I finally finished The Wheel of Time series! I took forever to get through the last book, longer than with any of the slog books, but I’m so happy to be done. I do wish the last book was more satisfying. It just felt very different in tone from the rest, partly I think due to Sanderson running out of source material. But there was still a lot I enjoyed across the whole series, so I don’t regret putting the time into it.

I finished I Am Legend by Richard Matheson last night. My copy of the book contains a bunch of short stories by the author as well, so now I am reading through those. He is very effective at writing short, impactful horror.

I have one Bingo (the top row) so far and 9 total squares filled. Definitely not expecting to fill the whole board, but I’m hoping to get at least one or two more bingoes complete. It’s been fun sitting down and seeing what square I can assign each book to as I read!

I’m reading A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time Book 14!). I’m only about halfway through and so far it’s been good but I liked the books leading up to it more. We’ll see how the second half goes.

I’m reading The Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time book 13!!) by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson. I’m so close to the end of this series! And the last few books have been sooo satisfying. For a while during the slog I was worried but I’m glad I stuck with it.

I finished The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence (The Red Quern’s War book 3). The character growth across this trilogy really made this book satisfying, though it made the earlier books a bit rough for me. I really wasn’t a fan of the main character’s flaws early on.

Now I’m on to The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time book 12!). Only just started so no real impressions yet but I’m so excited to see how this series wraps up. It feels like I’m actually getting close to the end of this giant journey!

I finished The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence (Red Queen’s War book 2). It’s a fantasy-scifi blend leaning more towards fantasy, in a post-apocalytic setting. I struggled a bit at first but my enjoyment really picked up in the second half. I look forward to seeing how this trilogy will end.

I just started book 3, The Wheel of Osheim last night. I’m only a chapter in but I’m already finding it very gripping.

In between, I read Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. This is a crime/thriller book taking place in South Boston in the 1970s. It features a significant event in Bostom’s history from that time period (busing to desegregate the city) and a fictionalized version of the crime boss Whitey Bulger. I found it considerably better than most crime fiction I’ve read and thought the themes were heavy hitting and well done. I will say I wish the author gave a little more explanation of what he pulled from real life events at the end of the book.

For bingo, I’ve now read 7 books that qualify for at least one tile (I’m not counting multiple books from the same series - which has been the majority of my reading). I don’t think I’ll fill the whole board but I think I can achieve at least a couple bingos by the end.

I blasted through Tom Lake by Ann Patchett this weekend. It was exactly what I wanted out of a “summer read”. Cozy, but with a strong plot and characters.

I’m still working on The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence. Only have about 100 pages left to go, but for some reason it’s just been hard to stick with it. Every time I pick it up, my mind tries to wander.

Of the ones I’ve read, Book of the Ancestor was my favorite. Hard to top assassin nuns, I guess.

I’m currently on The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence (book 2 of The Red Queen’s War). I’m really enjoying it though it’s not my favorite trilogy by him.

I finished The Heaven And Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. I was worried it wouldn’t stick the landing and it didn’t. A lot of the promises it set up in part 1 seemed to be forgotten. Almost like the author was working on two completely different books and decided to lump them together without editing them to match.

Now I’m about to start Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 11) and I’m super excited. He set so much up in the next book and I’m hoping the payoff is good.

Finished Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 10). It was enjoyable. Not much happened, but a lot was set up and it sounds like the next book will deliver.

Before I continue with that series, I’m reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. I’m about a third of the way through and so far it’s good. It’s the kind of story that follows it’s characters across many years, which I generally like, but something makes me worried it might not stick the landing and I can’t quite put my finger on it.

This was my favorite of his standalone novels. I found the way he explored the POV jumping to be so effective. I hope you enjoy!

Interesting! I heard some people say Crossroads was the worst of them. I’m close to halfway through this book and so far nothing has really happened. I will say though that the slog in general isn’t as bad as I was warned.

Finished Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 9) and started Crossroads of Twilight (book 10). Book 9 was slow at first but really picked up in the second half. So far book 10 is starting slow too, but knowing this is the last “slog” book is helping me stay motivated.

Alas, I only have android, but thanks!

Hey thanks, I appreciate that. I’m definitely far enough in that I’m not going to drop it now. I’ve just been taking a lot of breaks with other books.

I’m getting a little nervous that I just won’t be able to remember certain things that happened multiple books ago that will then become important. For example I just read a chapter that revisited a character we hadn’t seen since book 4 (I think), and I had no idea who she was until halfway through the chapter. And I feel like googling will result in spoilers.

I’ve been told book 11 is where the story picks up again. So one more slow book to go after this

I’m currently on Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 9). My brain is having trouble with how long this series is. I’ve felt that I must be near the end since book 4. This book has been going extra slowly for me.

I also recently finished Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. It was amazingly well-done. Not a “fun” read for sure but gripping and thought provoking and I couldn’t put it down.

I finished Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence (The Red Queen’s War). Not sure what it is but this one didn’t click with me as well as other Mark Lawrence books I’ve read. I will continue the series though.

I just started A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan. It’s about the KKK in the 1920s. So far it’s both interesting and infuriating. I think I will learn a lot from this book.

I finished The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 8). Not a bad book, but definitely slow and uneventful compared to previous entries.

While I wait for the next book to become available, I’ve picked up Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence (Red Queen’s War book 1). This will be my fourth trilogy by him and I’ve loved them all so far.