Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Golden Dragon on December 23, 2010, 04:17:55 AM
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Hi all,
I am almost done reading ToM, so I'll need something new to read! Please recommend a good fantasy series for me to read while I await more Way of Kings, Wheel of Time, and Mistborn!
Thanks :)
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Have you read Jim Butcher's stuff? Both The Dresden Files (urban fantasy) and Codex Alera (traditional fantasy) are good stuff.
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Hmmm... hard to think of anything that's quite like Brandon...
Easier to just think of generally good books I've enjoyed lately. Anything by Terry Pratchett is good stuff, though your mileage may vary depending on your enjoyment of witty prose and fantasy satire. Brandon & Howard have been pimping the Tiffany Aching books especially of late (and deservedly so, because they are frickin' awesome), but I usually tell people to start with Small Gods or Guards! Guards!.
I've been listening to Westerfeld's Leviathan on audiobook and enjoying the hell out of it. Reading John Scalzi's Agent to the Stars, just finished David Wong's John Dies at the End and I expect next I'll move on to China Meiville's The City and The City.
I'd recommend any of those (well... still reading the Scalzi and I haven't gotten to the Meiville, but I like what I've read so far and I've enjoyed everything else Scalzi or Meiville have written. Check out Old Man's War or Perdido Street Station, respectively).
I especially like the illustrations in the print edition of Leviathan, it's Keith Thompson's work and it's absolutely brilliant.
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Take a look at Michael A. Stackpoles "Age of Discovery" triology, it has some nice ideas and I enjoyed it.
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Hi all,
I am almost done reading ToM, so I'll need something new to read! Please recommend a good fantasy series for me to read while I await more Way of Kings, Wheel of Time, and Mistborn!
Thanks :)
My fantasy reads (or re-reads) over the last year...in whole or in part
A Song of Ice and Fire
Locke Lamora
Name of the Wind
Abhorsen Series
Stormlight Archives
Wheel of Time
Vlad Taltos novels
Dresden files
Felix Castor Novels
Mistborn
For some reason, WoK put me in mind of Greg bear's only(?) fantasy series, 'The Infinity Concerto' and 'The Serpent Mage.' I think they were later combined into 'Songs of Earth and Power' As it is closer to what eventually became Urban Fantasy, I am not sure why I make the association.
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These guys have some pretty good suggestions to follow:
http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.com/
And I'll plug my favorite: Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet.
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I'll put in a strong recommendation for The Black Company series by Glen Cook. Very different from Sanderson, Jordan, or Martin but VERY well worth a read; they are excellent books.
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These guys have some pretty good suggestions to follow:
http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.com/
And I'll plug my favorite: Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet.
Thanks for this link! I am finding some good books to try out.
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If you haven't already, you absoutely must read A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R R Martin. One of the best fantasy series' around today, no doubt.
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I highly recommend the Runelords series by David Farland and Dhampir by Barb and J.C. Hendee. They're fantastic!
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If you haven't already, you absoutely must read A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R R Martin. One of the best fantasy series' around today, no doubt.
Truth for the win!
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I highly recommend the Runelords series by David Farland and Dhampir by Barb and J.C. Hendee. They're fantastic!
I second the Runelords!
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I'll throw in for "Runelords" as well. He's a good choice for someone who's books are kinda like Brandon's, but very different... fantasy that's tinged by contemporary influences, magic with solid rules, really good action... yeah, Farland is a good recommendation for a Sanderson fan.
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Anything by David Gemmell. In particular the Drenai series which isn't so much a series but a series of books set in the same world. I suggest starting with Legend.
Other favorites:
Dave Duncan books, the 7th sword series and the A man of his word series.
I like the GRRM books A song of ice and fire series, but he's never going to finish it so I strongly recommend NOT reading them until/if he finishes the series. Trust me you'll be angry otherwise.
The Trudi Canavan magician books are great as well though lighter fare.
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There are a lot of good "lighter" series out there, if you want to take a break from really heavy series like Wheel of Time. Ender's Game is a VERY good book, although not fantasy (more of a sci-fi) it is an extremely good read that I feel obligated to recommend to everyone I ever meet. The core Dragonlance series is very good, although light, compared to Wheel of Time, or any of Sanderson's books.
For anyone a little younger, like me, I'd go with the Pendragon series. It has that ring of a "teen" series, but the ideas and fantasy behind it are quite amazing. Even some adults would probably be very interested in it, and you could bust through the series in a few weeks.
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Dave Duncan books, the 7th sword series and the A man of his word series.
The 7th Sword series is great, but I think my favorite of his would be either the Alchemist's Apprentice books or the King's Blades series. The Alchemist's Apprentice books are especially enjoyable if you're a fan of the Assassin's Creed games for the PS3/360, since they take place during similar time periods (and both feature Venice, Italy).
It's hard to go wrong with Duncan, though he's had a few I couldn't get into. The Dodec books sounded great at first, but I wasn't able to plow through even half of the first one.
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The 7th Sword series is great, but I think my favorite of his would be either the Alchemist's Apprentice books or the King's Blades series.
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The Alchemist books were ok (I've only read the first so far though) but I wasn't enamored of them. Agreed his king's blade books are great as well. My favorite of his is a single stand alone called Ill Met in the Arena. Fantastic book that I adore!
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Haven't read that one, though I've heard of it.
I sometimes think the Alchemist books were an excuse for him to write off a trip to Venice, but I still enjoy 'em. They're lighter than his normal stuff, to be certain.
He basically seems to be doing an homage to Nero Wolfe throughout the entire trilogy. Both Nero and Nostradamus largely refuse to leave their homes, using their narrating sidekick (Alfeo Zeno/Archie Goodwin) to do the footwork and face the dangers.
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Writing Excuses was plugging John Brown's Servant of a Dark God for a while, and I'm going to go ahead and back them up on that. It's got fun, likable characters, an interesting and developed world, and a magic system that's evocative of Sanderson's style while still being unique. I enjoyed it a lot.
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go to the elitist book review site. I don't have the url in front of me, but those key words are the first hit. Several people who are active on this forum review alot of fantasy books. They do a very good job.
Here are some books I have read recently or will read that they liked.
Joe Abercrombie (very dark. I think he is better than George RR Martin)
Ken Scholes (post apocalytpic fantasy. These are pretty original)
Daniel Abraham (have not read this yet, but they liked him alot and Brandon said he liked him).
They review a lot of books. I have pretty much been using their site to pick out fantasy books. What makes their reviews so good is that, they give you enough information where even if they don't like a book, you might like it yourself. Which to me is the sign of a very good review.
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I got a real kick out of the dark adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (and zombies). Also Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter we a pretty good read being completely far fetched but interesting.
I also recommend any B.S. book out there. I've read elantris, mistborn 1 & 2 , and currently on 3. soon to read WOT: Towers of Midnight. mistborn 1 is my favorite so far.
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DragonLance is good, though i wonder how long it would take to read all of them or if its even possible.
Dragoncharm is AWSOME i strongly suggest it.
and if for some reason you haven't read the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, or the Silmarilion those too of course.
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DragonLance is good, though i wonder how long it would take to read all of them or if its even possible.
Dragoncharm is AWSOME i strongly suggest it.
and if for some reason you haven't read the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, or the Silmarilion those too of course.
Yeah, Dragonlance is stellar (my name is even a Dragonlance character :D ), I would suggest the main trilogy, by far the best. And then if you read any of the other ones, the references will make a lot more sense. The original series, while not required to read any of the others, it really helps to see the greater picture.
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Hmm. I feel that I may get laughed out of the forums here.
EARLY Raymond E Feist. His current novels have lost focus, but the original Magician trilogy is pretty great.
Robin Hobb's Assassin's series is amazing. Great use of first person writing.
Most of Eddings' work is a touch 'childish', but The Redemption of Althalus has some great ideas and scenes.
EDIT
I can't believe that I forgot this. SARA DOUGLASS. She is an incredible Australian fantasy author. The Axis trilogy, and the trilogy set after it (I forget the name) are a great starting point.
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That's very interesting... The Redemption of Althalus was actually the book that made me stop reading Eddings entirely. I felt like, for the length of that entire book, not one character was ever in doubt, ever at risk, and when he did kill off anyone I felt like it was cloying rather than effective.
I really loved the Elenium, but the sequel trilogy (the Tamuli) suffered from the same problem... I never expected any of the main characters to fail, and neither did any of the characters. They were consistently confident and frequently cocky about it to the point of being snarky, and at some point I just got tired of it.
It didn't seem to as much of a problem in his earlier books, but in later ones I got the impression that he loved his own characters too much to ever make them anything less than always awesome, all the time. It was like an entire cast of Han Solo variants.
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You know Inkthinker, you're right about the characters. Perhaps I held it so high because I went on to read The Elder Gods... Compared to that, Althalus is amazing. I think that you should read the Elder Gods just so you know how bad it is.
Ideas like the house and the books and the ways in which they were used were okay in Althalus. However, I take it from my list. I do, however stand by my Sara Douglass claim.
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I read Glen Cook's The Black Company years ago, and I've been meaning to go through the series again from start to finish. If you like fantasy, but you're tired of the standard hero's journey, try this. It's a fantasy novel the way that Heart of Darkness is an adventure tale. Although really it's more like Apocalypse Now with wizards. Quite a different flavor.
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I quite liked Cook's "Black Company" series... I also like his pulp/noir "Garrett PI" urban fantasy series. It's kinda like Butcher's "Dresden Files", except that Garrett lives in a full-fantasy world, rather than being part of "our" world.
The covers are terrible (they seem to imply that he's some sort of pulp-era detective trapped in a fantasy world, rather than a native character who's fallen into the "problem-solving" business) but the contents are really good, even if the last half-dozen or so are a little rocky.
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Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenent books are a classic and the Mordant's need duology is also worth a look. The latter has quite an interesting magic system if that's your thing. Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince books are worth reading as well.
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@ Boutch
How are the rest of Sara Douglass's novels? I started reading the Serpent Bride and had to stop after the first few chapters. I thought the writing was terrible. One of the few books I put down. Until that point I never really believed in the first 50 pages rule. I was upset because on a whim I'd bought the first three books. Was this possibly an exception for her or has she improved since then?
@ OP, if you're looking for some good sci fi YA James Dashner's Mazerunner series and Suzanne Cooper's The Hunger Games Trilogy are both very good, fast reads. I recently read them (you can find my reviews in the books section).
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Just burned through Rachel Aaron's The Spirit Thief, which was a fun read. I think Brandon's fans might dig her use of magic, which has a lot of cool whiz-bang but also fairly defined parameters. It would adapt well to a graphic novel, something which always appealed to me in Brandon's work.
She's got three in the series. If I had any complaint about the first one, it would be that it was a pretty light read... the characters are fun and enjoyable, but (at least so far) there's not a lot of evidence for deep underlying currents. It actually reminds me of some anime/manga series, a bit... the main character is a thief who's goal is to push his own bounty price past a million (presumably for a better reason than the one he flippantly gives, which is "because nobody else ever has"), and he's roaming the land committing outrageous acts of thievery (against wealthy and powerful people) with a roguish wink and a nod. There's a lot of implied depth to the world and the characters, but the first book is more of a fast-paced action romp that introduces them and gets you interested. We'll see how it develops in the second and third one.
Secondary note: terrible US covers. Color-tinted photos, like they're selling bad romance. No idea what they were thinking, this book would have been better served with a proper cover painter. Maybe on the second printing...
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I don't think anyone's mentioned Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series yet. It definitely isn't for the fainthearted. He doesn't spoon-feed his readers and the series is rather dark, but it's really amazing.
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Going to second the Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham. Those books were incredible.
Nobody's mentioned the Destroyermen series by Taylor Anderson yet. The series isn't finished yet, but the first five books are great, and continue to get better.
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Constant badgering by the Writing Excuses podcast (and others) has convinced me to pick up Rothfuss's the Name of the Wind. The back copy wasn't half-bad either, it might just be something I'll like.
I find lately that I haven't got much interest in "high fantasy" anymore... I think the new author who's work I've enjoyed most in the past couple years is Joe Abercrombie. Although I felt that the ending of the first trilogy was almost forced "bad", I totally enjoyed the stand-alone sequels. His latest, The Heroes, is probably the best novel I've ever read centered around a single, war-defining battle... then again, I also think that the previous book, Best Served Cold, might be the best Dumas-bedamned revenge novel I've ever read, also. And you can read either without committing to the first trilogy, they stand well enough on their own.
He's not for the faint of heart, but if you want more mud and blood and less mystical forests and wise elves, he's a good place to go.
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I highly recommend Robin Hobb. All her books are great, but start with the Farseer Trilogy.
George RR Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire. A great writer and a great series. Even if it, as some people are inclined to think, never will be finished it's worth it. Remember: Journey before Destination!
I can also recommend his book Fevre Dream which I just finished. A really cool story about steamboats and vampires.
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haven't seen it yet IMO great book
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)
by Patrick Rothfuss
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I mentioned it two posts up, but at the time hadn't read it yet.
Since then I have, and damned if they weren't right-- it's pretty awesome. Rothfuss knows how to write very cleverly, and his characters are interesting and varied. Heck, he even writes poetry and music that doesn't annoy me (as so much lyrical content in fantasy novels does), and that's a trick in and of itself.
Definitely recommended.
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This is just the thread I needed. After finally finishing TWoTK I read the first two books from the demon chronicles by Peter V Brett. They were both really good, light books.
Ive been bumming, watching movies, plating WWF and debating finding new books.Thanks for all the suggestions to look through!
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I found a copy of Warrior's Apprentice, first of the Miles Vorkosigan books, in the Baen Free library (http://www.baen.com/library/books.asp), and I've consumed it at a bit of a ridiculous rate, even for me... before I knew it, four hours had gone and I was 3/4 done with it.
It's really good stuff, the plot is a series of scams, bluffs and twists on the part of the main character that continue to spin and branch into the need for more, and I honestly have no sure idea where it'll end up.
If their ultimate plot is to sell more Miles Vorkosigan books by giving the first one away free, it worked... I'm hooked.
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try Wizards first rule. I have heard that demonata is good too, but i need to try that one before i go giving any reports :P
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If their ultimate plot is to sell more Miles Vorkosigan books by giving the first one away free, it worked... I'm hooked.
Maybe I shouldn't say this (if it discourages you from buying), but you can actually download almost every Vorkosigan book for free. Baen puts out a CD with many hardcovers that has previous ebooks on it, and they encourage this CD to be shared. Search for Baen CD the fifth imperium.
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If their ultimate plot is to sell more Miles Vorkosigan books by giving the first one away free, it worked... I'm hooked.
Maybe I shouldn't say this (if it discourages you from buying), but you can actually download almost every Vorkosigan book for free. Baen puts out a CD with many hardcovers that has previous ebooks on it, and they encourage this CD to be shared. Search for Baen CD the fifth imperium.
There's an important one that's not on that CD, though - Memory.
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I cringe when I hear Goodkind's work mentioned. That said, I bought and read them all because they were recommended. I would say more but I'll leave you with a good take on that book.
"'Wizard's First Rule'?" Vin asked. "I mean, really. Is it too hard to say 'The First Rule of Wizardry' or 'Wizardry's First Rule'? The way you say it sounds stupid. That's always bothered me." With that, she slipped off into the darkness.
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If their ultimate plot is to sell more Miles Vorkosigan books by giving the first one away free, it worked... I'm hooked.
Maybe I shouldn't say this (if it discourages you from buying), but you can actually download almost every Vorkosigan book for free. Baen puts out a CD with many hardcovers that has previous ebooks on it, and they encourage this CD to be shared. Search for Baen CD the fifth imperium.
I'd heard about that. It doesn't stop me from buying, I likes solid books and this one really hooked me all the way to the end.
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Honestly, I can't recommend any in fantasy. I had forsworn all fantasy series until I encountered Sanderson, and I was extremely pleased that he defied so many cliches of the genre. It is only thanks to him that I am reading fantasy again, and even so...the only fantasy I'm reading is Sanderson.
Ergo I will recommend books of other genres:
In non-fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed three of Malcolm Gladwell's books: Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. Those are actual page-turners in non-fiction.
In science fiction, my favorite of all time (yes, including Herbert, Asimov, Heinlein, other greats) was the Hyperion & Endymion tetrology by Dan Simmons. I can't say I'm a fan of Simmons' other work, but these four blew my mind. (The first isn't all that impressive until you reread it in context of its sequel, unless you treat it up front as a short story collection, in which case it's damn good.)
I really enjoyed HOLES by Lewis Sachar, though it is marketed as a children's book, it's just a really good book that's easy to read.
I also enjoyed FIGHT CLUB, though the author says the movie was actually better, for anyone who is looking for things to read, FIGHT CLUB is great.
A must-read for every person on earth is The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. I have read that book at least 50 times. (And please forget everything you think you know about it from the movie. The movie did not include such minor plot points as Bastion and Atreyu at war with each other over the Ivory Tower -- forgive the spoiler, but I'm hoping it works as a hook.)
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The Neverending Story (the movie) covers only one half of the original novel. When Bastien and the Childlike Empress are holding a single shining grain which is all that remains of Fantastica (must confess, Fantasia is a better name), that's barely halfway through the novel.
That terrible sequel film covers the other half, sort of, but it's not very good.
Suggestions for fantasy that defies cliches (aside from Brandon)
China Meiville's Bas-Lag novels (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council)
Terry Pratchett's Discworld (more like it turns cliches inside out. I like to suggest starting with Guards! Guards! , which is pretty much all about counter-tropes)
Joe Abercrombie's First Law series (though I much prefer the stand-alone sequels Best Served Cold, which is a brilliant revenge novel, and The Heroes, which is a great battle novel).
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The Neverending Story (the movie) covers only one half of the original novel. When Bastien and the Childlike Empress are holding a single shining grain which is all that remains of Fantastica (must confess, Fantasia is a better name), that's barely halfway through the novel.
It isn't even just the time-framing of the films which horrifies. Even the first movie (which is better than the others, and that ain't saying much) outright discarded most of the concepts from the book.
The whole book is about Bastion's ability to love, and this is completely absent from the first movie.
Even the fantasy elements which made the book so memorable were thrown out. This is not a complaint that Gimli's beard was 3 shades redder in the original LOTR, these are major, damaging changes. Just for example's sake, the Southern Oracle was a moving voice that only speaks and hears in verse, was basically changed to a giant statue. What? Gorgommon, Yor, and Dame Eyola were very important characters in Bastion's development as character, and Gmork was one of the most fascinating villains in fiction because he told Atreyu the truth.
All the power and majesty of those events, such as Bastion creating bioluminescant jungle from pure thought, GONE. Bastion going from cowardly and weak to handsom, strong and brave, and the CONSEQUENCES thereof were incredible.
When I was a kid, I liked the movie, and I still think it makes a decent kids movie -- nothing on par with Holes or Toy Story, though, but in fact the book was one of the most powerful I've ever read.
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In non-fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed three of Malcolm Gladwell's books: Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. Those are actual page-turners in non-fiction.
Well, if we are gonna start recommending non-fiction, then I gotta say that Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is a great read.
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In non-fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed three of Malcolm Gladwell's books: Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers. Those are actual page-turners in non-fiction.
Well, if we are gonna start recommending non-fiction, then I gotta say that Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is a great read.
I agree with both of these recommendations! I really like Malcolm Gladwell, and Krakauer is a great writer as well. I very much liked "Under the Banner of Heaven" (although Brandon probably wouldn't care for it very much, given the subject matter).
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I agree with both of these recommendations! I really like Malcolm Gladwell, and Krakauer is a great writer as well. I very much liked "Under the Banner of Heaven" (although Brandon probably wouldn't care for it very much, given the subject matter).
I don't know why. He is LDS (and for the sake of disclosure, I am too) not fundamentalist Mormon. The fundamentalists Mormons split from the LDS faith over 100 years ago and have about as much to do with it as the Lutherans had to do with the Catholic church 100 years after their split.
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I agree with both of these recommendations! I really like Malcolm Gladwell, and Krakauer is a great writer as well. I very much liked "Under the Banner of Heaven" (although Brandon probably wouldn't care for it very much, given the subject matter).
I don't know why. He is LDS (and for the sake of disclosure, I am too) not fundamentalist Mormon. The fundamentalists Mormons split from the LDS faith over 100 years ago and have about as much to do with it as the Lutherans had to do with the Catholic church 100 years after their split.
Sure, I understand the difference. I honestly can't speak for how an LDS person would view the book. I think Krakauer does a pretty good job of remaining neutral in most of his work, but I thought his presentation of the history of Mormonism had an unfavorable slant. But again, I really shouldn't try to speak for an LDS person; I was just speculating. No offense intended. Have you read it, and if so, do you think Krakauer was guilty of editorializing at all? (Sorry to go off topic)
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Sure, I understand the difference. I honestly can't speak for how an LDS person would view the book. I think Krakauer does a pretty good job of remaining neutral in most of his work, but I thought his presentation of the history of Mormonism had an unfavorable slant. But again, I really shouldn't try to speak for an LDS person; I was just speculating. No offense intended. Have you read it, and if so, do you think Krakauer was guilty of editorializing at all? (Sorry to go off topic)
I haven't read it but I have heard about it. From what I have heard he does a good job of telling the story but that he does have a slightly slanted/biased position against the LDS church. In my experience that is pretty much par for the course. Very few books about the LDS church, or and church for that matter, have a "favorable" slant, unless they are written by members (and then the slant is usually much more than favorable! lol). We all have our passions and beliefs and it is very difficult to keep them from showing up in things like books. That is not to say it is a bad thing, as long as we admit/own up to our biases and, if at all possible, limit their pervasiveness and influence on our work.
BTW, no offense was taken even before you said that none was intended.
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Is anyone here on goodreads?
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I recommend the new George RR Martin, "A Dance With Dragons". I'm only a bit into it, but so far it's sooo good. ;D
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I just started game of thrones :D
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The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks was a fun read, with relatable characters, a well-developed magic system, and enough plots/action to keep the pages turning! (though the ending seemed a bit rushed, unfortunately, but still worthwhile, overall)
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The latest in Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files" was pretty dang brilliant. If you only know the series through that awful TV adaptation, I highly advise giving it a chance... the show had pretty much nothing in common with the books, aside from the names. They changed most everything else about it, from the main character to the settings, and completely failed to hold up the wit or the characterizations of the novels.
Currently reading the second in the 'Gaunt's Ghosts" omnibuses (omnibi?), set in the Warhammer 40K universe. Good military sci-fi with a rich setting. Also simultaneously reading "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", which I somehow missed... I've read "The Long, Dark Tea-time of the Soul" at least three times, but somehow never read the other.
And Larry Corriea has a third "Monster Hunter" novel. I've panned the first in that series as a Mary Sue, but the second was much improved and I'm looking forward to seeing if he can maintain that upward arc.
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The Passage by Justin Cronin is good. It's post apocalyptic, and an excellent read.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is an incredible heist novel. Kelsier would be proud. Just be warned, there is heavy swearing.
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dont you hate it when you get the first book, finish it, and the next one isn't at the library?!?!?!?!
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I don't see any of these listed here - sorry if I missed & am duplicating:
FICTION
The Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy (Foundling, Lamplighter and Factotum) by D.M. Cornish (http://monsterbloodtattoo.blogspot.com/) - amazing YA fantasy; rivals LoR, IMO - a MUST read!!
The Song of Albion Cycle trilogy (The Paradise War, The Silver Hand and The Endless Knot) by Stephen Lawhead; his later works aren't as good
the Bryant and May series of mysteries by Christopher Fowler
the Chet and Bernie series of mysteries by Spencer Quinn
the Jon and Lobo sci-fi series by Mark VanName
_anything_ by John Scalzi, especially the Old Man's War books
NONFICTION
"Made to Stick" and "Switch" by the Heath brothers (business)
"If Harry Potter Ran General Electric" by Tom Morris (business/philosophy)
"The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain" by Barbara Strauch
"The Reason for God" by Tim Keller (FYI - not LDS)
hmmm - maybe I read too much...
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hmmm - maybe I read too much...
Not possible. Period. ;D
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I listened to the first Song of Albion book in audio (got it from the library), and man, the characters were really annoying people. At the end I was only very mildly curious about what happened next, so I read the Wikipedia summaries and decided I wasn't missing anything.
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Really, Peter?
Because Lawhead's characters remind me a lot of Brandon's, in that they're well-rounded, and that there is considerable character development over the series arc.
It probably also helped that I was not at all familiar with Celtic mythology, so if there were "tropes," they meant nothing to me.
The triology is really about leadership: What does it take to be a leader? How is a leader's character formed? How does a person learn to believe in themself in a way that inspires others to do the same? Brandon's books also remind me of that aspect.
And then there were the gnomic passages (as in rhetoric - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome_%28rhetoric%29) - those reminded me of LoR.
But to each their own - glad we have such a wealth of choices. :) I want to look up some of the others suggested here.