this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2023
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What's everyone reading? I'm on book 10 of the Wheel of Time, and Creatures of Light and Darkness by Alan Dean Foster

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[–] 14specks@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I suggest that you edit the post title to just be "what's everyone reading?"

Its like on TikTok when someone starts off with "I did not expect that to blow up"

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Nope, and I'll tell you why.

Prior to my post, the last post was 4 months ago, with I think one comment. The post before that was FOUR YEARS ago. The title and body stays.

That said, I get where you're coming from.

[–] psysok@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I read wheel of time book 10 recently. I read the first 10 books or so when they originally came out, but kind of gave up on the series at that point. During Covid I decided to make my way through the series and actually read to the end this time.

So far its kind of both better and worse than I remembered. Some of those middle books were less dull than I remembered, but also in the intervening 20 years I have read a lot more, including a lot more fantasy, and Wheel of time comes off a bit pulpy now. I don't think if these books were to release today that they would get nearly the same attention they did in the 90s.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I agree, I also started when they were just released, and they're definitely a looooot more pulpy than I remember. For me this is a bonus! Love me some pulp. Also I found books 5 and 6 or 4 and 5, can't quite recall, to be a major slog. Had to almost force myself to keep reading, which is not great.

Sadly, I think the reason they wouldn't do very well if released today is not that they're a bit pulpy, but that they're not drivel, been noticing the trend in the last decade that the most popular books are verrry poorly written.

[–] Theroddd@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Wheel of time is massive. It's great a and deep and soe parts do drag but at least it's finished! (small barb aimed at KKC)

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, at least it's finished. I'm quite enjoying it so far. Any recommendations for when I'm done?

[–] worldcitizen101@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

Robin Hobb - start with the Farseer Trilogy and then enjoy the ride.

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[–] hybridhavoc@darkfriend.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@SturgiesYrFase
@psysok Whaaaaat I don't think I've ever heard anyone call any of the books 4-6 a slog. Especially not after making it to 10.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They're all kind of a blur at this point if I'm honest. I've been mostly reading them one after the other, it could be books 7/8? All I remember is it was a few books ago, and I was feeling really burnt out on them, had a really hard time getting through two of them. They felt really slow.

[–] psysok@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They do blend together. I am sure if I sat there and plotted out the big events I could tell you what was in each book specifically, but I can't off the top of my head.

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[–] exuberantlime@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm close to finishing Assassin's Apprentice. Robin Hobb is great at writing characters and their interactions. It feels like Fitz has an organic community all around him.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Robin Hobb....😘👌 chef's kiss, S tier author.

I've probably reread the Assassin and Farseer series 6 or 7 times. You're in for a good run of reading!

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[–] DanielDonenfeld@lemmy.one 6 points 1 year ago

I just finished Waybound by Will Wight and enjoyed the series finale! I've also been working my way through the Malazan book of the Fallen, I'm on book 4 House of Chains

[–] ticktok@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm finishing up Waybound, the final book in the cultivation series Cradle.

I've never liked cultivation novels before, but this series is addictive.

[–] worldcitizen101@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 year ago

I'm rereading before starting the final book. So good!

[–] YetAnotherYeti@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just started the fifth Cosmere novel, Shadows of Self. Or, the second Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I wasn't sure how much I'd like the second era, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Second Mistborn series is imo better than first, probably because he learned a lot about writing in the meantime (and he actually listened to the readers after first), though it have very different feeling, instead of grimdark struggle story you get something closer to steampunk victorian detective.

By that author i can also recommend his debut novel "Elantris", still my favourite of his books, or Warbreaker, something pretty original and with surprising turn of action and Rithmatist, scholomance genre but actually good.

[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lately i had read "American Gods" by Gaiman, despite not really liking this author. Surprisingly it came off quite ok. First half of the book was tedious slog but when they stopped travelling around the american nowheres and meeting lumpenized mythological characters it started to be quite interesting. Though that book should be named "Unamerican Gods" for at least two reasons.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I loved American God's, the point of the book, on that front, was that America has no history, and what Gods were there, were wiped out.

Check out some of Gaiman's other books, he's one of my favourite authors.

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[–] Foon@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago

I've just finished my... 6th? read of the Stormlight Archive. They're my comfort books that I tend to grab when I've finished a book and don't yet know what to read next. I'm definitely open to some new suggestions, especially unknown books by indie authors that I otherwise wouldn't come across.

[–] amarnasmoths 5 points 1 year ago

I'm reading Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan, and I'm enjoying it a lot! I also enjoyed his other books, the Riyria Revelations!

[–] oppai420@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just started Wheel of Time 4. I just can't stop reading.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

May the Schwartz be with you!

[–] WasdMouse@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Currently reading The Journey to the West, by Wu Cheng'en and translated by Anthony C. Yu. I'm at very beginning and it's pretty challenging but that might be because English is not my native language. I'm liking it though.

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[–] RecafDecaf@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

Currently reading A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie. Been a while since I read the other books in the same universe, but I guess my memory ain't that bad yet that I can't pick up the pieces. Enjoying this.

[–] hybridhavoc@darkfriend.social 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@SturgiesYrFase
Always appreciate fans of #TheWheelOfTime. First time reading?

Currently reading Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, second book of the Locked Tomb. Love the vibe of these books.

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[–] Celediel 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

On my Kindle, I just finished re-reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut for the first time in probably 15 years. Helluva book, and reading it as a teenager certainly changed the heading of my moral compass. Still deciding what to read next.

I've also been re-reading my paper copy of This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. It warms my gay little heart.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Popular opinion: Vonnegut is a based author.

I've not read How you lose the time war, but have had it recommended repeatedly.

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[–] TheBurlapBear@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

(Audiobooks) I've recently finished book 2 of the Mistborn series - The Well of Ascension. Otherwise i'm trying to get myself through book 2 of the Temeraire series - Throne of Jade. I'm torn, it may be that the narrator is killing it for me, or there's just not enough action for a dragon based story.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Mistborn is such a good series!

I mostly prefer to read over audiobooks as my head narrator is often a lot better than audiobooks narrators.

[–] MisterMonday@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I'm currently halfway through The Last Echo of the Lord of Bells by John Bierce, as well as procrastinating starting Waybound by Will Wight. Progression Fantasy is my thing right now.

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[–] laconicsoftware@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm a little embarrassed but I've been reading Ruination by Anthony Reynolds. Its a league of legends book and I have a love/hate relationship with league. I'm almost halfway through and I've been enjoying it so far.

Before that I had finished Book of the Night. I thought it was shmeh but it was good enough to finish!

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I'm a little embarrassed but I've been reading Ruination by Anthony Reynolds.

🤫 your secret is safe with me!

Agreed on Book of the Night, just good enough to get through.

[–] strangerloop@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I started reading The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu a while ago, but I find it hard to stay focused on it. The world building is pretty interesting, but the writing feels kind of clunky to me... And the plot doesn't get going fast enough to make up for it. I feel a bit sad, because I had very high hopes for this book.

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[–] serfraser@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence, my first time trying his books after holding back for a long time, and so far so good. I'm doing it for the bingo challenge from that other place which has really motivated me to get through a lot of stuff I've been holding off on for years.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not heard of it, how you finding it?

[–] serfraser@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not far into it yet but good prose, and plenty of hints at some interesting worldbuilding to explore. Hope for the best.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Cool! Since making this post, my "To Read" list has nearly quadrupled, but.....ON THE LIST IT GOES!

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[–] derek 3 points 1 year ago
[–] anonionfinelyminced@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I was on book 3 of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams. It was a re-read so not too consistent, just kind of existing with the characters, you know? But Life with a capital L showed up a few months ago so I've mainly been dabbling in fediverse social media when I have free time. Which is why I'm even on here!

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[–] mavka@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm currently reading The Deed of Paksennarion by Elizabeth Moon.

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[–] worldcitizen101@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've just started The Obsidian Tower - it's a new series in an established world and I like Melissa Caruso's writing style. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50147675-the-obsidian-tower

If you're just jumping in, I'd start with the first trilogy for better context. The first book is The Tethered Mage: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34219880-the-tethered-mage

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[–] TheBurlapBear@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Question - Did the TV series 'Wheel of Time' do the book(s) justice?

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In my personal opinion? No, but I'm pretty particular about following the set story line in the case of tv/movie adaptations. I did my best to give it a fair go, but only made it about 3 episodes in before I got frustrated and stopped watching it.

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[–] AllegedHoister@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Currently working on my Cradle series reread for the final book's release. I'm uhh only on book 7 right now so I sorta missed my target date lol. I love how much the series grows from book to book, once book 5 hits hoo boy it's off to the races. Can't wait to finally get caught up to the new book but another part of me is dreading finishing the series and having no more Cradle to look forward to lol

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[–] bonegakrejg@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just finished Empire of the Vampire, which I enjoyed a lot.

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