I couldn't stand Night Angel, can't remember exactly why I didn't like it, but I gave up after about half of book one. Something about the characters just didn't work for me I think.
Books Fantasy Reads
- Thread starter Alock1
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Finished 'She is the Darkness', the seventh book in Black Company.
A big improvement from the previous book, but I think that I have completely lost the interest in this serie. Still, will continue with the final 2 books.
A big improvement from the previous book, but I think that I have completely lost the interest in this serie. Still, will continue with the final 2 books.
Just finished Fools Errand.
Nighteyes... 
Good, enjoyable read. Gutted that there'll be no more input from Nighteyes (well, presumably) but it's set the second trilogy off to a good start. Curious as to how things'll progress from here on in
Good, enjoyable read. Gutted that there'll be no more input from Nighteyes (well, presumably) but it's set the second trilogy off to a good start. Curious as to how things'll progress from here on in
I have read all of the Hyperion books and remember liking them very much.
It's been years though and I can't remember much from them so can't discuss any of it
Need to read them again soon.
The third one was a difficult reading cause things were going very slow (bar the first quarter of the book which was nice), but everything got linked in the final book. Very clearly, Simmons planned things in advance.I have read all of the Hyperion books and remember liking them very much.
It's been years though and I can't remember much from them so can't discuss any of it
Need to read them again soon.
Cantos is really a good reading.
Dresden Files
Finished the first two books. Hooked. A fine mesh of classic detective adventure with paranormal mix.
Fabulous time pass! I'm loving it.
Finished the first two books. Hooked. A fine mesh of classic detective adventure with paranormal mix.
Fabulous time pass! I'm loving it.
Enjoy, they get really good further down the line.
Finished the eighth book in Black Company (Water Sleeps).
An upgrade on the previous two books, for sure. Sleepy was great, a far better narrator than Murgen (Croaker > Lady > Sleepy > Murgen when it comes to narrators). No idea how things will go in the last book. Which is kind of amazing considering that I had a lot of theories for ASOIAF/WoT how things will end, but here they can really go in many directions.
Also,
Croaker returns as narrator for the final book. Yay!
An upgrade on the previous two books, for sure. Sleepy was great, a far better narrator than Murgen (Croaker > Lady > Sleepy > Murgen when it comes to narrators). No idea how things will go in the last book. Which is kind of amazing considering that I had a lot of theories for ASOIAF/WoT how things will end, but here they can really go in many directions.
Also,
Goblin
Croaker returns as narrator for the final book. Yay!
Finished the eighth book in Black Company (Water Sleeps).
An upgrade on the previous two books, for sure. Sleepy was great, a far better narrator than Murgen (Croaker > Lady > Sleepy > Murgen when it comes to narrators). No idea how things will go in the last book. Which is kind of amazing considering that I had a lot of theories for ASOIAF/WoT how things will end, but here they can really go in many directions.
Also,
Goblin
Croaker returns as narrator for the final book. Yay!
Well, all I can say is that you'll be surprised no matter what you expect. It's worth it. Keep reading!
Of course, I am keeping. After all, I read nine books so far.
I would say that Books of the North were the best (although the first half of the book was weird), followed closely by Books of the South. Books of the Glittering Stone are a downgrade in quality, but I am expecting a big payoff in the final book.
Yup, agree. Too much is written yet not much movement in plot in the Glittering Stone Books. I hope you like the last book, I thought it was the best of the GS series.
I wish Cook would come out with the other Black Company books he's been planning for decades.
I loved Tom Holts books, especially the "portable door" series, a quite nice anti-Harry Potter, very funny too. Also, "Barking" is worth a try.
Currently, i'm busy with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" by Susanna Clarke. An epic masterpiece!
Currently, i'm busy with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" by Susanna Clarke. An epic masterpiece!
The Traitor Son Cycle is one of my favorite series. Looking forward to "The dread Wyrm".
The latest books I have finished have been Stella Gemmell - The City and Ben Peek - The Godless. The first one is a good standalone book. I had some troubles getting into the latter but that might partially be because of me playing The Witcher 3 at the same time.
I am halfway through "The wise man`s fear" and I have to say Rothfuss is such a fantastic storyteller.
Just finished Fools Errand.
Nighteyes...
Good, enjoyable read. Gutted that there'll be no more input from Nighteyes (well, presumably) but it's set the second trilogy off to a good start. Curious as to how things'll progress from here on in
Enjoyed that book. It was quite self contained. The warging or whatever it was called was fleshed out nicely.
And yeah gutted too on that front. I honestly dont remember if he's gone so cant spoil it for you.
I think i was a bit grumpy about that even if it was somewhat inevitable at some point
I think i was a bit grumpy about that even if it was somewhat inevitable at some point
I enjoyed Jonathan Strange too. Was fun, dont really remember it either though ... my memory sucks.
Soldiers Live - the final book in The Black Company, and a match for the final book of the North and final book of the South. I liked it a lot.
The book starts 4 years after the events of the previous one, with Croaker returning to his old position as annalist, and leaving the new generation lead the company. Sleepy was quite excellent, in this serie you see her transforming from a child to a teen, to a very gofted strategist and finally to a great Captain.
One thing that has to be noted in these books is the number of deaths. It makes GRRM look into a different prespective. It is even worse when some very important characters die and they just get mentioned and you don't hear from them. Like:
While killing a lot of characters was a formula used from the very beginning, on this book it looked like the author was just taking the piss. But then it is a war book, so that is to be expected.
I liked the ending, it was the only ending which makes sense bar:
It would be intersting to see how the Black Company will evolve now, having different goals and different leadership. And more powerful wizards than ever.
A good - while not emotional - saga. Happy that I read it.
The book starts 4 years after the events of the previous one, with Croaker returning to his old position as annalist, and leaving the new generation lead the company. Sleepy was quite excellent, in this serie you see her transforming from a child to a teen, to a very gofted strategist and finally to a great Captain.
One thing that has to be noted in these books is the number of deaths. It makes GRRM look into a different prespective. It is even worse when some very important characters die and they just get mentioned and you don't hear from them. Like:
Both the deaths of Murgen and Sleepy. They were narrators in three books, both of them being Annalists and leaders of Company before. Or One-Eye who died within a page. Or Mogaba and the prince who died in some cruel ways. Or Tobo's mother. Otto and Hagop. Howler. Goblin in the end, again!
Heck, One-Eye and Goblin were the most important characters in the saga after Croaker and Lady. And Murgen/Sleepy were in top 10.
Heck, One-Eye and Goblin were the most important characters in the saga after Croaker and Lady. And Murgen/Sleepy were in top 10.
While killing a lot of characters was a formula used from the very beginning, on this book it looked like the author was just taking the piss. But then it is a war book, so that is to be expected.
I liked the ending, it was the only ending which makes sense bar:
Croaker and Lady dying. This ending is even better that they dying IMO. Croaker pretty much a god, and Lady getting her powers back. With Booboo still 'alive' and Soulcatcher still trapped but with a chance of getting resurrected from Croaker in order to balance Lady if she goes full Lady. And with the possibility of more books (although now I doubt that considering that Cook is 70+ and haven't written a Black Company book in 15 years).
It would be intersting to see how the Black Company will evolve now, having different goals and different leadership. And more powerful wizards than ever.
A good - while not emotional - saga. Happy that I read it.
Got my hand on Robin Hobbs Assassin's apprentice in a 3 for 20 deal. Looking forward to reading it soon.
@Revan @Kallech33 Queen of Fire is out!
I know. Already hve it and today I am going to start it.
Cheers anyway! I hope it is a great conclusion to the saga!
Blood Song has been on my to-read list for ages. What's it about again?
The closest I can think of is Name of the Wind. It has a significantly weaker writing though. On the other side, the story goes much faster and is more serious. Also, it has some level of dark/grim that isn't on Name of the Wind.Blood Song has been on my to-read list for ages. What's it about again?
Hmm, I didn't really get the hype for NotW, particularly when it comes to the writing. It wasn't bad, but it didn't seem anything special to me.
I have to admit I forgot a lot of the storylines and the characters (especially from Tower Lord). I think I'm getting old and forgetful.
I'll have to read the first 2 books again before I buy Queen of Fire. But maybe it's better that way. The kindle edition is 15€
and the paperback ~10€ which I'm currently not willing to spend on Queen of Fire after I thought Tower Lord was a let down.Hmm, I didn't really get the hype for NotW, particularly when it comes to the writing. It wasn't bad, but it didn't seem anything special to me.
You're wrong
You're right
I guess you guys think LOTR is beautifully written too.
How do they compare?
Lord of the Rings has lots of issues. Far too much detail can be given, bogging down scene setting and making the pacing feel slower than it needs to. The language can be more convoluted than it needs to be due to a self-serving writing style. Plus, the exploration of characters is poor beyond whether you should be rooting for them or not. It's a great book but no I don't think it's beautifully written, far from it.
I said in the OP that I didn't think it had been well written, and that was my stance as a younger reader, reaffirmed by a recent re-reading.
Lord of the Rings has lots of issues. Far too much detail can be given, bogging down scene setting and making the pacing feel slower than it needs to. The language can be more convoluted than it needs to be due to a self-serving writing style. Plus, the exploration of characters is poor beyond whether you should be rooting for them or not. It's a great book but no I don't think it's beautifully written, far from it.
I said in the OP that I didn't think it had been well written, and that was my stance as a younger reader, reaffirmed by a recent re-reading.
Queen of fire, The blood mirror, Fall of light,Doors of Stone and Skybreaker are the books i`m looking forward to. Sadly don't have time to read as mush as i once did so i`m not really up to speed with the new books.
I agree with your assessment of LOTR, but I think it applies to NotW too - for me they have the same flaw (too much focus on the writing itself). Large sections of NotW were fairly well written, but the passages that people highlight as 'beautiful' come across to me as self-conscious and over the top, someone trying to impress with words. I'd rather paint a beautiful picture in a reader's head using simple prose than focus on creative turns of phrase, and I'd always prefer to read the former.
The exact same problem I hadI have to admit I forgot a lot of the storylines and the characters (especially from Tower Lord). I think I'm getting old and forgetful.
I'll have to read the first 2 books again before I buy Queen of Fire. But maybe it's better that way. The kindle edition is 15€
Was trying to look for a plot summary of Tower Lord online but couldn't find one. Think I may just start QoF and hope I don't get too lost
Yep, definitely have forgot a lot from the previous two books.
Read 10% of Queen of Fire, and at the beginning I was a bit lost, but now I have started remembering things.
Read 10% of Queen of Fire, and at the beginning I was a bit lost, but now I have started remembering things.
Vaelin has done a Kvothe. He is a pussy now (having lost his song).
Anyone read Sword Of Truth series? Is it any good at all?
Haven't read it but is generally mentioned in all 'hall of shame' when it comes to fantasy series. From what I've read other people saying, it is a LOTR copy, with full of cliches and shit characters.
This basically:
A guy who went to school with me had all Sword of Truth books and lent them to me.
The first book is okay. After that it's complete trash. Twilight-level trash with wizards and witches instead of vampires and werewolves.
I still read them all. This book series had the same effect on me as some incredibly shit RealityTV series has on other people.
It's crap but you can't stop because it feels so good to hate it. You NEED to hate it, to be outraged about it. It was like an addiction.
I read that Goodkind wrote new books which play after the end of the series. To be honest I'm tempted to read them just to get that feeling of hate and outrage back. Unfortunately I know no one who has them and one thing is certain: I won't spend money on that trash.
Queen of Fire - It was a dissapointment, so I make this short.
Without exagerating, it is the worst final book in a fantasy series I have ever read. The plot is bad, the war moments have been done bad, there are no dramatic moments like in the last books IMO, and the writing - which never was Ryan's bigest strength - is worse than in the previous books.
It is significanty worse than the previous book, which in turn wasn't near as good as the first one. If the first book was a strong 4/5 and the second book a strong 3/5 then I think that this is a weak 2/5.
Without exagerating, it is the worst final book in a fantasy series I have ever read. The plot is bad, the war moments have been done bad, there are no dramatic moments like in the last books IMO, and the writing - which never was Ryan's bigest strength - is worse than in the previous books.
It is significanty worse than the previous book, which in turn wasn't near as good as the first one. If the first book was a strong 4/5 and the second book a strong 3/5 then I think that this is a weak 2/5.
Well, I guess that means I won't bother with Queen of Fire until it's available for 5 or 6€.
I certainly won't spend 10€ on it if it's worse than Tower Lord.
Does Ryan at least resolve all the different characters' storylines (or are there open endings etc.?) and what's up with
The One Who Waits / The Ally and his agents / The 7th Order and all that stuff?
There aren't open questions in the end (well, that is the good part of the book).
What is the seventh order was clear from the last book.