That was one damn fine hot chocolate. Makes me all warm and fuzzy. 💚

I should definitely fix this by reading the third book of the second chronicles of Thomas Covenant. That'll fix your mood for the worst at any given moment! 📚

@turumore That series all sort of runs together for me. I was going through a dark time when I read it, one book after the other, just laying around and reading. It wasn't at all uplifting, if I recall correctly, but that seemed to fit with my general mood, so it was perfect for the time.
@Euphoria The chronicles have an odd charm to them. Think things are going to get better? Well, they're not. It's a harsh world there. The language is very challenging for me, especially so as a non-native reader. The chronicles were never translated into Finnish - They tried with the first book, but decided it was too difficult! I decided to pick it up as a personal quest, and that it has been. It's different.

@turumore Oh yes, I imagine it would be quite a challenge for someone from another culture. It's a challenge for a lot of native English speakers, too, I'm sure.

A very haunting series. Even now, 17 years after reading it, I sometimes find myself thinking about something and realizing it was from that story.

@Euphoria Indeed. The comment I received was that I should be glad I get to experience reading the chronicles for the first time. It's truly a unique thing. Thanks to @caffeinatedgeoff for introducing it to me in the first place!
@Euphoria @turumore Too true, I often wish I could read the first chronicles again for the first time.
There are uplifting moments, "Mhoram's victory" being a personal favourite, although few and far between it's true.
It's the bleakness that for me is part of, for want of a better word, its charm.
@caffeinatedgeoff @turumore I just may have to revisit this series again one day. It's very well written and evocative.
@turumore @Euphoria If you enjoy Donaldson's writing it's also worth checking out his Gap series - SF rather than fantasy, but a similar style and feeling to the Covenant books.
Thanks @caffeinatedgeoff. I may do that. I've been trying to take a break from dark material--easier intended than accomplished, as nearly every novel for adults, it seems, contains violence, sadness and despair. I suspect that the Gap series is no exception to this.
@turumore
@turumore @Euphoria Yep, the Gap series definitely has its share of those that's true.
Certainly not an upbeat set of books.

Thanks for that update, @caffeinatedgeoff. Perhaps one day I'll once again be better able to process violence and sadness and will be ready to read the series.

@turumore