What's everyone reading?

[BWRhasnoAC]

This is a shameless plug for my just-released book, Ruin Reborn. It is a progression fantasy, which means the characters make levels similar to those in D&D gaming. It is appropriate fun for readers of all ages, political persuasions, and religions.

It can be read for FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited. Otherwise, the ebook is $2.99, and the audiobook costs $3.99. If you like it, please leave a 5-star rating as it helps the Amazon algorithm. I don't have any social media, so I need all the help I can get.
I appreciate honest feedback, even if you think the book is bad. I will reimburse the purchase price to anyone who does not like it.

Many thanks for considering my request.

David K. Hall (aka nolaeeer)

Ruin Reborn Kindle Edition​

by David K. Hall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)

See all formats and editions

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Ruin Reborn unravels the harrowing progression of a monstrous being whose dark legacy spans two thousand years. Once a creature of unrelenting violence, Ruin ravaged a frozen world shrouded in eternal darkness until a fateful bargain with a cunning lich resulted in his death and rebirth in an unfamiliar universe.
Trapped in the fragile body of a human slave, Ruin finds himself a cog in a cruel and unjust empire on the brink of wars it cannot win. Amid the squalor of slave pens, on the bloody sands of the arena, and in the camaraderie forged in the crucible of battle, a spark of self-discovery is ignited. He develops a conscience, and new emotions emerge. As storm clouds gather over the empire, Ruin and his unlikely companions must traverse a perilous world rife with treachery, blood-soaked ambition, duels, assassinations, and forbidden magic. But Ruin isn’t a pawn in anyone’s game; he’s a walking apocalypse, a calamity poised to bend the rules to his will.

I'm gonna guess you like Sanderson?

 

[Nolaeer]

I think I would, but I have not read him.
Here are some of my favorite Authors:
1. Jim Butcher- Harry Dresden Series
2. Greg Huerwitz-Orphan X
3. Robert Jordan-WOT series books 1-4
4. Louis L'Amour--I have the entire collection in leatherbound books
5. Alistair McLean pretty much all of them
6. Frederick Forsyth- Dogs of War, Day of the Jackal
7. Tom Clancy- Executive Order
8. Robert Ludlum- Martaese Circle, Osterman Weekend
9. Anne Rice- Lestat
10. Stephen King- Salem's Lot, Dead Zone, The Shining
11. Still Life of Crows- D. Preston and L. Child

Favorite character--Jimmy the Hand Raymond Feist series.
Favorite short story- A Piece of Steak by Jack London
One of my favorite quotes was from a Travis McGee book. It was by his overweight, humorous friend. Words to the effect, I don't run. If you see me running, you should run as fast as possible because something bad is coming.
Also, as a kid, I loved the Travis McGee series. John Dann MacDonald (July 24, 1916 - December 28, 1986) was an American writer of novels and short stories, known for his thrillers. MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I think I would, but I have not read him.
Here are some of my favorite Authors:
1. Jim Butcher- Harry Dresden Series
2. Greg Huerwitz-Orphan X
3. Robert Jordan-WOT series books 1-4
4. Louis L'Amour--I have the entire collection in leatherbound books
5. Alistair McLean pretty much all of them
6. Frederick Forsyth- Dogs of War, Day of the Jackal
7. Tom Clancy- Executive Order
8. Robert Ludlum- Martaese Circle, Osterman Weekend
9. Anne Rice- Lestat
10. Stephen King- Salem's Lot, Dead Zone, The Shining
11. Still Life of Crows- D. Preston and L. Child

Favorite character--Jimmy the Hand Raymond Feist series.
Favorite short story- A Piece of Steak by Jack London
One of my favorite quotes was from a Travis McGee book. It was by his overweight, humorous friend. Words to the effect, I don't run. If you see me running, you should run as fast as possible because something bad is coming.
Also, as a kid, I loved the Travis McGee series. John Dann MacDonald (July 24, 1916 - December 28, 1986) was an American writer of novels and short stories, known for his thrillers. MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels.

Sanderson finished the Wheel of Time series after Jordan (his mentor) passed away. His books are massive so it's an investment.

 

[Nolaeer]

Sanderson finished the Wheel of Time series after Jordan (his mentor) passed away. His books are massive so it's an investment.

I think I did read and enjoy one of his books, now that I think of it. Did he write Heroes Die?

 

[Nolaeer]

I will also make you "ISU" readers a collective offer. If 5 of you read Ruin Reborn and give it a rating or review, or if you don't like it, just post on the thread you didn't like it and state why, I'll join your forum as a premium member for a year, helping you board and NIL a small bit.

I am confident that it is well written. But is my confidence misplaced? If you spot a typo (not comma placement, as that is the author's subjective judgment), I'd love to know so I can correct it. I'm aware chapter 3 has a typo. An "an" should be and "and." I'll fix it when I'm sure there are no more lurking.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I think I did read and enjoy one of his books, now that I think of it. Did he write Heroes Die?

That's Matthew Stover.

Sanderson is famous for Mistborn and The Storm light Archives. Each 10 book serieses of high fantasy.

 

[Cytasticlone]

Currently reading Dungeon Crawler Carl. Its really stupid, but I am enjoying the humor and gruesome nature.

I just finished book 5 of Dungeon Crawler Carl. These books are a ton of fun, fast paced and ridiculous. More than a little dark, as well.

I went ahead and grabbed the first DCC book this week, finished it, and I'm now on to the second. Definitely not going to win any awards for prose, but there's no denying that they're entertaining. They're just fun. The equivalent of a corny action movie.

I just finished 7. What started as a standard litrpg series turned into a surprisingly touching human drama. I thoroughly enjoyed the books, and listening to Jeff Hays do the audiobook is the way to go. He's phenomenal and does all the voices so well.

I've read/listened to the first 7 books 4 or 5 times now, so I definitely recommend DCC. It hits an absolute sweet spot for me of crude humor, pop culture references, video games, and sci-fi. I agree with SerenityNow that listening to Jeff Hays do the audio books is the way to go. It's hard to believe at first but he does all but a couple of the voices himself and he is so good.

Here is a YouTube link of him doing a cold read from book 5. I don't think there are any spoilers if you only listen for a few minutes.

 

[Cytasticlone]

I also love The Murderbot Diaries by Marth Wells and would highly recommend it. It actually just got turned into a show for Apple TV+. First two eps came out last Friday and it's OK compared to the books so far.

I've read through WoT twice and I think I've read almost everything Sanderson has written. Since last fall I reread most of the Cosmere stuff before reading Wind and Truth and I just got done relistening to DCC and Murderbot again. Not sure what to read/listen to next. Had a friend mention the Dark Tower series from King. Might give that a shot.

 

[SerenityNow]

I've read/listened to the first 7 books 4 or 5 times now, so I definitely recommend DCC. It hits an absolute sweet spot for me of crude humor, pop culture references, video games, and sci-fi. I agree with SerenityNow that listening to Jeff Hays do the audio books is the way to go. It's hard to believe at first but he does all but a couple of the voices himself and he is so good.

Here is a YouTube link of him doing a cold read from book 5. I don't think there are any spoilers if you only listen for a few minutes.

He does NOT look anything like I pictured him. What an amazing talent.

 

[83Clone]

I've been getting into the Cork O'Conner series by Krueger lately. Easy reads and very educational

 

[enisthemenace]

Finally finished the slog that is Moby ****. Wow. The last 10-11 chapters (about 50 pages or so) are decent.

What an ass kicker. Very, very difficult read.

 

[Jacktronic]

Got Blood Meridian for Christmas, so finally getting around to knocking that out.

 

[mfelske]

I've read/listened to the first 7 books 4 or 5 times now, so I definitely recommend DCC. It hits an absolute sweet spot for me of crude humor, pop culture references, video games, and sci-fi. I agree with SerenityNow that listening to Jeff Hays do the audio books is the way to go. It's hard to believe at first but he does all but a couple of the voices himself and he is so good.

Here is a YouTube link of him doing a cold read from book 5. I don't think there are any spoilers if you only listen for a few minutes.

I have been reading the DCC books, instead of listening to them. I tried listening to book 3, but I felt like I missed too many details in regards to items, achievements, leveling up, etc. I will go back and probably listen to them once I get through reading them all, because he does do an amazing jobs with the voices.

 

[zumbro clones]

Rereading Orwell's "1984" - lots of parallels with what is going on right now. Cancel culture, gaslighting, etc..

 

[Cyientist]

I just wrapped up the Dune series and have moved on to a leadership/motivation book by movie producer Will Packer called "Who Better than You?".

 

[Clark]

I've read Weeks Night Angel series. Thought the first book was great, but it lost me in the second. Is Lightbringer good?

I had a few small quibbles with book 1 but it's really great. He made some choices in book 2 that I think starts unraveling the quality of the series. I've not read 3-5 yet but the end of book to annoyed me enough to check into books 3-5. Book 5 is almost universally reviled.

So my suggestion for you is to read the first book but plan on stopping after that. The world he built really is pretty cool.

.

Spoiler: Spoilers

I hated, hated, hated how the imprisoned Gavin storyline played out. Just a complete waste of time which is a shame because it had promise.
Relatedly, at the beginning of the story dazin and Gavin were both morally ambiguous and I loved that. Then for whatever reason he decided to make dazin a saint and Gavin a monster. I think the series would have been much better off if he just let them be human with normal human motivations.
The Liv storyline is really dumb. She went from a self confident woman to a an almost childlike need for people to tell her how great she is.

 

[clone136]

When I'm reading a fiction book, I usually also listen to a non fiction audio book

Currently reading the Buffalo Hunter Hunter and listening to Fredrick Douglass Prophet of Freedom

 

[Cyismymonkey]

The Wager by David Grann. Starts slow hopefully it picks up the pace.

 

[NWICY]

I remember reading Slaughterhouse 5 in HS for an independent reading class. Then I read Breakfast of Champions. Im imagining no one in my small town NW IA school had a clue about that book even being there.

It would be on the ban list nowadays would it?

 

[NWICY]

William Kent Kruger the cork O'Connor mysteries. Mainly set in northern Minnesota, just finished spirit crossing new one out called apostle cove.

His books don't need to be read chronologically but the family does age and change. So it helps if you do. But the books do OK as a stand alone.