Josh I love all the genres you read. You seem like one of the only people in our corner of BookTube who will read Sanderson, and then turn around and read Dickens and The Terminal List or something equivalent. Your diversity of reading taste is something that always makes me watch your videos to see what you’ll read next!
So much reading for June! Wow! You remain a great example of how to diversify your genres to keep reading fun and interesting. Enjoy some crime friction now.
HOORAY FOR THE SWORD OF KAIGEN 🎉! Despite some of the clunkiness, I truly believe it succeeds in doing some things better than most traditionally published modern fantasy. Mizaki is an incredible character. I continue to think about this book 4 years after reading it. So happy I made the right choice! 😊
Oh man you’re getting me psyched to dive back into Drenai after just having read Legend and King Beyond the Gate a few years ago. Right with you on Frugal Wizard being enjoyable while also not being a great book on the character front. The art design is just spectacular. I read Kaigen recently and was blown away by many of the scenes, particularly the battle sequence and the Duel scene, though I seem to have had a worse time with the first half of the book than you did since it did too much of a number of sinking my investment in the whole thing for it to become a new favorite even with the stronger second half-glad it worked even better for you though 💪
Glad you enjoyed King of Thorns ! I agrew about the ending, i was also completely shocked😅. Jorg is absolutely not a type to bring a knife to a gunfight
Enjoyed the video! I really have to read more Dennis Lehane. Also, I’ve heard mixed reviews for Sword of Kaigan, but your review has made me move it up my TBR list.
You know, The Shadow of Theron might actually be right up my alley... even a DNF review can turn positive this way!! And heeeck yes for The Sword of Kaigen, I am way overdue for a reread. Great wrap-up as always, love to hear that you had such a productive month!
Your tee shirt reminded me how much I enjoyed the syndicated Cleveland Orchestra broadcasts from Severance Hall over the years with George Szell and Cristoph von Dohnanyi. Anyway, back to books. I second the Lehane praise. The only Gemmell I have is his Troy series but alas, yet unread. I have The Sword of Kaigen on e-book but yet another one I haven't got around to yet. Nice to know it's worth looking forward to. Great wrap-up!
I was lucky to hear the Cleveland Orchestra about a half dozen times when I still lived in Ohio. I can still hear in my mind their string sound in Severance Hall!
Great reading month for Josh! I read two novellas in June that I’m still think about today. Both novellas by Moses Ose Utomi (The Lies of the Ajungo & The Truth of the Aleke) examined the impact truth and lies can have on a society. Each book has a young man as a protagonist and they learn some hard truths along the way. I liked The Lies of the Ajungo more than The Truth of the Aleke. But both novellas are worth reading. There is a planned third and final novella and I’m looking forward to reading it. Also, I’m halfway through Murakami’s new novel, The City & Its Uncertain Walls. It is a classic Murakami in many ways. I will have a lot to say about it when I’m done in the next few days. The Sword of Kaigen ebook is 99 cents today and I decided to buy it because of your enthusiastic recommendation. Thanks Josh!
Sounds like a productive June! Gemmell is one of those authors that I'm pinching myself for not getting into back in the day. I remember reading Prince of Thorns a very long time ago, and it is a challenging book to say the least. Jorg is... quite something. Glad you're able to take Conan in stride. I think that's good where sword-wielding barbarians with the Male Gaze are concerned. ;) Anyway, cheers, and hope your July is off to a good start!
*I should add that I finally got around to finishing Brian Lee Durfee's The Blackest Heart! I had a somewhat desultory reading year last year, certainly the last half, and unfortunately that book was a victim of my reading malaise through no fault of its own. That said, on getting back to it, I found it utterly engaging and a complete delight! I'm currently juggling a few books, but I'll probably tackle Lonesome Crown this fall. Cheers!
Sounds like a great month Josh! I also don’t understand the negative hype with modern readers of Tolkien. It’s still just as good in my opinion. Sword of Kaigen never seemed like something I might like. Maybe one day.
I need to read more Gemmell and I have The Sword Of Kaigen on my wish list. I was a big fan of the Conan books as I was growing up and have around 32 of them. They were always enjoyable fantasy books to read. I had a really good reading month in June and managed to get through quite a few books. I read 2 Judge Dredd comic books - The Complete Case Files 37 & 38 I also read 6 books: Kamusari Tales Told At Night - Shion Miura Last Summer Boys - Bill Rivers Memory And Dream - Charles De Lint The Shepherd’s Crown - Terry Pratchett Bridge To Terabithia - Katherine Paterson Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes Book of the month for me was Memory And Dream (although it was a re-read) closely followed by Flowers For Algernon.
That's a heck of a month! I have something by Shion Miura on my TBR, but can't remember it at the moment. That's cool you have that many of the Conan books! I plan on collecting the paperbacks from all the eras, but especially up through the Del Ray run - the covers are just so epic!
I read Sword of Kaigen in 2021. I still remember a lot about it, even after more than 3 years. It was so beautiful. As a mother, certain parts really hit me. My son is in the Army infantry, so I really feel her pain. Fortunately, my son hasn't seen any combat.
Emperor of Thorns is the best of the three and should 🤞 fix the issues you have been having. I think you are supposed to be feeling the way you are. The final part effectively retrospectively enhances the other books by bringing the reader up to date so to speak.
Excited to try more Gemmell, indeed! In June I read: «A Princess of Mars» (John Carter of Mars/Barsoom #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Sword & Planet: I received a library copy from 1920, the British 4th Edition, 104 years old!) «All Tomorrow’s Parties» by William Gibson (Cyberpunk) «The Dragonbone Chair» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, a key influence for George R. R. Martin's « A Song of Ice and Fire») «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Mercenary Wars of Renaissance Italy: Book of the Month AND Book of the Year so far!) «The Darkness That Comes Before» (The Prince of Nothing #1) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, Silmarillion & Dune)
Sounds like a great month! Exciting to hear about A Brightness Long Ago - I'll get there eventually! And Tad Williams will happen sooner rather than later I think. I do own the Dragonbone Chair.
@@RedFuryBooks haha. That’s fair. The biggest key to understanding him is being ok with rereading. Thankfully his books are on the shorter end so that’s not too difficult.
Waylander just went on my TBR! I dnf’s Medieval Handbook at 75%. You are exactly right, once the character gets his memory back he is unlikable. It pains me that you are reading books that are not enjoyable. Memory Sorrow & Thorn, Boudica Dreaming the Eagle & the Bloodsworn should all be read before you read anything else. Have you read Disc World yet? I am reading Mike Shackles’s the Last War right now and its great!!
The month really wasn't that bad - one DNF. But July is already shaping up to be stellar - 3 5-star reads so far! And I'm confident that when I get to Memory Sorrow and Thorn it'll be something I love. I own the first book already, just need to get to it!
Yeah, I stopped doing starred ratings on the channel as I feel they lack nuance when you give a work of art a score. Hopefully the reviews themselves will prove helpful.
I read 10 books in June My books of the month The maid by nita prose Redeeming 6 by chloe Walsh My fault by Mercedes ron Worthy by jada pinkett Smith memoir
I really need to read Cadwell Turnbull soon, it just sounds like he writes stuff right up my alley. There is no such thing as a bad Gemmell book. None. So awesome to see Sword of Kaigen as a BOTM! That plot structure is divisive but you're absolutely right that that's what makes it an incredible book.
Only read a few books a month so book of the month a shirt list. But Paladin of Souls, the sequel to Curse of Chalion, is really good. Glad you continued with Broken Empire. Jorg does change a little and the world is fascinating. The map was a give away. A lot more of that back story is in Red Queens War, with the last book Wheel of Osheim, although I guessed that bit fairly early on.
Oh we had an author overlap this month! I read Stephen King's The Institute in June. I really loved it (although there was a moment that made me cry lol) I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up more King books, but I loved the Institute a lot. Definitely going to be a favorite of the year
It still amazes me how fast you can read and comprehend it all! I read roughly 45 min a day, and it takes me at least 2 weeks to finish an average size book 😅
I’m 200 pages into A Song for Arbonne. Love the political intrigue, characters and the writing. Discovered this book from you initially so thanks! Would like to try a David Gemmell so will check out Waylander. Enjoyed Blood Over Bright Haven by Wang and I do plan to read Sword of Kaigen.
@@RedFuryBooks I meant to say I like your t-shirt. I live about 50 minutes from downtown Cleveland. I haven’t listened to the Cleveland Orchestra in quite some time but have thought of going to Blossom Music Center to have a listen.
Josh I love all the genres you read. You seem like one of the only people in our corner of BookTube who will read Sanderson, and then turn around and read Dickens and The Terminal List or something equivalent.
Your diversity of reading taste is something that always makes me watch your videos to see what you’ll read next!
Thank you! I enjoy the diversity of what I read as it tends to keep things really fresh for me. Glad it's well-received!
Totally agree about Josh’s diversity of reading. Much needed in the BookTube space.
So much reading for June! Wow! You remain a great example of how to diversify your genres to keep reading fun and interesting. Enjoy some crime friction now.
Not having to work this month helped the totals too! :)
HOORAY FOR THE SWORD OF KAIGEN 🎉! Despite some of the clunkiness, I truly believe it succeeds in doing some things better than most traditionally published modern fantasy. Mizaki is an incredible character. I continue to think about this book 4 years after reading it. So happy I made the right choice! 😊
Thanks again! :)
Sounds like I need to pick up my copy of Sword of Kaigen. Amazing as always Josh.
I think you'll love it!
Gemmell books remain the ultimate palette cleanser between chunkers or after a bad book.
100%
Oh man you’re getting me psyched to dive back into Drenai after just having read Legend and King Beyond the Gate a few years ago.
Right with you on Frugal Wizard being enjoyable while also not being a great book on the character front. The art design is just spectacular.
I read Kaigen recently and was blown away by many of the scenes, particularly the battle sequence and the Duel scene, though I seem to have had a worse time with the first half of the book than you did since it did too much of a number of sinking my investment in the whole thing for it to become a new favorite even with the stronger second half-glad it worked even better for you though 💪
Oh yeah, you gotta jump back into Drenai!
I’m so glad that you liked The Sword of Kaigen,I have read it 2021 and it was my Book of the Year.
Awesome!
Glad you enjoyed King of Thorns ! I agrew about the ending, i was also completely shocked😅. Jorg is absolutely not a type to bring a knife to a gunfight
Haha well put!
Enjoyed the video! I really have to read more Dennis Lehane. Also, I’ve heard mixed reviews for Sword of Kaigan, but your review has made me move it up my TBR list.
Thanks, and I hope Sword of Kaigen works for you as it did for me!
You know, The Shadow of Theron might actually be right up my alley... even a DNF review can turn positive this way!! And heeeck yes for The Sword of Kaigen, I am way overdue for a reread. Great wrap-up as always, love to hear that you had such a productive month!
I hope Shadow of Theron works for you! I hate DNF'ing, especially self-pub books, but it just wasn't for me, but the writing is quite good.
@@RedFuryBooks You'd be doing no one a favour by stubbornly hate reading it, good on you for cutting your losses!!
Your tee shirt reminded me how much I enjoyed the syndicated Cleveland Orchestra broadcasts from Severance Hall over the years with George Szell and Cristoph von Dohnanyi. Anyway, back to books. I second the Lehane praise. The only Gemmell I have is his Troy series but alas, yet unread. I have The Sword of Kaigen on e-book but yet another one I haven't got around to yet. Nice to know it's worth looking forward to. Great wrap-up!
I was lucky to hear the Cleveland Orchestra about a half dozen times when I still lived in Ohio. I can still hear in my mind their string sound in Severance Hall!
Great reading month for Josh! I read two novellas in June that I’m still think about today. Both novellas by Moses Ose Utomi (The Lies of the Ajungo & The Truth of the Aleke) examined the impact truth and lies can have on a society. Each book has a young man as a protagonist and they learn some hard truths along the way. I liked The Lies of the Ajungo more than The Truth of the Aleke. But both novellas are worth reading. There is a planned third and final novella and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Also, I’m halfway through Murakami’s new novel, The City & Its Uncertain Walls. It is a classic Murakami in many ways. I will have a lot to say about it when I’m done in the next few days.
The Sword of Kaigen ebook is 99 cents today and I decided to buy it because of your enthusiastic recommendation. Thanks Josh!
I hope you love Sword of Kaigen! I look forward to Murakami's latest; I'll be starting his short story collection Men Without Women soon!
Great wrap up, Josh! I have that same Sword of Kaigen edition and I’m still looking forward to reading it :)
It's great!
Sounds like a productive June! Gemmell is one of those authors that I'm pinching myself for not getting into back in the day.
I remember reading Prince of Thorns a very long time ago, and it is a challenging book to say the least. Jorg is... quite something.
Glad you're able to take Conan in stride. I think that's good where sword-wielding barbarians with the Male Gaze are concerned. ;)
Anyway, cheers, and hope your July is off to a good start!
*I should add that I finally got around to finishing Brian Lee Durfee's The Blackest Heart!
I had a somewhat desultory reading year last year, certainly the last half, and unfortunately that book was a victim of my reading malaise through no fault of its own.
That said, on getting back to it, I found it utterly engaging and a complete delight! I'm currently juggling a few books, but I'll probably tackle Lonesome Crown this fall. Cheers!
Oh glad you got to The Blackest Heart and hope the Lonesome Crown works for you!
Yes, I wish I had read Gemmell sooner too! But at least he left a lot of output for us!
18:00 amen to that
Sounds like a great month Josh! I also don’t understand the negative hype with modern readers of Tolkien. It’s still just as good in my opinion. Sword of Kaigen never seemed like something I might like. Maybe one day.
OH and I just bought You Like it Darker! Glad to hear it was good 👍🏻
I need to read more Gemmell and I have The Sword Of Kaigen on my wish list.
I was a big fan of the Conan books as I was growing up and have around 32 of them. They were always enjoyable fantasy books to read.
I had a really good reading month in June and managed to get through quite a few books.
I read 2 Judge Dredd comic books - The Complete Case Files 37 & 38
I also read 6 books:
Kamusari Tales Told At Night - Shion Miura
Last Summer Boys - Bill Rivers
Memory And Dream - Charles De Lint
The Shepherd’s Crown - Terry Pratchett
Bridge To Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Book of the month for me was Memory And Dream (although it was a re-read) closely followed by Flowers For Algernon.
That's a heck of a month! I have something by Shion Miura on my TBR, but can't remember it at the moment. That's cool you have that many of the Conan books! I plan on collecting the paperbacks from all the eras, but especially up through the Del Ray run - the covers are just so epic!
I read Sword of Kaigen in 2021. I still remember a lot about it, even after more than 3 years. It was so beautiful. As a mother, certain parts really hit me. My son is in the Army infantry, so I really feel her pain. Fortunately, my son hasn't seen any combat.
Oh I'm sure that you were able to really connect with it because of your own situation. Glad your son hasn't seen combat and I hope that continues.
Emperor of Thorns is the best of the three and should 🤞 fix the issues you have been having. I think you are supposed to be feeling the way you are. The final part effectively retrospectively enhances the other books by bringing the reader up to date so to speak.
Good to know - thanks, Al!
Excited to try more Gemmell, indeed!
In June I read:
«A Princess of Mars» (John Carter of Mars/Barsoom #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Sword & Planet: I received a library copy from 1920, the British 4th Edition, 104 years old!)
«All Tomorrow’s Parties» by William Gibson (Cyberpunk)
«The Dragonbone Chair» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, a key influence for George R. R. Martin's « A Song of Ice and Fire»)
«A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Mercenary Wars of Renaissance Italy: Book of the Month AND Book of the Year so far!)
«The Darkness That Comes Before» (The Prince of Nothing #1) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, Silmarillion & Dune)
Sounds like a great month! Exciting to hear about A Brightness Long Ago - I'll get there eventually! And Tad Williams will happen sooner rather than later I think. I do own the Dragonbone Chair.
The Lays of Beleriand was a difficult read. I didn’t understand about half of it! Currently reading volume 4 which is much more readable
Good to know! I know there's often a poem or two in these collections, but Lays of Beleriand definitely took it to another level!
@@RedFuryBooks no poems in book 4, but there are a few pages of Old English!
@@NevsBookChannel good to know!
Out of curiosity Josh, have you read any Gene Wolfe?
I haven't. He intimidates me to be honest!
@@RedFuryBooks haha. That’s fair. The biggest key to understanding him is being ok with rereading. Thankfully his books are on the shorter end so that’s not too difficult.
Waylander just went on my TBR! I dnf’s Medieval Handbook at 75%. You are exactly right, once the character gets his memory back he is unlikable.
It pains me that you are reading books that are not enjoyable. Memory Sorrow & Thorn, Boudica Dreaming the Eagle & the Bloodsworn should all be read before you read anything else.
Have you read Disc World yet?
I am reading Mike Shackles’s the Last War right now and its great!!
I can't vouch for Boudicca or Bloodsworn but Dragonbone Chair was great. I'd be very surprised if Josh doesn't like it.
The month really wasn't that bad - one DNF. But July is already shaping up to be stellar - 3 5-star reads so far! And I'm confident that when I get to Memory Sorrow and Thorn it'll be something I love. I own the first book already, just need to get to it!
I think if you give the book rank form 1 to 5 will be more helpful for us.
Yeah, I stopped doing starred ratings on the channel as I feel they lack nuance when you give a work of art a score. Hopefully the reviews themselves will prove helpful.
The Wire and The Shield are two of my all-time favourite shows!
YES! Vic Mackey and Omar approve.
I read 10 books in June
My books of the month
The maid by nita prose
Redeeming 6 by chloe Walsh
My fault by Mercedes ron
Worthy by jada pinkett Smith memoir
Josh: I read 13 books this month!
everyone: wow! that's a lot of books for one month!
me:
*y o u w h a t*
Yes so glad you loved Sword of Kaigen so much!! I think my next Gemmell is gonna have to be Waylander!
Oh yeah, it's great!
I really need to read Cadwell Turnbull soon, it just sounds like he writes stuff right up my alley.
There is no such thing as a bad Gemmell book. None.
So awesome to see Sword of Kaigen as a BOTM! That plot structure is divisive but you're absolutely right that that's what makes it an incredible book.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Gods and Monsters!
Only read a few books a month so book of the month a shirt list.
But Paladin of Souls, the sequel to Curse of Chalion, is really good.
Glad you continued with Broken Empire. Jorg does change a little and the world is fascinating. The map was a give away. A lot more of that back story is in Red Queens War, with the last book Wheel of Osheim, although I guessed that bit fairly early on.
Oh, that's great to know there's some world-building to be discovered in Red Queen's War!
Oh we had an author overlap this month! I read Stephen King's The Institute in June. I really loved it (although there was a moment that made me cry lol) I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up more King books, but I loved the Institute a lot. Definitely going to be a favorite of the year
Glad you enjoyed The Institute! And hope you pick up more King!
It still amazes me how fast you can read and comprehend it all! I read roughly 45 min a day, and it takes me at least 2 weeks to finish an average size book 😅
Although I do read fast, this was an uncommon month as I was off work!
I know exactly what you mean with a teenage psychopath would not be able to write this well. It bothered me too.
Glad it wasn't just me!
My book of the month was GGK's A Brightness Long Ago
GGK penning a book of the month is never a surprise to me!
Great wrap-up, what a productive month you had :)
Thanks!
I’m 200 pages into A Song for Arbonne. Love the political intrigue, characters and the writing. Discovered this book from you initially so thanks! Would like to try a David Gemmell so will check out Waylander. Enjoyed Blood Over Bright Haven by Wang and I do plan to read Sword of Kaigen.
Oh fantastic! I hope you continue to love A Song for Arbonne!
@@RedFuryBooks I meant to say I like your t-shirt. I live about 50 minutes from downtown Cleveland. I haven’t listened to the Cleveland Orchestra in quite some time but have thought of going to Blossom Music Center to have a listen.