Grimnoir Chronicles

Ritley

Ritley

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I was searching for something to listen to at work and the first book of the series (Hard Magic) was on sale at audible so I tried it out.

The story is basically an alternate history, where sometime in the 1800s people began being born with magical abilities. Each person with magical abilities has generally one area of magic that they can use. For example, some people can alter gravity, some can heal, some can cause diseases etc. The story is set in ~1930s with a mix of magic and technology from that era (technology is different than the real 1930s due to the introduction of magic), and overall the book is fast paced and very entertaining.

I'd also like to mention that the Book Description is 100% not at all what the book is about. Seriously, I think whoever wrote the blurb didn't read the book. The cover art is also terribad, but don't let that scare you.

If you are looking for something a little different I highly recommend this book. The second book is out (Spellbound) but I haven't had a chance to read/listen to it yet. It's getting just as good of reviews as the first so I'm hopeful the quality is sustained.

http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Magic-Gri.../dp/1451638248
 
Nite1

Nite1

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Just finished reading this and really enjoyed it. I have to second the original poster the cover art and Blurb are the prime example on how not to sell a book. Honestly id compare this more to martins wild card series then anything else. I'm still trying to figure out the Maltese falcon reference in the writeup...
 
Void

Void

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I am not a big fan of alternate histories, but I did enjoy these quite a bit. If you liked them, you should read his other series, Monster Hunter International. He's got a bit of Harry Stu going on, which becomes obvious once you read both series and see that the main characters are virtually identical, but aside from that I really, really liked both. Agent Franks is my fucking favorite in MHI, and the latest book (which was like 2 years ago now, need another one NOW!) is mostly about him.
 
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Zapatta

Zapatta

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Void said:
I am not a big fan of alternate histories, but I did enjoy these quite a bit. If you liked them, you should read his other series, Monster Hunter International. He's got a bit of Harry Stu going on, which becomes obvious once you read both series and see that the main characters are virtually identical, but aside from that I really, really liked both. Agent Franks is my fucking favorite in MHI, and the latest book (which was like 2 years ago now, need another one NOW!) is mostly about him.
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I will, you and I have always had similar tastes in media, your recommendations have always been good.
 
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Ukerric

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Void said:
IAgent Franks is my fucking favorite in MHI, and the latest book (which was like 2 years ago now, need another one NOW!)
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Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge was out last month. There's another Memoirs in december (both collaborations with Ringo, another Baen stable author)
 
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Void

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Ukerric said:
Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge was out last month. There's another Memoirs in december (both collaborations with Ringo, another Baen stable author)
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Cool, I wasn't aware there was one out. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the info. I'm a little bummed that he has been writing so many books for that gaming system instead of this kind of stuff, but at least it doesn't take much to get right back into the world several years later.
 
Ukerric

Ukerric

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Void said:
Cool, I wasn't aware there was one out. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the info. I'm a little bummed that he has been writing so many books for that gaming system instead of this kind of stuff, but at least it doesn't take much to get right back into the world several years later.
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There's also the third book on the Dead Six series out this month. Nothing for years, then 3 in a row.
 
Ukerric

Ukerric

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They're straight up mil-action thrillers, with a slight sprinkling of fantasy. Probably slightly better than most thriller authors, but they're not as interesting as MHI. Will probably still check the book (since I almost always pick the Baen monthly bundle, so I get lots of books)
 
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Ukerric

Ukerric

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Ukerric said:
There's also the third book on the Dead Six series out this month. Nothing for years, then 3 in a row.
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Oh, and got around to read MHI Grunge, and that's why you get 3 "Larry Correia books" in 4 months; it's not a Correia book, it's a John Ringo book with some Correia editing. Apparently, the same for december's MHI book.

Not that it's bad. Ringo writes good stuff.
 
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Zapatta

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Finished book 1, glad it had a legit ending, so many authors can't seems to wrap shit up anymore. Was a easy fun read.

I am gonna jump to book 1 of Momster Hunters next. And alternate between the two series I think.
 
Ritley

Ritley

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Personally I wasn't a huge fan of MH. I only got a few books in, but his absolute hardon for describing everything about every gun annoyed the shit out of me. I think about a third of the pages are gun descriptions.

He also started another series, son of the black sword. Started out a bit slow but overall a solid book. Will be worth seeing where he goes with it
 
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Zapatta

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Ritley said:
Personally I wasn't a huge fan of MH. I only got a few books in, but his absolute hardon for describing everything about every gun annoyed the shit out of me. I think about a third of the pages are gun descriptions.
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Just finished book 1. Errf the love interest / romance angle was painful to read. Written like the author has never met a human female ....

 
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Zapatta said:
Just finished book 1. Errf the love interest / romance angle was painful to read. Written like the author has never met a human female ....

Click to expand...

Yeah, he pretty much sucks at that, and the first one is probably the weakest of the series, but you read for the gun porn and monsters getting mowed down. I would say stick with it through at least book 3, because that one deals with Harbinger almost exclusively, and once you get away from the main dude it gets a lot more tolerable. If you like 3 then you'll probably be good to continue, and eventually you get to the one about Agent Franks, who is pure awesome, so hopefully it is worth getting through the cringe-worthy stuff to the really good stuff. But there is always going to be shit you roll your eyes at, can't get away from it with this author. I think you'll eventually find it worthwhile as a series, but I've been wrong plenty of times before.

Sort of like how the Grimnoir books are much better once you get to read a lot more about the teleporter chick, who is such a better character than the Gary Stu guy (none of whom I can remember the names of).
 
Zapatta

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Yeah, he pretty much sucks at that, and the first one is probably the weakest of the series, but you read for the gun porn and monsters getting mowed down. I would say stick with it through at least book 3, because that one deals with Harbinger almost exclusively, and once you get away from the main dude it gets a lot more tolerable. If you like 3 then you'll probably be good to continue, and eventually you get to the one about Agent Franks, who is pure awesome, so hopefully it is worth getting through the cringe-worthy stuff to the really good stuff. But there is always going to be shit you roll your eyes at, can't get away from it with this author. I think you'll eventually find it worthwhile as a series, but I've been wrong plenty of times before.

Sort of like how the Grimnoir books are much better once you get to read a lot more about the teleporter chick, who is such a better character than the Gary Stu guy (none of whom I can remember the names of).
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I will keep going on the MHI series at some point, but I started Iggluden's Khan series last night at 9PM, next thing I knew it was 3 AM and I had to force myself to put it down and get some sleep. Those books have zero lulls or pauses, shit is high-test crack.
 
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