read it here? What do you think about it?

Copying from the weekly thread, over at !books@lemmy.world :

Finished Summer Knight by Jim Butcher. Fourth book of The Dresden Files. Things keep getting worse, stakes keep getting higher, Harry keep going through hell. Same old, same old.

Currently Reading Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King. It was recommended on reddit for books similar to the comic Y: The Last Man. I didn’t used to like Stephen King much before, but I can understand why. Book is 700 pages long, and first 100 or so pages were pretty much just a set up. I didn’t use to have patience for such slow books in my youth, though I am enjoying it now.

What about you guys? What have you been reading?

P.S: I have mentioned the !books@lemmy.world (and the weekly thread) a few times here. Didn't see any rules against that, and am just trying to increase engagement for books-related communities, but if there's any issue with that, I can stop doing it. (Disclaimer, I am a mod there)