Closing out 2016, I put together a pretty impressive book haul. Then I displayed it with beauty! If only my time was as free as my staircase to imagination.

It is my goal to read most of these in 2017… but the problem is I will likely get hooked on most if not all and then try to push ahead in those before reading others. Not to mention re-figuring Forge of Darkness before tackling Fall of Light. My pace on my current read has not exactly been impressive. What I want and how the cards fall never seems to align. What happened to all those summers I had as a kid where I had all day to do whatever I wanted day-in, day-out? Sacrilege, as they are lost.

I enjoyed Forge of Darkness, so I should be more excited for Fall of Light than I am. I think my hesitancy stems from the fact that for years – years – I read a diet almost exclusively Erikson/Esslemont, with a dash of Abercrombie. Now, after the initiation of Purge of Ashes, my horizons have broadened considerably and I relish new books, new authors, new opportunities. Plus the aforementioned recollection required.

Lawrence I’m keen to start in on his second trilogy, if just to see how I take it not being a Jorg fan from the start. I’m keen to read some of his clever wordplay for myself and not just hear it out of context from his Facebook account. Sounds like Osheim is amazing, too, so it’s easy to get going on.

Gwynne, meanwhile, I’ve never heard a bad word about and his books are big and beautiful. I am more confident I will enjoy his series than anything previously unread. But it’s a lot of reading if I get hooked into that one, as I’m certain I will. I still have a baby and threenager at home, if no longer a newborn and toddler.

Then GGK. Some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read is in his previous books. I missed an opportunity to meet him at a book store earlier this year, and I want to get myself back into his vein. Tigana is often considered his best, and as such I am certain it will delight with a majesty even superior to The Lions of Al-Rassan (which my dad pitched to me, oddly enough).

Django Wexler’s Book 1 I picked up on a whim, and the fact it was recommended by an Indigo staff member. It was just sitting there alone on a little pedestal and I recognized his name from Reddit and the like. I read the back and the final few lines sold me to it. I look forward to trying something unprecedented. Last time I did so I read Sean Rodden’s Whispers of War and look at me now: eagerly awaiting his sequel Roars of War and the rerelease come April. Oh, gods! More to read! Eek!

Finally, Neil Gaiman. Just heard too much to not pick it up.

Wishing everyone a lovely end to 2016 and dawn of 2017. May books come swiftly to your enemies!

(So they can learn something and smarten up!)

JM.