It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Jan. 5th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a fun meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey each Monday. I'm starting out with this meme again this year in hopes that it will help me to renew my commitment to All Booked Up which has been rather lackluster in the past year. Not helped by the lack of books finished last year.

Anyway, on to the books.

In the past week I've finished reading two books:

Sword And Sorceress VIII
Ed. Marion Zimmer Bradley
DAW Books
Copyright: 1991
978-0886774868

The back cover blurb:

Spells Cast And Swords Crossed
As the forces of evil reach out to conquer new realms, claiming the lives and treasures of unprotected innocents, there are always a valiant few ready to oppose these masters of darkness and destruction. Bold women warriors, wise women, sorceresses wielding the powers of light - all are ready to aid those in need with no thought to the perils they themselves will face.

Let some of today's finest fantasy writers - Mercedes Lackey, Jennifer Roberson, Diana Paxson, and their fellow visionaries - carry you off to the enchanted lands where stalwart heroines pit their skills against such terrors as: an ancient dragon that has long held a kingom hostage to its terrible hunger... a stealer of magics who seeks to drain the power from all who cross her path... a mortal so caught in evil's thrall that not even his own family is safe from harm... and all the other enemies that only those long-trained to battle with sword and spell can hope to overcome...

Just read for the heck of it, and enjoyed greatly over a short trip. My review.

Arrows of the Queen (The Heralds of Valdemar vol.1)
Mercedes Lackey
DAW Books
Copyright: 1987
978-0886773786

The amazon.com product description:

Talia, a young runaway, is made a herald at the royal court after she rescues one of the legendary Companions. When she uncovers a plot to seize the throne, Talia must use her empathic powers to save the queen.

Read for the Valdemar Reading Challenge and for the Hardcore Re-Reading Challenge. My review can be found here.

I'm currently reading:
Arrow's Flight (the sequel to Arrows of the Queen) by Mercedes Lackey - for the two challenges I'm focused on right now: the Valdemar Reading Challenge and the Hardcore Re-Reading Challenge. Only a couple of chapters in, but enjoying the re-read nonetheless.

The second book I'm reading is one I've mentioned on the blog back when I first found out about it: Adrienne Mayor's new book on the Amazons. I'm enjoying the read, but it's going much slower than I anticipated.

I'm planning to read:
Arrow's Fall, the third book in the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy. Beyond that, I haven't decided yet. Possibly another of the Valdemar novels? Or, maybe I'll go off in a completely unanticipated direction.