# Whatcha Readin' Jan 10 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-jan-10-edition/523210 "2009-12-31T18:38:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 38
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-jan-10-edition/523210/38 "2010-01-06T19:31:31Z")
> [@Whatcha Readin' Dec 09 Edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-09-edition/519487/142): > > (From last month’s thread) > > > [@Eleanor of Aquitaine](#): > > > > The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie - I keep hearing good things about this gritty fantasy series. > > I liked it a lot, but it starts off slow. The first book is almost all character introduction/development, people bumping up against each other, with no real action until the end. This was fine with me though. He wrote another book, _Best Served Cold_, set in the same world. It was almost **all** action, but not quite as satisfying. I just finished _The Blade Itself_, and I really loved it. Great writing, terrific characterization and amazing fight scenes. I’m off to order the rest of the trilogy. > [@TheMerchandise](#): > > _[Soulless](http://www.amazon.com/Soulless-Parasol-Protectorate-Gail-Carriger/dp/0316056634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262619919&sr=8-1)_, by Gail Carriger. This is a lovely blend of a Jane Austen comedy of errors and steam punk paranormal fantasy. A very light read, but something I recommend for anyone who likes Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, or Miss Austen herself. I liked this, too, as pure comedy. The book was set during the Victorian period (the Queen has a cameo) but it read like a Regency novel to me, with a lot of Regency slang. But I haven’t read a lot of Victorian novels, so maybe the slang was correct for the period. Although since it’s fantasy/alternate history I guess the author can use whatever slang she wants. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-jan-10-edition/523210)._