this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Well I'm craving something in this genre but I'm a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. So many titles and yet I'm not sure what to read. Maybe you can help?

I'm looking for something in a high fantasy setting. I'm not too keen on heavy politics and war driven plots (though, I can read that ). What really gets me is interesting characters, good action and magical creatures.

I've loved anything Discworld and I've also enjoyed the First Law books by Abercrombie.

I'm finding that Tolkien, Sanderson and George RR Martin appear on every fantasy list I come across, so if you do recommend something I'd appreciate it be something other than that.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

No, it's not safe to assume. Can you sell it to me? What's so great about it?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

It's a story within a story within a story. It's like Harry Potter and Arabian nIghts made a super baby and it's all narrated by young man who has done so much. Rothfuss does amazing world building, from different currencies, to how religion shapes a society, to little learned idioms. The main character explains a lot of his reasoning for thinking the way he does, but be sure to pay attention to choice of words our author uses. It's an amazing ride the first read through, and you will find nuggets of gold and silver during your subsequent reads.

I hope you see you on the road to Tinue. It is the way.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

+1 for this incomplete series, it got my girlfriend into the fantasy genre for books. We are all going mad waiting for the finale that will never come!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Let me sell you on not reading it (yet): it's two extremely well crafted and lovable fantasy books and some beautiful novellas, but the author will (likely) never finish the series and has been pretty awful about it. It's been well over a decade, his editor has called him out on not having written anything in that time, and there have been some other controversies such as repeatedly using the promise of progress on his book to raise money for a charity he runs but then not delivering on those promises.

The books are a trilogy and not satisfying without an ending that may never come. If he finishes this trilogy then it's a must read. But until then it's a cautionary tale.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I REALLY appreciate the warning. I hate getting stuck in a series waiting to finish, but walking in blindly makes it all the worse.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I don't really agree with this pitch. Each of the two books tell a great story that could be argued to be complete in its individual telling. Yes there is an over arching story that ties their telling together and remains incomplete but that doesn't matter given the the told tale in each is complete. I've read through each multiple times and will read them again regardless of whether or not the third is completed.