I finished Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman last week. It’s the first book of Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

I mentioned the week before that the litRPG doesn’t have high stakes, since you know nothing is going to happen to your character and it’s just going to get stronger and stronger, but I failed to realise that this happens when you don’t care about any side characters. Which is not to say that something happens (or doesn’t happen) to side characters, but that the side characters are well written that you care about them.

Started The Novice by Trudi Canavan. The second book in The Black Magician trilogy.

The first book was completely focused on one place and one task, this book expands the world, and different characters are doing completely different things so it’s interesting to see how things will develop. I am still in the start though, and while the book feels as quick to read as the first one, it has quite a bit of bullying in it (at least in the start, where I am), and I am not a fan of reading that, so the progress is going pretty slow. Going to stick with it though, cause it feels like the kind of book where our protagonist is going to become super powerful, with somewhat “good” ending.

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

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  • Herculeskan @lemmy.zip
    2·
    2 days ago

    I’m 27 chapters ahead to finish don quijote, it is the largest book that I’ve ever read.

    I think that I would read a large book like that, a large classic at least once a year

  • n0p1lls@piefed.zipEnglish
    3·
    4 days ago

    I’ve finally read ‘The Strong State and the Free Economy’ by Werner Bonefeld. I think the information inside this book is so interesting, but I find it a bit repetitive. This essay probably could be shorter than its actual length; however, I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about ordoliberalism and neoliberalism.

  • FilesForWallabies@piefed.socialEnglish
    5·
    5 days ago

    I stepped away from my regular queer literary fiction and romance since a couple sci-fi books came through my holds. I think I’m back on the saddle after a summer of being unable to get deep into books.

    I quickly listened to All Systems Red for book club and I’m in the middle of Project Hail Mary. I’m enjoying them both. Next on the list is Martyr!

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    7 days ago

    I just finished Clover Blue by Eldonna Edwards.

    A boy grows up in a hippie commune and along the way learns the truth about… everything.

    I’m the same age as the protagonist, and I grew up in Northern California. I’m familiar with the towns, and the trees and the sky mentioned, and the time. This story could be about me in an alternate timeline.

    I’d love to see it as a movie, it’s a rich and beautiful world--maybe my own memories filled in the blanks--but as we all know they’d probably ruin it. So, I’ll happily keep the movie in my head.

    • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      Having enjoyed this book, I’m reading her first book, This I Know. I’m about 1/4 of the way through and it’s good too.

      I recommend both.

      I usually read sci-fi or sci-fi adjacent, but I thought to try something different, I’m glad I did.

  • OmegaMouse@pawb.social
    12·
    9 days ago

    I’ve just finished reading through Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (written by Grant Morrison with artwork from Dave McKean), which a friend lent me after we’d been discussing the Arkham games. It was pretty cool, full of symbolism and gorgeously creepy artwork. The actual narrative I found confusing though. Thankfully there’s a copy of the original script at the end with annotations that explains everything!

    For my book club I’m most of the way through Nevada by Imogen Binnie. It’s been fun so far, with an endearing/easy-going writing style that reminds me of a blog post. Some really great insights into coming to terms with being trans.

    And I’m also halfway through An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. This is another one that a friend lent me a while back and I hadn’t got around to reading. But I’m going to a festival this week, and I didn’t want to bring my Kobo in case it gets damaged or stolen, so I opted for a physical book. I’m doing an admin shift during the festival which tends to involve sitting around not doing much for an hour or so at a time. May as well do some reading! Anyway this book has felt quite cosy and charming; I like Ishiguro’s prose.

  • Catma@lemmy.world
    11·
    9 days ago

    Finished Golden Son by Pierce Brown. Book 2 in the Red Rising series. Really enjoyed this one. Picks up the action and intrigue super quick. Overall like a 9/10 for me

    Also about halfway through Amber and Ashes by Margaret Weis. Its a D&D book in Krynn which Weis wrote a number of books for. Its ok. Kind of what i expect from these types of books.

    • USSEthernet@piefed.socialEnglish
      6·
      9 days ago

      Really enjoyed the Red Rising series until book 4. Had to take a break after that book it just wasn’t as interesting as the others since they start following other characters from their point of view. I had become used to hearing the story from Darrow’s POV.

    • Aralakh@lemmy.ca
      2·
      8 days ago

      Seeing your comments on these threads about Red Rising, is making me reconsider trying to start it again after dnf

  • Kongar@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    10·
    9 days ago

    I too just finished dungeon crawler Carl book 1. I almost gave up on it quick - it started off juvenile and a bad “video game to book” translation. But it grew on me - I’m more than halfway through book 2 now and it keeps getting better. I think it might be worthy of the hype! ;)

    • hasnt_seen_goonies@lemmy.world
      5·
      9 days ago

      I stopped at the first book. I’m really glad other people like it, but the time spent on all the item descriptions really weighed it down for me. I hope it keeps getting better for you!

      • dresden@discuss.onlineOPMEnglish
        4·
        8 days ago

        The item descriptions were one of the things that I found so funny. If you didn’t like them, I can see you not enjoying the book as much.

        • hasnt_seen_goonies@lemmy.world
          4·
          8 days ago

          I think that they were funny, but there were so many that it was too much and I started to feel like they were a slog. By this series’ popularity, I know I’m in the minority, and I’m glad that it works for all y’all.

    • Elextra@literature.cafe
      3·
      9 days ago

      I think its meant to be listened to rather than read. So i can imagine it being not a great read honestly.

  • banazir@lemmy.ml
    9·
    9 days ago

    I started reading Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson, book 13 of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time. Feels good to get back to this series after some months. The end is in sight. Sanderson is doing a great job moving things along and resolving plot threads that have been hanging for 10 books or so.

  • yenahmik@lemmy.world
    9·
    9 days ago

    I’m working on John of John by Douglas Stuart. It’s a lot more literary than the last few books I’ve read, but it’s good. There’s a lot of conflict between the father and son characters and it’s interesting.

  • kat_angstrom@lemmy.world
    9·
    9 days ago

    Finished Recursion by Blake Crouch based on someone else’s recommendation in one of these threads a few weeks back. Wasn’t bad at all.

    Finished Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky, book 4 of the Tyrant Philosophers series. SO good. Maybe the best one yet.

    Now reading Hidden Empire by Kevin J Anderson, book 1 of his “Saga of the Seven Suns” series. I’ve never read any of his books before; it’s not bad, but Anderson is no Tchaikovsky. Feels almost Asimov-ish so far, but I’m only 1/4 through it.

    • karlhungus@lemmy.ca
      6·
      9 days ago

      If you liked recursion, which IMO was fun but a little easy to poke holes in you should consider ted chiang (IMO The best short SciFi story writer)

  • eightpix@lemmy.world
    8·
    9 days ago

    Oo boy, I may have bitten off more than I can chew this week. Let’s see here:

    1. Anthropause by Stan Cox — rationale for gearing economies for degrowth.

    2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin — needs no introduction in this place.

    3. Into the Blue by Emma Brodie — my partner’s request and my current audiobook

    4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu — a re-read of this 2500 year old field guide.

    • elephantium@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      9 days ago

      How far through Left Hand of Darkness are you? I read it a year or two back. I want to ask you about something midway (maybe 2/3?) through the book, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

      • eightpix@lemmy.world
        3·
        8 days ago

        I’m only 100 pp. in, about 30%. Ill try to remember to reach back out as I cross that threshold.

  • karlhungus@lemmy.ca
    8·
    9 days ago

    Going through the hanish cycle still, on the left hand of darkness (two more left). this and the dispossessed really do stand out so far.