Chapters 1 -6 (Only post once you have read chapters 1 -6)

[Nighteyes]

Being an eager Beaver (hope you don't mind Overlord?)

Chapters 1 -6 cover roughly the first 25% of the novel in terms of pages. 

[Overlord]

Completely fine =)

I really like the prologue, I think it sets up the character quite well and gives a good idea of the 'tone' you can expect.

The first battle is really, really lengthy, but I liked how it was split into 'acts' (I guess would be the word?)

[Nighteyes]

When Dread sets light to the sailor for the second time!LOL! Also imagine him looking like the cartoon wizard boy from the old dungeons and dragons cartoon.

[Nighteyes]

Okay. Done the first 6 chapters. Gonna return now to Crisis on Multiple Earths and Path of Daggers to give everyone else a chance to catch up. Initial reaction: I hate back of book blurbs but "Dungeons and Dragons as played with acid" would work well here. First question: is Denaos actually a giant cockroach or just a human who resembles one?
Other thoughts: 25% of the book read and just a couple of hours have passed in terms of action, and still on the same battle! Yet the characters have been introduced superbly, the mystery set up, and I am hooked! Great dialogue, and expecting a very dirty human/ shict sex scene before the end!

[pornokitsch]

I really love the prologue - in just a few pages, sets out an entirely new and different philosophy of what "adventuring" means. Brilliant.

[Rue-Sal]

Just finished chapter 6 and I'm really enjoying the book. I love the characters and the interactions between them are great.

I do think that some of the POV changes are a bit abrupt and that battle took forever to get through, assuming that it's actually over.

[Ninevah]

I'm up to chapter 7 or 8.  Still reading, but I'm getting hung up on the writing style he uses.

When I read it, I visualize it in anime/manga, if that makes sense.  Not particularly flattering, as I don't really appreciate anime.

He does have me giggling at the constant renaming/getting the name wrong of 'Mossuf', 'Mossud' etc.

It also kind of bothers me that he's using such active role-playing stereotypes. I'm not sure why I feel this is a cop-out, as
Dungeons and Dragons stereotypes can be entertaining.  It just seems to somewhat unoriginal?

Now I feel all impolite, cos I know a lot of people here really like this book.  Sorry.

[thedoctor]

I'm now quite into this book, but the first 3 chapters or so were a painful read. I really didn't like the constant bickering between characters. It was a bit over the top for me. But then it settled down and i was able to focus on the story more. Now i am quite into it. I must admit, I would like more description of the half man, half dragon. I don't really know what he looks like, and find it hard to picture him in my head.

[Nighteyes]

Kinda like the Draconians in Dragonlance?
And for the post before that, he is using the dungeons and dragons arcetypes, but in an original manner. He is making them into actual believable humans.   

[ChristinaJL]

I'm past chapter 6 now, I too thought it was a bit slow to start with, lots of talking and one long battle.  But once I got used to the author's style I started to enjoy his humour which comes through well in his writing.  I like the characters too, they're very well portrayed.  Also, have to say I was surprised when SS tweeted me and hoped I enjoyed the book, even though I never @ him about reading it!!   

[Vilutheril]

Sorry I'm slow! I've been a bit busy and I'm reading a few books at a time.

I'm really enjoying it so far! I also really liked the prologue and the refreshing spin it put on 'adventuring'. I found the writing style very readable and the humor was a nice change from the comparatively bleak tone of some of the other books I've read lately.

I've read quite a few reviews complaining of the extended fight scene but I thought it was broken up quite well by the dialogue and other interactions between characters. I didn't really see it as one prolonged action sequence but as a series of skirmishes and a way of incorporating character introductions while still getting straight into the action.

The characters were as amusing and insane as expected and the constant bickering didn't worry me. Even though it verges on slapstick (which may not be to everyones taste) I think it's more believable than having such an eclectic mix of characters who miraculously all get along perfectly. Actually it kind of reminded me of my old dungeons and dragons group and how the mix of different peoples characters often struggled to operate as a functional group. 'My character is morally opposed to killing giant squid monsters for treasure so I'm going to sit this out.' 'I'm not healing you because you looted my characters corpse when it died and didn't return my stuff after resurrection.' 'NO, we are not disguising ourselves as goblin wenches!'

So far my favorite characters are Kataria and Dread.

Also, there's some sketches of different characters here (http://samsykes.com/lost-pages/) for anyone who has trouble visualizing them. The dragonman is the one with the least detail but you still get some idea.

[Ken]

The first two chapters seemed really long. I'm still getting used to his style. Usually authors will introduce us to characters through action but with Sykes it's all done through the arguments. I think you shouldn't take the beginning too seriously but as a tongue-in-cheek play on the classic adventure story.  I like how the pirates are portrayed as the most educated of the bunch.

[pornokitsch]

Dread's my favorite too. Which is weird, as he's such a "hooded man/assassin type" - you'd think I'd be over that. But Sykes does a really good job making him a genuinely intriguing figure (plus, he's got all the best lines).

[DBASKLS]

Oh dear I'm struggling with this. I don't like the writing style at all. I can seem to get a grip on what's happening as it feels all over the place. The dialogue is quite irritating!

Oh well I will continue ...

[lazyrhino]

Just now getting started!  Found this book club after reading had already begun for the month and then this book took way longer than expected to get delivered.

Anyway, similar to what a few others have said, I'm having a little bit of trouble with his style even after the first six chapters. The constant bickering between the characters isn't part of it though.  I actually find that part pretty realistic - it matches up pretty well with conversations I've had myself while in the military. I think my main criticism is with the pace. Now more than 100 pages in, I would expect to know more about the overall plot. The characters have been introduced well but I still don't know why they were on this ship, where they were going, or what they were doing other than accompanying Evenhands. Perhaps Lenk doesn't know anything more himself, but I would have expected some complaining on that topic if that were the case. I hope that more substantive events occur soon or I fear that not much story will have been told over the course of this first book.

I think that part of what you buy into when you read within the fantasy genre is a willingness to give the author quite a bit of leeway and time to begin their story. I'm certainly willing to give Sykes some more time but I think he may be pushing it.

Back to reading now. I need to catch up.