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Didn't realize the last Covenant book was out. That is also one of my favorite series of all time. I might be due for a reread...Funny, that Keyes series was the last one I read. I also liked it - thought they were fun books.
Urban fantasy. Set in modern day Chicago (mostly, at the beginning of the series). Told in first person, from the perspective of a wizard/PI living in our world. All kinds of stuff exists without most people noticing--vampires/werewolves/fairies/demons/gods/etc. But the series starts small scale with the first two books being about dark magic and werewolves, respectively. Each book is a single case file, but there's a DEEP background mythology and over-arcing plot so they should be read in order. There are currently 13 or so books out, with a total of 20-ish being the plan, capped off by a separate apocalyptic-type trilogy. So as you can probably guess, throughout the books the stakes continue to be raised higher and higher and the world/characters in the books expands more and more.Glanced at these in the library today. So many different books, had no idea where to start. What kind of fantasy is it? (Capsule) is it standard sword and sorcery?Did you ever get caught up on all these? Great series, one of my favorite. New book should be coming out in a couple months.I have no doubt it's gonna get done. I just hate waiting.The author is only in his 30's and committed to finishing. He's released about one book a year from the Dresden Files, even when he was writing other series as well. It's also an insanely popular and successful series, for the genre, so he's got financial incentive as well.Ya, but I just figured that was backstory. Rookie play by me. But it really doesn't seem to mess up the other books. At least not yet. Still good reads and I just put in an order for the whole set. However, I am concerned that the writing isn't done. I've gotten burned plenty and try to make it a practice to only read from series that are done.Ouch. Well, you've got some catching up to do, but you'll have a different perspective on things now. Seems like after a few pages you'd know you had jumped into the middle of something really complex though, right?I just figured out that I read the most recent book (Cold Days) first. Bummer.
Thanks I'll check it out, but now I'm wondering if I may have read one of the books, sounds a little familiar. Curious now though so I'll start on some, not a whole lot left in the fantasy section at the local library that I haven't read.Urban fantasy. Set in modern day Chicago (mostly, at the beginning of the series). Told in first person, from the perspective of a wizard/PI living in our world. All kinds of stuff exists without most people noticing--vampires/werewolves/fairies/demons/gods/etc. But the series starts small scale with the first two books being about dark magic and werewolves, respectively. Each book is a single case file, but there's a DEEP background mythology and over-arcing plot so they should be read in order. There are currently 13 or so books out, with a total of 20-ish being the plan, capped off by a separate apocalyptic-type trilogy. So as you can probably guess, throughout the books the stakes continue to be raised higher and higher and the world/characters in the books expands more and more.Glanced at these in the library today. So many different books, had no idea where to start. What kind of fantasy is it? (Capsule) is it standard sword and sorcery?Did you ever get caught up on all these? Great series, one of my favorite. New book should be coming out in a couple months.I have no doubt it's gonna get done. I just hate waiting.The author is only in his 30's and committed to finishing. He's released about one book a year from the Dresden Files, even when he was writing other series as well. It's also an insanely popular and successful series, for the genre, so he's got financial incentive as well.Ya, but I just figured that was backstory. Rookie play by me. But it really doesn't seem to mess up the other books. At least not yet. Still good reads and I just put in an order for the whole set. However, I am concerned that the writing isn't done. I've gotten burned plenty and try to make it a practice to only read from series that are done.Ouch. Well, you've got some catching up to do, but you'll have a different perspective on things now. Seems like after a few pages you'd know you had jumped into the middle of something really complex though, right?I just figured out that I read the most recent book (Cold Days) first. Bummer.
If it doesn't suck you in immediately, give it a book or two for the writer to find his groove and set up the deeper story--it's an awesome series, and I am one who generally does not enjoy urban fantasy--it's mostly a trashy genre. This is the exception. Highly recommended.
The first book is called Storm Front, next Fool Moon I believe. Hopefully you'll enjoy it!
Ok, I just picked up the first book in the Thomas Covenant series. Will report back.
Here is what I like about Donaldson...he is not afraid to screw with his characters. I know Martin is famous for writing off main characters, but Donaldson puts them through the wringer. If you like Lord Foul's Bane, and are interested in science fiction at all, try his Gap Cycle books. It's merciless, but a great story as well.
I didn't initially realize this was the volume that follows The Way of Kings (which I really liked). Been so long since I read The Way of Kings I may have to reread it. Looking forward to checking this one out.
This was apparently self published and then picked up by Penguin. Thought that was interesting. Skimmed a few reviews quickly, pretty good reviews.
I feel the same way. I enjoyed the book but Sanderson seems to have a problem of whether or not he wants to write for adults or young adults. I mentioned in "What are you Reading Now" thread that he portrayal of romantic relationships in all books are pretty poor.
I agree with you. It takes away any suspense for me. You know nothing truely bad is going to happen to the good guys and everything ties up in a neat little package at the end. It's almost cartoonish.
I can't comment on this since I may be the same person. All of these recommendations are great. Read the oldest authors first and then move up. To put it in perspective? G.R.R.Martin was more than 10 years ago. Go Rothfuss, I like anything he writes, Abercrombie? Great work for his four books. Hobb's is a steadfast through her farseer trilogy.
Agreed - he can be grim reading. Thomas Covenant was the first modern anti-hero in fantasy (think: Walter White as played by Nic Cage). That turned fantasy writing on its head when the Covenant books first came out after decades of writers aping Tolkien.Apes with Guns said:
I've read several people who love this series, so read the first two.
Yeah I've read a few of these and I agree with your take. Nothing I'll be going back to. As an aside, I think there are other authors writing volumes in this universe?
To each their own obviously, all art is subjective, but I don't agree with most of this and don't see how you could arrive at this conclusion. If you can't see the conflicts that define Covenant's character I'm not sure what to say. The conflicts that define Covenant are the meat of the entire series and certainly more than just "adding exclamation points". Those conflicts drive each and every plot point.
I've read the 1st 6 books twice, so I obviously don't dislike them. But I DO think Donaldson lacks in his writing of characters compared to other authors. I see the conflicts; just think they're pretty obvious and lacking in depth. I "get" what Donaldson is doing with Thomas, I really do. Someone like Jaime Lannister is miles better-written, IMO. But it's not just Covenant - all of his characters are tropes and ring just one note.
Fair enough, I'm not a fanboy even though it is my favorite series, I have my own criticisms as well (just don't agree with that one). I think his prose is stilted and repetitive at times, in the final trilogy I found myself getting annoyed with his frequent usage of "implies", for example, "your despair implies desolation" (I'm making this example up). He uses that basic sentence structure over and over and by the end of the final volume it got annoying. That's just an example of one structure, there are others that begin to turn into cliches.
The bolded is overstated. I read that over and over, but it's really not true. How many POVs from the first (or any, really, aside from the one-off pre-and-post chapters) book aren't still in the game? Two, right? And a 3rd in the most recent book, though that character was - at best - a toss off.
Yeah you're probably right about that being an exaggeration, it's been a while since I've read those (I only vaguely remember half the characters). I guess I was just pissed he killed off Robb Stark, kind of turned me off from the series even though I continued reading it. At least Jon Snow hasn't been killed of (yet).
I am not a fan - which is why I listed 40-50K pages worth of other material to read before reading Erikson. Some people like the massive scope of the series. Unfortunately, I don't like the characters/characterization so I don't think much of the series. However, with the number of people claiming it is one of the best series ever I didn't think I should leave it off the list.
Funny thing is that now with self publishing there are (despite a lot of dreck out there) some incredible new authors coming along:
I really enjoyed The Belgariad. Hated the stuff he wrote after-just struck me as very corny and cheesy (can't remember what it was, just stayed away from anything he wrote after being so disappointed). Did you like his stuff after the Belgariad? Am I missing something?
i loved all of the books, but i was a teenager when i read it. i don't think i would like it nearly as much now, but if i had unblemished eyes, i think i would enjoy them very much, especially because of the relationships that form through the different series. it always felt...cozy to me.
Yes, Eddings doesn't really hold up well if you first read it after reading a lot of the other greats. RA Salvatore is great - if you are just reading fantasy for the first time in junior high or high school - but as you read more stuff you realize it is schlock.
Funny you mentioned RA Salvatore. Completely agree. Another author I personally put in that garbage category (others may disagree) is Dennis McKiernan. My local library has every freaking book-like 20 it seems- but yet I can never find a volume I want from a good series. I picked up a book of his once and read about about 50 pages before casting it aside-total ripoff, cliche ridden, derivative (yeah I know most fantasy is "derivative"), junk. I'm probably being unfair, and definitely close minded, but once I take a dislike to a particular author I just can't make myself read anything else by him/her.
My view on Eddings was that he wrote the same story 4 times in 4 different series, and did it best the first time - but for a teen first getting into the genre, it's tough to improve upon the Belgariad.
Ooohhh McLellan is another good recommendation, I just read his first book and the two short stories he set in that powder mage world. I have his next book on order which should be out soon. Wool is also on my radar, I heard it was pretty good too.
Dewey is first there for a reason - he is really talented. Superb book. If you like space opera Corey is out of sight good. And if you like something out of the ordinary I highly recommend Wight - very imaginative and his works are getting much more mature in a very short period of time.
I'm glad to hear this. After really liking the books when I was younger, I recently started a reread. I stalled out less than halfway through "Lord Foul's Bane" wondering "What did I like about these books?" The prose is weird and full of pointlessly arcane words, the dialog almost never rings true - "HELLFIRE!", and the characters motivation's are borderline incomprehensible. But maybe I'll give it one more chance.
Yeah, I think I remember a book of his starting with the defense of a tiered city and some halflings wandering around some unforgiving terrain. Definitely the McDowell's of fantasy. "Look, me and the Tolkien people got this little misunderstanding...."
these are fantasy books? the description reads like a thriller.Sand said:
Kind of like the The Sixth Sense or Ender's Game, if I say too much it ruins it. All I'll say is I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
Plenty of authors who I have read that I will no longer touch any of their stuff:
Just read Fool Moon (I guess it's the 2nd book, Storm Front wasn't there). Light read but enjoyed it. Zipped right through it. Still seems kind of familiar to me, maybe I once read a later volume or something, pretty sure I haven't seen it on TV. Going to keep reading the rest of the series on and off in between other things I want to get to. Thanks for the recommendation.
The first two books in the series aren't that great. Butcher wrote Storm Front as a class project and Fool Moon isn't much better. The 3rd book (Grave Peril) and all subsequent novels are great *IF* you like the genre. Some people just don't like urban fantasy.
I second these opinions/facts. The first two books are very simplistic in formula. The world/story/consequences get much bigger in subsequent books and the writing improves greatly. To the point where if you read later books out of order, you'll be pretty confused.
