646 replies to this topic

[DuffMan]

Duffman you finish Rhythm of War yet?

 

I realize we could do this through PM since we're the only two who seem interested, but maybe we can convince someone else to pick up the series.  It's the best!  And Sanderson will finish it, unlike some other fantasy series perhaps being discussed elsewhere.

Yes I crushed that one back in December.  I was going to ask if you've checked it out yet but I figured with the new house and kiddos you might need some time.

 

Having said that it's awesome.   Right now my rankings are as follow

 

Words of Radiance

Rhythm of War

Way of Kings

Oathbringer

 

WoK is pretty close to RoW  but right now Rhythm is second.  

 

Non spoilery thoughts about RoW.  It's great,  some dark themes in this book as well as some incredible payoff.  I think my favorite character in this book is Adolin and I'm a huge fan of Kal

 

I chipped in 50  bucks for a Sanderson Kickstarter last Summer that got me some swag, as part of it I got "Dawnshard" this novella he wrote that's set between books 3 and 4.  Not to crucial to what happens in book 4 but it features Lopen prominently.

 

 

I recently read the Original Mistborn Trilogy also written by Sanderson.  It's part of the Cosmere which means it's in the same universe as Stormlight.   It's definitely not as good as SA but the story is still interesting had me reading to find out what happened next.

[Mackus]

I finished it and then, having nothing else in my queue, immediately started a re-read which I'm just about done with.  I always seem to like these books even better on re-reads when I can pick up on a lot of the little things or already have knowledge about the details and events that he frequently is foreshadowing.  Some small detail will make no sense or have no context the first time through, and then on a second read you know that the other person who's only sort of described is actually this important ancillary character.  Helps the world building.

 

I think that it seemed like there was less plot driving in this novel than the previous ones.  Basically two main storylines that both moved from A to B.  A lot of character focused stuff and much more of viewing the same events from multiple points of view in this novel than the earlier ones.  

 

I've got no idea how I would rank these 4 novels, but I love the series as a whole.  

[BobPhelan]

Is that the Stormlight series? My cousin told me I have to check it out.

[Mackus]

Yes

[Nigel Tufnel]

I liked this article in The Defector about how the author planned to use the pandemic to catch up on great literature, but she ended up reading all 24 Jack Reacher books instead.

 

I am not, generally speaking, a person who looks on the bright side of things. I view cheerfulness in the face of calamity with a lot of suspicion, if not outright contempt, and have done since childhood—I remember watching Pollyanna with my Nana and telling her that I wouldn’t like to be friends with a girl like that. Nevertheless, around this time last year, as it became clear I would have to spend some significant time staying in my apartment, I told myself there could be an upside: I could finally get around to reading all the books I had been putting off for one reason or another. Some neglected American classics, the Victorian doorstoppers I skipped over in school in favor of different Victorian doorstoppers, the less famous Russians. 

 

I have not read any of those. What I have read is 24 books about an enormous drifter with comically large hands who is good at dispatching bad people. 

 

My Year With Jack Reacher | Defector

[Russ]

I love the Jack Reacher books. The whole premise is lunacy.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I love the Jack Reacher books. The whole premise is lunacy.

 

Yep, I agree - the books are great, you just can't think about them too closely.

[Dupin]

I'm going through The Wise Man's fear currently, and it's undeniable Patrick Rothfuss is incredibly talented.  He has managed to make a story that's frankly fairly mundane so far incredibly compelling, and subverted a lot of expectations well.  I really hope he finishes the 3rd book.

[Mackus]

I've read the first two and will read the third if it ever comes out, but I don't think I like them very much.  I think if I could shift my thinking into "unreliable narrator" mode I'd enjoy them more, but I'm never able to do that.  

 

I've only read each of them once, and often times I enjoy fantasy novels more on a second read, so maybe will give them another try sometime.

[Mackus]

I recently just read my first Robert Heinlein novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and I thought it was amazing.  I would love to have experienced it when it came out, must've been mind blowing 50 years ago.

[BobPhelan]

Just finished The Way if Kings. So good!

Has this series been picked up by anyone yet? Would make an excellent season of television. (I’m scared to google anything)

Excited to continue reading the series.

[BobPhelan]

Btw any good reviews or deep dives into each book that don’t spoil future ones?

[DuffMan]

https://stormlightar...ht_Archive_Wiki

 

https://coppermind.n...rmlight_Archive

 

These are a couple of different wikis that have a bunch of good info and it you can search by book/character.  Just becareful when searching by character

 

As far as a TV show goes, nothing imminent but Sanderson did sell the rights to an entertainment firm about 5 years ago so I'm sure that it's at least in development.  A successful Wheel of Time and Amazon rings  show will go a long way to getting these books on tv at some point.

 

I love this series a ton (Mackus too) looking forward to hearing about your progress.  Book 2 is still my clear cut favorite of the four so you are in for a treat.

[Mackus]

Not much to add beyond what Duffman said.  Also thought Books 2 & 3 got even better and deeper than the 1st book.  4 was a small step back.

 

I found myself referring back and re-reading the prologue of Book 1 often when they started hinting at what the hell it meant in later books.  Keep it bookmarked!

[BobPhelan]

Yeah I figured that would be important down the line. I have my theories. Same with the quotes to start every chapter.

[DuffMan]

Not much to add beyond what Duffman said.  Also thought Books 2 & 3 got even better and deeper than the 1st book.  4 was a small step back.

 

I found myself referring back and re-reading the prologue of Book 1 often when they started hinting at what the hell it meant in later books.  Keep it bookmarked!

Surprised to hear you say that about 4.  While two is my favorite overall I think 4 had my favorite moment/scene of the series.

[Mackus]

Surprised to hear you say that about 4.  While two is my favorite overall I think 4 had my favorite moment/scene of the series.

 

I think mainly I didn't care or get as interested in the flashbacks as much as the previous books.

[DuffMan]

I think mainly I didn't care or get as interested in the flashbacks as much as the previous books.

I can see that, sometimes the flashbacks can be frustrating but I appreciate the backstory that they provide. 

 

I didn't mention it previously but later Spring I wound up reading the First Mistborn trilogy.    Set in the same universe as SA so some of the magic had a similar feel but it was it's own story.   Not as good as SA but a fun read with plenty of surprises along the way.

[BobPhelan]

I can see that, sometimes the flashbacks can be frustrating but I appreciate the backstory that they provide.

I didn't mention it previously but later Spring I wound up reading the First Mistborn trilogy. Set in the same universe as SA so some of the magic had a similar feel but it was it's own story. Not as good as SA but a fun read with plenty of surprises along the way.

Interesting, maybe that will be my next read once I’m caught up.

[BobPhelan]

Finished Words of Radiance today. Wow. Definitely understand the urge to re-read the prologue the more you learn.