Books Fantasy Reads
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They should all have their hands removed. It's worse than "little and less" and "much and more" in ASOIAF.you forgot the endless arranging of skirts
After a 15 month break I now intent to continue and just went to the bookstore and bought book 11, Knife of dreams. it'll be quite hard to get into it again, I've already forgotten so much.
This should help: https://library.tarvalon.net/index.php?title=Book_Summaries
After a 15 month break I now intent to continue and just went to the bookstore and bought book 11, Knife of dreams. it'll be quite hard to get into it again, I've already forgotten so much.
Be careful of spoilers regarding other books and characters.
Its widely acknowledged that the pace generally picks up from this book onward so you should be able to breeze through the remainder of the series.
Cosca is hilarious. One of the funniest characters ever made.
He's brilliant in Best Served Cold too, and quite good in Before they are hanged. His dialogues with Friendly, Monza and Merveer are absolutely fascinating.
That book is alright, but nothing special. The following one (The Gathering Storm) is second only to Fires of Heaven IMO.
Yeah not saying its the best book, just that things start moving towards Tarman Gaidon in this book.
Also has one of my favourite scenes of the series.
Just finished Black Company, thoroughly enjoyed it, had to laugh at the magic carpets though. Is the rest of the series worth reading?
Would you all recommend The First Law? I loved ASOIAF, Mistborn, Kingkiller, Stormlight Archive etc and this seems like the next choice in fantasy without dropping into the really heavy stuff like WoT and Malazan, both of which I'm not amazingly keen on starting.
Yeah you should like First Law.
Well you can read my opinion on it on the past page or two, but I'd still suggest you try it since it is rated so highly and is the same genre as all the other stuff you like.
I'm over halfway through The Steel Remains. Kinda liking it although I'm not sure why the need with borderline erotica when it comes to the sex scenes.
Books of North and South are pretty neat and writing style/tempo similar to the first book. Drops a bit in Glittering Stone series...but ends with a smashing book in Soldiers Live.
If you liked the first book, I'd recommend you continue.
Yes, Books of the North are the best ones, but Books of the South and the final two books of the Glitterling Stone are very good too.
Everyone should read the First Law. It is the closest thing I have read to ASOIAF, so very different to Mistborn/Stormlight and Kingkiller.
Books of the North are the best and at the end of book 3 you can choose whether to invest your time further or move on. There's a sense of closure at the end of Books of the North but a lot happens after that too. Books of the South are good as well, the first two of Books of Glittering Stone are a bit meh but your experience may vary if you consider Murgen's point of view jumps across times and places. Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live are absolutely amazing though!
PS
There's a spin-off with Case's point of view which is possibly considered book 3.5 but you can skip it completely as it does not affect the overall arc.
Heh, I stayed away from this thread for several months as I was stuck at Dreams of Steel for a long while. Lady's pov didn't work for me initially as much as Croaker's did. But once Murgen came at Bleak Seasons my entire life turned bleak* too. Resumed the series after a while but those two final books really made it all worthwhile.
Murgen's pov is not that bad if you know that he sees events from future. I was first afraid he's an unreliable narrator and is fooling the readers with a lot of lies but he's not a bad egg after all. His pov also suffers from the fact that Siege of Dejagore isn't that interesting initially compared with the all-action adventures of previous books.
* - Thanks, Vangle; at least I was able to finish a huge number of Wodehouse books in last 3 years.
Murgen was the worst POV IMO. Croaker obviously the best, followed by Lady and Sleepy.
@Revan @MichaelKorleone @Edgar Allan Pillow
Cheers for the advice, I'll definitely give the next two a whirl.
Cheers for the advice, I'll definitely give the next two a whirl.
Yeah, it was Gorst that really made the book for me (even though Calder was my "favourite" character). The way Abercrombie revealed the cognitive dissonance in how the character sees the world was emblematic for the brilliance in the way Abercrombie subtly juxtaposes the character's inner life with "what really happened". The fact that we, as a reader, also often don't get "factual" recollections of what happened, or what a person is actually like, makes it all the more interesting.
Castor was also a great character, with which Abercrombie almost went so far as parodying this aspect of his writing with how obvious the discrepancies between the character's worldview and "the truth" were made. I also thought some of his best humorous writings came through Castor Morveer
Finished The Prince of Nothing trilogy, and while I liked it, I didn't find it nowhere as good as asoiaf forum suggests. I also found the books getting worse.
I loved the setting. Despite that it is basically a copy of real world (The main Empire being Byzantine Empire, Maithanet being the Pope, Tusks being Christians with their Prophet apparently having had a similar life to Jesus, the others being Arabs and so on) with added magic, it felt a very good setting.
The main problems IMO were the philosophical ramblings (like in Dune books, they get worse with each book) and Kellhus. The problem of Kellhus is that the author tells but doesn't show. You hear everyone masturbating in his/her love for Kellhus, but you barely ever see a strong argument from Kellhus. What you see is some pointless metaphysical rambling that would (probably not) make the God Emperor of Dune proud. In addition I didn't find the Dynaun mysterious, just that the author didn't give any info on that.
On the other side, I think that I liked the 'transformation' (if it is the right word) of Kellhy Sue. Despite that it was obvious from the very beginning that he's more some type of Antichrist/Dajjal rather than Jesus/Prophet, it is interesting how at the beginning he looked nice and was making people love him, but by the end he was massacring tens of thousands and was becoming more evil and evil (in reality, he was the same from the beginning, but just his behavior changing).
I didn't have problems with the rape happening there (more than in any other books?), neither with women being second class citizens. The society is very similar to Europe a millennia ago, and those things were present there too.
I am going to read the following books.
I loved the setting. Despite that it is basically a copy of real world (The main Empire being Byzantine Empire, Maithanet being the Pope, Tusks being Christians with their Prophet apparently having had a similar life to Jesus, the others being Arabs and so on) with added magic, it felt a very good setting.
The main problems IMO were the philosophical ramblings (like in Dune books, they get worse with each book) and Kellhus. The problem of Kellhus is that the author tells but doesn't show. You hear everyone masturbating in his/her love for Kellhus, but you barely ever see a strong argument from Kellhus. What you see is some pointless metaphysical rambling that would (probably not) make the God Emperor of Dune proud. In addition I didn't find the Dynaun mysterious, just that the author didn't give any info on that.
On the other side, I think that I liked the 'transformation' (if it is the right word) of Kellhy Sue. Despite that it was obvious from the very beginning that he's more some type of Antichrist/Dajjal rather than Jesus/Prophet, it is interesting how at the beginning he looked nice and was making people love him, but by the end he was massacring tens of thousands and was becoming more evil and evil (in reality, he was the same from the beginning, but just his behavior changing).
I didn't have problems with the rape happening there (more than in any other books?), neither with women being second class citizens. The society is very similar to Europe a millennia ago, and those things were present there too.
I am going to read the following books.
Pretty much everything you said is pretty spot on.
I think the philosophical side divides people. I enjoy it.
As for Kellhus... I think the character is probably one of the best "super intelligence" I've read, but as any character where an author is forced to write beyond themselves you don't see what the characters see. Kellhus has a big cheat tool in the form of face reading which basically gives him carte blanche in regards to how insightful he can be. The way he dominates others through manipulation and insight is really well done though I think. The face reading bit in the council where they are deciding who will lead the war (Conphas or Cnauir) is one of my favourites.
Keep going with the Aspect Emperor. I enjoyed them just as much. Kellhus becomes very enigmatic as we lose his POV for a long while. The series turns its focus to the other main characters (and some new ones). I think the series has done a good job of keeping the quality high whilst building towards an epic conclusion.
I'm having a readers block for past couple of months. Not really getting into any new books and spend time browsing over books I've already read.
The problem is that I consider a well written character if you see what he is doing, not only hear about what he is doing (show, not tell). Look at Varys in ASOIAF and Bayaz in The First Law, you see them manipulating the events; you see why Locke in Gentleman Bastards is such a great thief; you see how Mat in WoT is a great general; Kvothe a prodigy alchemist in Kingskiller; Vaelin a great warrior in Raven's Shadow; Vin, Kelsier and Kaladin being great warriors/mages in Cosmere and so on.
That doesn't happen with Kellhus. You just see him speaking some absurd things and all people getting zombiefied in the love for him. To his credit, you see him being a great warrior, but why everyone loves him isn't clear. I mean the author tells us why, but imagine yourself being one of his followers. You wouldn't love him, instead you would say that he's a grade A cnut.
I like the idea of the character being that intelligent and manipulative. I believe the explanation why he is so (2 millennia of training and breeding program, actually quite similar to Paul Muad'dib in Dune). However, his dialogues look more to that of Paul's son (absurd metaphysical rambling with no substance) rather than those of Paul (doing things). The best part of Kellhus IMO was when he was doing things rather than when everybody was loving him for no reason.
So finished Shadows Linger and I enjoyed it more than The Black Company (although Raven's situation is blindingly obvious), now on to White Rose.
One of my friends has written a few fantasy books that are available on Kindle. Darkness Rising, its pretty good!
Just finished Chronicles of the unhewn throne.
One of the better books I have read lately.
I feel like I have to take a break from fantasy as there is not much left to read.
Any recommendations are very welcome.
I have finished that top 100 list a couple of pages back.
One of the better books I have read lately.
I feel like I have to take a break from fantasy as there is not much left to read.
Any recommendations are very welcome.
I have finished that top 100 list a couple of pages back.
I finally started Malazan Book of the Fallen two days ago. This is going to be a long term effort as I only find the time to read some 20-30 pages on average per day, if I find the time to read at all. Currently 60 pages in and enjoying the style. I'm dreading the overwhelming nature of what's to come though. The only other lenghty book series I've read is A Song of Ice and Fire but in terms of page count it pales in comparison to this. I'm wondering whether to just plough through until everything makes sense or if I should keep some notes while reading. Keeping notes breaks the flow though, so I probably won't bother. Anyway, I'm excited to read on and find out if it lives up to all the high praise.
Has anyone read the abhorsen series? It's a set of books about magic and necromancers.
A new one is out in October
A new one is out in October
Started Acacia. Quite enjoying it.
Peter Jackson has announced his next adaption will be Mortal Engines, anyone recommend it as a good read?
Has anyone read The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin? I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading the second book.
If anyone is looking for a break from normal fantasy, I'd sincerely recommend Johannes Cabal books. It's a mix of black humour and occult with a bit if Satan and Vampires thrown in.
I'm still very undecided on writing style (just for classification purposes) but really a very good break between other fantasies.
The 5th book is out and I've just started it. I'd recommend that you start the first 'Necromancer' which is a good standalone and take it from there.
I'm still very undecided on writing style (just for classification purposes) but really a very good break between other fantasies.
The 5th book is out and I've just started it. I'd recommend that you start the first 'Necromancer' which is a good standalone and take it from there.
Planning on reading Isaac Asimov's Foundation and Robot series. Anyone read it? Any suggestions as to which order I should read them. As I understand, the publication order is not the chronological order.
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Robots then Empire (it is shit) and then Foundation. Robots were the best IMO.
The exact chronology is:
1) I, Robots - a collection of stories
2-5) Elijal Bailly and R. Danieel novels
6-8) The Empire trilogy
9-10) Foundation prequels
11-13) Foundation trilogy
14-16) Foundation sequels (haven't read them).
I would recommend to read all 5 Robots books, then to go directly to Foundation prequels (which I enjoyed more than the main trilogy) and then Foundation trilogy.
Be warned though, the books are terribly aged, and I don't think that they are anywhere as good as people say. They are also a bit juvenile.
Thanks. It was basically this or Discworld. Still may go with Discworld but the reading order for that is confusing as hell
I also found this on scifi stackexchange:
I am not sure about reading the prequels before the main books as I am worried about stuff getting spoiled since the prequels were written in the late 80s.
Finished the Acacia trilogy these days. The first book was quite good, but the sequels were a bit poor, barely tolerable. Save yourself time, and don't read it.
The I read a couple of Star Wars new EU books. Bloodline was focused on Princess Leia a couple of decades after the events of the old movies, and how Leia left the New Republic to create the Resistance. Ahsoka novel (as the name implies) was focused on everyone's favorite Padawan, around a year after the events of RotS, and how she started directing the intelligence for the Rebel Alliance.
Neither was that great, but both were decent readings.
The I read a couple of Star Wars new EU books. Bloodline was focused on Princess Leia a couple of decades after the events of the old movies, and how Leia left the New Republic to create the Resistance. Ahsoka novel (as the name implies) was focused on everyone's favorite Padawan, around a year after the events of RotS, and how she started directing the intelligence for the Rebel Alliance.
Neither was that great, but both were decent readings.
I remember seeing that graph before I read the books, and I think it absolutely makes no sense.Thanks. It was basically this or Discworld. Still may go with Discworld but the reading order for that is confusing as hell
I also found this on scifi stackexchange:
I am not sure about reading the prequels before the main books as I am worried about stuff getting spoiled since the prequels were written in the late 80s.
Read the two published books in The Fitz and the Fool trilogy. I must say that this trilogy looks to m a bit weaker than the other two Fitz trilogies.
Now started reading the Acts of Caine, and it is very different to anything I have read so far.
Now started reading the Acts of Caine, and it is very different to anything I have read so far.
I took a huge break from Wheel of Time books and read Interview with the Vampire. It was ok, more about depression and isolation than a horror novel really. There wasn't really that much horror in it actually. It's kinda creepy at times, when they are feeding they are right creepy bastards. Either I don't understand love(which is entirely possible) or it takes a bizarre view of love towards the end. Either way it's all a bit camp and not really a horror novel at all.
I'll read Sharp Ends now and then either Sword of Destiny by Sapkowski or back to Wheel of Time.
I'll read Sharp Ends now and then either Sword of Destiny by Sapkowski or back to Wheel of Time.