Time for another round up of books from my TBR to go through! Each week I’ll be going over a selection from my physical unread books and deciding what to keep and what to purge. There will be a third option–undecided–which I might ask for your input on why you think I should keep or purge that title from my list. You can also check out my full TBR pile here.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
In the first book of this brilliant series, Stephen King introduces readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland pursues The Man in Black, encounters an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake. Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
I like King and have read several of his horror novels but have not gotten around to his famous fantasy series. I think I picked this up because one of my friends is SUCH a fan of it, but I’m also not quite sure if I actually want to read it? I like the idea of reading it? I also have 4 of the sequels in my TBR. Not sure on this one. UNDECIDED
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
I’ve been meaning to read this one for a long time! The concept really intrigues me and I’ve heard some good things about this series. I may not get to these any time soon but am going to keep them in my TBR for now. I have this one and 3 of the sequels. KEEP
Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey
IF ALL THAT IS GOOD CONSIDERS YOU EVIL, ARE YOU?
Once human but now immortal, Supreme Commander Lord Tanaros fled the realm of Men and chose darkness when he killed his adulterous wife and his liege king who cuckholded him. A thousand years have passed in service to his master, the dark god Satoris. The world view Satoris as Evil Prime and the name of Tanaros is the byword for treachery.
The races have united in their quest to rid the world of the Dark God and his minions. The key to the prophecy is the beautiful Elvish princess Cerelinde–and Satoris has captured her.
Yet not all tales told are true and evil may have another face. Satoris refuses to act like the monster that he is made out to be for he recognizes in Cerelinde a spark of the love that he once bore for his fellow gods. But this spark of light might prove to be a danger to Satoris…and a greater danger for Tanaros and all that he holds dear. For Cerelinde might remind him that the heart that he willed to iron an eon ago is still very much mortal.
I read the first book to this duology ages ago and I remember liking it but I never got around to reading book 2. I think whenever I do get around to reading this (I do intend to someday) I’ll have to reread book 1! Hanging on to this one. KEEP
King’s Sacrifice by Margaret Weis
The spellbinding conclusion to the star-spanning saga of adventure and intrigue. At the end of King’s Test, Sagan–the man who overthrew Dion’s father–pledged his allegiance to Dion as the new king. Now, Dion battles alien and human enemies, and must give up both his lover and one of his men as he learns what it truly means to be king.
Not sure why I have this one, it’s book 3 of a series and I don’t have books 1 and 2. Feel okay letting this go. PURGE
Chalice by Robin McKinley
As the newly appointed Chalice, Mirasol is the most important member of the Master’s Circle. It is her duty to bind the Circle, the land and its people together with their new Master. But the new Master of Willowlands is a Priest of Fire, only drawn back into the human world by the sudden death of his brother. No one knows if it is even possible for him to live amongst his people. Mirasol wants the Master to have his chance, but her only training is as a beekeeper. How can she help settle their demesne during these troubled times and bind it to a Priest of Fire, the touch of whose hand can burn human flesh to the bone?
A captivating tale that reveals the healing power of duty and honour, love and honey.
Another McKinley! I have a lot of her backlist to get through but I want to read as many of her books as I can. KEEP
That’s all for now! This brings my total count to:
| Keep | Purge | Undecided |
| 161 | 39 | 31 |
A little bit more progress this week! What do you think about The Dark Tower, should I hold onto those? Anything you’d do differently here? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to chat!
Way Too Fantasy 
The only one I can really advise on is The Gunslinger and I really loved that one. Glad you didnt take it off your tbr!
I didnt read the whole series, but I read the first three books.
I like King in general and one of my best friends absolutely LOVES this series so I really do want to try it at some point.
Yeah, he has a lot of good ones. Did you ever read Carrie or Firestarter?
I have not. I just read Salems’ Lot last year though. I’ve also read Gerald’s Game, Pet Cematary, The Shining, The Long Walk, Insomnia, Bag of Bones…I think that’s it? And some of his short fiction in Nightmares and Dreamscapes.
Oh okay. Salem’s lot was fun and I really loved the shining. I think Eyes of the dragon was pretty awesome too.
There’s a lot more King that I want to check out, just need to find time hah.
Yeah, I hear ya. My thing with him is that I try not to focus on his work too much. He gets so much attention and I try to gear it towards indie authors, but from time to time I’ll let myself read one of his works.
Yep, exactly.
I’m honestly surprised you hadn’t already read His Majesty’s Dragon! They can be quite addictive (I remember picking it up from B&N at night, coming home, and thinking around 9pm, I’ll just read a chapter or so before bed. Next thing I know, it’s 2am and I’m done).
The Gunslinger & the whole Dark Tower series… I think that if you like Stephen King at ALL, you should go ahead and read the series. (However, The Gunslinger IS a bit different from the rest of the series, due to the way/time he wrote it.)
Also… We ALL know you’re going to keep any unread Robin McKinley books, Lisa.:D
They’re quick reads? I didn’t realize, then again the only Novik book I did read I…read in one night lol.
I do like King! I definitely plan on giving that a try at some point. Just need to find the motivation and the time haha.
Godslyer is on my TBR too, and I really hope to get to it!!!
I am not a fan of King in general, and neither of this series in particular. There are some King’s books that I enjoyed, but they are, mostly, the atypical ones and this series, or better, this first book for me was a huge no! I hope you would be more lucky with it, if you decide to read it!!
Hope we both get to that one then haha. 😀
I like King but his books can be hit or miss with me and even the ones that I’m okay with I can usually pick apart and find little things that annoy me. Still, I keep on liking most of his stuff in general lol. Thanks, hopefully I’ll get a chance to check it out and see!
I loved the The Dark Tower series. If you’re even a casual fan of King’s work, all the crossovers and Easter eggs alone are worth the read, but the story . . . the quest is worth it as well.
If you ever find the first 2 Star of the Guardians books, I recommend them. Kind of a fantasy-infused Star Wars. I read them all years ago and enjoyed them quite a bit.
I don’t know if I’d recognize much, I’m usually totally oblivious on picking up Easter eggs lol. Although I know he does this with a lot of his books, I think it was maybe Bag of Bones I was reading and it had the same eclipse event as Dolores Claiborne… so that was one I remember.
Good to know! I probably won’t at this point because I have so many other series I can jump right into but I’ll keep it in mind, thanks!
I’m a huge fan of The Dark Tower series, although I know lots of people don’t like it. I did a reread of the entire series before I started blogging and read all 7 books back to back, and it was glorious!
That sounds like fun! One of my best friends is a HUGE fan of the series. Maybe if I want to start it I can talk her into reading them with me… 🙂
I’m normally terrified of King, and though I’ve been trying to get over that, I haven’t gotten to Dark Tower yet, and I really want to read it! I’ll be interested to see what you think if you end up keeping it.
Thanks! King can be hit or miss sometimes. I’ve heard great things about The Dark Tower from my friend who is obsessed with it so I hope I enjoy it if/when I get to checking it out. 🙂
Same here on the Naomi Novik book. I keep meaning to get to it.
Right? There’s like a billion books I keep meaning to get to if I’m being honest though, there’s just so many of them…
I really do want to read the Dark Tower series I just have no idea when that’s likely to happen.
Lynn 😀
Saaaaaame
I read Gunslinger a while back and just couldn’t get into it, it was too out there for me.
I’ve heard warnings that the first book can be tough to get into and that it’s kind of a different style from the rest in the series. I guess I’ll find out at one point maybe lol.