Blaze (he/him)[Weekly thread] So, what are you reading? Do you need a recommendation? 26th of July
Basically what it says in the title
strixI’m reading The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. Liking it so far. Assassins mixed with some as of yet not very clear magic.
🦄🦄🦄Currently reading the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson for the first time and after that I will have another go at his Stormlight Archive series, since I gave up on book 2 the last time. Or I will just have another comfort read of LotR :D
voodoocodeYou could also continue with Mistbron second era.
I am just in the last quarter or so of “Mistborn secret history” which takes place sometime in between the eras.
Isn’t the second era more modern, with computers and stuff? I’m kinda more into the medieval fantasy setting personally :)
brcl I would describe the second era as more steampunk. I don’t recall any computers…but it has been a while since I’ve read it.
If you are reading Mistborn with the intention of continuing on to Sanderson’s other Cosmere works afterwards, I would highly suggest reading Mistborn: Secret History after you finish The Hero of Ages. I like to say it’s like a “Nick Fury showing up in the post-credits scene of Iron Man” moment, where you really first get a glimpse of how the various different stories and series are connected.
Wait. I don’t have any meta knowledge about Sanderson’s work, are you saying the Mistborn series and the Stormlight Archives have a connection to each other? How exciting!
Yes, they do! They both take place in the same universe, called the “Cosmere”, on different planets. There are several other works of Sanderson’s that are also in this universe, though not everything he’s written. You can read most stuff as standing on its own perfectly fine, but the further you get into the books, the more connections start to appear.
Sanderson has a page on his website explaining some more for newcomers: www.brandonsanderson.com/what-is-the-cosmere/
That’s awesome, thanks for the heads up!
Super small suggestion, but check out elantris and warbreaker also by brandy sandy before you drip into stormlight archive or secret history. They’re not required by any means to enjoy any of the stories here, but they definitely clue you in to a few more Easter eggs than you’d notice otherwise. Iirc, both of those books are available through his website or by emailing his team at no charge. Could be old info but both the books are entirely worth their price anyways imo
This is a great suggestion. Elantris can take a second to get into but it’s great.
So my take in this is that yes, some parts of Secret History make more sense if you’ve read Elantris and Warbreaker, but; Elantris and Warbreaker are relatively hard sells for the more casual reader, kind of hard to get into, in my experience.
I’ve found that giving new readers Secret History first, pulling back the Cosmere curtain just a little, gives them a reason to want to read Elantris and Warbreaker.
As someone who started with elantris and then proceeded to warbreaker, id have to disagree. Elantris captured my interest with its relatively simple, defined magic system. Its a blast discovering it right along with the characters, who drive the story. The warbeaker comes along and shows me how esoteric and subjective the magic system can be, which sets me up perfectly to wonder at the powers we get drip fed in the stormlight archive. While SH is great to get into right after finishing Era 1 of mistborn, I feel like it pulls back the curtain a little too much a little too quickly to properly allow for the reader to grasp most of the context of what happens.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to claim my way is the only or even the best way! A thousand debates have been had over the “correct” Cosmere reading order, and I personally think there is basically no “wrong” order.
I’ve just found that the people I know who started with Mistborn, often struggled to get into Elantris and/or Warbreaker. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that they are not as breezy a read as Mistborn. And that telling them “it’s a shared universe! You just gotta read these two other 600-page books before that starts mattering” is kind of a hard sell.
Both sides obviously have their merrit. I can see how mistborn would appeal to a wider fantasy audience, but I came at the cosmere looking to explore magical systems. Elantris and Warbreaker scratch that itch very well, though they can definitely be overwhelming for someone new to fantasy in general. It’s hard enough to sell anyone on long format books these days without having soft prerequisites on top of it all.
Just started A Court of Frost and Starlight. I really enjoyed the previous 3 books and I have to admit… They’re as addicting as terrible. I have no idea how Sarah J Maas manages to pull it off but she somehow does. The main character is absolutely one dimensional, the word ma*e is repeated more times than I’m comfortable with and I’m not even in it for the spicy scenes. Yet I keep coming for more.
Just started listening to Respawn by Arthur Stone because my SO wanted me to try it. Haven’t made up my mind about it yet.
Need to remember to read Frankenstein, which a friend lent to me. It’s a good book but I keep forgetting to actually read, since I mostly do audiobooks.
Really looking forward to Dungeon Crawler Carl book 6 which will come out in September I think.
If someone can recommend me a book where magic is used and studied/understood like science that would be great. I really enjoyed most of Lightbringer, Codex Alera and a lot of Brandon Sanderson’s books and I’d like to read more of this type.
learnbyexamplemagic is used and studied/understood like science
I haven’t read Dungeon Crawler Carl yet, but that should fit your criteria right? Many of the progression fantasy books usually have a magic system with tangible tiers and usually rules are known too.
Cradle by Will Wight and Mage Errant by John Bierce are both complete series and I’d put their magic system as hard. Mage Errant dives deeper into the workings, especially as the main characters are students and one of their teachers is especially knowledgeable. Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe is another series with such academy focus and a progression magic system.
I just finished The Crippled God, the last book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. Awesome and recommended series!
Up next is the newly released Brandon Sanderson book Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.
serfraserCongrats on making it to the end! It’s a hell of a series. Are you relieved or regretting it’s finished?
Thanks mate!
A little bit of both, to be honest. I read the Gardens of the Moon first in 2014, so it’s been a long journey with lots of breaks. I’m going to be reading some less heavy stuff now, and then read the auxiliary works, I think.
The worst is that I can see how much more I could gain from a reread of the whole series, but that just feels way to daunting to even contemplate right now.
dresdenI have only read first half of Dresden Files (urban fantasy series by Jim Butcher), so now getting the remaining books, and reading the series from the start.
Currently Reading book 2, Fool Moon.
Oh boy you are in for a ride. I envy you a little
I’m reading Shadow and Claw, First Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. I am a prolific reader, often reading 2-4 books a week. This one I have been reading for a week now and I’m only half way through. I have to stop often and look up the meanings of words often because the verbiage is rich and dense, and not in common circulation anymore. I am not loving it, nor hating it, just enjoying it. It’s just so unlike anything I’ve read before and I highly recommend it.
Rythm of war, part 2 (it is splitted in 2 part in french). A huge book of 1200 pages. Probably the best piece of fantasy I read so far !
I frickin love Stormlight! Have you read any other Cosmere stuff?
Me too !
So far I read : Mistborn era 1 and almost done with era 2, war breaker. I didnt knew about the cosmere link between books, then I will have to re read a loooot a stuff :D
I’m reading The Hidden City (House War book 1) by Michelle West. I’ve just finished the Sacred Hunt duology by her. I’m loving it so far. It really goes into depth about the things just grazed over in Hunters Death, making it all the more powerful.
Rereading Codex Alera. I blew through the first book in a day, and thought I had the whole series because I had 5 books from the series on my bookshelf. Somehow, I have two copies of book 4 and don’t have book 2. No bookstore near me had a copy, and the library had one at a different branch that would have taken a week to transfer, so I just ordered one on Amazon on Sunday. Should be here today, and I’ll be off to the races.
Finished The Magicians of Caprona (Chrestomanci, #4) by Diana Wynne Jones earlier today. It had the usual whimsical charm but the characters and plot took a while to get used to.
Haven’t decided yet what I’ll read next, but thinking of starting the “Harper Hall” trilogy. I read Dragonriders of Pern a few years back, don’t remember much. Will be interesting to see if I’d enjoy Harper Hall, which IIRC was said to be more on the cozy side.
boydsterPresently working through 2 books:
- The Silmarillion
- Le Morte D’Arthur volume II
The Silm is a reread, and I’m in the Flight of the Noldor section early on so stuff is about to get real in Alqualonde. Arthur, though, is a first for me, and it’s been a fun ride so far. It’s really easy to imagine it as a Monty Python sketch in a lot of parts, just with how over-the-top it leans into the pomp and chivalry of being a Knight of the Round Table.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I am. Great prose, sweet characters, and the plot is unfolding at a nice leisurely pace.
Getting to what seems to be the main climax of Malazan book 3 (Memories of Ice). This has been my favorite of the three by far.
I’m reading through Cherryh’s Alliance/Union series from the beginning again; I’m currently finishing up Hellburner.
Her prose style is utterly unique, and I love it so much. It’s so condensed and packed with flavour, it makes everything else feel watery and limp by comparison.
I’m not sure I could describe it, honestly - anyone want to take a go?
xNekoyakiLynn Flewelling books! Just finished re-reading the Tamír triad, just started Luck In the Shadows.