Book finished: "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik

[viktor_haag]

Certainly quite readable. It leaves me with an odd feeling. It certainly wouldn't be hard, or all that unpleasant, to read the subsequent books in the series. But, on the other hand, I wasn't really all that excited by the book. I can't help but feel that there are other books I'd rather be reading.

This is the first time in recent memory where I've read a book, actually not minded it, but not really felt any compulsion to continue reading the series (or, rather, was quite able to ignore the compulsion to continue reading the series).

Next to finish is "Gifts" by Le Guin. Then probably "Kingdom of Shadows" by Furst.

The next book on my buy list is Jim Butcher's "Storm Watch" (I figured I should find out what all this Harry Dresden fuss is about), and I've been waiting for my FLBS to get in a copy.

Comments

[thebitterguy]

I don't think you'll like the Dresden books.

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

I'm interested enough to read the first one and see how it goes. Primarily, I'm interested because of Evil Hat having the license for the universe, and their upcoming FATE-based game exploiting the license. It's entirely possible I won't much like it, but I'm willing to try out the first book just to see. If I don't like it, then it'll be sent off to the used book store along with the Novik books... 8)

[thebitterguy]

I haven't read it either, but someone told me it would be something I'd enjoy, and since we're anti matter opposites, it's safe to assume that, ergo, you wouldn't.

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

Heh! Good point... 8)

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any of the Harry Dresden books either, so you aren't alone being bemused.

But I did have "His Majesty's Dragon" on the to read pile.

Hmm...I think I'll go ahead and finish "Monster Island", instead.

::B::

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

It's not a bad book; it's readable, and some might find it enjoyable. I, however, just wasn't grabbed enough to want to continue with the rest of the books.

I got a strong sense of "young girl's horse book" in the novel: i.e. that Novik's protagonist really wants to be a woman, and that the dragons really want to be unicorns. I don't know if this sense is at all justified, but that's the way it came across to me.

Novik is certainly a serviceable writer, but there just wasn't enough in the writing alone to bring me back, and the subject matter was also not interesting to me enough. As I say, there are just so many other things on my bookcase looking at me that I'd rather read than these books, despite the fact that I didn't dislike the book.