The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread Book • Page 82

fair enough. you'll be very pleased with Kingdoms of Death.

 

Finish The Pariah this morning and really enjoyed it.

 

I don’t mean it’s bad in this. More a personal preference! Yeah, I’ll be moving straight to that, I think

 

Does this series take place in the same world as his other trilogy that has Blood Song as it's first book...?

 

Honestly I have no clue. It doesn't appear to reference anything in a "wink wink nudge nudge" way. Felt like it's own place.

 

I started Elantris and enjoying it so far. Only read the first Mistborn trilogy and I saw a recommended order to read the rest of the Cosmere novels that started here

I do feel like I'm missing out with all the discussion of the newer ones coming out

 

I gotta admit, the MCU-ification that Sanderson has applied to the Cosmere really makes me not want to dive in. I think eventually I'll read SA when first arc is done, but we will see.

 

I feel the same re: Sanderson, but I enjoyed Warbreaker and the first Mistborn book is solid. I'll definitely finish the first Mistborn trilogy, but I'm not sold on him as being this amazing author just yet. So far it feels like he just knows how to write out a plot quickly and clearly.

 

even if you just stay with Mistborn and Stormlight, it doesn't feel overwhelming at all. That's where I'm at and honestly I could read more of his other stuff lol

 

The first six Mistborn require zero knowledge of the Cosmere if you want to stay more in the non-MCU side of it

 

Fears of the Cosmere are overblown. It's entirely optional, and just deeper lore for the people who want it. If you just want to read a series or a stand alone, you'll be fine. Just not like Secret History.

 

Not a fear, more an annoyance because it's all people talk about when recommending Sanderson. TBF I did Way of Kings like 3 years ago on audio and it put me in a deep reading slump, so it's possible Sanderson just isn't for me or Kramer is just that boring of a narrator that I didn't get anything out of it.

 

Currently on Brothers of the Wind from Tad Williams. Osten Ard is so underrated. It's really shocking how little people talk about this series.

 

and my apologies, I wasn't trying to hate on Sanderson or discourage anyone from reading him. I've just gotten really burnt out on super connected worlds in media after Endgame, and he seems to be at the forefront of current authors doing it.

Sure it's optional, but if it's the optimal way to get the most out of a story if you know about random character B from Book X showing up, that makes it a hard sell for me.

 

You're good, say what you feel in here. That's a common issue that comes up when people are thinking about starting Sanderson so I just wanted to use that moment to stress again that anyone should at least feel confident trying out a Sanderson without worrying about some incomprehensible end goal. There are reasons to dislike Sanderson, he's not perfect, and it sounds like not digging Way of Kings would be a pretty solid reason to not be psyched to go back lol.

And yes Osten Ard fucking rules. I only learned about it because of this thread. It's definitely underrepresented on like internet lists and shit.

 

I think next time I attempt Sanderson, I'm going to avoid audio, and will probably do the first SA arc when it's completed. I get Kramer is a legend in the fantasy audiobook scene, but he just doesn't do it for me, and Reading is probably worse. Hope that doing eyeballs only will make it a more enjoyable experience, because everything points to me enjoying the series. Am curious to do first Mistborn arc as well at some point.

 

The first Mistborn trilogy is really extraordinary, the second arc is really good too, but the first is something special. I'd definitely think about giving it a shot, maybe even before you go back to Stormlight, it could be what unlocks Sanderson for you, lol.

 

Mistborn clicked for me?

When Vin blew up at the crew and called them out for being noblemen without titles and not understanding what it's like to be on the streets as a skaa? What a character arc from Vin.

 

Stormlight will easily eclipse it if he sticks the landing, but that first Mistborn trilogy is easily his best work.

 

It really turned me off of him. I didn’t finish the most recent SA and I barely made it through the final Mistborn because of that MCU-ification.

 

Read “We have Always Been Here” and found it to be a decently creepy if flawed sci-fi story.

in the mood for fantasy so I’m giving “Theft of Swords” a go.

 

Malice is so good

 

At Dragoncon and there's a certain author here at the panel im at that will make some of ya'll happy.

 

He looks like he has some good panels! He’s coming to Birmingham but I’ll be in Greece unfortunately. He’s a great guy! Hopefully you get a chance to chat with him and can say The Wulvers Library is recruiting across the pond!

 

Finished Shadow of the Gods. I'm not super into Viking stuff, and there's some things here and there that bothered me, but overall I enjoyed it and definitely was into the ending. Will be picking up the sequel!