Starting the last book in the Licanius trilogy. First two books were quite good and I can safely recommend them.
Books Fantasy Reads
- Thread starter Alock1
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I've got a backlog now have the latest Abercrombie trilogy to read and The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher just arrived.
Just started Hyperion. The first story (the priests) had me aching to read ahead to see what happened. Amazing book so far.
It's great! Though didn't make me read the rest of the series.
Awesome series, you're in for a treat
halfway through the Scholars story. This is the first book in a while where I have absolutely no idea what then ending might be. Can’t believe it took me this long to read this book. I saw it on shelves and “best of” lists for years but never went for it.Awesome series, you're in for a treat
Hyperion (both the book and the entire saga) is awesome. Easily, the best sci-fi books there.
Currently midway through the final book in the Hyperion/Endymion series. Good stuff.
The Scholars tale is with the daughter yes? If so it's one of the only books I have ever read that genuinely made me cry, no idea why but hit me right in the feels.
Finished The Wisdom of Crowds. Brilliant read, think I enjoyed it more than his original trilogy, although some of the deaths were infuriating. Cant wait to see where he goes with this next.
This is correct.
that’s the one. Almost done with his story and it is heartbreaking. Especially when it is revealed his wife had been having the same dream and he was not alone. .
So far only the Colonel’s story has not been a 10/10 and it was still decently good. The last sex scene was straight horror movie though. Metal vagina teeth? fecking chills down my spine to other places in that scene.
Would add, among others as contenders;
Vernor Vinge- A Fire Upon The Deep
Ian M Banks- Use of Weapons
Gateway- Frederik Pohl
Dune- Herbert
Le Guin-The Dispossessed
Gene Wolfe-Book of the New Sun- So many failed tries before it clicked with me, and even then I feel I am only scratching the surface of its brilliance.
Alastair Reynolds- House of Suns
Orson Scott Card-Enders Game
List saved for later! I have read a few of them and now I have more! Really like Ender's game and would like to finish the series, but Card is a massive piece of shit so that is a no go.
Been there, was going to get a starter fantasy series for my nephew, was thinking about The Belgariad by David Eddings, only to read about the child abuse convictions in the 70's while searching on Amazon. Noped out.
Read the Belgariad ages ago and it was on my radar for a nostalgic reread. That's a hard pass now. I'll tell you this @Bobski , you are really helping me both expand and shave down my reading list.
I feel that both Dune and Enders Game become unreadable by third/fourth book. On the other hand, I felt that Hyperion Cantos had one of the best climax ever and really loved the fourth book.
They do drop off, but I think they work perfectly as standalone novels and can be read as such.
Endymion is a major drop after Hyperion for me, usually on re-reads just go with Hyperion.
I felt that the first Endymion book is not that good, but the second one is excellent, and for me, the second best book in the saga.
Aenea and Raul were great!
So I just finished Hyperion and a couple of thoughts:
Overall a 9/10
1. I absolutely adored how this book was paced. I especially liked how the history of the books universe is revealed in bits and parts. How you have to dig for those tidbits and put them together. Perfection.
2. Some of those stories (Priest, Scholar especially) were major gut punches. The writing was so good.
3. Other stores were not as emotional (Poet, Detective) but still very good.
4. The Colonel's story was great until it turned into horror porn. (still good though )
5. All that said, the ending was really, really disappointing. I know that this set up the next book, but it felt like the first 90% was a leisurely and beautiful scenic tour of the lives of the pilgrims only for the author to realize at the end they were running late and he floored the accelerator.
6. I had zero emotional connection with the Consul. I had zero connection with his grandfather and felt that his desire to destroy the farcaster was unearned.
7. The Consul's "reveal" at the end was sloppy and incredibly rushed. The brilliant pacing (see #1) of the rest of the book was wasted.
The first 90% was at 15/10 book. The last 10% was a 2/10.
2. Some of those stories (Priest, Scholar especially) were major gut punches. The writing was so good.
3. Other stores were not as emotional (Poet, Detective) but still very good.
4. The Colonel's story was great until it turned into horror porn. (still good though
)5. All that said, the ending was really, really disappointing. I know that this set up the next book, but it felt like the first 90% was a leisurely and beautiful scenic tour of the lives of the pilgrims only for the author to realize at the end they were running late and he floored the accelerator.
6. I had zero emotional connection with the Consul. I had zero connection with his grandfather and felt that his desire to destroy the farcaster was unearned.
7. The Consul's "reveal" at the end was sloppy and incredibly rushed. The brilliant pacing (see #1) of the rest of the book was wasted.
The first 90% was at 15/10 book. The last 10% was a 2/10.
Overall a 9/10
I've had Illium and Olumpus on my to-read list for a while now. Are the Hyperion books better?
Never heard of them but Hyperion is one of the best Sci-Fi book around
Agreed, a must read if you like sci-fi books.
But the sequels are nowhere near as good. I get the feeling that the author wrote the first book as a standalone novel, got successful, then tried to revisit the same universe but with less and less success.
I've read 3 or 4 of his other books beyond that series, he always seems to have interesting concepts, though his writing is sometimes not as good as the ideas themselves.
Hyperion series is much better yes.
Illium is fine, it didn't hurt that I read it not long after reading Iliad.
But I just couldn't really get into Olympos for some reason and it was slog for me to finish it
I finished the last book of The Rain Wild Chronicles. It was ok, not really good but not as bad as I expected. I thought it better than some new praised books like She who became the sun, the Atlas Six, The Priory of the Orange Tree or the Jasmine Throne:
Now, I can start soon Fitz and the Fool Series.
Now, I can start soon Fitz and the Fool Series.
Wait, what???? It was not really good but it was better than She who became the Sun and Priory of the Orange Tree?!?!?!?
What?!?!
Well I like it better though none are books I will advise.
I didn't like both of the book. She who became the Sun had an interesting start but once she left the monastery, there were long boring parts. I didn't care about the second important character.
Priory of the Orange Tree was too long, slow, not really interesting and there were too many happy coincidences, some plot holes, not enough depth for a so long book. I disliked by example when three times I think the MC has a problem with an enemy solved by the arrival of another enemy just at the perfect time for the MC (and not orchestrated by the MC)
I didn't like both of the book. She who became the Sun had an interesting start but once she left the monastery, there were long boring parts. I didn't care about the second important character.
Priory of the Orange Tree was too long, slow, not really interesting and there were too many happy coincidences, some plot holes, not enough depth for a so long book. I disliked by example when three times I think the MC has a problem with an enemy solved by the arrival of another enemy just at the perfect time for the MC (and not orchestrated by the MC)
Taste is subjective. It's just, i consider both of those books to be masterpieces so my brain struggles to compute
Just finished Red Sister, the first book in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence. First book I've read from him, as I have no interest in stuff like The Broken Empire after reading about how unlikeable the protagonist is. Fortunately this one wasn't anything like that, but I wasn't completely convinced either. It's pretty slow and plodding for the most part, with a sudden flurry of action in the final 5-10% - as is so often the case in fantasy. The main character is interesting enough but I found it really hard to care about most of the side characters. The second book is supposed to improve on both counts, so I'm giving the series the benefit of doubt for now. As it stands, let's say 3.5 out of 5 stars for book 1.
I liked the Book of Ancestors. Nona is pretty cool.
On that note, I'm currently reading Mark's Girl and the Moon the final book of the prequel trilogy to Book of Ancestors.
On that note, I'm currently reading Mark's Girl and the Moon the final book of the prequel trilogy to Book of Ancestors.
Jorg in Broken Empire trilogy is not unlikeable. He’s a cnut though. I would probably compare him to someone like Bron in Game of Thrones, where he has next to no morals, but has some loyalty/friendships.
I'm enjoying the second book a good deal more than the first I have to say, started reading yesterday and tore through the first 65% (I've stopped thinking in pages, kindle reader) on a single lazy Sunday. A lot more stuff is happening and side characters are starting to play a bigger role. If that's what I'm going to get for the remaining 1.35 book, I can live with the first just being setup.
Finished Book of Ancestors now. The third book was pretty disappointing, with a lot of far-fetched or way too convenient stuff happening. Had me rolling my eyes more than once. It felt very rushed as well. I'm satisfied with where it ended, which is already something, just not with how we got there. While the overall story wasn't great, the characters and especially the bonds between them were the highlight of this series, so I'll still look back on it with fondness.
Finally, i got the time to read The Age of Madness. A step - or perhaps two - below the original trilogy and the standalone novels, but, nevertheless, quite satisfying if you're into JA's take on the fantasy genre.
Even for a writer who has made a name for himself by straying from the fantasy norms, basically giving away the whole plot on the very first page of what is a 1500-page saga is a bold move. The fact that he keeps you invested in his story is a testament to his talent and his hard work. It also shows how much can be achieved if you work on your prose instead of just treating it as a mere means to get from point-A to point-B. In this sense, you could see many of the twists coming from miles ahead and predict the big revelations (some of them are even foreshadowed or plainly telegraphed), but it always felt to me like a story in which what will happen is far less important than how it will happen. And on that score, Mr. Grimdark has a few things to say about human nature.
Most of the characters are well-thought and well-written. There's one main character whose feelings and decisions toward the end seem to change whichever way the plot demands, one secondary character who doesn't quite seem like his old self at all and another who should be a trademark JA witty bastard but quickly devolves into a tedious plot device. But most of them are colourful and they keep you interested in them, whether they are good or bad. The main issue, when you compare them to the previous works, is that they possess very little charisma. They don't really stand out, and they don't have any truly remarkable traits either, other than the ones they carry from the get go. You may feel for them in the course of the story, but you won't remember them as fondly as Logen, Sand, Jezal, Monza, Shivers or Cosca.
The story flows rather well, imho. Many complained about the slow pace in ALH, but there are lots of new characters and they need room for development. If there's some dragging, it's in the first 2/3 of TWoC where several things happen to a lot of people with whom we should sympathize, but we can't really, since we didn't have the opportunity to get to know them. And all that to build up a character who is surprisingly flat and cartoonish and serves more as a social statement than a convincing villain. But the last part of TWoC is, without a doubt, a real page-turner.
Even for a writer who has made a name for himself by straying from the fantasy norms, basically giving away the whole plot on the very first page of what is a 1500-page saga is a bold move. The fact that he keeps you invested in his story is a testament to his talent and his hard work. It also shows how much can be achieved if you work on your prose instead of just treating it as a mere means to get from point-A to point-B. In this sense, you could see many of the twists coming from miles ahead and predict the big revelations (some of them are even foreshadowed or plainly telegraphed), but it always felt to me like a story in which what will happen is far less important than how it will happen. And on that score, Mr. Grimdark has a few things to say about human nature.
Most of the characters are well-thought and well-written. There's one main character whose feelings and decisions toward the end seem to change whichever way the plot demands, one secondary character who doesn't quite seem like his old self at all and another who should be a trademark JA witty bastard but quickly devolves into a tedious plot device. But most of them are colourful and they keep you interested in them, whether they are good or bad. The main issue, when you compare them to the previous works, is that they possess very little charisma. They don't really stand out, and they don't have any truly remarkable traits either, other than the ones they carry from the get go. You may feel for them in the course of the story, but you won't remember them as fondly as Logen, Sand, Jezal, Monza, Shivers or Cosca.
The story flows rather well, imho. Many complained about the slow pace in ALH, but there are lots of new characters and they need room for development. If there's some dragging, it's in the first 2/3 of TWoC where several things happen to a lot of people with whom we should sympathize, but we can't really, since we didn't have the opportunity to get to know them. And all that to build up a character who is surprisingly flat and cartoonish and serves more as a social statement than a convincing villain. But the last part of TWoC is, without a doubt, a real page-turner.
Orso's hanging was truly heartbreaking, a fine Abercrombie moment. A shred of dignity, even in defeat, that shone brighter than all the baubles of the hypocrites who attended it. It's good to see that Shivers found some peace (no matter how long it'll last). I guess it also feels just that Ardee got her revenge. And that Bayaz got a taste of his own medicine. But the lesson is that it's all a vicious circle, isn't it? So, with an open ending that hints to a continuation, all i have to say is: Hildi... give them hell, girl!
If anyone is interested in LitRPG, progression, Cultivation type books, here's a list I made.
https://fanfiaddict.com/benders-top-litrpg-gamelit-progression-cultivation-reads/
https://fanfiaddict.com/benders-top-litrpg-gamelit-progression-cultivation-reads/
Awesome, thank you! This will come in handy.
I just started listening to the critical role podcasts, so I am going to be busy for about the next 3 years, but this will help fill the gaps.
Very good and useful list. A couple of observations:
1. I have read some convincing advocacy that all the sub-genres you listed should be subsumed under the umbrella of Progression Fantasy, as all of them have as a basic premise characters learning to "progress" in power levels, whether or not in a game or system setting, and regardless of the purpose for which the power increase is intended.
2. Defiance of the Fall and He Who Fights with Monsters are Royal Road web serials, even though you say in the notes that you are not including web serials.
Well every fantasy book has progression of MC to some extent or other. The whole chose one trope is built around progression. This sub-genre does not include those. If you click on the link, it goes to a blog post about the person who coined that term for a specific sub-genre. The difference is that in Progression, the act of Progression is the main theme and the climax is only a end state.
Take Wheel of Time, the book is about Farmer Rand progressing to Dragon Rand and defeating the Dark One, but the main theme is the final battle. In Cradle, the books starts with Lindon wanting to save his valley, but then we never see that developing till book 10. Interim books solely focus on power progression. Lindon's goal in many of the books are just to reach the next power level, whereas Rand always moves towards the Dark One. The difference is quite distinct.
I've read only the eBook version of DotF and HWFWM. It's only later that I realized they were also in Royal Road. Similarly I only read Mother of Learning since it came out as eBook, but looks like author has withdrawn it for some reason. What I really meant was the list has no books that are purely web serials i.e. no eBooks.
Felt similar. I enjoyed them overall but they are in the next bunch of books going to the charity shop. Some series I will re-read but not many.
Finished the first book of the Lyonesse Trilogy by Jack Vance and now on the second. Quite engaging so far, after getting past the very dry history introduction with numerous unpronounceable place names. Would recommend it.