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They just keep writing more [Books]
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Buuut the parts I enjoyed most were seeing how the hard magic systems intertwined in interesting ways. All my fond memories are of those moments where it's like ohhhh THAT'S how they interact?!?!? Whoaaaaa
Meanwhile there were presumably characters and whatnot doing things along the way. I remember trudging through 90% of book 3 just like "ok we gotta get to the climax here, this feels like work, but I am so close"
And then hey yeah the end was pretty interesting! But again, from a "systems interacting" perspective not so much the "oh wow this character arc is fulfilled" kinda deal
Don't stop! I was excited to see someone else posting about him.
Sanderson first books are average at best, but they do show promise, and he improves strongly throughout the years. Even if, lets say, Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self are much less epic and convoluted story-wise, they do have more naturally written characters, and are more focused when it comes to their plots and themes.
I do not really CARE about magic systems in those books, but whatever, they are cool enough, so I am not bothered if too much space is focused on explaining them, unless it gets egregious, like in Rhythm of War, which I can, even as a fan, say that its the weakest book of Stormlight series so far, and his weakest book in years, at the moment he has finished writing it.
What I love those books, especially Stormlight ones, is that I like characters that he is writing about, and I enjoy reading about how they do develop and how do they interact with each other. On that front, he has yet to disappoint me.
I do not really REGRET reading any of his books, but it feels like people expect too much from him when giving him a chance - this is an author that often struggles, but his skills do evolve with every book, while many other authors show from the start the best parts of what they have, and then immediately start losing quality (like Anthony Ryan, James Islington or, lol, Patrick Rothfuss).
It had what I consider to be the most important of a book to me - character driven story and well developed characters, with relationships between them developing naturally.
It needs to be said though that it is rather grim and often sad and sometimes cruel story, but on the other hand, I did enjoy that the author has really shown the culture that feels alien to our modern moral and cultural sensibilities - characters there often do things that we consider to be fucked up when reading about them, but there isn't really much said in the text about how wrong they are for their actions, because it all is natural to them, due to the way they all were raised up. It is reader's role and responsibility to think about what we just read and decide if characters are still worth rooting for or totally irreedemable.
I have an irrational love of books with time skips.
PSN:Furlion
The author is very very good at building a society that feels real and complex and sometimes contradictory. Locals will complain about an aspect of the culture but take offense when an outsider says almost the same thing, because the "almost" is really important to the local and invisible to the outsider.
1) Hell is a World Without You by Jason Kirk - Host of the internet’s only college football podcast Shutdown Fullcast plus lesser known religion podcast Vacation Bible School wrote what sounds to be the definitive Southern Ex-vangelical at the turn of the millennium book. Come for the late 90s early aughts AIM chats, wrestling, and Christian Rock references, stay for a kid confronting his beliefs. Jason is hilarious on the fullcast so I imagine this will have some truly funny moments too.
2) The Area X Trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer - after hurricane beryl while we had no power we went to the library to charge phones and I read half of annihilation while we were there since I liked the movie and it was short. Was really enjoying it, so I bought the trilogy hardcover to finish it up when I get around to it.
3) The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe - bought this so I can feel like I’ll eventually be able to listen to Shelved By Genre. Its lowest on my list but it sounds like something I’d like.
So one of my nieces finally added something other than "money" to her gift list (collector's editions of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Lightlark.)
Which her parents immediately snapped up.
):< wtf
You live with her. We're 8 hours away, I need this list for any context of what she's enjoying!!!
But whatever, not dealing in their shit. I get to be weird aunt.
So as devil's advocate, both as counter programming to ACoTaR and because I love the books, we're getting her a pretty copy of Pride and Prejudice, and considering A Wizard of Earthsea.
I was trying to find where I'd written my response to ACoTaR (maybe a draft that got nuked), because that book is problematic along with being --to me-- an annoying misdeployment of Tamlin. The latter is a personal bugbear, but the former exhibits subtle and blatant nastiness in a book that's squarely YA-diction, smutty Beauty and the Beast.
If I were truly committed to the bit, I'd get her 24 Seconds from Now... A Love Story since that looks really sweet and clear-eyed, but not gonna put that on her opening it at Christmas without being there myself.
Really wishing there were upscale prints for This is How You Lose the Time War or A Psalm for the Wild-built, but maybe someday...
Anyway!
Do y'all have <$40 USD picks for fancy editions of all-ages fiction?
I think that Legends and Lattes has a new fancy edition; I think it’s about $20 US.
The Scholomance by Naomi Novik has sex scenes in the second and third books, so it might not be appropriate for all ages. They’re not particularly explicit, but they’re definitely present. With that said, it’s the best story about kids going to a magical school out there IMO, with a strong undercurrent of the importance of recognizing and pushing back against systemic injustices. Novik’s Temeraire series isn’t quite as good IMO, but still worth reading. It’s a “girl and horse” story, except that the girl is actually a male British naval captain, and the horse is actually massive dragon.
Oddly enough, I think that the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir is probably suitable for all ages. Assuming that industrial scale necromancy isn’t a deal breaker.
i have no idea how those Court books got popular. i read the first one like a decade ago and basically forced myself to finish the 2nd half. it was terrible. Now the Incryptid series by Seanon Mcguire at least has talking mice.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198004484595
Also, he’s not my cup of tea, but I think that almost anything by Terry Pratchett is almost certainly a good gift.
If she's reading ACoTaR, the sex-scenes-in-books ship has long sailed, just for the record.
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For what it's worth (I have not read them, and I think this advice generally mean 'don't bother' for me), I think the generally accepted approach is "slog throught the first one to get the gist and then the rest get much better." And yes, my face did get all squicky just typing that, but anyway. I think the real reason is "sexy bad boys you love to hate and love" and also fantasy sex? I did enjoy Throne of Glass, though so *big shrug* no idea.
wish list
Steam wishlist
Etsy wishlist
I get that. But the ask was for all-ages fiction, so
I trust in her taste and recommendations, so I'll give the second one a shot, mostly to then discuss with her; I'm not inherently opposed to smut, or so rigid as to be unable to enjoy a fun story through bad prose.
But that first book just has too many knocks against it -- red flags, poor plotting & character work, repetitive & shallow prose, and lazy allusions in my wheelhouse. I hate-read the Twilight trilogy, which somehow looks less harmful and better written in comparison! (Credit where it's due, I did think the blank pages signifying Bella's depression / time passing was a good bit.) The setting was probably the most interesting aspect, so getting more of the world might be worth another book with Feyre, we shall see.
Anyway, I appreciate the recommendations, everyone!
I had looked at the official fancy Wee Free Men hardbacks, but with shipping and all, that's a bit over budget with the other book(s).
Good to have a running list!
I would start by pointing out that El has the power to murder Orion at any time.