For most of my life, I had no interest. I didn't want to read about some made-up place that never existed and people running around with swords and elves and trolls and dragons and whatnot. I wanted stories set in reality, in the modern day. Fantasy films were fine, but I only had to spend two hours watching those. Reading a fantasy book was altogether different.
I never read The Lord Of The Rings. My brother did, and whenever he spoke about it I could sense the frustration in his voice whenever he talked about the endless songs and silliness. I liked the movies, of course. Well, I liked the parts in the movies where they focussed on the humans. Hobbits I could do without.
And then I read a review of a book called The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. The review said this book had blistering action and fascinating characters and the whole thing was held together by acerbic wit. And that was the thing. Wit. Humour. For me, fantasy books just seemed so incredibly po-faced, like they took themselves way too seriously.
So I picked up The Blade Itself, and I loved it. I loved everything about it. I loved every single thing about this book and it was fantasy, so I asked myself— what else have I been missing out on? And the series that was recommended by quite simply everyone was George RR Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice— which later became known as the Game of Thrones books, thanks to the TV show. So I read that, and I loved it. I read the next one and the next one and the next one. I loved them all.
All this is a (very) roundabout way of introducing Curse of Kings, by Alex Barclay.
Alex is a friend of mine. She's a crime writer by day, and has recently become a fantasy author by night. I love her crime novels. I never know what the hell is going on until the final few pages, and I am technically in love with her main character, Ren Bryce. Ren Bryce is the most awesome woman in the world, and I don't care that she doesn't actually exist. She exists for me, and that's what matters.
Alex's crime novels are thoroughly modern and laced with one-liners and sarcastic asides, so when she told me she was writing a fantasy novel for younger readers, I was thrilled.
(Unless she's reading this blog. If you're reading this, Alex, I wasn't thrilled. I was the opposite of thrilled. I was un-thrilled. I was de-thrilled. It takes a lot more than YOU to thrill ME ands that's no mistake. Damn right. Darn tootin'. I'm going to stop talking about this now. Hell yeah.)
Curse of Kings has it all. It has kingdoms and heroes and villains and secrets and mysteries and swords and killing and monsters and monsters and monsters. Did I mention it has monsters? It does. Lots of them. And they're all... weird. Oh, and the book also has lamprey eels. Do yourself a favour. Search Google Images for lamprey eels. Go on, I'll wait. Just type it in and take a look... go on...
Yes. There are things THAT disgusting in real life.
I'm not going to go into detail about the Big Mystery in Curse of Kings, because even mentioning what the mystery hinges on could spoil it for you, and I wouldn't want to do that. Hopefully it'll take you as much by surprise as it did me.
And if all that doesn't convince you, take a look at one of the coolest book trailers I've seen in a long time. And pay attention to the man whose quote they use on the cover. He sounds like he knows what he's talking about.
4,950 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 4950 Newer› Newest»*snorts*
THAT had to be fists comment???
*laughs and thinks up a ded*
*first
Hi/bye Thrust!
I think it was one of the Henry's...he had, like eight wives and executed three or four of them. Creepy dude.
Ooh, I'll make it supposedly the ruby he gave to Anne Boleyn, which was forever cursed when she was beheaded. [Nods] It's supposed to sound rather cliché, it's the mortals' explanation.
I dedicate to Fabi's story thing. Although I'm not sure exactly what it's going to be, it sounds cool.
Also to Sev for being the theatrical performer of Blogland. It's really cool to be able to talk to someone who knows a lot(but you know more) of the musicals I watched or know of.
And Miss for the idea of interviewing people on my blog. Thank you!
And... Aretha and Fabi for being the dancers of Blogland. I wish I could see you!
I think that's it...
I heard of the Boleyn story!
Yeah... I think it was Henry now that you mention. Glad I could help a little!
Now I got dance practice to go to... Be back later!
Bye, Lav!
And thanks!
I'll be reading that book for sure.
Probably.
If I can find it...
Not here, just a one off. *poofs*
Again, or possibly for the first time, I forget which... I'm still distantly here. I will be gone in half an hour if nobody's around then.
Huulo
Hello, Ember!
Do you think I should have another character somewhere else?
And you know what, since I only keep up with the chapters directly involved to us, I have no idea what the heck is happening anywhere.
Death died and came back to life, Aretha's going to attack Zaf... The usual.
And other characters are hard to keep up.
I agree with your last sentence the most.
I think that eventually, we might even get one shared plot.
Like, everyone together battling Mevolent? That'd be really cool and really difficult at the same time.
And I know, right? Mantha is awesome, but I really can't keep up with both her and FabiTC...
Hi?
Hi, Saph! [hugs]
Distant, doing 50 different things at once! [hyperbole alert]
We should have a MC conference XD
You know what? I'm in a boarding school with three guys (and no other girls), one of whom is crazy, so I feel really like EmberTC.
I actually start to behave like her sometimes, which really scares me...
At least I'm not a psychopath who got taken over by a gist.
Hi Fabi! Hi Ember!
Ember, are you SURE you're not a psychopath? ;) JK. What does TC stand for?
It's weird being multiple people...
At least you don't have an abandoned hospital full of corpses...right?
The Character.
Fabi; I KNOW! Like today, someone called out 'Sapphire!' and I turned around. *facepalm*. And it's not the first time that's happened either.
TC... makes sense.
I also now have more frequent dreams of being dropped off cliffs
Zath is a moron.
Just saying.
I don't know if I'd answer to the name Fabi in real life...
The chances that I'd hear someone else say it are pretty low.
It's not the having multiple names, it's the different personalities that are hard to handle.
Hi Lucy!
Gosh I haven't been on here in yonks. Imma bad minion, imma very bad minion.
|||==|||~||=_||||~|==||=_|~|||==:|==:==|||~||==||||:||-||==|||~||||=_:||||=_|=_|||:|--=|==:|==|||==> ||||=_|=_|||:-||=_:|==:||-|==~==~==|==||==|=> |==:||==|~||||=|~|||=_:||-||==|||~||||=_:||||=_|=_|||:|==:-||=_>
Hello, Lauren.
Sorry for sounding rude, but have we met before?
Hi Luci! Hi Lauren, nice to meet you :) I'm Saph.
Fabi, I think we all have different personalities anyway, because different people bring out different sides in you. Or maybe those little personalities are just a little bit of the true you...
Sorry, my last lesson today was theory of knowledge, so I'm in a very philosophical mood :)
Hello Fabi. Nar it's okay, yeah we have met before but I haven't been on for yonks.
Hey Sapphire, cool name. Nice to meet you to. :)
Ok, sorry. I'm a bit bad with names.
That's okay, you don't have to apologise.
Hello!
Msd & wbd. Stupid school... ._.
Welcome back, then!
And I really should be getting some sleep now. It's ever-so-slightly past 11... My curfew is theoretically 9:30...
Au revoir!
Hey Lucy!
Ah okay.
Night Fabi! Have a good sleep!
Hey Lauren! *hugs* How are you? Not talked to you in so long!
*hugs* I'm good thank you, how about you?
I know, I haven't been on in ages! Last time was December I think..
I'll be alright. Thanks for asking... :)
I've missed you! You're always so nice. It's been a little weird without you
No problem! Glad your alright then :)
I've missed you too! Thank you :3
Really? wow.
Wbd (internet connection) Msd (Mum) Night Fabi! *hugs*
Thanks Lauren! I love your pic btw :) Do you support SPPB or MAHU or neither?
No problem! Thank you. :)
Sorry I've been thick today, what's SPPB and MAHU stand for?
*is here for a short time*
Hi! I have a break! Msd though.
Sherlock's Pipe and Patches Brigade, I think. And Mycroft and his umbrella.
Hello Lavender.
Oh okay well then in that case, Both. Both is good. :)
You can probably support both, but it's a dedication war thing...
Ember, Star, and Fabi are the best(for want of a better word) supporters for MAHU and Jubi and Eden are the supporters of SPPB.
To them it's one or the other... But people have dedicated to both. Mostly because they don't want to get the other side mad.
Sorry. Time to go. Bye!
Ohh okay then...
Well, umm.. SPPB. I think.
Oh okay. Sorry I dissapeared I was doing homework.
Bye!
HULLO!
Hi Miss!
*is here for now and msd cause battery might die*
HI LAV! *tacklehugs*
Which reminds me... *goes to check email*
*is tacklehugged*
HI! And okay!
Sorry. Bbs. As soon as I can.
BYE LAV!
Back for a bit. People are talking. Msd. Hello again. :)
HI AGAIN, LAV!!
Wbd...
Yeah. Me too...
I can't email at the moment, but I'll do it when I can. And battery's close to dying...
OK, Lav!
Sorry. I haven't been on much... I'm going to go now. But be back later. Bye!
BYE LAV!
*groans*
Gotta go now...
BYE!
Derek I have noted all told the books down! And I shall look at my school library for them!
And I wasn't really in to reading till (believe it or not) I read the firs Harry Potter book
And yeah I think the guy's comment that they feature on the cover knows what he's talking about!!! :D
And I feel acward talking to no one!
*remembers something that a sibling said. Smiles*
Um .... Mr Derek Landy I'm asking supper nice here and a know you might not do this but ... Um it's my Birthday on Thursday this week and I was wondering if you would tell us the title of the 8th book then?
It's the 7th of you want the date. And I would be supper happy if you did!!! But if you don't then I understand! I was just asking.
Ok I gtg now it's past time I went to sleep an I know I'll regret staying up this late!
Night ... If anyone is reading
*comes in moaning and falls forward on the grass that's spongy enough to bounce on, holding a pillow in front of her face*
*mutters something*
*sees that no one is even here*
...
My school was open but i could not go cause my roads were teterous!
Hi Brave...
I think I'm going to go... Bye.
Going to my library to find one of the books
O.o
*sighs*
Just found out recently that I may have to move back to my old room... With my friend and her mom... Who told me not to come on anymore... SOOO, I may not be on tomorrow, or anytime soon after. Course I'll try, but... It may only be a few comments at a time. By few I mean not enough to have much of a conversation... Five comments or less. But that's not a very good (for want of a better word[it may not even be the right one in the first place]) prediction. I could find more time to talk. But seeing that my friend is in the room a lot, and there's not many other places I can go, I'm not sure.
I'm going to have to be really careful now. I was caught talking here a few times before...
THIS ISN'T GOOD BYE THOUGH. I MAY NOT BE ON FOR A WHILE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'LL BE GONE FOR GOOD. PLUS, IT'S STILL A MAYBE ON MOVING BACK TO MY FRIEND'S ROOM. I MAY BE MAKING THIS TOO DRAMATIC(as usual when I leave... Must be getting annoying by now for some of you... Sorry.)
Anyway, on that note- see ya when I can!
Appples
Bye Lav! WE WILL MISS YHOO
Nice. I think he (Landy) said that in the post.
Thrust Ominous? Nice name. Sounds like...ominous thrusting? IDK.
I didn't even say the most important part...
I CAN STILL WRITE BLOGPOSTS AND EMAIL, BUT DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FAST.
Just wanted to mention.
Now it's late... So I'm going to bed. Bye for now!(I have no idea when I'll be able to talk next time. It could be tomorrow, it could be a few days later, or I might not even have to leave. Also just wanted to mention.)
Show up!
'Ello?
Hello! do you wanna be friends!
My name is Ulachabhan (ulc-a-von)
and i am a necromancer. I am awesome too. I can turn into an owl and I like suits and red ties. yay!
You have an awesome name. Blake Talon. Taken name? Given name? Or is it youre true name...
I am Sliiightly crazy! to refresh the page and see comments without having to write a NEW coment press F5! I didnt kniw what to do and I dont think you do....
No? You not there? Oh ok then. Ill just talk to myself.
sooo
Gaaaah!!!
I git asked if Mortal Coil was a picture book....
Bye gtg to lunch
Yellows?
hiya Zaffy is in class
Aloha.
Not that I'm especially here...I just hate to leave greetings just hanging there.
Hey, Zaf! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
Ah...what subject?
Hi, Zaf!
Hi, Ieni!
Hey, Fabi! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
Grr...stupid Spanish homework. Hmm...now I'm trying to work out if it's hard or I'm just stupid. I suspect the second one *nods*
[Is ninjaeroplanetacklehugged]
Or maybe the homework is stupid and you're hard. Mix things up a bit.
Then again, I'm not sure what that would mean.
Ah, yes. The homework is definetly stupid. I should eat it. Ah, yes that's a plan.
So, how are you? Wait...shouldn't you be in school now, if I get hte timey wimey things correct?
Saw her on IrelandAM this morning. She came across as being really nice
Sounds like a plan.
And I WOULD be in school if not for stupid annoying things.
That is to say, Mom's car died halfway there, and I have to wait for Dad to drive back from Seattle to pick us up from the car-repair place (apparently the tow truck doesn't do free rides to school).
Gtg, bye!
well i made another chapter for MC whilst sitting here in Science class xD we have laptops but today is the last day :(
took one good look and the eels....DEREK I THINK I MAY LOSE MY LUNCH
And it was a GOOD lunch it was quisadia pizza and chicken noodle soup and perougies....DAMN YOU DEREK
*skips off to go throw up somewhere*
The guy DEFINITLEY knows what he's talking about ;) and i agree with Zafira's i ALREADY have lost my dinnr after seeing the blood-sucking freaks of nature on google it has scared me for LIFE Derek...FOR...LIFE.
mistakes in post above
Zafira* and dinner*
DAMN YOU AUTOCORRECT!
DEREK MY TEACHER IS LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY AT MY SPAZZING
Okay msd
Yeah i gtg bringing lap tops to the room xD TIME TO RUN OVER PEOPLES :D
ZAF U STILL HERE?
I think, if I have a new character, her name will be Intelligence Quota.
Interesting name...
[Not here!]
(Not here?)
I added my middle name to my name...
GARKLE, SO MANY NAMES TO PICK FROM
Blaarg
[I have been known, on occasion, to be online when I'm not supposed to, to read new MC chapters]
[I will, of course, deny being here. It was all just a hallucination] [Nods]
I think I'm going to give my other account this name and change this one back to September Seneca Silver.
I see.
I'm think about having Intelligence join forces with Zaf.
[Not a bad idea. I think she's the only one in America right now] [Then again, she might want it that way] [Also, I think she's collating with Aretha soon]
[I am not here] [Actually this time] [I'm not just faking it...]
{FVS}
Hewwo!
I am now under my EW/LW name.
wbd, finding a profile pic for my darling psychopath.
Where did everybody go-oh-oh?
I looked twice, didn't know what I'd find
Then forgot the body, remembered the mind
Tried to go slowly, one step at a time
But I fell right into you, and right now I'm
Addicted, restricted. My friends all asked me,
"I know you like someone? Now who would that be?"
I just couldn't answer, that's why I lied
Now they all think I like this other guy
So don't look at me like that, don't make me cry
Why can't you see it's an alibi?
Hi! Is anyone here?
You've heard of several kinds of cat
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand our character
You've learned enough to take the view
That cats are very much like you
You've seen us both at work and games
And learnt about our proper names
Our habits and our habitat
But how would you ad-dress a cat?
So first, your memory I'll jog
And say: A cat is not a dog
Now dogs pretend they like to fight
They often bark, more seldom bite
But yet a dog is, on the whole
What you would call a simple soul
The usual dog about the town
Is much inclined to play the clown
And far from showing too much pride
Is frequently undignified
He's such an easygoing lout
He'll answer any hail or shout
The usual dog about the town
Is inclined to play the clown
Again I must remind you that
A dog's a dog, a cat's a cat
With cats, some say one rule is true
Don't speak 'til you are spoken to
Myself I do not hold with that
I say you should ad-dress a cat
But always bear in mind that he
Resents familiarity
You bow, and taking off your hat
Ad-dress him in this form: "O' cat!"
Before a cat will condescend
To treat you as a trusted friend
Some little token of esteem
Is needed, like a dish of cream
And you might now and then supply
Some caviar, or Strassburg pie
Some potted grouse or salmon paste
He's sure to have his personal taste
And so in time you reach your aim
And call him by his name
So this is this, and that is that
And there's how you ad-dress a cat
A cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect
So this is this, and that is that
And there's how you ad-dress a cat
Hello :D
WHat are you on about, Derek? He doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about at all. He sounds like a complete and utter moron, actually. Why'd they use HIS quote? Can't they SEE what an idiot he is?
No offense. XD
Ah, I've been doing my THGC entry since I got home. It's been meh.
Hi!
It bewilders me how you wouldn't know the tale of Henry the Eight and his wives off by heart, but it shouldn't do, because of course you're American.
Henry 111, aka Henry Tudor, had six wives. The first was Catherine of Arragon (I think?) who he divorced, but after she'd had a daughter called Mary - he divorced her because he wanted a son and she wasn't conceiving - and divorcing wasn't allowed in the Catholic church, but he was a Catholic, so he invented the Church of England (Protestant) so he could (seeing as he invented the new church, he invented all the rules, like no Pope and all the power to Henry, and the most important . . . divorcing allowed); the second wife was Anne Boleyn and he got her beheaded, after she'd given him a daughter called Elizabeth - he beheaded her because he liked another woman better and wanted to get rid of her, as I recall; the third was Jane whatshername, and she gave him a son, called Edward. which he'd wanted all along, so he was happy, and he really loved Jane, but she got ill and died; the fourth was Catherine something (I'VE FORGOTTEN ALL THEIR NAMES AKAY), and he married her because he saw a potrait of her and thought she looked nice, only when he saw her irl (AFTER they were married, I might add), he saw that in reality she was really ugly and "had a face like a horse", so he divorced her; the fifth was Anne something-or-other (could be Anne of Cleaves), and I fail to remember why he got tired of her and beheaded her; and the sixth was another Catherine, her surname beginning with a C, I remember, and he didn't get rid of her - he died of old age first. :P
Only Henry 111 got really fat, because he ate tons of meat, and they had to make him a special large coffin. A few days after he died, he actually blew up in his coffin (because of all of the meat juices or something), and there were maggots everywhere and yuck. They told us that on Tudor Activity Day when I was nine, and told us to tell our parents at dinnertime because, they were such nice people at the Tudor Activity Day.
After Henry died, his son Edward was king. He was only like ten. However, he died after a few years, because he'd always been weak and stuff. Then the Protestants but another woman on the throne (Jane Grey? Something Grey, I think) to stop Mary, Henry's daughter, being queen as she was a Catholic like her mother. They failed, and a few days later Mary Tudor, Catholic, was queen. She earned the nickname Bloody Mary because she started killing all the Protestants unless they converted.
Then when Mary died, forgotten how, Elizabeth Tudor became queen. Elizabeth 1, she was. Her era was the Elizabethan era. Shakespeare's time. She had a long reign, was a good queen, and never married because she always said she married England instead.
*nods* LAV AND FABI, YOU BETTER READ THAT.
Hi Mel!
Star, he exploded? Ewwwwww.....
*Henry VIII
*Elizabth I
Goddammit. Been a while since I did kings and queens in History. Okay, two years, but still.
He did, Seph. :)
He blew up in his coffin and there were all maggots everywhere. *nods*
Page - 328 - Haven't had much time today.
Going to violin lesson now. Already late :/ Might be back on some point this evening.
YAY BEING VEGETARIAN
Hi/Bye Ieni!
Im going to senior section soon so msd... :D
Hi! :)
SUGAR CUBES DO I HAVE A STORY TO WRITE FOR SCHOOL? D:
What's senior section?
Hi Mara!
Write about zombie llama cyborgs. In Candyland.
Senior section is basically the next step after guides :D well in scotland anyway ...
Ok. I don't know what guides is either...........
I'm not Scottish don't blame me. Unless it's something international that I've never heard of
Hi Seph!
I have to write about a robbery. I HAVE NO INSPIRATION!
Aww thats ok :D
It is here too, Mel, Star thinks.
HEYO, IENI. YAY FOR GONE, IENI. :) FOURS, IENI. :(
MARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you've given me Third Person Disease. I keep referring to myself in third person irl and sometimes almost referring to myself as Star. Damn you. :)
Zombie llama cyborgs that stole the Candy Queen's crown.
Mel, is it like Cub Scouts...?
I just searched up Lamprey Eels...
Guides and Brownies, Seph? O_O
Come on! Must've heard of the Girl Guides! Rainbows then Brownies then Guides then Senior Section! The Guides were created because Lord Baden Powell created the Scouts for boys and it was aweasome only the girls wanted to be in the Scouts too so a few girls went to a Scouts camping trip or whatever and asked him to arange "something for the girls please" so he got his wife to organise the Guides! Boy Scouts and Girl Guides! How can you NOT Have heard of us??????
*used to be a Brownie and a Guide before I quit*
Kinda...but for girls? We do things like go camping and stuff but yeah...its the girl version?
I seem to be giving everyone everything... One Direction Infection, now The Third Person Disease...
So, Girl Schouts?
*sighs*
Boys:
Beavers, then Cubs, the Scouts.
Girls:
Rainbows, then Brownies, then Guides.
Did you know the Brownies used to be called the Rosebuds but they wanted it changed to something less girly and more adventurous?
*Scouts
Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, but yes, Girl Scouts.
I was in the girls brigade, I was an explorer then a junior but I quit and went to guides for ... 3 years? Nearly four but then I moved up to senior section :D
Brownies are adventurous?
Desserts can't move and brownies (the fairies) basically just clean and stuff, right?
for us it's:
Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, then Seniors
*There's Boy Scouts
OH. GIRL SCOUTS.
We don't have that in Ireland. WE HAVE SCOUTS.
Beavers, then Cubs, then Scouts, then... Uh... I forgot.
WE HAD SNOOOOOW THIS MORNING! :D
Didn't practically everybody used to be a Brownie when they were little????????
I don't know, I never did this stuff.
I just read. And was epic
Is anyone on?
No... I wasnt a brownie I was a junior at girls brigade :P
I forgot too, Mara.
My brother is a Cub, and my sister is a Guide, and I'm an ex-Guide. Plus my mum is an ex-Guide. *nods*
But our scouts is mixed. *nods*
I WENT TO GIRLS' BRIDAGE!!!!!!!!!
I went to Girls' Bridage in Ipseich, then when we moved up here there like wasn't one . . .
*Ipswich
Wbd, meant to clean my bedroom.
*snorts* DID MAM SERIOUSLY THINK I'D CLEAN MY ROOM. I MEAN SERIOUSLY. MARA NO CLEAN.
Scouts is mixed. It's stupid, because boys act differently when they're just with boys to when they're with girls as well and they need time to be boys, By letting girls come to Scouts, they ruined it. Plus, Guides is just for girls, so why shouldn't Scouts be just for boys?
Well I g2g! Byebyes!
bye mel!
Bye Mel! *hugs*
FOURS MEL! :(
If you eliminate all my school stuff all over the floor, my room is relatively tidy . . . It's tidy in the holidays, but my school stuff LIVES on the floor, that's where it GOES, so my room is generally a mess. :P
Bye Mel!
Is Lav leaving Blogland...? :(
It appears she involuntarily is, yes. :(
I just leave all my books on the floor after I've read them... And I have a LOT of books...
What? Why?
Blogland has lost so many Bloglandians...
I'm begining to wonder if 2013 is a bad luck sign or what :(
well... 13 IS an unlucky number...
:P
But.....13 IS MY LUCKY NUMBER
*sobs*
Mine is 3. Or 7.
ARGH. I'm so frustrated >.<
But seriously. Why is Lav leaving?
my lucky number is pi
^^
hey guys, if anyone reads this post something please? Just asking cause I'm not getting anything to my e-mail, so I'm trying to work it out.
Hi Willow!
ay, it works now! Weird that it didn't earlier.
And hello Peres!
Because she's moving back into the room with her friend and her mum's friend, and she isn't actually ALLOWED to be here, Seph.
She's been here since last year, then she had to leave when she moved to Korea, then she came back on recently as she got moved out of her usual room (because her friend and her friend's mum were sick).
Anywho, how is everyone?
Mmm. *sighs*
Poor Lav.
Gut, danke. Uh, good, thanks. You? :)
I'm pretty good. I have a lime! But I'm cold
A lime?
And star I am extremely tired! hehe
It is a yummy lime.
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