The Art of War by Sun Tzu

The Art of War by Sun Tzu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is interesting, mostly because it’s ancient and has been translated to modern language. Beyond that, it’s kind of technical and list-y. You would have to really be into war and war strategies to take much out of it. I listened to it out of curiosity, since it was free on Audible channels.

This could be handy, in terms of theory and plotting war, for a fantasy writer.

If you aren’t planning war, or don’t tend to be fascinated by it, then this probably isn’t for you. However, the narrated version on Audible by Aidan Gillen (GOT) has a nice soothing sound for a book that’s all about war, so I made it through.

I think some of the tactics could be applied to other aspects of life.

Pages: 108

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 2 in A Song of Fire and Ice series

This book was slow for me, especially in the first half. I enjoy the many different story lines, but they drug a bit. It lacks strong forward motion for a while, and that left me with a feeling of random wandering. In return, my attention wandered, and I cheated on this book with other stories, which slowed my pace.

However, I do love many other things about the story lines, characters, and world, so I am still debating whether or not to continue reading this series. I think I need to take a break before moving on to book 3. I want to know what happens, but I feel exhausted.

Pages: 761

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since I'm late to this game, I'm not sure what I can add to the discussion on this novel.

In some ways, it's very Tolkien-esque, in that Martin definitely digs deep into the fantasy world building, and it's clear there are many layers of information hidden beneath the story that I will never even see or read. In fact, by the end of a novel by either author, I think I have probably forgotten more than I have learned, because it can be so difficult to file away all that information on a first read.

In other ways, it's nothing like Tolkien, in that Martin writes edgier, darker, bloodier, sexier, and more horrifying scenes and moments than Tolkien ever did. And I both like and hate that, at any given moment.

After I finished reading this, I watched the first season of Game of Thrones, and that worked great. The TV show stuck reasonably close to the book, and it helped me to see all the characters come to life on the screen before moving on to book 2.

Also, it should be noted that I listened to a lot of this on audiobook, and it's a particularly good recording. I think I almost prefer listening to it over reading it, though I did both, depending on what was convenient in the moment.

Last thought: I recommend this to anyone who digs deep fantasy. You have to be someone who can weather the storm of heavy descriptions, in-depth histories, an extraordinary number of characters, lengthy battles, and multiple, complex story lines. If you can tackle that, I think you'll find there's a lot here to love.

Pages: 835

Forging the Sword by Hilari Bell

Jiann, Kavi, and Soraya have formed an uneasy alliance.  Jiann has become commander of the rebel Farsalan army.  Soraya has learned the Suud way of manipulating the elements, a handy skill when fighting the implacable Hrum.  But Kavi has the most challenging job of all. He must find a way to make a sword that can withstand the "watersteel" of the Hrum.  This book reminds me in some ways of the first "Red Dawn" movie (young teens holding out against an invading army) but without the high body count. A satisfying read. 624 pages.

Rise of a Hero by Hilari Bell

Book 2 of the Farsala Trilogy picks up in the aftermath of the Hrum invasion.  Jiann has gathered the survivors of the Farsalan defeat and is trying to build a rebel army.  Soraya has decided the best way to find out what happened to her mother and little brother is to become a Hrum kitchen worker. Kavi now regrets helping the Hrum and begins spying against them. Bell does a good job of developing both the plot and the characters in this installment. 592 pages.

Death of Kings, by Bernard Cornwell

I've enjoyed following this series that tells the tale of the beginnings of Saxon England through the eyes of Lord Uhtred, a Viking warrior who comes to serve King Alfred the Great.  This story, the sixth in the series, begins in 899 A.D., the year of Alfred's death. King Alfred's death takes place at the beginning of this story, and so we follow Lord Uhtred, now a middle-aged warrior, as he defends the fledgling England from invading Danes and other rivals for the throne, which has been awarded to Alfred's son, Edward. Uhtred is a fun character, all man and thoroughly pagan, which makes his devotion to Alfred, the Christian, very unusual.  The stories are filled with lots of gritty battles, but are also solidly steeped in the political intrigues of the day.  Uhtred, the Danish pagan, also allows Cornwell to show the contrast between the beliefs of the Danes and the Christian views, at times to humorous effect.  Cornwell is a very convincing writer, and brings this period to life.  320 pages