Tough days at work, so was looking for really light/easy fantasy.
Looking at Powder Mage or Alex Verus. Anyone read either?
Looking at Powder Mage or Alex Verus. Anyone read either?
Books Fantasy Reads
- Thread starter Alock1
- Start date
Just finished the Way of Kings. A large book, but a brilliant reading. Here are my thoughts on it
- Best original Sanderson's book. I think that The Gathering Storm is better, but you cannot count it as a Sanderson book.
- The difference between this and Mistborn is so large. Mistborn feels like a juvenile book in comparison.
- The book is quite complex, and until the middle of it, it is hard to know what is going on. However, it is clear that there is a large plan in motion.
- The book has all the Sanderson's elements. Interesting story, epic battles and twists going on.
- The writing has improved a lot from Mistborn. It doesn't feel awkward anymore. Obviously it isn't in the level of top fantasy writers, but it doesn't look anymore like a high school essay writer (a large part of writing in Mistbon felt exactly like that).
- I wonder when he planned this book. Was Cosmere created from the very beginning, or he decided later to put everything there. The influence of Wheel of Time and Mistborn can be easily seen there.
- I would say that this is the second best book I have read this year (after The Lies of Locke Lamora), and so the second (out of 27) book I've read this year I am giving a perfect 5/5 goodreads rating.
- Words of Radiance is next.
- Best original Sanderson's book. I think that The Gathering Storm is better, but you cannot count it as a Sanderson book.
- The difference between this and Mistborn is so large. Mistborn feels like a juvenile book in comparison.
- The book is quite complex, and until the middle of it, it is hard to know what is going on. However, it is clear that there is a large plan in motion.
- The book has all the Sanderson's elements. Interesting story, epic battles and twists going on.
- The writing has improved a lot from Mistborn. It doesn't feel awkward anymore. Obviously it isn't in the level of top fantasy writers, but it doesn't look anymore like a high school essay writer (a large part of writing in Mistbon felt exactly like that).
- I wonder when he planned this book. Was Cosmere created from the very beginning, or he decided later to put everything there. The influence of Wheel of Time and Mistborn can be easily seen there.
- I would say that this is the second best book I have read this year (after The Lies of Locke Lamora), and so the second (out of 27) book I've read this year I am giving a perfect 5/5 goodreads rating.
- Words of Radiance is next.
Words of Radiance is better. Way of Kings is much slower going.
I think he wanted to write this bpoker first but it took him a long time to do so. I read him talking about his plan to write this series before he published a book (20 years a go I think he said).
Also, Hoid is more prominent in this series.
Yeah, Hoid here plays a far larger role than in the other books. Does the prologue of the first book makes sense after I will read the Words of Radiance?
I don't mind slow stories.
Was the Almighty a shard or something more?
Kinda. It makes sense now but still has a lot of mystery surrounding it.
It picks up a lot in the second book.
I can't tell you that. You need to read it to find out.
Which prologue are you talking about? The assassination or the one before it?
The one before. I guess the one with the 10 Heralds.
I guess that the Almighty was just one of the sixteen shards that are in Cosmere.
Do you honestly want me to answer it for you?
What has actually happened in the book so far? (I lose track of the story of the books individually)
Do not. I think that it was them deserting for some reason (though I don't get why they had to go to that type of purgatory after each Desolation).
Anyway, I will soon get it. Likely I will finish Words the next week.
Haven't you seen Dalinars dreams?
Yeah. The last one was with the Almighty dying (saying that Odium killed her). So pretty surely, a Shard.
Almighty is a guy, no?
I think Hoid references him which answers that question (About his origins).
What about the dream with the black beasts?
Fated (Alex Verus novel) by Benedict Jacka
It's a Dresden clone..so much that they actually reference it in the 1st chapter
(+)
Protagonist's ability is a 'diviner' and so can see into future for 'possibilities' and then make choices that will end in his benefit. Not other power like super strength or elemental magic. Different from most other heroes in fantasyland.
(-)
Flimsy (and sometimes obvious) plot.
Shallow and stereotypical women characters.
None of the cast makes an impression.
Verdict:
Very YA type. Don't think I'll continue this series. 5.5/10
It's a Dresden clone..so much that they actually reference it in the 1st chapter
(+)
Protagonist's ability is a 'diviner' and so can see into future for 'possibilities' and then make choices that will end in his benefit. Not other power like super strength or elemental magic. Different from most other heroes in fantasyland.
(-)
Flimsy (and sometimes obvious) plot.
Shallow and stereotypical women characters.
None of the cast makes an impression.
Verdict:
Very YA type. Don't think I'll continue this series. 5.5/10
I'm almost halfway through The Expanse: Abaddon's Gate. I loved the first two books, but I'm kinda struggling with this one. None of the characters outside of the usual crew are that interesting and everything feels really predictable so far. It's a real drop in quality. The Anna chapters are right drag so far too, they are like Catelyn or Sansa chapters in ASOIAF they either make you grin and bear it to get through them to interesting stuff or you close the book for the night.
Third and Fourth books are the worst in the series. However book 5 fixes everything, being the best one there. I would suggest to stick with it.
I enjoyed words of radiance quite a lot. I only started reading fantasy novels around when that came out and I thought the world-building was great in both Stormlight books. I should read more, i have a dozen novels on my shelf but i don't make the time
Promise of Blood: #1 of The Powder Mage trilogy.
Just finished it.
It's an epic fantasy set in an society undergoing Industrial Revolution. So we have trade unions, gun powders existing along with magic.
Writing style is similar to Robert Jordan but with a plot being an interesting mix of fantasy and revolution and political intrigue between two kingdoms. It's got a nice magic system with different and distinct layers delicately balancing each other. The powder mage is a concept difficult to swallow, but if you take it at face value, it is entertaining. World building is a bit weak as the story sticks to main 2 countries (in detail) and kinda brushes over the rest.
The story starts off at a quick pace and the author manager to keep it steadily accelerating all through the end. There is no super villain as the political intrigue makes for multiple parties acting for their shadowy interests. The plot twist and turns so that it keep you guessing and engrossed till the end.
Game of Thrones meets Die Hard. Definitely worth a read.
8/10
Just finished it.
It's an epic fantasy set in an society undergoing Industrial Revolution. So we have trade unions, gun powders existing along with magic.
Writing style is similar to Robert Jordan but with a plot being an interesting mix of fantasy and revolution and political intrigue between two kingdoms. It's got a nice magic system with different and distinct layers delicately balancing each other. The powder mage is a concept difficult to swallow, but if you take it at face value, it is entertaining. World building is a bit weak as the story sticks to main 2 countries (in detail) and kinda brushes over the rest.
The story starts off at a quick pace and the author manager to keep it steadily accelerating all through the end. There is no super villain as the political intrigue makes for multiple parties acting for their shadowy interests. The plot twist and turns so that it keep you guessing and engrossed till the end.
Game of Thrones meets Die Hard. Definitely worth a read.
8/10
On the third book of the Malazan series. God knows how many pages in, it's finally starting to click. But he definitely doesn't hold your hand!
There are some good bits in it, but every Anna or Melba chapter is like an invitation to close the book and go do something else.
First 4 books are good. Last 4 are good. Middle ones are mediocre (except for the Tuon/Mat segments which are bloody brilliant!). Overall definitely worth the time spent.
You got your fantasy series mixed. He was talking about Malazan and you are replying to him about WOT
You got your fantasy series mixed. He was talking about Malazan and you are replying to him about WOT
Yeah, my mistake. Was sleeping at work and just woke up.
I've sort of done the opposite to you, I read Way of Kings and Words of Radiance last year and I'm now 3/4 of the way through the first Mistborn book.
You're right in the sense that the Stormlight books are far superior, in fact in almost every way. I'm not sure I'll pursue with Mistborn as it hasn't had me hooked in the same way, I've still enjoyed it but for these kind of books they have to be really worth it to continue with the investment of time. Does the series get better?
Thoughts on Words of Radiance:
- I didn't find it nowhere as good as The Way of Kings.
- Why did the Parshendi ordered Galinar's death? What was he exactly going to do that they feared so much?
- How do the Desolation start. I understand that Heralds go to Hell in order to concentrate Odium on hating them and leaving humanity alone. Then when they can't continue anymore getting tortured they leave and a new Desolation start. But how exactly Heralds leaving (well, this time just one of them leaving cause the others have already decided to not go in Hell this time) makes the Parshendi go evil?
- Why didn't that Parshendi warleader continue the peace talks, but instead got that new form (which essentially changed Parshendi to Voidbringers). She was clearly wanting peace until she got that new form.
- Why did Jasnah, Ghostbloods and that order where Amaram belongs fight against each other? It looked to me that all three of them wanted to avoid the return of Voidbringers but somehow they were also against each other.
- Speaking about her, how did she survive?
- And why did that smart/dumb king ordered all these deaths?
- Has Sanderson read 'The Farseer Trilogy'? I found Wit (Hoid) very similar to The Fool in Farseer. Speaking about Hoid, he is really amazing. I cannot wait to know more about him (although that might be decades from now).
- Why did the Parshendi ordered Galinar's death? What was he exactly going to do that they feared so much?
- How do the Desolation start. I understand that Heralds go to Hell in order to concentrate Odium on hating them and leaving humanity alone. Then when they can't continue anymore getting tortured they leave and a new Desolation start. But how exactly Heralds leaving (well, this time just one of them leaving cause the others have already decided to not go in Hell this time) makes the Parshendi go evil?
- Why didn't that Parshendi warleader continue the peace talks, but instead got that new form (which essentially changed Parshendi to Voidbringers). She was clearly wanting peace until she got that new form.
- Why did Jasnah, Ghostbloods and that order where Amaram belongs fight against each other? It looked to me that all three of them wanted to avoid the return of Voidbringers but somehow they were also against each other.
- Speaking about her, how did she survive?
- And why did that smart/dumb king ordered all these deaths?
- Has Sanderson read 'The Farseer Trilogy'? I found Wit (Hoid) very similar to The Fool in Farseer. Speaking about Hoid, he is really amazing. I cannot wait to know more about him (although that might be decades from now).
Nah, the first Mistborn book is the best in the series. I actually enjoyed quite a lot (despite its limitations) the original Mistborn trilogy (and Secret History which was released a few months ago and expands the story of the trilogy), but I found the Wax and Wayne books (bar the second one) quite weak.
Anyway, if the Final Empire doesn't do the trick, then maybe it is the best to stop there.
Agree on theat. 1st Mistborn is the best of the lot, though others are decent read. Nothing exceptional. Wax and Wayne is a more diluted series. (Don't know why, but I always imagine Clint Eastwood as Waxillium) It does neither the depth nor emotional content of the original Mistborn book.
Just been on a Brandon Sanderson kick. Read the 3 Mistborn books (thought the first was the best), 2 Wax and Wayne books (slow and a little silly) and the 2 Stormlight Archive books (very good, but will probably be dead by time he's finished all ten, especially if he's going to put novellas in between books as he's talked about).
Other good series I've read recently are two by Brent Weekes; Night Angel Series, and Lightbringer Series. Also really like the Demon Cycle by Peter Brett. Older series that really got my attention include "A Man of his Word", "A Handful of Men" and "the Reluctant Swordsman" all by Dave Duncan (although book 4, after a 20+ yr wait, in the latter series was crap), "the Belgariad" by David Eddings, "Bio of a Space Tyrant" by Piers Anthony and of course my all time favourite ongoing series "the Dresden Files" by Jim Butcher (his "Codex Alera" is also really good too). Just re-read the first 3 Fitz books by Robin Hobb which I enjoyed but did appreciate them more first time round back in mid 90s. Went on to finish the rest of the Fitz books (so far) and even though I was a little disappointed on my re-read of the Farseer trilogy I still think it is the best of her books. I also read a lot of Heinlein when I was a youngster and re-read Starman Jones a couple of years ago (my favorite of his from when I was a kid) and was really surprised that (for me) it really stood the test of time. I read an awful lot of books.
Other good series I've read recently are two by Brent Weekes; Night Angel Series, and Lightbringer Series. Also really like the Demon Cycle by Peter Brett. Older series that really got my attention include "A Man of his Word", "A Handful of Men" and "the Reluctant Swordsman" all by Dave Duncan (although book 4, after a 20+ yr wait, in the latter series was crap), "the Belgariad" by David Eddings, "Bio of a Space Tyrant" by Piers Anthony and of course my all time favourite ongoing series "the Dresden Files" by Jim Butcher (his "Codex Alera" is also really good too). Just re-read the first 3 Fitz books by Robin Hobb which I enjoyed but did appreciate them more first time round back in mid 90s. Went on to finish the rest of the Fitz books (so far) and even though I was a little disappointed on my re-read of the Farseer trilogy I still think it is the best of her books. I also read a lot of Heinlein when I was a youngster and re-read Starman Jones a couple of years ago (my favorite of his from when I was a kid) and was really surprised that (for me) it really stood the test of time. I read an awful lot of books.
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Welcome on this thread.
Give a read to Mistborn: Secret History. Most of people don't know that it even exists. It is a very interesting - though weird - book, which takes place during the events of the original trilogy (although it has a massive spoiler for the third Wax and Wayne book).
I think that Rain Wild Chronicles is the next series I am going to read. I don't care much about the Dragons and Elderlings, but people say that it is important for the third Fitz trilogy.
Just started "Best Served Cold" by Joe Abercrombie, one of his stand alone books. Have also got "The Heroes" another singleton. If I like those two will move on to the First Law trilogy.
Yeah. Been considering these two for a long time. Maybe after I finish the Powder Mage and Long Price Quartet.
I think the standalone ones might have some spoilers for the trilogy. They are all brilliant books, but you're better off starting with the trilogy.
I appreciate the heads up, but I've got a wait on the first 3 books from the library and I've already picked up the two stand alones. The same thing happened to me with the Brandon Sanderson books I've just finished in that I read two of the Wax and Wayne series before the Mistborn trilogy. There were some small spoilers in those but the bigger problem was that I didn't really like the Wax and Wayne books. Fortunately, I persevered since I thought the Mistborn series was quite good and the two Stormlight Archive books even better.
Best Served Cold and The Heroes are better than The First Law trilogy. Although I find it weird why are you reading them before The First Law.
Abercrombie is my favorite author. He's amazing.
Yeah that's a bit of a logistical nightmare. Thinking about it they will spoil a fairly huge twist right at the end of the trilogy, especially Best Served Cold, it talks about it a lot.
Finished the Broken Empire. Didn't like the other Prince of Thorns too much but the other two were quite good and Emperor of Thorns in particular was excellent. Was a bit skeptical of the structure of the books with all the flashbacks but overall I think they worked out quite well and made the books a bit more compact if anything. The ending had me slightly confused about the motivations of the Dead King though but the scenes were quite powerful.
Just found out that he's a written a sequel trilogy set in the same world albeit with different characters. That goes on my to-read list. Hope that elaborates on the Builders and the ghosts and their roles. I found that quite fascinating in the trilogy.
Just found out that he's a written a sequel trilogy set in the same world albeit with different characters. That goes on my to-read list. Hope that elaborates on the Builders and the ghosts and their roles. I found that quite fascinating in the trilogy.
Started Name of the Wind and found it a real chore up until now. kvothe has just reached the University and it's starting to hold my attention, does it get better from here on out?
I think that the other trilogy takes place at the same time as the Broken Empire. So not exactly a sequel.
I think so. I liked the beginning, but yep, when he reaches the university it becomes more interesting.
I always found any book written by David Gemmell a good fantasy read.
That's good to know thanks. I suppose it's not exactly bad and I can see its a necessity for world building, it just seemed to drag to me.
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It is. Though it's more for newcomers/YA. I read almost all and have fond memories,esp Druss!
Just finished reading Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. It's a bit YA but more mature than something like Percy Jackson series imo. Very few characters overall so it's easy to keep track of who's who. Liked the subtle humour here compared to American Gods and Sandman series where the universe is pretty expansive and the characters didn't have much scope for fun. Obviously not half as funny as Good Omens but that was mostly Pratchett.
Recommended for anyone not looking for complex fantasy stories with huge character development. A light breezy read in all.
Recommended for anyone not looking for complex fantasy stories with huge character development. A light breezy read in all.