They're not bad, but they're like, "This? This is what everyone's excited about?"

It's actually cool to watch Jim Butcher improve as a writer over time.

My enthusiasm for Jim Butcher's work waned when I realized that, while his writing improved, some things weren't going to change and those things were dealbreakers for me. I wanted more world-building and less of the pervasive whiteness, sexism, and no homo.

Have any of you read The Rook by Daniel O'Malley? Slow in some bits, but immensely enjoyable about a British Supernatural Secret Service.

Try Amazon Canada for no hassle UK books.

No good for ebooks. Stupid lockdowns. I could probably use a VPN and order the ebooks from Waterstones or something then convert them, but, again, hassles. Honestly, at this point if I decide I want to keep going on them I might order the paperbacks, immediately give them away, and ahem the ebooks.

Interesting question for you (and, really, anybody else who is anti-Amazon): would you say it is better to buy books from Amazon, or buy used? Lots of Amazon hate out there (and some of it is certainly justified) but so many of the people who hate on them are also big in favor of using libraries and used book stores - as am I! - which actually give the authors even less money (none extra, in the case of used). I know there's way more to Amazon hate than author royalties, but that seems to be the big point for most people; systemically lower prices drive down author pay. Or is that not the issue for you/y'all?

are also big in favor of using libraries and used book stores - as am I! - which actually give the authors even less money

Library sales are actually a good thing for writers, even if you get multiple readers off one book.

Because (thanks Ben Franklin!) there are a LOT of libraries out there.

Thanks Andrew Carnegie, no?

Both of those excellent gentlemen have played a role in the history of America's libraries.

For professional reasons, I thank the major donor.

Oh, hey, thanks for reminding me I need to renew my library card. Maybe I'll take care of that this afternoon.

I might be persuaded to loan out my Skullduggery Pleasant books once I have finished this last one. Maybe. Probably they'll go to my sister's family first, but they are all pretty fast readers...

Kat, I read The Rook based off recommendations here (Pix, I think?). It is good stuff. Though I feel like I need to read it again, I feel like I missed stuff or like I really wanted to internalize it more, or something. Definitely one of the better hook-you-on-the-first-page concepts.

Gris, I feel more strongly about the employee abuse with Amazon than the author stuff. So I try to avoid them like I try to avoid WalMart (though with less success, I think). With Buffista or Buffista-adjacent authors, I try to go through my local independent book store. Otherwise I try to library unless I feel confident the book is something that I'm going to want to keep.