re: Help me decide what to read next

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Without getting into detail, the thing that pisses me off about Rothfuss is his inability to tell a tight story. Perhaps he's using that to indicate how Kvothe embellishes or gets stuck on a topic that he particularly likes, but Jesus frick chapter after chapter is devoted to side stories that have very little point.

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The only reason I continue to read Rothfuss' is because of his brilliant (and I mean that, brilliant) prose and incredible imagination.

His story, when you actually look at what it is and what's taken place over the span of two books is ridiculous. Don't even get me started on the (SPOILERS)







Random orgy magic sex god part in the second book

Recently finished Red Rising trilogy, Kingkiller Chronicles, Blood Song, and I'm currently reading the Harry Dresden stuff.

I'd rank them as far as series go:
1) Kingkiller - Rothfuss is a primadonna and he may never finish the series.
2) Red Rising
3) Blood Song - I almost quit reading the third book...

From that perspective, read Red Rising because there's a start and a finish.

Also, Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series is very good, and it's a 5 or 6 book series that is FINISHED. I really enjoyed it.

Another quick and easy one is the Shattered Sea Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Not a large a world as First Law series, but good nonetheless.

If you like high fantasy, you need to read the Dragonlance Chronicles by Weiss and Hickman. They are required reading in my household.

Like everyone else said, all of Cornwell's novels are good, I preferred the Grail Quest series the best.

You should also read everything that Sanderson has ever written. And the Locke Lamora series.

If you're into apocalyptic vampire stuff, Justin Cronin's The Passage series is excellent.

Brent Weeks Lightbringer series is great, but not complete, and the Night Angel Series is good and very dark. As is Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thornes (my least favorite, along with the Blood Song series).

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The only reason I continue to read Rothfuss' is because of his brilliant (and I mean that, brilliant) prose and incredible imagination.

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Same here. Because there are some real problems with his writing but they are easy to overlook. Kvothe is a classic case of Aspergers or more accurately someone wrtiting from that perspective; and it's not a surprise that Rothfuss started in Chemical Engineering.

Spoiler time:

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Random orgy magic sex god part in the second book

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Yeah, he's losing it at this point. And the whole Denna story line is just completely pissing me off by the end of book two. But it's much more accurate for someone like Rothfuss than the sex goddess bit. It looks to me like the positive reviews of the first book went to Rothfuss's head and he's entirely lost his way in the narrative.

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I think you're being nice on book 2 and incredibly kind on book 3. Book 2 was eh, and book 3 was a mess for most of it.

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Eh. I just disagree. I thought Tower Lord was great and bordered on fantastic. It opened the world up and explored the mythology which I thought was unique and well imagined. Far more so than Rothfuss and more interesting than the well trod Red Rising series (which isn't too disparage Red Rising, it's a wonderful series). Plus, the characters became either more intriguing or were introduced as intriguing.

Book 3 is just one of those finales that should've been 2 books to appropriately wrap up a series. Too much was introduced at the end. The exact same thing will be said if Rothfuss finishes Kingkiller in only one more book.

That's why Red Rising is so worth the read.

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Like everyone else said, all of Cornwell's novels are good, I preferred the Grail Quest series the best.

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This looks interesting, thinking of checking it out!

My biggest critique with any fantasy series is how few are finished (or finished in a reasonable number of books). Maybe it's my ADHD, but I get so frustrated with how few series are completed or how many span 11-12 books. I know some of these guys have endless imaginations, but come on folks. I also hate when they break them up into 3-4 series that never really end and just continue endlessly spinning off into the next with no resolution.

I think that's why I am so positive with my reviews towards Red Rising. It's just such a complete, well-thought-out and executed series. Maybe it doesn't have the ceiling and absolute peak that some others do, but it's executed about as well as any series I've read in a while.

Some of these other guys may be trying to put together the steak and lobster dinner but it's a little overcooked or it's delayed, but the Red Rising trilogy is like a perfectly cooked pot-roast or rib dinner. It might not have the technical proficiency of some other dish, but if it's cooked perfectly frick you if you don't love it.

The Hike by Drew Magary

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Eh. I just disagree. I thought Tower Lord was great and bordered on fantastic. It opened the world up and explored the mythology which I thought was unique and well imagined. Far more so than Rothfuss and more interesting than the well trod Red Rising series (which isn't too disparage Red Rising, it's a wonderful series). Plus, the characters became either more intriguing or were introduced as intriguing.

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Fair enough. I didn't love the way he took the overall concept of the magic system. I did REALLY love the addition of Denna (think that's her name, been a while since I read it). I thought she was an awesome character, but I thought some of the other new ones were just eh. They were well-done, but I thought it go too far from Vaelin and his compadres at times which I knew it had to do as they grew older but it still went too far at times for me.

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Book 3 is just one of those finales that should've been 2 books to appropriately wrap up a series. Too much was introduced at the end. The exact same thing will be said if Rothfuss finishes Kingkiller in only one more book.

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Yea I have no clue how Rothfuss will end his series. Part of me wants him to split it into two so he can do it well, but then another part of me wants to be able to read the ending before I die .

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That's why Red Rising is so worth the read.

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Completely agree. As mentioned, maybe not as high of a ceiling but perfectly executed and completed.

All multi book series:

Brandon Sanderson - Stormlight Archive
Brent Weeks - Lightbringer Series
Scott Lynch - Gentlemen Bastards
Brian McClellan - Powder Mage Trilogy
Brian Stavely - Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne
Daniel Abraham - Dagger and the Coin
Daniel Polansky - Low Town
Angus Watson - Iron Age
David Dalglish - Shadowdance
Douglas Hulick - Tale of the Kin
Mark Lawrence - Broken Empire & Red Queen's War
Michael J Sullivan - Riyria Chronicles
Peter V Brett - Warded Man
Phil Tucker - Chronicles of the Black Gate
R Scott Bakker - Prince of Nothing
Richard K Morgan - A Land Fit For Heroes
Rob J Hayes - The Ties That Bind

I just started Ready Player One. Heard great things. Good so far.

Very enjoyable...if you like non-fiction.